Airport board exploring new opportunities

shannonairport

A PILOT training school and a museum are among the projects being considered by the Shannon Airport Authority as it steps up its commercial brief to improve the airportโ€™s earning potential.

And the changeover to a more customer-friendly environment began last week with the airport authority offering one of the lowest long-term parking rates in the country.

Shannon chief executive Neil Pakey was briefing members of Limerick city councilโ€™s transport committee when he said that the airport is looking at a broad spectrum of initiatives including pilot training and having the airport look at adopting an educational role.

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The board is also planning to establish a โ€˜Friends of Shannon Airportโ€™ support organization, based on the success of a similar group in Liverpool.

โ€œTheir enthusiasm and support for the airport was enormous. They organised school groups to see how the airport worked; they helped out with large groups of wheelchair users and helped publicise the airport. They were absolutely fantastic and they are coming over to brief the Shannon airport board before we invite people to join our own groupโ€, he said.

Commenting on the airportโ€™s โ€˜Park4Lessโ€™ option, Mr Pakey said the rate had been reduced to โ‚ฌ24.99 for a week when booked on-line.

โ€œThatโ€™s the cheapest parking of any airport in in Ireland. People can choose to pay less and park a short distance from the front door or they can pay a little more and be right beside the doorโ€, he explained.