A NEW €2.5 million security screening system and the US immigration pre-inspection facility were the focus of attention when newly appointed US Ambassador Claire D Cronin made her inaugural visit to Shannon Airport on Monday.
Ambassador Cronin met with Shannon Group Chairman Pádraig Ó Céidigh and chief executive Mary Considine who briefed her on activities at Shannon Airport and across the Shannon Campus.
Highlighting Shannon’s tradition of welcoming visitors from all over the world, Ms Considine said that politicians, movie stars, celebrities and every US president since John F Kennedy have been welcomed at Shannon Airport over the years.
“We were delighted to continue that tradition by welcoming the first female US Ambassador to Ireland since Jean Kennedy Smith in 1998, who was a regular visitor to Shannon.
“Ambassador Cronin’s visit was timely as we look forward to welcoming US tourists and businesspeople back to Shannon Airport shortly with the restart of our transatlantic air services which are so important for our regional economy.”
Transatlantic services will recommence from Shannon on March 10 with the return of the Aer Lingus Shannon to Boston service, followed next day by the recommencement of the Aer Lingus New York service. March 28 will see the return of the Newark service with United.
Ambassador Cronin also received a tour of the airport’s Duty Free area and was given a demonstration of the new airport security screening system – the first of its kind in any state airport, which is reducing waiting times by 50 per cent.
The Ambassador also met with the airport’s US Customs and Border Protection team and received a tour of the facility, which was the first US immigration pre-inspection facility in Europe back in 1986 before advancing to a full pre-clearance operation in 2009.
In 2010, Shannon became the first airport in the world to offer full pre-clearance for private aircraft.
