LOW-cost Spanish carrier Vueling Airlines will operate a twice weekly direct service from Shannon to Paris Orly Airport beginning on September 12 with fares starting from €30.99.
The flights, which will operate on Mondays and Fridays, will bring the number of services from Shannon to the US, the UK and Europe to 27 and significantly impact on the airport’s post-Covid recovery.
Orly Airport is the nearest airport to the centre of Paris, just 13km from the city of lights. It is the second largest airport in France and provides hub connectivity with onward connections to major European cities and Middle Eastern countries.
Shannon Group chief executive Mary Considine said the new service was a major boost for inbound and outbound business and tourism interests in the region.
“We have been working closely with Vueling to deliver the service and are looking forward to seeing our passengers jet off to another exciting holiday and business destination,” she added.
Clare Fine Gael TD Joe Carey, who is chairperson of the Shannon Airport Oireachtas Group, said that the new service is a significant development in the Shannon Group’s strategy to deliver a broader range of flights and destinations to business and leisure travellers from the Mid-West.
“It will not only give passengers access to the French capitol but it also provides hub connectivity to other European cities and the Middle East,” Deputy Carey explained.
“This should prove a significant attraction to the tourism market and also to the many businesses in the Mid West that are focused on the European and Middle Eastern markets.
“It also increases the number of airlines operating out of Shannon to four and should encourage other international carriers to view the airport as a viable alternative to the overburdened Dublin gateway.
“The fact that the Shannon Group continued to invest and develop passenger facilities during the Covid pandemic is now being seen as a major factor in the airport’s ongoing recovery.
“The new security screening technology has proven to be a major factor in enhancing Shannon’s reputation as a passenger friendly airport. I am confident that this will play a significant role in attracting new business to the airport as it continues its post-Covid recovery,” Deputy Carey added.
Vueling’s Chief Commercial Officer Carolyn Prowse said that they had scheduled 114 destinations in 31 countries until the end of October, reaching a very similar level of operations to 2019.
“We are very excited to see a progressive development of business this year and to keep expanding the airline’s offering across Europe. The new direct route between Shannon and Paris Orly airports reinforces Vueling’s interest in providing a more flexible and varied offer to travellers based in Ireland,” she added.
