Shannon Airport (SNN) turnaround accelerates in 2014 with 17% growth in passenger numbers

Shannon Airport has delivered on its pledge to achieve significant passenger growth in its second year as an independent entity, with end of year figures for 2014 showing a 17% increase on 2013.

In 2013 following separation the airport ended five successive years of decline and in 2014 has delivered significant growth, with passenger numbers increasing from 1,400,032 to 1,639,315.The growth was achieved on the back of 10 new destinations and 16 service enhancements overall in 2014.  

The biggest growth market was in European services, where nine new destinations delivered a 70% increase (from 251,813 to 427,887).  While these included a number of popular sun destinations which return for 2015, growth on European services also drew high numbers of inbound visitors, thanks to the return of links to Germany (Munich and Berlin) as well new French (Paris and Poitiers) services – markets with traditionally a strong demand for the unique West of Ireland tourism product.

There was also strong growth (10%) across the airport’s five US services (Boston, Chicago, Newark, JFK New York and Philadelphia), building on the increase achieved in the second half of 2013 when the airport enjoyed a 22% uplift in transatlantic passengers.   Shannon’s largest overall market, the UK, continued to recover, achieving a 5% increase in 2014.  The year finished on another monthly high in December with a 7% increase on passenger numbers compared with December 2013. This included a 165% increase on European services.
via – ShannonGroup