*Honorary Consul of France Dr Loïc Guyon pictured (second from right) at Shannon Airport with Cllr. Tony O’Brien (Twinning Committee of Clare County Council), Cathal Crowe TD and Ann Reynolds (Corporate Services).
Shannon Airport will be in need of a major investment package to give necessary supports once the current health emergency subsides, a Clare TD has highlighted.
Impacts of COVID-19 will be felt in Shannon for a long, Cathal Crowe TD (FF) has stated. He is adamant Shannon Airport must be included in a strategy for the Irish aviation sector. The Fianna Fáil party has written to the European Commissioner for Mobility seeking a discussion on the European response to this crisis and to examine means to support Irish airports and airlines.
Crowe claimed “successive governments have not maximised its potential”. This he believes has led to a decline in market share and passenger numbers. Chances of a turnaround now seem “impossible”, the Clare TD said. “It had been hoped that the situation would improve in 2020, but with the Coronavirus public health emergency and travel restrictions, it seems impossible that any progress will be made this year”.
“Shannon has been hugely impacted by COVID-19, and the effects will be felt long after the worst of this virus is over. As an island nation, we rely heavily on our airports for international connectivity and economic opportunities. Pre-clearance was a game-changer for Shannon, and once travel begins again we should be targeting the European and transatlantic markets, encouraging more airlines to use Shannon as a hub and avail of pre-clearance into the States”.
Regional airports such as Shannon Airport require “targeted investment”, Crowe maintained “to ensure that they are not forced to close as a result of this pandemic. Shannon is particularly important for the future of the Mid-West and Western region and must be prioritised”.
