Did Shannon Airport Just Hit Its Highest Passenger Count in 16 Years?
Key Points
- 1Over 2.3 million passengers traveled through Shannon Airport in 2025, marking the highest passenger numbers in 16 years.
- 2The 9% passenger growth was driven by new routes from Ryanair and the addition of a fourth based aircraft.
- 3Shannon Airport plans a €40 million investment in 2026 for terminal upgrades and will operate 40 routes, a 17-year high.
- 4New services include Ryanair flights to Rome and Discover Airlines service to Frankfurt.
The Shannon Airport Group reported a record-breaking 2025. Over 2.3 million passengers traveled through the terminal. This represents a strong 9% increase over 2024 traffic. It is the highest number in 16 years for the Irish airport. This significant 2025 passenger growth signals robust regional airport recovery.
Drivers of Passenger Growth
New routes and expanded services drove the Shannon Airport traffic increase. Ryanair added a fourth based aircraft to the airport. This represented a major investment in the region. The low-cost carrier launched new winter routes. These included services to Madeira, Lapland, and Madrid.
New Route Network Expansion
The strong Irish airport performance continues into 2026. Shannon Airport will offer 40 routes, a 17-year high. Five new routes boosted growth for the upcoming summer. Ryanair will launch new flights to Rome, Warsaw, and Poznan. The airline also added Madrid to its summer schedule.
A new Discover Airlines Frankfurt service is also planned. Discover Airlines is a Lufthansa Group subsidiary. Existing services are also seeing expansion. For example, Aer Lingus is increasing its Boston route frequency. This network expansion is key to sustained growth.
Strategic Investment and Outlook
The Shannon Airport investment strategy is supporting this growth. The Group invested over €20 million in 2025. Total investment reached almost €200 million over a decade.
Plans are in place for a €40 million investment in 2026. Projects include upgrading immigration and baggage halls. Taxiways will also receive necessary upgrades. These infrastructure improvements enhance the passenger experience. They also support future capacity needs. The airport also launched Ireland's first airfield solar PV farm. This project will generate up to 20% of its electricity needs. This focus highlights the Group’s sustainability goals.
Interim CEO Ray O’Driscoll called 2025 a “really positive year”. The airport is now positioned for even more ambitious 2026 growth. The continued commitment from carriers like Ryanair is vital. This positive momentum is significant commercial aviation news for Ireland. Read more commercial aviation news at flying.flights.
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