Latest news with #Considine
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Mary Considine departs Shannon and arrives at Irish Rail
Shannon Airport Group CEO Mary Considine. Photo: Don Moloney She departs after six years at the airport, with passenger numbers for the first six months of this year at Shannon totalling 1.04 million – an increase of more than 7pc on the same period in 2024. Last year Shannon dealt with over 2.1 million passengers, the highest annual total in 15 years. Ray O'Driscoll, currently deputy CEO, will assume the role of chief executive on an interim basis. The board of Shannon Airport Group will now begin the process of recruiting a successor. Ms Considine's total remuneration for 2024 amounted to €249,611, made up of a basic salary of €190,000, €47,500 in pension contributions and €12,111 in other taxable benefits. Last year, the Shannon group recorded pre-tax profits of €48.43m on the back of revenues increasing to €73m. Irish Rail's new boss has a long career in aviation, after she rose quickly through senior roles - including Shannon Airport director, chief financial officer, deputy CEO, before taking over the top job in 2019. The Shannon Airport Group has a significant property portfolio, and says it supports over 20,000 jobs and is contributing €4bn to the Irish economy. Speaking on behalf of the group, its chairman Conal Henry thanked Ms Considine for her exemplary service and wished her well. He said: 'In her time at Shannon, Mary has been central to all that has been positive. In her six years as CEO, she has established The Shannon Airport Group as the national force for regional balance that it is today. She has shown that she is a leader with vision, courage and integrity and she will be sorely missed.' Reflecting on her time as CEO, Mary Considine said: 'Leading The Shannon Airport Group has been an extraordinary journey. Together, we've navigated challenges, embraced innovation, expanded global connectivity, enhanced passenger experience, and strengthened our role as a gateway for trade and tourism." She added: 'I'm incredibly proud of the progress we've made and deeply grateful to our talented employees whose dedication, creativity, and resilience have been the driving force behind our success. I also want to thank our chair, board, partners, stakeholders, and communities for their unwavering support. I leave with immense gratitude and full confidence in the exceptional team that will carry this legacy forward.'
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Shannon Airport Group CEO to depart
The Shannon Airport Group CEO, Mary Considine, is stepping down from the role to take up the new position of CEO of Irish Rail. Ms Considine has led the group for the past six years. Current Deputy CEO Ray O'Driscoll will assume the role of CEO on an interim basis. The Board of The Shannon Airport Group will now begin the process of recruiting a permanent successor. Ms Considine built a three-decade career in aviation in a variety of roles, including Shannon Airport Director, Chief Financial Officer, Deputy CEO, before becoming CEO of the Group in 2019. She led the group through the covid pandemic, which saw global aviation shut down for extended periods. Today, the airport group supports more than 20,000 jobs and contributes €4bn to the Irish economy. 'Leading The Shannon Airport Group has been an extraordinary journey," Ms Considine said. "Together, we've navigated challenges, embraced innovation, expanded global connectivity, enhanced passenger experience, and strengthened our role as a gateway for trade and tourism." 'I'm incredibly proud of the progress we've made and deeply grateful to our talented employees whose dedication, creativity, and resilience have been the driving force behind our success." Shannon Airport Group, Chair, Conal Henry, thanked Mary for her service. "In her time at Shannon, Mary has been central to all that has been positive. In her six years as CEO, she has established The Shannon Airport Group as the national force for regional balance that it is today. She has shown that she is a leader with vision, courage and integrity and she will be sorely missed,' he said.
Irish Independent
29-07-2025
- Business
- Irish Independent
New route announced at Shannon Airport as bank holiday surge expected
In an exciting addition to the summer 2026 schedule, Discover Airlines, a Lufthansa Group subsidiary, is set to introduce a direct, twice-weekly service from Shannon Airport to Frankfurt, Germany, starting on April 4. The route will operate on Saturdays running from April 4 to October 24, 2026, and on Thursdays from May 14 to September 24, offering passengers a quick two hour journey on board an Airbus A320-200. The new Frankfurt route will add more than 16,700 seats to Shannon's summer schedule. Welcoming the announcement Mary Considine, CEO, The Shannon Airport Group said: 'This is more fantastic news for Shannon Airport and the Mid-West business community. 'Having direct access to Frankfurt, one of Europe's key airport hubs and a leading financial centre, opens up incredible opportunities for both connectivity and growth. 'It's a win not just for business travel, but also for regional tourism. 'Germany is a hugely important market for us, and with this new direct route, inbound visitors have an easier path to the beauty of the Wild Atlantic Way and all that the West of Ireland has to offer.' As part of the Lufthansa Group, Discover Airlines will connect to the vast Lufthansa Group network through their Frankfurt hub. This offers convenient and regular onward connections to destinations across Germany, Europe and beyond. The news comes as Shannon Airport is anticipating one of their busiest weekends of the year. The airport is preparing for a bustling August Bank Holiday, with almost 60,000 passengers expected to travel through the airport over the period - marking a 10 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2024. This continued growth reflects a strong performance for Shannon Airport in 2025, with over 1.04 million passengers recorded in the first half of the year – a seven per cent year-on-year increase. "We're delighted to see such strong demand this August Bank Holiday period,' Ms Considine said. 'The increase in passenger numbers is a clear sign that our investments in connectivity, infrastructure and customer experience are paying off. 'Shannon is thriving, and we're proud to be playing a key role in supporting tourism and business across the region." Passengers travelling over the Bank Holiday period are advised to arrive two hours before short-haul flights and three hours before long-haul departures. It is also strongly advised to pre-book parking via ahead of what will be an exceptionally busy weekend. Shannon Airport has also recently taken home the crown for 'Ireland's Top Airport Brand 2025', retaining its position as the country's top airport brand for the third consecutive year, according to the RED C Brand Reaction Index (BRI) Ireland 2025. The newly released index, which lists the top 176 most emotionally connected brands, shows Shannon Airport placed at number 48, up three places on last year's list, and once again making it the highest-ranking airport brand in the country. 'We are absolutely delighted to be recognised as Ireland's top airport brand for a 3rd year running,' Ms Considine said. 'An excellent customer experience is always our priority here at Shannon Airport, so this comprehensive Red C testing is really important as a measure of how we are connecting with customers and delivering on that every year. 'We're incredibly grateful to our loyal passengers - not just for choosing to fly Shannon, but for recognising what we work so hard to deliver every day: great value, accessibility, convenience and comfort. 'Our fantastic teams across Shannon Airport consistently go the extra mile to make each journey smooth and enjoyable, and this announcement is a true reflection of their passion and dedication. 'A huge thank you to them all.'
Irish Examiner
07-06-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Shannon Airport CEO optimistic for summer season despite geopolitical tensions
After a landmark year in 2024, Shannon Airport is building on its momentum with new routes, increased investment, and a growing passenger base taking it from strength to strength. Welcoming 2.1m passengers last year, its highest number since 2009, the Shannon Airport Group posted an 8% rise in annual turnover in 2024 — rising to more than €73m, with its pre-tax profit for the year totalling almost €26m. Its success has caught the attention of several major airlines, with the airport now offering its largest transatlantic schedule with five daily nonstop flights to the US, landing in New York, Newark, Boston and Chicago. Its latest vote of confidence came earlier this week from budget airline Ryanair, which announced three new routes alongside a $100m investment in the airport as it continues to expand its presence across regional hubs. The investment includes the addition of a new aircraft to be stationed at Shannon, bringing its total number to four for its 2025 winter schedule. It now hosts one more Ryanair aircraft than Cork, despite the second largest airport having 1m more passengers last year. 'We see a huge potential for growth and believe there is a real opportunity for us,' said Mary Considine, the chief executive officer of the Shannon Airport Group. Shannon Airport CEO Mary Considine says Ireland's aviation policy should be changed because Dublin has an 85-86% market share. Picture: Arthur Ellis Appointed in October 2019, Ms Considine told the Irish Examiner: 'The more aircraft we have here, the more frequency and services Ryanair can offer. 'In addition to increased frequencies for our six most popular routes, they have also been able to announce three new routes for the winter: Madrid, Madeira and Lapland.' Yet despite its enhanced connectivity across Europe, Shannon's transatlantic flights remain some of its busiest and are a vital component of its overall operations. However, as political tensions rise across the US, the number of people travelling across the Atlantic from Ireland has fallen drastically. Recent figures from the US International Trade Administration (ITA) found that passenger travel from Ireland fell by 27% in March when compared to the same month in 2024, with Ireland representing one of the highest decreases across all European countries. When geopolitical events are happening with heightened uncertainty, sometimes people hesitate in making decisions Yet, despite this downward demand pressure on US travel, Ms Considine remains optimistic. 'Talking with our airline partners, they're very confident about the summer season. There are very strong forward bookings, which go back to the strong market for the US from here," she said. 'We have very strong foreign direct investment in the catchment area of Shannon Airport. Almost 50% of the [foreign direct investment] in the country comes from within our immediate catchment area. "We're also the international gateway to the Wild Atlantic Way, and we are seeing strong tourism growth.' Noting recent figures from the Central Statistics Office, which found tourism numbers had fallen by 4% in April, Ms Considine says that has not been reflected in the airport's performance. 'We've seen good growth here. We saw 7% growth last year, and we expect to be up by between 7-8% again this year. Preclearance facility The CEO also notes Shannon's US preclearance facility — one of only two across Europe, the other being in Dublin — which she says brings greater comfort to Irish people, especially young adults and those travelling on J1 visas, and even provides an opportunity for the airport to grow. 'Take Charles De Gaulle [Airport], for example,' Ms Considine said. 'They bring quite an amount of transfer passengers here, because people prefer to pre-clear here then be refused once they get to the US. We see that kind of demand growing at Shannon, which provides an opportunity for us here But Shannon Airport's long-standing history with the US is reflected across its operations and not just in its commercial flight offerings. Recent months have seen a renewed focus on the regional airport over reports that Israeli aircraft have flown weaponry from the US to Ireland through Irish airspace. Last week, RTÉ reported that between 2022 and 2024, a total of 978 US military flights landed at Irish airports, mostly in Shannon, for refuelling and maintenance purposes. During the same period, more than 1,000 applications were made by US civil aircraft with munitions of war on board to land at Shannon. Reports of these flights have drawn large crowds to the airport in protest of its accommodation of US military aircraft, particularly those bound for Israel. Addressing these demonstrations, Ms Considine said that while the airport accepts and recognises the right to protest in a peaceful manner, Shannon Airport operates solely based on government policy. At the end of the day, we work under the direction of the Irish Government. We are State-owned and our focus is on providing a safe, secure and operational airport "Anything that interferes with the safety and security of the airport is obviously something to be concerned about," she said. 'Concerning recent incidents, we're working very closely with gardaí to ensure there is no impact on the operation of our aerodrome facility. Addressing the reports of military aircraft coming through the airport, Ms Considine added: 'It's government policy. Everything is done in line with existing policy, and everything that requires clearance from the Government receives that clearance. 'It is government policy, and we implement government policy.' Shannon has five daily transatlantic flights, its pre-clearance facility reassuring passengers of guaranteed entry to the US. Picture: Denis Scannell Looking forward, Ms Considine says recent investments from Ryanair and US airline partners fall concisely in line with its own future strategy, which prioritises passenger growth, infrastructure improvements, and the airport group's commercial property portfolio, which the CEO says has experienced strong growth in recent months, particularly across the manufacturing sector. In addition, Shannon is also seeking to re-balance what Ms Considine has called a lopsided market share among Ireland's airports. 'If you look at Dublin, it has an 85-86% market share. We need to look at where people want to go and then meet those needs. That is why growing the range of services from Shannon Airport is so important, so we can offer that choice and then grow our market share. 'This is why we have been calling on the Government to revise its aviation policy. One avenue open to them is to amend the threshold under the regional airports programme so that airports up to 3m passengers can apply for grant funding. 'I also think it would be good for the country if we had better distribution of air traffic to free up capacity in Dublin, allowing them to go after those long-haul markets, while allowing us all to be complimentary of one another. 'It's not about not allowing Dublin to grow, it's about growing all airports and using the airport system more holistically.' Read More Ryanair to base fourth aircraft at Shannon adding routes to Madrid and Lapland
RTÉ News
04-06-2025
- Business
- RTÉ News
Shannon Airport expecting 100k passenger increase this winter
Shannon Airport is expecting to increase passenger numbers through the facility by 100,000 this winter, as a result of a new investment by Ryanair. The airline plans to add a number of new routes from the Co. Clare airport, as well as offering increased frequency on several other services. It says it will invest €87 million in an expansion of services from Shannon this winter. The company plans to base a fourth aircraft there, increasing flight frequency and allowing for enhanced flexibility. New routes will be offered to Madrid, Madeira and Lapland, in addition to extra flights to existing routes. The CEO of the Shannon Airport Group, Mary Considine, said the announcement would offer passengers greater choice and boost the airport's position as "a key gateway to and from the west of Ireland". She described the investment as an endorsement of the way in which the airport could assist in addressing regional imbalance and drive economic activity across the region. Ms Considine said there was a need for a new aviation policy to support the Airport's strategic importance and further develop its potential. She has called on the Government to expedite a review of the Regional Airports Programme, to allow for an increase in the passenger threshold for State aid. Ms Considine contends that an existing cap of one million passengers for such supports should be extended to three million. Ryanair's Chief Commercial Officer, Jason McGuinness, said the company's investment would lead to a 20% increase in the volume of passengers using the airline's services to and from Shannon. He said the decision underpinned a commitment to regional airports and its support for tourism activity in the region. Mr McGuinness said there was scope for further growth and said changes to the Regional Airports Programme, would allow for increased traffic to Shannon, Kerry and Ireland West Airports. Ryanair's overall annual traffic through Shannon Airport is forecast to grow to 1.6 million passengers, as a result of today's announcement. Speaking at the launch of the investment programme, Mr McGuinness again called on the Government to address the cap on flights into and out of Dublin airport. While he emphasised the potential for airports outside the capital to expand, he said the issue in relation to the cap at Dublin was a separate matter and needed to be dealt with as a matter of urgency.
