3. A history of innovation and excellence
1930’s 1940’s 1950-60’s 1980’s 2000’s 2010’s
1935 – Site
selected for
Ireland’s first
transatlantic
airport
1940 – First scheduled
commercial flight
1945 – First transatlantic service
1947 – The world’s First Duty
Free shop
1986 - Europe’s first
U.S. Immigration
Pre-Inspection
Facility
2009 – First airport in
Europe offering full US
Customs and Border
Protection preclearance
1961 - 10,000
foot runway
commissioned
2000 - New terminal
was opened with a
capacity for 4.5m
passengers
6. • 3200m (10,500 ft) runway – longest in Ireland
• 24/7/365 operation – no curfews, slots or noise restrictions, excellent all-year weather conditions
• Able to handle all aircraft types (Cat 9), terminal building with capacity of 4.5mppa
• Ample land: airport site is 855 hectares, adjacent industrial zone is another 250 hectares
• Located on estuary of river Shannon, near deep-water port at Foynes
• Aviation fuel farm is supplied directly by ship, hydrant fuelling for all aircraft parking stands
6
Shannon Airport Overview
11. …is ideal for technical stops
• Most westerly international airport in Europe
• Nearly equidistant between the U.S. and the Middle East
• On the great circle route for traffic from the U.S. to the
Middle East
12. Low airfield elevation and no restrictions
maximizes operating performance
• ILS Category II
• 24 hour operation
• No curfew, slots or noise restrictions
• Aircraft departing SNN have equal access to optimum flight
and route levels as overflying traffic
13. …minimizes impact of
irregular operations
• Shannon area is known for its temperate climate and good
flying weather
• Mild weather, snow or sleet averages only 8 days per year,
means de-icing is rarely required, resulting in lower costs and
higher on time performance
• Shannon has few instances of weather diversions
• Low maximum temperatures result in high payload capability –
the mean maximum temperature in July is 68⁰ F
• Forecasting and observing staff on duty 24/7/365
14. US Pre-Clearance
1988 – Immigration Pre-Inspection
2009 – Airline Preclearance
2010 – Business Jet Preclearance – 1st one in the World
16. Airlines can fly directly to domestic US airports or use domestic terminals at
International airports
Airlines can use less expensive domestic US terminals
Seamless passenger connections at US Hubs
Improves productivity by avoiding split operations at US Hubs
Avoids fines and simpler handling if passenger is denied US entry
Airline Benefits - CBP
26. Shannon Free Zone today
Germany
17%
Italian
1%
United
Kingdom
7%
Ireland
15%
Finland
2%
Switzerland
7%
Austria
1%
USA
40%
Belgium
2%
Holland
3%
Canada
1%
Spain
4%
27. Bunratty Castle & Folk Park
Bunratty Castle was returned to its
former splendour by Viscount Lord
Gort who purchased it in 1954.
It was opened to the public as a
tourist attraction in 1960.
Shannon Heritage have been
entertaining visitors in their castles
since 1963. In that time over 4.5
million people have enjoyed evenings
in four distinct and unique venues.
