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Shannon Airport GuideShannon Airport

One of Ireland’s three major transport hubs (following Dublinand Cork), Shannon Airport caters to roughly 1.4 millionpassengers each year. This is also the Irish airport with themost history. In the early days of commercial flight, Shannonwas a key refuelling hub for transatlantic flights.Today, the main transatlantic flights are handled by DublinAirport, but Shannon still plays a strong regional role. Forthose flying into the south-west of Ireland and planning tosee Limerick, Galway and Ennis, Shannon Airport serves asgateway. Facilities are thorough, and a recent 21st Centuryupgrade ensures that the airport is more than a relic ofhistoric, transatlantic flight.More than a dozen airlines serve Shannon Airport, led by AerLingus and Ryanair. Flights connect to cities across Ireland,as well as to a few key cities in North America. It is alsopossible to connect to holiday destinations across Europeon a seasonal basis.

Facilities at Shannon AirportLike Dublin Airport Shannon Airport has all of the amenitiesand services you’d expect from a modern airport. Free Wi-Fi broadcasts throughout the terminal, and passengers willalso find banking and postal services, executive lounges andcar hire desks in Arrivals Hall.Restaurants and cafés are located on both sides of security.Marsh Point Bar and Estuary Café are on the first flooroverlooking the check-in area. Further on is The Segafredo,which serves coffee, pastries and sandwiches and isespecially handy for transit passengers who need a bite toeat before they travel on. There’s also an Atlantic CoffeeCompany in the Arrivals Hall.Shannon Airport even has a little claim to fame on theculinary front. Joe Sheridan – the former chef of the airport– created the Irish coffee cocktail in 1943. Today, his legacycontinues at the Sheridan Food Pub.The Loop is the primary shopping centre at Shannon Airport.It features duty-free merchandise and is open to departingpassengers 24 hours per day. This was actually the firstairport in the world to offer duty-free shopping, and otherairports followed Shannon’s lead. If you’d like to pick up

some duty-free items but don’t think you’ll have time to shop,consider using The Loop’s ‘Shop and Collect’ service.

Transport at Shannon AirportMost people who touchdown at Shannon Airport are boundfor Limerick or Ennis, so onward transportation is a keyconsideration. Both cities are about 25 km away – Limerickto the east and Ennis to the north. The airport terminal islocated on an offshoot of the M18 and N18.Two major bus companies are active at the airport. BusÉireann connects the terminal with Ennis (50 minutes),Galway (1 hour, 45 minutes) and Cork (2 hours, 30 minutes).JJ Kavanagh & Sons also operates service to Limerick (30minutes) and Dublin (3 hours, 15 minutes).Airport cabs queue outside of the Arrivals Hall wheneverflights are inbound. In this case, fares need to be agreedupon before boarding the taxi. Generally speaking, driverswill arrange to take passengers anywhere within a 50-kmradius of the terminal.

Shannon Airport HotelsMany incoming passengers at Shannon Airport transferimmediately to Limerick or Ennis. However, there is plentyto enjoy in the immediate area as well. In particular, BunrattyCastle and Folk Park is only a few minutes’ drive away,and that prompts some to spend a night close to the airportbefore travelling on.With that in mind, there are several hotels in the immediatearea – including one directly on airport grounds. There areoptions to suit everyone from business to leisure travellers,including a few homey bed-and-breakfast style options. Ifyou are planning on staying a night near Shannon Airport,be sure to book early for the best deals.These are among the most popular Shannon Airport hotels:Park Inn by Radisson Shannon AirportThe only hotel located on terminal grounds, the Park Inn byRadisson is just steps away from the Arrival and DeparturesHalls. It features stylish rooms along with on-site diningand drinking facilities, 24-hour reception and free high-speed wireless Internet access. The hotel’s Reading Roomcomes complete with a fireplace and overlooks the ShannonEstuary.Carrygerry Country HouseHoused in a country house that dates to the 18th-century,Carrygerry is about ten minutes from the airport. It features11 individually styled guestrooms and a restaurant withviews over the estuary.Oak Wood Arms HotelOne of Clare’s top business and conference hotels, OakWood Arms is five minutes from the airport and operates a‘Park, Stay, Fly’ service to make it easier for passengers toconnect to and from the terminal.Great SouthernThe Great Southern is located 1 km from airport groundsand offers three-star service. It features an on-site pub and

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lounge as well as conference facilities for small to medium-sized groups.Shannon Court HotelAlso a mere five minutes from the terminal, the ShannonCourt Hotel provides 54 spacious guestrooms and a full suiteof modern amenities. The hotel’s Olde Lodge pub is famouswith locals, as well.Avarest Bunratty B&BAppointed a four-star B&B by Ireland’s National TourismBody, this cosy establishment is less than 10 minutes’ drivefrom the airport. One of the highlights is the traditional Irishbreakfast, made in part from locally sourced ingredients.

Renting a Car at Shannon AirportWith so much to see and do in the region, the best way totravel on from Shannon Airport is by hire car. Travelling easton the N18, drivers can reach the city of Limerick in about30 minutes (depending on traffic). From here, a nexus ofmotorways provides access to the entire country.For most tourists and business travellers, hiring a car fromShannon Airport makes the most sense. Taxi fares quicklyadd up, and seeing the country by tour bus means constantlytravelling with a crowd of people. Behind the wheel of a hirecar, you dictate the terms and itinerary of your experience.Collecting your Shannon Airport hire carThe check-inprocess for passengers renting a car at Shannon Airport isstraightforward. There are two locations in the Arrivals Hallthat can help get you on the road. For those who have pre-booked their hire car, the kiosk near baggage carousels 1and 2 are standing by to finalise drivers’ paperwork. There’salso a booth near the exit for those who have not yet madea booking.If you have booked your vehicle ahead of time, getting on theroad just takes a few minutes. Drivers receive confirmationdetails that they can present to the Shannon Airport car hireassociate in the Arrivals Hall. From here, it’s a quick shuttleride to the depot, where an on-site associate will walk youthrough an inspection of your car to make sure that there arenot any problems.Among the car rental companies at Shannon Airport are:Returning a rental car to Shannon AirportWhen you arereturning your rental car to Shannon Airport, simply drive thevehicle to the same depot where you collected it. As youapproach the terminal, turn off from the Airport Road (N19)at the signpost.The return procedures are quick and painless, and it’s just atwo-minute shuttle ride to the terminal entrance, where you’ll

be dropped in front of the Departures Hall. To be safe, it’swise to allot about 30 minutes for the entire return process,though it rarely takes this long.

Shannon Airport AirlinesThe following is a list of the primary airlines serving ShannonAirport, some of which operate seasonally. In addition tothese carriers, charter airlines also operate.

Airline Phone WebsiteAer Lingus 0818 365000 www.aerlingus.comAir Transat 00353 61 712462 www.airtransat.comDelta 0818 904 872 www.delta.comFlybe 0044 1392 683152 www.flybe.comRyanair 00353 61 471851 www.ryanair.comUnited Airlines 00353 61 712670 www.united.comUS Airways 1890 925 065 www.usairways.com

Shannon Airport AuthorityThe Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) became separatedfrom the Dublin Airport Authority at the turn of 2013. Withthat in mind, Shannon Airport is now a publically ownedcommercial airport and operates independently.The airport employs nearly 2,000 people, with another 500working for the SAA at the nearby Industrial Estate. Duringpeak season, an additional 1,000 temporary staff comeon board. Some 1.4 million passengers pass through theterminal each year.

DisclaimerEvery attempt has been made to ensure the informationprovided here is correct, however the author cannot be heldliable for mistakes.