Rose Hynes and the Board of the Shannon Group should resign immediately to allow the appointment of a Board of aviation professionals capable of overseeing the economic recovery of Shannon Airport

Rose Hynes and the board of the Shannon Group have overseen a catastrophic decline in passenger numbers and route losses at Shannon Airport.

Shannon Airport has a long and distinguished history and is uniquely positioned as the most westerly European airport. A few of the milestones that spring to mind :

• The world's first Duty Free was established in Shannon.
• The Shannon Free Zone established in tandem with Shannon Airport was the model used by China to establish its industrial zones in Shanghai, Shenzhen and Xiamen and helped it to become an economic powerhouse.
• The world's first US CBP (Customs and Border Patrol) facility outside the Continental United States was established at Shannon .
• Shannon is the first choice diversion airport on the western Atlantic routes for technical and medical diversions by airlines.

At one time Shannon was THE gateway to Ireland outside of Dublin for the tourism economy which is so important to the economic well being of the west of Ireland but this situation has unfortunately changed significantly since the DAA divested itself of Shannon Airport. 

Shannon Airport is integral to the economic heartbeat of the midwest region stretching from Galway down to Limerick, providing much needed connectivity to the UK and North America but the Dublin-Centric aviation policy pursued by recent governments has seen Shannon's position eroded to the point where it has now become a parking facility for aircraft leasing companies and a fuel stop for the occasional bizjet aircraft crossing the Atlantic.

Meanwhile Dublin Airport and Cork Airport are thriving - at the expense of Shannon which bought the sucker punch. 

We are facing challenging times with Coronavirus but whilst other airports are getting back into operation Shannon is still lacking the vital Aer Lingus services to London Heathrow and the US and with no indication when these will be restored.

Ryanair can rattle all the sabres they like but it is airlines like Aer Lingus, United Airlines and American Airlines and the routes they offer that Shannon needs.

And while Shannon is burning the board of the Shannon Group is fiddling. Their failure to perform is in stark contrast to the performances of the likes of Cork, Knock and Kerry which have done an admirable job in route development and growing passenger numbers in recent years.

The Board of the Shannon Group includes a radio station owner, the ceo of a foundry and a former journalist. The closest to an aviation professional on the board is the CEO of an aircraft leasing company which doesn't necessarily qualify one to oversee the running of an airport.

Shannon needs a board of aviation professionals who know how to run an airport, are passionate about aviation and are capable of developing routes and growing passenger numbers to ensure the future of OUR airport.

And the future of OUR airport is in great danger. Unless drastic action is taken swiftly the west of Ireland is going lose one of its most important peieces of economic infrastructure.

Thank you for signing this petition.

Gerry McCready    Contact the author of the petition