Shannon Airport Thread [Mod Warning in First Post]

JP McManus is the new owner of €30m Adare Manor (Limerick Leader)

A deal for JP McManus to take ownership of the five-star Adare Manor resort was finalised this Wednesday evening, the Limerick Leader can reveal.

The 18-hole championship golf course designed by Robert Trent Jones Snr. The course hosted the Irish Open in 2007 and 2008, as well as the JP McManus ProAm on two occasions which attracted some of the world’s leading golfers and a host of celebrities.

Mr McManus did not rule out the possibility of another similar event in the future. “We might see another Pro-Am in the future, so fingers crossed,” he said.

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Ideal buyer for the Adare Hotel Golf Course in my opinion (see previous post).

In Dublin are lingus regional used to have Shannon to Dublin up on the screens at the gate. Presumably for positioning. So either these will just be positions. Although a few have said flights go from Shannon to Dublin I've never seen one bar pilots flying position planes

The mention of dub-SNN in that article is an error. It was probably meant to say that the aircraft will operate flights to dub and SNN from the Cork base which happens in summer.

Carnacalla wrote: »

I don't really understand your point. What does positioning mean?

There used to be shannon-dub flights before the open skies agreement, but that was mainly for transatlantic operations, although you could book a ticket from dub-snn and visa versa.

I really doubt there would be a reinstatement of the service.

basically getting a plane ready for the morning flights. example would be a late flight coming in from Heathrow to Shannon. but the plane is needed in dublin for the first morning flight to Gatwick. pilot just brings it up parks it and comes back to shannon. literally positioning the plane

Carnacalla wrote: »

Maybe that's what it was meant to imply, but the editor didn't read over it right. Does this mean a route announcement for Shannon?

No- Cork based aircraft operate SNN-Malaga, SNN-Faro in summer plus some PMI and MUC to Dublin services

Empty positioning is very rare these days as it's very costly to do and proper fleet planning eliminates it. Only tends to happen if there has been a diversion or an aircraft snagged for technical reasons etc. Stobart air position aircraft up and down the odd time for maintenance.

Aer Lingus Shannon - Lanzarote gone for next Summer. Not much publicity about that one.

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]EU blows aviation incentives off radar (Clare Champion)[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Government plans to create thousands of jobs in a potentially lucrative business [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]at Shannon Airport hang in the balance, after the European Commission vetoed a [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]special tax incentive scheme designed to attract major international investors.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]The Government has been forced to start new negotiations with EU authorities to [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]try to come up with an amended tax break plan, which was a flagship project that [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]was earmarked to generate thousands of jobs, by facilitating the construction of [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]aircraft maintenance hangars and ancillary facilities in Shannon.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]The decision has been described as a “disappointing set-back” and a “serious [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]blow” by Fianna Fáil Deputy Timmy Dooley, who hopes efforts will continue to [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]ensure the revised plan will be successful.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]However, Fine Gael Deputy Pat Breen believes this move does not jeopardise [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Shannon Airport’s efforts to develop an international aviation centre and will, [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]in fact, “probably put Shannon in a stronger position”.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Deputy Dooley expressed concern the revised tax incentive package would be much [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]less attractive for international investors. He said Shannon Group plc is trying [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]to attract business away from places like Arizona, where a lot of existing [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]business is carried out, in much better weather conditions when compared to [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Ireland.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Following the abolition of Shannon Development, he said it could be even more [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]difficult to attract the necessary investment if the tax incentives are reduced.[/FONT]

“[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Shannon Airport is not just about passenger numbers. It is also important to [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]retain between 7,500 and 8,000 people that are employed in the industrial zone. [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]In order to save Shannon Airport, Shannon Development was disbanded and its [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]assets were subsumed into the new Shannon Group. That works up to a point.[/FONT]

“[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Where that falls down is you no longer have Shannon Development in place to [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]promote and attract new businesses to the region and the tax incentives package, [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]which was supposed to do this, has now been dealt a serious blow,” he said.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]A scheme of accelerated capital allowances was proposed by Finance Minister [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Michael Noonan in Budget 2012, as part of a series of measures for State [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]airports, which would help put Shannon back on a sound business footing. It was [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]expected to kickstart the development of an aviation services centre that would [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]engage in aircraft maintenance, dismantling of aircraft for parts and converting [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]aircraft into freighters, in addition to establishing an international aviation [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]training centre.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Fianna Fáil economics advisor, Kevin Barrett, explained under the original [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]scheme proposed by Minister Noonan, the cost of developing an aviation [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]maintenance hanger would be written off over seven years, compared to usual term [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]of 25 years.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]While this tax incentive package was available for the three airports, Mr [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Barrett pointed out Shannon was deemed to be the most suitable to attract this [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]type of investment. He said the EU deemed the initial plan was anti-competitive [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]and did not comply with its state aid rules.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]He described the latest proposal as a “watered down” version of what was agreed [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]two years ago. If the new tax incentives are scaled back, he warned Shannon [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Group plc would have to charge a higher rent to any company, in order to get a [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]return on its investment.[/FONT]

“[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]What hasn’t been explained is why it took the European Commission so long to [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]confirm that what was put forward two years ago wasn’t acceptable. It is not [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]clear at what stage the European Commission started to come down on the side of [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]objecting to this plan.[/FONT]

“[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]If the revised proposal is accepted, Shannon Airport will then have to present [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]a plan to construct an aircraft maintenance facility and then rent it to [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]aviation firms,” he outlined.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Deputy Pat Breen feels the veto doesn’t jeopardies Shannon Airport’s efforts to [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]develop an international aviation centre.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Having raised the issue with Finance Minister Michael Noonan, Deputy Breen said [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]the minister has confirmed that a revised application has now been resubmitted, [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]following on from discussions that took place between his officials and the [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]commission.[/FONT]

“[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Amendments are also being made to the section in the current Finance Bill which [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]will, hopefully, result in approval being granted by the Commission. What is [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]envisaged is that the main change to the scheme will restrict the areas that the [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]hangars and ancillary buildings can be built into ‘assisted areas’ as defined in [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]the Regional Aid Map for Ireland 2014-2020. This change will ensure that Shannon [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Airport will still qualify for the scheme, while Dublin and Cork will probably [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]be excluded.[/FONT]

“[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]I would be hopeful that the Commission would make an early decision on this [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]submission. In the event that a decision has not been issued by the end of this [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]month, I will be lobbying the Commission and our MEPs when I am in Brussels in [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]early December,” Deputy Breen added.[/FONT]

“[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]There is keen interest from aviation-related business in setting up in Shannon [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]and an early Commission decision is important, so that the airport authority [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]can begin to develop this side of their business,” he concluded.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]A Shannon Group plc spokesperson stated Minister Noonan announced a scheme of [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]accelerated capital allowances entitled ‘Incentives for certain aviation service [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]facilities’ which were provided for in Section 31 of the Finance Act 2013.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]This scheme is intended to provide for accelerated capital allowances for the [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]construction and refurbishment of certain specialist buildings and structures [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]for use in the maintenance, repair, overhaul or dismantling of commercial [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]aircraft nationally, and not just at Shannon.[/FONT]

[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]The group is awaiting finalisation of this scheme and relevant legislation.[/FONT]

“[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]The Irish Aviation Services Centre (IASC), which is a Shannon Group plc [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]business unit, intends to maximise any opportunity arising from specific [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]allowances for this sector in Ireland.[/FONT]

“[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]Some 1,600 staff are already employed in 40 firms at Shannon and IASC fully [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]intends on building on this considerable presence over the coming years,” the [/FONT]
[FONT=Verdana, sans-serif]spokesperson added.[/FONT]

Carnacalla wrote: »

Aer Lingus's flight from Lanzarote diverted to Malaga this evening. This caused a 2 hour delay in the flight returning to Shannon.

Could this of been a medical emergency?

For fuel no doubt, that flight often stops at Faro and occasionally Malaga for that purpose.

cnoc wrote: »

Has the early morning flight to LHR returned?

No I was referring to every Saturday the Heathrow flights were cut down to 2 due to the lanzarote flight. Last week this continued to be scheduled as 2 flights every saturday for the summer but now reverted back go 3.

The Heathrow flight next summer is 8:40, slightly earlier

cnoc wrote: »

Thanks for the info. Shame the flt doesn't depart earlier.

They obviously wanted an early morning Belfast flight more than an early morning shannon flight.
Hopefully with the ending of little red we may see our early flight back.

Carnacalla wrote: »

The Heathrow flights are back to normal, so that signals a return to normal.

If there was never an announcement about the commencement, then why make a publication of a cancalation of a service that was never even hinted.

Oh, sorry. I thought it was there this Summer.

notharrypotter wrote: »

Were the contracts coming to their natural end anyway?
If that's the case the locals will have developed their own expertise an no longer need the joint venture anymore.

The current situation in the Ukraine and Russia may give pause for thought regarding joint ventures to the East.

Aerofirst (Moscow) and Shannon (ARI) have worked together for over 26 years now.

The DAA selling ARI’s interests there, signals a total withdrawal from the Russian market thus losing long-term business relationships.

I’m just lamenting this loss, as the Shannon Group pins its hopes on Transaero becoming an important MRO player at the airport.

Cookiemunster wrote: »

Seeing as the DAA who own ARI no longer have any links to the Shannon Group, I fail to see how this would affect and dealings that Shannon Group have with Transaero. Or infact what links Transaero would have with Aerofirst.

Shannon’s Russian business ventures started with the state airline Aeroflot.

This lead to the fuel farm initiative in the 1980’s where cheap Russian aviation fuel was shipped to Shannon which made the airport very profitable in that decade.

Building on that success with Aeroflot it lead to Shannon setting up ARI to repaint Aeroflot aircraft (today Eirtech).

These business contacts opened the doors for further joint ventures with the Russian government, to be allowed to manage Duty Free Shops at some of their main international airports.

Transaero was the first private airline to setup in Russia who started off by leasing their aircraft from Aeroflot.

Transaero took over the Air Atlanta Aero Engineering hangar in 2010 and have ambitious MRO plans for the airport.

There is no direct link between Aerofirst and Transaero, apart from the fact that they are based in Moscow and here lies the crux of the matter.

Even today in Putin’s Russia, one’s personal business relationships are as important than ever.

In my opinion the DAA has reduced them for SNN. Do read the pdf link above.

The UK Airport Provisional Statistics for October.

The overall total UK figures are up +6.00% as against the same month from last year (Shannon Airport).

Unfortunately the figures for Birmingham are not yet available.

Number of tourists up on 'Gathering' figures in Shannon area (Independent)

Tourist chiefs at the Shannon Heritage group, which operates Bunratty Castle, are toasting the best tourism year for business since 2007.

The chief executive of Shannon Heritage, John Ruddle, revealed yesterday that the firm's tourist attractions, including King John's Castle in Limerick, enjoyed a 12pc rise in tourist numbers for the first ten months of 2014. Mr Ruddle was commenting on new accounts just filed by Shannon Heritage which show that pre-tax profits declined 66pc last year to €21,943. This was in spite of revenues rising 7pc to €11m.

The firm - now part of the Shannon plc group - employs over 300 people at peak season. "The 2013 'Gathering' was positive, but this year has been even better and has got the company on a solid growth curve," said Mr Ruddle. "The first ten months overall have been very positive with a total of 482,000 visitors." He attributed the rise in visitor numbers to the increase in capacity and new services at Shannon airport long with the the Wild Atlantic Way initiative.

Mr Ruddle is projecting visitor numbers increases in 2015 of 5 to 10pc.

Staff costs totalled €4.64m including Mr Ruddle's pay of €105,210.