A senior Siptu official yesterday told management at Shannon Airport that his members are “flabbergasted” that it is seeking voluntary redundancies. Tony Carroll was speaking following a meeting with airport management where they formally informed Siptu that a voluntary redundancy scheme would be put in place. Accompanied by 10 Siptu shop stewards, who represent some 220 members at the airport, Mr Carroll said: “I told management that Siptu is disappointed at the notion of any redundancies at the airport. Members have told me that they are flabbergasted that management is seeking redundancies and I told management that at the meeting.” Mr Carroll said that, over the course of a two-hour meeting, the management team, led by chief executive Neil Pakey, made a presentation on the business plan for the airport. “We were told of projections of increases in passenger traffic and that the business wasn’t in trouble and that was a relief to hear,” he said. Mr Carroll said management told him they were putting the voluntary redundancy scheme in place after receiving representations from individual workers that they would be interested in exiting if such a scheme was put in place. He said: “None of the staff that I have spoken to over the last two weeks since these rumours were going around have expressed a preference for a voluntary redundancy programme. I told management that they are overstating the demand for such a scheme.” Mr Carroll said management will apply for approval from the Department of Transport for the scheme, adding that “the ball is in management’s court now”. The current job levels of about 280 at Shannon are based on traffic levels of 4m passengers a year. Shannon recorded passenger numbers of 1.7m last year. Local Fianna Fáil TD Timmy Dooley said the plan was bizarre, “after assurances were given that there would be no redundancies, but instead that there would be job increases”.
Limerick Leader wrote: SHANNON Airport’s summer season will get a boost tomorrow when Stobart Air’s six-times weekly service to Birmingham commences. The service, operated under the Aer Lingus Regional brand, will deliver an additional 45,000 seats into Shannon and bring to 35 the total number of destinations operated from the airport in 2015. It comes as Shannon saw a five percent growth in passenger numbers for May, compared to the same month last year. Shannon had been working hard to replace the route after Stobart Air stopped using the airport as a base and cut services to Birmingham, Bristol and Edinburgh in January. Declan Power, head of aviation at Shannon, said the commencement of the Birmingham route this Thursay would “add to the summer momentum”. “Our passenger numbers for May were up by 5% on last year and the summer season has definitely kicked off,” he explained. “However, one of the areas we need to grow is UK provincial. Birmingham is the third largest airport in the UK outside of London and has a catchment of 20 million people within 90 minutes travel time, so we see strong potential here for inbound business and leisure passengers, which is good for the region. “There’s also a strong outbound demand, with Birmingham serving a large swathe of the UK and is itself a business hub and, not least because of its midland location, a major conference centre. This is a very positive development for Shannon and our passengers and we look forward to making the service a real success The service will operate each day, except Saturdays, out of Birmingham, departing at 4.55pm and arriving in Shannon at 6.35pm, the return leg leaving at 7pm and touching down in the UK at 8.35pm. The airport’s five percent jump in traffic in May, year on year, included an increase of 15% from European markets and 3% from London, the single biggest city market for Shannon by far. The biggest growth market was the US, the highest spending market for inbound tourism, with an 18% increase in May across the airport’s American network, which has services to Boston, Chicago, JFK New York, Newark and Philadelphia.
Carnacalla wrote: » Reading this weeks Travel Extra edition I read that Omni planned a Las Vegas service from Shannon in 2014? I don't remember this.
Airbus330 wrote: » Any link?
Cosmo Kramer wrote: » Wasn't there talk at one point of Shannon getting a flight to a US destination not served from any other Irish airport? That must have been it. Is it dead in the water?
Carnacalla wrote: » Ryanair will operate an extra 3 flights to Lanzarote, Krakow, Warsaw, Berlin and 2 extra to Wroclaw over the christmas season. BHX is now scheduled with a Cork aircraft.
Airbus330 wrote: » Nice. Any change to the timing of the BHX?
Carnacalla wrote: » Flights leave and arrive a whole 10mins earlier.
Airbus330 wrote: » Fantastic. Where did you see Ryanairs winter schedule?
highlydebased wrote: » Great news in that from next Sunday there will be 5 express busses daily between SNN and Galway, taking just 50 minutes including an early am service. http://www.buseireann.ie/pdf/1434634532-051X.pdf
Brennans Row wrote: » The journey time between the airport and the bus station in Galway seems to be more like 70 than 50 minutes? Great news nevertheless.
Clareman wrote: » J@ysus, I wouldn't fancy being on the road when that bus comes by if they are going to do the trip that fast, with traffic in Galway I'd be giving more like 90 minutes to get from Eyre Square to Shannon.
black & white wrote: » My first and last time taking that was in December, bus was due to leave just after 4 if I remember and it didn't arrive until about 4.50, stopped in every town and village on the way and by the time I got to Eyre Sq it was just after 7. Never, ever again.
My first and last time taking that was in December, bus was due to leave just after 4 if I remember and it didn't arrive until about 4.50,
