Shannon Ryanair
 

Expect a significant announcement in relation to Ryanairs Shannon operation later in the week.

Significantly positive, or significantly negative?

Don't keep me sweating, is it good or bad news?

Shannon Changes
 

Word is that at least two routes are to be dropped but that the deficit will be made up by capacity increases elsewhere.

My money would be on Stockholm Skavista going. Can't understand why they operated a year round service from an airport 70 miles from Stockholm to one whose immediate catchment area is quite small.

Must be a major loss maker in winter.

Hmm, fingers crossed they keep Gatwick going. :)

I'd be very surprised to see LGW going; I was on it on Monday - nearly full load. Apparently, EZY not doing at all well on it.

I'm surprised they don't add more UK regional routes; with BE off SNN-BHX and BA off SNN-MAN, there seems to be potential there. Perhaps some continental routes (like NYO) to be replaced by UK regional routes?

shannon
 

Both Skockholm and Lubeck don't appear in the timetable from Shannon after 21st of feb 2006 maybe as akerosid said more UK routes planned instead.

Yes, new routes!
 

Here it is, from the Indo; we should hear more later:

http://www.unison.ie/irish_independe...issue_id=13344

4 new routes - and some restructuring of existing routes.

We'll just have to wait and see..................

Ryanair Holdings PLC said it will start four new routes from
its Shannon airport base on Feb 2006, to Manchester, Wroclaw in Poland, Rome and Murcia in Spain, each operating three times a week.

To accommodate these new routes, Ryanair will close two routes from Shannon to Hamburg and Stockholm.

Looks like Gatwick may be going as well
Website not accepting bookings after 26/3/06

> Looks like Gatwick may be going as well

That conclusion may be a little hasty - there are several other routes from SNN that aren't yet available for booking after March 26th (STN, LTN, LPL, BVA).

The period after 26th March is classed as (all) airlines summer season.

Only some of Ryanairs summer schedules have been released at this time.

The Shannon/Rome flights are using a Rome based aircraft.

This flight replaces the Rome/DTV service.

The last DTV is on 21st Feb and the first SNN flight starts 23rd Feb.

World Airways are to transfer their troop carrying traffic away from Shannon

http://www.rte.ie/news/2006/0608/shannon.html

How about a SNN-BFS route by Ryanair.

Theres alot of talk about this restarting soon and just read in the NI Travel News Paper that an announcement is due in the next few weeks.

Could it be Ryanair?

easyJet are pulling the Shannon to Gatwick route at the end of September, together with services to Gatwick from both Cork and Knock.

From RYR crew based at Shannon. Expect a forth aircraft to be based there from Sept/Oct with a fifth arriving early 2007.

Shannon challenges
 

The link below is to a very good comprehensive article on the challenges that lie ahead for Shannon Airport:

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...8&refer=europe

"Connemara marble rosary beads were a favorite purchase (by American troops)".

Looks like a few jobs at "Connemara Rosary Beads" are in jeopardy now too! :(

UK
 

So with Easyjet announcing that they are to pull out of Ireland, Ryanair have been quick to react.

Thus no more Shannon to Gatwick with Easyjet, and Ryanair are pulling Shannon to Luton.

Then though, they announce 2 new Shannon routes:
Bournemouth and Edinburgh, both to operate on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

The Luton route is operated using a Luton aircraft.
So for the 2 new Shannon routes what existing routes will be cut back to allow for them?

I suspect that Shannon to Stansted and Gatwick could see a reduction in flights on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays!

That would mean:
No more Easyjet to Gatwick.
No more Ryanair to Luton.
Reduced Ryanair to Gatwick.
Reduced Ryanair to Stansted.

Meanwhile Ryanair are axing Knock to Gatwick, and Cork to Gatwick is likely to be reduced to a mere once daily flight.

Things aren't quiet clear yet. The new route announcements were only made this morning. And the schedules for the concerned routes have been all over the place in the booking engine today. Might have to wait until tomorrow to get a clearer picture....