Irish lawmakers reaffirm support for infrastructure investment at Shannon Airport

Irish parliamentarians have reaffirmed support for ongoing infrastructure investment at Shannon Airport following a briefing on a multi-million-euro programme aimed at upgrading facilities, improving sustainability and strengthening the airport’s role in regional connectivity.

image: Shannon Airport - Members of the Cross-Party Shannon Airport Oireachtas Group with Shannon Airport Management

Members of the Cross-Party Shannon Airport Oireachtas Group recently met at the airport to receive an update on The Shannon Airport Group’s €40m investment programme for 2026, which includes terminal upgrades, energy projects and improvements to passenger infrastructure.

Work on the terminal includes a complete upgrade of the immigration and baggage halls to streamline passenger processing and improve the arrivals experience, together with a new curved architectural façade designed to improve energy efficiency and support the transition to electric heat-pump technology, replacing fossil-fuel-based systems.

Alongside the terminal works, the airport group outlined wider sustainability initiatives being implemented across the site. These include an on-airfield solar photovoltaic farm that is expected to provide up to 20% of the airport’s electricity needs, as well as broader carbon-reduction measures and circular-economy initiatives.

Cathal Crowe TD, chair of the Shannon Airport Oireachtas Group, said the briefing demonstrated the scale of the current investment programme. “We greatly welcomed our comprehensive briefing on the 2026 investment plans and the transformative impact they will have – not only for passengers flying through Shannon, but also in terms of the airport’s ongoing efforts to green its operations for the future.”

Crowe also highlighted the airport’s recent inclusion in the government’s Regional Airports Programme 2026–2030, which supports connectivity and infrastructure at regional airports.

“This is a strong acknowledgment of Shannon’s essential role in supporting balanced regional development and maintaining vital connectivity for the West and Mid-West.”

Ray O’Driscoll, interim chief executive of The Shannon Airport Group, said engagement with national lawmakers was important as the airport continues its investment programme.

“We are delighted to welcome members of the Shannon Airport Oireachtas Group back to Shannon Airport. Their cross-party support over the past year has been invaluable in advancing the interests of the airport and the wider region, and we deeply appreciate their continued engagement.”

The Cross-Party Shannon Airport Oireachtas Group is a group of members of Ireland’s national parliament — the Oireachtas, which consists of the Dáil Éireann (lower house) and Seanad Éireann (upper house) — drawn from multiple political parties and representing constituencies in the Mid-West region.

The group was formed to advocate for the airport’s development and to coordinate political support for policies that strengthen Shannon’s role in Ireland’s aviation network and regional economy.

Shannon Airport has long been seen as a key piece of transport infrastructure in western Ireland, supporting tourism, business travel and freight operations. The airport also sits alongside the Shannon Free Zone, one of the world’s earliest free-trade zones, which hosts multinational companies and thousands of jobs.