Shannon Airport outlines €40m investment plans in 2026 after best year in decades

Ireland’s Shannon Airport Group has announced plans to invest more than €40m in 2026 on infrastructure upgrades and sustainability improvements following a record year of passenger traffic in 2025. The investment programme was outlined as the airport prepares for expanded services and continued growth.

image: Shannon Airport Group

The planned spending includes a full upgrade of immigration and baggage halls, improvements to taxiways, and the installation of a thermal wrap on the terminal’s external arrivals area to support long‑term energy efficiency targets. These projects are part of a broader strategy to improve passenger experience and airport operations.

Shannon Airport handled more than 2.3m passengers in 2025, its highest annual total in 16 years, driven by new routes and expanded services from airlines including Ryanair and Discover Airlines. The airport group also expects to operate 40 scheduled routes in 2026, the most offered in 17 years.

Ray O’Driscoll, Interim Chief Executive of The Shannon Airport Group, said the previous year had been “a really positive year” for the organisation. He said passenger growth had been accompanied by more than €20m in investment in projects with clear benefits for passengers and sustainability goals. He added that the group’s total investment over the past decade had reached nearly €200m and that it was looking forward to an “even more ambitious 2026” with an expanded route network.

The airport continues to expand its non‑aviation business activities too, with substantial commercial property development planned alongside the infrastructure upgrades.