Ryanair has opened its first aircraft heavy maintenance facility in Ireland with an investment of €10 million going into the Shannon Airport site. The airline said the facility was creating 200 high-skilled jobs in the region, employing licensed engineers, mechanics and support staff.
The three-bay 5,220sq m facility, which is leased from Shannon Group, will support the maintenance of Ryanair's fleet as it expands to 600 aircraft by 2026, it said.
The airline added that the investment reflected its commitment to the midwest region and to Ireland as it continues its recovery from the pandemic.
Ryanair has operated from Shannon Airport since 1986, opening its base at the southwestern airport in 2005 and carrying more than 17 million customers to and from the airport to date.
“Shannon is an ideal location with opportunities to attract, train and employ local talent to support this new facility,” said Ryanair director of operations Neal McMahon.
Shannon Group chief executive Mary Considine said the investment was "a vote of confidence" by Ryanair in the future of the airport.
“Having Ryanair at Hangar 5, one of 10 fully-occupied hangars on our Shannon campus, is another significant boost for the region, creating high quality jobs for local aviation specialists.
“The resulting jobs and investment are also consistent with our strategic plan to increase economic growth and retain skills and talent in the region.”
