Shannon Airport’s summer 2015 gets into full swing tomorrow, Thursday, with the commencement of Stobart Air’s six-times weekly service to Birmingham.

The service, which will be operated under the Aer Lingus Regional brand and use the ATR 72-600, is the final addition to the summer schedule this year and brings to 35 the total number of destinations operated from Shannon in 2015.

The Birmingham service will deliver an additional 45,000 seats and to a city that has proven a very popular destination for services to and from the West of Ireland in the past.

The service will operate each day, excluding Saturdays, out of Birmingham, departing at 4:55p.m. and arriving in Shannon at 6:35p.m.  The return leg leaves Shannon at 7p.m., arriving in Birmingham at 8:35p.m.

Head of Aviation Development, Declan Power, said that the return of the service adds to the summer momentum.  “Our passenger numbers for May were up by 5% on last year and the summer season has definitely kicked off.  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 90minutes 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.”