News

Friday 23^rd October 2026: Shannon Airport has secured one of the aviation industry’s most prestigious honours after being named winner in the “Under 5 Million Passengers” category at the Routes World Awards 2026.

The award, announced last night at Routes World 2026 in Frankfurt, saw Shannon Airport emerge as the only Irish winner among the airports recognised at this year’s event.

Shannon was selected ahead of Bratislava Airport (Slovakia), Cardiff Airport (Wales), Cork Airport and Halifax Stanfield International Airport (Canada), having been shortlisted alongside the four international airports. The award recognises excellence in route development, airline partnerships and aviation marketing.

Shannon Airport’s submission showcased a period of strong growth, including a 12% increase in passenger numbers during the first half of 2026 and the expansion of its route network to 40 services, the highest number operated from the airport in 17 years.

For 2026, Shannon Airport added five new routes to Rome, Madrid, Warsaw, Poznań and Frankfurt, while increasing frequencies on 12 existing services. The airport also recently announced an Air Canada service to Toronto commencing in Summer 2027.

Welcoming the award, Ray O’Driscoll, CEO of The Shannon Airport Group, said: “To see Shannon Airport recognised on a global stage with this Routes World Award is a tremendous achievement and one that is richly deserved by our aviation development team.

This year Shannon Airport operates 40 services, the highest number in 17 years, including new routes to Madrid, Rome, Frankfurt, Warsaw and Poznań. That progress is the result of strong partnerships, a clear vision for the airport and a team that is passionate about creating opportunities for the region.

This award is not just recognition for Shannon Airport, it is recognition of the strength and potential of the region we serve. Every new route delivers benefits for tourism, trade, investment and local communities. We’re grateful to our airline partners for their continued support and to the passengers who choose Shannon Airport every day.”

Commenting on the win, Declan Power, Head of Aviation Development at Shannon Airport, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to receive this Routes World Award. It’s a fantastic result for Shannon Airport and a great endorsement of the work that’s been undertaken to grow our route network and strengthen our airline partnerships.

We’ve worked hard to position Shannon as an airport that delivers for both airlines and passengers, and it’s particularly rewarding to see that acknowledged at a global industry event. 

To be recognised among such strong international airports is a real honour and it’s especially meaningful because this Routes Award is determined by airlines themselves. It reflects the success of the collaborative approach we take to route development and of the value that Shannon Airport and our region can offer airline partners.”