Knock Vs Shannon; Don't mention the war

[Schuhart]

We know from the map on the last page of this that Shannon Airport serves the whole country, apart from Dublin, Meath and possibly some parts of North Kildare.

However, slightly more seriously, there is a Government sponsored plan out there that talks about promoting “the wider catchment of Shannon airport, from Kerry to Donegal.” Its not clear how far East this ‘wider catchment’ goes, but lets assume it at least covers everything West of the Shannon. Lets also leave aside whether Sligo people would actually feel better served out of Dublin, given that once they get there they get access to one of the ten busiest international passenger airports in Europe with all the choice that offers.

At much the same time, Knock Airport is describing itself as ‘the gateway to the West and North West of Ireland’. So clearly both are chasing essentially the same people, or at least an enormously overlapping group.

I know we can bluster past the issue at stake here by some drivel like ‘this means even more choice and competition for air services’. But that hardly gets past the wonder of why the Government secured State Aid clearance for a package of investments in the regional airports like Knock if they’re now promoting Shannon as the Gateway to practically all of the places they serve.

But I think the simple question is should we leave what happens next to Darwin?

[goosebump]

But I think the simple question is should we leave what happens next to Darwin?

Yes, and thanks to the Recession, that is probably what will happen.

I live closer to 2 regional airports than I do to Dublin, but I've never flown out of either of them.

[seabhcan]

That map shows Longford being 2 hours drive from Shannon - ha ha.

According to Google Map's highly optimistic journey times, Longford is 2h40 m from Shannon, but only 1h20 from Dublin airport.

[essexboy]

Lets also leave aside whether Sligo people would actually feel better served out of Dublin,

Actually they could be better served from Belfast International Airport which is just as close as Dublin, has far better parking facilities and does not resemble a cattle market. Its only drawback is that it has fewer routes than Dublin but most popular European destinations are served.

[QuizMaster]

Belfast is served by EasyJet, a much friendlier airline than Ryanair. There are a huge number of destinations from Belfast, including several transatlantic.

[Schuhart]

Lets also leave aside whether Sligo people would actually feel better served out of Dublin,

Actually they could be better served from Belfast International Airport which is just as close as Dublin, has far better parking facilities and does not resemble a cattle market. Its only drawback is that it has fewer routes than Dublin but most popular European destinations are served.

A fair point indeed, and one that makes Shannon/Knock's claims to the North west even more precarious.

[Gimpanzee]

Knock has fewer scheduled flight destinations than Galway Airport. It isn't remotely comparable to Shannon. But given the economic conditions that it was builtin, it would be foolish to think that another economic downturn would close it.

[Bray Head]

Was talking to a guy from Edinburgh a while ago who was bemoaning the lack of international connectivity from Scotland (which, like Ireland, is a small country on the periphery of Europe). The status quo is three international airports in central Scotland: Prestwick, Glasgow and Edniburgh. He reckoned that construction of a large international airport somewhere between Edinburgh and Glasgow would serve central Scotland better than the current three in terms of attracting sufficient passengers for more destinations at a greater frequency.

[Rainman]

Lets also leave aside whether Sligo people would actually feel better served out of Dublin,

Actually they could be better served from Belfast International Airport which is just as close as Dublin, has far better parking facilities and does not resemble a cattle market. Its only drawback is that it has fewer routes than Dublin but most popular European destinations are served.

I'm Sorry but Belfast "International" resembles a cattle market inside it so out dated, small and crowded I recently flew from there to central Europe because I could not get a flight out of Dublin that day. This is not a crack at Belfast I have been there several time and really like the atmosphere in the centre.

The security check in is outdated and slow - looks like something from a eastern European country

As for the car park plenty of spaces but from what I remember it cost me 9stg a day not cheap for a airport that is surrounded by green fields.
The worst thing was that I was returning on the last flight into Belfast at 12.30am I had to wait for 40 mins before the bus came to pick me up to bring me to my car. And that was only after I had pressed the red button at the bus stop seeking help twice to ask for a bus, Sorry I will not be doing Belfast for a long time.

[Jargongrad]

I've flown to and from both Belfast International and Belfast City and I find the security checks slow and over the top. It might be a post troubles thing but for me they really take it too far.