Shannon Airport is the gateway to the West of Ireland, and is the third busiest airport in Ireland. This guide is for people who are travelling through Shannon Airport, and provides information about the facilities at the airport, hotels near the airport, car rental services and public transport services.

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Shannon Airport Guide
Shannon Airport
One of Ireland’s three major transport hubs (following Dublin
and Cork), Shannon Airport caters to roughly 1.4 million
passengers each year. This is also the Irish airport with the
most history. In the early days of commercial flight, Shannon
was a key refuelling hub for transatlantic flights.
Today, the main transatlantic flights are handled by Dublin
Airport, but Shannon still plays a strong regional role. For
those flying into the south-west of Ireland and planning to
see Limerick, Galway and Ennis, Shannon Airport serves as
gateway. Facilities are thorough, and a recent 21
st
Century
upgrade ensures that the airport is more than a relic of
historic, transatlantic flight.
More than a dozen airlines serve Shannon Airport, led by Aer
Lingus and Ryanair. Flights connect to cities across Ireland,
as well as to a few key cities in North America. It is also
possible to connect to holiday destinations across Europe
on a seasonal basis.
Facilities at Shannon Airport
Like Dublin Airport Shannon Airport has all of the amenities
and services you’d expect from a modern airport. Free Wi-
Fi broadcasts throughout the terminal, and passengers will
also find banking and postal services, executive lounges and
car hire desks in Arrivals Hall.
Restaurants and cafés are located on both sides of security.
Marsh Point Bar and Estuary Café are on the first floor
overlooking the check-in area. Further on is The Segafredo,
which serves coffee, pastries and sandwiches and is
especially handy for transit passengers who need a bite to
eat before they travel on. There’s also an Atlantic Coffee
Company in the Arrivals Hall.
Shannon Airport even has a little claim to fame on the
culinary front. Joe Sheridan – the former chef of the airport
– created the Irish coffee cocktail in 1943. Today, his legacy
continues at the Sheridan Food Pub.
The Loop is the primary shopping centre at Shannon Airport.
It features duty-free merchandise and is open to departing
passengers 24 hours per day. This was actually the first
airport in the world to offer duty-free shopping, and other
airports followed Shannon’s lead. If you’d like to pick up
some duty-free items but don’t think you’ll have time to shop,
consider using The Loop’s ‘Shop and Collect’ service.
Transport at Shannon Airport
Most people who touchdown at Shannon Airport are bound
for Limerick or Ennis, so onward transportation is a key
consideration. Both cities are about 25 km away – Limerick
to the east and Ennis to the north. The airport terminal is
located on an offshoot of the M18 and N18.
Two major bus companies are active at the airport. Bus
Éireann connects the terminal with Ennis (50 minutes),
Galway (1 hour, 45 minutes) and Cork (2 hours, 30 minutes).
JJ Kavanagh & Sons also operates service to Limerick (30
minutes) and Dublin (3 hours, 15 minutes).
Airport cabs queue outside of the Arrivals Hall whenever
flights are inbound. In this case, fares need to be agreed
upon before boarding the taxi. Generally speaking, drivers
will arrange to take passengers anywhere within a 50-km
radius of the terminal.
Shannon Airport Hotels
Many incoming passengers at Shannon Airport transfer
immediately to Limerick or Ennis. However, there is plenty
to enjoy in the immediate area as well. In particular, Bunratty
Castle and Folk Park is only a few minutes’ drive away,
and that prompts some to spend a night close to the airport
before travelling on.
With that in mind, there are several hotels in the immediate
area – including one directly on airport grounds. There are
options to suit everyone from business to leisure travellers,
including a few homey bed-and-breakfast style options. If
you are planning on staying a night near Shannon Airport,
be sure to book early for the best deals.
These are among the most popular Shannon Airport hotels:
Park Inn by Radisson Shannon Airport
The only hotel located on terminal grounds, the Park Inn by
Radisson is just steps away from the Arrival and Departures
Halls. It features stylish rooms along with on-site dining
and drinking facilities, 24-hour reception and free high-
speed wireless Internet access. The hotel’s Reading Room
comes complete with a fireplace and overlooks the Shannon
Estuary.
Carrygerry Country House
Housed in a country house that dates to the 18
th
-century,
Carrygerry is about ten minutes from the airport. It features
11 individually styled guestrooms and a restaurant with
views over the estuary.
Oak Wood Arms Hotel
One of Clare’s top business and conference hotels, Oak
Wood Arms is five minutes from the airport and operates a
‘Park, Stay, Fly’ service to make it easier for passengers to
connect to and from the terminal.
Great Southern
The Great Southern is located 1 km from airport grounds
and offers three-star service. It features an on-site pub and

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lounge as well as conference facilities for small to medium-
sized groups.
Shannon Court Hotel
Also a mere five minutes from the terminal, the Shannon
Court Hotel provides 54 spacious guestrooms and a full suite
of modern amenities. The hotel’s Olde Lodge pub is famous
with locals, as well.
Avarest Bunratty B&B
Appointed a four-star B&B by Ireland’s National Tourism
Body, this cosy establishment is less than 10 minutes’ drive
from the airport. One of the highlights is the traditional Irish
breakfast, made in part from locally sourced ingredients.
Renting a Car at Shannon Airport
With so much to see and do in the region, the best way to
travel on from Shannon Airport is by hire car. Travelling east
on the N18, drivers can reach the city of Limerick in about
30 minutes (depending on traffic). From here, a nexus of
motorways provides access to the entire country.
For most tourists and business travellers, hiring a car from
Shannon Airport makes the most sense. Taxi fares quickly
add up, and seeing the country by tour bus means constantly
travelling with a crowd of people. Behind the wheel of a hire
car, you dictate the terms and itinerary of your experience.
Collecting your Shannon Airport hire carThe check-in
process for passengers renting a car at Shannon Airport is
straightforward. There are two locations in the Arrivals Hall
that can help get you on the road. For those who have pre-
booked their hire car, the kiosk near baggage carousels 1
and 2 are standing by to finalise drivers’ paperwork. There’s
also a booth near the exit for those who have not yet made
a booking.
If you have booked your vehicle ahead of time, getting on the
road just takes a few minutes. Drivers receive confirmation
details that they can present to the Shannon Airport car hire
associate in the Arrivals Hall. From here, it’s a quick shuttle
ride to the depot, where an on-site associate will walk you
through an inspection of your car to make sure that there are
not any problems.
Among the car rental companies at Shannon Airport are:
Returning a rental car to Shannon AirportWhen you are
returning your rental car to Shannon Airport, simply drive the
vehicle to the same depot where you collected it. As you
approach the terminal, turn off from the Airport Road (N19)
at the signpost.
The return procedures are quick and painless, and it’s just a
two-minute shuttle ride to the terminal entrance, where you’ll
be dropped in front of the Departures Hall. To be safe, it’s
wise to allot about 30 minutes for the entire return process,
though it rarely takes this long.
Shannon Airport Airlines
The following is a list of the primary airlines serving Shannon
Airport, some of which operate seasonally. In addition to
these carriers, charter airlines also operate.
Airline Phone Website
Aer Lingus 0818 365000 www.aerlingus.com
Air Transat 00353 61 712462 www.airtransat.com
Delta 0818 904 872 www.delta.com
Flybe 0044 1392 683152 www.flybe.com
Ryanair 00353 61 471851 www.ryanair.com
United Airlines 00353 61 712670 www.united.com
US Airways 1890 925 065 www.usairways.com
Shannon Airport Authority
The Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) became separated
from the Dublin Airport Authority at the turn of 2013. With
that in mind, Shannon Airport is now a publically owned
commercial airport and operates independently.
The airport employs nearly 2,000 people, with another 500
working for the SAA at the nearby Industrial Estate. During
peak season, an additional 1,000 temporary staff come
on board. Some 1.4 million passengers pass through the
terminal each year.
Disclaimer
Every attempt has been made to ensure the information
provided here is correct, however the author cannot be held
liable for mistakes.