By DealzFlight News Desk
Ryanair has unveiled a major expansion plan for Shannon Airport, announcing four new routes to Rome, Warsaw, Poznań, and Madrid, alongside a fourth-based aircraft for Summer 2026.
The move marks a $400 million investment by the airline and represents its largest-ever summer schedule from the midwest airport.
Flights to Rome and Poznań are scheduled to begin on March 31, 2026, operating twice weekly on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Meanwhile, Ryanair’s year-round Madrid route will shift to a Wednesday and Sunday schedule for the summer season, starting the same day.
The new Warsaw route will commence on March 30, operating four times a week — on Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays — strengthening Shannon’s connectivity to key destinations in Central and Eastern Europe.
In addition to the new routes, Ryanair will increase flight frequency on five existing popular destinations — Manchester, Alicante, Barcelona-Reus, Lanzarote, and Malta — as part of its 2026 summer expansion.
With this addition, Ryanair will operate a record 30 routes from Shannon next year, its largest offering from the airport to date. The carrier expects to provide 1.4 million seats, including an additional 180,000 seats during the summer months, representing a 15% year-on-year increase.
Ray O’Driscoll, Interim CEO of The Shannon Airport Group, described the announcement as a strong vote of confidence in Shannon’s growth trajectory and its strategic role in connecting Ireland’s western region.
“It reflects our ongoing investment in infrastructure and passenger experience, as well as our strong commitment to working with airline partners to expand our route network and deliver greater choice for customers across the country,” Mr O’Driscoll said.
He added that the new services will boost tourism, trade, and regional development, noting that the enhanced connectivity will be welcomed by both leisure and business travellers.
“These new services enhance Shannon’s connectivity to key European cities and will be warmly welcomed by holidaymakers and business travellers alike,” he said.
Jason McGuinness, Ryanair’s Chief Commercial Officer, said the $400 million investment highlights the airline’s long-term commitment to regional Ireland and Shannon’s potential as a major European hub.
“Ryanair’s four based aircraft and $400 million investment in Shannon is a clear commitment to growing Ireland’s regional connectivity,” he said. “This summer, Shannon will benefit from 15% additional seats and four new routes thanks to the hard work of The Shannon Airport Group, who recognise the need for efficient, cost-competitive facilities to attract growth and drive inbound tourism to the region.”
However, McGuinness urged the Irish Government to do more to support regional airports, calling for an expansion of the Regional Airports Programme 2026–2030.
“The Government needs to expand the scope of the Regional Airports Programme to include airports handling up to three million passengers a year,” he said. “That would allow regional airports like Shannon to grow traffic without being penalised for success.”
The expansion underscores Ryanair’s ongoing strategy of strengthening regional connectivity across Ireland, while also supporting local economies and tourism. Industry experts say the move will significantly enhance Shannon’s competitiveness and reduce dependency on Dublin Airport for international travel.
With this latest announcement, Ryanair continues to cement its position as Ireland’s largest airline, while Shannon Airport prepares for a record-breaking summer season in 2026.
Editing by DealzFlight Business Desk | Contact: news@dealzflight.com
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