IRELAND\\\


A new, long-discussed cargo facility at Shannon Airport could finally be under construction by early 2013. It could be an important tool in helping the airport attract carriers that fly to North America, Asia and the Middle East, believes Joe Buckley, cargo and technical traffic manager. Shannon lacks direct capacity


to these regions, and is trying to convince them of the benefits of serving the west of Ireland direct rather than relying on trucking via the UK and Europe. Cargo volumes were flat last year and without the new stimulus, Irish exporters of pharmaceuticals and medical devices could start


Buckley fears. The airport has outdated cargo facilities with a lack of loading bays.


Lynxs, a US developer of cargo facilities with additional interests in South America and Europe, signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding with Shannon back in 2009 and is now ready to go ahead, subject to expected planning approval. At a probable 6,000sq metres


to lose out,


in the first phase, the new facility will not be much bigger than what is there now, but it will benefit from a clean-sheet design which Lynxs director Anthony Jackson claims will cut operating costs by 25-30%. It will incorporate state of the art temperature-controlled areas allowing client companies to handle high-value perishable cargo, pharmaceuticals and products such as contact lenses. Ireland’s Industrial


Development Authority (IDA) will market the enhanced facility to potential inward investors while the Irish government is to study the feasibility of a humanitarian aid base.


Massive road improvements


across western Ireland have increased Shannon’s effective hinterland, with Galway now just


an hour away and Northern Ireland 2½ hours. Goods air freighted into Shannon can be re-exported to the UK or Europe more efficiently than ever before, with 12-hour transport times possible to UK DCs, Buckley says. Yet the airport has lost its appeal


during the downturn, with US Airways no longer calling, TNT


Issue 2 2012


29 Shannon airport tries the direct approach


pulling its nightly parcel service and FedEx only calling with a small feeder. John Whelan, chief executive


of the Irish Exporters Association, claims Ireland is “well behind the curve” in terms of airfreight access and says the new hub could help secure new carriers. Dublin Airport Authority


(DAA), as owner of Shannon, will provide


airside is infrastructure


to complement the Lynxs development. However, the government


looking at the


possible separation of Dublin, Shannon and Cork, and Shannon Airport Authority is thought


to


favour the idea of operating free from DAA control.


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Give your company the competitive edge by choosing a fit partner


Jumping the gun: Billboards are already promoting Shannon’s new cargo facility, though work has not begun yet


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