Aer Lingus (EI, Dublin International) has confirmed plans to close its cargo facility at Shannon as it faces decreased demand and a lack of commercial justification for a dedicated presence in the western Irish town.

The IAG subsidiary said IAG International Airlines Group Cargo had completed a review of its operation at the airport and decided to close the facility by the end of 2024, local media reported.

“This is because the building requires significant capital investment that is not supported by the level of cargo activity at Shannon Airport. The company will now enter a consultation process with staff representatives to explore the options,” it added.

Aer Lingus said every effort was made in the last few years to secure additional cargo business for the Shannon facility by diverting loads from other areas. In 2021, the Irish flag carrier closed its crew base in the city.

The ch-aviation fleets module shows that Aer Lingus currently operates scheduled passenger flights from Shannon to Boston, London Heathrow, New York JFK, and Paris CDG.

Shannon Airport authorities told Ireland’s public service media RTÉ that cargo demand remains robust and that they will continue to work with other cargo carriers such as DHL Air, UPS Airlines, and FedEx Express. RTÉ reported that cargo levels at Shannon have grown overall by 23% since 2018.