Shannon Airport (SNN) is an international airport in the Republic of Ireland. It is located in County Clare, positioned on the Shannon Estuary roughly halfway between Ennis and Limerick and about 24 km from Limerick city.
The airport is public, owned by the Irish government, and operated by Shannon Airport Authority. It has served intercontinental flights to North America since the 1940s, which is still reflected in its US pre-clearance facilities.
In 2024, SNN handled just over 2 million passengers, making it the third-busiest airport in the Republic of Ireland.
Major Airlines - Ryanair, Aer Lingus
Shannon serves as a focus city for Ryanair, Europe’s largest low-cost carrier. It alone accounts for over three-quarters of all flights from SNN. Ryanair flies to more than 30 destinations, operating upwards of 300 flights per month.
The Irish flag carrier, Aer Lingus, serves Shannon Airport too by offering direct flights to major European airports like London-Heathrow (LHR) and Paris (CDG) as well as American airports like New York (JFK) and Boston (BOS).
Two US airlines offer seasonal flights to Shannon - Delta Air Lines flies to New York (JFK), while United Airlines links western Ireland to Chicago O’Hare (ORD) and Newark (EWR).
Discover Airlines is set to open a new route to Frankfurt (FRA) in mid-2025.
To see all routes from SNN, click here.
Terminal layout and gates
Shannon has one modern passenger terminal. It originally opened in 2000 and includes 14 gates, 40 check-in desks, and 5 baggage carousels, plus nearly 20 aircraft stands.
The terminal uses a simple layout where the Ground Floor handles Arrivals and the First Floor handles Departures. The airside area was renovated in 2010.
Unique in Europe among mid-size airports, Shannon Airport has a U.S. Pre-Clearance zone with gates adjacent to the regular ones.
Connecting flights and transit at SNN
Your transit experience at Shannon Airport largely depends on whether you are self-connecting (two separate bookings) or flying twice with the same or partnering airlines on the same booking.
Those self-connecting need to go through Customs and Immigration on their way out of the airport, as they are not eligible for the Flight Connections facility. After that, you may need to re-check your luggage and clear Security and Immigration on the way back in.
Transits between flights under the same PNR are much easier - you may remain within the Flight Connections facility (the airside area) until your next flight. Your checked-in luggage will be handled by your airline.
If your second flight is bound for the USA, you will have to use the U.S. Pre-Clearance facility in departures. Note that once through, you may not come back to the general airside area of the airport. The benefit is that you will arrive in the US as if you were traveling domestically.
The minimum connecting times are 45 minutes for domestic-to-international connections and 75 minutes for international-to-international. Self-transfers and/or baggage recheck may require additional time.
Longer layovers may give you enough time to experience some of the best things to do in Shannon and the region.
Wi-Fi and other services
Shannon Airport offers free and unlimited Wi-Fi throughout the terminal via the “Shannon Airport Free Wi-Fi” network. You can connect to it seamlessly on your chosen device. There are plenty of charging points near seating areas.
Other useful facilities at SNN include:
Water refill stations throughout the terminal.
Lost Property Team: Located in the Arrivals Hall and open between 6 AM and 11 PM daily.
Currency exchange: Courtesy of ICE, an exchange bureau is available in the Customs Hall (for arrivals only) and in the Arrivals Hall.
ATMs: in the check-in area, in Arrivals, and in the Transit Lounge.
A post box for letters and postcards next to the WHSmith shop in Arrivals.
Two airplane viewing galleries for planespotters are located on Level 2 of the terminal and on a perch near the Lufthansa hangar.
Baby-changing stations in both Arrivals and Departures.
A sensory room and children’s play area near Gate 7 for families and neurodiverse passengers.
Lounges at SNN
Shannon Airport has 2 airside lounges:
Boru Lounge near Gate 7.
Burren Suite near Gate 6.
Both typically open around 06:00; the Boru Lounge is generally open year-round until evening (~19:00), while Burren Suite hours and seasons vary.
Both lounges are located in the general airside area, so access them before you go through US Pre-clearance if you’re traveling to the USA.
Both the Boru and the Burren lounges offer drinks, food, Wi-Fi, newspapers, showers, and other amenities. Stays are limited to 3 hours, and the entrance fee is 50 EUR.
Dining options at Shannon Airport
Shannon Airport is relatively smalland when it comes to places to eat, it does not offer a huge variety. Anyhow, the four dining options at SNN present an adequate amount of choice:
Harry’s Café at gates 106-114, after U.S. customs, is open from 07:30 to 12:30 and serves coffee, pastries, and breakfast.
Zest Food Market in the departures lounge is open from 05:30 to 21:00 and offers salads, sandwiches, tea, and coffee.
JJ Ruddles in Arrivals is a mix between an Irish pub and a European restaurant, including options for all meals and even pizza!
The Sheridan pub at Shannon Duty Free exit is the only one open for very late flights (4 AM to the last flight). It offers Irish coffee and full meals.
Transport to and from the airport
Shannon Airport is located in the western part of Ireland, connected by National Route N19, just off the M18. It is 20 kilometres south of Ennis and 25 kilometres west of Limerick. Larger cities in Ireland include Galway (85 km north of SNN), Cork (125 km south of SNN), and the capital Dublin (223 km east of SNN).
Bus Éireann and Expressway services connect SNN to Galway (~1 h 45 min), Cork (~2 h 30 min), Ennis (~1 h), and Limerick (~30 min).
Notably, Route 343 runs 24/7 and links Shannon Airport to Limerick. Other important routes are #350 to Ennis and #51 linking Galway, Limerick, and Cork via Shannon Airport.
The nearest rail station is Limerick.
For closer destinations, taxis are a suitable option. There is an airport cab and taxi desk in Arrivals. Approximate fares are ~€35 to Limerick and ~€10 for shorter local trips.
Car rental at SNN is popular with several big companies operating offices in the Arrivals Hall. These include Avis, Budget, Europcar, Enterprise, and Hertz.
Parking at SNN
There are three main parking options with a combined total of over 5000 spaces:
Short-Stay: Just a 30-second walk from the terminal. Parking charges start from €24/day. The hourly tariff is €3 for the first hour and €14 for 12 hours.
Long-Stay: Split into Green, Blue, and Red sections, each between 1-4 minutes of walking from the terminal. Parking charges start from €10/day.
Park4Less: A cheaper parking alternative only available for online pre-booking. It is a 7-minute walk from the terminal, and charges start at €9/day.
Drive-in tariffs can be a bit higher than what’s listed above.
Hotels near Shannon Airport
The Park Inn by Radisson Shannon Airport stands directly across the terminal and makes for a convenient overnight stay near SNN. This 3-star hotel is about a 10-minute walk from the entrance and also houses an on-site restaurant among other high-class amenities.
Additional lodgings nearby include Shannon Springs Hotel and Treacys Oakwood Hotel, both with 4 stars, and are located in the nearby towns of Ballycasey More and Tullyvaraga, respectively.
While the region offers many family-run guesthouses and small hotels, more standard hotels can be found in Ennis and Limerick, each around 20 km from the airport.
Shannon, Ireland
No
