Ryanair threatens to move 300 jobs abroad
Ryanair has warned that it will relocate its planned €50 million hangar investment and the 300 new jobs to Poland if planning delays prevent the project from proceeding as scheduled. The airline announced the initiative in July, outlining a new maintenance hangar and an academy that would broaden its current operations at Shannon Airport.
The development has stalled while planners from Clare County Council request additional information and revised designs to address environmental and health concerns. The airline’s existing three-bay hangar already supports more than 200 highly skilled mechanics and engineering staff. Council officials say the proposed site southeast of the hangar includes a berm that could affect nearby sensitive habitats.
Ryanair expects to receive the first of its 300 new Boeing MAX-10 aircraft in early 2027, and it has indicated that the expanding fleet will need extra maintenance capacity by 2028. The carrier stressed that it cannot tolerate prolonged planning setbacks or endless bureaucratic procedures.
Neal McMahon, the airline’s chief operating officer, said the company is prepared to invest that amount in Shannon and to create those positions, but it will not accept further delays. He described the project as a major opportunity for the town and the surrounding region. The statement showed the importance of swift action to keep the plan on track.
Read Also: Ireland cuts capital gains tax to 31 percent
Clare County Council has voiced serious concerns about the berm planned for the site, citing its proximity to sensitive environmental receptors and possible ecological effects. The council asked for a detailed justification, including an assessment of alternative soil-management options.
Ryanair has made clear that if Shannon cannot deliver the facility on time, the airline will move the hangar and 300 jobs to Poland, with construction of the Shannon facility required to commence in early 2027.
The council’s objections and the airline’s ultimatum have created a sense of urgency around the undertaking, leaving the future of the investment and job creation uncertain. Stakeholders await the next steps, which will determine whether the project proceeds in Ireland or is transferred abroad.
