Revamp of terminal at Shannon Airport aims to cut emissions, modernise passenger facilities and reshape the airport’s 1970s-era arrivals area.
Shannon Airport has begun a €15 million overhaul of its terminal building, launching the first major aviation-focused component of a €40 million capital investment programme scheduled for 2026.
The work centres on the arrivals area and marks the latest stage in a broader plan to modernise the airport’s infrastructure while embedding long term sustainability improvements.
“As part of our overall €40 million investment programme, this project will enable major carbon reductions while also modernising one of the most important parts of the terminal”
The 1970s section of the main terminal will be replaced with a curved façade designed to improve energy efficiency and support the transition to electric heat pumps and new HVAC systems. The Shannon Airport Group said the changes will allow the terminal to phase out fossil fuel heating and sharply reduce emissions.
Passengers will see visible changes to the building’s exterior as well as improvements inside. The immigration and baggage halls are being redesigned to create brighter and more modern spaces, with new toilets, upgraded lighting and flooring, clearer wayfinding and revised layouts intended to ease passenger flow. The redesign includes a dedicated entrance for European arrivals.
Soaring ambition
The Group is also removing an ageing 1950s link corridor, a step that is expected to save about 62 tonnes of carbon dioxide each year by eliminating the need to heat and cool the structure. New accommodation for Fixed Based Operators will be added within the arrivals area as part of the reconfiguration.
Ray O’Driscoll, interim chief executive of the Shannon Airport Group, said the project represents “a significant step forward in our commitment to lowering emissions, improving energy performance and enhancing the customer experience at Shannon Airport”.
“As part of our overall €40 million investment programme, this project will enable major carbon reductions while also modernising one of the most important parts of the terminal. This work builds on the numerous enhancements we’ve already delivered and is a further investment in our passengers and in a sustainable future.”
The programme builds on a period of sustained upgrades at Shannon.
Recent investments include the rollout of C3 security scanning equipment, 1,000 additional parking spaces, six new airbridges, improved flight information displays and the launch of the Shannon Airport app. In 2025 the airport also introduced Ireland’s first solar photovoltaic farm located on an airfield, alongside refurbishments of European Gates 1 to 5.
OCC Construction, a Galway contractor known for commercial, residential and medical technology developments, has been appointed to deliver the terminal works. Construction has begun, with completion expected in May 2027. The Group said no significant disruption is anticipated during the project but thanked passengers in advance for their patience.
Beyond the terminal upgrade, the €40 million investment plan for 2026 includes taxiway improvements and the completion of Blocks Y and Z at Shannon Airport Business Park. The new industrial units will provide about 100,000 square feet of flexible and energy-efficient space.
Top image: From left: Ray O’Driscoll, Interim CEO, The Shannon Airport Group; Grainne McInerney, Head of Group Capital Projects, The Shannon Airport Group; Peter O’Connell, Managing Director, OCC; Tara Leech, Health and Safety Officer, OCC; Gearoid O’Leary, Project Manager, The Shannon Airport Group; John O’Connell, Senior Contracts Manager, OCC; and Niall Kearns, Airport Director, Shannon Airport. Photo: Arthur Ellis
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