The restart of Delta’s seasonal service between Shannon and New York-JFK was marked in style today, at a celebratory gate event organized by Shannon Airport Authority in honor of Delta’s 30th anniversary of flying to the airport.
Delta’s inaugural flight from Shannon to Atlanta took off on May 8, 1986 and since then the airline has transported more than 1.7 million passengers between the West Coast of Ireland and the United States.
“Last year more than 45,000 passengers flew on our Shannon - New York-JFK service and this year we’re offering more capacity on the route for the summer season,” said Delta’s Station Manager for Ireland, Joan Carrick.
Shannon’s acting Chief Executive, Mary Considine, was joined by local dignitaries at the gate celebrations. She said:
“The connectivity to the U.S. provided by Delta over the past 30 years has been, and continues to be, pivotal for business and in-bound tourism. Delta’s New York-JFK service provides us with a vital gateway to reach global export markets, attract Foreign Direct Investment and bring international visitors to the West of Ireland - all of which help drive economic activity.”
To meet increased demand for the flight this summer, Delta has up-gauged the aircraft to a 225-seat Boeing 767-300 from a 757-200 that operated the route in previous years. Delta operates year-round service from Dublin.
