Ryanair announced that it has submitted a planning application for a major expansion of its engineering operations at Shannon Airport, to become Ryanair’s largest aircraft maintenance facility in Ireland. This €50m investment will include a new 4-bay aircraft Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) hangar at Shannon Airport, further strengthening Ryanair’s long-standing maintenance and engineering operations. Subject to planning approval, Ryanair expects construction to commence in early 2027, with the new facility expected to enter operation in late 2028.
Ryanair currently operates a 3-bay aircraft maintenance hangar at Shannon Airport, supporting over 200 high-skilled, high-paid mechanics and engineering jobs. The new MRO hangar will form a key part of Ryanair’s ongoing investment in aircraft maintenance, operational resilience and engineering training across its network.
A new project, supported by Enterprise Ireland, will include a new Ryanair Engineering Academy, which will see the creation of 80 new apprenticeship roles and support the training of over 400 additional aircraft mechanics between 2027 and 2031, further supporting local employment.
Ryanair DAC CEO, Eddie Wilson, said “Ryanair is delighted to announce a €50m investment in Shannon Airport for a new 4-bay aircraft maintenance hangar and Engineering Academy. This project is about jobs, skills and growth. Shannon already plays an important role in maintaining Ryanair’s fleet, and this expansion will create hundreds of highly skilled engineering jobs while training the next generation of aircraft mechanics in Ireland.
This major new facility will not only increase Ryanair’s aircraft maintenance capacity at Shannon but will also include a new Engineering Academy, providing dedicated training facilities for up to 80 apprentices, training over 400 mechanics between 2027 and 2031.
We welcome Enterprise Ireland’s support for this investment, which will help deliver more high-skilled jobs, apprenticeships and long-term aviation growth in the Shannon region. Together with our new Dublin hangar, this investment demonstrates Ryanair’s long-term commitment to making Ireland a leading European centre for aviation maintenance and engineering excellence.”
Shannon Airport Group CEO, Ray O’Driscoll, said “Ryanair’s proposal to invest at Shannon is a powerful endorsement of Shannon Airport, our aviation ecosystem and the wider region. From the birthplace of aircraft leasing, Shannon has grown into a global hub for aviation services and engineering. Today, Shannon Airport and the adjacent Shannon Airport Business Park together support Ireland’s largest aviation cluster, with almost 100 companies operating across the campus. The scale of Ryanair’s proposal reflects the depth of aviation expertise, engineering capability and talent that has developed here over decades. We are proud of our long-standing relationship with Ryanair and look forward to supporting its ambitions at Shannon.”
Image Credit: Ryanair
Irish Aviation Research Institute © 10 August 2026 All Rights Reserved