Shannon Airport on Air France-KLM's radar as airline group urges Ireland to step up on green fuel

Air France-KLM has confirmed it has held talks with Shannon Airport about adding new routes, a move that could bring a major boost to the west of Ireland. The airline group's senior executive for the UK and Ireland, Jerome Salemi, said Shannon is firmly on the radar, though no final decision has been made yet.

The group, which operates Air France, KLM and Transavia, currently flies from Dublin and Cork to Amsterdam and Paris. But Mr Salemi said Ireland is a growing market, and the company is looking to expand its footprint here.

Speaking as the group called on the Irish Government to do more to develop sustainable aviation fuel (SAF), Mr Salemi said:

We have had discussions with Shannon. It's on the radar. No decision yet, but it's on the radar.

What would a Shannon route mean for the region?

Adding Shannon to the Air France-KLM network would connect the midwest directly to major European hubs. It would open up new travel options for business and leisure passengers alike, and could be a significant lift for regional connectivity.

Mr Salemi noted the company's recent growth in Ireland:

Over the past years, we grew quite significantly out of Dublin, but even more significantly out of Cork. Progressively we are increasing our footprint in Ireland, and we are very happy with that.

Why is the airline group critical of Ireland's green fuel policy?

The airline group is using the occasion to push for stronger Government action on sustainable aviation fuel. Maarten Koopmans, managing director of KLM Cityhopper, said Ireland is sitting back while other European countries move ahead.

SAF is an alternative to conventional jet fuel, produced from waste oils and other renewable materials. It is seen as a key part of cutting aviation's carbon footprint, but it costs more than traditional fuel.

Mr Koopmans framed the issue in terms of European security and independence:

We're very dependent on fossil fuel coming from the Middle East. This is the time for Europe to step up and become less dependent on fossil fuel and stimulate the use of SAF, and that's where we see almost no real action.

He was blunt about the lack of support:

There's no subsidies. There's no real help. It's very weak what Europe and therefore also the Irish Government is doing. They are just sitting back and waiting and seeing what happens.

What are the challenges for sustainable aviation fuel in Ireland?

The cost of SAF remains a major hurdle. Mr Koopmans admitted that airlines face a competitive disadvantage if they use more of it while rivals do not:

Honestly, when you look at the price of SAF, even with the current oil prices, it's too expensive. We are very much trying to use as much SAF as possible, but we are a business in competition. If others don't, and I do it, I go bankrupt.

Mr Salemi added that Ireland lacks the infrastructure and collaboration needed to develop its own SAF industry:

To be very concrete, there is no SAF plant in Ireland, also the projects are not clear about if there is a project for a coming plant in the future. It's really a matter of collaboration between all players, the Government, the private companies, banking, and the airlines.

Is Ireland falling behind other European countries on green aviation?

According to Mr Salemi, the optimism around SAF seen elsewhere in Europe is not reflected here:

We see a few initiatives here and there in the UK, in France, in the Netherlands, but we are not hearing anything from Ireland.

For a country that prides itself on its green image, that is a sobering assessment. The Government has a choice: support the development of a homegrown SAF industry and secure Ireland's place in the future of aviation, or keep waiting while others take the lead.

What happens next for Shannon Airport?

There is no timeline for a decision on Shannon, but the fact that talks are happening at all is a positive sign. With the right support from Government, both on connectivity and on sustainable fuel, the west of Ireland could become a real player in European aviation.

For now, the ball is in two courts: Air France-KLM's boardroom, and the corridors of Government in Dublin.