IT’S A GOOD day for Shannon Airport as it was just announced tonight that it had landed its greatest industry accolade by winning the overall Airport Achievement Award for 2014/2015 from the European Airline Association (ERA).

The award, was announced at a ceremony in Barcelona, Spain, tonight, and follows another win for the airport at the World Routes Awards in Chicago. This is the first time an Irish airport has been presented with the overall ERA award, which was established as the ‘ERA Airport of the Year Award’ in 2002.

The airport was singled out for ending five years of what judges noted was “seemingly interminable decline” by attracting new airline customers and making a profit in its first year as an independent entity.

The judges were also impressed by how independence from the national airport authority was used by management to concentrate on the needs of the local community and stakeholders. Another reason cited for Shannon’s selection for the top honour was how it had put itself at the very heart of the community in the region.

Last year, in just its first year as an independent entity, Shannon managed to halt five successive years of passenger numbers decline and significant losses by breaking even and marginally growing passenger numbers. This year the airport hopes to achieve double digit growth on the back of securing a range of new routes, particularly across its European network.

Shannon Group plc CEO Neil Pakey said that the Airport Achievement Award validated the efforts of all at Shannon, as well as the region, in turning the airport’s fortunes around since independence was achieved.

“We continue in our efforts to turn the airport’s fortunes in the right direction and this award is a great honour for Shannon, not least given it is the outright award from the European Regions Airline Association. To be the first Irish airport ever to win it is also a huge achievement,” he said.