Shannon Airport is a civilian airport which has historically been used as a stopping point for transatlantic flights due its geographic position.
I refer the Deputy to my response to Dail Question No. 390 of 21 April 2026 in which I stated that my department does not collate data in relation to the number of United States military personnel transiting through Shannon Airport, nor do I have a statutory function in relation to the transit of foreign military personnel. I can advise the Deputy that the data that Shannon Airport collates in relation to such passengers is purely for operational reasons including managing the operational environment in the airport including passenger facilities and for charging purposes.
Shannon Airport has already provided the Deputy with the total number of military personnel which transited for the first three months of 2026 in response to Question No.390.
I am advised by Shannon Airport that it does not collate information in the manner in which the Deputy has requested. The number of passengers who disembark transiting aircraft is not collected by the airport. These passenger numbers are recorded in general terms as ‘military personnel’ reflecting the number of passengers on board. I have asked Shannon Airport to provide the Deputy with these total numbers by month for 2024 and 2025.
