Shannon Airport has officially launched its first flight to Madeira, marking the start of its summer schedule for 2025. The inaugural flight took off on Sunday, March 30, 2025, as part of an expansion that includes two new services and an overall 11% increase in operations compared to the previous year.
This summer, Shannon Airport will operate a total of 36 services to 11 countries, providing an additional 190,000 seats for travelers. Among the highlights is a new twice-weekly service to the Portuguese island of Madeira, which commenced with great fanfare on its inaugural flight. Additionally, a new charter service to Palma with TUI is now available, catering to the growing demand for sun-seeking holidays.
Mary Considine, CEO of the Shannon Airport Group, expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming travel season. “We are anticipating a bustling summer with 332 weekly flights on our 36 services, including new routes to Madeira with Ryanair and Palma with TUI,” she stated. Considine emphasized that the increased frequency on 13 services, adding 190,000 extra seats, reflects Shannon Airport’s rising popularity as a key gateway for European, UK, and transatlantic travel.
Considine also highlighted the airport's commitment to providing a seamless travel experience. “With ease of parking, our hi-tech security screening, US Preclearance facility, age-friendly measures, and airport sensory room, travelers can look forward to a hassle-free and enjoyable journey,” she added. Shannon Airport has received numerous awards for customer service, ranking first in the travel category for customer experience excellence in the Ireland Customer Experience Insights (CXi) Report.
The airport's management has launched a comprehensive advertising campaign to support the new summer schedule, targeting audiences across Ireland through various media outlets, including TV, radio, press, YouTube, and social media. Additionally, an enhanced Shannon Airport mobile app is now available for download, offering real-time flight updates, an augmented reality feature to measure cabin bags, and a feature to help locate parked cars.
In another significant development for air travel in Portugal, TAP, the country’s flagship airline, is set to restore its air connection between Faro in the Algarve and Funchal in Madeira. This long-awaited route will commence on June 2, 2025, after a 22-year hiatus. The service will run until September 11, featuring two weekly flights.
The flights will operate on Mondays and Thursdays, with the Monday flight from Funchal to Faro departing at 8:50 PM, and the return flight from Faro to Funchal scheduled for 11:15 PM. On Thursdays, flights will leave Funchal at 6:10 AM and depart from Faro at 8:35 AM. TAP will utilize Embraer E190 aircraft for this route, each with a seating capacity of 106 passengers.
Over the course of the season, TAP plans to offer a total of 30 flights, providing 3,180 seats in each direction. This route is expected to significantly enhance connectivity between two of Portugal’s most popular tourist regions, benefiting both tourists and residents alike.
Eduardo Jesus, Madeira’s Regional Secretary for Economy, Tourism, and Culture, welcomed the return of the route, calling it “excellent news for both Madeira and the Algarve.” He emphasized the importance of this direct link in promoting domestic tourism and improving mobility for residents, entrepreneurs, and students who need to travel frequently between the two regions.
“This direct link facilitates travel between two of Portugal’s most important tourist regions, stimulating domestic tourism while also creating new opportunities for residents,” Jesus stated. He also mentioned that passengers residing in Madeira will benefit from a Social Mobility Subsidy for travel between Funchal and Faro, similar to subsidies available for flights to Lisbon, Porto, and Ponta Delgada.
Jesus praised the strong relationship between TAP and Madeira, noting the airline's commitment to meeting the specific needs of the region. “In recent years, we have witnessed a strengthening of cooperation, improving accessibility to our region, which is essential for residents of Madeira and Porto Santo, as well as for tourism,” he explained.
As both Shannon Airport and TAP Airlines expand their services, the enhancements in connectivity are expected to bolster tourism and facilitate travel for residents, creating new opportunities for economic growth in the regions they serve. With the summer travel season approaching, both airports are gearing up for increased passenger volumes and the promise of new adventures for travelers.
Overall, the developments at Shannon Airport and the restoration of the Faro-Funchal route by TAP Airlines signal a positive trend in air travel, as both airlines aim to provide more options and better experiences for travelers this summer.
