Ryanair Warns Shannon Hangar Delays Could Shift Investment, Jobs To Poland

Irish low-cost carrier Ryanair has warned it could move a planned €50 million ($56 million) maintenance hangar investment and 300 associated jobs from Shannon Airport to Poland if planning delays prevent the project from proceeding on schedule.

Ryanair originally announced plans to expand its existing Shannon operation last July. It proposed a four-bay aircraft MRO hangar along with an engineering academy. Currently, the airline operates a three-bay facility on Ireland’s west coast, employing more than 200 mechanics and engineers.

The original construction timeline was set to begin in early 2027 to provide additional maintenance capacity by 2028 to coincide with fleet growth. Ryanair is expected to receive the first of its 300 Boeing 737-10 aircraft by early 2027 and has long-term plans to increase its fleet to 800-900 aircraft.

Currently, it operates around 650 aircraft, mostly comprised of Boeing narrowbodies, with some Airbus A320 aircraft operating as part of the Malta-based Lauda Europe fleet, which operates under a wet-lease arrangement with Ryanair.

In an Oct. 8 statement, Ryanair Chief Operating Officer Neal McMahon said the airline was ready to commit the investment but would relocate the project if Shannon could not meet its timetable.

“Ryanair is ready to invest €50 million in Shannon and create 300 new high-skilled jobs, but we will not accept planning delays or bureaucracy,” McMahon said. He described the development as an opportunity to build on the airline’s existing engineering operation and support the next generation of aircraft mechanics. “However, if Shannon cannot deliver this project on time, then we will move it and the 300 jobs to Poland,” he added.

Ryanair did not identify a prospective Polish location in the statement but operates a maintenance facility in Wroclaw. The carrier conducts around 75% internal work and 25% external maintenance.