Located in the west of Ireland, Shannon Airport is the main gateway to the enchanting cities of Galway and Limerick. It's the third busiest in Ireland and provides convenient access to the rural valleys of western Ireland, with flights arriving from destinations across Europe and America. Shannon Airport is situated in the town of Shannon and serves the counties of Galway and Clare.
There is only one terminal, and the airport has a small rural feel. However, it currently has the longest runway in Ireland and became the world's first ever duty-free airport in 1947. Throughout its illustrious history, the airport was used as a stopping point for flights between Europe and the United States. In the 21st century, the airport continues to offers direct flights to a handful of destinations in North America, as well as being a hub for Ryanair services. There are ATM facilities inside the airport along with a small collection of cafes and shops.
A regular bus service takes passengers from Shannon Airport to destination across South-West Ireland. These include the 90-minute journey to Galway, buses to Limerick and Cork, along with a direct bus to Dublin. Many car rental firms have offices in the arrivals hall, and a taxi rank is situated across the road from the terminal.
Transatlantic flights have been operating out of Shannon Airport since 1945, to destinations like New York, Philadelphia and Chicago. The first transatlantic Boeing 747 landed here in 1971 while the first flight to Los Angeles departed in 1993.