Promotion To Bring New Aviation Business To Shannon

Business & Finance - Industry

Friday, 15 October 2010 16:37

Written by Noel Cotter

Shannon Development executives have just returned from a major promotional campaign in the UK to attract new aviation business to Shannon Free Zone in Co. Clare.

The Company met with business contacts and established new business leads at the prestigious MRO Europe (Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul) exhibition which is attended by senior representative from the aviation industry world-wide.

Grellan Kelly, Shannon Free Zone Manager, Shannon Development said: “Currently over 1,700  people are employed in the aerospace sector in the Shannon Free Zone in companies such as Lufthansa Technik; Hamilton Sundstrand; Shannon Aerospace and Air Atlanta Aero Engineering Ltd.  MRO Europe is one of a small number of critically important international trade shows targeted by Shannon Development to establish new business leads.  For anyone involved in international aviation maintenance support, and especially those looking to develop new business relationships in Europe, MRO Europe is an essential building block. We were very pleased with the positive reactions we got from the industry contacts we targeted, and while this type of business tends to be long term, we are confident that our presence there will yield results.”

“The Conference & Exhibition brings together top decision making executives in the aviation sector including airline industry support managers, component suppliers and maintenance specialists. Shannon Development was delighted to again meet with representatives from Spirit AeroSystems Inc. and to congratulate them on their corporate announcement on the establishment of their Europe, the Middle East and Africa support office at Shannon Free Zone,” Mr. Kelly added. Based in Wichita, Kansas, Spirit AeroSystems is the world’s largest independent supplier of commercial airplane assemblies and components.

Shannon Development was one of over 250 exhibitors at the MRO Europe Conference & Exhibition which was held in London.  A major event in the aviation calendar, Shannon Development was there as part of its strategic marketing programme to continue to promote Shannon’s well known international brand, to highlight the importance of its existing aviation cluster companies, and to develop new project leads and new inward investment for the Shannon Free Zone.

MRO Europe attracted over 3,500 people and featured in-depth workshops on top aerospace challenges, innovative solutions from industry leaders as well as applicable case studies. One of the keynote speakers at the event was Willie Walsh, Chairman of the Association of European Airlines (AEA) for 2010 and CEO of British Airways.