Shannon Airport has won the category for airports handling fewer than five million passengers at the 2026 Routes World Awards, following the ceremony in Frankfurt on Thursday, 22 October.

The results published by Routes editor David Casey on 23 October confirm the Clare airport’s category win. Rome Fiumicino received the overall award, so Shannon’s result should be understood as success within its passenger-size group.

Shannon’s fellow finalists were Bratislava, Cardiff, Cork and Halifax Stanfield, according to the previously announced shortlist. Clare FM also reported the Shannon result today.

Recognition for airline partnerships

The awards concern the work behind airline networks. The organiser says airport and destination entries were assessed by airline judges. Its account of Shannon’s entry points to five new routes and additional frequencies on 12 routes for 2026.

For Clare and the wider west of Ireland, the result brings recognition to the airport’s route-development work. The award itself does not announce another flight, change a timetable or guarantee a future service: those details still depend on individual airline announcements and booking schedules.