Ryanair has announced a €50m investment to build a new four-bay aircraft maintenance, repair, and overhaul hangar at Shannon Airport, creating 400 highly skilled jobs and forming the largest aircraft maintenance facility in the airline's Irish network, as reported by Silicon Republic.

The company has submitted a planning application for the expansion. Subject to approval, construction is expected to begin in 2027, with the facility becoming operational in late 2028. Ryanair currently operates a three-bay maintenance hangar at Shannon, supporting more than 200 mechanical and engineering roles.

The investment also includes a new Ryanair Engineering Academy, which will create 80 apprenticeship positions and support the training of more than 400 additional aircraft mechanics between 2027 and 2031.

CEO Eddie Wilson said: "This project is about jobs, skills and growth. Shannon already plays an important role in maintaining Ryanair's fleet, and this expansion will create hundreds of highly skilled engineering jobs while training the next generation of aircraft mechanics in Ireland. We welcome Enterprise Ireland's support for this investment, which will help deliver more high-skilled jobs, apprenticeships and long-term aviation growth in the Shannon region. Together with our new Dublin hangar, this investment demonstrates Ryanair's long-term commitment to making Ireland a leading European centre for aviation maintenance and engineering excellence."

Enterprise Ireland CEO Jenny Melia said the announcement was a strong endorsement of Ireland as a location for long-term investment and growth, adding that Ryanair's investment in skills and training at Shannon was particularly significant in supporting the development of specialist talent and addressing critical skills needs across the aviation sector.

The Shannon expansion forms part of a broader MRO investment strategy. Wilson referenced a new Dublin hangar alongside the Shannon project, positioning both facilities as part of a coordinated effort to build Ireland's capacity as a European centre for aviation maintenance and engineering.

MRO demand across Europe has been rising steadily in recent years, driven by ageing commercial aircraft fleets, extended aircraft lifespans as carriers defer new deliveries, and post-pandemic capacity recovery. Ryanair operates one of the youngest fleets among major European carriers, comprising almost exclusively Boeing 737 aircraft, giving it a relatively standardised maintenance environment that supports economies of scale in its engineering operations.