Ryanair is to open eight new routes from Shannon next year following the scrapping of Ireland’s air tax.
Berlin, Faro, Fuerteventura, Krakow, Munich, Nice, Paris and Warsaw will be served from the airport from April.
Frequency is also being increased between Shannon and Stansted from 14 to 15 flights a week.
The expansion is expected to deliver 300,000 extra carryings a year and is the first stage of the airline’s pledge to deliver one million additional passengers in response to the decision to scrap the €3 tax from April 2014.
Ryanair is continuing discussions with Cork, Dublin, Kerry and Knock airports to finalise its growth plans for summer 2014.
The carrier hopes to announce more route and frequency growth from Ireland in the coming weeks.
Deputy chief executive Michael Cawley said: “The scrapping of the air travel tax will help restore Ireland’s competitiveness and attractiveness to overseas visitors from the UK and Continental Europe in particular.
“Having met with all five of the main Irish airports, we hope to announce further new route and traffic growth plans over the coming weeks.”
Shannon airport chief executive Neil Pakey said: “We are delighted that Ryanair have shown real commitment to the Shannon Region in announcing eight new European routes for 2014, in addition to the 10 already served from Shannon.
“The timing of this announcement couldn’t be better for inbound visitors in particular, given the focus next year on the Wild Atlantic Way and on Limerick as the City of Culture.”