Universal Aviation

Universal Aviation has maintained a presence at Shannon Airport for over 20 years, operating one of the airport's primary FBO facilities. The Operations Office, VIP Lounge, and Crew Business Center are all located within the main terminal building, which enables ultra-quick turnaround times because the team and all necessary services are centrally positioned. Shannon is widely regarded as Europe's number one tech stop for transatlantic crossings, thanks to its long runway, consistently low fuel prices, no VAT on services, and the availability of US Customs and Border Protection pre-clearance. Universal Aviation played a significant role in developing the US pre-clearance process at Shannon and maintains close working relationships with CBP officers on-site. Once cleared at Shannon, passengers can fly directly into pre-approved US airports without stopping at a gateway, saving significant time on transatlantic trips. The airside lounge is available for passengers and crew who want to use facilities during a tech stop or before departure. For charter passengers, Shannon serves two distinct purposes: as a fuel stop on transatlantic routes where the US pre-clearance eliminates entry hassles on the American side, and as an arrival point for western Ireland and the Wild Atlantic Way. The airport is about 25 minutes from Limerick and within reach of the Cliffs of Moher, Adare, and the Burren. A note on recent changes: as of January 2026, updated Irish Aviation Authority security procedures require charter passengers to complete terminal security screening prior to CBP processing, which has altered the departure flow. Universal's team manages this new sequence to minimize disruption.