According to its Web site, the Shannon airport does have direct flights to 35 European cities. Low-cost carrier Ryanair has a lot of those flights, so U.S. travelers looking to head to continental Europe have options.

But the focus of the route is going to be to and from Ireland itself. Remember, RFD is trying to grab passengers from a wider area than just Rockford, and Ireland is a very popular tourism destination. The bet is that people will be willing to drive a bit farther to get a good vacation package and take advantage of the free parking (which, while a nice amenity for those making quick domestic trips, is really a boon for the international traveler).

Moreover, Kenny Tours is also counting on Irish tourists heading back on the route. That’s a strength this route would have over, say, the Cancun route. No one who lives near Cancun is flying to the Midwest - it’s all returning tourists. But with the strengthening of the Euro in relation to the dollar, you’re seeing a lot more Irish tourists hitting the U.S.

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