Universal Aviation in Shannon Preparing for Traffic Influx Following US/Ireland Pre-Clearance Agreement

Houston (Dec. 10, 2008) – Universal Aviation(sm) in Shannon is preparing for an influx of traffic this summer, following the announcement last month that the United States and Ireland have reached an agreement that will make Shannon International Airport the first airport in Europe with pre-clearance facilities, with Dublin pre-clearance operations coming in 2010.

“This is a historic announcement and will be a huge boost in traffic to Shannon, as operators can now clear all inspections before arrival in the U.S.,” said Brendan O’Grady, Managing Director, Universal Aviation(sm) in Ireland. “The feedback we’re getting is that crews are going to use this facility. Some aircraft that overfly this airport might continue to, but many more are going to stop and benefit from the pre-clearance agreement. Shannon was already an extremely popular tech stop due to the fact that it is a 24/7 airport and has some of the most competitive fuel pricing in Europe. This agreement, though, will generate additional interest and traffic, as trans-Atlantic operators take advantage of the time and money savings with the ability to bypass the normal airports of entry within the U.S. and proceed directly to their destination.”

“Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc. has worked with the Shannon Airport Authority on this project for a long time, and the airport’s support of this initiative is a clear sign that it is one of the most business-aviation friendly airports in Europe,” said Jonathan Howells, Regional Director, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Universal Aviation(sm). “We appreciate the Airport Authority’s cooperative efforts in making pre-clearance in Ireland a reality.”

O’Grady said that the full details regarding how the pre-clearance process will operate have not been announced, other than the fact that a facility will be built. The provisional start date for pre-clearance is June or July of 2009.

“Many of the final regulations will depend on what the U.S. Department of Homeland Security determines it needs on-site, but both Universal Aviation and the Shannon Airport Authority are ready to adapt and comply with whatever is required,” O’Grady said. “Feedback from our clients is very positive and they are extremely excited. We will be staying abreast of all developments and updating our clients to ensure they have the latest information and can take advantage of this agreement.”

For more information on the pre-clearance agreement between the U.S. and Ireland or Universal Aviation(sm) in Ireland, contact O’Grady at +353 61 712059 or e-mail him at ireland@universalaviation.aero.

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At Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc., our goal is to become a vital extension of our clients’ flight operations teams. Universal® offers a wide range of services designed to provide business aviation operators seamless service from start to finish. Universal’s wide range of services includes flight planning, weather briefings, online tools, the UVair® Fueling Card, Universal Aviation(sm) worldwide ground support, UVdatalink® air-to-ground communication, and more. Universal has been facilitating successful trips for business aviation operators since 1959.

To learn more about Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc., e-mail sales@universalweather.com, or call (800) 231-5600 ext. 3300 (N. America Toll-Free) or (713) 944-1622 ext. 3300 (Worldwide).

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CONTACT:
Louis Smyth
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E-mail: lsmyth@univ-wea.com