Aircraft Mechanic Apprenticeships Add Summer Entry Route
Ireland will introduce a second annual intake for aircraft mechanic apprenticeships, running from May to October and accepting 45 trainees each year starting in 2027. Training will be provided in Shannon through Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board with Atlantic Aviation Group. The expansion follows recent growth in apprenticeship places and comes amid rising demand for maintenance staff, including Ryanair's planned Shannon hangar investment.
The added summer window, May through October, will admit 45 apprentices annually from 2027. Training is set for Shannon, delivered by Limerick and Clare Education and Training Board alongside Atlantic Aviation Group.
Apprenticeship capacity climbed from 79 slots in 2024 to a possible 160 beginning September 2025, with Atlantic Aviation Group adding 75 and the ETB 80. It is an NFQ level 6, EASA-regulated route, also involving TU Dublin, SETU Carlow and the Irish Aviation Authority.
The extra intake may widen access for people considering aviation trades, especially school-leavers and career-changers in the Shannon region. More apprentices could ease maintenance staffing pressure as Ryanair’s planned hangar creates hundreds of roles, though benefits depend on retention and completion. Local training providers and employers may see stronger links, while communities around Shannon could gain from steadier skilled employment. It could also support Ireland’s wider aviation services reputation, but not guarantee individual job outcomes.