Just curious, when Ryanair dropped their Dublin-Humberside flights, why didn't Aer Arann pick it? Did they even look at the route? Were they considering it? Anyone in the know? Some flights were taking over 150 pax on MON/FRI/SAT/SUN surely RE could have made it work with an ATR-42?
Jets will be operating from GWY & WAT, not Embraer's or CRJ's . Both to be based GWY. I've been told deal has been signed so expect an announcement in early 2008.
Great way for Aer Arann to dip their toes into the jet market without any significant cost.
How do the operating economics compare between new ATRs (70 seats, current technology, factory fresh) and 146/RJs (getting on in years, potentially unreliable for that reason, 4 jet engines, higher weights so higher costs, limited additional capacity)?
well what do you suggest? An airline which doesn't exactly have its feet well outside the UK apart from one or two French destinations.
The E-models and CRJs have been ruled out in a previous post and now the Avro/Bae's are a no-no. Does anyone actually have any idea what they might be? I am sure the airline (taking into consideration its size and route structure) would not go for a plane with more than 80 - 100 seats....then again many of the posters on this forum have been proven wrong before including me, so we shall HAVE to wait and see what happens.
However the problem in RE is that only a small amount of pilots are CAT II trained thus the majority being forced to do CAT I approaches. At least that was the problem when I flew there a couple of years ago and somehow I believe that's still the case.
Not true anymore. There has been a concerted effort in recent months to get everyone CAT II qualified.
Would these 146's happen to be leased from Nex Aviation \ FlyU and the Arann livery be the "Familiar tail" as reported by the 5Q in the Waterford Airport thread ????
AER ARANN looks set to unveil its first jet aircraft later this year as part of a new strategy to develop a continental European route network from Galway and Waterford airports.
The Sunday Tribune has learned that the airline is in talks with Nex Aviation, a recently established Galway-based regional carrier, regarding the use of Nex's two BAe 146 jets.
Aviation insiders have indicated that Nex will retain ownership of the jets but will run them on behalf of Aer Arann under a franchise deal.
It is understood that the franchise, if successful, could be the precursor to Aer Arann buying its own jets. The limited range of its current turboprop aircraft means that the airline can currently only offer services as far as northern France.
It is believed that Aer Arann will take on Nex's existing route network, which includes summer services to Bordeaux in France, Malaga in Spain and Faro in Portugal, as well as several new routes of its own.
The airline refused to comment on the move but its managing director Garry Cullen said that its future growth would require jet aircraft "to extend our routes from Irish regional airports to destinations throughout continental Europe, such as Paris or Amsterdam".
"A variety of different types of aircraft are being assessed, and we expect to be able to make an announcement in the next few months."
Nex, which had originally been known as Fly U, is backed by a number of prominent businessmen from Galway and Waterford including Dawn Meats boss Daniel Browne and Nicholas Fewer, the chairman of Waterford Airport.
Its general manager is former Galway Airport marketing and route development executive Peter O'Mara.
Wonder what potential Aer Arann sees for jets. If they do not stick with the 146 and the markets that require this aircraft's capabilites (only Galway comes to my mind, maybe also the IOM), every potential route would be a target either of Ryanair or Flybe anyway. Will be a big challenge for Aer Arann to find a suitable place outside its niche.
In other news, I see that the ATR42 force is down to three units. When will they be gone altogether?
Wow, it's incredulous to think that Waterford have secured direct nicely scheduled routes to Amsterdam, Bordeaux, Malaga and Faro
It's also a huge scoop for Galway airport, although they have the slight disadvantage that all these continental routes will operate via Waterford.
Prices aren't too bad. Although I'm dubious about Bordeaux, I'm sure the other routes will be hugely successful!
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