I think they've made the smartest decision imo Tom.
Only recently they were close to bankruptcy but now the relationship with Aer Lingus seems to be paying off. This relationship should be left to organically grow, and purchasing craft which are slightly larger and more efficient as well as your staff are trained for is the best option at the moment. Why? Because it offers the best of both worlds to a cash strapped airline. More capacity and lower fuel bills, and without the expense of retraining staff. Once theyre stabilised in a few years, and cash flows are relatively stable, there relationship with Aer Lingus can mean that they can obtain aircraft that can offer greater capacity on current routes, and allow to operate routes further afield that air buses (e.g. German regional cities) could not profitability operate. So give it time, they'll have jets eventually.
Does anyone think that a route to Belfast City airport is still viable? I remember Aer Arann running it at twice a day a few years back. Be great to see EI Regional on the route maybe SOU and LBA too
I think a belfast would work it did very well for re untill they gave up sou may work now that ei lgw is ending
Francis, Gatwick is operated by Aer Lingus mainline. The only chance of Belfast returning would be with Aer Lingus Regional, for Aer Lingus mainline to attempt it would be nothing short of suicidal. I don't see Belfast returning for a good few years.
It looks like the ATR-42 is being retired and that would have been the most suitable aircraft. What I'm confused about in all this is what size fleet RE will have afterwards. It's not clear to me how many of the new aircraft are replacements and how many are expansion.
It looks like the ATR-42 is being retired and that would have been the most suitable aircraft. What I'm confused about in all this is what size fleet RE will have afterwards. It's not clear to me how many of the new aircraft are replacements and how many are expansion.
I'd fully agree with you 840, it's pretty guaranteed all the ATR-42's are being retired, there's speculation that EI-REH, REI will also be retired as well as EI-SLL, SLN being returned to Air Contractors. If the above is true it would mean that there's no real fleet increase planned, however currently Aer Arann have 2 aircraft on standby having a new fleet of ATR-72 500's and 600's would mean only 1 would be required to be standby. Not much scope for new routes, without a larger order or keeping some of the ATR-72 212's.
I understand the ATR-72-500s and maybe the -600s are faster with better engines than the -200s but do the -200s actually use less fuel due to their being slower flying aeroplanes? I am just curious. Also, is there some other peculiarity about the Air Contractors, the ex Delta machines - something about the engine versus the propellors?? My brain is like a sive now and I no longer remember these things so someone will need to help me out!
Cork is buzzing today and yesterday with many bizjet arrivals - many of which have stayed which is always welcome. Thanks be to God that the days of remote parking at snn seem to have come to an end. Cork is quite like a little mini Luton today!
The best of it is yet to come too, I understand, as there is an absolutely smashing liveried Embraer Legacy due tomorrow morning so if anyone is around look out for that one around 10 am.
Corcaigh Abu - Have not used that one in a long time!
Cork is buzzing today and yesterday with many bizjet arrivals - many of which have stayed which is always welcome. Thanks be to God that the days of remote parking at snn seem to have come to an end. Cork is quite like a little mini Luton today!
Not in until tonight but must take a look! God how it would be great for Cork to come near a mini Luton, maybe some day one can always dream
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Embraer Legacy
Love the Embraer jets, the Embraer Phenom 100 is rare enough at Cork but it has to be my favourite
Hopefully someday Aer Arann will be acquiring a few E-Jet's or maybe even the Bombardier CSeries the amount of potential Aer Arann have on their hands seems to be being underestimated at the moment.
Only reason Cork is able to facilitate those biz jets is due to the reduction in Commercial flights. If traffic picks up again the same Red Tape issues will arise and aircraft may have to park in Shannon and Kerry. Surely the DAA could create space for a few of the lighter biz jets without spending too much money. They owe it to the region to facilitate high spending tourists and potential investors.
It's already in the expansion plans when pax numbers surpass 5m (well.. when the DAA has money again) the G/A area will be moved directly West of its current location into something like 3 times its current size with provision of ''overrun'' of stands, It's on the Cork coco website.
Pity to see the EI service to LGW ending, but I'm not surprised. Less flexibility for people from Oct onwards. So are EI closing the base in LGW? What about the NOC service?
So are EI closing the base in LGW? What about the NOC service?
Don't think we will see it close until March 2013, Knock service will most probably be operated by a W-Route ex DUB. Aer Lingus announcing a base in Gatwick was a mistake from the onset and totally misguided, Dublin & Knock seem to be the only routes that made money for them ex Gatwick.
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Then change the times so 3/4 full then pull off route-typical EI! No balls
It's called business, the route is no longer profitable.
Gatwick was a mistake from the onset and totally misguided
Jack1985, easy comment to make, the sad reality here is that if a London base for Aer Lingus does not work, no base outside the Island of Ireland will work.
London has a significant Irish contingent but the challenge is marketing them. There is just so much marketing going on at the moment that people often just dont see it.
If AerLingus want to make a good of Bases outside of the Island of Ireland where the brand is very well known they need another brand, or a booking portal that is marketed well and supported by AerLingus flights.
They will likely continue to focus on the Core Market of Ireland. Perhaps future growth could come from Irish Airports including regionals with 319s, such as Shannon to Sun spots, Perphaps development of service at Knock, maybe look at Kerry and City of Derry airport? No doubt these would attract a response from their shareholder airline...Not to mention futher development of US service with the advent of 321 NEO and further strengthening of the relationship and range of services provided by Aer Arann.
Jack1985, easy comment to make, the sad reality here is that if a London base for Aer Lingus does not work, no base outside the Island of Ireland will work..
Easy comment to make? Aer Lingus has made clear it has no plans to open any further bases and is focusing on its key market which has strong brand recognition - Ireland. Of course it was misguided, you think BA opening a base at Dublin would have been a success? Aer Lingus has realized that the expansion into Gatwick was misguided they cut most of the European routes about a year and a half after the original launch.
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Shannon to Sun spots,
Highly doubtful, neither Aer Lingus or Aer Lingus Regional seem to be in the mood to maintain capacity increases ex SNN - BRS, CDG, GLA, LGW all have been axed or are being axed.
Fair enough I'll take your word however it has to be said out of all the routes Aer Lingus launched at Gatwick, DUB & NOC seemed to be only routes that ever were going to pay off. If Knock makes ''makes little by way of profit'' then the its not too unrealistic to estimate the Gatwick base shutting up shop completly from October Dublin obviously continuing. Dermot Mannion god how I do miss him wonder how Royal Brunei are doing these days.
Jack1985, I am aware of poor LGW routes to Europe performed. What I am saying is if Ei were not able to make LGW work, no other base outside Island of Ireland would work. And yes if BA opened base in DUB it would suffer the same fate as Ei LGW.
Yes no appetite for SNN , but it would deem that snn may be better option un the future than UK options, especially given relationship between FR and SNN. They have bi chiouce now but to focus on core Irish market.
however it has to be said out of all the routes Aer Lingus launched at Gatwick, DUB & NOC seemed to be only routes that ever were going to pay off. If Knock makes ''makes little by way of profit'' then the its not too unrealistic to estimate the Gatwick base shutting up shop completly from October 
Dublin obviously continuing. Dermot Mannion god how I do miss him 
wonder how Royal Brunei are doing these days.
