Aer Lingus has told FR, by letter (see attached) that it will not accede to FR's request to have an EGM. The reason given is that FR's motive for doing so is to influence the conduct of its major competitor, which would effectively run counter to the EU's ruling on FR's planned takeover of EI.
Talks also under way with four US carriers re new US interline deals; they want to "bed down" the JetBlue deal, but once that happens, no reason why it can't happen with other US carriers.
Disappointingly, similar deal with RE now seen as well down the road, if it happens at all.
Re DXB, wonder will EK now, finally, smile on DUB?
Last edited by akerosid : 1st September 2007 at 06:38. Reason: Spelling error
There's a better chance of EL AL starting a flight to Tehran! The EI response to FR has got the govt off an extremely uncomfortable hook and as much as we enjoyed the "schedenfreude" of seeing the govt wriggle and have to face the prospect of making a stance on any aviation issue, I don't there's the remotest chance of them putting their head back into the lion's mouth!
"Very sneaky from EI. Bet Mr O leary is stewing tonight."
Do to others what they would do to you, only do it first!
Very Disappointed to hear about EI axing DXB this is really bad news ! They failed miserably here and they have no other people to blame for axing the route but themselves ! They would have been better off spending money on cabin upgrades than wasting it on Consultants preventing the FR takeover. EI Management will regret not upgrading their A332's very quickyly. I am surprised Dermot Mannion whose experience alone in the Middle East should have forced him to see the Light.
Why is this route being axed :
1. Aircraft Cabins are like something from the Stone Age ! Service was poor.
2. EI failed miserably to market this route properly out there !
3. Because of reason 1 EK refused to interline with them !
Let's not forget that EK have a very "varied" product as well. It's quite like flying with EI. You have the lottery system. The 773s have three different products. The F seats on the A332s, A343s, 772s, and some 773s, are very similar to EI's Premier seat. Granted EI's product is a very dissappointing one, but EK has had several complaints over it's varried product.
Disappointed to see that EI aren't really doing anything to tie up with RE.
Also, I've noticed in my town, that several shops, now have a sticker in their windows declaring " WE Support The Shannon-Heathrow Route- The Clare People (local newspaper)." Thought that was interesting.
cant really be that interesting. it used to be " up clare up " - courtesy of (jet) statoil garages. very little changes here on walton's mountain its all about the latest bandwagon! i'm surprised that there have not been " we need clean water " stickers on the back windsreen of cars here, of late
Interesting comments by Dempsey today on the EI issue:
“The Government has made its displeasure and disappointment known with Aer Lingus. We don’t regard it as being in line with Government policy in regional terms or aviation terms,” Mr Dempsey said.
Government policy in aviation terms? Apart from what Cullen said (and EI ignored totally), what does this mean? Does anyone, apart from (even including?) the govt actually know what govt aviation policy is?
Not surprisingly, having being helped off the hook on which it was wriggling quite frantically, the govt isn't going to force EI to have an EGM; politically, it's out of danger, at least for now - safely ensconced on the fence.
However, the flipside of the EI decision is that since the airline doesn't feel beholden in any way to the govt, the govt may feel that it can step on EI's toes just as well; for example, in response to the impending axing of the DXB route, the govt will presumably be putting pressure on EK to operate the route - what about offering EK the possibility of t/a flights from DUB ... something bound to irk EI pretty considerably?
By the way, I would echo EI-RB's comments above about EI and the DXB route; one would have thought - coming from EK, that DM would have realised the importance of interlining and having a pretty good service product; since this was his first major long haul move on joining EI, he has to bear a lot of the responsibility for its failure, if it comes to that. It was avoidable.
New Shannon rumour is that BA have been approached by SNN but not with a formal offer (obviously journos have made their headlines look a bit more definite) - I don't think the locals will be too encouraged with SNN saying it can take two years to tie up these deals!
Ryanair to call Aer Lingus emergency meeting 04/09/2007 - 15:44:37
Ryanair is going over the heads of Aer Lingus management by calling an Extraordinary General Meeting of the airline's shareholders.
Having waited five days to respond to Aer Lingus rejection of its request for an EGM, Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary said today his company would itself requisition one.
Under Aer Lingus' rule book and company law, any shareholder owning at least 10% of the airline has the right convene a meeting at any time. Ryanair is a 29% stakeholder of Aer Lingus.
Ryanair's proposed resolution for the EGM is to reverse the Aer Lingus decision to axe the Shannon-Heathrow route, something which Aer Lingus is refusing to do.
Forgive me if I'm a little slow on the uptake here, but is ryanair wanting the Shannon route reintroduced so it can then further beat Aer Lingus on the route and hence strengthen its position for a possible takeover, or does it actually feel the route should remain? Surely either way is a conflict or interests for MOL!
at this stage who knows what he is up to. I doubt his motives are pro anyone except Ryanair and I'd say he is loving watching the govt under pressure. FR dont fly the SNN - LHR route anyway, but they do fly to standstead/gatwick and luton
Why doesn't MOL reduce capacity on SNN-STN/LGW/LTN if he's so interested in helping Shannon maintain a LHR link? Is the cost of keeping a full shift at Shannon to serve the EI376 taken into account when discusing profitability.
MOL is doing what MOL does best, coming out a winner in all of this. If he starts spouting off how much Aer Lingus should keep the Shannon - LHR route, despite the fact it has already been cut, he is just going to twist it into Ryanair being the saviour on their Shannon - London routes. Aer Lingus obviously dropped the route due to poor business due to the increasing competition from Ryanair. Therefore, if he can force them to reopen the route he'll only further strengthen his position for a takeover of the airline, by forcing the airline to continue operating unsustainable routes. I really can't see much future for Aer Lingus in this respect. Surely MOL is going to continue to suffocate the life out of them by practicing similar methods on other routes, especially on Ireland > UK routes?
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