Ryanair "changes" at Derry

[cuthere]

Seems like they have partially changed their minds!!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/4186095.stm[/URL]

[MarkD]

Surely replacing 732s with 738s should reduce greenhouse emissions, or at least noise anyway

[ecj]

Are EASY looking at a route into them as well??

[jabird]

I'm surprised this only seems to be a problem at Derry. As I understand it (I'm not that technically minded with regards to a/c ops), the 737-800s that FR use are extremely efficient, but their engine configurations don't give them the power to get off some of the shorter runways, even though this is less of a problem for an A319, or even a 737-700.

That would be fine if they stuck to main airports, but we all know they don't. I would have thought that the smaller regional airports would be less likely to have runways with a decent length - or is it more a case that the places with constraints are the older airports which are closer to city centres (SOU etc), where FR wouldn't want to go anyway?

Does that mean that there is an even larger untapped market for a regional loco to come in with an economical but smaller a/c, such as the Q400?

[MarkD]

jabird

some of FR's "smaller" ports are ex-military, which often means a generous runway length

[Wycombe]

.....Air Berlin are currently operating 738's into SOU on their new PAD route.

[ATNotts]

Wycombe

The AB 738s are equipped with winglets that according to the blurb in their in-flight mag gives them better take off performance, climb rate, and lower fuel burn. Thats probably the difference.

MO'L probably couldn't bring himself to pay for the extra metal bits at the end of each wing - even though he could have put paid advertising on to them. Perhaps he didn't think of that!

If I'm wrong, please correct me.

[brabazon]

This was discussed a while back. As far as I remember it's because Ryanair opted for the de-rated engines which give lower fuel burn but worse airfield performance. It's a bit disingenuous to say it's a safety issue that they can only carry 140 passengers - it, like most things Ryanair, is a financial decision which is limiting their ability to carry a full load.

[EGAC_Ramper]

Indeed true,there was a post going on here at Pprune about this,regarding FR's as mentioned de-rated engines bringing about poorer airfield performance and FR's wish(threat) to Derry to pull out unless they lenghtened the runway.


Regards

[DUBXH]

Was the reasoning for the use of "de-rated" CFM's primarily down to the fact that over time they would require less maintenance?

ATNotts - Nice idea about the winglets and the advertising.... I'm impressed... EI need a new CEO if you could manage the drop in salary

[EGAC_Ramper]

De-rated engines =less maintenance,reduced fuel burn and longer engine life I'm led to believe.All in all greater economy for FR to pass onto pax.


Regards

[MarkD]

Winglets supposedly pay for the extra weights over sectors longer than FR generally fly, although Southwest in the states have started fitting them.