SHANNON

[fullrich]

Loyalty me ass. Get real. Where was the loyalty when EI pulled off LHR. Business and loyalty my friend are not in the same world unfortunately. People will do whats best for them and so will the airlines, they may have a preference but not loyalty unless they are fools. EI have left the door open for a new carrier on the BOS/SNN route and that will in turn end EI's atlantic service in SNN completely. AND The last time we had a level playing field in Irish Aviation was when EI were the sole operator so give me a break.

[Tom the Tenor]

An eleven week winter break by EI on snn - transatlantic?

Tell you what - how about giving ORK a go at an eleven week programe to New York in the summer and the snn crowd can hang on to the remaining 41 weeks?

That would be some level playing field? My eye, it would!

[easyJet A321]

Just a thought, someone mentioned above that they wonder what the aircraft will do for 11 weeks and it came to my mind that Hajj flights happen in the winter at some point so maybe the aircraft is off to operate them. maybe its a completely different time of year to when the services will be stopped for the 11 weeks but as I said just a thought.

[fivejuliet]

potkettleblack (Apt choice of username)
The reality is, people will fly with who is cheapest. Aer Lingus are usually ALWAYS the dearest- this is not the fault of the travelling population is it? I travel to NY regularly and Continental and Delta beat them hands down. The majority dont care if the airframe is "old and crappy" or not- Aer Lingus flew A330's around for years with the seats sellotaped together before the new ones arrived and the rest were refurbished or disposed of. Personally I prefer a 757 across the pond, far more intimate.

[GEB74]

Flew on the 'new' Aer lingus regional route from Shannon to Manchester yesterday....
The plane was nearly full, maybe 4 spare seats. Interesting mix of biz/ leisure passengers, so from a snapshot, the route seems to be doing well (loadfactor wise) quickly.

Wasn't expecting to be bussed from the plane upon arrival at MAN, avoiding passport control and going straight through to the baggage reclaim point. Is this a pre-clearance thing or due to all passengers being UK / Irish passportholders??

First time on an ATR72-212 Think it was one of the AirContractors planes. All I can say is that they make FlyBe's Q400's feel like a whispering jet, gliding on silk!!!

[brian_dromey]

Wasn't expecting to be bussed from the plane upon arrival at MAN, avoiding passport control and going straight through to the baggage reclaim point. Is this a pre-clearance thing or due to all passengers being UK / Irish passportholders??

Unfortunately it happens on all Ireland-UK flights at MAN. The CTA still exists between Ireland and the UK. Some airports do have dedicated routes through for Ireland/Channel Islands arrivals, but MAN does not and passengers must be bussed to the appropriate set-down point at T1. There is a potential passport control point, but it's never staffed in my experience. This is in complete contrast to Irish airports, where all arriving passengers are asked to identify themselves, regardless of departure point.

Brian.

[dmcna]

Any truth to the rumour that the 787 is due to land in Shannon this evening?

[Shanwickman]

There is....ETA 1820

[sonyair]

Shannon Airport in talks with a number of airlines which fly into Hungarian, Polish and German airports about operating from snn, also Aer Lingus may base another atr next summer as current routes performing very well, with the possibility of a larger jet aircraft beng based to operate to european destinations. Announcement to be made by October.

[SNNUS]

Are these military flights you are talking about?

[fivejuliet]

SNNUS- There was a piece in the Limk Post today along the lines of what sonyair is saying there. Regular pax flights of course. But as with anything that newspaper says I'd take it with a pinch/many pinches of salt!

[Jamie2k9]

I wouldn't think Aer Lingus are going to operate European routes from SNN as they are trying to narrow losses and not expand there network.

It would be good for Aer Lingus Regional to base a second ATR 72 at SNN and operate other routes to the UK.

Any idea of what airlines they are in talks with. The only one that comes to mind is Wizz Air.

[SNNUS]

Thank's 5J , Cant see big demand for many flights to Hungary!, Just paper talk so. Probably will be no new airlines/routes until at least next summer season

[Jamie2k9]

Berlin would be the only German route to do well and demand for Polish routes is falling.

[SNNUS]

Routes that SNN need that will work year round are FAO/AGP/LPA/TFS/ACE

[Jamie2k9]

Paris would do well but it would need to be a morning dep every day and an evening dep on MON, THUR, FRI & SUN.

Alicante or Murcia would work as a seasonal service.

[SNNUS]

Yep ALC, MJV, FAO, AGP, GRO all did very well with FR so spain is always a good option, plus Treviso and milan did very well too. Hard to see any other airline filling the void though.

[bannercounty]

Paris won't work. When AF were doing a double daily at great times for even a day business trip the loads were dismal on the EMB and AVRO. I used to take it twice per month. I now fly from Dublin which is a bit of a pain but certainly better than commuting through LHR.
I would love for AF to come back and if not a Flight to AMS would be just as good.

I know alot of people just fly from DUB now from North Clare and Galway because of the new motorway. I think SNN is on it's last legs and we will be left with ~ 5/6 flights per day.

[Jamie2k9]

If the travel tax is scrapped or reduced in the next budget, Ryanair may reopen some more routes from SNN next summer.

RYR winter flights 2010/11

Tenerife - 1 weekly
Paris BVA - 4 weekly
London Gatwick - daily
London Stansted - 2 daily except SUN only 1
Liverpool - 3 weekly
Wroclaw - 2 weekly

Only good news is that Delta are operating New York JFK - 4 times weekly during the winter.

[SNNUS]

Fairly quiet winter ahead so.. So much for CBP and all the business it was going to bring!