DUBLIN

[Just a spotter]

DAA to cut charges

A report in The Irish Times suggests that the DAA is to cut charges.

DAA to cut charges in effort to lure new airlines - The Irish Times - Mon, Jan 18, 2010

JAS

[dublindispatch]

Routes

Would that explain Danube Wings and BlueOne then? They must be getting deals? I suppose to airlines any deal better than no deal, as long as it covers the costs.

Mind you i guess we could see a rath of dodgy airlines that have no prospect of lasting on routes. At least the plane spotters will be happy, and the staff that handle them.

[positive]

Dublin airport will have lost close to 3.5 million passengers in 2009 alone and with terminal 2 due to open next November they need to do something quickly to boost passenger numbers.

It'll be interesting to see Ryanair's response to this proposal by the DAA

[pug]

Could it highlight if it was just a ploy by FR to cut unprofitable routes or could we see the likes of DSA and MME return?

[Sober Lark]

Decrease in numbers is reflective of the economic crisis and compounded by the inability of DUB to be able to spread risk both geographically and in terms of actual airlines serving the country.

It is rather simplistic and insulting to the intelligence of the general public to imply DAAs charging structure is the main reason for the - 3.5 million PAX decline, but the situation looks rather hopeless.

If it were a game of chess then they don't appear to have very many valuable pieces or moves left on the board. Even at this late stage, unless they adopt a successful strategy they will find them selves in checkmate.

[positive]

Quote

It is rather simplistic and insulting to the intelligence of the general public to imply DAAs charging structure is the main reason for the - 3.5 million PAX decline, but the situation looks rather hopeless.

The downturn has played a major part in the decline in numbers but the DAA have also been very slow to introduce any new incentives to the airlines as well the timing of T2 does not help their cause but going back less than two years ago T2 was a must have.

Hopefully the new discounts will have some effect on traffic numbers.

[racedo]

People should not overlook the Daft tourist tax which made some routes which were marginal no longer attractive for airlines to operate and the tax has been derided by all airlines.

[1sky]

People should not overlook the Daft tourist tax which made some routes which were marginal no longer attractive for airlines to operate and the tax has been derided by all airlines.

+1.
A tax which has been totally underestimated by many people and more than a mere tourist tax, is making travel abroad more difficult and expensive for Irish people.

[Economics101]

Probably the contract (written pre-crash) had incentives to finish the job asap. (Now if they only worked similarly round the clock on some nearby road projects....)

[dublindispatch]

ATC

Or is this going to be another one of these last minute not going on strike strikes!!!

If you are going to go on strike to make a point, please make it early am week day to hit all the t/a flights or at the weekend to hit all the D4's going skiing.

I jest btw with the above.

It has my day rigthly fecked but sure these things happen and we get on with it.

Im sure it wont be the only IR issue to hit the travelling public!!

[Cyrano]

Originally Posted by ASFKAP

Although I'm going to be directly affected by their actions tomorrow, I say good on them for standing up for themselves....

I can see where they're coming from and support their position, especially after listening to Liam Kavanagh, the IAA Director of Human Resources on the One O'Clock News here today, a right arrogant by the sound of him....

Scroll down and click on the link to listen for yourselves....

RTÉ News: Strike consequences worry Government

Statement from the IAA here.

This asserts:

...We need them to pay a contribution towards their pension in line with all other public service workers. (The Controllers make no contribution to their own pensions. The Authority, meanwhile, pays a contribution of 30.5% of salary for every member of staff.)

"They are among the best paid public servants in the country. On average, they cost the Irish Aviation Authority €160,000 each. Earnings for the top ten per cent of controllers in the country last year ranged from €170,000 to €230,000.

"They work 182 days a year, they have 137 rest days, and 36 days holidays - in addition to 10 public holidays. They work a 35 hour week. They are entitled to a break of 30 minutes for every two hours worked. They work five days and then get three days off.

Obviously both sides are keen to paint themselves as the reasonable ones here - but is the above factually accurate?

[dublindispatch]

Anyone got any idea who the mysterious 15 airlines are that DAA have "invited" to attend briefings and presentaions area over the new inhanced subsidies that have been introduced recently?

Any clues in that the new scheme now includes route to the uk?

Anyone fancy a punt as to who they are??

[Droghwings]

Who got an invitation?

OK...I'm guessing, but here's my list of airlines invited to the DAA event.
Would be good to hear any other suggestions.

Alitalia
Olympic
Aegean Airlines
Tarom
Aeroflot
Cyprus Airways
EL AL
Iceland Express
Air Berlin
Lufthansa
Air France
Iberia
Aer Lingus
Ryanair

[Airbus321-200]

I would think the same as above but maybe:

Monarch (scheduled services)
Cityjet
Aer Arann
Jet2
Easyjet (although i doubt it)
Austrian

the last 2 are just random airlines to make my list look better but you never know!!

[Hogg]

Dont forget Air Baltic (recieve another B752 very very soon) and CSA are there too.

[EI-BUD]

AirbusA321-200, From the list of potential airlines that you mention, I doubt Monarch would launch scheduled services as in order to justify a marketing spend to attract critical Mass they would need significant Investment which would simply use up the incentive offered by the DAA.

Easyjet a complete non starter. However, maybe a chance for AerArann could take a look at (in association with new AerLingus tie up

Dublin to ;
Doncaster
Manston
Humberside
Durham Tees
Dundee
Norwich

any thoughts?

Ei-bud

[irish lad]

I would have guessed their looking for new airlines and new routes! FR and EI are pulling back on services all the time, but keeping enough of a foot in so that no other carrier can get onto their dublin routes without being battered back out....

I hope its medium to long haul airlines with new routes or to make some current routes all year round! They would at least avoid an onslaught from FR

Prehabs airlines like

Cyprus Airways
EgyptAir
Aeroflot
El Al
Air Canada
Iceland Air
Thai Airways
Air Aisa X
SAA
Northwest
Cathay Pacific
Singapore Airlines
Continental (Houston/ Dallas)
Delta (LAX/ Las vegas)

[Airbus321-200]

It would be great to see Air Asia X to DUB as we need flights to that area of the world although i dont know how Etihad would feel about that.

I believe Aer Arann may use this to open some new routes in conjunction with the EI deal.

Monarch have met with the DAA discussing scheduled services from DUB in the past so they are interested but i dont think it'll be enough of an incentive for them to launch in these times.

irish lad

Northwest have merged with Delta so we'll never see them here which is a pity.

[dublindispatch]

DAA

I have heard that Air India may be one and that they are interested in the new pre clearance in Dublin if it ever opens.

Monarch out of Dublin mainly fly for Direct Holidays but certainly some holes are noe appering in the Dublin list of routes so maybe but would Irish people pay for what MON offer compared to an FR or EI ticket, i would doubt that very much.

I would guess that a LCA/PFO route would do well from DUB, eben once a week and defo more Turkey flights, maybe get PGT back for that?

I would also guess that west bound at this stage is flogging a dead duck unless DUB was an intermediate stop and the airline got traffic rights from the TWO points from DUB.

I am so sure that a Lagos route would work or something down that neck off the woods even for freight.

[Airbus321-200]

If MON picked the right routes the would make it profitable. They wouldnt be able to operate to Turkey due to silly red tape unless they had an EI-reg.

I think Larnaca and Skiathos & Santorini (ex-XL routes) would do very well. Santorini is such a great island.

One i forgot to mention was Wizzair.