Aer Arann
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Hi Skipness One Echo
I was wondering that as well. All 4 ATR72-500's are now painted (flew on REO the other day) I think REP was the last to be painted. I saw that at LCY the other week, with a black nose cone.
I asked a question a while back re: what was going to operate LCY-IOM since the ATR-72-500 (212A) is certified for STOL but I wasn't sure if a standard 72-200 was, or the 212's they are supposed to be getting from Air Contractors.
Be great to hear from anyone that knows.
I was wondering that as well. All 4 ATR72-500's are now painted (flew on REO the other day) I think REP was the last to be painted. I saw that at LCY the other week, with a black nose cone.
I asked a question a while back re: what was going to operate LCY-IOM since the ATR-72-500 (212A) is certified for STOL but I wasn't sure if a standard 72-200 was, or the 212's they are supposed to be getting from Air Contractors.
Be great to hear from anyone that knows.
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With regards to IOM-LCY it certainly appeared that an ATR42 (EI-BYO) was being used yesterday and was parked at Ronaldsway between the morning and afternoon rotations. If their use is to continue it will certainly be a retrograde step.
Join Date: Oct 2007
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The use of an ATR 42 on the IOM-LCY route may be a temporary measure while the final ATR 72-500 is being repainted. However, the aircraft choice is a commercial decision for Aer Arann in terms of do the loads on IOM-LCY justify the deployment of an ATR 72 when it could be used more profitably elsewhere. The other consideration is whether or not the aircraft on the route meet the expectations of the customer. Does the average traveller between IOM and LCY mind whether it's a new ATR 72-500 or an older ATR 42-300??
In the end it will come down to a commercial decision for Paul Schütz and his commerical team.
Regards,
P2C
In the end it will come down to a commercial decision for Paul Schütz and his commerical team.
Regards,
P2C
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hello papa2charlie and jijpc I agree entirely with both points. EI-BYO is a retrograde step in the sense that clearly it's an older model aircraft ( I flew that STN-GWY under FR many years ago)
However from a commerical point of view RE have to put the right sized planes where traffic supports as papa2charlie says. One of the things about RE's structure is that is seems pretty flexible when it comes to fleet utilisation and that has to be an advantage.
My view is that IOM-LCY has to be a flagship route. It gets good reports from IOM airport reports re loads, but as everyone knows yields are what counts so that aside, just being in the core hub of London commerce, must be something that attracts attention. Don't get me wrong, RE is great as a regional airline serving Galway, Sligo, Donegal, Waterford etc. but to suppplement the more recognition in the larger conurbations, the more likely to increase travel on other routes as the carrier becomes more widely recognised..
in short, a quality service offering - from staff to aircraft type, condition are important. RE have punched above their weight for a good while, i hope they continue to.
Another site reports they are leasing a SAAB340 from Loganair - could that be while other fleet is serviced and repainted?
However from a commerical point of view RE have to put the right sized planes where traffic supports as papa2charlie says. One of the things about RE's structure is that is seems pretty flexible when it comes to fleet utilisation and that has to be an advantage.
My view is that IOM-LCY has to be a flagship route. It gets good reports from IOM airport reports re loads, but as everyone knows yields are what counts so that aside, just being in the core hub of London commerce, must be something that attracts attention. Don't get me wrong, RE is great as a regional airline serving Galway, Sligo, Donegal, Waterford etc. but to suppplement the more recognition in the larger conurbations, the more likely to increase travel on other routes as the carrier becomes more widely recognised..
in short, a quality service offering - from staff to aircraft type, condition are important. RE have punched above their weight for a good while, i hope they continue to.
Another site reports they are leasing a SAAB340 from Loganair - could that be while other fleet is serviced and repainted?
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Yes, I saw that Logan Air lease also. It's use may be related to the heavy checks on some aircraft. Aer Arann lease all of the ATR classics so there's little incentive to upgrade the cabins of these aircraft other than improving and standardising the customer experience. Such an upgrade programme can be costly and is also demanding in terms of resources to manage the the upgrade. IF NAC or ATR are understanding lessors, they may be open to paying some of the maintenance reserves for a cabin upgrade but I think this is highly unlikely.
In short, it'd be great to see them upgrade the aircraft but I doubt it will happen. It's much more likely we'll see some of the older aircraft repainted at their heavy checks in the future. It's less costly and you get more "bang for your buck" in terms of presenting a standard image to the public.
All the best,
P2C
In short, it'd be great to see them upgrade the aircraft but I doubt it will happen. It's much more likely we'll see some of the older aircraft repainted at their heavy checks in the future. It's less costly and you get more "bang for your buck" in terms of presenting a standard image to the public.
All the best,
P2C
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I think the use of BYO on the IOM-LCY route and the Loganair leased SAAB are both temporary arrangements.
Aer Arann are due to get a few second hand -72's for their own routes to replace the -500's that went to the EI operation.
Aer Arann are due to get a few second hand -72's for their own routes to replace the -500's that went to the EI operation.
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It's an ATR72-500 from the original May 2006 order. It's been delayed a number of times. Originally four were due for delivery this year but last time I checked, 3 had been pushed to 2011 and they'll just take a single aircraft this year. Depending on the success of the Aer Lingus Regional operation, it may give Aer Arann more confidence to forge on with this fleet expansion.
The bigger issue to my mind is how the aircraft will be financed. Aer Arann will need to make (if they haven't already) pre delivery payments on the aircraft and will also need to arrange financing for the final delivery payment. As Padraig O'Ceidigh has noted several times in the past, Aer Arann have had to re-structure their debts so the added burden of taking an additional four aircraft over the coming 18 months will need to be weighed up carefully.
On another subject, does anyone know where Aer Arann have their heavy checks accomplished? I'm guessing the Galway facility is Part 145 approved up to and including A-Check but where do they send the aircraft for C-Checks and above?
All the best,
P2C
The bigger issue to my mind is how the aircraft will be financed. Aer Arann will need to make (if they haven't already) pre delivery payments on the aircraft and will also need to arrange financing for the final delivery payment. As Padraig O'Ceidigh has noted several times in the past, Aer Arann have had to re-structure their debts so the added burden of taking an additional four aircraft over the coming 18 months will need to be weighed up carefully.
On another subject, does anyone know where Aer Arann have their heavy checks accomplished? I'm guessing the Galway facility is Part 145 approved up to and including A-Check but where do they send the aircraft for C-Checks and above?
All the best,
P2C
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Aer Lingus Regional
Hi all,
It's been almost two weeks since the Aer Lingus Regional partnership went live and I'm wondering what the early feedback is like? Have the loads been strong or for the previously existing routes has there been any change? Also, is there any anecdotal information relating to the transiting of passengers through Dublin to the U.S.?
Also as a general discussion point, what other destinations do you think would be available under a "Wave 2" roll-out of the brand? From my perspective I think Wave 2 would almost inevitably involve head to head competition with Ryanair on some UK regional routes e.g. East Midlands.
All the best,
P2C.
It's been almost two weeks since the Aer Lingus Regional partnership went live and I'm wondering what the early feedback is like? Have the loads been strong or for the previously existing routes has there been any change? Also, is there any anecdotal information relating to the transiting of passengers through Dublin to the U.S.?
Also as a general discussion point, what other destinations do you think would be available under a "Wave 2" roll-out of the brand? From my perspective I think Wave 2 would almost inevitably involve head to head competition with Ryanair on some UK regional routes e.g. East Midlands.
All the best,
P2C.
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I work in baggage at DUB and from what I have seen so far the level of transfer traffic is very small, unless alot of people are travelling without baggage?
Aer Lingus need to up their game in the United Kingdom with advertising their flights to the US. I'm not talking Press Releases; they need to advertise their US destinations on billboards, radio, side of busses etc to really get the message out there.
I have only come across one person who is aware of EI’s onward connections to the USA.
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I agree - here in Doncaster there has been no advertising whatsoever (apart from two articles in the local paper - one when it was announced, and one when it started). Most people I speak to don't even know there is a Dublin service, let alone connections to the USA! Contrast this with easyJet, who have had adverts in the local papers practically every week, adverts on bus stops, and judging by the prices of the earlier flights and summer flights, it seems they are filling up quite nicely.