Aer Arann

[BAladdy]

According to the site jethros.eu Aer Arran are leasing a Scot Airways D328.

Does anyone know if this aircraft operating the IOM/LCY?? and how long the aircraft will be operating for RE??

[CARNMANORLAD]

The ScotAirways a/c currently does the evening LDY-DUB service

[BISH-BASH-BOSH]

The 328, is operating the Sligo, Galway, and Derry sectors, a second aircraft is joining WT next month.

[LTNman]

I see that the flying times from Ireland to London have increased by 10 minutes now the airline has switched most of its flights to Southend. That works out as an increase of 11% in time if you look at the Waterford route. If you add the cost of the extra fuel burn then Southend must be doing a very good deal in landing fees and other charges.

[chuboy]

I'd say Southend would be, even if they weren't affiliated I thought it was fairly standard practice for airports to offer incentives to airlines starting new routes, etc?

As for the increase in flying time, 11% seems like a lot but if you factor in the reduced time on the ground compared to the busier Luton it probably cancels out overall.

[propburner]

Cancellation of 3 Aer Arann PSO Routes are PSO Subsidies a Waste of Time

An announcement by Aer Arann that its three subsidised PSO routes from Sligo, Knock and Galway to Dublin would end just as soon as the subsidies finish in July 2011.
Whats left for this airline?

[pamann]

Whats left for this airline?

I would imagine Southend expansion.

[desk_bound]

Southend......would be a real change in direction, if they opened a base there, possible market for a low cost t/p operator to Ireland and close by Europe or Channel Islands for those who do not want to "travel" to STN. They could also pick up some ACMI work from ex Flightline clients. Lets see what the future brings, all good I hope.

[Sikpupi]

There will be 2 x PSOs coming up over the next few weeks that they can bid for. They are for Dublin-Kerry and Dublin- Donegal.

They were quite successful (and profitable) on the Kerry route before FR ran it into the ground. I would hope that they would go back in on a bid for same especially as FR has dirtied their copybook in the DOT. They already on Denegal and as far as I can see- they are happy with their lot there!!

[sawtooth]

UK CAA March Stats:
For the 4 days that RE new SEN service operated last month:

SOUTHEND
- GALWAY 300
- WATERFORD 516

Morning and Evening service daily, all GWY services via WAT. Not sure how to work out loads on shared flight, but too early to give any indication really.

GWY - MAN -40% (on 2010)
GWY - LTN -4%
GWY - EDI -15%

[Jamie2k9]

Just weeks after cutting London Luton flight Aer Arann will increase them from 2 June. Galway and Waterfird will have all direct flights.

For direct flights from Waterford the BHX flights will be moved to a 19:00 departure and Waterford - London Southend will be reduced. It will be combined with GWY on Sun evening, Mon evening, Thur evenings as well as all flights on Tuesdays, Wednesdays Fridays and Saturdays.

Between 2 June - 28 October

[irish laddie]

Thanks for the info Jamie.

WAT-BHX pax seem like the big winner, timings seem to be perfect now for weekend traffic on the route.

Deferring WAT-LTN to 15:15 and 17:00 return is also a bonus in my mind for London originating pax like myself. In an ideal world it would be great to have the late night LTN-WAT flight back, but it's a move in the right direction at least.

For WAT itself though, if these flights are by ATR 42, there will probably be only a marginal benefit in pax numbers versus the current shared 72 to LTN.

[sawtooth]

The current schedule is barely a month in, surely they'd factored in more time for SEN plan to gain traction, it was never going to "take off" in the first weeks? Waterford airport management told local radio last week SEN was "proving a hard sell".

To switch back to LTN so quickly suggests panic as they lose regular pax, or are the worried about a rival moving in...

[Jamie2k9]

Since Southend was announced I have always said it wouldn't work out very well for Waterford passengers, I also said that RE would lose a lot of passengers and with the ATR 72 switched to a ATR 42 since the start SEN flights.

When WAT - SEN started it had 8 direct weekly flights. It was then cut in April (2 direct flights I think) and from 2 Jun there will only be 3 direct flights a week.

Waterford Airport Management did there best to market the route from radio adds and having teams out on Patrick's day giving people all around the city information about the route.

If you ask me we will see more Luton flights lather this year.

[EI-BUD]

When the PSO routes that are being axed go in July I make it that there will be about 16 Aer Arann routes left (as distinct from Aer Arann routes operated in the guise of Aer Lingus Regional). With such a reduced level of activity in terms of proportion of the business being more A Lingus Regional, would it not make more sense when all is considered to change the whole outfit to Aer Lingus Regional?

Given that the remaining routes in Aer Arann are basically
-Waterford 6 routes
-IOM 1 route (excl Dublin)
-Kerry 1 route
-Donegal 2 routes (incl Dublin)
-Galway 5 routes

Surely the DUB routes would be better served in EI and being on EI system re connections interlines etc?

Kerry would most likely be an Aer Lingus Regional branded aircraft given that it is a W pattern operating from Manchester.

Donegal as an EI Regional route would again be suitable for connections, same issue for IOM.

That would leave the few GWY and WAT routes.

Does anybody know if the the PSO routes are permitted to be transferred to an Aer Lingus branded operation?

EI-BUD

[Jamie2k9]

Aer Arann MAN - KIR is with a Aer Arann branded aircraft on a W from Galway.

[virginblue]

I suppose Aer Arann is paying Aer Lingus for using the latter's brand, distribution channels etc. Why should they waste that money in non-competitive markets?

[JSCL]

@virginblue Not necessarily - it depends on their agreement. It could be a 'codeshare' agreement allowing Aer Arann to offer extended routes (and even Aer Lingus). I'd imagine it's an agreement that'd be positive for all parties involved.

[EI-BUD]

I suppose Aer Arann is paying Aer Lingus for using the latter's brand, distribution channels etc. Why should they waste that money in non-competitive markets?

Yeah I know what you are saying, but when you consider the costs of marketing the Aer Arann brand, the systems in place in house re IT and sales etc, the question is does the costs of flying under franchise outweigh these?

When a flight is booked on AL Regional via the AerLingus website, who is managing the bookings, and collecting the fares? Is it Aer Lingus or Aer Arann??

Jamie2k9 thanks for the info re GWY MAN ac doing KIR MAN, I never thought of that!

EI-BUD

[JSCL]

Just like any other 'agent' I'd assume. AL taking the money then passing over some to Aer Arann and AL taking some handling + ATOL fees.