Aer Lingus - 5

[840]

First flights out of Belfast today.

I was hoping to see three EI aircraft lined up next to each other here today, but while Belfast and Dublin were put on D5 and D7, the Cork flight got exiled to D47, so the photo op was gone.

There was a big banner by the gate for the Belfast flight announcing it was the first EI service to Belfast. Also, for the first time I can remember EI seem to have put up advertisements in Schiphol Airport.

I don't have exact numbers, but there seemed to be more queuing at the gate for it than there were for the Dublin or Cork flights. Then again, looking at the elaborate cameras etc., there may have been a few journalists who were on freebies on the flight.

[Skipness One Echo]

Except for the last time Aer Lingus flew from Belfast, to JFk wasn't it?

[840]

That thought did cross my mind, but I decided to let them off because it was the first flight from Schiphol to Belfast.

Even if it had happened, it wouldn't have been the first time I'd seen three EI aircraft parked up on consecutive gates. A couple of years back, there was very heavy snow in March, which led to a lot of cancelled flights. EI sent an extra plane over from Dublin (on Patrick's Day for extra symbolism) to clear the backlog. Maybe with a bit of snow, we might see four on some day this year

[finding_nema]

Does Aer Lingus have the financial reserves to expand into foreign bases through the purchase of other airlines?

[840]

Yes and No
There's still plenty of cash from the flotation. However, it's earmarked for fleet expansion. If they were to cancel that, there would be money. How market analysts would react to such a change of tactic would be open to question.
There was talk earlier this year that EI considered buying bmi a number of years ago.
http://www.independent.ie/business/i...-in-51399.html

[WexCan]

Talking to dispatcher in BFS today, asked him how EI was doing, evening AMS - 20 pax and 11 bags booked.

[Just a spotter]

Aer Lingus & JetBlue

The article is a few days old at this stage, but given the overnight events ...

Aer Lingus is poised to unveil its very belated tie-in with US airline Jet Blue in the coming weeks, as it remains bullish about Open Skies, despite cooler sentiments from UK airlines.

http://www.independent.ie/business/i...y-1238316.html

I wonder will LH's purchase of 19% of JetBule affect the deal ....

JAS

[akerosid]

I wouldn't expect it to affect the EI deal at all; it's good for B6 too. Indeed, it may even be used as a template for future similar deals.

[daelight]

Could someone confirm these flights?

Good evening all,

Checking over the ACARS logs for today I found this interesting flight... EI2138 (EI-LAX A330). I am using acarsd client and it went off and scurried the web for me and came back with the routing - St. Johns, Newfoundland - Dublin.

Then later tonight she was EI2111 , acarsd says thats Dublin - JFK.

I checked Aer Lingus website and Dublin Airport live arrival / departures but they don't mention these flights. I am curious, especially what kind of flight (maybe charter?) that Aer Lingus would be doing from Newfoundland....

Many thanks

[en2r]

When flying from Boston-Dublin EI-LAX got a broken windscreen. It landed in St. John's and overnighted there before having the windscreen fixed today. It's now on its way back to Dublin

[EC-ILS]

EI-LAX arrived into DUB this evening from YYT and then headed straight back to JFK.

[CaptJ]

Aer Lingus Heathrow terminal Move

Does anyone have any concrete knowledge of when and where EI is moving to at Heathrow?

I have seen several statements ranging from move to T3 in Jun to no move.

any info appreciated

[akerosid]

A330 u/s at IAD?

Is it true that EI has had a 330 stuck at IAD for three days because of a u/c problem?

Also, does anyone know when the next new A320s are scheduled for delivery? I believe it's March/April time?

[fivejuliet]

Yes it was stuck in IAD, with NAO operating one of of the flights

concerned aircraft arrived into Dublin again this morning, problem must have been fixed

[Angry Rebel]

I flew out of LHR in late December and asked the senior cabin attendant. She said that they are not going anywhere, staying in Terminal 1.

[EC-ILS]

DUO was damaged because of a hard landing apparenlty!

Cabin crew arn not the first people to be informed when airlines are moving terminals so just because a senior says it isnt happening doesnt make it not true.

[Angry Rebel]

Christ...I'm not saying it's the gospel truth, I'm telling the poster who asked the question what I've heard.

As has been said here before, if posts are confined to absolute and utter confirmed and concrete facts then what's the point?! The forum is meant to be rumour and discussion and debate. [Hint: the clue is in the name!]

[iflycwl]

Would Aer Lingus ever consider coming back to CWL to challenge Ryan Air at BRS ?

They applied for slots for Summer 2007 season then cancelled them - it was a daily A320 flight.

Even though Aer Arann operate this sector it would be great to see Aer Lingus challenge Ryan Air base at BRS and I am sure they would pick up the loads, after all Ryan Air were head to head with Air Wales and both made this route profitable.

Any suggestions ?

[CaptJ]

Heathrow Terminal Move

I have certainly seen it written in some BAA document that Aer Lingus are not moving in the interim moves which start immediately after most BA flights move to T5. On the other hand there are plenty of press releases saying they WILL move to T3, albeit rather dated now.

Since Aer Lingus have pulled out of Oneworld they may no longer be welcome in T3 and neither will they be welcome in T1, the SA terminal.

It's going to make a mockery of code shares if they are not co-located with their partners.

International passengers making connections to UK and Ireland are going to have a fun time over the coming year!

[Captain Planet]

So when are Arann taking over the British Aer lingus routes as agreed in the contract signed 6 months ago?

CP.