Aer Lingus - 5

[racedo]

4,500 x 'Social Welfare Payments' is a big discount on 4,500 x 'grossly inflated semi-state salaries plus perks' !

Aer Lingus is a Publicly Listed Company and ceased being an Irish Semi-State Company a number of years ago.

[monl2507]

Once again Cancellations from EI into DUB ... Madrid , Munich , Barcelona , Salzburg , Milan , Malaga , Warsaw , Rome .

Just a few minor delays from the Good Guys

[en2r]

Ryanair had less cancelations as on the 26th Dec and 1st Jan as every year FR dont schedule any flights until late in the day maybe as late as 12. EI planned to operate a full schedule of early flights and that why they got screwed.

Exactly. Ryanair did not operate any services on New Year's eve after about 3 PM and on New Years Day before around 10 or 11AM. Aer Lingus operated a full schedule on these two days. Therefore it was more badly affected by the snow which fell on New Year's day. The runway at Dublin was closed until around 10.30AM. At that point Aer Lingus were so far behind schedule that cancellations were inevitable, but Ryanair were only just starting operations for the day so they had mainly just delays.

[Just a spotter]

4,500 people doing the equivalent of 1,500 hundred jobs in a viable business ! - Huge saving here for the economy.

4,500 x 'Social Welfare Payments' is a big discount on 4,500 x 'grossly inflated semi-state salaries plus perks' ! and lets face it its all coming out of the same pot - The tax payers pocket.

Just a few minor delays from the Good Guys

@monl2507

You may want to brush up on your Irish Business History.

EI is a public company, paying its employees from its income or cash reserves, just as FR do.

And lets not forget, that it was the same "tax payer" in the form of the government of Irish State that give FR its first big hand up by blocking attempts by, the then wholly State owned, EI to put them out of business before Mr. O'Leary arrived on the scene.

As for the spin on how punctual or cancellation free any airline is, the phrase .... "lies, damn lies and statistics" springs to mind.

JAS

[EI-RB]

They are a disgrace and the sooner they put themselves out of business the better !

A lot of people feel this way about FR too. Been looking at EI's loads out of Gatwick for OCT & November ! They are achieving between 55 - 70 % on certain routes.

[qwertyuiop]

EI-RB.

I am a big fan of EI, they are a SUPERB airline to fly on.

However, given the vast advertising budget they have spent in the South of England and the suicidal ticket prices, I would say those load factors are poor.

[MUFC_fan]

London is the most competitive market in the world, especially on price and they need to do both of those things to even get any seats on their airplanes...

[qwertyuiop]

MUFC Fan (****e team!!!).

That is absolutely correct and is the reason why most people believe a move to LGW was a very strange business move. It was a no win on all fronts. To take on Easy, Ryan, Monarch etc at LGW was madness!

They have spent a vast amount on TV advertising, given tickets away at WAY below cost, and flown most of the aircraft below 50% LF.

As I said before, I like the product.

[Random Flyer]

Many Airports in UK and EU dont have USA flights, examples as follows;

Glasgow (limited range and frequency)

EI-BUD

Is that a joke? Glasgow has more direct routes to the USA than most airports in the UK. I would guess only London and Manchester handle more US bound traffic than Glasgow.

[MUFC_fan]

I would guess only London and Manchester handle more US bound traffic than Glasgow.

Correct. Last summer it pipped BHX by a weekly VS 744 flight. Now that US have pulled out of BHX it is the third busiest transatlantic gateway during the summer.

During the winter though it is just the same as BRS, EDI, BHX and BFS - a daily 757 to Newark...

[EI-RB]

However, given the vast advertising budget they have spent in the South of England and the suicidal ticket prices, I would say those load factors are poor.

I fully agree with you qwertyuiop !! The routes I looked at were NOC, WAW, OTP and EIN. NOC was the best performing closer to 70% lf in November. The other routes were only launched in October. Its going to take time for EI to establish itself at LGW. Everyone knows Easyjet and Ryanair. EI are going to have to do something special to gain recognition quickly. They need to be more innovative in marketing their LGW routes. I see easyjet are now offering the following:

easyJet offers flat rate fare for missed flights

In a bid to attract more business travellers, easyJet has started offering people who miss their flights a set fare.

Passengers who miss their flight can get on the next one available for a flat fee of £43.00.

Easyjet passengers can also take an earlier flight than the one they are booked on at no extra charge.

News in Brief: December 30 2009 | ABTN

Suicidal Fares wont make EI popular they need to make themselves more attractive to fly with just like EZY are doing. The FFP needs to be sorted out asap its a shambles. Alot of money could be made out of the FFP if they do a deal with a few major retailers or something. They could even partner up with the BA FFP. The big question is how committed are the EI management to making EI a success.

[EI-BUD]

Is that a joke? Glasgow has more direct routes to the USA than most airports in the UK. I would guess only London and Manchester handle more US bound traffic than Glasgow.

Random Flyer thanks for the feedback I did say alongside Glasgow 'limited range and frequency'

As far as I can see there only daily flights to Newark, and the other destinations (only year round service is CO to EWR)

Toronto ... a few weekly and mainly seasonal
La Romana ... charter only and seasonal
Cancun... charter only and seasonal
Philadelphia..daily and seasonal
Las Vegas..Seasonal and seasonal ones are charter
Orlando.. scheduled services are seasonal.

My point was originally that using Dublin as a connection point with immigration clearance to a wide range of destinations...

New York JFK
Boston
Chicago
Atlanta
Orlando
Philadelphia
Hopefully the list will grow, and if EI did develop a strategy it is conceiveable that

San Francisco
Los Angeles
Washington Baltimore would return and maybe a few more new ones?

I wasnt critisising Glasgow in any way, but I think that if Aer Lingus marketed Dublin correctly they would be pushing an open door in terms of attracting the customer to fly from the UK regions and Europe due to a few USPs

-Immigration Clearance in Dublin
-More direct than flying via Amsterdam, London, Copenhagen etc
-Likely to be faster as all flights would leave from one terminal
-New Modern Terminal
-Low Fares

Not all these are unique selling points but a good start as to why to fly Dublin for connections.

EI-BUD

[Random Flyer]

As far as I can see there only daily flights to Newark, and the other destinations (only year round service is CO to EWR)

Toronto ... a few weekly and mainly seasonal
La Romana ... charter only and seasonal
Cancun... charter only and seasonal
Philadelphia..daily and seasonal
Las Vegas..Seasonal and seasonal ones are charter
Orlando.. scheduled services are seasonal.

I thought we were talking about the USA only but if we are talking about all west-bound long haul then I think GLA currently has the following.

Calgary - Weekly - Seasonal
Cancun - 2 weekly - Seasonal
Cayo Coco - Weekly - Seasonal
La Romana - Weekly - Seasonal
Las Vegas - Weekly - Seasonal
Newark NYC - Daily - Year round
Orlando International - Weekly - Seasonal
Orlando Sanford - 2 weekly - Seasonal
Philadelphia - Daily - Seasonal
Puerto Plata - 2 weekly - Seasonal
Punta Cana - Weekly - Year round
Toronto - Daily - Year round
Vancouver - Weekly - Seasonal

It's hard to believe demand alters THAT much between summer and winter!

Their is also the Icelandair option from Glasgow, with all onward connections going to either Canada or the USA. I think Icelandair are 4 weekly, year round.

GLA also seems to have been hit harder than most UK airports in the recession with the loss of flights to Calgary, Boston, Halifax, Hamilton, Orlando Sanford, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver.

But back to the original point. Connecting in Dublin does have its advantages. I've done it myself a few years ago. But now with many of EI's UK routes down to just one flight per day, it makes connecting very difficult and it appears from the EI website, a number of EI’s US routes are not available to book online from some of their UK airports. I guess this is down to the timings of the UK flights.

[EI-BUD]

Aer Arann Schedule....

Does anybody know when the newly ordered ATR72s are due for delivery. Interestingly, the Aer Arann timetable online is published up to March 7th but not beyond, flights beyond that date are in the booking engine. I know Aer Arann often show a timetable for odd time periods ie different to the usual timetable periods.

Perhaps Aer Arann are simply going to enter into a Franchise arrangement like Loganair do with Flybe or BA previously did with many smaller carriers.

That would deliver an income and also may allow Aer Lingus access to markets not currently served.

EI-BUD

[Papa2Charlie]

Hi EI-BUD,

Last time I checked they were due for delivery from March at a rate of one a month. The data was from Ascend which is usually pretty reliable.

As I was saying in a post in the RE forum, it'll be interesting to see if these S/N's ever end up with RE given the availability of the ATR72-500 in the market and the cash out-flows associated with taking delivery of a new aircraft.

Cheers,

P2C

[irish lad]

I think a link up with RE would give EI a strong chance of been able to attract in extra passangers to transatlantic routes but would also allow them to compete more with FR... At least a link up with RE might lead to a morning, midday and evening flight on routes like Glasgow & Edinburgh, giving beter connections for business travellers and shorther transfer times for those going onto the USA

Prehabs such a link between the two airlines would bring more passangers on routes like Newcastle, Cardiff, Isle of Man, Jersy, Rennes and give them chance at opening new routes ie. Norwich, Plymouth

And why not try basing an ATR at Shannon now that FR are pulling out, flying to Manchester Birmingham Bristol Glasgow Edinburgh ect, and try getting some passangers for Shannon to Boston, JFK routes... just an idea, maybe im dreaming

[EI-RB]

I didn't realise EI had EDI and GLA down to one flight a day. These are bread and butter routes. I didnt realise things were this bad. They are handing these routes over to FR on a plate. Can anyone confirm these routes were two or three times daily last year ? An EI/RE tie up definitely must be on the cards now. EI were advertising their LGW routes on ITV this evening.

[en2r]

I didn't realise EI had EDI and GLA down to one flight a day. These are bread and butter routes. I didnt realise things were this bad. They are handing these routes over to FR on a plate. Can anyone confirm these routes were two or three times daily last year ?

Glasgow has been once daily for the past year or so. Before that it was twice daily. I don't think it was ever three times daily, or not in recent times anyway. Edinburgh has switched from once daily to twice daily and back again on a number of different occasions over the past few years but again has never been three times daily in the recent past.

[EI-BUD]

Blast from the past-back to summer 1996!!!

Hi all,

I have some old timetables in a box and as a sample of the frequencies and aircraft types for summer 1996 (chose as an example summer 1996. Some older timetables eg 1989 FR had some interested routes NOC LBA .. coming back this year and others like NOC DUB LTN. Plus the wonderful connecting services with Air Uk at STN from 1991 onward as published in their wonderful little pocket size timetable or say 1995 when they launched new routes eg DUB LGW and the front cover says 'NEW ROUTE DUBLIN LONDON GATWICK!)

Here goes;

Aer Lingus summer 1996 (Ryanair in brackets if competing offering)

Ireland UK routes

Dublin Birmingham typically 5 daily, 3x 146,2x F50, Fri 1 stop via NOC (FR/5 daily 73S)
Dublin Bristol typically 3 daily, 2x F50, 1x 146 (no FR but CWL was daily and new route this season)
Dublin East Midlands 2 daily ending at May 15 96 (BMA took over route)
Dublin Edinburgh 4 daily 3x F50 1x146
Dublin Glasgow 3 daily, 2x146, 1x F50 (FR/to PIK 3 x 73S)
Dublin Jersey 1 weekly Sat 146
Dublin LeedsBradford 3 daily F50 (FR new route this season 2 x 73S daily)
Dublin London Heathrow x14 daily 737-400/500
Dublin London Stansted x 5 daily new route x146 (FR 11 daily 73S. LTN FR x 4 daily. FR LGW x4 daily)(CityFlyer BA also operating LGW x 4 daily)
Dublin London City Airport x5 daily 146(codeshare with Virgin Atlantic Cityjet)
Dublin Manchester 5 daily 146 (FR/5 daily 73S)-1 x EI went on to ZRH (Cityjet operated)
Dublin Newcastle 2 daily F50

This season also saw the new livery being launched 'slanted shamrock!'

Outside of Dublin there were the usual suspects...some not so usual too!
Cork Birmingham daily F50
Cork Heathrow 5x 737 (FR/ ORK STN 4daily)
Knock Birmingham weekly 146
Shannon Heathrow 5 daily 737


Some other routes in the timetable that are noticeably different!!
Shannon Belfast (extention of JFK Service x 3 by week)
Shannon Dusseldorf weekly 737 nonstop
Shannon Paris weekly 737 nonstop
Shannon Zurich weekly 737 nonstop

Kerry/Dusseldorf weekly via Dublin 737 all the way!
Kerry/Frankfurt weekly via Dublin 737 all the way!

And Caledonian Airways operated EI106/7 Dublin Shannon JFK for the season on behalf of EI with L10-11 aircraft!

Air Inter were doing a daily airbus on DUB CDG and American Transair did DUB JFK!

Some may find this interesting sorry if it is a bit long winded!


EI-BUD

[thebeehive]

LGW-ACE and LGW-TFS not bookable for July 2010 - Significant?