Aer Lingus - 5
Join Date: Aug 2005
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Aer Lingus always give passengers the option to change flights or get a full refund, they usually don't do this until last ditch talks are over. We are currently in those talks and if they end without agreement and the strike is confirmed expect Aer Lingus to put the options up on the website.
It's still not much good for the passengers with hotel bookings/business trips/holidays/weddings/etc etc etc to get to who are being left in limbo.
As I said, should EI leave it until Thursday or Friday to announce this, it leaves the passengers up the creek, without a paddle. It'll be impossible for people to get through to EI should they need to and damned expensive to get alternative tickets with other carriers. Never mind the mess that people mid-trip may end up in.
Time for them to bite the bullet, end passengers uncertainties and be a bit proactive for once. I can't see them generating much goodwill by doing the living out the first scenario I described. Heads-in-sand do nothing to win favour - even the website blatantly ignores the impending trouble and lets people book away for the potentially troublesome days without so much as a nod towards the fact they may not be able to fly on those days..
Join Date: Nov 2006
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A330 #985
Hello All
was in Toulouse today and saw the next A330 that is destined for Aer Lingus. It is machine number 985 but doesnt have a French reg on it yet.
It is parked beside the first concorde prototype and on the other side is a MEA A330 that is at a similar stage in production.
The EI A330 has only got the tail painted and looks very smart!!!
was in Toulouse today and saw the next A330 that is destined for Aer Lingus. It is machine number 985 but doesnt have a French reg on it yet.
It is parked beside the first concorde prototype and on the other side is a MEA A330 that is at a similar stage in production.
The EI A330 has only got the tail painted and looks very smart!!!
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Join Date: Aug 1999
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EI looking to acquire?
Interesting article in SBP today about EI's plans going fwd:
Sunday Business Post | Irish Business News
It's looking to be an acquirer of other airlines rather than an acquiree. With regard to the current process, talking still going on with IMPACT and "cogs moving a little slower" ... issue of outsourcing "still on the table" until costs can be sorted out. (So effectively, a "bogeyman" issue, designed to push people towards agreement?)
Still expects loss this year, but overall financial position good, with healthy cash pile.
Sunday Business Post | Irish Business News
It's looking to be an acquirer of other airlines rather than an acquiree. With regard to the current process, talking still going on with IMPACT and "cogs moving a little slower" ... issue of outsourcing "still on the table" until costs can be sorted out. (So effectively, a "bogeyman" issue, designed to push people towards agreement?)
Still expects loss this year, but overall financial position good, with healthy cash pile.
Join Date: Mar 2005
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Flexifare?
I hadn't seen this noted here before, so I don't know how long this has been around, but Aer Lingus seem to have introduced a flexible fare option on routes to/from Heathrow.
Seems like a good idea, if nothing else because it means a single receipt for business travellers.
Does anyone know if there are plans to roll it out over the rest of the short-haul network?
Flexible / Flexifare
- No itinerary change fee will apply.
- The full price of the ticket (minus administration fee) is refundable prior to the flight scheduled departure time.
- Flexible tickets can be changed to a different departure time/date and to/from the same destination. No fare difference must be paid if the new fare is higher than the original fare booked.
- For FlexiFare holders we waive the late check-in Fee (on day of departure only).
- Flexible tickets can be changed to another destination and/or another date of departure at no additional charge. Fare difference must be paid if the new fare is higher than the original fare booked.
- 2 checked bags (excluding excess weight) can be booked free of charge.
- Seats can be booked with no additional cost for any economy seats.
- Gold Circle Points are awarded when you are travelling on any Aer Lingus scheduled flights.
Does anyone know if there are plans to roll it out over the rest of the short-haul network?
Join Date: Aug 2007
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FlexiFare was introduced a few weeks ago, so far it is just being trialled on Heathrow routes but I think it will eventually be rolled out to other routes such as AMS. Apparently it is part of the new changes for to the Aer Lingus short haul product.
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It would be ironic if Ryanair ended up buying the rest of Aer Lingus at half the price originally offered.
Given that they already own nearly a third and seem pretty determined, it would be premature to dismiss the possibility entirely.
Given that they already own nearly a third and seem pretty determined, it would be premature to dismiss the possibility entirely.
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It simply won't happen. The Irish Government won't allow it nor will the EU as the lack of competition in such a market wouldn't be in the consumers interests. Having said that when SAS acquired Braathens when faced with the alternative of closure they ok'd it but then we saw the rise of Norwegian to balance things out again.
The problem with Ryanair is that whilst they are the first to complain about dirty tricks I think you would see an interesting approach when directly competing with a new entrant.
Notice how their booking system is back to its old nasty and illegal habit of showing prices excluding taxes and charges at the first screen. The message " select a flight " appears.......naughy Michael. been like this fopr over a week now.....won't be long before the OFT are back on to you......hope they fine you this time...
The problem with Ryanair is that whilst they are the first to complain about dirty tricks I think you would see an interesting approach when directly competing with a new entrant.
Notice how their booking system is back to its old nasty and illegal habit of showing prices excluding taxes and charges at the first screen. The message " select a flight " appears.......naughy Michael. been like this fopr over a week now.....won't be long before the OFT are back on to you......hope they fine you this time...
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It simply won't happen.
I do not believe the UK OFT have any authority over and Irish company although I suppose they might be able to apply pressure on advertisments within the UK.
Anyway, why would naughty Michael care?
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I doubt this will pass the competition regulators. As this BBC news article explains, if Ryanair and Aer Lingus merged MOL would have have a more than 80% control of Dublin. And given that the regs get tetchy any time BA tries to increase their 40ish% hold on Heathrow I don't think this deal has a chance, credit crunch or not
Join Date: Apr 2007
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Oddly I do have a weird respect for MOL, he is managing to make a shed load of cash when others fail misserably.
That said, this take over of Aer Lingus stinks of hypocracy. MOL stated many times before he is hugely in favor of competition as it's good for the customers. With an 80% market share of flights from Dublin its never going to work for the travelling public.
Getting his hands on a few A330's would bump start Ryanair long-haul though...
I really hope AL manage to divert this attempt again, the Irish people are proud of AL and dont want to see it cheapened to the FR model.
That said, this take over of Aer Lingus stinks of hypocracy. MOL stated many times before he is hugely in favor of competition as it's good for the customers. With an 80% market share of flights from Dublin its never going to work for the travelling public.
Getting his hands on a few A330's would bump start Ryanair long-haul though...
I really hope AL manage to divert this attempt again, the Irish people are proud of AL and dont want to see it cheapened to the FR model.
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MOl
Here we go again.
I wonder what part of F--- off he Does not understand?
At half the price his first offer was rejected, does he seriously expect to send the Irish Government, AerLingus Employees, ESOT and other shareholders, racing to cash in their chips?
What about the little matter of the EU, which rightly rejected the idea of only one Irish airline.
Off you go Michael, find yourself somewhere else to dump your unwanted aircraft, or start your own transatlantic service. now that would be real competition!!
I wonder what part of F--- off he Does not understand?
At half the price his first offer was rejected, does he seriously expect to send the Irish Government, AerLingus Employees, ESOT and other shareholders, racing to cash in their chips?
What about the little matter of the EU, which rightly rejected the idea of only one Irish airline.
Off you go Michael, find yourself somewhere else to dump your unwanted aircraft, or start your own transatlantic service. now that would be real competition!!
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Ryanair to become the jolly green giant?
Any Irish street looks like any UK street these days with Marks, Tesco, Boots. So brand loyalty will never be an issue.
Ryanair will eventually snap up a bargain getting Aer Lingus for less than it’s worth and with a ready made transatlantic fleet!
I’d be happy to see Leo a fellow Irish man, who lives and pays his tax here become the jolly green giant.
Ryanair will eventually snap up a bargain getting Aer Lingus for less than it’s worth and with a ready made transatlantic fleet!
I’d be happy to see Leo a fellow Irish man, who lives and pays his tax here become the jolly green giant.
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The press release issued this morning does make quite a convincing argument (why wouldnt it i suppose), highlighting the continued losses being made by AL despite all the recent restructuring and hardships endured by their staff, and, of course, in line with every other irish company (banks in particular) who are facing huge difficuties, the obligatory massive salary hikes for the directors.
RYR promise to double AL's short haul fleet which really can only be a good thing in my opinion, but maybe im just biased, considering the ink on my (f)ATPL is only just dry, and not a whisper of a job anywhere.
Apparently they're looking for staff in the dole office, pretty busy down there these days!
RYR promise to double AL's short haul fleet which really can only be a good thing in my opinion, but maybe im just biased, considering the ink on my (f)ATPL is only just dry, and not a whisper of a job anywhere.
Apparently they're looking for staff in the dole office, pretty busy down there these days!
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Just a question, in this dire economic crisis we all find ourselves in...
Why shouldnt MOL buy EI? Hes clearly doing something right and has the cash to expand. EI are not in such a stable financial position.
Airlines are downsizing, merging, being taken over and going to the wall... Whats the difference in general terms of LH buying bmi or MOL buying EI... NONE.
For goodness sake. NO one can afford to knock back an offer these days. Shareholders, governments and employees alike. Its happening all over the world... CONSOLIDATION!
Who would have thought, Easyjet buying GB from BA...
Why shouldnt MOL buy EI? Hes clearly doing something right and has the cash to expand. EI are not in such a stable financial position.
Airlines are downsizing, merging, being taken over and going to the wall... Whats the difference in general terms of LH buying bmi or MOL buying EI... NONE.
For goodness sake. NO one can afford to knock back an offer these days. Shareholders, governments and employees alike. Its happening all over the world... CONSOLIDATION!
Who would have thought, Easyjet buying GB from BA...
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"Who would have thought, Easyjet buying GB from BA... "
They didn't. They bought it from the Bland group who happened to be a BA franchisee at the time...not the same thing at all.
They didn't. They bought it from the Bland group who happened to be a BA franchisee at the time...not the same thing at all.
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Why would O'Leary make a pitch for EI at this stage?
Consider for a moment the Ryanair financial position. With a valuation of 3.5bn, and a debt of 1.8bn, they are suffering heavily from the economic downturn in Europe. They are also commited to taking a large number of new 737s in the next ten months with no option to offload them or older aircraft; again due to collapsing global markets.
If he were to get EI for €750m he would get immediate access to their cash reserves of over €800m, terminate the EI leases on their A320s and sell the 320s they own (the market for 320s remaining a lot stronger that the 737 market).
In one move he would eliminate the competition at his home base, strenghten his balance sheet and find work for his ever increasing fleet of parked 737s.
Failure to pull this off would result in a major financial problem for FR, as the large number of new aircarft arrive unable to pay their way and their own cash reserves get eaten up with repayments. It would not take long for a company which has built itself up with little capital to find the debt/equity ratio reach a position which is unsustainable, and unfundable.
The need for access to fresh cash along with an avenue to put the excess aircraft in the fleet to productive use is critical for FRs future.
Consider for a moment the Ryanair financial position. With a valuation of 3.5bn, and a debt of 1.8bn, they are suffering heavily from the economic downturn in Europe. They are also commited to taking a large number of new 737s in the next ten months with no option to offload them or older aircraft; again due to collapsing global markets.
If he were to get EI for €750m he would get immediate access to their cash reserves of over €800m, terminate the EI leases on their A320s and sell the 320s they own (the market for 320s remaining a lot stronger that the 737 market).
In one move he would eliminate the competition at his home base, strenghten his balance sheet and find work for his ever increasing fleet of parked 737s.
Failure to pull this off would result in a major financial problem for FR, as the large number of new aircarft arrive unable to pay their way and their own cash reserves get eaten up with repayments. It would not take long for a company which has built itself up with little capital to find the debt/equity ratio reach a position which is unsustainable, and unfundable.
The need for access to fresh cash along with an avenue to put the excess aircraft in the fleet to productive use is critical for FRs future.