At least something about Dublin Airport does!

Older folk may remember that PK used to transit through SNN

So they did!! Forgot bout that

BT will resume flights to Vilnius next summer. They will operate 4 weekly.

Area 14
 

Have EI stopped using Area 14 (the converted basement) for check-in? I dropped some people off for an LHR flight during the week and check-in was in the same area as all other EI flights.

If they have ceased using it, when did they stop?

JAS

I think Air Transat are the only airline using area 14 now.

It was supposed to be an underground DART station wasn't it?

Thanks Chaps.

@SL

Yes, you're correct, the basement of the T1 extension was intended to be the underground terminus for the train (DART or Metro) link to the airport. The station is now planned to be elsewhere in the 'campus'.

JAS

I think me may be waiting quite a while for that metro station!! Airport is severly lacking rail connection though!

I was under the impression that Area 14 was to have been for an internal airport train that would connect to various sites around the airport complex. It would seem a bit small for a full metro section.

God knows what's going to happen with the proposed metro now.

The current proposal is in huge danger of being shut down as it's just a link from Dublin Airport to the city centre and doesn't link to the national rail network like you get in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, Brussels etc.

With all the recent talks that the Taoiseach has had with the Communist Party of China officials about trade links with their country:

Cowen convinced of Irish potential - Republic of Ireland, Local & National - Belfasttelegraph.co.uk

Do you think Cowen and co. will try and resurrect the proposed Dublin-Beijing route that they had previously been pushing for?

When you see Air China now serve London and Paris with new A330's (replacing the B747's previously on the route) and Hainan Airlines serving Beijing from Brussels, Berlin-Tegel and Budapest with B767's (whose runways aren't much longer than Dublin's), you wonder could the DAA make it work.

I remember Declan Collier saying that they were really trying to push this one, especially as he remarked that Los Angeles was even further away when Aer Lingus flew there so it was possible. And there were mummerings of some Chinese carriers interested in serving Dublin once T2 opened.

Anyone heard any rumours down around Collinstown way about this one?

Beijing calling?
 

I whole heartedly feel that instead of funding routes such as Derry - Dublin which has what 9 passengers a day? This subsidy money could go towards eastern routes. The likes of Beijing, Shanghai, Seoul etc. Yes it may incur heavy costs at first, but give business an opportunity to grow between Ireland and the likes of China, and I'm sure you'd find after 4-5 years that these routes would finally fund themselves. Some will say why should they fund unprofitable routes, but would they truly be unprofitable, this business that occur as a result could probably easily provide the tax and then some needed to pay for the routes. We're an English speaking country in Europe (The worlds largest economy) and have no awkward history with China, we must take advantage of it. Maybe further reasons to introduce Chinese as a compulsory subject in schools!

I agree with these suggestions. The problem is that overseas carriers are running scared due to the constant negative publicity about Ireland in the International Media.

Even if we cannot now attract a passenger carrier, a cargo route should certainly be a priority, particularly into one of the major Asian hubs, be it PEK, PVG, HKG or ICN.

I can't see us having a direct passenger link for many years; as it is, EY links quite a few Asian destinations, including NRT, PEK and NGO. As it adds more, which it will, more connection options for pax and freight will be possible.

Anyone heard more news about EY offering an all-cargo route to DUB? I heard this was on the cards some time ago.

The EY route to China is the long way to get there. Quickest connection is 16 hours, three hours longer than via Paris.

Indeed, EY doesn't make much sense for NRT either; taking them is definitely the scenic route.

I've just done NRT-DUB return with EY. Definitely a scenic route but in my case was significanly cheaper than the other options. Friends have also flown NRT-LHR with EY. Flying out of Japan during the summer can be very expensive so there is some business to be had at the right price.

Looking better for Aer Arran , the DAA will be relieved if that keeps going

Anyone watch the prime time report on T2 last night?
RT Player: Catch up with your favourite TV programmes online

Not sure if you can watch outside ireland. Thought Dempsey and Collier came out the worse from it but maybe thats me

According to RTE News the new T2 is opening in less than 6 weeks.

RTÉ News: Final run-through at Dublin Airport's T2