Long Haul 2014
 

Us Airways are to use the A332 on the Dublin-Philadelphia route from 29th March 2014. It'll operate for the entire summer season.
Rumours going around also of EI launching a Dublin-Halifax route next summer using an A320, anyone have any confirmation?
Also is there any confirmation of TCX operating Cancun next year?

Is this confirmed? Still B767 in all web booking portals.

Yes, 3 B762's being replaced by 4 A332's by summer 14.

Can't see 2014 growth being over quiet yet either.

WestJet putting their toe in the Atlantic waters. Will be attractive to Newfoundland but also Nova Scotia/New Brunswick/eastern Quebec rather than schlep to Toronto or Boston, maybe northern Maine too. Kick up the ass for Air Canada too who have annoyed the locals with cutbacks to LHR-YYT. Toronto is 5276 km to Dublin, St Johns 3300km so the extra hike is significant. Given some similarities between JetBlue and WestJet maybe an codeshare agreement might be in the offing?

DUB t'witter says SAS increasing capacity to OSL by 11% and CPH by 9% next summer.

I wonder if that means 73G/319 instead of 717, or just extra capacity with existing type?

Some very good news to come soon, if reports are true:

Air China to launch DUB from next April, with A330s!

Photo: B-6079 (CN: 810) Air China Airbus A330-243 by John Fitzpatrick - JetPhotos.Net

Any conformation on Air China??


Also, Ryanair have received permission to start flights between Dublin-Moscow & St.Petersburg from March 2014 Ryanair to Begin Flights to Russia in March 2014 | News | The Moscow Times

The Air China rumour is fact and will be announced any day now.

Any idea on frequencies or whether this is a seasonal/year round flight? A bit surprised that there is strong enough demand between Ireland and China for a direct flight; especially with Emirates, Etihad, Turkish and all the other connection choices.

The demand's from China to Ireland.

Don't have a lot of information but expect it will be at least 4 weekly if not even daily at times. 18,000 passengers between DUB and Beijing in 2012 while another 12,000 to other cities in China. Having a direct route will increase demand at either end anyway and cargo will be big on the route.

Dublin Airport Twins with Beijing Airport in Push for China Link :: Routesonline

I'm sure there will be news on EK and EY at some point in 2014 to.

18,000 per year is only 49 a day, are you sure that's right?

It's probably just for those carriers.

I could see it work via a stop like fra or cph for example but direct...im not so sure. But if they do good luck to them.

I am aware of instances in Ireland, north and south of people who book a ticket to a UK airport e.g. MAN, LHR, BHX and travel onwards with another on a separate ticket to a final destination in China. E.g. a guy I work travels about 2 times per year BFS to MAN and then on a separate ticket does MAN CDG WUH (Wuhan, China). Works out an awful lots cheaper.

Though this is a small sample, it does highlight that there might well be much more demand than the 18k per annum suggested, also a direct flight with some marketing in china by Bord Failte might make Ireland an attractive destination.

Few would have expected both a DUB DXB and a DUB AUH route to work as well as they have. Yes these carriers have huge connectivity at their respective hubs, the opportunities are no always easy to quantify in advance. Great to see progress at DUB nonetheless.

EI-BUD

How many between Dublin and Japan or Korea? I would imagine a direct flight in Beijing might pick up a share of that market.

Also, I assume the 12K figure doesn't include Hong Kong?

EI, the price was right on the DUB-AUH-PEK but it took a day.

Price is one consideration. Journey time and convenience of schedules another.

DUB-PEK with LH is 13 hrs.
with TK it is 15 hr 10.
With EK it is 17 hr 50.

They would want to have some pretty attractive fares to take me away from LH or BA.

In passing what would the journey time be for a DUB-PEK non stop service?

Regarding PAX numbers I'm sure they could run an aircraft empty and still make money if freight loads are healthy.

The influx of Chinese tourists, in addition to cargo on the route to the now second largest economy in the world has a lot to do with it.

Brown Thomas hires in extra Chinese-speaking staff as sales boom - Independent.ie

Air China
 

This rumour appears to be gathering pace. One of the travel industry journals published notes of 4 rotations weekly.

But we've been here before with Air India ............. looked almost certain and then whoosh - gone.

It'll be interesting to see. EI330 - you are usually on the button - should I go to Paddy Powers?

Regards
Shamrogue