Sorry for changing topic folks, but I was just wondering if there is any scope on EI looking for earlier delivery of some A350s. The first 4 were originally due this year before the company deferred them until 2018 during the depths of the financial crisis. Given the expansion of long haul, and the cancellation of the Emirates order, would they be interested in taking some of their production slots? MSN038 hasn't got an owner according to this link

Airbus A350XWB Full Production List

Could be had Q2 next year by the looks of it. They could get all 9 by the end of next year if they wanted (not that they would). Any decision on the 6 options yet or are they waiting for the A330 NEO stats to be released? I know they plan on keeping the 330s until they are to be scrapped, last 3 of those arrived in 08, and EI-LAX was delivered in 1999 so plenty of legs left in the newer ones.

T2 at certain time of the day i.e. morning is under pressure Skipness, but T1 has oodles of capacity. Lets not forget we had greater passenger numbers during the celtic tiger with only 1 terminal, though it was a tight squeeze!

Belfast International Airport is doubling the amount from £20m to £40m in court against Aer Lingus for breaking contract and moving to Belfast City Airport!!

Aer Lingus hit by £40m damages claim by Belfast International airport | Business | The Guardian

...but I was just wondering if there is any scope on EI looking for earlier delivery of some A350s. The first 4 were originally due this year before the company deferred them until 2018 during the depths of the financial crisis.......

Could be had Q2 next year by the looks of it. They could get all 9 by the end of next year if they wanted (not that they would).
The deferral during the financial crisis was to 2016. The deferral to 2018 was announced approx 18 months ago.
EI do not need the A350's at this point. So I see no chance of them taking them 'early'.

£40 million
 

This would seem to be a large sum of money and a big chunk of EI's 2015 profits! I wonder who in EI was responsible for the decision and also if BHD had any involvement in encouraging EI to break the contract as that can be used against BHD by BFS.

.....you are assuming that there's no break clause........

Results
 

Operating profit up 18% to 72 million

Net cash up 29% to over 543 million

9 A350 confired between 2018-2020 (previously looked at 330neo)

Short haul revenue increased and not impacted by 10 million hit last May

Operating costs all fell with staff seeing biggest fall, fuel just 5%

Additional 10 million in CORE savings to take it to 40 million in 2015

Net profit made a loss because of pension and exceptional items

http://corporate.aerlingus.com/media...0224-FINAL.pdf

And yet O'Leary thinks they can't survive :(


I still think they'd be better off with IAG mind you

Interesting, that means one of the A330-200s will be burning around ( 5.2 * 830 ) $4,300 per hour at cruise.

Why join with IAG?
 

Aer Lingus growth has been steady and organic, during a period of deep recession, without bluster, gimmicks, fe..in this, fe..kin that, disparaging remarks and denigration from it's CEO . Unlike MOL.:=. Just compare it to Easy Jet, who are quickly building up a similar image to Aer Lingus, and growing, leaving no bad taste behind them. IAG might be lucky enough to get Aer Lingus, probably at a bargain price...and the best of luck to both!

IAG offer rejected by the Government.....

5 year LHR seems to be a major issue!

Will IAG be back!

The Government wants an airline group to guarantee a route/routes for >5 years. How many then? 10, 20, 30? That's tantamount to stating they'll never agree to a sell. Good news really for the punter. No possibility of a return to the old cartel days LHR-DUB.

Maybe I'm missing something here, but why not have a simple arrangement where the government owns the slots and leases them back to Aer Lingus for a token amount...?

As a 25% shareholder the government cannot guarantee slots to LHR for 5 years, so why should any one else. I believe this is more political than economics. An election next year.

If the Irish government were so concerned about Aer Lingus and LHR connectivity; then why did they privatise the company and maintain only a minority stake.

The Republic of Ireland government should not have any sort of stake at all.

Whether they should or shouldn't , these slots are huge for the country not just Aer lingus , and it's the Irish government not southern Ireland.

They don't need the Govt's shareholding to control the company.
Time to buy it as once you past 50% you are in control.

Having 25% or more gives you no control in an Airline.

IAG
 

Given there is not an actual 3rd bid as yet, I wonder how the EI board feel now
That their advice has been ignored even rebuffed? I think a lot of them would wonder what's the point of representing their shareholders,
Odd one, suspect a lot of mileage in this one yet !

Perhaps IAG will go for a hostile take over now. Ryanair have to sell shares and €2.55 each is a better deal than they will potentially get on the open market now the deal is off (presuming it was ever on).

Things are not remotely as done-and-dusted as you imply! (As observers of the Irish political scene may recognise:hmm: )