Is there any update in the proposed direct flight to LAS?

No proposed flights to LAS.

Beijing nonstop From June will be announced on Thursday

I don't think it was ever a serious proposal. Seems to have been comments the CEO made in an interview that got taken out of context. Will hopefully be launched eventually though.

Over 1.8 million passengers in February up 3%, guess numbers would have been a little higher had weather been better.

Europe 890,000 +4%
UK 737,000 -2%
Transatlantic 152,00- +20%
Other international 61,000 +11%
Domestic 8,000 +18%

Year to date over 3.8 million +5%

https://www.dublinairport.com/latest...dublin-airport

Who with ?

Wasnt really a runner. It was a throwaway comment from the EI CEO which got taken a lot more seriously than it should have been by the Irish media.
LAS is on their list but it doesnt that the RoI potential as other routes, ie PHL, DEN, DFW.

Air China would be most likely.

Hainan Airlines for PEK. They hold the route authority.

HU official now 4 weekly (2 non stop) with A333 from 12 June.

Good news for Dublin and for a lot of people with business links to China.
Is having 2 of the flights direct and the other 2 through Edinburgh not a bit of an odd way of doing it though?

Suggestion they have fifth freedom rights between DUB/EDI.

The flight routes PEK-EDI-DUB-PEK or PEK-DUB-EDI-PEK, on an alternate. So both DUB and EDI get a 4 weekly service, customers can select non-stop routings to both destinatons on both inbound and outbound. Its pretty clever scheduling, really.

What's the work that's being carried out near the 28 threshold around E1/E2?

JAS

A bit surprised that, outwith the spotters, theres very little interest in this story and new schedule. i thought it was being sold as a major coup

Upgrade works to lighting etc Both runways have been shortened between 21.15-04.30 so expect delays over the next few weeks.

There is usually a launch event here in time.

TUI to add PFO ans DLM in 2019 with extra freq on 6 existing routes. Could indicate a second aircraft.

Trying to compete with Ryanair? Good luck with that.

Very easy to do when you're a renowened package holiday company. You do realise that they compete with Ryanair on many routes?

TUI operate with loads of over 90% all season and have flown to DLM and LCA before. They see Ryanair as no threat and have actually grown capacity to some core Ryanair markets a lot this year.

Ryanair will be out of DLM as soon as any marketing runs out. Cyprus will probably last with FR, Irish tourism there is currently 91% below its peak and has only started grow since Cobalt started LCA (first direct flight in years). Its more likely than not FR would not of considered PFO if Cobalt wasn't here given they have been operating out of LCA and now PFO for quiet some time and not started DUB.

I don’t think TUI are competing with Ryanair to be honest - if you want just a flight you will go with Ryanair, if you want a package holiday with everything taken care of you will be going with TUI. One is a scheduled airline, the other is a holiday company with an airline.

Curious to know where this was announced, can’t see anything about it?

There was a briefing by Irish branch of TUI today which is unusual timing in itself. Not sure if its the same in UK but in addition to TUI shops most of packages are sold via independent travel agency's. TUI never do the big route reveal like in the UK, so press will be low even when they go on sale.

Confrontation:

Got to be a second aircraft.

https://www.dublinairport.com/latest...or-summer-2019

Extra flights could just mean.longer operating season or more overnight flying. The PR would normally make mention of any new based a/c

TUI holidays could just be buying capacity with another carrier

The briefing stated extra frequency to allow more 10-12 night breaks and not just the standard 7 day which is only possible on all the routes marked for extra flights except Palma.

The based aircraft only has around 4 hours without flying currently most nights.

They still contract out around 10 weekly flights ex DUB + ORK/SNN/NOC flying so a second aircraft would be well utilized to reduce this and operate the extra freq.

They already use Aer Lingus on some routes but no scheduled services operate to any destination except Dalaman/Paphas (Ryanair) and Majorca/Bulgaria.

Dalaman was flown with ASL until it was cut in 2016.

The Irish Times is reporting that Aeroflot is to start a Moscow-Dublin service.
https://www.irishtimes.com/business/...oute-1.3444792

JAS

I was lucky enough to use the new remote T2 gates last week. It seems an usual choice to put the bus link into place. They were announcing gates with the same notice as standard gates - quite a few people missing flights as it took so much longer to get there...

One of my other 'bus' bugbears is when Air Lingus Regional board the bus by row number - front number first, when actually at the ATR they want those people who are now trapped on the bus to actually board the plane first. It should not be brain science to board the bus in reverse order to the plane...

Any risk to Dublins EY routes given the EDI announcement?

I would say all the ME carriers will be struggling with capacity issues shortly. Currently there is EY, EK and Qatar. Soon to be links to HKG with Cathay and Hainan to Mainland China. Will be a buyers market soon enough. Bring it on.

I fly EK every eight weeks or so. Most of the time it's full or close to it.

I think I've had one flight with an empty seat next to me.

I think you mean unlucky.
I'll be flying Ryanair to avoid those remote gates as I'm on a route served by EI and FR.
Stuck for 15 minutes to deboard at remote stand for no obvious reason when gates at T2 proper are free and then the journey in to passport control taking a long time too.
EI will just have to put their foot down and refuse to inconvenience their Customers just to suit a lazy DAA.

It was Aer Lingus who wanted the busing gates ;)

Taking 15 minutes is down to handing by EI not the daa and personally its less than 10 minutes from leaving aircraft to clear immigration. The arrivals are bused into T2 stands in the evenings.

It would take them just as long to bring an bridge to the aircraft at T2!

The EIR bus boarding procedure is new to me.

No can't agree with that. That was not my experience and I will(actually have) adjust my travel plans to avoid this in future. Flying out I asked a FA if what I experienced was normal.
I forgot to mention that even though the remote gates were used where there is no skybridge, the rear doors weren't opened to speed up de-boarding. All passengers on an A320 went out through the front door at a remote stand.
...so I can't even hope for better service in the future as I fly in during the evenings/night.

Its 4-5 flights out of around 25 which arrive there. Its not really bad if the handling delays were addressed by EI because I agree they have been slow the few late nights arrivals I have had.

I get the feeling that my flight is one of those ones which will always be left out at the remote stand because it arrives later and they can't be bothered to use a skybridge for the convenience of passengers and then move the plane to a remote stand for the night once everyone has de-boarded.
I'm still not seeing the benefit to me of choosing EI in preference to FR any more. I feel this way but I'm back in the cheap seats. The frequent flyers up front on some of those late Aer Lingus flights will have no problem using a more expensive competitor on their routes just to avoid inconvenience. FR isn't the only competitor on my particular route.

There is no set assignment, if anything its heavily based on where x aircraft is departing the following morning but there are some departures which they wouldn't dare force to use the busing gates. You wouldn't have a Heathrow departure from there....


The good news is there will be a dedicated T2 busing terminal in the future towards that side of T2 so busing will be quicker and more frequent.

I have another 23 flights booked this year on the DUB-FRA route and I've moved away from EI to LH because of the messing around with the walk from T2 check in to a T1 departure gate or getting drenched boarding at the remote gates. (Welcome to Aer Lingus Cargo it says over the gates).

This poor airport infrastructure is really making life difficult for us passengers.

In passing, why do the air-bridges at T1 keep breaking down? (example - Tues am arrival from FRA left on aircraft 30 mins, then deplaned by steps from rear)

23 flights on your own dime or your company's? I'd guess if you are moving to LH that it is a company paying the bill.