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I hate the word "game changer" because it's so hackneyed and over-used now, but the A321XLR is a very interesting aircraft; have a look at the range ring from DUB:
Great Circle Mapper At 4,600nm, virtually the whole of the continental US (and ANC!) and Canada are covered and - if EI were feeling even more adventurous - there are a few potential eastbound markets open to them. The big challenge now will be to ensure that infrastructure at DUB can accommodate this fleet growth. How many A321s (excluding the three currently operated, but including the imminently arriving A321NeoLRs) is EI now committed to? |
14 and the first expected in a few weeks. Also two new build A333s due this and next year but one expected to replace an A332. |
Originally Posted by akerosid
(Post 10496735)
I hate the word "game changer" because it's so hackneyed and over-used now, but the A321XLR is a very interesting aircraft; have a look at the range ring from DUB:
Great Circle Mapper At 4,600nm, virtually the whole of the continental US (and ANC!) and Canada are covered and - if EI were feeling even more adventurous - there are a few potential eastbound markets open to them. The big challenge now will be to ensure that infrastructure at DUB can accommodate this fleet growth. How many A321s (excluding the three currently operated, but including the imminently arriving A321NeoLRs) is EI now committed to? |
No. And it wouldn't be as far westbound. And you don't really operate to the edge of the theoretical range unless you are happy with plenty of fuel diversions.
But if you look at the map link above and change the range down to something realistic, you'll see that all of EI's current routes with the exception of SFO and LAX are covered. For new routes, the whole of Canada works and in the USA, only Hawaii and California are out (and Hawaii is hardly viable, while there are two existing Californian routes). Eastbound you see Delhi and Mumbai becoming possibilities and it seems to be that an Indian link is one thing badly missing from Ireland's route map. |
Originally Posted by 840
(Post 10497436)
No. And it wouldn't be as far westbound. And you don't really operate to the edge of the theoretical range unless you are happy with plenty of fuel diversions.
But if you look at the map link above and change the range down to something realistic, you'll see that all of EI's current routes with the exception of SFO and LAX are covered. For new routes, the whole of Canada works and in the USA, only Hawaii and California are out (and Hawaii is hardly viable, while there are two existing Californian routes). Eastbound you see Delhi and Mumbai becoming possibilities and it seems to be that an Indian link is one thing badly missing from Ireland's route map. |
didn't EI try longhaul eastbound and was quickly binned? Stick with what you/they know, just do it more efficiently |
Originally Posted by NorthernCounties
(Post 10497833)
I could see the XLR being useful for the likes of Seattle, and other cities not yet served in the US
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Originally Posted by VickersVicount
(Post 10497885)
didn't EI try longhaul eastbound and was quickly binned? Stick with what you/they know, just do it more efficiently |
Ah yes, Dubai. What a fiasco that was, bad product, terrible timings, no connections with the predominant hub airline.I don’t think Dubai would be on the list again - the twice daily 777s from EK provide all the capacity DUB-DXB needs. Today EI is part of a much larger group, with far more insight into travel patterns, which might effect where they go and how ‘brave’ they want to be. In terms of connections going east, most of Europe would find transfer times quite unattractive compared to a transfer via the AF/KL, ME3 or LH Group hubs. There is some traffic from North America to India, for example. EI, of course, is an unknown in these areas, but it is a rapidly growing market. My guess is that EI will use IAG’s strength in North America to cover more of Canada and US destination like Hartford, Charleston, Kansas, Indianapolis, Cleveland, Nashville, St Louis have all had low frequency, seasonal service launched by Icelandair/Wow/BA or Condor, These are places we don’t really consider as typical destinations, but could be unlocked by the XLR and hefty incentives. This article suggests the likes of Columbus, [Ohio]; Jacksonville, [Fla.]; and Milwaukee, Memphis, San Antonio and Sacramento. https://www.travelweekly.com/Travel-...size-US-cities |
Originally Posted by owenc
(Post 10496939)
it wouldn’t be 4600 NM in winter though, would it? But seriously, not with a full load no. Although it’ll comfortably do the likes of Florida. US transcon, North-South America, SE Asia-Oz etc all very doable, hence AA ordering 50 of them to replace their 757 fleet, Qantas buying it etc. |
Reported in Moroccan media Aer Lingus will resume Agadir and begin Marrakech.
For Ireland, Morocco is Gateway to African Markets | The North Africa Post |
BEY would be a nice addition
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BEY would be brave considering the lack of ties between the two countries, the fact that Lebanese tourism has never recovered from the Civil War and that you are competing for westbound transfer passengers with BA, Air France, Alitalia, Lufthansa and Turkish.
If looking Middle East, Amman would seem to make more sense, as a country that has been largely more stable and because Royal Jordanian are in OneWorld, so their eastbound connections could be used and their network could feed on to EI transatlantic. Not that I think Amman is a remote possibility. |
EI cant just expand ever westward surely!! CPT did very well when LTU/Air Berlin/A2B did the charters.
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Are Finnair flights feeding the TA network out of Dublin?
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Broadly I'd agree with you, but with Turkish, Emirates, Etihad and Qatar having flights from Dublin and great onward connections, the question is what can the niche be.
There aren't really any routes that can sustain themselves on point to point alone. At least Amman has access to the Royal Jordanian network, but I still struggle to see viability. There is probably demand between Ireland and India, but not necessarily to any individual airport in India, so who do they partner with there? |
Surely with that range, AL could look to service popular Caribbean destinations from DUB including the likes of CUN and PUJ? These are a broadly untapped market from Ireland... |
Originally Posted by Alteagod
(Post 10499565)
EI cant just expand ever westward surely!! CPT did very well when LTU/Air Berlin/A2B did the charters.
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Originally Posted by Shamrock350
(Post 10498027)
Aer Lingus already operate to Seattle 5 weekly with an A332 so I doubt it's an XLR candidate. If anything it's set to go daily next summer on the A332.
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Off topic somewhat.
But think the new EI livery makes this old Cityjet bird look good as new, very smart. https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....6d2f2f07e2.jpg |
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