Germanwings- DUBLIN-Cologne....new for 2004

[lowfaresbuster]

According to a newsletter from Germanwings regarding their summer 2004 schedule:

"We're also adding the Irish capital Dublin as a new destination from Cologne/Bonn airport. "

Will Mr. O'Leary see this as competition for his Cologne Hahn Airport flights to DUB, and come out with all guns blazing again.......?

[positive]

Ryanair have made it clear they will not expand from Dublin until a new terminal is built,so fair play to Mytravel and now Germanwings for starting new routes lets wait for the usual O'Leary verbals.

[Profit Max]

There are no FR flights between DUB and Hahn. Only between DUB and Cologne West Charleroi.

[FlyLowCost]

The only regular FR european service from DUB (excluding UK) are BVA and CRL, two routes opened in 1997 and 1998. Then there are weekly service to Malaga and Girona.

[akerosid]

Among FR's new routes announced today was a daily 738 rotation from Gerona, a considerable increase in capacity over the current twice weekly 732 flights.

I wonder if FR is looking at DUB again; as ruthless an operator as MO'L and as doubtlessly successful FR has been, don't forget that while FR has been looking to Europe, Aer Lingus has been transforming itself, with considerable success into a low cost carrier, right under FR's nose. Had FR swallowed its pride and put the same amount of effort into building traffic at DUB as it has done elsewhere, this might not have happened. With some of its nordic routes unsuccessful, with an imminent and unfavourable judgment from the EU and with its proven success - landing charges notwithstanding - at Dublin, maybe it's changing its approach. Perhaps we might also see flights to Dublin from Hahn, Rome, Stockholm etc.

The Irish transport minister is supposed to be giving his judgment on a second terminal at Dublin early next year (possibly even this month - his green light to progress being a neat counter balance to Darling's red light). However, it's not expected that FR's proposal will get the green light, not least because of its location. Some have suggested that the imminent privatisation of EI and the potential threat to its value from a big FR presence might undermine EI's privatisation. Very interesting times ahead in Irish aviation!

[positive]

I think you'll find the Dublin/Girona flights are still twice weekly so no change.The Ryanair site has now corrected it press release.