New services from City of Derry Airport

[mysecretsmile]

Can anyone confirm or deny that there is a new low cost airline about to announce new services from the City of Derry Airport. I know Ryanair already currently operate from there. Also heard a rumour that a new transatlantic service may well be starting from the City of Derry Airport too

Link: http://icnorthernireland.icnetwork.co.uk/businessnews/busnews/page.cfm?objectid=13158220&method=full&siteid=91603&headline=%A325m%20Cash%20Injection%20Needed%20for%20Airport

[ecj]

I would be surprised if the main runway would be long enough for the hop across the pond; G3/4/5 excepted.

A Spanish operator LTE use a 320 weekly to GCRR.

I think that there are weekly flights to mainland Spain as well.

[BCA03]

You might be interested to look at the Ryanair web site, under the job section. then look at Cabin crew, where you might find that they will be cruiting next week!!!!! Where....... Try Derry, a bit unusaul i would say, but maybe things are going to develop up there from RYR.

Dont know about the tranatlantic post though

[Scuzi]

I flew into LDY about a fortnight ago and there was what I believed to be a Falcon A320 bound for somewhere in Spain.
I haven't heard about a transatlantic service though, I'll have to ask around.

[Wheelon-Wheeloff.]

I have seen the Falcon a couple of times, the last time it was off to Lourdes, not sure if they are regular flights??!?

[bounty]

The flights to Lourdes are seasonal. Maybe the new flights are to Knock :D

Is the runway at LDY long enough for transatlantic?

[Golf Charlie Charlie]

The longest runway, 08/26, is 1672 metres, or about 5450 feet. This would seem too short to guarantee normal transatlantic services by commercial airliners in all conditions.

[carlos vandango]

Transatlantic services from LDY? you're dreaming!
As for RYR well anything's possible where they are concerned but just because they are recruiting locally doesn't mean they're opening a base. I think they've done this before but the jobs were in DUB and STN

[richardnei]

The main Runway at LDY is currently just over 6,000 feet in length and has a shorter cross runway that can accept up to Saab 340 aircraft.

This Summer has been the bussiest ever with an increased number of charter flights from here.

Tuesday LTE Airbus A321 Palma
Wednesday LTE Airbus A320 Lanzorate
Thursday LTE Airbus A320 Lanzorate (Ops every third Week)

Also...

Monday Astraeus B737 Faro (Throughout August)

Current Daily flights include...

Ryanair 2xDaily B733 or BAe 146 Stansted
BA 2xDaily SF340 Dublin
BA 1xDaily SF340 Glasgow
BA 1xDaily SF340 Manchester

The BA aircraft currently nightstops in Derry.

The airport had its largest aircraft visting last week being a Titan Airways B757 operating to Lourdes.

Other recent airlines to operate charters have included....

Nordic Airlink MD-83
KLM Cityhopper F50
Skynet B737-400
Air 2000 A320
Air Mediterranee B737-200

Hope this is of interest to someone.

Regards

[brabazon]

Ryanair are asking for a runway extension to allow their 737-800s to operate into the City of Derry Airport - how much longer does a 737-800 need than the current types which operate there?

Ryanair press release dated 18/09/03 from Ryanair website:

DERRY AIRPORT: BUILD THE RUNWAY OR LOSE THE ROUTES

Ryanair, Europe’s No 1. low fares airline today (18 September) called on Derry Airport to stop wasting time and extend its runway, otherwise the airline would be forced to withdraw the route. The airport had already lost out on an opportunity to open 3 new routes to Europe because its existing runway is too short.

Speaking today at a conference in Letterkenny, Conal Henry, Commercial Director for Ryanair.com said: “Ryanair is retiring its smaller Boeing 737-200 planes over the next two years and will operate the Boeing B737-800s which are 45% larger offering increased capacity. These brand new aircraft are quieter and will be able to increase passenger numbers by up to 100,000 a year. The authorities at Derry Airport are well aware of what is required but are continuing to drag their heels on getting it started.

“We wanted to open new routes to France, Belgium and Germany but Derry Airport just isn’t ready for expansion. Time is running out for passengers - if Derry Airport doesn’t move quickly we will have no option but to withdraw this route because they won’t be able to accommodate our newer, larger aircraft.

Ryanair currently flies to 16 countries, operating 133 routes between 85 airports. In the past month it has announced 9 new routes from existing airports in the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and Sweden.

[ecj]

A 500m extension on 08/26 would be the answer. Pity about the houses in its path though.

[brabazon]

Looks like the City Council have voted for the extension, although this is subject to funding. So will Ryanair commit to expansion at LDY or will they go up the road to BFS?

http://icderry.icnetwork.co.uk/news/

[glynn-kayes]

And then the next thing it will be renamed Belfast Derry or maybe Belfast City Derry and then,for good measure lets builld another airport in Strabane,oh my god,I forgot the people of South Down.Oh Well we can always build another one and call it Newry International and then throw in another one in Enniskillen(sorry,I forgot,theres one there already),pity no scheduled services from it.Then dont forget Newtownards,or maybe Belfast Co Down airport.In fact lets built airports in every city in Northern Ireland and every major town,Im sure they will attract all the major operators in Europe, aye right..................................................

[Tower Ranger]

Hi Glynn , Well they built Aldergrove in the middle of nowhere so you never know what they`ll do next!!

[ALLMCC]

Well said Tower Ranger - you hit the nail right on the head!
Brabazon - I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for FR at BFS if I were you - you'll have a long wait!

[glynn-kayes]

Here we go again,my airports better that yours and so on and so on and so on.Aldergrove may well have been built in a field in the a@@ehole of nowhere but its more central for the majority of people,can operate 24/7 and is the only airfield in NI that can expand without constraints placed upon it.Could be why it was built there....................................................... ............................