Aer Lingus to order new Airbus planes

Ruu_Old

South Africa and Asia would be nice in the near future. From rte.ie/business.

Aer Lingus is to look for permission from its shareholders to double its long-haul fleet to 14 Airbus aircraft over the next seven years.

The airline announced this morning it wants to buy six extra wide Airbus A350 and six enhanced Airbus A 333-300E, with deliveries starting in two years time.

The book value of these planes is $2.4 billion, but said it had negotiated 'substantial discounts'.

While it will not say how much those price cuts were, it is understood they could be about 30%.

It said it had the option to buy a further six A350s for delivery by 2018.

Aer Lingus chief executive Dermot Mannion said the new planes would be used to service new US routes following the Open Skies agreement.

The airline has already announced new routes to Washington, San Francisco and Orlando.

The new planes will start arriving in 2009 and result in further new routes to the US.

The aircraft will give Aer Lingus scope to fly to Asia and South Africa, it says.

Shareholders will vote on the proposed purchase at an Extraordinary General Meeting in the next few weeks.

Ryanair, which has a 25.2% shareholding in Aer Lingus, says it is not in a position to comment on what it will do with its vote at the EGM.

In other news Aer Lingus figures out today show that for the year to May 2007 the load factor was down two points at 74.1%.

Breaking this down, the percentage of seats filled on long-haul flights was down 1.5 points on the year and was down 2.2 points on short-haul flights, as capacity rose overall by 6.7%.

However, in the month long-haul passenger numbers rose 3.2% to 97,000 compared to May 2006, the airline said. Short-haul traffic, rose by 5.4% to 718,000.

The airline in total had 815,000 passengers last month, a rise of 5.2% on May 2006.

The load factor - the number of seats filled on each plane - in May rose one point to 77.3%, compared to the same month last year, as capacity, or available seats, increased 2.6% in the month.

RoundyMooney

Would be nice to see them upgrade the existing TA stock too, they're getting a bit long in the tooth now.

pclancy

Yeah heard from a few people some of the 330s were a bit tired....Whats the average age of the shorthall fleet now?

Captain Chaos

Is that right about the A350?, that won't be ready for at least another 5 years, then there will be a waiting list..

Was it ment to be A340?

RadarControl

It is the A350.

6 Airbus A350-XWBs, 6 A330-300Es at "substantial discounts"

According to this article on The Times a couple of weeks ago, Airbus are offering the A350XWB for $102million each, a 'substantial discount' against a list price of $189million for the -800 and $215million for the -900.

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/to...cle1680645.ece

Interesting to note it also claims Boeing are offering the 787 at $102million each.

If Ryanair did take over Aer Lingus think of the bargining power MOL would have with Boeing. Would prefer the 787 over the A330s and A350s.

pclancy

Surely it would be most cost effective for Aer Lingus to stay with an all Airbus fleet where much less training is needed to type-rate pilots between aircraft and for maintenence purposes then introduce a new Boeing type? MOL's all about reducing costs not generating new ones...

RadarControl

I agree it makes commercial sense to have an all Airbus fleet or all Boeing fleet. My personal preference is for the Dreamliner.

pclancy

More of the same news....got their in house mail today announcing the arrival of two new a330s and press release from media wire below...

Aer Lingus' new A350 XWBs will be deployed on the airline's growing long haul network to the United States and on other new routes and will replace some of their earlier A330s. The additional six new A330-300s will provide further growth opportunities in the short term until the first of the A350 XWBs are delivered. Both the A350 XWB and the A330-300s will be in a two class configuration featuring Aer Lingus' new premier class product.





(Media-Newswire.com) - Aer Lingus, Ireland's national carrier, has become the latest airline to select the all-new A350 XWB ( Extra Wide Body ). In its biggest ever commitment for long-haul aircraft, the Irish airline has decided to purchase six A350 XWBs, along with six additional A330-300s.

Aer Lingus' new A350 XWBs will be deployed on the airline's growing long haul network to the United States and on other new routes and will replace some of their earlier A330s. The additional six new A330-300s will provide further growth opportunities in the short term until the first of the A350 XWBs are delivered. Both the A350 XWB and the A330-300s will be in a two class configuration featuring Aer Lingus' new premier class product.

"The A350 XWB fits in with our ambitious plans to expand existing routes and to open up new ones from our hub in Dublin. We already have an all Airbus fleet and the new aircraft will fit in seamlessly," said Aer Lingus Chief Executive Dermot Mannion when announcing the airline's decision.

"We are absolutely delighted Aer Lingus has chosen the A350 XWB to modernise and expand their Airbus fleet. It will not only bring Aer Lingus unbeatable operating costs but also offer their customers the cutting edge in passenger comfort. The A330s continued winning economics and design is re-enforced by the order" said John Leahy, Chief Operating Officer, Customers.

Aer Lingus is an all Airbus carrier with a fleet of 30 A320 Family aircraft, with one further aircraft to come next year, and eight A330s, with a further A330 being delivered in the Summer of 2007.

The A350 XWB is Airbus' newest aircraft and will be the world's most technologically advanced, setting new standards in the 250-350 seat marketplace. It is designed to increase productivity, offer unparalleled levels of passenger comfort in its class whilst reducing operating costs. Addressing environmental concerns, the A350XWB will be one of the most fuel-efficient aircraft ever.

With up to 60 per cent of weight-saving using the most advanced materials, in the form of carbon fibre wings and composites, the Airbus A350XWB will be lighter per seat - and hence more economical. This design, together with centralised maintenance and extended check intervals, will also help to give the Airbus A350 XWB attractive maintenance costs.

The A330-300 enhanced model has extra range and offers excellent flexibility for a wide range of route structures, providing the operator with a very low operating cost per seat as well as the widest and most comfortable cabin in its class

Airbus is an EADS company.

RadarControl

The two new A330s that they are receiving this year have the lie flat seats for their new premier class product. Their is also a 9inch screen on the back of seats in economy. Aer Lingus are always lagging behind. I remember flying BA,KLM and AF back in the 90's, all had personal tvs on the long haul flights.

WexCan

RadarControl wrote:

Aer Lingus are always lagging behind.

Too true. Fleet, network, cabin facilities and service. Though they do seem to be getting their act together, ever so slowly.

Blackjack

RadarControl wrote:

The two new A330s that they are receiving this year have the lie flat seats for their new premier class product. Their is also a 9inch screen on the back of seats in economy. Aer Lingus are always lagging behind. I remember flying BA,KLM and AF back in the 90's, all had personal tvs on the long haul flights.

They are nice, flew on one there a couple of weeks back. Even had the new car Smell. EI may lag behind, but their prices transatlantic are probably the cheapest available.