New Shannon-Chicago with United

sonyair

http://www.shannonairport.com/gns/about-us/latest-news/latest-news/12-10-03/Significant_boost_for_Shannon_as_United_announce_new_route_to_Chicago.aspx

Good news for SNN and hopefully more routes can be announced for 2013....

radar0976

Wonder what aircraft they'll use. Is the 757 capable of Shannon - Chicago or will they go with a 767. Hardly enough demand for a 777 I guess ?

donvito99

It will of course be a 752. This route would never have made it if it weren't for that aircraft.

Great news indeed, people have been shouting for this ever since EI dropped it. It still amazes me that Shannon sustains so many routes relative to everyone else in the UK/Ireland across the pond.

L1011

The problem with the 752 is that even if there was demand to extend the season, it would likely have some trouble doing it in winter without frequent tech stops.

Jamie2k9

The problem with the 752 is that even if there was demand to extend the season, it would likely have some trouble doing it in winter without frequent tech stops.

AA fly ORD-MAN year round with no problems on the 752, so don't see why there should be issues with SNN.

roundymac

donvito99 wrote: »

It will of course be a 752. This route would never have made it if it weren't for that aircraft.

Great news indeed, people have been shouting for this ever since EI dropped it. It still amazes me that Shannon sustains so many routes relative to everyone else in the UK/Ireland across the pond.

If you draw a line from Galway down to Cork you will find that is the catchment area for SNN, also SNN is very acessable, you can drive up to the front door to drop off/collect your passengers unlike Dublin and to a lesser extent Cork. If there was a decent road between Cork and Limerick I suspect you might see more short haul out of SNN. Anyone north of Mallow could go to SNN as easily as Cork.

Dogwatch

Is there a possibility of other alliance members feeding this service and using the pre clearance facility?

BuffyBot

Doubtful - Lufthansa and SAS are really the only candidates, and both fly to Chicago directly - the additional flight time taken on a 757 added to a connecting flight would negate any possible time savings made at immigration, so can't see passengers choosing that routing, even if the airlines launched a Shannon service (which I doubt either would).

Stinicker

roundymac wrote: »

If you draw a line from Galway down to Cork you will find that is the catchment area for SNN, also SNN is very acessable, you can drive up to the front door to drop off/collect your passengers unlike Dublin and to a lesser extent Cork. If there was a decent road between Cork and Limerick I suspect you might see more short haul out of SNN. Anyone north of Mallow could go to SNN as easily as Cork.

There is no problem dropping off passengers outside the terminal at Cork, you are allowed to stand as long as is necessary to unload passengers, luggage etc. If you try wait in the car too long the Airport police will shunt you along or clamp the car if you are stupid enough to park it straight outside the terminal.

United's new offering will be great for connections to the West and Midwest of the USA, with Delta also it is well connected now. I'd still rather fly Aer Lingus just to avoid the single aisle 757, its a bit too long of a Hike for a 757 from a passenger comfort point of view.

irishbloke77

Stinicker wrote: »

There is no problem dropping off passengers outside the terminal at Cork, you are allowed to stand as long as is necessary to unload passengers, luggage etc. If you try wait in the car too long the Airport police will shunt you along or clamp the car if you are stupid enough to park it straight outside the terminal.

United's new offering will be great for connections to the West and Midwest of the USA, with Delta also it is well connected now. I'd still rather fly Aer Lingus just to avoid the single aisle 757, its a bit too long of a Hike for a 757 from a passenger comfort point of view.

It does mean however that with uniteds 2 752's and deltas 757 and aer Lingus' A330, it means that every seat out of Shannon has individual televisions on the seatback in front. That means a lot to me a maybe some others with kids to entertain.

finbarrk

Great news. I was there at the weekend, flew United via Newark. Fairly full each way Shannon - Newark. I think this new route will be a success.

knockon

I have no doubt it will be a sucess. I did LAX last week with Delta out of SNN. Flights jammed outbound and inbound and as SNN - JFK is seasonal that finished last week as well. The load factors on both DAL and UA are full all the time. On the UA 757 out of SNN once the 16 in Business First are paid and they have full freight then the flight is paid for. I even treated myself to Permium Economy on the transatlantic legs (€55 euro per leg) which was worth it on the overnight return when getting 4 - 5 hours sleep is essential. I have done previous trips on the 757 with both carriers and kids and the single aisle is a disaster which will also be used on the new ORD route. 8 hours is a long time on a single aisle although the IFE makes a huge difference.