Aer Lingus Fleet/Routes Discussion

adam88

Tenger wrote: »

From an Airbus PR stance the A321LR has greater range than the B757, 4000km vs 3850km. (According to wiki the longest B757 is 7410km but with reduced payload) The EI setup of 12/160 seats is similar to other carriers and they are planning their A321LR with a cabin of under 200. (16/170?)

As the A321LR is still unproven this is all just design and planning, not that their is much left to intuition these in aircraft design.

The 321 won't reach west coast so. Does that mean they'll be using a 330 to trial new desinations in the west coast

Irish Steve

adam88 wrote: »

The 321 won't reach west coast so. Does that mean they'll be using a 330 to trial new desinations in the west coast

Flippant response, they won't be putting leprachauns on the wing with instructions to pedal like f**k

Serious response. The west coast is not a narrow body distance, however you look at it, so the only way that can be done with the current EI fleet will be to use a 330

Tenger

adam88 wrote: »

The 321 won't reach west coast so. Does that mean they'll be using a 330 to trial new desinations in the west coast

As above;

As has been demonstrated in the past EI can and will use the A332 to start new routes. It’s about the right aircraft for the right route.
SFO started in 2014 as a 270 seater A332 3-4 times per week, now it is 315 seater daily. Whereas Hartford is a less demand route so is B757 daily.

A couple of years ago EI alternated their DUB-JFK flights, with all 3 aircraft sizes making an appearance over the course of a week during their off peak season.

B757/A321LR will not go further than Dublin-Chicago so narrow body options are constrained.

Aircraft mad 1

100% Dublin to Seattle

Will be aerlingus next USA route in 2018

Arciphel

As someone who is over and back to Seattle a good bit, this would be great!

Captain_Crash

Aircraft mad 1 wrote: »

100% Dublin to Seattle

Will be aerlingus next USA route in 2018

Your the second poster to mention SEA and give no other detail. While I don't doubt the validity of your claim, I do have to ask where you have heard this and how reliable the source is?

Personally I do see SEA as a possible route considering a large presence of some Seattle based tech companies in Ireland.

I was in Seattle several years ago and visited the Boeing plant in Everett... its worth the trip

Tenger

Captain_Crash wrote: »

...........
I was in Seattle several years ago and visited the Boeing plant in Everett... its worth the trip

Would love to see it, who cares about the economics of the route!!!!!

L1011

SEA-PAE is a bloody horrendous drive at nearly any time of day unfortunately.

joeysoap

L1011 wrote: »

SEA-PAE is a bloody horrendous drive at nearly any time of day unfortunately.

Seems to be plenty of tour operators selling tours of the Boeing factory, with hotel pickups in Seattle confess I would love to see it too.

L1011

joeysoap wrote: »

Seems to be plenty of tour operators selling tours of the Boeing factory, with hotel pickups in Seattle confess I would love to see it too.

You can head up and pay on the day most days - that's what I did.

I actually went up to Everett to the Museum of Flight Restoration Center without checking if it was open first - it wasn't. Did Boeing because I was already there.

They've an odd policy on photos which I can't fully remember now, effectively most areas are off limits. The line of unsold early 787s was there when I was there, that'll be gone now.

Captain_Crash

L1011 wrote: »

You can head up and pay on the day most days - that's what I did.

I actually went up to Everett to the Museum of Flight Restoration Center without checking if it was open first - it wasn't. Did Boeing because I was already there.

They've an odd policy on photos which I can't fully remember now, effectively most areas are off limits. The line of unsold early 787s was there when I was there, that'll be gone now.

Yeah I drove up and paid on the day too and saw the last few 744's being built. I lived in Vancouver at the time and was down in Seattle for a few days. Absolutely worth the visit! Before I went to the factory I got breakfast in some crappy back road cafe in Everett which to this day is still one of the best brekkies Ive ever had haha!

The photo policy is was simple... none allowed, end of discussion! So I don't have any tangible memories!

Tenger

Captain_Crash wrote: »

...........
The photo policy is was simple... none allowed, end of discussion! So I don't have any tangible memories!

They state that videos and images are available online showing the entire factory, thus visitors have no requirement to take personal images or video.

AndyBoBandy

I've been at 2 huge (fcuking huge) manufacturing plants in the US and they have a similar policy regarding photography.

Far too many various processes on show to allow people in with phones/cameras

once I even had to turn over my wrist watch & car key.

duskyjoe

God be with the days when it was just JFK and BOS as destinations for EIN. Great to see tbh all this expansion. On a personal level I'm peppering for SEA....it's a place and area I'd love to see and yes that Boeing tour is a real bucket list want to go.

Fattes

duskyjoe wrote: »

God be with the days when it was just JFK and BOS as destinations for EIN. Great to see tbh all this expansion. On a personal level I'm peppering for SEA....it's a place and area I'd love to see and yes that Boeing tour is a real bucket list want to go.

These days

https://youtu.be/6NgTrxQo9io

Air travel has come a long way

marno21

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/aer-lingus-eyes-up-to-10-new-dublin-us-routes-1.3271139

Willie saying EI are eyeing upto 10 new Dublin-US routes with the new A321s on the way.

Tenger

I’m assuming people read this article. It seems to repeat what the COO hinted at 3 weeks ago;

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-and-tourism/aer-lingus-eyes-up-to-10-new-dublin-us-routes-1.3271139

Article states “up to 10 new routes within the next 5 years”
Personally I think 1 per year is more realistic.

And yet another plug for the “8 new A321LR jets that Aer Lingus bought recently” They really are pushing this point.


EDIT; Snap!!!

L1011

duskyjoe wrote: »

God be with the days when it was just JFK and BOS as destinations for EIN. Great to see tbh all this expansion. On a personal level I'm peppering for SEA....it's a place and area I'd love to see and yes that Boeing tour is a real bucket list want to go.

The Museum of Flight at BFI is far more interesting (and closer) but if you are there at the right time and can do both sites of the Museum (BFI and PAE) *and* Boeing you may as well.

The Museum is extremely Boeing-favouring for obvious reasons

SkyTrax

The 8 A321LRs are great and if 10 new routes come with, all the better. The potential banana skin here for Aer Lingus though is the capacity of US Pre Clearance and the required air bridges needed to feed these lovely new jets.

Has anyone heard of any plans by the DAA to expand the holding cell that is US PreClearance? It can get pretty jammers in there in the mornings as it is with some US flights getting delayed because of it.

Would all non-US Aer Lingus flights get pushed to other piers to make way for the 321LRs if the DAA doesnt built something to accommodate them? Time is ticking...

JCX BXC

The thing you've to remember about the A321's is that half of them will be used immediately to replace the 757's.

alancostello

JCX BXC wrote: »

The thing you've to remember about the A321's is that half of them will be used immediately to replace the 757's.

I’ve read they’ll be sticking around till 2020 and only retired when the last of the A321LRs arrive, to allow for immediate route growth upon their delivery.

marno21

alancostello wrote: »

I’ve read they’ll be sticking around till 2020 and only retired when the last of the A321LRs arrive, to allow for immediate route growth upon their delivery.

G-LSAG, B752, currently over Waterford flying for Jet2 was delivered in September 1987 - you'd imagine the Aer Lingus 757s have a bit of life left in them yet seeing as the Finnairs are only approaching to 20 year mark at the minute.

joeysoap

marno21 wrote: »

G-LSAG, B752, currently over Waterford flying for Jet2 was delivered in September 1987 - you'd imagine the Aer Lingus 757s have a bit of life left in them yet seeing as the Finnairs are only approaching to 20 year mark at the minute.

Flight radar make it even older

1987-08-31
Age: 30 years 1 months

alancostello

marno21 wrote: »

G-LSAG, B752, currently over Waterford flying for Jet2 was delivered in September 1987 - you'd imagine the Aer Lingus 757s have a bit of life left in them yet seeing as the Finnairs are only approaching to 20 year mark at the minute.

EI-CJX is a touch older at 24.5 years old, so in three years time when it’s approaching 28 I can see them wanting to get rid of it.

Bussywussy

GCF due into Dub 20th nov....could be a day or 2 either side...unsure of where its being stored,Dub or SNN

Tenger

alancostello wrote: »

I’ve read they’ll be sticking around till 2020 and only retired when the last of the A321LRs arrive, to allow for immediate route growth upon their delivery.

2020 extension of the B757 lease is also what I read a while back. So it’s really 4 extra aircraft in the fleet over the next 2 years.
I definitely expect new routes before B757 retirement.

john boye

I'm still very curious as to how the 3 existing A321s will be replaced on the SH sun routes etc. You'd assume they'd miss the extra lift on those routes if they were to just revert to A320s.

alancostello

john boye wrote: »

I'm still very curious as to how the 3 existing A321s will be replaced on the SH sun routes etc. You'd assume they'd miss the extra lift on those routes if they were to just revert to A320s.

The A321LRs are replacements for the 757s primarily, I don’t believe any decision has been made about the A321s(though they have said the LRs could serve some short haul routes during their time between LH sectors). I would imagine the A321s will be replaced in due course, perhaps with all Y config A321neos.

john boye

alancostello wrote: »

The A321LRs are replacements for the 757s primarily, I don’t believe any decision has been made about the A321s(though they have said the LRs could serve some short haul routes during their time between LH sectors). I would imagine the A321s will be replaced in due course, perhaps with all Y config A321neos.

Yeah the LRs wouldn't be a natural fit as replacements, given that they would only have a slight capacity increase and would only be able to operate a max of one SH rotation (if that) a day. I guess they're in no rush to replace them for the moment anyway.

alancostello

john boye wrote: »

Yeah the LRs wouldn't be a natural fit as replacements, given that they would only have a slight capacity increase and would only be able to operate a max of one SH rotation (if that) a day. I guess they're in no rush to replace them for the moment anyway.

They’d actually be a significant decrease in capacity, current A321s are 212 seats, the LRs are 186(174Y + 12J).

There are much older and much higher cycle A321s in service, so while I’m sure EI/IAG are looking at long term replacement options, it’s still a while away yet.