Aer Lingus Fleet/ Routes Discussion Pt 2 (ALL possible routes included)

Hotblack Desiato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121746017#Comment_121746017

But those aircraft aren't going to be grounded are they... and chances are they'll still be flying to/from DUB rather than ORK or SNN so still contributing to the cap and EI will be aiming to fill them up on whatever route they end up on.

jwm121

Can't help but think we are already loosing so much to Manchester with a lot of mutual airlines expanding routes there, and a new route to Asia. Hopefully Aer Lingus won't shift focus to Manchester any time soon.

kevinandrew

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121746328#Comment_121746328

Well the argument being made is that while they’ll still be flying, they’ll be on more profitable routes than LGW thus maximising profits at a passenger capped airport.

I personally don’t think LGW was a victim of the cap, it may have been a factor but Aer Lingus would certainly have made more noise about it if that was indeed the case.

kevinandrew

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121746377#Comment_121746377

Manchester has struggles of its own, the transatlantic network from MAN is now a fraction of what it was pre-pandemic. It’ll always have a strong eastbound market due to the north of England’s demographic. The new proposed Shanghai route is a huge win but we’ll have to see how it works in the long term, a 77W is a lot of aircraft to fill.

As for Aer Lingus, they should be capable of expanding from all their long haul bases if the market is there, it really shouldn’t come down to a tug-o-war for their business between MAN and DUB, even with the cap included.

Speaking of MAN, a 70% load factor in November for Aer Lingus UK was reported. In line with last year despite the up-gauge to the A333 on JFK and the loss of the BHD-LHR route which came under EIUK numbers last year.

highlydebased

Numbers on NOC-LHR not stacking up then?

https://www.con-telegraph.ie/2024/02/08/businesses-in-west-urged-to-fly-aer-lingus-from-knock-to-london-heathrow/

dublin12367

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121746380#Comment_121746380

Aerlingus probably missed an opportunity not blaming the cap as a reason for axing Gatwick and using the aircraft for more profitable routes. The more pressure to remove this cap the better.

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121747054#Comment_121747054

At least its basically impossible to move it back to LGW now.

jwm121

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121746559#Comment_121746559

Without the cap what are the chances of us beginning to catch up? Dublin was very close to Asian expansion just before covid, we almost had Juneyao from Shanghai and since Cathay have gone surely there could be some demand for Hainan to start Shenzhen again??

Hotblack Desiato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121747054#Comment_121747054

Maybe a novena will help.

kevinandrew

Looks like the online seat maps for Orlando have all changed to the standard A330 configuration from April onwards indicating the end of the dreaded ex-QR cabins.

Also wonder how long until the XLR starts showing in the system, obviously the winter schedule is still a long way off but I wonder if it'll pop up on a few LHR rotations before the publicly announced plan for it start with MSP in winter? I believe the first is painted now, usually only the tail is done before roll out at Airbus but I've read something elsewhere that suggests its fully done for a 'proper' public roll out. We'll have to wait and see...

RMDrive

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121747054#Comment_121747054

As someone working for one of those multinationals, the timetable just doesn't help. If you get in a red-eye from the US, hanging around Heathrow until 1pm just isn't an efficient choice.

sherology

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121748468#Comment_121748468

If for no other reason that quashing the QR cabin debacle... Hoor-f-ing-ray :)

Someone suggested the new seating is 'new generation' seating and styling, which would make sense as the xlrs are coming on stream in a few months, so it'll be great to see some cabin images once the first one comes back from (I assume) Bordeaux.

Great to hear the first commercial XLR is an EI bird... That's a lot of free publicity for the airline as the XLR is so highly anticipated... Pictures will be spread across aviation and business pages when it rolls out and takes first flight.

I do think EI could (and maybe should) introduce an 'EI express' brand for the all economy SH fleet, to better differentiate the 330/XLR/LR offering on LH and morning SH, vs. the comparatively more 'LCC' offering on the 320/320neo fleets.

The LH fleet and it's use intra-europe does warrant a 'paying more for getting more' approach (aligned to premium seating and entertainment) vs. 'paying less and getting there' (EI express aligned more to FR as it is now).

I think there is a market for 'AerSpace' in the LH business cabins used on SH routes, without free food/lounge/bag space - simplify it... Just a better seat and buy what you want from the trolley. Makes it easier to manage (crew and expectations).

donkey balls

Forgot to ask what is the reason for EI operating the 321 Neo on the Canaries route.

LimaRomeo990

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121749681#Comment_121749681

Some of the TA routes are suspended due to low demand so it’s a good way to utilise them. Likely the 320 have maintenance as well.

The TA routes are starting to resume now. SNN JFK returns today and DUB CLE next week. So EI776 will revert back to a 320. DUB-BDL/DUB-IAD (EI119) resume 14 March.

HTCOne

Something to keep it busy in the more quiet winter months when the trans Atlantic schedule is less busy.

LimaRomeo990

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121749399#Comment_121749399

The LHR-NOC leaves at 11.

Wonder how it’s doing compared to how Gatwick did. Ryanair’s Shannon-Gatwick LF has increased from 82-86%. Likely impacted by EI cancelling NOC-LGW

Jamie2k9

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121747054#Comment_121747054

I did question what impact the fare premium would have on this route. Numbers still seem similar.

Nov 23 - 6,294 (60% LF CEO - 56% if all NEO) - LGW in 22 5,350

Oct 23 - 6,671 (62% LF - 58%) - LGW in 22 6,744

Sep 23 - 6,750 (65% LF - 61%) - LGW in 22  6,110

Aug 23 - 9,840 (92% LF - 85%) - LGW in 22  9,516

Jul 23 - 8,776 (81% LF - 76%) - LGW in 22  7,962

SNN-LHR total numbers combined with the freq are slightly better but LF isn't much higher on average.

NEOs do bring LF down but that's on all LHR routes.

LimaRomeo990

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121750352#Comment_121750352

ORK-LHR LF wasn’t much higher than SNN as well. They have 20-28 weekly flights compared to NOC with a daily flight.

Tenger

The QR A330s will be refitted with the current EI A330 cabin. Any "next generation seats" will be introduced in 2025.

kevinandrew

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121752499#Comment_121752499

Is this business class or economy? It was previously mentioned that they'll get the current business seat (as the seat maps already indicate) but a new look economy seat. The "next generation" business seat was already confirmed for 2025 by IAG; EIK and EIL will be among the last to receive them for obvious reasons.

Sexual Chocolate

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121752506#Comment_121752506

If even, there both the oldest -300s so will probably never see anymore changes after this refit.

Is it safe to assume however that due to these refits they'll probably see 7-10 years with EI ?

Tenger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121752761#Comment_121752761

My mate isn't sure if the QR aircraft will get the current A330 Y seat or something more like the A321LR Economy cabin.

He says the stated plan he was told (in an internal session) was that the QR will get the current J Class seat. Then in 2025 they will introduce a new J Class seat. That refit will take 3-4 years, after which the QR bird will get the "new" J Class seat. (so who knows what will actually happen!!!)

It would be nice to see the 321LR seats in the A330. It does look very bright. But the current A330 Y class seats aren't bad.

My question would be, Im assuming that the A321XLRs have already been ordered with the current J Class seat. (12-18 month lead time)

Surely it might be better to refit them in 2028/2029 than the then 20 year old A330s? But what do I know!!!!!!

cloudhopper19

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121754427#Comment_121754427

The XLR's will not be getting the same economy seat as the LR's they will be getting the new economy seat which was highlighted by EI internally. EIK is off for its retrofit this coming week and will be back in action all going well in April. So I guess you will all have to wait and see what is onboard when it's back.

cloudhopper19

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121752506#Comment_121752506

The business seat going in will for the time being be a slightly modified version of what is on the current 330 so it will have better 4k IFE screens, bluetooth capability and shoulder harness at each seat. The new cabin seats for 330 will be unveiled later in the summer at a press event.

Captain_Crash

I can second what @Tenger said. There was an internal comms late last summer saying that the terrible two will be getting the LR economy cabin, or at least that’s the conclusion from how it was worded. We’ll see in April no doubt!

Sexual Chocolate

The LR seating is nice and comfy however a bit on the flimsy side I find.

kevinandrew

EI-DEP is due back from Shannon today with EI-EDP heading down there next.

Would that be the fifth A320 repaint so far this winter?

LimaRomeo990

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121756566#Comment_121756566

EDP would be the 6th.

Two were done before Xmas and DEN, DEH,DEP & EDP done the past few weeks

That would leave approx 6 320 left for repaint

Sexual Chocolate

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121756628#Comment_121756628

Wouldn't count CVC in that if you have as it's days are numbered. Although there was talk of it getting scrapped months ago and it's still on the go.

Gary walsh 32

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121756628#Comment_121756628

Ei dvi dvh dve dvg fnj deg der dem and cvc but very unlikely cvc be repainted