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

Shamrockj

The XL over head bins are a massive improvement, way more space for carry ons.

sherology

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122967816#Comment_122967816

That's the Recaro (aka. a330 - looks like the 3710 not the very latest version 3810 going by the seat cushion side-curve but could be the photo) as opposed to the Collins on the LR. I like the greys (personally) when the headrest covers/led colors are dressing it. They got rid of the lime beading/stitching though so that's sad - was a nice design feature/thought. Off-White armrests - new?

Not a fan of the all-green economy seats. At least there's two Greys. Good to see some pics.

Tenger

Double trouble on the 18th. The mound will be packed

Locker10a

EI-XLR airborne now and finally en route to Dublin

LXFlyer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122970246#Comment_122970246

And is now going back to Hamburg, (edit) but appears to be continuing now!

Talk about teasing us all!

Locker10a

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122970277#Comment_122970277

Yes….. literally just saw that ….

kc56

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122970286#Comment_122970286

No #1 on Flightradar24 most tracked flights.

Jack1985

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122970277#Comment_122970277

Filming purposes.

Def_IRL

Due in @ 14:20 runway 10L and over towards Hangar 6

cloudhopper19

Any like a bus you wait a while a 2 show up at the same time another XLT due around 7 o'clock this evening.

Captain_Crash

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122970527#Comment_122970527

28’s are in use and EU Plane Spotters is streaming from the usual spot now

Captain_Crash

Landed! 👏

Locker10a

EI-XLR due to enter service to Washington on Friday

ohigg84

Just wondering, if the A321NEO XLR is heavier than the current A321NEO LR, and thus, carries more range, did Airbus contemplate adding a double bogie landing gear as used by the B757.

Is there much difference in the weight between the A321LR and XLR?

sherology

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122971397#Comment_122971397

The LR carries extra fuel in removable fuel tanks (1 up front and up to 3 in the rear) that themselves have a certain empty weight, and take up cargo floor space. The XLR removes the rear tanks and replaced them with an integrated rear tank that weights the same as (if I remember correctly) one LR removable tank, and takes up the space of one tank - giving back cargo/baggage floor space - an issue with the LR.

They needed to add some further RCT reinforcement to address FAA/EASA concerns. The airframe but mostly the landing gear was also strengthened to carry the extra weight 'of the extra fuel'. I can't find a reliable source for the empty weight of an LR vs XLR that shows any difference but I would assume there is a difference… but the MTOW increases are there for all that extra fuel as opposed to often discussed increased 'aircraft' weight... Remember you need to subtract the weight of two optional fuel tanks as they're no longer part of the XLR.

If an airline doesn't use the optional/removable front tank on the XLR (they may not need the range bump) the aircraft can operate at a 97t MTOW - that would in my opinion be an ideal scenario- carrying fuel to burn fuel to get a few hundred nm further is inefficient. With that tank added, it's 101t, and gives you about 11hrs flying time... Take away diversion airport, bad weather, reserve fuel allowances and you're talking about 9.5 hrs routes - not sure what the exact 'extra fuel' EI carry.

So... If EI can fly 9hr- ish routes without the front tank... That would be super-efficent, and should form part of the route decision (in my brain anyways). Carrying 3+ tonnes of fuel to go 3/400nm more is not ideal. You can use the floor area and MTOW bandwidth for cargo.

Anywho... That's how I see it... But finding it very hard to find concrete empty weight data (not MTOW). They're off to IAD on Friday so they'll know soon enough.

Locker10a

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122971674#Comment_122971674

Do you think there’s any truth to the rumor that the XLR won’t make BNA for EI ?

Tenger

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122971755#Comment_122971755

Personally I tbink that rumour may be based on the 97t version. (Based on my belief that Airbus/Aer Lingus cannot be that incompetent with the planned range/payload figures)

101t was only approved within the last month. The goal is to get to 103t.

sherology

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122971755#Comment_122971755

Absolutely not. IB will be flying MAD-IAD for 9.20hrs from January, from a 2000ft. elevation airport, and winter weather. 15 mins longer than the BNA route (in April weather and near sea level).

kevinandrew

EI-XLT is now on its way.

Def_IRL

..

Def_IRL

..

yew_tree

Nice looking aircraft. Will Aer Lingus add any larger double isle aircraft in the near to medium term? Or even what will eventually replace the A330s?

kevinandrew

A330 fleet is still quite young, a few older frames can probably be replaced by leases on slightly younger second hand aircraft until the entire fleet needs renewing. That probably won’t be needed until later this decade, maybe well into the middle of the next one even.

The sticking point at the moment is likely engine choice, the A330neo and A350 are only available with Roll Royce which is not an engine Aer Lingus is familiar with. The 787, while very capable and likely seen as an excellent transatlantic performer, particularly the -9 and -10, it would be a huge shift for an airline the size of Aer Lingus to make.

Another problem would be getting the required investment, Aer Lingus seems a long way down the pecking order at IAG at the moment.

L1011

Younger GE 330s are extremely rare, so picking up leases without mixing engines is going to be difficult

StakeholderValue

Aer Lingus was offered more ex Qatar 330’s in the last two years but turned them down.

JPONeill

What's the future of the Manchester base, will Aer Lingus base any XLRs or more 330s there?

kevinandrew

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122976458#Comment_122976458

Manchester make a small but not insignificant profit and seems to be performing well, at least in terms of loads which are continually improving year on year and it looks like this past summer was their best yet, August was very strong. Unfortunately because it’s such a small base it’s difficult to justify additional growth because it comes with huge cost.

The current 2 based aircraft are kept very busy between JFK, MCO and BGI so any new routes would need an additional based aircraft, this is a big undertaking and would need to be profitable quite quickly to be worth the investment.

I think best case scenario for Manchester now is to keep the current based aircraft, continue to strengthen on JFK, MCO and BGI and take another look when more aircraft are available or when the market looks a little rosier for UK-US travel. There’s undoubtedly potential with the likes of BOS and ORD, maybe another Caribbean destination but time will tell.

sherology

EI-XLRs first commercial flight into superstrong headwinds to IAD yesterday. Flight time: Actual 9hrs 30mins vs. Block 8hrs 5mins. Good season/flight for data gathering, fuel used, fuel remaining, buffers etc.

Poland2020

It wasn’t just winds - the first flight on type is non ETOPS or ETOPS proving flight - hence going over 62North.

LRD operated the 117 and used the NATS tracks which were quite south yesterday.

sherology

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122979524#Comment_122979524

Ahhh... Learn something new every day… thanks. It was indeed very Northerly. The earlier LR flight took 8hrs 45mins for ref.