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

kevinandrew

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118610564#Comment_118610564

Pretty much as expected but 2025 does seem a little far away, would have been nice to have something earlier.

Still think the A220-300 (or A220-500 if launched) has merit in the Aer Lingus fleet but at this stage anything new for short haul would be welcome, a good portion of the fleet is knocking on 20+ years old at this stage.

Hopefully they’re new builds!

goingnowhere

The LR fleet is plugging that gap as multiple flights to LHR/CDG and elsewhere will use the LR's, the XLR's are coming as well.

The LR fleet is designed to permit conversion back to a short haul config, what would have been the L3/R3 door in a 321ceo is there, but is plugged. You take out the ACT tanks.

The oldest EI-CVA/B are still flying, CVC is stored

Gary walsh 32

Cva and Cvb seem to used every day while other a320 have brakes

goingnowhere

EI-DEI did the honours for the rugby team, but flew to Le Bourget, not the usual CDG or even ORY

EI-DEI is down to fly to CDG in revenue service tomorrow morning

EchoIndia

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118612170#Comment_118612170

They are all equipped with brakes, fortunately.🤣

Hotblack Desiato

Someone had to go there 😁

ohigg84

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118570259#Comment_118570259

Yeah I always wondered about that.

It just seemed a waste to get rid of the 200s, especially DUO considering it's only 15 years old this May.

I hope they bring DUO back anyway.

California Dreamer

Flew DUB-MCO-DUB in the last couple of weeks. Both flights had really low loads. I think it was around 150/160 each way.

Very contrasting crews, on the outbound, 1 drinks service, dinner and bye bye! Saw nobody until 90 mins out for the snack. Rarely came through cabin apart from crew on rest taking free seats. All that crew looked like they hadnt a shower for a week.

Inbound crew better and more attentive. 1 drinks service but came through cabin with water a couple of times.

Looking historical data, the time between 121 and 120 seems to be about 2 hours. Hardly enough time for 'enhanced cleaning', I took some antibacterial wipes to the hard surfaces and the ended up black after use.

larry1

Aer Lingus to restart Dublin-Miami in October 2022

Good news from Aer Lingus this week which later in the year will give Dibbers another route into Florida.

Source - Aer Lingus Media

Aer Lingus has announced that it will re-start its direct service from Dublin to Miami later this year. From 21st of October, customers will be able to travel direct to Miami with Aer Lingus operating two services per week until 28th of October and three per week from 29th October to connect families, friends, and businesses back to the Sunshine State.

mediacentre.aerlingus/ne...lcome-to-miami

Hopefully the DUB-MIA service will link up with connections from the UK and will wait and see if a possible codeshare with BA happens. The thrice weekly service corresponds with the introduction of the Winter 22/23 Schedule.

ongarboy

https://www.google.com/amp/s/simpleflying.com/aer-lingus-miami-return/amp/

Some good detailed info on load factors and where most transit passengers originated from on this route from when it was last active.

Chris_5339762

Aer Lingus's comeback to Cork has been a disgrace. Enough said!

Locker10a

https://nitravelnews.com/news/aer-lingus-seattle-route-return/?fbclid=IwAR2LiIQ96MvKrGL_iKIu7PlLnvynsyI75v7dAmdeFSnuFnr6AYfpRUmMuYU

Seattle returns the end of May

ongarboy

https://ittn.ie/news/delta-and-aer-lingus-to-resume-flights-to-boston/

EI from SNN to BOS and double daily from DUB to BOS also resuming in next few weeks.

HTCOne

So that just leaves MSP and BDL unserved. BDL was holding its own pre COVID so would expect that to come back when the XLRs start arriving.

How many A330s are required with that schedule?

EI from SNN-JFK is resuming as well with BOS in 3 weeks.

Shamrockj

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118648986#Comment_118648986

JFK X2, BOS X2, SFO X1, LAX X1, early ORD X1 then X3 A330 are required to operate MCO,SEA and the late ORD most days with a 4th required on Saturdays plus X1 A330 required for MAN bringing the total to 12 A330s required if I am correct.

Current fleet is -EAV, DUZ, G-EILA, G-EIDY, -FNG, -FNH, -GAJ, -GCF, -EIM and -EIN to a total of 10 question is where the rest will come from possiblY

-EIL/-EIK finally operate ?

HTCOne

Well seeing as EIL & EIK joined the fleet since COVID one would imagine the leases are fairly solid (ie they can't be ditched without financial penalties). Combined with the rumours 3 x EI A332s are heading to Iberia (DUO, DAA, GEY would fit that bill) then everything seems tied up.

QR were supposed to be ditching 10 odd CF6 A333s but now Airbus have cut all ties that's in the air. Wonder where widebody expansion will come from now.

Although I think there's 2 in MAN

kevinandrew

This summer is pretty much covered with the potential return of EIL & EIK to the fleet. It's next summer that raises some questions, everyone expects continued transatlantic expansion for 2023 but that can't happen without additional aircraft so they either have to source more second hand A333s, which isn't always easy, or they'll be taking a long hard look at Aer Lingus UK performance versus the Irish operations. If a Manchester based aircraft is forecast to make more money flying from Dublin, they won't hesitate to move it back.

I think it would be a shame to see the UK ops compromised or even given up because of a limited fleet but we've seen them do it at Shannon before. Personally I hope MAN expansion can continue without the risk of DUB taking aircraft back, this would need additional widebody frames to join from 2023 onwards. Hopefully by 2024 the XLRs will be arriving which will further bolster the transatlantic fleet and help secure the longer term viability of the long haul ops at SNN, MAN and of course DUB.

California Dreamer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118654857#Comment_118654857

So are the -200's confirmed to leave the fleet?

kevinandrew

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118655232#Comment_118655232

I'm assuming they are mainly because of the Iberia rumours but don't know for sure, it would certainly make sense to keep them considering the likely need for more frames next year but the ongoing lease and storage costs could be something Aer Lingus would like to see the back of rather than dragging them on for another year.

cson

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118648986#Comment_118648986

Isn't there a study showing that BDL was being fairly heavily subsidized by the airport there?

kevinandrew

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118655997#Comment_118655997

Absolutely but it was no secret. Prior to its launch Aer Lingus openly invited US airports and their local state governments to put forward packages to secure their business. Hartford won with the state of Connecticut agreeing a revenue deal where Aer Lingus set annual revenue targets and if any of these were missed, the airline could tap the state subsidy.

I seem to remember it being argued that the targets Aer Lingus set for the route (with agreement from the state and airport) in the first year were somewhat unrealistic.

It was initially a two year deal which was extended in 2018 for another two, under the extended deal the subsidy was reduced, from $4.5m in the first year, to $2m by the fourth. Eventually, the fifth and sixth years of operation would be without subsidy.

The route was maturing nicely before the pandemic and looked pretty secure, passengers numbers and load factors were steadily climbing and while not a reflection of profitability, it's local average fares on a per mile basis were ahead of Toronto and Orlando.

Some detail on the route here;

https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/article/aer-lingus-taps-45m-state-subsidy-after-direct-flights-miss-revenue-target

Hartford will be eager to have Aer Lingus back, I'm sure they'd probably like to pick off where they left off in terms of the deal previously secured but no doubt Aer Lingus will want a brand new package and will argue the pandemic has changed performance expectations of the route.

Van.Bosch

It’s great to see talk of not enough planes to meet demand after the last few years.

Hopefully EI are nimble enough to react and secure capacity where it can be deployed profitability.

it won’t be long before we’re all speculating about new US destinations again (No Vegas jokes please).

HTCOne

When the XLRs arrive I wouldn't be surprised to see 1 or 2 oddball destinations added under similar deals to BDL.

With the way the cost of a barrel of oil is headed, it might be time to start thinking about the next generation of widebodies also.

sherology

Nice video, new livery, and complimentary copy for EI regional... Four test flights/aircraft in a row... Pretty cool.

https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/aer-lingus-flight-forced-land-6678872

Locker10a

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118655232#Comment_118655232

The recalled crew have not been trained for the -200. So if that’s any indication….

kevinandrew

Storm Franklin played havoc with the Aer Lingus UK arrivals this morning. The JFK flight diverted to Birmingham and the BGI flight, with around 180 on board, went to Newcastle.

Despite the diverts they managed to get the MAN departures out later in the day, the spare A330 came in handy and the A321LR was able to reposition.

Not exactly a stellar load factor on the BGI but much better than the sub 50 numbers reported in its early days and it seems business class does well. Might be a good indicator that a premium economy offering on the A330 is needed to take full advantage of the UK market. Both Virgin and TUI have a decent premium economy product.

john boye

I saw the late departure on JFK and assumed it was just due to the huge delays at Manchester lately. Didn't realise it had diverted earlier.

Seems to be a huge shortage of handlers at Manchester atm. Delays of at least an hour seem to be standard for most airlines.

titan18

Is there any reason why an Advantage fare is cheaper than a Saver fare, or is it just a mistake?

California Dreamer

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118669756#Comment_118669756

People don't want to take that level of crap from pax for £10 an hour!