Aer Arann loses Knock to Dublin route

signostic

Aer Arann has lost the Public Service Obligation (PSO) route from Dublin - Knock - Dublin; The route will be taken over by Logan Air from 22nd July 2002.
It will be intertesting to see if Aer Arann will pull the plug ion the Knock to Liverpool route as a consequence

PhoenixRising

They nearly lost all bar two. Logan Air were also offered Sligo and Donegal but refused the offer so they were given back to Aer Arann by default. They would have been in serious trouble if they had lost what was originally intended by the department of transport.

dmeehan

is there a report or results available on the tendering process

Apparently Ryanair, CityJet & Aer Arann were bidding on the Kerry Dublin route.
I would like to know why Aer Arann was chosen above the other two...

dowlingm

Because Arann came in under Ryan in the subsidy requested. As long as you make the basic criteria (30 seat pressurised I think) it's money from there on. Arann chopped the previous figure for the route by half but probably kept it high on CFN+SXL and NOC and the gamble paid off when Logie Bear only accepted NOC despite being offered all three.

Victor

Cullen announces PSO Contracts for Regional Air Routes
26 May 2005

Transport Minister, Martin Cullen, T.D. announced today (26th May 2005) that following an EU Public Tender process, contracts to provide scheduled air services on the six Public Service Obligation (PSO) regional air routes have been secured by Aer Arann and Loganair. As before, the new contracts are for a three-year period, commencing 22 July 2005.

Aer Arann has been awarded contracts to continue operating scheduled services on routes linking Dublin with the regional airports in Galway, Kerry, Sligo and Donegal. The Scottish regional carrier Loganair has been awarded the contract for the operation of routes linking Dublin with Knock and City of Derry Airports.

Under the new PSO contracts, Aer Arann will provide three daily return services on the Galway and Kerry routes and two daily return services on the Sligo and Donegal routes. Loganair will provide two daily return services on the Derry route and one return service each day on the Knock route. Scheduled departure times on all routes will continue to enable passengers, particularly business passengers, to make same-day return journeys. As always, it remains open to the appointed air carriers to provide additional non-PSO services on the routes in question.

The total maximum contracted subvention for the three-year contract term on all routes will be €45.8 million.

Minister Cullen said: "The PSO programme is vitally important in providing essential air access to the regions. It enables Government to contribute to more balanced regional development by guaranteeing scheduled air services for tourism and business.

"Both Loganair and Aer Arann have provided a high quality service under the PSO programme to date and I am confident this will continue under these new contracts. The proposed new timetables will provide convenient flight times for business travellers and tourists and continued growth in passenger numbers at the regional airports is anticipated. The continuation of Government support for regional air services will have a very positive impact on regional development through increased economic activity, tourism and employment", Minister Cullen concluded.

ENDS

A Summary of the new arrangements is attached below

PSO Services 2005-2008

Route	 	 Airline	Minimum			Morning 	Evening 	Aircraft
Dublin-		 		daily 			Flight		Flight 
	 	 		frequency		Dublin to	from Dublin
	 	 		-all year		Earliest 	Latest
							PSO 			PSO 	
							Departure	Departure

1 Kerry		Aer Arann	3 return flights	06:10		22:20 		ATR-72 
2 Galway	Aer Arann	3 return flights 	06:30		22:30		ATR-42
3a Derry	Loganair	2 return flights 	07:40		18:30		Saab-340
3b Knock	Loganair	1 return flight		07:30		18:10		Saab-340
4a Donegal	Aer Arann	2 return flights	08:00		19:30		ATR-42
4b Sligo	Aer Arann	2 return flights	09:20		17:05		ATR-42

* Aircraft on all routes are pressurised and have a minimum seating capacity of 30 seats
* Interlining was not a requirement but both carriers have interlining agreements in place
* 80% of the minimum seat capacity on all routes must be offered at €75 or less (one way)