Aer Lingus Fleet/Routes Discussion

California Dreamer · 30-08-2018 07:28PM

Deleted User wrote: »

The rumour mill has Montreal being a 757 route. The rumour mill also mentioned that Seattle is pretty much stuffed on every flight as well so I’d expect daily too.

A quick scan through random dates on expert flyer will back that up.

L1011 · 30-08-2018 07:35PM

Portland OR would be easier served by daily SEA and the Alaska Airlines tieup than going direct probably. Alaska have something like 27 flights a day on that route so you should be able to risk an extremely tight connection and just take the next if you miss it. They already offer it over LAX and SFO with Alaska on the SEA off days - actually, the variety of routings available is baffling almost with United and Jetblue on multiple hubs also!

30-08-2018 08:46PM

Only thing about Portland is that for decades it’s struggled with European International flights. That could be a bonus for Aer Lingus but also a negative if the market can’t sustain it.

goingnowhere · 30-08-2018 10:53PM

SEA is doing very well, lots of cruise business and lots of Microsoft and Amazon folks (and they travel even more off season than peak) it looked like a gamble at the start but its a winner. BA are upping service from LHR also next year. Possibly an A330-300 route in the future
PDX is just too near to Seattle and hasn't got the constant business demand that SEA offers

Cravens · 01-09-2018 11:36AM

Stobart is opening an E190 (presumably E195) base in Dublin - this will be interesting.

http://www.stobartair.com/jobs/rated-and-non-rated-ejet-captain-dublin-base/

Shamrockj · 05-09-2018 03:53PM

New routes will be announced next Wednesday the 12th. Any ideas?

Qprmeath · 05-09-2018 04:10PM

Shamrockj wrote: »

New routes will be announced next Wednesday the 12th. Any ideas?

Stockholm

Locker10a · 05-09-2018 08:13PM

Qprmeath wrote: »

Shamrockj wrote: »

New routes will be announced next Wednesday the 12th. Any ideas?

Stockholm

I think they’re all transatlantic routes

goingnowhere · 05-09-2018 08:40PM

I'd love to see Stockholm back again...

Where they are going to find another A330 CF6 bird from god only knows if IAG has cut a deal with Qatar but A330-200's aren't really want EI wants

Cravens · 05-09-2018 09:08PM

There's a couple of 2007 vintage A330-203's ex-Shaheen (ex-KLM) stored since May at Istanbul. Seeing as in the KLM days they reached SFO frequently, I'd assume they have crew rest areas - which I believe the ex-Qatar frames lack. With Shaheen in dire straits, maybe they'd be ripe for the picking to expand the Seattle service and maybe launch Denver as alluded to earlier in the year.

Tenger · 05-09-2018 10:02PM

Locker10a wrote: »

I think they’re all transatlantic routes

Well the big ticket announcement is always the long haul, more investment and more prestige. That was the geist of the IT article I linked above. But a couple of new Euro routes would be good.
EI under IAG are hammering the mini hub strategy pretty hard, almost at the expense of the A320 routes.

Lustrum · 05-09-2018 10:23PM

Cravens wrote: »

Stobart is opening an E190 (presumably E195) base in Dublin - this will be interesting.

http://www.stobartair.com/jobs/rated-and-non-rated-ejet-captain-dublin-base/

Stobart will apparently be operating for BA Cityflyer to LCY, hence the 190. Not confirmed but that's the rumour I've been hearing

The Veteran · 05-09-2018 10:42PM

I’m mixing this thread and the new routes one a little. Whilst I understand a lot of things about airport operations, I admit to not knowing a lot about the technicalities of the aircraft themselves. So a couple of questions.

If Aer Lingus were to get more A330s, why would they not put them on LHR which seems to be a real cash cow, from the point of view of maximizing the available slots (which they own).

On the routes thread there is a lot of talk tonight of crews being moved around 320/321/321LR and 757s; whilst I understand type rating and flight crew needing adjusting or training on different variants - for cabin crew, why would they need much more than some familiarization briefing?

I like the Embrears, the BA and KLM ones are obviously the routine ones we see multiple times day and of course Finnair and others use them. Stobart using them I think will seriously improve the feel of their product. Presumably though the ATRs will still have a role to play.

Qprmeath · 05-09-2018 11:04PM

goingnowhere wrote: »

I'd love to see Stockholm back again...

Where they are going to find another A330 CF6 bird from god only knows if IAG has cut a deal with Qatar but A330-200's aren't really want EI wants

Stockholm has showed up on the staff travel portal so presume it’s going to be announced

Kcormahs · 05-09-2018 11:26PM

Qprmeath wrote: »

Stockholm has showed up on the staff travel portal so presume it’s going to be announced

It never dissapeared from it. Same as WAW even before the Xmas extra flights offer

Nijmegen · 06-09-2018 10:55AM

The Veteran wrote: »

If Aer Lingus were to get more A330s, why would they not put them on LHR which seems to be a real cash cow, from the point of view of maximizing the available slots (which they own).

Yield combined with schedules (for maintenance as well as flights) and a little bit of gates at the far end (I think the gates EI uses, which keeps them within the border arrangement with Ireland, can't take a 330, but I'm sure with a will that could be fixed).

EI runs 330s down to Spain during the summer because they can get the yield and fit them into their TAL schedule. While you could fit LHR into your TAL schedule, you wouldn't get the prices people pay in July to fly down to Malaga; all the ancillary revenue from the bags etc. You can do LHR for 100 return. Thin margins for putting a 330 in the air for 2 cycles vs 420+ for JFK and 250++ for Malaga. If they had more heavies hanging around you'd see them do it, but one of the oft made comments about EI is that they're sweating the assets already.

Jack1985 · 06-09-2018 11:23PM

The stands EI use at LHR can take an A330 for clarification, stand 221 specifically. This has happened on an ad-hoc basis for example two A332's (DAA/LAX) were sent in Nov' 15 when Heathrow schedules were disrupted for nearly three days due to fog.

So there is no infrastructural reason why an A330 cannot be used on the DUB-LHR route. There have been consistent rumors (none materialized) the last few years that an A330 would be used on either the EI152 or 154 during the early wave, primarily for cargo demand. I'm sure it will happen eventually.

Jamie2k9 · 06-09-2018 11:37PM

Would expect crewing is one reason why LHR hasn't and probably wont see regular A330.

A321LR will do the job while costing them less and making more!

Captain_Crash · 07-09-2018 08:57AM

Jack1985 wrote: »

The stands EI use at LHR can take an A330 for clarification, stand 221 specifically. This has happened on an ad-hoc basis for example two A332's (DAA/LAX) were sent in Nov' 15 when Heathrow schedules were disrupted for nearly three days due to fog.

So there is no infrastructural reason why an A330 cannot be used on the DUB-LHR route. There have been consistent rumors (none materialized) the last few years that an A330 would be used on either the EI152 or 154 during the early wave, primarily for cargo demand. I'm sure it will happen eventually.

There is an infrastructural impact to this tho, if you have an A330 at 221 then 221L & 221R cant be used. So its either have 2 A321's on stand, or 1 A330... EI more often than not have 2 aircraft on stand at any given time in LHR, so for the time an A330 would be most beneficial (morning) it would mean losing one flight in the morning to make space to the A330.. which results in no increase in capacity.

07-09-2018 09:50AM

Aer Lingus don’t have to just use those stands though. Operational flexibility at Heathrow would allow them use another stand if required.

Captain_Crash · 07-09-2018 10:14AM

Deleted User wrote: »

Aer Lingus don’t have to just use those stands though. Operational flexibility at Heathrow would allow them use another stand if required.

This is very true, any of the stands on the south of T2 (223,224 ect...) can be used as they are set up for "domestic" arrivals. But again, morning is the busiest time and LH and SK use these stands also (in a non domestic config). Its definitely possible yes, and when needed has been done, such as the example kindly provided above.

But it would create a headache should a 330 be put on the route on a regular basis as either LH or SK would have to move a morning flight to another gate as for obvious reasons EI can only use the stands on the south side of T2.

goingnowhere · 07-09-2018 10:31AM

They do actually, they need to route passengers to through the Irish channel on arrival and have to treat Belfast differently again (no customs)

So only a handful of gates can do this.

Certainly its possible to handle a A330 but it requires planning to ensure it doesn't block other ops.

07-09-2018 10:47AM

goingnowhere wrote: »

They do actually, they need to route passengers to through the Irish channel on arrival and have to treat Belfast differently again (no customs)

So only a handful of gates can do this.

Certainly its possible to handle a A330 but it requires planning to ensure it doesn't block other ops.

And come end of March next year..............

Captain_Crash · 07-09-2018 11:01AM

Deleted User wrote: »

And come end of March next year..............

Things will get a lot more flexible haha

Stovepipe · 07-09-2018 07:17PM

Nijmegen wrote: »

Yield combined with schedules (for maintenance as well as flights) and a little bit of gates at the far end (I think the gates EI uses, which keeps them within the border arrangement with Ireland, can't take a 330, but I'm sure with a will that could be fixed).

EI runs 330s down to Spain during the summer because they can get the yield and fit them into their TAL schedule. While you could fit LHR into your TAL schedule, you wouldn't get the prices people pay in July to fly down to Malaga; all the ancillary revenue from the bags etc. You can do LHR for 100 return. Thin margins for putting a 330 in the air for 2 cycles vs 420+ for JFK and 250++ for Malaga. If they had more heavies hanging around you'd see them do it, but one of the oft made comments about EI is that they're sweating the assets already.

you are absolutely correct in all respects.

Jack1985 · 07-09-2018 11:25PM

Aware of the announcement next week pertaining to Transatlantic growth, It'll be interesting to see European growth plans however. Is it wishful thinking to believe we might see overnighting aircraft in Europe returning for the first time since the early 2000's, Amsterdam and Paris spring to mind. Cork base is interesting too, could there possibly be a 5th aircraft to allow increased capacity on Summer sun routes from Cork and Shannon, I'm hesitant in thinking that - EI got stick from MEPs with regards to reduced Summer capacity on ORK-AMS but I could see them reducing to once daily in peak summer to allow for the recently added Lisbon. Some European route growth ex-DUB would be welcome too, I have yet to hear plans to acquire more Short-Haul frames. ASL are to continue with a B733 in BHD operating to/from FAO&AGP this has been confirmed.

Have we heard any European route rumors? The comments relating to Stockholm as already pointed out it was never removed from the Staff Travel portal.

Jack1985 · 07-09-2018 11:32PM

I'm surprised they haven't in 5 years of this HUB strategy, given in to early wave arrivals from Europe especially from key well established routes. It's well known when the Jeppesen rostering system was brought in it created the most efficient duty couplings with overnighting European aircraft - That was canned and instead FTL maximum's were used for duty couplings and as a result creating the sporadic delays and cancellations this Summer (and previous) on the short-haul network.

Kcormahs · 07-09-2018 11:48PM

Jack1985 wrote: »

Aware of the announcement next week pertaining to Transatlantic growth, It'll be interesting to see European growth plans however. Is it wishful thinking to believe we might see overnighting aircraft in Europe returning for the first time since the early 2000's, Amsterdam and Paris spring to mind. Cork base is interesting too, could there possibly be a 5th aircraft to allow increased capacity on Summer sun routes from Cork and Shannon, I'm hesitant in thinking that - EI got stick from MEPs with regards to reduced Summer capacity on ORK-AMS but I could see them reducing to once daily in peak summer to allow for the recently added Lisbon. Some European route growth ex-DUB would be welcome too, I have yet to hear plans to acquire more Short-Haul frames. ASL are to continue with a B733 in BHD operating to/from FAO&AGP this has been confirmed.

Have we heard any European route rumors? The comments relating to Stockholm as already pointed out it was never removed from the Staff Travel portal.

In relation to the overnights in europe (ex. ei601 AMS and ei519 CDG) I also thought they'd be back but the plan has been dropped due to crew + aircraft costs + third parties (for example, LHR still have an EI engineer based plus EI brand lounge opens from 5am etc) so the overnights (ei149/159) still profitable. Unfortunately I would not be surprised if these last 2 are dropped by 2022 when the 7 years contract that IAG made on the EI Sale expires. Till there as far as I know IAG can't touch the EI schedules on the LHR route neither reduce frequencies, although they can add extra.
None of the european flights leaving europe at 6amISh local are for sale at the minute (ofc apart from LHR) up to August 2019 so even if it did happen, it wouldn't be next summer.

Furthermore DAA just announced more improving and expansion on infrastructure at DUB airport which will open new stands and parkings for aircrafts, by other words no need for Aer Lingus to overnight any aircraft abroad as there will be enough room at DUB airport.

basill · 08-09-2018 09:07AM

It's well known when the Jeppesen rostering system was brought in it created the most efficient duty couplings with overnighting European aircraft - That was canned and instead FTL maximum's were used for duty couplings and as a result creating the sporadic delays and cancellations this Summer (and previous) on the short-haul network.

My understanding was that AL never brought the pairings generator which was a fundamental part of the rostering software package you mentioned. They do this with every IT project. Take something off the shelf, then want it tweaked and bits removed in order to cut down the perceived cost. In the end they eventually pay over the odds when all the addons are factored in. Another thing to be borne in mind is that there are many empires at work within the various departments that are involved in planning. They have largely come out unscathed in the Lean business model. To have a pesky bit of software which could do the job of an entire department in a few clicks of a mouse is unthinkable.

Tenger · 08-09-2018 06:16PM

basill wrote: »

Another thing to be borne in mind is that there are many empires at work within the various departments that are involved in planning. They have largely come out unscathed in the Lean business model. To have a pesky bit of software which could do the job of an entire department in a few clicks of a mouse is unthinkable.

I surprised that the IAG oversight hasn’t approved software purchase to reduce headcount.

Aer Lingus Fleet/Routes Discussion

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