Aer Lingus Fleet/Routes Discussion

LXFlyer wrote: »

I’m struggling with your logic here.

Surely wearing over ear headphones increase the risk of not hearing emergency announcements during the riskiest part she of the journey (take off and landing)?

In my experience of wearing in-ear buds you can still hear that an announcement is being made, but noise cancelling headphones could mean that they’re not heard?

To be quite honest it is coming across from your posts that you know better.

My point is that Aer Lingus make announcements that "over ear" headphones have to be removed for take-off, but "in ear" ear phones can be worn and used during that time.

This is a confusing delineation for me because it is derived from an incorrect assumption (the one that you have yourself made) that in-ear lets you hear your surroundings.

Most modern wireless in-ear earphones have very good passive noise reduction, and plenty of them have active noise cancellation*

So I guess what I'd say is if you're going to tell people to remove over-ear headphones during this phase of the flight, you have to do it for in-ear earphones too.

In addition, if the reasoning for asking people to remove headphones is so that they can hear safety announcements, then it also makes no sense that those in the business class cabin are not asked to remove headphones.



(*I'd also note that most modern wireless over-ear headphones, like my own, have an option to invert the noise cancellation so that you can pipe in environmental noise as if you weren't wearing any headphones at all.)

I landed on a Delta A330 yesterday, there was no requirement to remove any headsets for any phase of taxi, flight or on the previous Delta A320 flight . Cabin crew and Flight crew PAs were perfectly audible through my Sony over-ears.

As MJ says they allow it for EI business class on longhaul so pay-to-play it looks like - yes, a source of frustration

I’ve actually found that it’s easier to hear the PA announcements with noise cancelling headphones on (either in or over ear). It filters out all the noise and you can actually hear what they say. If you take your headphones off, the announcements are usually very hard to hear due to crappy speakers and engine noise.

Tenger wrote: »

Delta are not EI. Each airline has its own rules.

EI Business class headsets are plugged into the PA system.

Who said anything about the provided headsets? I'm talking about over-ear headphones not connected to the IFE system - they do not ask you to remove those in business class, at all, in my experience.

Tenger wrote: »

I would hazard a guess that it must be in the top 10.
Loooking at a map of the US there is a glaring hole in the EI route map.
Houston, Dallas seems like the obvious TX destinations. But Austin has a fast growing tech sector. AA already started Dallas, Houston is a UA hub. I guess it depends on what sort of connections EI see on their other services (ie. ORD/EWR/JFK)

But I will hazard a guess that EI are currently looking at their A321LR plans and how to absorb the incoming blow from Covid-19.

We could even ask about......oh wait is that L1011 looking at me??!?!?! :eek::eek::eek:

ozzy jr wrote: »

According to wiki there's currently 16 A330s in the fleet (5 200s and 11 300s). What's the likely future for the bigger planes? The A350 order seems like it's not going to happen, so does that mean EI will continue with the A330 as long as they continue to make them?

No more are being made, EI got the last two. Future orders will have to be 800/900

The wide body requirements are pretty much fulfilled with the current A330, the average age of the wide body fleet will be less than 10 years with the latest additions and older frames can easily be replaced with younger second hand models as and when needed. There really is no need or desire to invest in ‘next gen’ wide body aircraft until at least the middle of this decade.

Aer Lingus probably won’t want to invest in a new wide body type until the majority of the current fleet are up for renewal.

That’s before we even begin to consider the current climate, the global economy is slowing, the UK is heading for a cliff edge exit from the EU and now we have a pandemic to deal with which is already having a massive impact on the aviation industry. Airlines will once again be bracing themselves and tightening their belts.

Will it matter if they dont have them this summer, since the extra weight of the centre tank and fuel might not be very useful until the new runway opens next year?

Idbatterim wrote: »

A boon for Dublin airport ? What with Aer Lingus launching one new us route a year? Can’t wait for JetBlue to arrive here !

Seriously?

Aer Lingus has pretty much doubled its capacity across the atlantic in around five years, it's easily been one the fastest growing and profitable (unlike some) airlines in the market.

Since 2015;

Hartford
Los Angeles
Newark
Seattle
Miami
Minneapolis
Washington

Since 2014;

Toronto
San Francisco

This summer is actually the first time since 2014 that there hasn't been a new city announced but there has been an additional capacity boost across the network, this summer the airline will have 2million seats available across the Atlantic.

Willie Walsh's comments are about the decade ahead and beyond, and he's right. As Heathrow cripples, Dublin and Aer Lingus have an opportunity to grow.

You can look forward to JetBlue arriving, they'll be a great addition just don't expect them to be bringing anything new to the table, it'll be the same old east cost routes with similar fares and a similar service level.

ozzy jr wrote: »

The A350 order seems like it's not going to happen,
?

That ship has sailed a very long time ago!

cson wrote: »

B6's regular Y product would comfortably beat everyone save for VS in transatlantic terms.

If they keep the seat pitch and free WiFi they are on to a winner, but flying A321neo LR range is limited. Better business class on B6 vs EI, same seat but with the doors.

However B6 has started to densify Y on its fleet, previously they had got a A320 to under 150 seats and thus need only 3 cabin crew