LXFlyer wrote: » Cargo in the belly is the main reason surely?
IngazZagni wrote: » On the UK flight example though it is a route that is usually operated by an ATR so I doubt much freight is carried normally. However due to union agreements they’ve had to change it to a mainline Airbus to protect EI jobs over Stobart. That’s my understanding anyway.
LXFlyer wrote: » I hardly think the airline flew an aircraft back and forth empty for no reason. There had to be freight to be carried. Just because there isn’t normally freight doesn’t mean there won’t be now. These are extraordinary times.
goingnowhere wrote: » EI back in the 1970's did all kinds of crazy flights when it was leasing aircraft out, so not strictly the first time an EI aircraft has been to Asia.
IngazZagni wrote: » Well they had passengers that booked tickets on both. Think in the region of 50 each way but no one showed up. The no show rate must be well over 90% at the moment.
imonboard wrote: » I think you will find it is voluntary, the engineers are now on a 20 hour working week. They will work their normal 20 hour duties and then do a 25 or so hour flight for free, some are doing 2 flights a week, so one flight will be completely voluntary.
Locker10a wrote: » And how do you propose they predict if 50 booked pax don’t show up?
IngazZagni wrote: Well they had passengers that booked tickets on both. Think in the region of 50 each way but no one showed up. The no show rate must be well over 90% at the moment.
ozzy jr wrote: » They fly to Izmir most years.
IngazZagni wrote: » Sure, good for them. However I think for all the engineers in Ireland that have been laid off in the last week, they’d be delighted to be in a position of still having a job and be on these flights. I’d extend it to say I’d be shocked if any staff member refused to operate these flights due to the lack of financial reward considering the circumstances the airline and more importantly the Country finds itself in. They’d have the data now to show that at best they will get high single digits showing up. The frequency should be cut to the absolute minimum for essential travel/cargo requirements. I was just surprised at the high frequency some former ATR routes are currently being maintained at. Don’t get me wrong though, this is an extremely minor issue in the grand scheme of things.
joeysoap wrote: » You have access to the loads? You working for AL?
IngazZagni wrote: » I’d be shocked if any staff member refused to operate these flights due to the lack of financial reward considering the circumstances the airline and more importantly the Country finds itself in.
kona wrote: » Nobody is doing a 30 hour shift for free.
SAM SO NITE wrote: » Thats great to hear kona. I hope they get double time and the rest! I was just hoping that these heroes were not being taken advantage of. It would be a shame to do all those modules, 5 years experience, type ratings, approval boards, learn the MOE, continuation training, EWIS,HF,CDCCL, night shifts , bank holidays etc to actually get to use your skills to help the state in its time of greatest need and to be taken the piss out of.
California Dreamer wrote: » Someone with a serious axe to grind! But if you are an employee of EI why are you coming to an anonymous forum to peddle your agenda? You will not get any answers here.
Sheep Shagger wrote: » Pic in circulation of a loaded up AL aircraft in Beijing.
goingnowhere wrote: » Thats not an Aer Lingus aircraft,
easypazz wrote: » Was thinking the same until I saw buster browne down the back.
Captain_Crash wrote: » For obvious reasons I won’t give any detail here as to how or who I know, (mods feel free to PM and I’ll give more detail if you like) but there hasn’t been a very good take up on these flights. One person I spoke to today was asked to fly out and politely said no thanks, it’s a 30hr shift and he says isn’t worth it. Now whether that’s to do with money or not I don’t know but EI are struggling to get the numbers to operate the flights