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

I think the regular A330 started circa 2011/2012. (am guessing with that date)

I think there may have been the odd rotation to Nice?

A330 have been used on an ad hoc basis for years. Personally I operated DUB-LHR-DUB on an A330 on Dec 23rd one year, (circa 2004-2006) It was after some bad weather the previous day and they used the A330 to gather up all the lost sheep from the day before. I can remember that the old T1 (the green mile) couldnt take the A330 on its jetbridges. But the happiness of those 300 stressed pax was nice to see.

On another occasion a colleague (who is still my mate) operated an A330 to Cardiff on 2 consecutive days for a rugby match. The 'empty' return sectors were sold online cheaply. Airliners.net used the CWL-DUB leg for their annual group trip. My mate was able to get in touch with the PR dept and organise gift bags and a group photo in Business class for the group.

I was told this was cargo related.

But still counts!

Not really. Just assumptions.

https://x.com/Tobias_Gudat/status/1827008805957148834

The 3rd production XLR has been rolled out of the hanger.

Iberia have painted their official first airframe over a month ago. The EI (now IAG) airframe was not painted as of 2 weeks ago.

Iberia cabin config is 14/168, the Aer Lingus config is 16/168. I'm now of the belief that Iberia will operate the first planned 2 Aer Lingus frames and EI will get their planned 4 deliveries in 2025, and take 2 from the later Iberia delivery slots.

For 2025 2 x A321s can replace the A330 on DUB-YYZ, another 2 can launch a new route. (original plan was all 6 delivery by the end of 2025)

Both Nashville and Raleigh-Durham have both expressed interest in Aer Lingus operating. Maybe EI will take both offers or play them off against each other.

For reference these are status of the the initial batch of XLRs as of 2 weeks ago;

*taken from A-net and the XFW spotters there. I put the original planned EI slots in bold.

11348- IAG In primer with EI tail and IB engines. D-AZXY. Test flights in progress.

11504- Iberia, fully painted. D-AVYR. 1st flight soon.

11520- American, In primer, no engines. D-AZAB.

11590- IAG, In primer, no engines. D-AYAH

11686- Iberia, in primer, no engines. D-AZWI

12248- IAG, rear fuselage only.

12323- Qantas, rear fuselage only.

12348- AA,

12412- IAG,

12463- IAG,

12531- Azores Airlines

12549- IAG,

12784- Iberia,

https://www.planespotters.net/aircraft/production/airbus-a321?p=63

Does require a sign-up/log-in to access the data.