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

Do we know when the new route announcement is due?

Yes more or less, I think there was some downtime on Monday when neither BOD/BIO operated. And on Sunday the AM departure to ACE wasn't until 8am. So I guess with a bit of juggling they could squeeze an extra couple of rotations out of the two.

Its to move passengers to from Manchester to get around strike action there

Might all be worthless at this stage but Aer Lingus UK maintained relatively good loads in September at 75% which is level with the same month last year on a slight increase in the number of flights offered.

https://www.unitetheunion.org/news-events/news/2025/november/unite-s-anger-as-aer-lingus-plans-to-close-manchester-airport-base?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQKNjYyODU2ODM3OQABHsqfNxQaTWNwKyJZnmb42TP8UQbEyIorMevQCUWlhgqixfELHcOHFn8NVDDI_aem_JIZIJUQ7VPdugTKHB8ycyg

Cabin Crew in MAN have been served notice of base closure.

With the rumours that QR want EI to take over the DUB-DOH route combined with EI-GEY not being seen in quite a while…it might be true.

I can't imagine EI being able to meaningfully compete against EY/EK for connecting traffic to Australasia.

For that reason alone I can't see QR giving up their DOH route.

it is very interesting. As for GEY, it seems to be in storage down in Perpignan since mid July. It’s future would seem to be unclear for a few reasons. It’s not owned by EI and they only get charged if it’s used. I think it’s further will be determined should the Manchester base go ahead and close because then those 2 A330’s will get integrated back into the core fleet

Wasn't GEY planned as a 'hot spare' for next summer? It would do some minimal flying but otherwise sit around as a back up until returning to the lessor some point later in the year. If not, and it's leaving before summer, have they really been paying for an aircraft to sit around in storage all this time since its heavy maintenance just to never use it again?

I was under the impression the current planned summer schedule is covered fleet-wise, the two additional XLRs providing the boost. Was GEY included in that too?

If MAN closes before next summer that's two additional A330s they need to find work for, or one if GEY was planned to be used and will now be leaving instead.

Heard Cork will likely get somthing to southen Europe (not previously served). It should complement one of the routes added last year.

Based on last year, hopefully they might be announced over next 2 weeks.

DUB might get minimum 3 routes but usual caveats apply.

I believe GEY is on a power by the hour lease, so EI only pay when it is in use (excluding parking charges etc) which is an absolutely ideal situation for a spare airframe.

Years ago when the original lease to EI was signed, the lessor (Castlelake I think) likely envisaged the airframe being converted to a freighter around now, but the market for freighters has since shifted; they generally max out on volume/space rather than weight now due Amazon/Alibaba/Temu etc. packages being so light on average. As such, the A333 is a far more attractive conversion nowadays and with limited facilities able to do this conversion, A332s are less worth spending this money on.

Everything depends on what the leasing contract says but it might not be possible to just "drop" GEY even if the two MAN 330s are coming home without punitive penalties owed to the lessor.

EIK also has issues, it’s had a high flight cycle, can only fly certain times I understand.

A few months ago I heard a rumour that both Madrid and Lisbon were being looked at.

They have done Lisbon previously so if it’s a city not served before from ork then it could be Madrid

that’s interesting, thank you. if it’s happening we should here about it soon enough. When I here of southern Europe I think of the likes of Malta etc

Something to think about and hopefully it happens, but EI might need to add serious capacity next summer if Ireland reach the world cup. Now it's a long way off yet, but hire ins etc might have to be considered.

Just a thought given the conversation above about what frames are where for summer 26