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

Yeah its a UK government change.

From 25 February 2026, photo identification other than a passport or Irish Passport Card will no longer be accepted on international flights between Ireland and Britain.

Which was always going to be the case. The most effective way to do these kinds of checks is by requiring airlines to check digitally (through iAPI) if a person is ok to travel

The number of people flying between Ireland and the UK without a passport can't be huge. It has become a habit for most, I would say, so maybe the communications are aimed at those who have used other forms of ID up to now. As with a lot of these issues, we will probably hear of a small number of people "denied boarding", despite the public and probably more targeted communications for people with bookings.

Any chance that GEY might operate the EWR or BNA flight this summer then?

no gate availability for a heavy in EWR, already taken up by other carriers

They would need major problems to require GEY as they have a spare A333 available with the DUB/MAN fleets combined.

It's good to have GEY and they really only need it from June-September. Interested to see when they fly it to DUB.

they won’t have a spare 333, they’ll use it on YYZ,IAD with whatever that 333 has been replaced, the 321 or 332 will be used else where operationally besides an operational spare 321 or 332, they won’t have two 330’s sitting around,

Aer Lingus have a fleet of 15 A330 and as of today (publicly) only 13 are required to operate a S26.

That could of change over the next few weeks however if it doesn't it would require a lot to happen for GEY to be needed to fill in with another A330 around. I get there is extra maintenance etc.

https://www.businesspost.ie/companies/aer-lingus-appoints-former-pilot-union-president-to-senior-operations-role/

Aer Lingus has appointed aviation veteran and former Irish Airline Pilots Association (Ialpa) president Evan Cullen as its new director of flight operations effective from Sunday, February 1.

Cullen takes the role from John Kelly, who is moving on to the role of chief pilot.

Ialpa, the pilots union, said members were “shocked and surprised” that their union president veteran would take up a position in airline management.

Cullen declined a request for comment from the Business Post when contacted.

The IAG-owned airline led by chief executive Lynne Embleton said the appointment followed a revision to the structure of flight operations management, separating the director of flight operations and chief pilot roles.

Cullen will “take up this role at an exciting time for Aer Lingus and flight operations”, chief operations officer Adrian Dunne wrote in the airline’s internal newsletter.

Cullen is a well-known figure in Irish aviation. He joined Aer Lingus as a pilot in 1989. Between 2003 and 2023, he was president of the Irish Airline Pilots Association (Ialpa).

Cullen is also currently a captain on the airline’s long-haul planes, Airbus A330s, which are primarily used for transatlantic services.

Ialpa president Mark Tighe told the Business Post Cullen was the signatory to the more recent existing collective agreements between the union and Aer Lingus.

“We hope the knowledge Mr Cullen previously gained representing pilots will now help reduce any possibility for misinterpretation of elements of these collective agreements.”

Cullen has previously had public clashes with Ryanair chief Michael O’Leary over the former’s efforts to unionise the Irish airline. Ryanair started recognising unions in 2017.

Aer Lingus announced last week it will end its transatlantic flights from Manchester from March 31, effectively shuttering the base.Speculation over the future of the Manchester base had persisted for months, and intensified after ticket sales for its transatlantic flights were suspended in January.

The announcement followed a series of consultation meetings held throughout the months of November, December and January to date.

painting

I have to admit I'm saddened at the demise of the green. You could pick out the Irish plane from a distance at whatever distant airport you happened to be at.

Not sure if its the guys camera but nevertheless paint work is not the best

What's the issue that you're pointing out?