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

regarding this weeks starlink discussion, Installation of Starlink has begun this week on 330 aircraft commenced during its heavy maintenance check in Bordeaux, should be noticeably visually smaller box on fuselage when it returns from C check EI-FNG or G-EILA(EI-ELA)

I have e-mailed a complaint.

No response yet

The rails looked like permanent, well-fitted installations. There were no curtains in use or visible though on the flight.

I rang also and they changed my seats without a charged i made it clear that i already paid for the seats and would not been repaying she said the flight was cancelled and rebooked because of the time change apparently she also confirmed it was not a aircraft change

correction to my comment

It’s EI-EIN and it’s been completed

From what I've seen, the actual installation process is fairly trivial. I'd say most of the install time would be configuring and integrating it with the aircraft systems.

Does anyone know roughly when EI-EIN might be back in service?

Did EI cut any routes this summer other than dalaman?

Not sure about relaunched. It was announced as 4x weekly (and BCN 3x) using the SNN-based 320s pre-Covid and before the base closed; but don't think it was ever flown. It then started post-Covid and post-base closure 2x weekly using the 321LRs and bar a winter pause has been going ever since. The increase to 3x weekly is good news…

Have to imagine the BOS/JFK origin US tourists heading to France on the other 2x likely are making the case for the expansion.

I am curious to see if the weakening dollar will put a dent in US tourism to Europe this year, its starting to get pretty expensive.

It will take a significant further weakening of the dollar to make Europe unaffordable for wealthy US citizens. The US people who come to Europe are not that price sensitive. They are also very used to paying very high prices for everything PLUS tips in the US.

What it will do is make it more affordable going the other way. Traffic will be stronger than expected (given everything else going on).

From an Irish POV, no, the yanks that come here aren't massively price sensitive. As long as we keep our other qualities in things like food and craic which is generally higher than the rest of Europe and most of the US. Even our weather, as much as we complain about it, can be more desirable than some parts of the states

Exactly, the Canaries peak season is November to February. Thanks to global warming places now like the Balearics, Alicante etc are seeing their peak season in March-May and September-November as it's just too warm in June/July/August. This idea of 35 degrees + is actually an unpleasant one for most people.

20 degrees might be pushing it a bit for an Irish summer, I'd say it's closer to 15-17, but yeah if you're from Texas, Southern California or Florida you'd likely prefer it over the temps they get. We have a lot of indoor tourist attractions as well which means the inevitable rain isn't an issue for most and the traditional Irish pub with the open fire might actually feel more attractive thanks to our weather