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

It is indeed a real shame. Because of Brexit the aircraft need to be re-registered to G reg probably not worth their while having a single aircraft there

They can’t operate domestic flights within the UK on EI registered aircraft soon. Emerald having 5 ac it’s probably worth their while to re register the ac for one ac it’s probably not worth it in case of maintenance etc. I don’t think it’s to do with bookings as BA will be taking over the routes that’s just what I had heard anyway

Some posts on EI social media to welcome the A320NEO

“ first step in revolutionising our short haul fleet “

Some posts on their Instagram story

May 21st

EI87 DUB 1530-1850 CLE (Mon, Wed, Fri & Sun)

EI86 CLE 2020-0850+1 DUB (Mon, Wed, Fri & Sun)

Flights operated on A321neo aircraft

Great to see another destination added. I wonder where the aircraft will operate for the other 3 days a week possible Hartford will return or the rumoured Buffalo.

MSP was an odd one, a victim of circumstance perhaps. Originally a 757 route, it was intended for the A321LR but either unexpected range limitations or the poor runway performance at Dublin meant it was just out of reach so they opted to use the A332 as a stop gap which was admittedly way too much capacity for such a young route in the dead of winter. Less than an year after launch, the pandemic struck which put an end to things. The A332s were put in storage and the limited number of A321LRs available to the airline had found better uses.

The best hope for MSP now is the arrival of the XLR which won’t be until sometime in 2024 at the earliest.

Ei fav now back aswell

Flew on EI-FAT from Bristol yesterday. Much better seats than most of the ATRs emerald are using - great to have it back.

Still has the old EI livery from a few years ago, with a big sticker saying Emerald Airlines at the back, presumably covering up the old Stobart logo.

hope they get more, despite being older, they’re in better condition than most of the rest of the fleet, imho

Wonder if it's going to Emerald

Which would go completely against the current strategy of transatlantic growth?? They’re already stretched for long haul narrow body aircraft and the addition of Cleveland shows this type of growth is still very much the plan so it would be a bizarre decision to decline the one aircraft you need to fulfil this mission.

Possible, if the LRs are sufficient for route opening and smaller load destinations, but IAG would likely keep those XLR slots for IAG: no? Also, a330neo slots would likely be easy to come by... AirAisaX dumped a load of them. Would be nice to see the neo ordered though, give some clarity on the future fleet intent. IMHO EI need both.

They could definitely do with more A330’s the likes of YYZ, IAD and EWR were all previously A330 routes. It would be even better if they ordered A330NEO’s and no more crap aircraft from Qatar that are shocking and substandard. The worst aircraft flying across the Atlantic currently bar none.

It may be more suitable for connections having X2 NEO vs 1 A330 in certain destinations for sure it opens up a lot more connections. However the A321NEO has zero cargo capacity and regularly leaves behind luggage as there is no space and also cannot take sports equipment, golf clubs etc. I would have imagined there would be room for more capacity on YYZ it was originally a 757 route and then upgraded to A330. Huge Irish population in Toronto. Air Canada has used 400 seater 777-300ER quite often. The NEO is definitely more suitable in the winter when loads are lower and can maintain daily where A330 would be maybe 3/4 times a week.

All 3 are pushing on in years with the A330 no longer in production long term they will need to decide a new wide body most likely A330Neo

-DAA 21 years old

-DUO 15 years old

-GEY 19 years old

Today was definitely an example of that. EIN is still stuck in LAX after the hydraulics issue. Currently GAJ, GCF , EIM and EIN operate west coast with 3 required every day to operate SFO, LAX and SEA with one of the ac usually doing an east coast each day to be back in time to operate the 12:35 departure to SFO. With EIN stuck in LA todays SFO had to wait for the previous days SFO to arrive and turn around resulting in a 2.5 hour delay. Definitely shows having multiple variations of the A330 doesn’t help in these scenarios.

Didn’t they finally manage to refit the business cabin in ‘GEY just a few weeks before the pandemic hit? Would be a shame to see them wasted.

Anyone know what actually happens to the business class seats once an aircraft is returned or scrapped?