Stobart air liquidated- the end of Irish domestic aviation?

12-06-2021 8:08am #1

With Stobart Air seemingly liquidated this morning, it looks like the last of the PSO flights are grounded. I wonder what this will do for the viability of CFN and KIR?

AnRothar · 12-06-2021 8:12am

Not a lot in the grand scheme of things.

If they have gone bust the Dept of Transport will have to readvertise the contract and get a replacement.

In this scenario of would be interesting to see what it will cost to get the cover at short notice.

The J Stands for Jay · 12-06-2021 8:13am

[Deleted User] wrote: »

With Stobart Air seemingly liquidated this morning, it looks like the last of the PSO flights are grounded. I wonder what this will do for the viability of CFN and KIR?

Aren't CFN and KIR kept open by PSO routes to Dublin? If the government can find another airline to take on the contracts, it shouldn't change things.

California Dreamer · 12-06-2021 9:35am

Short term EI main could if they wanted to do KIR but an A320 can’t land at CFN.

I would expect someone like Eastern, Logan or even Cityjet to take over the PSO on a wet lease interim.

neutrino · 12-06-2021 9:43am

Air Corps Casas?

Deatr · 12-06-2021 9:46am

I doubt CityJet would take on the CFN PSO, given that the CRJ wouldn't get out of there and given how cost conscious they are at the moment they wouldn't wet lease and aircraft in to do it. So it'll probably be Loganir or one of the others.

California Dreamer · 12-06-2021 9:51am

Deatr wrote: »

I doubt CityJet would take on the CFN PSO, given that the CRJ wouldn't get out of there and given how cost conscious they are at the moment they wouldn't wet lease and aircraft in to do it. So it'll probably be Loganir or one of the others.

Good to know. I don’t know the CRJ limitations and the CFN runway length.

sparrowcar · 12-06-2021 10:14am

neutrino wrote: »

Air Corps Casas?

Probably a cheaper option for the government/tax payer in fairness considering how quiet aviation is.

mr.anonymous · 12-06-2021 10:16am

neutrino wrote: »

Air Corps Casas?

Thought they only had a few seats because of the fishery patrol equipment?

Masala · 12-06-2021 10:23am

The govt has committed to a PSO to Donegal and Kerry due to Regionality and access to the capital.

So it’s a case of getting advertising and getting another airline in. It’s a 4 year contract and is probably lucrative enough for the airline as it’s subsidised etc by govt.

So ... could be just a timing thing and we could see PSO back in 6 months.

12-06-2021 10:31am

Irish Government effectively ban air travel and all reasons to travel. Airline goes bust. Coincidence. I wish the staff the best for the future.

Storm 10 · 12-06-2021 10:50am

neutrino wrote: »

Air Corps Casas?

Not a hope it's kitted out for the job it does one side is all communications and radar equipment only crew seats in it for crew would never happen.

Larbre34 · 12-06-2021 11:43am

Can't Aer Lingus just fulfil the domestic schedule from its own resources using 320s for the time being? Lord knows they have the capacity.

California Dreamer · 12-06-2021 11:46am

Loganair ran PSO routes previously so could easily pick up the short term slack ahead of it being re-advertised.

Phen2206 · 12-06-2021 11:56am

Larbre34 wrote: »

Can't Aer Lingus just fulfil the domestic schedule from its own resources using 320s for the time being? Lord knows they have the capacity.

They could potentially with KIR but not with CFN because an A320 is too big for the runway at CFN. In either case it would cost a lot more to operate the flight than not to operate because an A320 is so big compared to Stobart's ATRs. It would all depend on whether the PSO responsibility now falls to main Aer Lingus or not - I'm not sure how the legality of that works. If Aer Lingus can just wait until a new operator is appointed, or just abandon domestic aviation altogether, then they will.

donkey balls · 12-06-2021 12:04pm

California Dreamer wrote: »

Loganair ran PSO routes previously so could easily pick up the short term slack ahead of it being re-advertised.

They used a Saab on that route and pax numbers seemed to be good, On another note I was reading about Stobart on the Journal and the amount of people posting crap like it's a UK owned PLC etc and f**k them etc, If only they knew of the Stobart HQ in Santry employing Irish staff or what about the FBO like ground handling catering refueling etc.
I am convinced that tbe average Joe soap hasn't a clue about the amount of ancillary jobs aviation employs throughout the island of Ireland north and south.

Sheep Shagger · 12-06-2021 12:06pm

Is this true about Stobart being sold for £2 to a 26 year old who runs a block chain incubator in the IOM ?

https://www.standard.co.uk/business/transport-logistics/stobart-air-sold-aviation-pandemic-flybe-b930702.html?__twitter_impression=true

L1011 · 12-06-2021 12:15pm

It was to be, his funding didn't come through so the sale collapsed

MAULBROOK · 12-06-2021 12:22pm

Now I might have dreamt this up after a bad pint but didn't Brendan O'Carroll yes that one, once try and setup a regional airline.
It was like a bus route for the air ie get on in Dublin to cork but the plane would land a small regional airports on the way to pickup or drop off passengers as it went.
Again I could be totally wrong.

crushproof · 12-06-2021 12:28pm

donkey balls wrote: »

I am convinced that tbe average Joe soap hasn't a clue about the amount of ancillary jobs aviation employs throughout the island of Ireland north and south.

The average Joe doesn't have a clue about most things. Read the headline on a clickbait website like the Journal and think that's enough to make their opinion heard.

Difficult day for all involved and interesting to see how the PSOs pan out

Masala · 12-06-2021 12:28pm

Sheep Shagger wrote: »

Is this true about Stobart being sold for £2 to a 26 year old who runs a block chain incubator in the IOM ?

https://www.standard.co.uk/business/transport-logistics/stobart-air-sold-aviation-pandemic-flybe-b930702.html?__twitter_impression=true

That was a nominal amount….. he had also to clear the Debts and make Cash available. So his total input was over €9m iirc

Masala · 12-06-2021 12:32pm

MAULBROOK wrote: »

Now I might have dreamt this up after a bad pint but didn't Brendan O'Carroll yes that one, once try and setup a regional airline.
It was like a bus route for the air ie get on in Dublin to cork but the plane would land a small regional airports on the way to pickup or drop off passengers as it went.
Again I could be totally wrong.

Ya he got airtime on the Late Late show on same but he only had back of packet of fags figures on same. He thought he could copy O’Leary. He hadn’t heard of the old maxim ‘ How do you become a millionaire in Aviation?….. start out by being a Billionaire’. He then realised that there is more profit copying Simpsons jokes.

trellheim · 12-06-2021 12:47pm

Sorry for all those whose jobs were lost here.

kevinandrew · 12-06-2021 12:58pm

Larbre34 wrote: »

Can't Aer Lingus just fulfil the domestic schedule from its own resources using 320s for the time being? Lord knows they have the capacity.

I’m not entirely convinced they do have the capacity. Most of the short haul fleet is in long term storage, waking up a fleet of aircraft for what will be a very marginal operation just isn’t worth it. The limited number of A320s that are operational will be doing the basics on summer hot spots.

They’d be better focused on trying to maintain the Scottish and North of England frequencies they’ve now lost.

Jack1985 · 12-06-2021 1:25pm

Aer Lingus hopes to announce an alternative operator by tomorrow. Company was aware the of potential for collapse in STK for some time.

Tenger · 12-06-2021 1:33pm

kevinandrew wrote: »

I’m not entirely convinced they do have the capacity. Most of the short haul fleet is in long term storage, waking up a fleet of aircraft for what will be a very marginal operation just isn’t worth it. The limited number of A320s that are operational will be doing the basics on summer hot spots.

They’d be better focused on trying to maintain the Scottish and North of England frequencies they’ve now lost.

I didn't think the UK flights were even operating. Thought it was only 2-3 PSO departures from Dublin each day.

Jack1985 · 12-06-2021 1:43pm

Tenger wrote: »

I didn't think the UK flights were even operating. Thought it was only 2-3 PSO departures from Dublin each day.

DUB-EDI
DUB-GLA
DUB-MAN (was to resume this Sat; weekly)

Big loss for connectivity vital for EI when TAs resume, hoping for the best for their staff.

Tenger · 12-06-2021 2:14pm

Hasn't DUB-MAN been on an A320 over the last year?

Jack1985 · 12-06-2021 2:25pm

Tenger wrote: »

Hasn't DUB-MAN been on an A320 over the last year?

It has, EIR were to begin re-supplementing the route on a weekly basis as referred to. These were the only ROI-UK routes operated.

Calahonda52 · 12-06-2021 2:27pm

The bigger issue here is IAG making Manchester a hub for the USA, plus the closure of the EI base in Shannon so loss of connectivity to the West Coast of USA will be another nail in the FDI coffin, along side the tax and remote working nails out lined by the G7 and Facebook respectively.

Loss of c 100,000 FDI jobs in the medium term plus the knock on effect will burn a big hole in the public finances.

Tenger · 12-06-2021 2:32pm

Calahonda52 wrote: »

The bigger issue here is IAG making Manchester a hub for the USA, plus the closure of the EI base in Shannon so loss of connectivity to the West Coast of USA will be another nail in the FDI coffin, along side the tax and remote working nails out lined by the G7 and Facebook respectively.

Loss of c 100,000 FDI jobs in the medium term plus the knock on effect will burn a big hole in the public finances.

Aer Lingus will continue to operate flights to/from Shannon. As will US carriers next year.
Aer Lingus will resume its flight from Dublin to SFO and LAX within months.

The PSO routes will be out for tender again.
The connectivity will continue.

The Aer Lingus operation out of MAN will impact its Dublin base, NOT the West.

Stobart air liquidated- the end of Irish domestic aviation?

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