DUBLIN, Sept 17 (Reuters) - Irish state airline Aer Lingus [AERL.UL] said on Wednesday it had signed a deal with Airbus to supply 17 new aircraft for use on its European network, with options on a further 10.
The national flag carrier said the deal for the A-320s would complete its move to use of a single fleet type and enable it to add 15 new routes to its European network by summer 2005.
Under the deal Aer Lingus, which had also been in talks with Boeing (nyse: BA - news - people), will buy seven A-320s outright and lease 10 from the International Lease Finance Corp.
The Irish Times said the airline was expected to spend in excess of 300 million euros ($335.6 million) on the aircraft. The engines for the aircraft will be provided by CFM, a Franco-American joint venture between General Electric Aircraft Engines (nyse: GE - news - people) and Snecma Moteurs.
TriStar500 From Germany, joined Nov 1999, 4685 posts, RR: 47 Reply 1, posted (9 years 8 months 1 week 5 days 3 hours ago) and read 3714 times:
Are the A330 crews contractually permitted to be rostered on the existing A321 fleet and vice versa? In that case the cockpit commonality makes a lot of sense for EI.
Homer: Facts are meaningless. You could use facts to prove anything that's even remotely true!
UTA_flyinghigh From Tunisia, joined Oct 2001, 6495 posts, RR: 52 Reply 2, posted (9 years 8 months 1 week 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 3674 times:
Crews on A320's are qualified to fly A321's but the A330 is another type rating.
However, it takes much less time to train A320/A321 crew to move up to the A330 than it would take for 737 crews.
Will
Fly to live, live to fly - Air France/KLM Flying Blue Platinum, BMI Diamond Club Gold, Emirates Skywards
Kaitak From Ireland, joined Aug 1999, 11956 posts, RR: 37 Reply 8, posted (9 years 8 months 1 week 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 3345 times:
Great news; the A320s have been very popular and the news doesn't come as much of a surprise.
The A330 crews don't normally fly 320/321s, BUT conversions take only around eight days, as cockpit commonality is close; don't forget also that pilots converting to the 330 from the 320s must also undergo training for t/a flights - ETOPs issues, RVSM etc.
This means the end of the 146s - oh, the pain, I lie on the floor sobbing.
Right, I'm over it now. Anyone got an acetyline torch?
UTA_flyinghigh From Tunisia, joined Oct 2001, 6495 posts, RR: 52 Reply 10, posted (9 years 8 months 1 week 5 days ago) and read 3253 times:
The A330/A340 is a different type rating (QT or "qualification type" in French ) ; ME and OS simply have pilots that are cross-qualified (which isn't the case at AF for instance).
Regards,
Will
Fly to live, live to fly - Air France/KLM Flying Blue Platinum, BMI Diamond Club Gold, Emirates Skywards
KL808 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 1573 posts, RR: 2 Reply 14, posted (9 years 8 months 1 week 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 2797 times:
good choice for EI.
did not make sense to switch back to a Boeing fleet
Styles From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 89 posts, RR: 0 Reply 15, posted (9 years 8 months 1 week 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 2742 times:
I read that EI may offer scheduled service to ATH and DBV. I can see ATH as a destination due to strong leisure market and the upcoming olympic games, but does anyone know of the market to DBV? Croatia Airlines does not even offer daily service to LON. Will EI try to take inbound transatlantic pax to increase loads? Or, do they plan on relying strictly on O&D?
Kaitak From Ireland, joined Aug 1999, 11956 posts, RR: 37 Reply 16, posted (9 years 8 months 1 week 4 days 18 hours ago) and read 2632 times:
GKirk, a shameful plug fest - no, surely a Shamrock plug fest!!
There'll be no 319s; the four orders were let lapse (along with two previous 320s, which went to BA, with IAE engines). The airline will be (on short haul routes) an all 320 (21) and 321 (6) airline and more 320s will follow in due course.
But the fifteen new routes . . . lots of rumours floating around, including Krakow (presumably WAW would be looked at too), Berlin and Dubrovnik. Wow!
So, 2005 will see the last 737 leave EI, after the type has been in the fleet for 36 years, the first 732 having been delivered in April 1969. That's more than half the airline's history.
EI apparently intends to withdraw C class from almost all short haul markets (with the possible exceptions of LHR and BRU); the cpst advantages of a single, all Y fleet, and the flexibility that goes with it, should be immense. It will be major competition for FR; EI will be a less stressful carrier to deal with -and that will make a major difference . . .
By738 From US Minor Outlying Islands, joined Sep 2000, 1986 posts, RR: 1 Reply 17, posted (9 years 8 months 1 week 4 days 17 hours ago) and read 2550 times:
Dont know if GLA-DUB could support 3 A320 flights a day. Think they might even struggle with 735s which are to replace the 146's. An A318/9 would be ideal.
Styles From United States of America, joined Jul 2003, 89 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (9 years 8 months 1 week 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 2215 times:
I doubt EI would fly to TLV as I don't think it fits into their current mind set of leisure orientated markets as well as the obvious problems tha crop up with regard to violence in the region. CAI is an interesting destination as I think it may work within the current focus and also the idea that perhaps people are looking for new sun holiday destinations other than Spain/Portugual. Depending upon their scheduling EI could also dovetail the US inbound flights to these departures to allow for on line connection.
Does anyone think EI would consider service to North Africa (CMN, AGA, TUN)?
Kaitak From Ireland, joined Aug 1999, 11956 posts, RR: 37 Reply 23, posted (9 years 8 months 1 week 3 days 22 hours ago) and read 2199 times:
I don't see either TLV (extra security adds to cost) being a possibility, but CAI has considerable tourist possibilities (and no doubt Dubliners would like proof that there is somewhere with worse traffic than their hometown!).
Seriously, though, you missed out Dubrovnik (which has been mentioned) and Krakow, also mentioned. Speaking personally, I'd particularly like to see II International (KRK / EPKK), Poland">KRK again, as it's a beautiful city with much history.
On the North Atlantic front, EI is going to start a fleet review project next month. Don't expect major changes; it's like to be (much) more of the same. The older 333s will go, to be replaced by increased gross weight 333s (230t -v- 215t MTOW) and there'll be more 332s. Boeing has an outside chance with 777s, particularly as (a) the 332s are so successful that they'll come at a price - not much incentive for good deals, and (b) there's no growth in the 330 series after the -300, although they could go for 346s. However, I feel that having achieved commonality with the s/h fleet, they're unlikely to spoil it on the long haul fleet.
Bestwestern From Ireland, joined Sep 2000, 6439 posts, RR: 58 Reply 24, posted (9 years 8 months 1 week 3 days 7 hours ago) and read 2074 times:
There is quite a lot of religious leisure traffic between DUB and TLV, but what would be needed for this route would be a cease fire - until then no route.
ATH, DUB and CAI could be operated overnight (with an early morning return departure) - increasing utilization - and should be within the range of the A320.
The world is really getting smaller these days
25 707cmf: Yeah, that would be fun... I haven't flown EI yet... Also, DUB-TLV, that one should please you, UTA... 707
26 UTA_flyinghigh: 707, you forget that I am an AF mileage whore and I'm not so hot about eating nasty shortbread cookies and water on 4-hour flights Will
27 DoorsToManual: UTA, I would be happier bringing my own food than having to eat crappy EI food & pay more.... Interesting to see all these new destinations pop up, ha
28 LGW: Massive shame, I am not a fan of Airbus and its a shame to see EI go the way of Airbus instead of Boeing. If ther are as bad as EI 321's I have flown
29 JAL: I'm dissappointed but not surprise that they stick with Airbus.
30 Tarq: Just a note.. Changing the copyright text below the images is STRICLY forbidden and will in the future lead to a ban. I thought this was obvios, but n
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