Singapore_Air From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2000, 13711 posts, RR: 21 Posted (9 years 6 months 1 day 22 hours ago) and read 1939 times:
PARIS, France (Reuters) -- European plane maker Airbus said on Wednesday that Irish state airline Aer Lingus had signed a final contract to buy seven of its single-aisle A320 planes, confirming plans that were unveiled in September.
Airbus said Aer Lingus would also lease an additional 10 new A320s from leading aircraft leasing company International Lease Finance Corp., a unit of insurance group AIG.
Kaitak From Ireland, joined Aug 1999, 11956 posts, RR: 37 Reply 6, posted (9 years 6 months 1 day 21 hours ago) and read 1766 times:
Don't count on A330/340s; while it is undeniably the most likely, Boeing could put in a very good deal for 777s. Remember, with US open skies, Aer Lingus will be able to expand its US (and hopefully, in time, other long haul) services, so a fleet of 12-15 long haul aircraft is not impossible. At the rate EI has grown its business over the last 2-3 years, don't be surprised to see EI continuing to go for growth. It is the only major European national carrier which has really got its act together on the cost front.
Currently, US and Irish authorities are meeting to discuss new access, but of course, any deal reached would be superseded by a EU/US deal, if this can be agreed next year. Aer Lingus clearly wants more access and of course, open skies, but the Irish govt still wants (or wants to be seen!) to protect Shannon, but I don't think they'll obstruct Aer Lingus's plans if a deal can be reached and if EI can be persuaded to put something forward as a sop to the Shannon lobby, at least for next year.
I thought for some time that Boeing might be able to use the bilateral card to get an EI order, but with an agreement imminent, I'm not sure that's the case any more. If EI does order Airbus, it will be A330-300IGWs and -200s, not 340s. The problem is, of course, that there's no growth variant of the A330, so if they need something bigger, it'll have to be 346s. Boeing, on the other hand, could offer the 773 when the time comes.
Boeing has an added incentive in that EI could be a very good European launch customer for the 7E7-400ER, which could replace A330-200s from around 2008. Thus, if a Boeing deal were done, I'd expect 777-200s to replace A330-300s in the near term (2004-5) and more A330-200s to be added, with all -200s to be replaced by 7E7s by 2009. However, with the commonality advantage EI has with Airbus, Boeing has a lot of talking to do!
Cedarjet From United Kingdom, joined May 1999, 7710 posts, RR: 55 Reply 7, posted (9 years 6 months 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 1754 times:
Aer Lingus aren't going to fly 777s. They've just "got their act together" on the cost front (to quote Kaitak), they're shedding incompatible aircraft, not looking to add them! Maybe the A330 is restricted in that there isn't a bigger variant than what we've got at the mo; but the A340-600 isn't very different at all, indeed there are no crew training aspects to the introduction of the 346 at all. Ditto mx I would guess. And anyway, Ireland is a tiny country, with a population of only 4 million. I don't think they're going to need bigger planes, especially if they're adding US destinations and frequencies.
fly Saha Air 707s daily from Tehran's downtown Mehrabad to Mashhad, Kish Island and Ahwaz
EA777 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 8, posted (9 years 6 months 1 day 20 hours ago) and read 1701 times:
I am not sure but wouldn't the A340-200 offer similar capacity to their A330s but with greater range capabilities and allow them to introduce direct flights to Asia (I read there interested in flying to Bangkok/Hong Kong over the next couple of years).
Ba319-131 From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 8264 posts, RR: 56 Reply 10, posted (9 years 6 months 1 day 18 hours ago) and read 1631 times:
I don't see EI adding 777's to the fleet.Whilst they may be able to fill them in the summer,they face the same proble everyone else has in the winter,filling it.
It makes much more sense to operate a plane you can operate year round and fill,or have a better chance of filling year round.
Look to Delta,almost all of their transatlantic trips are on 763's,easy to fill all year round,and they have a huge domestic feed.
Sponsor Message: 
From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2000, 13711 posts, 
From Sweden, joined Jan 2008, 786 posts, 
From Belgium, joined Nov 1999, 5264 posts, 
From , joined Dec 1969, posts, 
From Ireland, joined Aug 1999, 11956 posts, 
From United States of America, joined Nov 2003, 582 posts, 
Printer friendly format 
