Irish 12/17: Ag eitilt gan teo

kaitak · Thu Nov 30, 2017 11:53 am

Good afternoon folks and welcome to our last thread of 2017 ... and what a year it has been! It's seen several highlights and very few negatives; all three major airports appear to be doing well and Dublin may very well hit the 30m mark this year, which would be a massive milestone.

Some highlights from the year just past:

- EI continuing to benefit from Oneworld; the long awaited A321neoLR model finally placed and many more likely to come.
- Norwegian started US services; first carrier in the world to operate ETOPs flights with the 737 Max. Air Canada to join them next year.
- After several decades of trying, the US finally achieves a direct link to Cork.
- Air Canada announces significant increase in Irish services next year.
- Dublin gets its first direct Asian link (and first A350 service) with CX, which services to start next June. Hainan may well follow suit, with a Shenzhen link.
- Qatar Airways becomes the third of the ME3 to serve Dublin.
- Work starts on 10L/28R at Dublin.
- More discussion about a third terminal at DUB, something we're probably likely to hear a lot more about next year
- Wobbly summer for FR, with several cancellations due to insufficient crews.
- Most important of all (and let's hope we can say this at year end), another year of safe operations - lots of growth, but no accidents or fatalities in civil operations
- A definite low point in Irish aviation this year: the sad loss of the Coast Guard S-92 and its crewmembers.

So, here you are again folks, another month left in 2017 and can I take this opportunity to wish all of our frequent participants, lurkers, visitors and all of your families a very happy Christmas and all the very best for 2018.

Here's a link to the old thread: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1377623

(Edited to add: the title topic translates as "flying without limit"!)

JAmie2k9 · Thu Nov 30, 2017 11:58 am

E-Gates have come into operation today..

planemanofnz · Thu Nov 30, 2017 12:00 pm

kaitak wrote:
EI continuing to benefit from Oneworld.

kaitak wrote:
Dublin gets its first direct Asian link (and first A350 service) with CX.

Is it likely that EI will co-operate with CX on CX's new HKG - DUB service?

Do EI's regional UK and Ireland connections time well with the HKG flight?

Cheers,

C.

kaitak · Thu Nov 30, 2017 12:32 pm

I don't know if EI will codeshare; it certainly is possible, even probable but I haven't heard anything yet.

As to connections, as CX already flies to MAN, LHR and LGW, I doubt if their expecting much in the way of connections at DUB. That said, connecting at DUB is probably going to be easier than at LHR or MAN. I'm not quite sure what terminal CX will use at DUB (I suspect T1).

VFRonTop · Thu Nov 30, 2017 1:05 pm

kaitak wrote:
How much work would be involved in reconfiguring 757 in this layout to EI config; I'd have thought that the IFE (which is presumably already in place) would be the biggest job, so is it a lot more complex that just removing the extra J class seats and Premium Y seats and inserting new seats? The existing J seats, while not exactly EI seats, are probably acceptable, as are the Y seats, so (and I do know that this sounds VERY simplistic as I write it!!), so would they not just fill that gap with Y seats?

As for crews, could ASL just employ some of the Open Skies crews on contract for a year, non? .

The refit you describe is definitely possible, they could easily cannibalise the Y seating from the other 2 birds to increase the seat number quite cheaply. Otherwise they could fit the Thompson Vantage product they have on the other 757s as I expect it will be recyclable into the A321neo and A330 with minimal alterations.

IFE is a different matter, EI currently use Zodiac's RAVE product, Openskies dont have AVOD but use iPads instead.

VFRonTop · Thu Nov 30, 2017 1:34 pm

planemanofnz wrote:
kaitak wrote:
EI continuing to benefit from Oneworld.

kaitak wrote:
Dublin gets its first direct Asian link (and first A350 service) with CX.

Is it likely that EI will co-operate with CX on CX's new HKG - DUB service?

Do EI's regional UK and Ireland connections time well with the HKG flight?

Cheers,

C.

With a summer scheduled departure time of 11:55 for DUB-HKG, the following are EI operations that could potentially feed the flight

City      #      Arrival
========================================
London-LHR      EI151   09:10:00
Manchester      EI203   09:15:00
Birmingham      EI263   09:30:00
Edinburgh      EI3251   09:35:00
Glasgow         EI3221   09:40:00
Leeds Brad      EI3391   09:40:00
Bristol         EI3281   09:40:00
London-LGW      EI231   10:00:00
London-LHR      EI153   10:10:00
Amsterdam      EI603   10:15:00
Paris-CDG      EI521   10:55:00
Isle Of Man      EI3213   11:30:00 (too tight, but from CTA so might work)

OA260 · Thu Nov 30, 2017 2:27 pm

Great flight with SK in SAS Plus OSL-DUB. The flight was mostly full with lots of connections. Their new cube concept is interesting albeit different. Crew great as always. SK continue to do well out of Dublin.

.

Skyblue39 · Thu Nov 30, 2017 9:29 pm

Recent cockpit video of Aer Lingus EI482 Dublin - Lisbon

https://youtu.be/xOfEXPDrWJw

cc47 · Thu Nov 30, 2017 10:26 pm

Thanks for the new thread, a few hours early and all!
Its always nicer when the title's are in Irish IMHO.
Another good year for Irish Aviation, but I'm sadly still awaiting some route announcements for my local ORK for next Summer.

shamrock321 · Fri Dec 01, 2017 7:03 pm

Just nothiced that tonight’s LH980/981 was operated by a Lufthansa Regional CRJ-900, is all the added extra LH/AF/BA/EK/QR and their own MUC traffic plus the winter time having an effect? Don’t ever remember them downgrading capacity before?

alancostello · Fri Dec 01, 2017 7:10 pm

shamrock321 wrote:
Just nothiced that tonight’s LH980/981 was operated by a Lufthansa Regional CRJ-900, is all the added extra LH/AF/BA/EK/QR and their own MUC traffic plus the winter time having an effect? Don’t ever remember them downgrading capacity before?

The last week has seen it operated by a mix of CRJ-900 and A319, difference of about 40 seats between them.

ClassicLover · Fri Dec 01, 2017 7:38 pm

OA260 wrote:
Great flight with SK in SAS Plus OSL-DUB. The flight was mostly full with lots of connections. Their new cube concept is interesting albeit different. Crew great as always. SK continue to do well out of Dublin.

I liked the cube lunch I had when I flew with them back in August. I think it's really quite nice. You get the exact same meal for €13 in whatever they call normal economy class, so that's how I ended up with one.

shamrock321 · Fri Dec 01, 2017 11:54 pm

Currently being discussed on another thread is UA sending 2 class 777s to DUB next summer which apparently have 0 IFE!
!

alancostello · Sat Dec 02, 2017 12:39 am

shamrock321 wrote:
Currently being discussed on another thread is UA sending 2 class 777s to DUB next summer which apparently have 0 IFE!
!

The recently configured domestic 777s have streaming IFE. They’re very high density, I’d be amazed if they’re sending them to DUB as it’d more than double their capacity.

OA260 · Sun Dec 03, 2017 2:28 pm

Flew the A3 DUB-ATH Winter service the other day. 95% full which was good to see. Mostly diaspora heading back to Greece and connections to AXD SKG and interestingly IST. A few Irish tourists.
Very friendly crew , spotless clean cabin with good legroom. Full hot meal service with 3 drink rounds which was impressive. Overhead monitors with moving map.

A few inconsistencies with Swissport handling at DUB though. Hopefully they can continue out of Dublin in Winter for the long term its a great route to have and a rare full service European carrier with good fares.

.

Wifi is coming to the fleet soon which will be great for the 4 hour flights from Dublin.

JAmie2k9 · Sun Dec 03, 2017 3:59 pm

alancostello wrote:
shamrock321 wrote:
Currently being discussed on another thread is UA sending 2 class 777s to DUB next summer which apparently have 0 IFE!
!

The recently configured domestic 777s have streaming IFE. They’re very high density, I’d be amazed if they’re sending them to DUB as it’d more than double their capacity.

Its actually a slight drop in capacity going from B772ER and B752 to B772 partly offset by some extra ORD capacity. Norwegian starting and continued growth from EI annually has to take it's toll somewhere.
____________

In other news EuroWings increase DUS from 4 to 5 (March) to 6 (May) and already reported CGN from 4 to 5 weekly. LX also add fifth GVA flights next summer.

BestWestern · Sun Dec 03, 2017 4:21 pm

What’s the size of the Greek diaspora in Ireland.

Was that the Y meal? If so, very impressive.

IrishTexan · Sun Dec 03, 2017 6:57 pm

Got e-mailed a schedule change from UA on their EWR-SNN-EWR flights.
From March 25 next UA25 dep. EWR 9.55pm and arr. SNN 9.15am with the return UA24 dep. SNN 12.30pm and arr. EWR 2.45pm.
For as long as I remember flying the route the flights have departed EWR at 7.50pm and SNN at 9.00am.
Personally liking the later departure ex EWR.

Skyblue39 · Sun Dec 03, 2017 8:52 pm

The Norwegian B789 op LGW-BOS diverted into Dublin tonight. It was off the coast of County Kerry then overflew Shannon and headed direct into Dublin. Probably a med-div?

JAmie2k9 · Sun Dec 03, 2017 9:27 pm

Skyblue39 wrote:
The Norwegian B789 op LGW-BOS diverted into Dublin tonight. It was off the coast of County Kerry then overflew Shannon and headed direct into Dublin. Probably a med-div?

Tech apparently.

AmricanShamrok · Sun Dec 03, 2017 9:31 pm

IrishTexan wrote:
Got e-mailed a schedule change from UA on their EWR-SNN-EWR flights.
From March 25 next UA25 dep. EWR 9.55pm and arr. SNN 9.15am with the return UA24 dep. SNN 12.30pm and arr. EWR 2.45pm.
For as long as I remember flying the route the flights have departed EWR at 7.50pm and SNN at 9.00am.
Personally liking the later departure ex EWR.

I think one of the benefits of this flight was always the early departure time from SNN (around the 09:00 mark) which was the earliest transatlantic departure. I'm not a fan of this new schedule.

IrishTexan · Sun Dec 03, 2017 9:32 pm

Skyblue39 wrote:
The Norwegian B789 op LGW-BOS diverted into Dublin tonight. It was off the coast of County Kerry then overflew Shannon and headed direct into Dublin. Probably a med-div?

Irish Times reporting diversion was to remove unaccompanied luggage.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland ... -1.3314397

OA260 · Sun Dec 03, 2017 9:34 pm

BestWestern wrote:
What’s the size of the Greek diaspora in Ireland.

Was that the Y meal? If so, very impressive.

Hard to know various figures quoted but in the last 18 months the numbers have increased more than in recent years. Quite a lot are high skilled labour and working for various multi nationals. Around 5 staff working for Google were on my flight sitting near me.

Yes Y meal which was impressive.

AmricanShamrok · Sun Dec 03, 2017 9:38 pm

Some criticism floating around about the Saturday Night Live skit about Aer Lingus which aired in the US last night:
http://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/irish ... r-11632505

Personally I think people are getting too sensitive and shouldn't be taking offence to things like this (that being said, I think the sketch was quite stupid).

Jayafe · Sun Dec 03, 2017 10:01 pm

AmricanShamrok wrote:
Some criticism floating around about the Saturday Night Live skit about Aer Lingus which aired in the US last night:
http://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/irish ... r-11632505

Accurate.

OA260 · Sun Dec 03, 2017 10:29 pm

AmricanShamrok wrote:
Some criticism floating around about the Saturday Night Live skit about Aer Lingus which aired in the US last night:
http://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/irish ... r-11632505

Personally I think people are getting too sensitive and shouldn't be taking offence to things like this (that being said, I think the sketch was quite stupid).

It was nothing to be offended about anyone that was needs to catch themselves on! Bizarre and stupid would be accurate but that applies to most American TV show humour

Had the sketch actually been funny and well written I find nothing wrong with laughing at ones self.

Skyblue39 · Sun Dec 03, 2017 10:34 pm

IrishTexan wrote:
Skyblue39 wrote:
The Norwegian B789 op LGW-BOS diverted into Dublin tonight. It was off the coast of County Kerry then overflew Shannon and headed direct into Dublin. Probably a med-div?

Irish Times reporting diversion was to remove unaccompanied luggage.
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland ... -1.3314397

Thanks for the info IrishTexan!!

cc47 · Sun Dec 03, 2017 10:44 pm

AmricanShamrok wrote:
Some criticism floating around about the Saturday Night Live skit about Aer Lingus which aired in the US last night:
http://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/irish ... r-11632505

Personally I think people are getting too sensitive and shouldn't be taking offence to things like this (that being said, I think the sketch was quite stupid).

Personally, I found the skit to be not funny, while also being un-offensive.

cc47 · Sun Dec 03, 2017 11:02 pm

DalRiada wrote:
cc47 wrote:
AmricanShamrok wrote:
Some criticism floating around about the Saturday Night Live skit about Aer Lingus which aired in the US last night:
http://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/irish ... r-11632505

Personally I think people are getting too sensitive and shouldn't be taking offence to things like this (that being said, I think the sketch was quite stupid).

Personally, I found the skit to be not funny, while also being un-offensive.

One of the worst pieces of comedy I have seen in a long time. I'm not offended by it, although Saoirse Ronan should be ashamed to be part of such banal rubbish.

I completely agree, calling it "Comedy" is generous.

DalRiada · Sun Dec 03, 2017 11:02 pm

cc47 wrote:
AmricanShamrok wrote:
Some criticism floating around about the Saturday Night Live skit about Aer Lingus which aired in the US last night:
http://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/irish ... r-11632505

Personally I think people are getting too sensitive and shouldn't be taking offence to things like this (that being said, I think the sketch was quite stupid).

Personally, I found the skit to be not funny, while also being un-offensive.

One of the worst pieces of comedy I have seen in a long time. I'm not offended by it, although Saoirse Ronan should be ashamed to be part of such banal rubbish.

Shamrock145 · Mon Dec 04, 2017 1:47 am

I was not offended nor did I find it funny. It just didn’t make sense. It wasn’t relevant to Aer Lingus at all other than the logo. Dogs? Maybe a donkey lol soairse ronan should be ashamed. She didn’t do a good job at all and as for whoever wrote the script , they obviously don’t write comedy

shamrock350 · Mon Dec 04, 2017 9:19 am

It wasn't offensive but it was very odd.

The Aer Lingus response was very 'on brand' for them, mocking the infamous Trump tweet after he watched a sketch of himself on SNL.

I think this is far more in keeping with Irish humour!

kaitak · Mon Dec 04, 2017 12:09 pm

Yes, an excellent response by EI. No point in being po-faced about it; graceful, humorous and appropriate - a perfect retort.

tonystan · Mon Dec 04, 2017 1:50 pm

Aer Lingus can handle this one, remember they’re the Planey McPlane face airline!

eicvd · Mon Dec 04, 2017 3:40 pm

DalRiada wrote:
cc47 wrote:
AmricanShamrok wrote:
Some criticism floating around about the Saturday Night Live skit about Aer Lingus which aired in the US last night:
http://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/irish ... r-11632505

Personally I think people are getting too sensitive and shouldn't be taking offence to things like this (that being said, I think the sketch was quite stupid).

Personally, I found the skit to be not funny, while also being un-offensive.

One of the worst pieces of comedy I have seen in a long time. I'm not offended by it, although Saoirse Ronan should be ashamed to be part of such banal rubbish.

She must be struggling to find work....

So we’re all in agreement that it was just an an awful attempt at being funny.

OA260 · Thu Dec 07, 2017 8:03 am

Group likely to appeal court’s dismissal of legal challenges to new Dublin Airport runway

The High Court’s dismissal of legal challenges against plans for a new €320m runway at Dublin Airport are likely to be appealed.

Last month Mr Justice Max Barrett dismissed three actions concerning the proposed development of a 3,110m runway, located on 261 hectares in townlands north and north west of the airport terminal building.

http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingne ... 17290.html

—-

Passenger numbers using Cork Airport grow by 4%
Airport managing director says Cork has ‘Brexit-proofed’ business by diversifying into new routes

Passenger numbers at Cork Airport grew 4 per cent to 152,000 in November, figures released on Tuesday show. The airport said numbers flying into and out of Cork last month increased to 152,000 from 146,000 during November 2016.

Cork Airport said the numbers were significant considering Central Statistics Office figures showing a 6 per cent decline in British visitors and an increase of 16.4 per cent in those from North America between January and October

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/tra ... 2?mode=amp

veron · Thu Dec 07, 2017 2:48 pm

Does anyone know why LX411 DUB-GVA was cancelled today?

User001 · Thu Dec 07, 2017 2:57 pm

BA Cityflyer have announced a 1 weekly MAN flight from DUB. It’s essentially positioning the DUB weekend stopper to MAN but I suppose it’s another option to get to MAN and back on a weekend break.

OA260 · Fri Dec 08, 2017 6:53 am

Aer Lingus value soared by 50% after purchase by IAG
Irish airline, bought by group for €1.5bn in 2015, was worth €2.2bn at end of 2016

Aer Lingus was worth €2.2 billion at the end of 2016, almost 50 per cent more than the sum paid for the Irish carrier by International Airlines’ Group (IAG) 16 months earlier, industry analysts say.

IAG bought Aer Lingus for €1.5 billion in September 2015 following a protracted process that involved getting the Dáil’s approval for the sale of the State’s 29.7 per cent holding in the airline

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/tra ... 4?mode=amp

shamrock350 · Fri Dec 08, 2017 9:16 am

Rumours circulating that the incoming QR A330 for EI will be based at SNN for peak summer, freeing up the required 757 for DUB. Nice boost for SNN and makes sense overall if the A330 is configured differently to the rest of the fleet.

Skyblue39 · Fri Dec 08, 2017 9:18 am

I see that a QR 777 operating Dallas-Doha diverted into Dublin this morning. Did a loop over the North Midlands before heading down into DUB... anybody know why?

EI121 · Fri Dec 08, 2017 9:19 am

Also rumours of AA launching either MCO or MIA for S18.

I am doubtful as its quite late in the year to begin routes for S18.

Thoughts..

BrianDromey · Fri Dec 08, 2017 10:32 am

Can’t see MCO on AA, I don’t think they have any other long haul operation there? MIA seems much more likely.

Good news for SNN with the A330, hope it works out well.

In more general news the “report” this morning between the EU and the UK makes me more hopeful that the status-quo will be maintained. I think it is slowly starting to dawn on the UK electorate that Westminster is utterly conflicted about political, electoral and economic ideals. I think this will be good for trade, society and air travel across the Irish Sea.

VFRonTop · Fri Dec 08, 2017 11:15 am

User001 wrote:
BA Cityflyer have announced a 1 weekly MAN flight from DUB. It’s essentially positioning the DUB weekend stopper to MAN but I suppose it’s another option to get to MAN and back on a weekend break.

I'm a big fan of BACF, would love to see them fly under the EI Regional brand or see EI get some regional jets to grow the regional network.

OA260 · Fri Dec 08, 2017 12:14 pm

BrianDromey wrote:
Can’t see MCO on AA, I don’t think they have any other long haul operation there? MIA seems much more likely.

Good news for SNN with the A330, hope it works out well.

In more general news the “report” this morning between the EU and the UK makes me more hopeful that the status-quo will be maintained. I think it is slowly starting to dawn on the UK electorate that Westminster is utterly conflicted about political, electoral and economic ideals. I think this will be good for trade, society and air travel across the Irish Sea.

There will be a deal in the end with both sides having to meet in the middle purely because they both need a deal. The BS in between is called negotiating. As I said before there would never be a hard border in Ireland and as recently confirmed by members of the PSNI it would be blown up !!

shamrock350 · Fri Dec 08, 2017 2:34 pm

CityFlyer is a great operation, probably better than British Airways themselves at this point but that's not exactly hard to do. Would be nice to see them do more flying from Ireland to be honest, whether that be their own summer seasonal or for Aer Lingus.

OA260 wrote:
The BS in between is called negotiating.

I wouldn't give the British Government too much credit when it comes to negotiating.

OA260 · Fri Dec 08, 2017 3:00 pm

shamrock350 wrote:
CityFlyer is a great operation, probably better than British Airways themselves at this point but that's not exactly hard to do. Would be nice to see them do more flying from Ireland to be honest, whether that be their own summer seasonal or for Aer Lingus.

OA260 wrote:
The BS in between is called negotiating.

I wouldn't give the British Government too much credit when it comes to negotiating.

The one thing you will learn as you get older is that ALL politicians are in it for themselves and you have to choose the least of the evils whatever side you prefer. Irish politicians used to remind me of Greece! They were never poor put it that way

Just like decisions in Irish aviation over the decades our politicians failed to make brave choices. They dragged their heels. Infrastructure elsewhere too.

shamrock350 · Fri Dec 08, 2017 3:14 pm

I can see AA starting MIA, it was probably on their radar but Aer Lingus got their first but that wouldn't have been a surprise to anyone. It's not a route that can sustain two carriers in my opinion, AA will have the South American connections advantage while Aer Lingus will have its European connections and hometown airline advantage.

OA260 wrote:
The one thing you will learn as you get older is that ALL politicians are in it for themselves and you have to choose the least of the evils whatever side you prefer.

I don't think you have to "get older" to realise that. :thumbsup:

EI121 · Fri Dec 08, 2017 3:41 pm

Another record month for DUB

"Dublin Airport Records Highest Ever November Passenger Numbers

More than 2.1 million passengers travelled through Dublin Airport last month, making it the busiest November in the airport’s history. Passenger numbers were up 7% during the month.

Passenger volumes to and from continental Europe grew by 8% with more than 992,000 people travelling to European destinations during the month.

UK traffic remained static with over 833,000 passengers travelling to and from UK destinations in November.

Transatlantic volumes increased by 23% with more than 238,000 passengers travelling to and from North America during the month.

Other international passenger traffic, which includes flights to the Middle East, grew by 17% with almost 64,000 passengers travelling this route sector in November.

Passenger numbers on domestic flights rose by 3%, with almost 7,000 travelling on domestic routes during the month.

Dublin Airport has welcomed over 27.4 million passengers in the first 11 months of the year, a 6% increase over the same period last year. More than 1.6 million extra passengers have travelled through the airport between January and November.

Over 1.4 million passengers chose Dublin Airport as a hub to connect to another destination, a 36% increase between January and November."

https://www.dublinairport.com/latest-ne ... er-numbers

DalRiada · Fri Dec 08, 2017 4:34 pm

shamrock350 wrote:
CityFlyer is a great operation, probably better than British Airways themselves at this point but that's not exactly hard to do. Would be nice to see them do more flying from Ireland to be honest, whether that be their own summer seasonal or for Aer Lingus.

OA260 wrote:
The BS in between is called negotiating.

I wouldn't give the British Government too much credit when it comes to negotiating.

I don't understand why BA get such flack on here, I've only ever flew with them a few times (always connecting through Heathrow) but I've found them perfectly acceptable. Far better than FR or EI (who I've never flown long haul with). I think some people get caught up over the fact that standards have dropped since the glory days, but that's just the state of the industry these days - it was always going to happen.

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