Good evening folks and welcome to our March thread ... and the Summer is nearly upon us - lots of nice aircraft to look forward to!

Here's a quick precis of February:
- Punctuality up at ORK, down at SNN.
- FR records Q3 loss, MOL to stay five years - and new routes announced. also introduces new FFP scheme
- Hainan inaugurates DUB-Shenzhen
- Connect air completes purchase of Flybe/Stobart
- BA 744 in BOAC colours rolls out - a beauty. Second 744 at DUB for repainting, plus 319 for repainting in BEA colours
- Stobart E-190/195s operating DUB-AMS for KLM
- Air Baltic announces 4w A220 service to DUB
- Work finally gets under way on new runway at DUB
- Possible trouble ahead for Aer Lingus/ASL 757 wet lease arrangement, as US puts pressure on EU to follow agreement reached on wet lease deal.

Here's a link to the last thread: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1414629

Thanks for a new thread Kaitak.

Does anyone have a photo of the old approach to DUB T1. There was a check point next to a house IIRC. What was the history behind the house.

OA260 wrote:

Thanks for a new thread Kaitak.

Does anyone have a photo of the old approach to DUB T1. There was a check point next to a house IIRC. What was the history behind the house.

Just do a search for Corballis House. Lots of pictures on the net

LH982 wrote:

OA260 wrote:

Thanks for a new thread Kaitak.

Does anyone have a photo of the old approach to DUB T1. There was a check point next to a house IIRC. What was the history behind the house.

Just do a search for Corballis House. Lots of pictures on the net

Thanks for that was just missing the name. Someone said it was Collinstown house to which I knew it was not that one.

Did find an article on Corballis just now from 2006.


Corballis House set to be demolished

THE green light for Dublin Airports second terminal means the destruction of a 19th century house that has become an airport landmark.Corballis House is a protected structure and dates back to the late 18th or early 19th century and is on Fingal County Councils Register of Protected Structures and is listed on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.Desp
THE green light for Dublin Airport’s second terminal means the destruction of a 19th century house that has become an airport landmark.

Corballis House is a protected structure and dates back to the late 18th or early 19th century and is on Fingal County Council’s Register of Protected Structures and is listed on the National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.

Despite its ‘protected’ status, Fingal council has agreed to its demolition, subject to its proper archaeological and historical recording.

The airport landmark lies within the footprint of the new development and the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) has decided it should be demolished to make way for progress.

The planning application states that the design team engaged by the DAA on the T2 project considered incorporating Corballis House into the project but decided the option was ‘not viable’.

www.independent.ie/regionals/fingalinde ... 67426.html

Yep, made a mockery of Protected status. Why bother? But typical of everything around development of Dublin airport, which usurps all other priorities.

Shannon Airport has announced that its first ever scheduled Lufthansa service is to have its capacity doubled this year with a second weekly service to Frankfurt.
https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingn ... 07713.html

I was in Corballis House a few times; it was used as a technical centre for EI and they used to do classroom work for engineers and others in the various rooms. (I wasn't one of those doing a class - i was only a teenager back then!). It was a fine building from the outside, but simply out of place in the environs of an international airport.

I also remember the checkpoints, which I presume started after the bombing in 1974 or '75. I do recall that for many years, probably until the Good Friday agreement in '96, they used to scan your bag as you came into the terminal.

Aer Lingus evaluating 15 destinations for new North American routes

Irish airline recorded record operating profit of €305m in 2018

Aer Lingus is evaluating over 15 North American routes to which it could fly within the next five years as it invests in its fleet.

On a call with reporters, Aer Lingus’s new chief executive Sean Doyle said the airline has an “extensive evaluation process going on now” to look at opportunities for new aircraft it is waiting to be delivered.

“We’re evaluating north of 15 [routes] at the moment, and that will increase with the range capability of the technology that’s coming our way,” he said.

As to how many markets the carrier, owned by IAG, will enter depends on “how attractive a deal we can negotiate to enter those markets”, Mr Doyle added.

www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-a ... -1.3809575

http://clareherald.com/2019/02/lufthans ... ice-31919/

LH adding a second weekly service on SNN-FRA for the summer season.

In terms of the punctuality in SNN last year it seems all charter, tech stop and corporate traffic was included in these stats which resulted in a low score.

ELBOB wrote:

Yep, made a mockery of Protected status. Why bother? But typical of everything around development of Dublin airport, which usurps all other priorities.

Hmm. I would have thought the main gateway into the country was reasonably important? Compared to an old house anyhow?

OA260 wrote:

Aer Lingus evaluating 15 destinations for new North American routes

Irish airline recorded record operating profit of €305m in 2018

Aer Lingus is evaluating over 15 North American routes to which it could fly within the next five years as it invests in its fleet.

On a call with reporters, Aer Lingus’s new chief executive Sean Doyle said the airline has an “extensive evaluation process going on now” to look at opportunities for new aircraft it is waiting to be delivered.

“We’re evaluating north of 15 [routes] at the moment, and that will increase with the range capability of the technology that’s coming our way,” he said.

As to how many markets the carrier, owned by IAG, will enter depends on “how attractive a deal we can negotiate to enter those markets”, Mr Doyle added.

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/tran ... -1.3809575

In no particular order (looking at the EI orders for the next few years), my guesses of the routes being looked at:
DUB-LAS 330
DUB-CUN 330
DUB-DEN 330
DUB-YVR 330
DUB-IAH 330
DUB-PHX 330
DUB-SAN 330
DUB-BNA 321
DUB-PIT 321
DUB-CLE 321
DUB-CVG 321
DUB-YYC 321
DUB-DTW 321
SNN-ORD 321
SNN-MCO 321

AmricanShamrok wrote:

OA260 wrote:

Aer Lingus evaluating 15 destinations for new North American routes

Irish airline recorded record operating profit of €305m in 2018

Aer Lingus is evaluating over 15 North American routes to which it could fly within the next five years as it invests in its fleet.

On a call with reporters, Aer Lingus’s new chief executive Sean Doyle said the airline has an “extensive evaluation process going on now” to look at opportunities for new aircraft it is waiting to be delivered.

“We’re evaluating north of 15 [routes] at the moment, and that will increase with the range capability of the technology that’s coming our way,” he said.

As to how many markets the carrier, owned by IAG, will enter depends on “how attractive a deal we can negotiate to enter those markets”, Mr Doyle added.

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/tran ... -1.3809575

In no particular order (looking at the EI orders for the next few years), my guesses of the routes being looked at:
DUB-LAS 330
DUB-CUN 330
DUB-DEN 330
DUB-YVR 330
DUB-IAH 330
DUB-PHX 330
DUB-SAN 330
DUB-BNA 321
DUB-PIT 321
DUB-CLE 321
DUB-CVG 321
DUB-YYC 321
DUB-DTW 321
SNN-ORD 321
SNN-MCO 321

I would personally love if DUB-SBN got added in, big Irish link with Notre Dame, and SBN has been talking about offering incentives. If/when the joint venture is approved I think you'll see EI on DUB-CLT too,

Shannon Airport Reflects As Concorde Anniversary Celebrated

The 50th anniversary of the first Concorde flight is being marked today.

The high-speed planes had a long association with Shannon Airport, having first come to the Midwest facility for training exercises in 1977, with the last planes leaving here in 2001, just before the retirement of the programme two years later.

http://www.clare.fm/news/shannon-airpor ... elebrated/

If anybody could offer some travel advice it would be greatly appreciated!

I'm flying LAX/ LHR this spring with VS. I'm considering a trip to DUB as well by connecting upon arrival with EI, though on a separate ticket. I have connected many times before at LHR and familiar with the routine. But I'm a little worried about doing it this manner as they are not travel/alliance partners. How much time should I allow for a leisurely connection; maybe even enough to freshen up in one of the lounges? Also, can I get VS to check luggage through to DUB with EI despite the different reservation?

I called VS and EI with my questions and didn't have much luck. One agent at VS told me the best way to proceed is exit T3 upon arrival with my luggage, make my way to T2 and check-in anew there. I'm willing to do that but my preference would be to stay airside and hope for a smoother experience. An agent at EI just chided me on the risks of doing it at all, which I understand and am willing to take.

Thanks!

LAXffDUB wrote:

If anybody could offer some travel advice it would be greatly appreciated!

I'm flying LAX/ LHR this spring with VS. I'm considering a trip to DUB as well by connecting upon arrival with EI, though on a separate ticket. I have connected many times before at LHR and familiar with the routine. But I'm a little worried about doing it this manner as they are not travel/alliance partners. How much time should I allow for a leisurely connection; maybe even enough to freshen up in one of the lounges? Also, can I get VS to check luggage through to DUB with EI despite the different reservation?

I called VS and EI with my questions and didn't have much luck. One agent at VS told me the best way to proceed is exit T3 upon arrival with my luggage, make my way to T2 and check-in anew there. I'm willing to do that but my preference would be to stay airside and hope for a smoother experience. An agent at EI just chided me on the risks of doing it at all, which I understand and am willing to take.

Thanks!

I have done this type of connection many times over the years and personally I would give myself 4 hours between flights. That will allow some ''freshen up '' time too. VS will not check the bags so discard that option. Collect bags at T3 then walk to T2 which is not that far really. Then just re check with EI. The information VS gave you was 100% correct.

AmricanShamrok wrote:

OA260 wrote:

Aer Lingus evaluating 15 destinations for new North American routes

Irish airline recorded record operating profit of €305m in 2018

Aer Lingus is evaluating over 15 North American routes to which it could fly within the next five years as it invests in its fleet.

On a call with reporters, Aer Lingus’s new chief executive Sean Doyle said the airline has an “extensive evaluation process going on now” to look at opportunities for new aircraft it is waiting to be delivered.

“We’re evaluating north of 15 [routes] at the moment, and that will increase with the range capability of the technology that’s coming our way,” he said.

As to how many markets the carrier, owned by IAG, will enter depends on “how attractive a deal we can negotiate to enter those markets”, Mr Doyle added.

http://www.irishtimes.com/business/tran ... -1.3809575

In no particular order (looking at the EI orders for the next few years), my guesses of the routes being looked at:
DUB-LAS 330
DUB-CUN 330
DUB-DEN 330
DUB-YVR 330
DUB-IAH 330
DUB-PHX 330
DUB-SAN 330
DUB-BNA 321
DUB-PIT 321
DUB-CLE 321
DUB-CVG 321
DUB-YYC 321
DUB-DTW 321
SNN-ORD 321
SNN-MCO 321

I wouldn't expect Aer Lingus in Detroit anytime soon with their CEO putting this statement out and the WCAA being unwilling to put any kind of respectable incentive package together Aer Lingus landing in Detroit is just a pipe dream even though there is tremendous potential for a DTW-DUB route.

DL could surely dip its toe in the water with a 757 service.

kaitak wrote:

DL could surely dip its toe in the water with a 757 service.

We really don't want Delta on the route because it's really more of the same over priced flights out of a captive market. The ideal addition would be EI and that would give Detroiters great affordable service via Dublin to all of the British Isles as most connections other than MAN, EDI and LHR require a out of the way connection adding in some cases and extra 2 to 3 hours flying time to get there.

kaitak wrote:

DL could surely dip its toe in the water with a 757 service.

If it was an attractive market, wouldn't they have been there already? In the end it might be like busses and both EI and DL launch the route in rapid succession.

Great news if EI are to get two new-build A333s. Shame there is still no movement on Short-Haul expansion though.

Just a reminder to users that when posting information that doesn't come from you, you are required by forum rules to include a source to your information.

✈️ atcsundevil

OA260 wrote:

LAXffDUB wrote:

If anybody could offer some travel advice it would be greatly appreciated!

I'm flying LAX/ LHR this spring with VS. I'm considering a trip to DUB as well by connecting upon arrival with EI, though on a separate ticket. I have connected many times before at LHR and familiar with the routine. But I'm a little worried about doing it this manner as they are not travel/alliance partners. How much time should I allow for a leisurely connection; maybe even enough to freshen up in one of the lounges? Also, can I get VS to check luggage through to DUB with EI despite the different reservation?

I called VS and EI with my questions and didn't have much luck. One agent at VS told me the best way to proceed is exit T3 upon arrival with my luggage, make my way to T2 and check-in anew there. I'm willing to do that but my preference would be to stay airside and hope for a smoother experience. An agent at EI just chided me on the risks of doing it at all, which I understand and am willing to take.

Thanks!

I have done this type of connection many times over the years and personally I would give myself 4 hours between flights. That will allow some ''freshen up '' time too. VS will not check the bags so discard that option. Collect bags at T3 then walk to T2 which is not that far really. Then just re check with EI. The information VS gave you was 100% correct.

Thanks!

The weather has caused a number of delays and cancellations at Dublin Airport with some passengers complaining of waiting on the airfield for over three hours.

A spokesperson for Dublin Airport said the runway and airfield remain operational but some aircraft have to be de-iced and this is causing knock-on delays.

Aer Lingus announced that a total of 12 of its flights in and out of Dublin airport were cancelled because of poor weather conditions there and gale force winds in Britain. 

Dublin airport's website shows that airlines had not shown a status update for most of the 76 planes scheduled to depart from mid afternoon until 9pm.

A total of 21 were shown to have taken off while there was no status update for 37 Ryanair flights.

ww.rte.ie/news/weather/2019/0303/1034006-weather/

I took this picture today right next to the airport in Cleveland, Ohio. Looks like we might be seeing an announcement from EI soon:

https://mobile.twitter.com/Sgt_Barone/s ... 0158299138

SgtBarone wrote:

I took this picture today right next to the airport in Cleveland, Ohio. Looks like we might be seeing an announcement from EI soon:

https://mobile.twitter.com/Sgt_Barone/s ... 0158299138

Interesting. Maybe EI is in town for meetings as part of their potential new routes evaluation and CLE is rolling out the red (or green) carpet for them?

SgtBarone wrote:

I took this picture today right next to the airport in Cleveland, Ohio. Looks like we might be seeing an announcement from EI soon:

https://mobile.twitter.com/Sgt_Barone/s ... 0158299138

My question would be if Cleveland couldn't support two European carriers last year what makes them think they can this year. FI doesn't even fly in there year round from there.

klm617 wrote:

SgtBarone wrote:

I took this picture today right next to the airport in Cleveland, Ohio. Looks like we might be seeing an announcement from EI soon:

https://mobile.twitter.com/Sgt_Barone/s ... 0158299138

My question would be if Cleveland couldn't support two European carriers last year what makes them think they can this year. FI doesn't even fly in there year round from there.

Having just asked friends of mine from Cleveland most didn’t even know about the FI service, and some said they wouldn’t take it even if it was cheaper than alternatives. They did all however say they would fly Aer Lingus if a direct flight came. Anecdotal, but interesting.

Wow Air leaving was likely less to do with Cleveland and more to do with the massive financial issues they have.

Although the city of Cleveland itself has a population of around 388k, the greater Cleveland area has over 2m (and if you want to add Akron, that brings it up to around 3.5) - all with very limited international feed. It would seem to offer great potential for a t/a route.

It's great to see EI having such ambition - and perhaps most importantly, the right tools to do the job. the A321XLR, which EI is known to be looking at, should allow even greater potential for new routes.

Ryanair's passenger figures fly 9% higher in February

Ryanair has reported a 9% increase in its passenger numbers for February.

The airline said it carried 9.3 million passengers last month, up from 8.6 million the same month last year.

Its load factor - how many seats it fills on each flight - stood at 96%.

www.rte.ie/news/business/2019/0304/1034 ... r-numbers/

—-

Aer Lingus: Vouchers not fit for purpose

Anne McDonald got in touch with a complaint about Aer Lingus gift vouchers.
“I have received two Aer Lingus gift vouchers for €300 and one for €100 for Christmas,” she says. “My father also received a voucher to the value of €100. My sister has recently moved to Ottawa in Canada and these vouchers were given to enable us to visit her.”
The family will not, however, be able to use the vouchers for their intended purpose. “There are no direct flights to Ottawa,” she says. “I usually travel with Aer Lingus to either Toronto or Boston and get a further flight with a partner airline through the Aer Lingus website – usually Air Canada – on to Ottawa,” she says.
When she tried to use the vouchers to do just this she was told “that they cannot be used as the overall trip contains a partner airline.

www.irishtimes.com/news/consumer/custom ... 4?mode=amp

Passenger flights return to Carlisle airport after 25 years

Scheduled passenger flights are to return to Carlisle Lake District Airport for the first time in more than 25 years, it has been announced.
Scottish-based Loganair will operate routes to Dublin, Belfast and London Southend from 4 July.
Airport owner Stobart Group had planned to relaunch services in June 2018, but faced problems in recruiting air traffic control staff.

www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cumbria-47438607

From Twitter: ‏

@LondonAirTravel
"Aer Lingus has announced that due to delays in the delivery of aircraft it is to postpone to the launch of Dublin - Montreal from this August to next summer.
The route was due to be operated with an Airbus A321 long-range aircraft."
https://twitter.com/LondonAirTravel/sta ... 6500793348

"Aer Lingus will also temporarily reduce frequencies on routes from Dublin to Hartford, Minneapolis and Philadelphia and from Shannon to New York JFK in July of this year." https://twitter.com/LondonAirTravel/sta ... 4914719745

Official announcement here :

Changes to Aer Lingus Summer 2019 Schedule

Media Statement:

Aircraft delivery delays have necessitated Aer Lingus make the following changes to our summer 2019 schedule:

- Postponement of the commencement of the Dublin to Montreal service, due to start on 8th August, to summer 2020

- Temporary reduction in frequency on four transatlantic routes (DUB-PHL, DUB-MSP, DUB-BDL, SNN–JFK) during July

All guests booked to fly on affected flights are being accommodated on alternative flights. Aer Lingus wishes to apologise for the inconvenience caused.

Ends/



https://mediacentre.aerlingus.com/news/ ... e?ref=Home

Certainly is and seems to be an Airbus delay. Disappointing about YUL but seems to be beyond Aer Lingus control.

Perhaps a stupid question - but this isn't in any way related to the US restrictions on wet leases, is it?

Delayed delivery of Aer Lingus aircraft to impact thousands of passengers
Aircraft delays have forced the airline to postpone a new Montreal service and reduce summer flights

''To date, much of its transatlantic growth has been based on wide-body Airbus A330s, but it expected to take delivery of four Airbus A321LRs this year.

Those aircraft have now been delayed, a spokesperson told the Irish Independent.

"We are still expecting the first two aircraft to be ready for commercial operation in late summer, with the other two scheduled to arrive later in 2019."

www.independent.ie/life/travel/travel-n ... 76736.html

wexfordflyer wrote:

Perhaps a stupid question - but this isn't in any way related to the US restrictions on wet leases, is it?

Nope.

——-

YUL had strong bookings including transit. What guarantees have they an A321 will be there for August. They need to ensure there wont be a second announcement of cuts....

Yes, very disappointing. Initially, I thought it might be due to poor fwd bookings, but it does seem to be due to Airbus delays. At least EI can use this in any future negotiations for acft, for example converting existing A321LR orders to XLRs at no extra cost (or similar).

In other developments VS KL AF have signed a codeshare agreement. It will provide for a VS flight number on the BHD-AMS route and a AF/KL on the BFS-MCO route.


KLM, Air France and Virgin Atlantic launch codeshare partnership

https://news.klm.com/klm-air-france-and ... rtnership/

OA260 wrote:

Official announcement here :

Changes to Aer Lingus Summer 2019 Schedule

Media Statement:

Aircraft delivery delays have necessitated Aer Lingus make the following changes to our summer 2019 schedule:

- Postponement of the commencement of the Dublin to Montreal service, due to start on 8th August, to summer 2020

- Temporary reduction in frequency on four transatlantic routes (DUB-PHL, DUB-MSP, DUB-BDL, SNN–JFK) during July

All guests booked to fly on affected flights are being accommodated on alternative flights. Aer Lingus wishes to apologise for the inconvenience caused.

Ends/



https://mediacentre.aerlingus.com/news/ ... e?ref=Home

So for Summer 2020 at best along with YUL starting is maybe one new additional North American gateway.

A quick question
This evening on the news the DAA were quick to blame the airlines for de-icing stating that it was 100% the responsibility of the airlines

In most of the airports i have been during winter the de-icing equipment was owned by the airport and requested by the airline. In Vienna they gave two bays with over head sprays and the aircraft simoly slowly pass through

Is this what the DAA meant? Cannot see individual airlines owning de-icing equipment at every airport they use!

eirflot wrote:

A quick question
This evening on the news the DAA were quick to blame the airlines for de-icing stating that it was 100% the responsibility of the airlines

In most of the airports i have been during winter the de-icing equipment was owned by the airport and requested by the airline. In Vienna they gave two bays with over head sprays and the aircraft simoly slowly pass through

Is this what the DAA meant? Cannot see individual airlines owning de-icing equipment at every airport they use!

Ground Handlers operate (likely own) de-icing equipment. It was largely Ryanair who faced disruption, other airlines were operating normally all be it with delays.

There simply wasn't enough staff to cover the volume of flights for Ryanair and things piled up quickly. This problem lies with Ryanair or whatever ground handlers contacted by any airline.

There are no bays at Dublin, airport like VIE would need them daily where as DUB wouldn't very often.

Thanks
Am aware that Vienna gets more snow than Dublin!

Man who had luggage searched by Dublin Airport police after alleged theft loses €75k defamation claim

A DUBLIN SECURITY officer, who turned out his pockets and had his carry-on luggage searched by police on a plane following “an alleged theft” at Dublin airport, has lost his €75,000 claim for defamation of character.

Judge Sinead Ni Chualachain told barrister Shane English, who defended the case on behalf of Dublin Airport Authority, that airport police as agents of the DAA had at all material times behaved responsibly in their investigation into the theft of a Giorgio Armani watch.

www.thejournal.ie/man-luggage-search-lo ... 5-Mar2019/

—-

Plane nearly collided with paramotor while on approach to Belfast City Airport report finds

A Flybe plane carrying 70 people came within seconds of colliding with a paraglider at 195mph when on approach to George Best Belfast City Airport last year, a report has revealed.

Flight BE486 eventually landed safely on August 13 last year, despite the close shave at 2,000ft.

www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/plan ... h-15894314

JAmie2k9 wrote:

Ground Handlers operate (likely own) de-icing equipment. It was largely Ryanair who faced disruption, other airlines were operating normally all be it with delays.

There simply wasn't enough staff to cover the volume of flights for Ryanair and things piled up quickly. This problem lies with Ryanair or whatever ground handlers contacted by any airline.

Dublin gets an average of 20 snow days a year (days with actual snow cover is much less). With snowfall becoming more frequent and more severe the airport and the handlers based there need to start thinking of increasing de-icing capacity as the airport continues to grow.

For info, Dublin is one of only two bases where Ryanair do all their handling in house themselves, from check-in to baggage loading, engineering and even including de-icing. So the problems seen the other day were entirely of their own making, a commercial decision not to employ or not to train up enough aircraft deicers, or have bought enough serviceable deicing rigs.