shamrock350 wrote:

First A321LR for Aer Lingus now in full colours.

https://www.planespotters.net/photo/955 ... a321-253nx

St. Ruadán

The German flag on the tail is a stand out ... what will the registration be? EI-?RA

shamrock350 wrote:

First A321LR for Aer Lingus now in full colours.

https://www.planespotters.net/photo/955 ... a321-253nx

St. Ruadán

It looks amazing! I think the new livery looks great on it. I take it that it won’t be ready for delivery for at least another month with flight tests etc? Also, is that an emergency exit between the 2 overwing exits and the aft door because it look different to the normal A321LR emergency exits that TS has. As the Business class seats will be the same as the current A330 and 757, what will their economy seats be like. I’d imagine they wouldn’t be too dissimilar to the newer seats found on FNH/FNG?

ClassicLover wrote:

shamrock350 wrote:

First A321LR for Aer Lingus now in full colours.

https://www.planespotters.net/photo/955 ... a321-253nx

St. Ruadán

The German flag on the tail is a stand out ... what will the registration be? EI-?RA

I read somewhere online that they’re supposed to start with EI-LRA then EI-LRB and so on.

Yes, EI-LRA.

I thought we'd already seen it in full colours a few weeks back, just without engines.

Looking forward to it! Has EI announced any further conversions or options for it. I keep losing track. Possibly they're waiting for a firmer spec from Airbus on the new extended range LR model.

EINA320 wrote:

is that an emergency exit between the 2 overwing exits and the aft door because it look different to the normal A321LR emergency exits that TS has.

The flex layout on EI and TS A321LRs are identical, two overwing, one mid rear.
The TS have the second overwing deactivated but is still there. Its not clear if the EI one will have the second overwing deactivated once actually in service. Both are taped over as you can see in EI pic

kaitak wrote:

Yes, EI-LRA.

I thought we'd already seen it in full colours a few weeks back, just without engines.

Looking forward to it! Has EI announced any further conversions or options for it. I keep losing track. Possibly they're waiting for a firmer spec from Airbus on the new extended range LR model.

Only the tail was painted.

Aer Lingus presented an updated growth plan to the IAG board earlier this month.

https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingn ... 23424.html

Once evaluated by IAG, the remaining A321LR order is sure to be firmed up. Currently only 8 are firm with the business plan suggesting the need for 12-14 in addition to new wide bodies. If and when the A321XLR is offered, I'm sure it'll be in the mix too.

by738 wrote:

EINA320 wrote:

is that an emergency exit between the 2 overwing exits and the aft door because it look different to the normal A321LR emergency exits that TS has.

The flex layout on EI and TS A321LRs are identical, two overwing, one mid rear.
The TS have the second overwing deactivated but is still there. Its not clear if the EI one will have the second overwing deactivated once actually in service. Both are taped over as you can see in EI pic

There was an option to deactivate Door 3 when the new configurations were first revealed, I wonder if Aer Lingus has gone with this option?

Notice how Door 3 is completely unpainted unlike the two overwings. The online seat map also shows two active overwings and no Door 3 option.



If that's the case, Aer Lingus would be the first A321LR customer to deactivate door 3 and activate the second overwing exit instead. Not sure how this, coupled with rear toilet and galley configuration is going to work in service across the Atlantic!

Turkish Airlines also have the A320 style exit layout on the A321neo with door 3 deactivated.

I too wonder how the cabin crew will feel about only having a tiny half galley to set up a full trans Atlantic service from, with 3 toilets squashed into the rear too. (2 in the back galley and 1 immediately forward of the rear doors). Even Air Transat opted for a full size galley at the rear.

By the end of the year Dublin Airport should have 24 hour service on the Dublin Bus Number 41 bus service en route Swords/City/Swords!
This may be of use to airport based staff trying to reduce their carbon footprint.

It has long amused me, for about 20 years or more, that the Airport road has had "24 hour bus lanes" without any city bus service, at all, to use them at night, leaving them for taxis and the Airport Express.

Dutch investors take majority stake in Irish aircraft painter Maas

Founder and majority shareholder Darragh Hall leaves company after deal with Egeria
Dutch investors have plunged for a majority stake in Irish aircraft painter, Maas Aviation, in a deal that will see founder and majority shareholder Darragh Hall leave the company.

www.irishtimes.com/business/transport-a ... -1.3902531

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Londonderry airport bus reaches 1.5m passengers milestone

Londonderry-based transport company Airporter has revealed it has served more than 1.5 million passengers since it first opened.

The company, which provides a direct service from Derry to both Belfast airports, has announced it reached the milestone during the busy Easter period.

It means the company has provided almost 100,000 journeys in 23 years.

Opening in 1996 with just two drivers and around 5,000 customers a year, the company now serves more than 155,000 customers annually and the number of employees has trebled in the last four years.

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/nor ... 45889.html

kaitak wrote:

Was 28 operating with a displaced threshold last night? I was on the apron at about 7.30-8 and noticed a number of aircraft, including the EK 777, landing quite long. Any idea of why this might have been?

I'm not sure what specific works are being carried out but this is a regular feature in the evening as of late.

Aer Lingus is back to operating Boston year round from SNN. A321LR to be used on the 135 from the 27th of October! Will they be introducing an A321 from Shannon to operate the JFK route too? It’s strange that they would have two Airbus and one Boeing aircraft based in Shannon.

EINA320 wrote:

Aer Lingus is back to operating Boston year round from SNN. A321LR to be used on the 135 from the 27th of October! Will they be introducing an A321 from Shannon to operate the JFK route too? It’s strange that they would have two Airbus and one Boeing aircraft based in Shannon.

Good news but it seems SNN-JFK has been removed from sale for the low winter months. Maybe the experiment of dropping BOS last winter in favour of JFK showed BOS is a better fit. Glad to see EI deploying one of the first A321LRs to SNN.

Swissport Ireland fined €24,000 for using ‘green diesel’ at Shannon airport

Judge says the airport ground handler engaged in a practice ‘that was costing the Irish taxpayer a considerable amount of money ’

The Irish arm of international airport ground handler Swissport has been hit with a €24,000 fine after it pleaded guilty to using “green diesel” at its Shannon airport operation.

At Ennis District Court, Judge Patrick Durcan said that Swissport Ireland Ltd was engaged “in a practice that was costing the Irish taxpayer a considerable amount of money – there would be a huge loss of revenue to the Irish exchequer”.

Judge Durcan said that the practise by Swissport Ireland in using marked gas oil could have been going on for years, and the loss to the Irish State “must run into very considerable sums of money”.

www.irishtimes.com/business/energy-and- ... -1.3906280

Forgive my ignorance, but is "green diesel" for use only in agricultural vehicles?

kaitak wrote:

Forgive my ignorance, but is "green diesel" for use only in agricultural vehicles?

Correct. There is a tax exemption on it.

Does that also mean the farmers have been screwing the State for years too? Great small country we have!!!!

eirflot wrote:

Does that also mean the farmers have been screwing the State for years too? Great small country we have!!!!

Id have more sympathy towards the farming community who often struggle compared to Swissport who turnover millions and this was just corporate fraud and greed stealing money from the Irish tax payer thinking they would get away with it.
Swissport got off lightly it should have been €500,000 min ! If you get caught with the wrong diesel around the border at a customs check your car is taken and crushed. Maybe the same should apply to Swissport

Does anyone know why EI didn't go with a second forward door? Being premium-heavy I would've thought TA operators would have opted for the forward door 2 to work similarly with a 757, and to have a mid-cabin galley and lav at the entrance.

shamrock350 wrote:

There was an option to deactivate Door 3 when the new configurations were first revealed, I wonder if Aer Lingus has gone with this option?

It does look like Door 3 is a plug, it looks like a regular window, rather than the small portholes. TK, who have the A320 style layout also have this window pattern. Over at TS, BA and TP who have the door active there is a porthole. I think the 'plug' on the 739ER looks similar, if that door isn't active.

aerlingusa330 wrote:

Does anyone know why EI didn't go with a second forward door? Being premium-heavy I would've thought TA operators would have opted for the forward door 2 to work similarly with a 757, and to have a mid-cabin galley and lav at the entrance.

No option for a forward door on A321LR. The new ACF layout is the production standard on all A321neo. The old 8 door layout is no more.

That's a shame, but makes sense. Even in the 8 door layout, 2L was slightly smaller so I guess it wouldn't work anyway. Premium cabin service suffers a bit on narrowbodies without use of a 2L, in my opinion.

BrianDromey wrote:

No option for a forward door on A321LR. The new ACF layout is the production standard on all A321neo. The old 8 door layout is no more.

Not all A321neo, ACF is the base of the A321LR, and an option otherwise until it becomes standard sometime in 2020. There are plenty of 8 door A321neo out there.

alancostello wrote:

Not all A321neo, ACF is the base of the A321LR, and an option otherwise until it becomes standard sometime in 2020. There are plenty of 8 door A321neo out there.

I thought it was standard already because recent delivered to BA, TK had the ACF layout, everyday a schoolday! Looking at the EI LR - I don't see the Racoon mask, unless the foil is covering it?

Cork Airport to welcome over 55,000 passengers this weekend

Cork Airport have said they expect to see over 55,000 passengers travel through the airport over the June Bank Holiday Weekend.

The huge figure sees the traffic of people up by 10% compared to last year, as the summer season kicks off for the airport.

New routes with Ryanair also start this weekend from Cork Airport, with direct flights available to the Italian city Naples, Barcelona via Reus and Girona Airport and the French cities Carcassone and Bordeaux. Ryanair will also have flights available from Cork to Milan’s Bergamo Airport as well.

www.echolive.ie/corknews/Cork-Airport-t ... f4391aa-ds

OA260 wrote:

Cork Airport to welcome over 55,000 passengers this weekend

Cork Airport have said they expect to see over 55,000 passengers travel through the airport over the June Bank Holiday Weekend.

The huge figure sees the traffic of people up by 10% compared to last year, as the summer season kicks off for the airport.

New routes with Ryanair also start this weekend from Cork Airport, with direct flights available to the Italian city Naples, Barcelona via Reus and Girona Airport and the French cities Carcassone and Bordeaux. Ryanair will also have flights available from Cork to Milan’s Bergamo Airport as well.

http://www.echolive.ie/corknews/Cork-Ai ... f4391aa-ds

Great news, but the ORK GRO flight has been around a good few years. It's definitely seasonal though.

Is S7 still on the scene? Used to be Saturday night flight?
Will PS actually serve Kiev Dublin now that FR is on the route?

eirflot wrote:

Is S7 still on the scene? Used to be Saturday night flight?
Will PS actually serve Kiev Dublin now that FR is on the route?

S7 are around and started in April this year and operate around 15.00 on Saturdays.

Just going back to the CPT flights... I believe LTU weren’t the first operator.
Does anyone else remember the AV8/Icelandair 767 that flew DUB CPT ?

Opening of Knock Airport 33 years ago recalled

TODAY (May 30) marks the 33rd anniversary of the official opening of Knock Airport, an historic occasion that has since changed the face of the west and northwest of Ireland, writes Tom Gillespie.

On that wet Friday, Monsignor James Horan saw his dream come true as the then opposition leader, Fianna Fáil president and Knock Airport supporter, Charlie Haughey, cut the tape on an infrastructural project that has transformed the province.

Along with my editor, Tom Courell, and cameraman Frank Dolan we travelled to Barnalyra to cover the momentous event.

The following Wednesday we reported:

The rain thundered down in sheets. But the deluge failed to dampen the enthusiasm of thousands who stood at Mayo’s hilltop airport for the opening ceremony.

Coat-less Charles Haughey had to wade through the throngs to snip the tape.

Like the others, the downpour did not matter. The business of the day was to launch Connaught International Airport and it had been done.

It was an occasion to pay homage to the man who masterminded it all, Monsignor James Horan.

A self-styled ‘simple country priest’, the 72-year-old clergyman defied all the experts and located the huge development in a panoramic setting.

www.con-telegraph.ie/news/roundup/artic ... -recalled/

Ryanair flight delayed two hours as staff try to count passengers

A weekend flight to Belfast was grounded for almost two hours and didn't take off until midnight because flight staff couldn't work out the number of passengers on board, it has been claimed.

Around 100 people were on the late night Ryanair flight from London Stansted Airport on Sunday and were left stranded on the tarmac as staff tried to confirm how many passengers were on the aircraft.

https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/n ... 53638.html

—-

Dublin Airport gets new set of eGates for speedier passport control

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan TD will be launching the brand new eGates on Saturday

Dublin Airport is set to get a new set of passport control eGates ahead of the busy summer period.

The state-of-the-art technology at Terminal One will feature flatbed scanners and both increase speed and ease of use for passengers, while also providing for the use of the Passport Card in eGates for the first time.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan TD will be launching the brand new eGates on Saturday.

www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/egat ... t-16352835

The first WestJet flight from Calgary on the B789 will be arriving on Sunday morning into Dublin. Daily service for the Summer, cannot wait to see this in person.
This will be closely followed by American's B789 summer daily service from Dallas to Dublin on Friday next.

Are the eGates in T2 open all the time now, or are they still a novelty item?

OA260 wrote:

Ryanair flight delayed two hours as staff try to count passengers

A weekend flight to Belfast was grounded for almost two hours and didn't take off until midnight because flight staff couldn't work out the number of passengers on board, it has been claimed.

Around 100 people were on the late night Ryanair flight from London Stansted Airport on Sunday and were left stranded on the tarmac as staff tried to confirm how many passengers were on the aircraft.

https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/n ... 53638.html

—-

Dublin Airport gets new set of eGates for speedier passport control

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan TD will be launching the brand new eGates on Saturday

Dublin Airport is set to get a new set of passport control eGates ahead of the busy summer period.

The state-of-the-art technology at Terminal One will feature flatbed scanners and both increase speed and ease of use for passengers, while also providing for the use of the Passport Card in eGates for the first time.

Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan TD will be launching the brand new eGates on Saturday.

http://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-ne ... t-16352835

The new thread for June is now up and running:

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1423725