Good afternoon everyone - and a very happy, safe and successful new year to all contributors to the Irish quarter of Airliners.net.

It's been an interesting year; it started badly and although we're far from the end of the virus, especially with Omicron rampant and still causing headaches for aviation, it hasn't ended too badly.

- Aviation has recovered, obviously since July 19, but also since November with the reopening of US routes.
- It's been another safe year. Sure, traffic is down, but it has bounced back and thanks to all of those who've played a part in keeping our skies safe
- Pax numbers are still well down; cargo is probably well up. It's impossible to predict what way 2022 will go; the fact that the latest variant is less dangerous, albeit more infectious, probably gives room for hope rather than despondency.
- Ryanair began taking delivery of its first Max aircraft in 2021 and we should be seeing a significant number being delivered in 2022.
- We bade farewell to Stobart Air, and we said hello to Emerald; it hasn't started flying scheduled services yet, but let's wish it all the best for 2022 and the commencement of its services.
- The rail link to Dublin Airport seems as far away as ever, with another new delay being announced this year. Let's hope there is renewed commitment to this.

It's been great chatting with you all via this forum over the last year and I've enjoyed it immensely; I hope all of you have, too. Here's to another great year for the Irish threads.

Here's the link to the old thread, should anyone wish to refer back: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=1467405

Aegean Airlines are operating DUB-ATH again from 11th March .

Egyptair were due to start DUB-CAI on 2nd June but have removed from sale. Lets hope its temporary.

EL AL were due to start DUB-TLV from 7th June which is now also removed from sale. It will be interesting to see if they put it back on again.

From the end of March it looks like TK are going back to their A321's but it would be nice to see the A330 kept even on a seasonal basis
over the Summer period.

Flew KIR-DUB-KIR on the 27th and 29th. Flights were seamless! 20/30 people on each flight.

On the 29th, security at T1 was very heavy! 30/40minutes to get through. The queue was into departures when I joined it. Personally, I’ve never seen it that bad. I overheard one of the security staff saying they are short staffed due to COVID. Is this the new norm?

I also nearly missed my flight(all my own doing). I had to run the length of Pier D, as the flight was leaving form Gate 119, and the announcement over the tannoy said the gate was “now closed”.

KIRFlyer wrote:

Flew KIR-DUB-KIR on the 27th and 29th. Flights were seamless! 20/30 people on each flight.

On the 29th, security at T1 was very heavy! 30/40minutes to get through. The queue was into departures when I joined it. Personally, I’ve never seen it that bad. I overheard one of the security staff saying they are short staffed due to COVID. Is this the new norm?

I also nearly missed my flight(all my own doing). I had to run the length of Pier D, as the flight was leaving form Gate 119, and the announcement over the tannoy said the gate was “now closed”.

Yes for the time being…Aer a Lingus have had to cancel a number of European flights this week because of crew shortages and my own airline is really struggling to fully crew flights! I was due to operate today but am isolating because of a positive test…The DAA had to close their lounges today because of staff shortages…

Here in New York JetBlue have announced the cancellation of 1300 flights for the first half of January too.

KIRFlyer wrote:

Flew KIR-DUB-KIR on the 27th and 29th. Flights were seamless! 20/30 people on each flight.

On the 29th, security at T1 was very heavy! 30/40minutes to get through. The queue was into departures when I joined it. Personally, I’ve never seen it that bad. I overheard one of the security staff saying they are short staffed due to COVID. Is this the new norm?

I also nearly missed my flight(all my own doing). I had to run the length of Pier D, as the flight was leaving form Gate 119, and the announcement over the tannoy said the gate was “now closed”.

51st & Green is staying closed now until at least 3/1. So many staff are either down with Covid or close contacts. Even people I know but have thankfully not mixed with have all reported cases in their families or friends. Its just rife at the moment and this will have big impacts on all services and industries especially travel where they are already on reduced numbers. Id say we will have issues for the next 2-3 weeks .

Use Terminal 2 Security Check to avoid queues in Terminal 1 then reach gates from Airside.

OA260 wrote:

Aegean Airlines are operating DUB-ATH again from 11th March .

Egyptair were due to start DUB-CAI on 2nd June but have removed from sale. Lets hope its temporary.

EL AL were due to start DUB-TLV from 7th June which is now also removed from sale. It will be interesting to see if they put it back on again.

From the end of March it looks like TK are going back to their A321's but it would be nice to see the A330 kept even on a seasonal basis
over the Summer period.

I'll be curious to see how things pan out over the next two months. I'm due to do a batch of flying at the end of the month to the USA and back, so I'll be interested to see how things go. Praying I have a negative test at Dublin Airport.

I've booked that for 3:30am, rapid antigen test with results within 60 minutes, for the 6:40am EI152 departure. Should have the results by 4:30am then fingers crossed enough time to check-in and get through security. It's going to be an extremely early morning start for me.

Only bonus I suppose is that BA will allow the swapping of a flight for a future travel voucher up until check-in closes. Fingers crossed anyway!

ClassicLover wrote:

OA260 wrote:

Aegean Airlines are operating DUB-ATH again from 11th March .

Egyptair were due to start DUB-CAI on 2nd June but have removed from sale. Lets hope its temporary.

EL AL were due to start DUB-TLV from 7th June which is now also removed from sale. It will be interesting to see if they put it back on again.

From the end of March it looks like TK are going back to their A321's but it would be nice to see the A330 kept even on a seasonal basis
over the Summer period.

I'll be curious to see how things pan out over the next two months. I'm due to do a batch of flying at the end of the month to the USA and back, so I'll be interested to see how things go. Praying I have a negative test at Dublin Airport.

I've booked that for 3:30am, rapid antigen test with results within 60 minutes, for the 6:40am EI152 departure. Should have the results by 4:30am then fingers crossed enough time to check-in and get through security. It's going to be an extremely early morning start for me.

Only bonus I suppose is that BA will allow the swapping of a flight for a future travel voucher up until check-in closes. Fingers crossed anyway!

Impressive that they have somewhere for covid testing open so early! Heathrow isn’t quite the same…Wouldn’t it be better to take the test the day before?

PhilipBass wrote:

Use Terminal 2 Security Check to avoid queues in Terminal 1 then reach gates from Airside.

At that time, the DAA app was showing both T1 and T2 with 30 minute waits at security. The thought did cross my mind though.

shamrock321 wrote:

Impressive that they have somewhere for covid testing open so early! Heathrow isn’t quite the same…Wouldn’t it be better to take the test the day before?

Probably, but it's no big deal. I originally was going to do the airport for a rapid PCR test, but they don't have any appointments for that anywhere. No real bother though as the US takes antigen tests for fully vaccinated. If it turns out I can't make the flight, it's no real big deal to turnaround and go home. Much of a muchness really!

Don't think it was ever reported here but Irish-registered airline Norwegian Air International (D8) was wound down in April 2021 with all assets transferred to the new Norwegian Air Sweden.

Flying DUB-KIR today. Security was similar length times 20–30 minutes. I was on the 16, which stops at T2 and decided to use T2, as its security length time was less than T1. I have to say the whole experience in T2, beats T1 hands down. Even though there was a wait to get through, it just seemed more relaxed. T1 security seems very “higgledy piggedly”.

Random question, does anyone know if FR accept an Irish drivers licence on the KIR-DUB route? I don’t think they do, but just double checking.

KIRFlyer wrote:

Random question, does anyone know if FR accept an Irish drivers licence on the KIR-DUB route? I don’t think they do, but just double checking.

Believe they should. It’s a genuine form of Govt ID, and you’re only on a domestic flight.
As a side note, i’ve flown domestic with them before using just Airline ID which was acceptable.

KIRFlyer wrote:

Random question, does anyone know if FR accept an Irish drivers licence on the KIR-DUB route? I don’t think they do, but just double checking.

2.2 Domestic flights – photo ID accepted





https://www.ryanair.com/ie/en/useful-in ... _368204930

EI-DVM, the retro Aer Lingus A320, has diverted to MAN this evening, while operating EI 277 from BHX to DUB. No further info at this time.

OA260 wrote:

2.2 Domestic flights – photo ID accepted

https://www.ryanair.com/ie/en/useful-in ... _368204930

I'll have to try this sometime. It just seems so alien not to take a Passport to the airport!

ClassicLover wrote:

OA260 wrote:

2.2 Domestic flights – photo ID accepted

https://www.ryanair.com/ie/en/useful-in ... _368204930

I'll have to try this sometime. It just seems so alien not to take a Passport to the airport!

I know but I would still take my passport card or passport anyway. All you need is someone at FR that does not know the rules and
it can mess you up.

--

Seems the emergency diversion to MAN was smoke.

--

Dublin Airport are saying the 51st & Green will now be closed until Mid January.

OA260 wrote:

Dublin Airport are saying the 51st & Green will now be closed until Mid January.

Is that due to demand or staffing problems, or a bit of both?

Primarily staffing; it's an issue across the airport - in all companies, not just the DAA, at the moment.

BrianDromey wrote:

OA260 wrote:

Dublin Airport are saying the 51st & Green will now be closed until Mid January.

Is that due to demand or staffing problems, or a bit of both?

As Kaitak said its staffing. Its actually in all industries buses,trains,HSE,bin collections,retail etc.. just everywhere is loosing staff due to either being close contacts or having contracted C-19 . Never seen anything like it I know so many people off and many having had Delta a few months ago and now down with Omicron. Travel has collapsed basically people really nervous about testing positive abroad and being stranded. Just seen some major price drops on some Ryanair and Aer Lingus flights for February. I have cancelled a few flights myself.

TUGMASTER wrote:

KIRFlyer wrote:

Random question, does anyone know if FR accept an Irish drivers licence on the KIR-DUB route? I don’t think they do, but just double checking.

Believe they should. It’s a genuine form of Govt ID, and you’re only on a domestic flight.
As a side note, i’ve flown domestic with them before using just Airline ID which was acceptable.

OA260 wrote:

KIRFlyer wrote:

Random question, does anyone know if FR accept an Irish drivers licence on the KIR-DUB route? I don’t think they do, but just double checking.

2.2 Domestic flights – photo ID accepted





https://www.ryanair.com/ie/en/useful-in ... _368204930

Thanks for this info. This is a pleasant surprise. I was full sure they would not have been accepted on domestic services.

Latest stats for 2021 from Eurocontrol .

Eurocontrol says Irish air travel ‘worst affected’ in Europe last year

According to Eurocontrol, the Republic lost 183,000 flights last year compared to 2019, a 62 per cent decline in traffic.

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/tra ... -1.4767911

OA260 wrote:

Latest stats for 2021 from Eurocontrol .

Eurocontrol says Irish air travel ‘worst affected’ in Europe last year

According to Eurocontrol, the Republic lost 183,000 flights last year compared to 2019, a 62 per cent decline in traffic.

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/tra ... -1.4767911

In fairness Denmark, Sweden and the UK had similar falls around the 60% mark. Overall 2021 was down 45% in terms of number of flights compared to 2019. Only Greece got anywhere close to the 2019 level, but they opened up to vaccinated travellers even before the DCC and that gave great confidence.

It looks like pre-arrival tests will not be required for entry to the uk from outside the CTA.
https://news.sky.com/story/travel-indus ... d-12509310
The MAG and Airlines UK spin is interesting. The report they quote models Day 2 PCR against day 2 Antigen testing, yet MAG wants all testing removed completely. Apparently it is causing a £60 million a week impact to the economy, £3 billion a year for an industry estimated to be worth £15 billion to the economy pre-pandemic. While sizeable, Im not sure that removing testing requirements will have a restorative effect on the air travel economy, which is estimated to be half its pre-pandemic size.
Still, any movement in the right direction will increase customer confidence, demand and hopefully help the industry back to a more stable footing.

News just in this will change everything


Passengers will no longer need a negative test to enter the country

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/p ... 10723.html

Well that's good news! It will certainly save a few quid for travellers and remove the stress, as mentioned above, of being trapped abroad.

OA260 wrote:

News just in this will change everything


Passengers will no longer need a negative test to enter the country

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/p ... 10723.html

Overall thats very good news. This move will make Ireland one of the more open travel destinations. I personally think that testing is a good idea from an epidemiological point of view, but I also think the stress/worry associated with testing positive abroad is a real deterrent to travel. With cases being as high as they are and Omicron being the predominant strain travel restrictions seem unlikely to help.

OA260 wrote:

News just in this will change everything

Passengers will no longer need a negative test to enter the country

https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/p ... 10723.html

Oh, very nice!!! That's what I like to hear... makes things a hell of a lot easier for me and anyone who is travelling.

Hopefully it's brought in as fast as they mention in the article.

it is an acknowledgement that the requirement was stupid. Each test centre gave a different format document for negative antigen result.
I can get tests administered for free once a week but the hassle of going for them was still there and now that is gone.

This is very welcome news. It makes 100% sense; with the new variant being so transmissible, testing incoming travellers is pointless when you can for example go to the pub and sit for 3 hours maskless drinking and chatting (albeit only until 8pm).

It will be a huge relief to the airlines who can now hope for the usual rush of bookings after Christmas for summer travel. Time to go all out now with the media campaigns.

Well at the rate it's spreading now, restrictions are probably pointless. It seems like everybody will get it soon anyway.

New EU DCC's to be issued for travel next week according to the Dept of Health.

Major security alert onboard easyJet flight at Belfast International Airport
Emergency vehicles surrounded the plane as it landed and was escorted off the runway. Police dog units also boarded the plane

www.sundayworld.com/news/breaking-news/ ... 14058.html

Would be interesting to know more . IIRC this is the second incident.

Emerald Airlines secure DUB-CFN PSO Service. I'm sure they will be hoping for KIR in the future.

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/771 ... air-route/

JAmie2k9 wrote:

Emerald Airlines secure DUB-CFN PSO Service. I'm sure they will be hoping for KIR in the future.

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/771 ... air-route/

Interesting that it's an ATR72, and presume this means Emerald will not operate any ATR42s.

Looks like they will put a EY codeshare in it also.

EI3402 DUB 1240 CFN 1330
EI3408 DUB 1850 CFN 2000

JAmie2k9 wrote:

Emerald Airlines secure DUB-CFN PSO Service. I'm sure they will be hoping for KIR in the future.

https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/771 ... air-route/

A three-year contract for an airline that has no demonstrated commercial experience? Brave.

I wonder who else tendered.

This route does not deserve a PSO. It is nowhere near Letterkenny or Donegal town. Roll on re-unification so that the vested interests in Donegal can't overlook LDY or BHX or BHD as more local airports. The PSO money is better spent on 20 of road improvements/widenings in the vicinity. vested interest/corporate welfare sh!t show.

PhilipBass wrote:

This route does not deserve a PSO. It is nowhere near Letterkenny or Donegal town. Roll on re-unification so that the vested interests in Donegal can't overlook LDY or BHX or BHD as more local airports. The PSO money is better spent on 20 of road improvements/widenings in the vicinity. vested interest/corporate welfare sh!t show.

And what about those people who live nowhere near Letterkenny or Donegall town, although I'm curious how you think Birmingham would be better for them?

Is this a joke? you mean re-unification with "The mainland" and you fly from Londonderry, not Derry airport normally?

Airport Hotel development with connected walkway to T2 is going ahead . A good confidence booster for the future development aims of Dublin Airport.


Green light for €100m hotel at Dublin Airport

https://amp.rte.ie/amp/1272229/

JAmie2k9 wrote:

Emerald Airlines secure DUB-CFN PSO Service. I'm sure they will be hoping for KIR in the future./

I would be shocked if Emerald Airlines didn't get the PSO for KIR. Shocked!

I think it's pretty much a given that they'll get it.

OA260 wrote:

Airport Hotel development with connected walkway to T2 is going ahead . A good confidence booster for the future development aims of Dublin Airport.

That has been a very long time coming, good to see it going ahead at last!

ClassicLover wrote:

JAmie2k9 wrote:

Emerald Airlines secure DUB-CFN PSO Service. I'm sure they will be hoping for KIR in the future./

I would be shocked if Emerald Airlines didn't get the PSO for KIR. Shocked!

I think it's pretty much a given that they'll get it.

OA260 wrote:

Airport Hotel development with connected walkway to T2 is going ahead . A good confidence booster for the future development aims of Dublin Airport.

That has been a very long time coming, good to see it going ahead at last!

Is there a Kerry PSO to apply for?

EIBPI wrote:

Is there a Kerry PSO to apply for?

Presumably, Ryanair took it over when Stobart went under, and I can't imagine they got it as a permanent route - same as Amapola Flyg.

I guess we shall see.

ClassicLover wrote:

EIBPI wrote:

Is there a Kerry PSO to apply for?

Presumably, Ryanair took it over when Stobart went under, and I can't imagine they got it as a permanent route - same as Amapola Flyg.

I guess we shall see.

This will be going to Emerald once its possible. It makes sense also for hassle free connections to the DUBHUB with codeshares etc ... FR wont hang around long.

ClassicLover wrote:

EIBPI wrote:

Is there a Kerry PSO to apply for?

Presumably, Ryanair took it over when Stobart went under, and I can't imagine they got it as a permanent route - same as Amapola Flyg.

I guess we shall see.

There cannot be a Kerry PSO unless Ryanair ceases to operate the route on normal commercial terms (or if we are lucky at least announces it will stop operating the route).

Amapola Flyg was a different situation. They were operating Donegal under an interim PSO contract.

Emerald Airlines gets its timing right

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/tra ... -1.4771385

Also good to see that Emerald have DUB - JER on sale from 28th May . At 2 hours it must be one of their longest routes.

OA260 wrote:

Emerald Airlines gets its timing right

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/tra ... -1.4771385

Also good to see that Emerald have DUB - JER on sale from 28th May . At 2 hours it must be one of their longest routes.

Yet just like before, it seems it’s not possible to book a through ticket to CFN from a start point in EI’s European network. I see that they will be offering aan EY codeshare, so surely a XXX EI x/DUB EI CFN is not beyond the realms of possibility.

Here's the link to the Dongeal PSO tender specification documents:

https://irl.eu-supply.com/app/rfq/publi ... lowPrint=1

I wonder how Emerald met the requirement to supply details of "similar scheduled passenger air services operated within the past 3 years".

Or how they scored in the "capacity to deliver" criterion based on total annual flights in 2019/2020, maximum score requiring at least 10,000 such flights.

Or how they scored in the availability of a substitute aircraft...

Probably used the EI connection and past EI Regional services. Surely the DUB HUB would also have had a part to play? I suspect KIR would welcome the EI connection back too.

EIBPI wrote:

ClassicLover wrote:

EIBPI wrote:

Is there a Kerry PSO to apply for?

Presumably, Ryanair took it over when Stobart went under, and I can't imagine they got it as a permanent route - same as Amapola Flyg.

I guess we shall see.

There cannot be a Kerry PSO unless Ryanair ceases to operate the route on normal commercial terms (or if we are lucky at least announces it will stop operating the route).

Amapola Flyg was a different situation. They were operating Donegal under an interim PSO contract.

Fliplot wrote:

Probably used the EI connection and past EI Regional services. Surely the DUB HUB would also have had a part to play? I suspect KIR would welcome the EI connection back too.

I have always wondered what the logic is behind FR operating this flight. They most certainly are not making a profit! What is MOL's ulterior motive? I wonder with them reducing the flight to once daily for the remainder of January and February, is this the lead in to FR announcing they are pulling the route for such and such a reason? I agree Emerald will be much better suited to the route, although the amazingly cheap fares by FR will be greatly missed - €30/40 return compared to €90 return with EIR.