https://www.irishtimes.com/health/your- ... h-is-best/

I was interested to read this article which describes the airport assistance in DUB as the best assistance by far and always friendly and helpful. I've a friend who uses a wheelchair who I travel with from time to time, so have had cause to talk to some of the staff who work on airport assistance, and have always found them friendly and outgoing.

Similar to the author of the article, I could recount a number of less positive experiences in other airports in Europe while travelling with her, which I won't detail at length as they don't have much relevance to the Irish thread. However, the airport assistance staff in DUB come across as genuinely wanting to engage with passengers and they're efficient too - generally, they've been at the gate when the plane arrives.

Eitilt wrote:

As regards painting of the 330-200s DUO and DAA,
The IAG results for 2022 will be presented on 24th February.
Some interesting info may come from that announcement including ( rumour only ) an order for 330 neos for Aer Lingus.

Do you mean they’ll discuss the painting of these two aircraft at the financial results presentation?

Dublin Airport to install more noise-measuring stations amid controversy over flight paths

Council meeting told residents are losing faith in its determination to enforce planning conditions

https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2023 ... ght-paths/

Seems there are a minority who seem intent of causing problems for DUB .

2 new routes for BFS in 2024 :

Belfast International Airport: Jet2 announce routes to Malta and Bodrum for Summer 2024

https://www.belfastlive.co.uk/news/nort ... 234687.amp

The ridiculous idea of Flybe 3.0 is officially dead. Let's hope LDY-LHR can become a reality. I would think Loganair is in pole position to put their hands on at least some of the vacated Heathrow slots.

https://www.standard.co.uk/business/flybe-wound-down-complexities-rescue-deal-administration-flights-b1060569.html

BangersAndMash wrote:

The ridiculous idea of Flybe 3.0 is officially dead. Let's hope LDY-LHR can become a reality. I would think Loganair is in pole position to put their hands on at least some of the vacated Heathrow slots.

https://www.standard.co.uk/business/flybe-wound-down-complexities-rescue-deal-administration-flights-b1060569.html

Im really rooting for Loganair and this Derry service. It’s up there with NOC as a fantastic opportunity.

A recent review of the East Lounge at DUB.

https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-n ... 248210.amp

OA260 wrote:

A recent review of the East Lounge at DUB.

https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-n ... 248210.amp

Good to see!

It's the only lounge I haven't been into at Dublin yet.

Hi guys, Mrs VS is going to be arriving in DUB on AA on 4/1 and is wondering whether she can utilize any of the lounges before heading off to her final destination. She’s not a business customer this would be leisure only. Bonus points if it has showers etc all help appreciated as it’s the first time either of us have been there

VS4ever wrote:

Hi guys, Mrs VS is going to be arriving in DUB on AA on 4/1 and is wondering whether she can utilize any of the lounges before heading off to her final destination. She’s not a business customer this would be leisure only. Bonus points if it has showers etc all help appreciated as it’s the first time either of us have been there

Who is Mrs VS flying onwards with and where to? Is there a frequent flyer card with status involved?

Regardless, she can probably pay to access the Terminal 1 or Terminal 2 Dublin Airport lounge - https://www.dublinairport.com/ - which are both bookable online. There are no showers.

That T1 lounge would also be used for almost all the airlines in T1 if there is a frequent flyer card (eg: oneworld Sapphire or oneworld Emerald, flying out on British Airways).

They're the only options, as the Aer Lingus lounge does not allow you to pay in at Dublin, the East Lounge is only for those flying long-haul to the East (ie: Emirates to DXB, Etihad to AUH, Qatar to DOH) and the 51st & Green Lounge is after US Preclearance for those flying transatlantic (worth paying for if going to the USA via Dublin on the way home, without a doubt!).

Hope that helps!

I see that Bia has been launched on EI Regional/ emerald. Must mean the free tea and coffee will now be gone ?

nickya340 wrote:

I see that Bia has been launched on EI Regional/ emerald. Must mean the free tea and coffee will now be gone ?

Believe it’s only available from Dublin at the moment. The complimentary tea/coffee and biscuit was nice but sometimes only a cup of water was available so the return of Bia will be welcome overall.

Cork Airport executive asks for more State aid to realise expansion dreams

https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/arid-41073548.html

Cork Airport wants to expand massively.

VS4ever wrote:

Hi guys, Mrs VS is going to be arriving in DUB on AA on 4/1 and is wondering whether she can utilize any of the lounges before heading off to her final destination. She’s not a business customer this would be leisure only. Bonus points if it has showers etc all help appreciated as it’s the first time either of us have been there

There are shower’s available in the T1 & T2 lounge.

eicvd wrote:

VS4ever wrote:

Hi guys, Mrs VS is going to be arriving in DUB on AA on 4/1 and is wondering whether she can utilize any of the lounges before heading off to her final destination. She’s not a business customer this would be leisure only. Bonus points if it has showers etc all help appreciated as it’s the first time either of us have been there

There are shower’s available in the T1 & T2 lounge.

Oh I wasn't aware of that - good to know!

Former Stobart EI-FAX seems to have been acquired by Emerald, it ferried to EXT in recent days. Emerald ATR fleet now at 15.

[list=][/list]

shamrock350 wrote:

nickya340 wrote:

I see that Bia has been launched on EI Regional/ emerald. Must mean the free tea and coffee will now be gone ?

Believe it’s only available from Dublin at the moment. The complimentary tea/coffee and biscuit was nice but sometimes only a cup of water was available so the return of Bia will be welcome overall.

Yeah I got just water on an evening flight. I suppose it has to be consistent with EI mainline.

Hopefully emerald might base a couple A/c in Cork or Shannon with their expansion, I suppose cork would be first.

OA260 wrote:

Cork Airport executive asks for more State aid to realise expansion dreams

https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/arid-41073548.html

Cork Airport wants to expand massively.

Interesting he reckons Cork could surpass 3m in the next 2-3 years; I know they did that back in the late noughties but that was a different time with domestic flights up and down the Country, SNN was 3.6m at that stage with what was left of the stopover and other transits. Can Cork get back to 3m?

EI710 wrote:

Former Stobart EI-FAX seems to have been acquired by Emerald, it ferried to EXT in recent days. Emerald ATR fleet now at 15.

Does anyone know what the height of the Aer Lingus Regional fleet was prior to COVID and Stobart going bankrupt? Surely they are caught up now with 15 aircraft or even surpassed the level of Stobart/Aer Arann?

eidvm wrote:

EI710 wrote:

Former Stobart EI-FAX seems to have been acquired by Emerald, it ferried to EXT in recent days. Emerald ATR fleet now at 15.

Does anyone know what the height of the Aer Lingus Regional fleet was prior to COVID and Stobart going bankrupt? Surely they are caught up now with 15 aircraft or even surpassed the level of Stobart/Aer Arann?

I think they got to 12 ATR72s, so they're already past it. Form my last visit to Monchengladbach, I think FAU, FCY and FCZ are still there, so still a few of the Stobart ATRs to find a new home.

nickya340 wrote:

Hopefully emerald might base a couple A/c in Cork or Shannon with their expansion, I suppose cork would be first.

Can't see that happening in the near future (not at SNN anyway - FR jumped in to replace all the ex-RE routes when they collapsed and seem fairly aggressive in keeping EA at bay in general as can be seen with their double daily DUB-KIR service). BRS or maybe EMA are the potential unserved UK routes that they might serve via a W-pattern at SNN but I'd be surprised.

I can’t see ORK or SNN bases happening either. As mentioned FR muscled in on most of the obvious routes. Additionally there isn’t the feeder traffic element or even the population mass that the DUB services have. You’d have to wonder though the economics of the FR 737’s on the very thin routes.

Agreed on a few W rotations for ORK and SNN being more likely.

Tunisair looking to start Enfidha to Belfast International on May 2024

FR balance the lower yields with the shorter sector lengths; they can absorb the losses from one stream with the gains in an another - although I'd still guess most of the ORK/SNN/NOC to UK routes are marginal, but probably more marginal than their long sector DUB-Cyprus routes for example. I reckon Emerald is going to jump onto Cork-Bristol/Glasgow with a W and see how they manage; hard to justify a based unit in the near future though unless it based at Cork and W'd into SNN/NOC/BFS or some other combination of base like that

AMP44 wrote:

Tunisair looking to start Enfidha to Belfast International on May 2024

They had been in talks with a local TO as thats the only way they will have a chance in filling those seats but its still a very marmite destination for many especially in ROI which is maybe why BFS is attractive compared to DUB. A lot has changed since the Panorama holiday charters !

That’s true Ryanair have really grown in ORK SNN NOC to Uk, double daily to EDI from cork is a good example. There are a few routes that Ryanair probably wouldn’t touch though like the Channel Islands or IOM, SOU, LCY and northern France, most very seasonal though.

EA could provide good frequency (daily or X2d) that Ryanair might not do with their 200 seaters. But Ryanair could well juggle things around and easily base more ac at ORK and start up the same routes to keep them away.

Government confirms Declan Fitzpatrick as air safety chief

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2023/02/20/go
vernment-confirms-fitzpatrick-as-air-safety-chief/

He was interim aviation regulator since October.

nickya340 wrote:

That’s true Ryanair have really grown in ORK SNN NOC to Uk, double daily to EDI from cork is a good example. There are a few routes that Ryanair probably wouldn’t touch though like the Channel Islands or IOM, SOU, LCY and northern France, most very seasonal though.

EA could provide good frequency (daily or X2d) that Ryanair might not do with their 200 seaters. But Ryanair could well juggle things around and easily base more ac at ORK and start up the same routes to keep them away.

I agree. With FR on ORK-MAN, EDI, at 10+ weekly, BHX and LPL 6 weekly, EMA there aren’t a lot of gaps on the trunk routes. FR are operating La Rochelle 2x weekly as well. The only chink I can see is that the BHX schedule is a bit weak and FR haven’t bothered with GLA. If EA went on those, I think FR would do the usual ramp up frequency and slash fares pretty quickly. LCY remains stubbornly absent from the departure boards, it has never worked very well. The best bet would probably be EA on an ATR, but I’d say there is less than zero appetite for EA to be encroaching on London at Shamrock House. Without a few flagship routes like BHX, GLA or LCY I dont think the base would be worth the risk on the more marginal SOU, NQY, GLA, LBA, NCL‘s.

There were rumours of BRS-ORK by EA on a W, I think? That’s probably as much as can be realistically expected for now.

BrianDromey wrote:

nickya340 wrote:

That’s true Ryanair have really grown in ORK SNN NOC to Uk, double daily to EDI from cork is a good example. There are a few routes that Ryanair probably wouldn’t touch though like the Channel Islands or IOM, SOU, LCY and northern France, most very seasonal though.

EA could provide good frequency (daily or X2d) that Ryanair might not do with their 200 seaters. But Ryanair could well juggle things around and easily base more ac at ORK and start up the same routes to keep them away.

I agree. With FR on ORK-MAN, EDI, at 10+ weekly, BHX and LPL 6 weekly, EMA there aren’t a lot of gaps on the trunk routes. FR are operating La Rochelle 2x weekly as well. The only chink I can see is that the BHX schedule is a bit weak and FR haven’t bothered with GLA. If EA went on those, I think FR would do the usual ramp up frequency and slash fares pretty quickly. LCY remains stubbornly absent from the departure boards, it has never worked very well. The best bet would probably be EA on an ATR, but I’d say there is less than zero appetite for EA to be encroaching on London at Shamrock House. Without a few flagship routes like BHX, GLA or LCY I dont think the base would be worth the risk on the more marginal SOU, NQY, GLA, LBA, NCL‘s.

There were rumours of BRS-ORK by EA on a W, I think? That’s probably as much as can be realistically expected for now.

Agree with all that, big pity LCY seems to not work well outside DUB, even there its a shadow of its pre-covid offering.

Am I imagining things or did SNN have FR service to Luton in 2021/22 that seems to have disappeared? On the website it offers DUB, ORK, NOC and KIR only now?

Jake801 wrote:

BrianDromey wrote:

nickya340 wrote:

Am I imagining things or did SNN have FR service to Luton in 2021/22 that seems to have disappeared? On the website it offers DUB, ORK, NOC and KIR only now?

No, you're not imagining things. SNN-LTN has been tried by FR many times over the last number of years and it never seems to last more than a season or two (which is funny because it seems KIR-LTN does quite well and trumps KIR-STN in terms of frequency). I think the latest attempt at SNN-LTN happened in October 2021 and didn't even last the full winter season - it was shelved in January 2022. Maybe there isn't room for a second LTN route in the mid/southwest.

AmricanShamrok wrote:

Jake801 wrote:

BrianDromey wrote:

No, you're not imagining things. SNN-LTN has been tried by FR many times over the last number of years and it never seems to last more than a season or two (which is funny because it seems KIR-LTN does quite well and trumps KIR-STN in terms of frequency). I think the latest attempt at SNN-LTN happened in October 2021 and didn't even last the full winter season - it was shelved in January 2022. Maybe there isn't room for a second LTN route in the mid/southwest.

Surely there's room for more STN and LGW if that's the case, I always feel London is large enough to absorb more frequencies, admittedly LTN is a different market to the rest and demographics there may make some Irish routes easier/more difficult than others. KIR has always had "means" of retaining strategic routes - Frankfurt Hahn for example...

While London is a huge market, travel patterns seem pretty entrenched. ORK-LTN is a pretty new route for FR, only starting in 2018, it remains 6/7x weekly, the same as at launch. Similarly LGW is a daily service by FR and has been since easyJet withdrew, wounded, from the Irish market.
The only exciting development for the Ireland-London market in the past decade is EI replacing LGW-NOC with LHR-NOC and BA opening LCY-DUB in 2015. IAG and FR have huge pricing power, frequency and customer loyalty. Covering every niche from ULCC fares to STN to high frequency Business Class to LCY and everything in between.
There isnt much room for a new player and no incentive for the incumbents to innovate. Its hard to see how an airline other than FR or EI could open a base at any regional Irish airport. Can anyone realistically imagine Wizz or even AirBaltic’s 220s at SNN or NOC, for example? There just aren’t the halo/flagship/trunk routes to justify a multiple aircraft base. CityJet withdrew ORK-LCY after just 8 months. They probably had too much frequency and the ARJ was getting uneconomical, even then. EI and FR undercut them out of the market. Maybe if the RRJ’s had worked out as planned things would have been different, or they had selected the E170/190 instead.

Operations suspended at DUB due to drones

How many times is that now over the past few weeks?

Open again according to Flightradar24

It opened after 30 mins . In the meantime :

"A 41-year-old man accused of causing a security alert by flying a drone into a "critical area" of Dublin Airport has been granted bail."

https://www.rte.ie/news/courts/2023/022 ... one-court/

Try pronouncing that after a few scoops

OA260 wrote:

AMP44 wrote:

Tunisair looking to start Enfidha to Belfast International on May 2024

They had been in talks with a local TO as thats the only way they will have a chance in filling those seats but its still a very marmite destination for many especially in ROI which is maybe why BFS is attractive compared to DUB. A lot has changed since the Panorama holiday charters !

OA260, I was going to comment that same. With little or no brand recognition over here they'll need the support of the travel trade and agencies with packages to make this work, especially some all the demand would originate on this side of the route.

This route was regular on charters in the last, Thomas Cook used to fly it, in Winter if I recall.

Happy to see Belfast gaining new business.

BrianDromey wrote:

While London is a huge market, travel patterns seem pretty entrenched. ORK-LTN is a pretty new route for FR, only starting in 2018, it remains 6/7x weekly, the same as at launch. Similarly LGW is a daily service by FR and has been since easyJet withdrew, wounded, from the Irish market.
The only exciting development for the Ireland-London market in the past decade is EI replacing LGW-NOC with LHR-NOC and BA opening LCY-DUB in 2015. IAG and FR have huge pricing power, frequency and customer loyalty. Covering every niche from ULCC fares to STN to high frequency Business Class to LCY and everything in between.
There isnt much room for a new player and no incentive for the incumbents to innovate. Its hard to see how an airline other than FR or EI could open a base at any regional Irish airport. Can anyone realistically imagine Wizz or even AirBaltic’s 220s at SNN or NOC, for example? There just aren’t the halo/flagship/trunk routes to justify a multiple aircraft base. CityJet withdrew ORK-LCY after just 8 months. They probably had too much frequency and the ARJ was getting uneconomical, even then. EI and FR undercut them out of the market. Maybe if the RRJ’s had worked out as planned things would have been different, or they had selected the E170/190 instead.

Does EI sell codeshares on BAs LCY-DUB service. Certainly Cityjet and Jetmagic before couldnt succeed on LCY-ORK but I think BA with an EI codeshare could work as an twice daily whether it would just take away from EI LHR is another problem.

Worth noting that EI DUB-LHR is up to 14x daily this Summer so don’t see an appetite from EI to dilute this with an LCY service. All eggs seem to be firmly in the LHR basket now.

Having said the above it would be an obvious route for Emerald.

EI710 wrote:

Worth noting that EI DUB-LHR is up to 14x daily this Summer so don’t see an appetite from EI to dilute this with an LCY service. All eggs seem to be firmly in the LHR basket now.

Having said the above it would be an obvious route for Emerald.

BA (IAG) have a comprehensive schedule already on DUB-LCY which EI codeshares on, wouldnt be any value in an Emerald service unless it replaced an existing BA rotation at a quieter period.

EI710 wrote:

Worth noting that EI DUB-LHR is up to 14x daily this Summer so don’t see an appetite from EI to dilute this with an LCY service. All eggs seem to be firmly in the LHR basket now.

Having said the above it would be an obvious route for Emerald.

I just looked at a Wednesday in June with 12 flights to LHR and they have 4 flights in the space of 3h15minutes during the middle of the day.
Surely an A321neo instead of A320neo with fewer flights or A220s to optimize fuel and landing charges are better options but Aer Lingus must have some good idea of how to turn a profit on that route as it is their bread and butter route which they have been running for decades.

PhilipBass wrote:

EI710 wrote:

Worth noting that EI DUB-LHR is up to 14x daily this Summer so don’t see an appetite from EI to dilute this with an LCY service. All eggs seem to be firmly in the LHR basket now.

Having said the above it would be an obvious route for Emerald.

I just looked at a Wednesday in June with 12 flights to LHR and they have 4 flights in the space of 3h15minutes during the middle of the day.
Surely an A321neo instead of A320neo with fewer flights or A220s to optimize fuel and landing charges are better options but Aer Lingus must have some good idea of how to turn a profit on that route as it is their bread and butter route which they have been running for decades.

The frequency works for them being a prime business route and of course a leisure one. Its worked for decades and as a regular myself the numerous flights within that window are great . Also in the event of IRROPS missed connections it offers EI the chance to clear some of the back log easier.

yes, but wouldn't you be as happy on an A220 as a 320Neo even if the A220 is stuffed to the gills.

Two Belfast slots have been used for DUB and one for NOC, so that might make the schedule less evenly spaced than before. BA seem to have fewer flights, 4 or 5 daily, so that might be where the schedule has been trimmed?
EI and IAG seems to have no appetite for the 220, which is a shame But I’d have thought they’d use it on European routes more than LHR, they seem to have no bother filling the Heathrow routes.

If I’m right the A32Q in EI configuration seats fewer than the 186 A32N. I believe both have lower landing charges than the 320CEO. It’s noticeable at LHR these days how many NEOs you see. SAS, Eurowings, LH and LX. They certainly seem to feature disproportionally at LHR compared the the fleet size. As mentioned on the boards before, the operational savings are huge.

I think someone previously, either here or on another forum, estimated the savings of using the A32N to LHR was in region of €10 million a year, that’s just in landing charges and doesn’t account for fuel savings etc.

If true, it’s a no brainier.

Should Aer Lingus ever consider the A220, I don’t think LHR would be factor but rather the potential it could have in Europe. Unfortunately I don’t see it happening.

Knock-bound Aer Lingus flight diverts to Shannon
https://clareherald.com/news/aviation/k ... o-shannon/

EI-EDP was the aircraft involved.

Aspire Announces £1.2million Investment into Belfast City Airport Premium Lounge Facility

https://www.belfastcityairport.com/news ... Announces-£1-2million-Investment

Welcome news it was starting to look a bit worn although they had decent food and drink options.

Has Weston Airport recently obtained an IATA code? My understanding was that Weston didn't have one, only having the ICAO code EIWT. The reason I ask is that I notice that within the last 24 hours or so, Weston has appeared on Flightradar with the IATA code QIW. I've had a quick look at Weston Airport's website and nothing suggests they've recently obtained an IATA code.

Emerald ATR appears to have had a small runway excursion at CFN

https://www.airportia.com/news/emerald- ... n-landing/

Aer Lingus recorded an operating profit before exceptional items of €45 million for 2022, following two years of significant losses.

https://www.rte.ie/news/business/2023/0 ... m-in-2022/

The MAN base performed well also which is good news.