Category Archives: Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus to launch four new trans-Atlantic routes from Manchester

Aer Lingus is to launch its first ever transatlantic services direct from Manchester to the US and the Caribbean, which will create up to 120 new jobs.

Aer Lingus will commence four new routes from Manchester Airport flying to New York JFK and Orlando from July 29, 2021, to Barbados from October 20 and to Boston from summer 2022.

Two of the four new routes, New York JFK and Boston, will be operated by the new single-aisle Airbus A321LR, making Aer Lingus the first airline to operate the aircraft on regular scheduled services between the UK and the US.

Services to holiday hotspots such as Orlando and Barbados will be operated by a larger Airbus A330-300 aircraft.

As part of its significant expansion into Manchester, Aer Lingus will create up to 120 job opportunities in the North of England. Recruitment will be predominantly for cabin crew roles, together with additional positions within Maintenance and Engineering, and Ground Operations.

DOT grants final approval of antitrust immunity for Aer Lingus to the existing Oneworld transatlantic joint venture

U.S. Department of Transportation issued this final decision:

The U.S. Department of Transportation announced that it has granted final approval of, and antitrust immunity for, the addition of Ireland-based Aer Lingus to the existing Oneworld transatlantic joint venture. The carriers requested antitrust immunity to include Aer Lingus in the existing joint venture consisting of American Airlines, British Airways, OpenSkies, Iberia, and Finnair. Aer Lingus will be integrated into the joint venture’s network planning, pricing, and sales activities. With Aer Lingus’ addition, the carriers are expected to expand capacity on some existing routes while introducing services on several new routes, allowing more options for travel to and from Ireland and the rest of Europe.

The action by the Department is described in a Final Order adopting the tentative decision published on November 16, 2020, which examined the impact on competition and the expected public benefits. As part of the final approval, the Final Order includes conditions to address concerns related to competition, to preserve consumer choice, to ensure that the grant of antitrust immunity is in the public interest, and to allow the Department to monitor and assess the benefits produced by the proposed joint venture.

Under the Final Order, the carriers are required to continue to comply with certain slot remedies at London airports that were imposed when the Oneworld transatlantic joint venture was initially approved in 2010, and as have been extended by the United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) while it completes its own investigation into the Oneworld transatlantic joint venture. In addition, the carriers are required to remove exclusivity clauses in their alliance agreements and to review the alliance after five years.

In other news, Aer Lingus will not be operating flights between Great Britain and Ireland up to December 31, 2020.

Aer Lingus aircraft photo gallery:

Aer Lingus aircraft slide show:

Aer Lingus reviews its procedures after social media reports of a packed flight

Aer Lingus is reviewing its COVID-19 flight procedures after a series of social media photos showed a packed Belfast – London Heathrow flight on Monday, May 4.

There were no social distancing practices in place.

Aer Lingus takes delivery of the last Airbus A330-300

Aer Lingus on Friday, February 28, took delivery of the last Airbus A330-300 (EI-EIN) built by Airbus.

Aer Lingus now has 11 Airbus A330-300s.

In other news, previously on February 19, Aer Lingus launched a new Shannon based aircraft along with the early return of Aer Lingus’ popular New York JFK service. The service recommenced on February 19, a month earlier than in previous years. It will operate six days a week, rising to seven days a week for the summer schedule.

Additionally Aer Lingus announced two new summer routes from Shannon to Barcelona and Paris-Charles De Gaulle. Summer 2020 will see Aer Lingus’ highest capacity in 30 years from Shannon Airport.

Above Copyright Photo: Aer Lingus Airbus A321-253NX WL EI-LRC (msn 8965) LHR (Robbie Shaw). Image: 949251.

The new A321neo LR is the second such Aer Lingus aircraft to arrive at Shannon. The first aircraft was delivered last October and has been operating on the Shannon-Boston route.

Top Copyright Photo: Aer Lingus Airbus A330-302 F-WWCH (EI-EIN) (msn 1951) TLS (Eurospot). Image: 949166.

Aer Lingus aircraft slide show:

Aer Lingus inaugurates Airbus A321LR service to Hartford

Aer Lingus on August 2, 2019, placed its first Airbus A321LR (Longer Range) into revenue service.

The pictured Airbus A321-253NX EI-LRA operated flights EI 131/130 on a roundtrip from the Dublin hub to Hartford/Springfield and return.

Top Copyright Photo (all others by the airline and Airbus): Aer Lingus Airbus A321-253NX WL EI-LRA (msn 8887) DUB (Michael Kelly). Image: 947219.

Aer Lingus aircraft slide show:

Air Lease Corporation delivers the first Airbus A321-200neo LR to Aer Lingus

Air Lease Corporation (ALC) has announced the delivery of one new Airbus A321-200neo LR aircraft on long-term lease to Aer Lingus (Dublin, Ireland). This Airbus aircraft, featuring CFM International LEAP-1A33 engines, is the first of eight A321-200neo LRs scheduled to deliver to the airline through 2020 from ALC’s order book with Airbus.

Airbus also released this statement:

Aer Lingus has taken delivery of its first of eight A321LR aircraft, becoming the first airline in International Airlines Group (IAG) to operate the type. The aircraft on lease from Air Lease Corporation is powered by Leap CFM engines and configured in a two class layout with 16 business and 168 economy seats.

The Dublin based carrier will deploy the aircraft on transatlantic routes to the US East coast.

Aer Lingus currently operates a total of 50 Airbus aircraft including 13 A330s and 37 A320 Family aircraft. The A321LR and the A330 combined within the same fleet is a powerful lever to cover the needs of the medium to long haul markets.

The A321LR is a member of the A320neo Family, with over 6,600 orders by more than 100 customers. It delivers 30 percent fuel savings and nearly 50 percent reduction in noise footprint compared to previous generation competitor aircraft. With a range of up to 4,000nm (7,400km) the A321LR is the unrivalled long range route opener, featuring true transatlantic capability and premium wide-body comfort in a single aisle aircraft cabin.

IAG backs the Airbus A321XLR with an order for 14 aircraft

International Airlines Group (IAG) has selected the Airbus A321XLR to expand its fleet of highly efficient single aisles with a firm order for 14 aircraft. Of these, eight are destined for Iberia and six for Aer Lingus.

IAG, the parent company of leading airlines also including British Airways, Level and Vueling, is one of Airbus’s largest customers and this agreement will take the overall order from the group to 530 aircraft. IAG airlines combined operate one of the world’s largest Airbus fleets with over 400 aircraft.

The aircraft will enable Aer Lingus to launch new routes beyond the US East Coast and Canada. For Iberia, this is a new aircraft type that will enable it to operate new transatlantic destinations and increase frequencies in key markets.

Images: Airbus.

Aer Lingus adds the Cork – Dubrovnik route for the summer, cleared by IAG to add more trans-Atlantic flights

Aer Lingus’ inaugural flight EI804 from Cork to Dubrovnik, took off on an Airbus A320 on May 4. This new service to the Croatian city famed by popular television series Game of Thrones will take to the skies each Tuesday and Saturday during the summer months.

Dubrovnik is the airline’s second new summer sun route direct from Cork, with Nice having just launched in April. It is the final instalment in Aer Lingus’ summer 2019 schedule which sees over 1 million seats available from Cork to European hotspots. This marks a 4% year-on-year increase in capacity on Aer Lingus flights from Cork Airport and reflects the airline’s commitment to expanding the Rebel County’s route network. Aer Lingus is the largest airline servicing Cork Airport both in frequency of flights and seat capacity and currently connects Cork Airport to 23 destinations across the year.

In other news, according to the Independent, Aer Lingus has been approved by owner IAG to expand its North Atlantic operations.

The Irish carrier has been given the OK to order new aircraft and will expand operations from Ireland to the United States and Canada, including adding new routes.

Aer Lingus already has eight Airbus A321LR aircraft on order.

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Airbus A321LR delivery delays forces Aer Lingus to make summer 2019 schedule changes

Aer Lingus has been forced to make summer 2019 schedule changes due to Airbus A321LR delivery delays.

Aer Lingus has eight Airbus A321LRs on order. The new type will eventually replace the four leased Boeing 757-200s.

Aer Lingus issued this 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 August 8, 2019 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.

Photo: Aer Lingus.