Aer Lingus

[Superleeds123]

I have read several reports suggesting both!

I’ve seen reports on Twitter today of another airline going into MAN and EDI of the pink variety

 

[JetRob]

What about Aer Lingus flying to the states from LBA using their A321's. Just imagine.

 

[Seasider]

Have I missed something, is it April 1st today?

 

[White Heather]

What about Aer Lingus flying to the states from LBA using their A321's. Just imagine.

Now THAT would require a new terminal! LBA management want to operate such flights but it will not happen with the current terminal and its significant limitations. With a new terminal, it just might, with some airline who sees LBA as an opportunity.

 

[ls27]

Emerald Airlines has won the contract for Aer Lingus Regional from 2023. So it will be good bye to Stobart

 

[White Heather]

I wonder if the Stobart fleet including their crews will just transfer over to Emerald? Seems logical in a way and the aircraft are already in the required livery. Otherwise Emerald are going to have to source a fleet of suitable aircraft and crews in advance of the change-over date. In this country we would just TUPE people across at least but not sure how it works in the Republic of Ireland.

 

[White Heather]

And, there is a news article on line today confirming that Aer Lingus are setting up a UK base - at Manchester.

 

[lbaspotter]

Sadly it looks like Aer Lingus Regional franchise operator Stobart Air have made the decision to axe any plans to try restart the Leeds-Bradford - Dublin route during the current winter 2020/21 schedule.
It was until recently bookable (13x weekly) from January 21st 2021, but now the next available bookable flights are from Sunday, March 28th 2021, which is actually the the start date of the summer 2021 schedule timetable.

I'll post the planned summer 2021 schedule shortly,

 

[White Heather]

Some potentially good news for when we finally get the Aer Lingus fights back to Dublin - a code share agreement with American Airlines, which should open up many more direct booking routes from Leeds via Dublin.

Aer Lingus gets go-ahead for transatlantic joint venture

Carriers claim addition of airline could generate $96m in annual consumer benefits

www.irishtimes.com

 

[lbaspotter]

From this coming Sunday, February 7th 2021 Aer Lingus regional are further reducing ops on the Leeds to Belfast City service to just 3x weekly, Mondays, Fridays and Sundays.
This schedule is planned to operate for just 3+ weeks until March 1st 2021 when daily flight are due to resume hopefully.

Flights will operate as follows.

Mondays
EI3670 = BHD 10:00 - LBA 11:10 / EI3671 = LBA 11:40 - BHD 12:45
Fridays & Sundays
EI3678 = BHD 18:20 - LBA 19:30 / EI3679 = LBA 20:00 - BHD 21:15

 

[lbaspotter]

Aer Lingus restart and increase dates.

Belfast City - Currently operate 3x weekly (Mon, Fri & Sun)

March
Sun 28th = Dublin – Route restarts 4x weekly (Mon, Thu, Fri & Sun)

May
Sun 2nd = Dublin – Increases to 11x weekly (2x daily Mon-Fri & 1x daily Sun)
Thu 6th = Belfast City = Increases to 7x weekly (2x daily Thu-Fri, Sun & 1x daily Mon, Sat
Mon 31st = Belfast City = Increases to 14 weekly (3x daily Mon, Thu-Fri , 2x daily Sun & 1x daily Tue-Wed, Sat)

June
Sat 5th = Dublin – Increases to 14x weekly (3x daily Sun, 2x daily Mon-Fri & 1x daily Sat)

 

[lbaspotter]

Aer Lingus restart and increase dates.

Belfast City - Currently operate 2x weekly (Mon & Fri)

March
Sun 28th = Dublin – Route restarts 4x weekly (Mon, Thu, Fri & Sun)

April
Thu 1st = Belfast City - Increases to 3x weekly (Mon, Thu & Fri)

May
Sun 2nd = Dublin – Increases to 11x weekly (2x daily Mon-Fri & 1x daily Sun)
Thu 6th = Belfast City = Increases to 7x weekly (2x daily Thu-Fri, Sun & 1x daily Mon, Sat
Mon 31st = Belfast City = Increases to 14 weekly (3x daily Mon, Thu-Fri , 2x daily Sun & 1x daily Tue-Wed, Sat)

June
Sat 5th = Dublin – Increases to 14x weekly (3x daily Sun, 2x daily Mon-Fri & 1x daily Sat)

 

[lbaspotter]

Aer Lingus schedule changes to restart & increase dates.

March/April
Current = Belfast City - Currently operates 2x weekly (Mon & Fri)

May
Sun 2nd = Dublin – Restarts 11x weekly (2x daily Mon-Fri & 1x daily Sun)
Thu 1st = Belfast City - Increases to 3x weekly (Mon, Fri & Sun)
Thu 6th = Belfast City = Increases to 7x weekly (2x daily Thu-Fri & 1x daily Mon, Sat-Sun)
Mon 31st = Belfast City = Increases to 14 weekly (3x daily Mon, Thu-Fri , 2x daily Sun & 1x daily Tue-Wed, Sat)

June
Sat 5th = Dublin – Increases to 14x weekly (3x daily Sun, 2x daily Mon-Fri & 1x daily Sat)

 

[lbaspotter]

Aer Lingus schedule changes to restart & increase dates.

April
Current = Belfast City - Currently operates 2x weekly (Mon & Fri)

May
Sun 2nd = Belfast City - Increases to 4x weekly (Mon, Thu, Fri & Sun)
Mon 31st = Belfast City - Increases to 14x (3x daily Mon, Thu-Fri, 2x daily Sun & 1x daily Tue-Wed, Sat)

June
Tue 1st = Dublin – Restarts to 14x weekly (3x daily Sun, 2x daily Mon-Fri & 1x daily Sat)

 

[CM.]

It’s nice to see Aer Lingus using one of the ATR72s that is in the Aer Lingus livery on today’s flight in. Been a while since they last used one in the green livery!

 

[lbaspotter]

Further Aer Lingus schedule changes

June - Tue 1st
Belfast City - Increases 11x weekly (1x daily Tue-Wed, Sat & 2x daily Mon, Thu-Fri, Sun)

July Thu 1st
Belfast City - Increases to 14x weekly (3x daily Mon, Thu-Fri, 2x daily Sun, 1x daily Tue-Wed, Sat)
Dublin – Restarts to 14x weekly (3x daily Sun, 2x daily Mon-Fri & 1x daily Sat)

 

[LBA787]

Stobart Air has ceased operations this morning.

That explains Easterns interest in Belfast City.

Aer Lingus to fly certain services disrupted due to Stobart Air closure

‘Wake up’ to Irish aviation crisis, Government urged as Stobart Air ceases trading

www.irishtimes.com

 

[Wardair166]

Oh dear, sad news for all concerned. Do we assume Eastern will pick up the LBA BHD route and possibly LBA DUB??

 

[White Heather]

Well Eastern had better source some more ATR72's sharpish, as the J41 is no good on either Belfast or Dublin. I wonder if Eastern will agree a franchise deal with Aer Lingus? Let's hope so.

Terrible news for LBA, Aer Lingus themselves, particularly bad for Belfast City Airport, but most of all for the staff at Stobart Air.

 

[KARFA]

Aer Lingus had awarded the new franchise for EI regional flights to Emerald Airlines so it was always going away from Stobart. The problem now is Emerald we’re not due to take over until the end of 2022 or start of 2023, so who knows what happens now with those routes.