Aer Lingus

[lbaspotter]

Seen as the Irish National Airline Aer Lingus are coming back to Leeds/Bradford after 14-year absence thought I might as well open up a new dedicated thread.

Source: https://bdaily.co.uk/hospitality/02...s-bradford-airport-with-new-routes-to-dublin/

Aer Lingus announces return to Leeds Bradford Airport with new routes
02 SEP 2014

By:Clare Burnett

Aer Lingus Regional, operated by Stobart Air, has announced that it has returned to Leeds Bradford Airport with new route to Dublin after a 14-year absence.

The airline will offer direct double daily return flights between Leeds Bradford International Airport and Dublin Airport from 23 October 2014.

Aer Lingus Regional expects to carry up to 70,000 customers annually on the new route and will operate all services on the company’s brand new fleet of regional aircraft.

Passengers flying to Dublin can thenconnect to Aer Lingus mainline transatlantic services to New York, Boston, Chicago, Orlando, San Franciso and Toronto.

Dublin Airport offers US-bound passengers immigration and customs preclearance services before their onward journey to the US. In Europe, only Dublin and Shannon airports offer this service.

Speaking at the announcement in Leeds Bradford International Airport today, Mr Julian Carr, managing director at Stobart Air said: “We are delighted to return to Leeds Bradford to launch this route to Dublin. We hope this service will continue to facilitate the long established Irish community which has thrived near the city centre of Leeds for nearly 200 years.

"Today’s announcement is part of the growth of our airline and reflects the ongoing success of our franchise partnership with Aer Lingus.

“Leeds and Bradford have thriving business communities. The availability of a double daily return service to the business capital in Ireland means our business passengers will benefit from a convenient schedule which accommodates a day return.

"Dublin is home to some of the world’s most reputable multinationals such as Microsoft, Google, Amazon, EMC and IBM. For leisure passengers, the route provides convenient and efficient access to Dublin, Ireland’s tourism and cultural capital.

“For US bound customers, the Aer Lingus connection over Dublin, offers a new fastest journey time from Leeds to New York, at less than 10 hours and that includes the unique convenience of arriving in the US as a domestic, pre-cleared passenger….without doubt, the best way to the USA!’

John Parkin, chief executive of Leeds Bradford International Airport, added: “We are delighted to welcome Aer Lingus to Leeds Bradford. This announcement will provide increased choice for business and leisure passengers flying to the Dublin hub.

“In addition to introducing a business friendly schedule between the 2 growing city regions of Leeds and Dublin, the opportunity for passengers to connect to Aer Lingus expanding North American network will offer a wider range of connections across the US and Canada.

“Coupled with the excellent pre clearance facility in Terminal 2 at Dublin Aer Lingus new service will provide an alternative means of gaining quick access to a number of US gateways.

“We will also look forward to providing a warm Yorkshire welcome to an increasing number of inbound visitors from North America and Ireland who will now choose to use this service.”

 

[yorkguy]

Re: Aer Lingus (Stobart Air)

Fantastic news. I've travelled to the US many times from LBA using the BA service via LHR. But this is a great alternative especially as they're offering the US clearance in Dublin. Hope it builds business rather than adversely affecting BA though.

 

[lbaspotter]

Re: Aer Lingus (Stobart Air)

The new Aer Lingus flights between Leeds and Dublin will operate twice daily as follows.

Provisional schedule

DUB 06:50 LBA 08:00 / LBA 08:30 – DUB 09:40 = MON, TUE, WED, THU, FRI, SAT ------
DUB 10:40 LBA 11:50 / LBA 12:10 – DUB 13:20 = ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ----- SUN
DUB 16:25 LBA 17:35 / LBA 18:05 – DUB 19:15 = MON, TUE, WED, THU, FRI ----- SUN

 

[Aviador]

Re: Aer Lingus (Stobart Air)

This is great news for LBA. Let's hope they can keep hold of the service this time especially with the onward connections to the States. It might only be Dublin but some competition will do the route good. Most importantly for LBA is this is another year-round service providing all important passenger growth in the winter season.

 

[yorkguy]

Re: Aer Lingus (Stobart Air)

The new Aer Lingus flights between Leeds and Dublin will operate twice daily as follows.

Provisional schedule

DUB 06:50 LBA 08:00 / LBA 08:30 – DUB 09:40 = MON, TUE, WED, THU, FRI, SAT ------
DUB 10:40 LBA 11:50 / LBA 12:10 – DUB 13:20 = ------ ------ ------ ------ ------ ----- SUN
DUB 16:25 LBA 17:35 / LBA 18:05 – DUB 19:15 = MON, TUE, WED, THU, FRI, SAT, SUN

06.50 could potentially be a tight transfer from an overnight transatlantic and then a bit of a wait til 16.25 if you don't make it. But I'm sure someone's thought of that

 

[leedsman]

Re: Aer Lingus (Stobart Air)

yorkguy - it looks like the inbound arrivals from the major east coast cities arrive into Dublin around 5am or just after, so there will be plenty of time for the onward UK connection.

The arrivals from other parts of the US seem to miss the early morning connection, but if it proves popular (pretty confident it will) then a third mid-day rotation would sort that. I suspect most of the traffic will be to the likes of New York, Boston, Toronto, Washington, rather than points further west. Interesting that they offer Orlando too.

Fabulous news, great to have that choice back.

 

[whoshotjimmi]

Re: Aer Lingus (Stobart Air)

Ryanair have already reacted to the news by cutting the price of flights from £19.99 to £9.99 as of the 27th October.

 

[lbaspotter]

Re: Aer Lingus (Stobart Air)

Does anyone know whether it will be an ATR 42 or 72?

Just seen on Aer Lingus Facebook page they are confirming it will be operated by ATR72 aircraft. Oh and by way flights will be on sale from tomorrow at http://www.aerlingus.com

 

[lbaspotter]

Re: Aer Lingus (Stobart Air)

I see Aer Lingus have posted some pictures taken at the airport this morning at the official launch of there new Leeds/Bradford - Dublin service

Source: https://www.facebook.com/aerlingus?fref=ts

Leeds we’re coming for you! From 23 October 2014 we will be operating a daily service from Leeds Bradford Airport with six onward transatlantic connection possibilities.

I suppose we will see some of these pictures as and when they get around to putting the official announcement onto there own Leeds/Bradford Airport website soon?

 

[whoshotjimmi]

Re: Aer Lingus (Stobart Air)

I see the base fare on a single to Dublin is £29.99. On Friday and Sunday, this rises to £39.98. Absolutely no competition for Ryanair's £9.99 on a trip to Dublin. Am I to believe that this route is being marketed purely on its onward connections to the USA? Quite risky. However, BA may have one eye on this - the yield on something like this is likely to be better than LBA-LHR. If it starts diverting customers away from LHR, it could be bad news for BA and LBA. I will be interested to see the loads. Many believe that the route is worth a go and, certainly, if Stobart Air are prepared to take a risk on the likes of Southend - Gronigen on behalf of Flybe, they may as well give this a go.

 

[Aviador]

Re: Aer Lingus (Stobart Air)

I know a fair amount of people who will avoid Ryanair whatever the cost. You will be surprised at how many people will use it. I think the ATR 72 is probably a cheaper aircraft to run than the 737-800 as well.

 

[yorkguy]

Re: Aer Lingus (Stobart Air)

Can someone advise me? Maybe I'm being slow. When I try to book from LBA, which now appears on the drop down list, it only gives me Dublin as a destination option. Is it just me? I was expecting to be able to book a JFK transfer.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Aer Lingus (Stobart Air)

Can someone advise me? Maybe I'm being slow. When I try to book from LBA, which now appears on the drop down list, it only gives me Dublin as a destination option. Is it just me? I was expecting to be able to book a JFK transfer.

I don't think it's 'just' you. I tried a test booking from LBA and only DUB came up in the destination list.

It's probably the case that their booking system hasn't yet caught up. When it does the final destinations that are available via transfer through DUB will be shown.

 

[Bigman]

Re: Aer Lingus (Stobart Air)

Fantastic news this. Another National airline to go along with BA, KLM, SAS and Austrian. Might prompt Ryanair to ditch those Eastern European rust buckets off the Dublin route.

 

[White Heather]

Re: Aer Lingus (Stobart Air)

Bigman, what Eastern European rust buckets would they be? I can only assume you mean the aircraft operating and as you know they are not Eastern European and certainly not rust buckets, with most Ryanair aircraft being only a few years old. And why would we want Ryanair to axe the Dublin route? We need both carriers not one instead of the other. Replacing a twice daily 737-800 seating 189 pax with a twice daily ATR72 that has less than half the capacity and takes 20 minutes longer to get there would hardly be progress!

 

[Bigman]

Re: Aer Lingus (Stobart Air)

White Heather. I mean the 'OM' reg 737/400's that keep appearing on the morning rotations instead of the main fleet 800's. Doesn't look good for corporate branding/image.

 

[lbaspotter]

Re: Aer Lingus (Stobart Air)

Hi All

I noticed today that when Aer Lingus restarts its Dublin route the service will be run once daily until Tuesday, October 28th

Thursday, October 23rd
EI3394 = DUB 16:00 > LBA 17:15/ EI3395 = LBA 17:50 > DUB 19:00
Friday, October 24th
EI3394 = DUB 14:15 > LBA 15:30 / EI3395 = LBA 15:55 > DUB 17:05
Saturday, October 25th
EI3390 = DUB 11:30 > LBA 12:45 / EI3391 = LBA 13:10 > DUB 14:20
Sunday, October 26th & Monday, October 27th
EI3394 = DUB 16:00 > LBA 17:15/ EI3395 = LBA 17:40 > DUB 18:50

Full Winter schedule as from Tuesday October 28th
EI3390 = DUB 06:50 > LBA 08:05 / EI3391 = LBA 08:30 > DUB 09:40 = MON, TUE, WED, THU, FRI, SAT, -----
EI3392 = DUB 10:30 > LBA 11:45 / EI3393 = LBA 12:10 > DUB 13:20 = -----, -----, -----, -----, -----, -----, SUN
EI3394 = DUB 16:25 > LBA 17:40 / EI3395 = LBA 18:05 > DUB 19:15 = MON, TUE, WED, THU, FRI, ----- , SUN

Also worth mentioning the fact that I sent Aer Lingus the follow tweets yesterday regarding connections and welcoming them back to Leeds/Bradford and Yorkshire skies..

Me:

@AerLingus great to see you returning to Yorkshire after 14 year gap. Definitely will look at flying with you to #Dublin from @LBIAirport

Aer Lingus:

Thanks, Ross! We hope to see you on board.

Me:

@AerLingus when will I be able to book a connecting flight on new route from LBA to USA. So far only flights DUB are available?

Aer Lingus:

Hi Ross, we've no confirmed date as yet. We'll contact you when we have information.

Me:

@AerLingus thanks for the quick reply, it's much appreciated.

So hope thats of help. Also I will let you know when they contact me...

 

[752]

Re: Aer Lingus (Stobart Air)

Im pretty sure I did read somewhere that they do intend to make the route x3 daily in the near future! maybe for summer 2015!

 

[Galaxy]

Re: Aer Lingus (Stobart Air)

This is really great news. I don't see any competition for Ryanair in terms of the weekend Dublin crowd, or even many of the business passengers, but the onwards potential is really interesting not just for the North American destinations, but there are some European destinations also that I personally would consider using this connection, including Frankfurt, Madrid, Athens, Berlin and Warsaw, rather than getting the train to Manchester or going via London.

 

[752]

Re: Aer Lingus (Stobart Air)

I don't think the route will effect Ryanair and hopefully not BA either! I hope passengers who use the MAN service will use the LBA as a better alternative!