ArkeFly launches sun charters from Cork Airport

                                                     

Courtesy Arkefly 

Dutch airline, ArkeFly has launched a new sun charter service from Cork Airport to a number of Mediterranean destinations this summer using Boeing 737-400s.

From Friday, June 7th to August 30th, inclusive, the airline will have 32,000 seats available for passengers departing Cork with a mix of outbound destinations to Lanzarote, Malaga, Las Palmas, Palma de Mallorca and Reus. In addition to the sun charter service, ArkeFly will also provide an additional 3,700 seats into Cork this year, with Dutch specialist inbound tour operator KRAS, also part of the TUI Group.

KRAS will organise a number of holiday packages from the Netherlands to Ireland via a charter service from Amsterdam to Cork, offering very flexible options for 4 day, 11 day or 18 day package holidays, all exclusively available and bookable through KRAS. The flights will operate weekly departing on Friday and returning on Monday.

Cork Airport Director Niall MacCarthy said "We are absolutely delighted to be able to offer passengers additional choice this summer with the introduction of a new Dutch airline, ArkeFly. The summer is our busiest period here at Cork Airport and this year is looking particularly positive, with two million seats on sale to 50 destinations direct from Cork. Aer Lingus has made 10,000 extra seats available to Barcelona this summer, compared with last year, and Ryanair has increased capacity by 150,000 seats on routes from Cork to Poland, Lanzarote, Alicante, Faro and Liverpool".

ArkeFly is a wholly-owned subsidiary of travel company, TUI Group which flys to more than 70 destinations worldwide, including favoured holiday sites throughout the Mediterranean, the Caribbean, Africa, Asia and North and South America.

Irish Aviation Research Institute © 22nd May 2013 All Rights Reserved.

Aer Arann to create 50 new jobs as part of 'New Beginning' strategy

                                                     

Courtesy Paul Doyle 

Aer Arann which operates Aer Lingus Regional, announced this morning its creating 50 new jobs as part of its 'New Beginning' strategy following the entry into service of its first ATR72-600 which aims to position Aer Arann among Europe’s top tier of regional airlines.

The 50 new jobs will increase employee numbers by 15% at Dublin Airport and at the airline’s headquarters in Dublin in flight and cabin crew, engineering and support roles bringing the company’s overall staff numbers to 370.

The airline has overseen a 32% rise in Aer Lingus Regional passenger numbers in the past 12 months and this year is on track to carry in excess of 1.2 million passengers. The airline will take delivery of a further seven new ATR72-600s by March 2014.

Aer Arann recently moved all flight arrivals and departures to Terminal 2 at Dublin Airport, and now operates from the same terminal as Aer Lingus’ mainline services. The move facilitates Aer Lingus Regional customers linking to Aer Lingus’ transatlantic services in Terminal 2 - a significant and growing part of the business which is on target to bring 100,000 passengers through Dublin’s newest terminal this year.

Aer Arann Interim CEO Seán Brogan said "We recently outlined a package of measures to grow Aer Arann as part of our “new beginning” strategy. These measures included a restructuring of the company, significant investment in new aircraft, extension of the franchise agreement with Aer Lingus until 2022, and the addition of new routes to Manchester and Birmingham. Given these measures, an increasing customer base and expanding route network, we now need to grow our team. These new positions mark another milestone in the future of Aer Arann, and we look forward to welcoming our new recruits over the next 12 months."

Aer Lingus CEO Christoph Muller said "Our franchise partnership with Aer Arann has gone from strength to strength since its inception in 2010. It has enabled Aer Lingus and Aer Arann to work as a team in developing many new routes and increasing the frequency of service on existing routes. The feedback from our customers has been very positive. They enjoy the service, evidenced in the growing passenger numbers. The new fleet will further improve Aer Lingus Regional customers’ experience, and we welcome the announcement of the new jobs that this fleet expansion brings."

Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport  Leo Varadkar TD said "I am delighted by Aer Arann’s announcement of the creation of 50 new jobs as part of its “new beginning” strategy. Aer Arann is proving that it is possible to operate successfully as a regional airline by linking Ireland with the UK market and beyond. The company is investing in new aircraft, new routes and new jobs. I wish Aer Arann every success in its “new beginning” strategy, and look forward to more positive announcements in the future."

Aer Lingus Regional operates 550 weekly flights on 27 routes from from Cork,  Dublin, Shannon, Kerry and Ireland West Airport to the UK and France.

Irish Aviation Research Institute © 22nd May 2013 All Rights Reserved.