Transatlantic traffic at Dublin Airport up 18% in May

                                                   

Dublin Airport announced it handled almost 1.9 million passengers in May an increase of 9% on prior year according to the Dublin Airport Authority. All market segments recorded a positive passenger trend with increased activity in Summer schedule.

The North America market continues to perform very strong passenger volumes to and from North America grew by 18%, as almost 176,000 passengers travelled on this sector in May reflecting the full run effect of Aer Lingus expanded summer schedule offering increased connectivity from a number of European cities to US via Dublin and launch of seasonal services by Air Transat and US Airways.

Passenger volumes to and from continental Europe rose by 10% with more than 1 million passengers travelling to European destinations last month growth in this segment driven by Heineken Cup Finals generating 30,000 additional passengers on weekend of 17th May and Tarom Airlines launching a new three times weekly service from Dublin to Bucharest on 22nd May.

Passenger volumes on Domestic routes increase by 5% to almost 7,000 passengers.

In other international market segment including routes the Middle East traffic increased by 7% to almost 39,000 passengers and traffic to the UK was up by 4% to over 608,000 passengers.

More than 7.3 million passengers have used Dublin Airport in the first five months of this year, a 4% increase on the same period in 2012.

Irish Aviation Research Institute © 7th June 2013 All Rights Reserved.

Aer Lingus brands leased Airbus A320 EI-FCC

                                                   

Courtesy Paul Doyle 

Aer Lingus has branded leased Iberia Airlines Airbus A320-214 c/n 1229 EI-FCC from GECAS for the summer season in Aer Lingus decals and logos in an identical colour scheme to two A320s formerly leased from Swiss International EI-CZV c/n 553 and EI-CZW c/n 559 in 2003.

This aircraft operated its first flight to Malaga last Sunday 2nd June and has since been tasked on routes to London Gatwick,London Heathrow Marseille, Perpignan and Stuttgart this week according website Flightradar24.com.

This summer Aer Lingus operates a fleet of 34 Airbus A320s from Belfast City, Cork, Dublin and Shannon bases in addition to four based in the UK to operate Virgin Atlantic Little Red services.

Irish Aviation Research Institute © 7th June 2013 All Rights Reserved.

United Airlines inaugurates new seasonal Shannon-Chicago O'Hare service

                                                     

United Airlines this morning inaugurated its new seasonal Shannon to Chicago O'Hare hub service from 6th June to 28th August, UAL66/7 was operated by N19117 Boeing 757-224/W c/n 27559. The new route is expected to generate 20,000 additional passengers through the airport.

Shannon Airport Chairperson Rose Hynes said "We are delighted to welcome United Airlines today with this service, which is a huge boost to the tens of thousands annually who travel between the west of Ireland and Chicago.  These passengers can now avoid unnecessary transit times by flying directly into and out of the region itself through Shannon Airport.  Outbound passengers will also have the advantage of clearing Customs and Border Protection services at Shannon, which will also save them significant time on arrival in the US.  No other country in Europe has an airport with this facility.”

United Airlines Vice President Atlantic & Pacific Sales James Muller said "We are pleased to provide United customers with nonstop access to Chicago from the west coast of Ireland for the first time.Having operated our Shannon-New York/Newark service successfully for 15 years, this new route will further benefit our customers in Ireland, offering faster access to one of the United States’ most popular business and tourism destinations as well as increased travel options throughout the Americas."

The Chicago route was a regular service at Shannon since 1996 and was last operated in 2009 when Aer Lingus ceased its service. United Airlines operates fives times weekly on Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. UAL66 departs Chicago O'Hare at 1805 arriving Shannon Airport 0705, UAL67 departs Shannon Airport 1100 arrives Chicago O'Hare 1305.

Irish Aviation Research Institute © 7th June 2013 All Rights Reserved

Ryanair announces three new routes from Comiso (Sicily)

                                                     

Ryanair today announced 3 new routes at Comiso to/from Brussels Charleroi, London Stansted and Rome from 7th August 2013, which will deliver over 150,000 passengers per annum sustaining  150 jobs at Comiso Airport with 10 weekly flights, following the signing of a five year agreement.

Flights from Comiso (Ryanair’s 22nd Italian airport) to Rome Ciampino will operate six times weekly from 7th August and Brussels South Charleroi Airport twice weekly from 17th September, London Stansted twice weekly from 18th September.

Ryanair’s Lisa Cashin said: “We are delighted to announce a new Italian route from London Stansted to a new airport for Ryanair in Comiso, southern Sicily. Ryanair now offers passengers in the Greater London area a choice of 18 Italian routes from London Stansted."

Ryanair Deputy CEO  Michael Cawley said "Ryanair is pleased to announce 3 new routes at Comiso, our newest airport, to/from Brussels Charleroi, London Stansted and Rome beginning in August 2013."

Comiso an Italian municipality in the Province of Ragusa in Sicily. Comiso consists of three boroughs Comiso, Pedalino, and Quaglio. It lies some 22 km west of Ragusa in the South of Sicily.

In addition Ryanair serves Catania, Palermo and Trapani airports in the region.

                                       

Irish Aviation Research Institute © 7th June 2013 All Rights Reserved.

Aer Lingus long-haul passenger traffic up 20% in May

                                                   

Aer Lingus announced it carried over 1 million passengers in May up 5.6% on prior year carrying 107,000 long-haul passengers up 20.2% with a load factor of 84.4% up 2.9% with revenue passenger kilometers up 21% to 559 millions on a 16.8% increase in available seat kilometers.

Aer Lingus has enhanced connections to the United States over Dublin Airport from a number of  it's European destinations.

On short-haul it carried 824,000 passengers up 3.9% with a load factor of 77.2% up 3.4%.

Aer Lingus Regional carried 90,000 passengers up 2.3% and year to date has carried 390,000 passengers up 13.4%.

Irish Aviation Research Institute © 7th June 2013 All Rights Reserved.