Irish Aviation Research Institute

                                                    Courtesy: Paul Doyle  Aer Lingus Regional launched their first flight from Dublin to Newcastle on Thursday 24th October 2013. The airline now operates two daily return flights from Dublin Airport to Newcastle and aims to fly up to 65,000 passengers on the route in the first year, operated by new ATR72-600 aircraft. The first service EIN3356/7 (ATC Callsign REA56NC/57NC) was operated by EI-FAV ATR72-600 c/n 1105 received a water canon salute on arrival at Newcastle. Aer Arann, operator of Aer Lingus Regional, recently announced a package of measures to grow the airline as part of its ‘new beginning’ strategy.These measures include the launch of three new routes to Manchester, Birmingham and now, the addition of Newcastle to the airline’s route network. Aer Arann’s Chief Commercial Officer, Simon Fagan said "We are delighted to be celebrating our first flight from Newcastle airport, where we’ve had a warm welcome from th

                                                    Courtesy: Mick Kelly  On Thursday 24th October Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) operated it's last MD80 flight to Dublin Airport. The final Dublin flight SAS2537/8 from and to Copenhagen was operated by LN-RMM construction number 53005, with the type having served for twenty five years, its predecessor, the DC-9 served Dublin for many years. Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) MD80s connection with Ireland goes beyond it's Dublin schedule services as SAS contracted Shannon Aerospace to maintain the type for many years, which continues today with it's Boeing 737 fleet Today Saturday 26th October the final schedule service operated by SE-DIR SAS403/2  operated from Copenhagen to and from Stockholm Arlanda. It's final departure a special charter flight to Oslo at 1300 CET. SAS Airlines Country Manager Ireland Alan Sparling said "For sure, the MD-80 is an iconic aircraft and anybody who has flown in one knows how uniqu