Aer Lingus Regional inaugurates new Dublin to Newcastle route

                                                   

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 the North East with many passengers taking advantage not only of the Dublin destination, but also connections onto Aer Lingus mainline services to major North American cities such as New York, Chicago, Boston, Orlando, San Francisco and Toronto.

"Passengers connecting onto US services at Dublin get the added benefit of pre-clearance of US customs, which can save passengers up to two hours in time on arrival. This is a huge benefit to passengers who can avoid a lengthy delay at customs.

"Aer Lingus Regional is committed to providing our UK customers with easy, convenient and great value regional connections."

Newcastle International airport Aviation Development Director Chris Sanders said "It’s great to see the launch of Aer Lingus Regional’s first flight from Newcastle to Dublin. The service has been very popular with both business and leisure travellers keen to take advantage of the convenient schedule and excellent service on offer."

Irish Aviation Research Institute © 26th October 2013 All Rights Reserved.

Last Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) MD80 Flight operates to Dublin Airport

                                                   

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 unique it is. Although it is with a tinge of sadness that I say goodbye to the MD-80, in its place, we continue to phase in Boeing 737NG and Airbus A320′s every month and in less than three years, SAS will be one of the first airlines to use the Airbus 320neo. We are thrilled to receive the new aircraft, which will offer our customers even more comfort onboard".

The airline began the phase out of the type in 2012 originally planned to complete the process by 2016, which accelerated due market conditions and sales to operators in the United States.  SAS MD-80 aircraft fleet, which was one of the largest in the world in the mid-1990s, with over 70 aircraft in use.

SAS will replace current MD-80s with Airbus A320 aircraft, fuel consumption is about 30 percent lower per seat kilometer, ahead of deliveries of the Airbus A320neo as part of restructuring under it's Excellence Next Generation (4XNG) plan.

The SAS morning service will continue to be operated by SAS’s Finnish subsidiary Blue1 using B717 (an MD-80 series development with the Boeing label) and the evening service will be an A320.

                                                   

Irish Aviation Research Institute © 26th October All Rights Reserved.