Air Italy takes delivery of first Irish Registered Boeing 737 MAX 8

                                                 

EI-GFY Boeing 737 MAX 8 Air Italy 

Air Italy took delivery of it's first Irish Registered Boeing 737 MAX 8 EI-GFY construction number  64605 on Monday 14 May. The aircraft was delivered Paine Field direct to Shannon Airport and onwards to Milan Malpensa.
                           
Qatar Airways Group Chief Executive, His Excellency Mr. Akbar Al Baker said  “It is truly a remarkable moment to be witnessing the launch of a new era in Italian aviation. The touchdown of Air Italy’s first Boeing B737 Max in new livery at Milan marks the beginning of a new travel experience for the people of Italy. Not only are we pleased to be part of this memorable moment, but we are delighted to be supporting it by leasing Air Italy with five Airbus A330-200 aircraft this year from the Qatar Airways fleet.”

The new Boeing 737 Max aircraft features modern and spacious cabins, superior operating economics and a greater fuel efficiency. The aircraft type will feature Business Class seating and will replace Air Italy’s existing Boeing 737-800's.

The inaugural aircraft EI-GFY is the first of nearly 50 new aircraft that will be added to the Air Italy fleet by 2022. This is the first of 20  new Boeing B737 Max aircraft that will join the Air Italy fleet over the next three years.

In 2017 Qatar Airways acquired 49 per cent of AQA Holding , the new parent company of Air Italy, while the previous sole shareholder Alisarda maintained 51 per cent.

Air Italy's fleet comprises of eight Boeing 737-800 and three Boeing 767-300, will be progressively renewed with eight new aircraft, three brand new Boeing 737 MAX-8 and five Airbus A330-200 this year.

Image courtesy of Air Italy

Irish Aviation Research Institute © 19 May 2018 All Rights Reserved

Aer Lingus enhances Dublin Hub connectivity with new Seattle route

                                                 

Aer Lingus Airbus A330-200

Aer Lingus Friday 18 May inaugurated a new route from Dublin to Seattle operated by EI-DAA Airbus A330-200.  The new Dublin-Seattle service will operate four times weekly (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday),  year-round, with 2,218 seats available each week.

Seattle is the second new transatlantic route for summer 2018, following the launch of Dublin-Philadelphia in March.  Since joining International Airlines Group (IAG) in 2015, Aer Lingus has launched six new North American services to Hartford, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, Philadelphia and Seattle, marking the largest ever transatlantic expansion in the airline’s history.

The new Seattle route will be maximized for connectivity with Aer Lingus enabling onward connections from Dublin to 24 other cities including Berlin, Edinburgh, Brussels and Hamburg and from Seattle with an interline agreement with Alaska Airlines.

Aer Lingus Chief Operating Officer Mike Rutter said "We are delighted to commence Ireland’s first and only direct service to Seattle, Washington State, with four direct flights each week. Seattle as a destination holds great promise for Aer Lingus given the strong business ties between the two regions making this an important route for business travel as well as leisure trips as exemplified by the high demand for business class tickets on the route to date.”

Alaska Airlines Chief Commercial Officer Andrew Harrison said "We're thrilled to welcome Aer Lingus to our hometown airport and portfolio of Alaska Global Partners."

Dublin Airport Managing Director Vincent Harrison said "This is Aer Lingus’ 13th transatlantic route from Dublin Airport and its tenth new transatlantic route in the past four years. I have no doubt Seattle will be a popular destination for both business and leisure passengers and will further boost trade and travel between Ireland and the US."

Port of Seattle Commissioner Stephanie Bowman said "More than 800,000 Washingtonians claim “Irish” as their primary ancestry, making this new connection a value in that regard but also creating links to booming tech industries in both countries and an additional choice to travelers coming and going to Ireland."

Aer Lingus Inaugural Seattle Flight Arrival 

Irish Aviation Research Institute © 19 May 2018 All Rights Reserved