Lufthansa commences new weekly Frankfurt-Dublin Airbus A340-300 service

                                               

Image courtesy of Brian Griffin 

Lufthansa commenced operating a weekly Frankfurt-Dublin Airbus A340-300 service operating mid morning DLH978/979 on Wednesdays from 3rd July till 30th October.

The inaugural service was operated by D-AIGS Airbus A340-313X MSN 297 named "Bergisch-Gladbach"  which was delivered to Lufthansa on 13th October 1999.

This is the first schedule Airbus A340-300 service to Dublin since TAP-Air Portugal operated a weekly service to Faro in the mid 1990s.

In a statement to Aerotelegraph website Lufthansa said "Operational reasons have prompted us to temporarily replace the usual A320 on these routes with A340. The use of long-haul aircraft from 1 July to the end of October helps to prevent especially flight cancellations during the summer."

The aircraft Airbus A340-300/600 will operate on a few selected flights with high demand from Frankfurt to Cairo (CAI), Dublin (DUB), Lisbon (LIS), Vienna (VIE).

On 13th March Lufthansa announced a $12 Billion order at list prices with Airbus and Boeing for 20 Airbus A350-900 and 20 Boeing 787-9 aircraft to replace four engined aircraft (Airbus A340-300/600/Boeing 747-400/800) between late 2022 and 2027.  The carrier added "Lufthansa Group has negotiated a significant price reduction".

The airline operates a fleet of 15 Airbus A340-300 aircraft seating 283 passengers in a three class layout 18 flat-bed seats in Business Class, 19 reclining seats in Premium Economy, and 261 standard seats in Economy Class powered by four CFM56-5C4 engines.

According to Lufthansa Group Capital Markets Day presentation, by 2025, the Group plans to retire the Airbus A340-300 from its fleet carriers.

CEO and Chairman of Lufthansa Group Carsten Spohr said "By replacing four-engine planes with new models, we are laying a sustainable foundation for our future in the long run. In addition to the cost-effectiveness of the A350 and B787, the significantly lower CO2 emissions of this new generation of long-haul aircraft was also a decisive factor in our investment decision. Our responsibility for the environment is becoming more and more important as a criterion for our decisions."

Irish Aviation Research Institute © 7th July 2019 All Rights Reserved

Air Canada introduces former Singapore Airlines Airbus A330-300s on Dublin routes

                                               

Image courtesy of Air Canada Airbus A330-343X at Dublin

 Air Canada has introduced former Singapore Airlines Airbus A330-300 aircraft in acquired via TAP Air Portugal on routes from Dublin to Montreal and Vancouver replacing Air Canada Rouge Boeing 767-300(ER) aircraft.  The aircraft are painted in Air Canada's revised livery.

C-GEFA Airbus A330-343X MSN 939 ex 9V-STD/CS-TOU operated its first service to Dublin on Sunday 30th June operating ACA818/863.

C-GEGC Airbus A330-343X MSN 940 ex 9V-STE/CS-TOV operated its first service to Dublin on Thursday 4th July operating ACA862/819.

For the summer season the aircraft will be operated in a two cabin premium economy and economy class. The aircraft C-GEFA (MSN 939) ,C-GEGC (MSN 940), C-GEGI (MSN 941) , C-GEGP(MSN 942) will be reconfigured at end of season into standard three class cabin configuration.

The acquisition of the former Singapore Airlines Airbus A330-300 aircraft will enable the carrier transfer its six remaining Boeing 767-300 in its fleet to Air Canada Rouge.

Irish Aviation Research Institute © 7th July 2019 All Rights Reserved