Aer Lingus announced today that 9 new routes from Dublin to Europe will be flown in its summer schedule next year. The new services include, Berlin, Venice, Bilbao, Valencia, Lyon, Zurich, Dubrovnik, Warsaw and Copenhagen.
These new destinations will mean that EI have launched 28 new routes in two years, their network doubled in two years. The airline has said that the all their new current routes are performing extremely well and so they are confident that these new routes will be equally as successful.
Some of those destinations surprise me, especially Dubrovnik. Not the fact that they are being flown by Aer Lingus (I think they will be very popular with tourists) but that such destinations would exist two or less years ago? Anyhow I think they will be successes. I would have like to have seen Athens as I think next summer would be a pretty decent time for flights there and it seems to suit EI’s market quite well.
By: Saab 2000 - 4th October 2003 at 11:01
I’m not sure about code sharing with BA but I think Aer Lingus’ expansion might leave BA rather anxious as to Aer Lingus’ future as a partner. Consider this, all of BA’s Oneworld partners before the entry of Swiss, were on the boundaries of Europe (Finnair, Aer Lingus and Iberia) all serving niche markets for the big guys at Heathrow. The more they expand the less interlining that is needed with Heathrow. When they expand more to the US then this is just emphasised even more. Their reliance on Heathrow is shrinking, traditionally they always had pretty bad European links and so BA and Heathrow were of great importance. Now, well 28 new destinations in two years gives you your answer.
By: Hand87_5 - 4th October 2003 at 09:03
Good news. Bilbao is not far away from BIQ and I have plan to go back to Ireland.
By: T5 - 3rd October 2003 at 23:18
Good news for Aer Lingus and nice to see their passengers being offered more variety.
Is there a chance with Dubrovnik route that British Airways and Aer Lingus will operate codeshare flights? I know LGW-BLQ is a codeshare, with British Airways flying the route all the time.
By: Bhoy - 3rd October 2003 at 23:16
me? nah, I’m no’ paranoid. :rolleyes:
Anyway, it’s Kenny Clark, innit? He won’t wait till the 94th minute to give them a penalty… although I’m unsure who he’ll blame the foul on, with Bobo being suspended… Maybe we could lend them Thommo for any penalties they get…
By: MSR777 - 3rd October 2003 at 23:10
Good news for EI! They really seem to have turned things around.:)
By: Ren Frew - 3rd October 2003 at 23:07
Originally posted by Bhoy
Aer Lingus already fly to ZRH codeshare with Swiss…Would I be a cynic if I suggested that now they’re onboardoneworldSwiss are looking to retain routes through codeshares but still reduce the size of their fleet? :S
Dunno but you’ll be a cynic tomorrow if the ref gives the Gers a penalty in 94 mins to win the game. 😀
By: Bhoy - 3rd October 2003 at 22:59
Aer Lingus already fly to ZRH codeshare with Swiss…
Would I be a cynic if I suggested that now they’re onboardoneworldSwiss are looking to retain routes through codeshares but still reduce the size of their fleet? :S
By: Mark L - 3rd October 2003 at 20:18
Looks good for EI, BA have announced Dubrovnik too, so some agreement there I would think. BA also fly to all the other destinations too.
Sign In
October 3, 2003 at 8:14 pm