Aer Lingus Fleet Changes

I was just commenting on the rumor!:)

Aer Lingus still have the A319 on order yet it seems to of gone quiet about what their future will be, so I doubt an A318 order would be on the cards. I would think at the moment all BAe 146 routes would go to the 735?

i think EI did have an A318 oder at one time – i know that they cancelled some Airbus A320 family a/c they had on order ic A319s and 320s – i tihnk BA some some of the slots

Does anyone think the A318 would be a contender for a BAe 146 successor ? I’m not sure what the passenger capacity is, but looking at it , it has to be similar ?

I think Aer Lingus would be better off sticking with Airbus anyhow, especially given the vast amounts of EU funding Eire has had in the last years. An Irish state airline in the EU opting for a US manufacturer would surely earn them a blotted copy book from the boys in Brussels ?

Yeah this info is only a rumour so nothing is confirmed or denied. I know the 146s were supposed to be leaving the fleet but that is all I knew about possible fleet changes. The whole thing does seem a bit strange, however, I am sure more information will no doubt come out in the next couple of weeks.

Kabir-We don’t know that they ARE going to change the fleet do we? I am only passing on information given to me by a fairly senior EI employee.

echo, echooooooo! 😉

Well if they are going to stay in Airbus fold then why change fleet? Unless they are facing problems from there lessors?

Well if they are going to stay in Airbus fold then why change fleet?

Although I now no longer work in the airline industry I still have many contacts within it , including an EI station manager down here. She seems certain that EI will remain in the Airbus fold. But you never know what the “Shadowy old grey men in Seattle” have up their sleeves!

Some of the earlier A330s have already gone i think

Aer Lingus’ A330s are leased from ILFC; it could therefore be that if Aer Lingus is standardising their fleet, merely speculating, the 777 could be their preferred choice if they are looking into changing their longhaul fleet. However, what is the capacity like on the 777 compared to the A330? Would the aircraft be too large?

Yes they are leased.

I think some of their A330’s are leased anyhow, and they used to be a 747 long haul operator. Maybe an all Boeing configuration will see them introduce the 777 instead.

With Ryanair and Aer Lingus being seduced by Boeing at the moment you have to wonder if the manufacturer is trying out a new strategy in Ireland aimed at European (airbus) customers in the long run.

Hmmm.. I’d suggest, however, that with EI operating the A330, the only possible commonality aspect would be to move to an all Airbus fleet, rather than a Boeing shorthaul fleet/Airbus Longhaul fleet, no?

Especially as they only have about half a dozen longhaul planes…
Unless they’re mooting getting rid of the 330’s, too? But as we all know, Boeing don’t have commonality within their fleet, anyway, so it dosen’t seem to make any sense…

Well Aer Lingus have returned to profit so I would see a fleet renewal is probably a rather good idea while the conditions are good. Aer Lingus never technically finished working towards fleet commonality, although it was presumed that it was working with the A32X family. However, in fact it still has more Boeing 737s than Airbus in its fleet, so with Boeing able to take its older aircraft and standardise them with the 737NG family, Aer Lingus finally completes its goal of short haul commonality.

Economic conditions are rather good for Aer Lingus as well. With the current value of the dollar, it would make sense that they take advantage of this and also make use of cut prices from Boeing. Looking at other factors we see that American currently has the 737-800 ordered yet in its current position it could be wise for these to be transferred to Aer Lingus, its partner. Good for both American and Aer Lingus.

However, it is probable that he Irish Government could be pressurising Aer Lingus to buy Airbus considering Irelands place in the EU.

It doesn’t matter what Boeing offer them.

A bargain is only a bargain if you were going to buy the planes anyway. And they can’t afford to, whatever the price!

Perhaps there’s a buy out from Ryanair in the offing ? It wouldn’t surprise me in the least.

IE

Yep , it makes sense.
Boeing has to find new markets. They are losing many deals against airbus and regardless the huge Ryanair deal , they need new customers.

A great economic package from USA a possibility.