The new United looks like an overgrown ice cream van. BWIA just looks bloody awful!

Up until around 2 yrs ago Aer Lingus ran daily scheduled services from STN using 146 aircraft. During week days there were 7 flights per day between either DUB or SNN with the number of rotations down to 6 daily at weekends. This programme was then moved to LCY and a few months back cancelled altogether and the 146s disposed of. I believe that the Irish flights ex LCY are now operated by Cityjet.

Well put Mark, I’ll give this one a miss!!!!!!!

I agree with most of what has been posted here. I can’t comment from aircrews perspective as my dealings with LoCo carriers was from a handling agents point of view but they certainly did’nt do our end of things any good either. Our company was tendering for the renewal of a handling contract with a major (and still flying) LoCo and we were supposed to be able to turn round a fully loaded 737-300 in 20 mins using no more than 3 ground crew for baggage off/onload, step removal and pushback! This number did not include traffic officer or passenger agent. In reality this could not be done with less than 4 so straight away we were losing money on the deal and running a high risk of incurring penalty payments which seem to contribute to the coffers of these “carriers” in no small way and thereby subsidise the unrealistic fares. Our company decided to withdraw its tender which indirectly led to a large drop in business and the loss of my and many other colleagues jobs. Thankfully I am now employed in the Biz Jet/VIP field and immune from the antics of these “airlines” and I’m not sorry about that. As I’ve posted previously, I dont believe that the likes of Ryanair will be a real long term item, at least not in their present form. I feel for those out there who aspire to piloting for a living, Good Luck to all of you in this LoCo environment but remember the decent operators are still out there.

They should have left well alone, there was nothing wrong or dated with the previous livery, great shame.

All aircraft emit dubious gasses!!

No secret, I love Russian aircraft, apart from one or two I don’t think that there is an ugly one among them. IMO you could’nt call the 747 pretty but its functional and does its job well and I acknowledge that fact. Serious question, how many of you on here have worked with Soviet/Russian airliners and been fortunate enough to enjoy trips on their flight decks? (or even in their cabins?) It would be nice to find out that some of you have and are basing your opinions on these aircraft by having had experience of them close up and personal. I’m not attempting point scoring here but I spent many years working with them, hence my admiration, some have said on here, passion for them and the crews who fly them. By all means rubbish their aesthetics but it seems to me that alot of the rubbishing of these fine aircraft is done from the point of view of “how they look” or, God Forbid, where they are made and some dubious “safety statistics”, not often on the capabilities, safety and longevity of them. As supurbly put by Matthew Murray these aircraft operate daily and safely in places and climates where other types dare not go, So come on guys, I know its personal taste and all that but credit where its due (Even if your’re not keen on them) Rant over…….Thank You!