Aer Lingus progetta una nuova base fuori dall'Irlanda

[landingFCO]

Aer Lingus reported to plan first base outside Ireland
By Finfacts Team
Feb 14, 2007, 074


Former State airline Aer Lingus is planning to establish its first base outside Ireland.

The move is said to be part of an expansion which will allow the airline to establish 15 new European routes between destinations outside Ireland. The airline has already shortlisted three airports for its first foreign hub.

A report in the Irish Independent says that according to industry sources, it is likely the base will be the first of several which will give Aer Lingus major new opportunities to increase revenue.

It could also help make the small but very profitable airline into a significant European player.

The airline has told trade union representatives that the changes in working conditions it is currently proposing are absolutely necessary if the plans for a new base are to go ahead.

The changes include provisions which allow Aer Lingus to employ people at foreign bases, on "local market rates", or to relocate existing employees.

Trade union SIPTU, which represents about half of all 3,500 Aer Lingus employees, on Monday served strike notice on the company yesterday, giving the company 14 days notice of industrial action.

Aer Lingus staff are being asked to accept a standard 37.5-hour working week, and to take one day in lieu for working a bank holiday instead of two.

The Independent says that there was further bad news for the airline last night when Aer Lingus group of unions representing 175 ground maintenance engineers and workers voted "massively" for industrial action over the company's cost-cutting contracts.

It is expected the ALGU will serve notice for strike action on the company today to take affect from Monday fortnight.

IMPACT, which represents Aer Lingus pilots and many of the cabin crew, is engaged in talks with the airline. Aer Lingus has already brought in the new conditions for new employees and plans to bring them in for existing employees on March 1st.


© Copyright 2007 by Finfacts.com

[cesare.caldi]

Molto interessante. Quali sono le tre città in lista per diventare base?

[Airspeed]

Si tratta di uno dei pochi casi in cui una compagnia di bandiera apre una base al di fuori dei confini nazionali. L'unico altro che mi viene in mente è IB in america latina, ma EI lo fa all'interno dell'europa.

Sono curioso di sapere quali saranno effettivamente le dimensioni della base una volta a regime.

[cesare.caldi]

Sono curioso di sapere quali saranno effettivamente le dimensioni della base una volta a regime.

Si parla almeno inizialmente di 15 nuove rotte

[Airspeed]

Si parla almeno inizialmente di 15 nuove rotte

Sì l'articolo parla di 15 rotte, ma immagino che siano quelle iniziali. Mi domando a regime

[landingFCO]

Aer Lingus may use Belfast as new base

Aer Lingus is considering using Belfast as a new base from which to launch short-haul services.

The city is believed to be one of five in the UK under consideration as a new hub for the low-fares airline, which currently has planes based in Dublin and Cork.

A decision is likely to be made within three months, and services could begin next January.

Whichever base is chosen, Aer Lingus plans to open routes to the UK and continental Europe. Any new services would typically be of more than two hours' duration.

Informed sources said Aer Lingus was considering both Belfast International Airport and George Best Belfast City Airport, which is owned by Ferrovial of Spain.

Belfast International, which is owned by ACDL and handles five million passengers a year, is the bigger of the two and thought more likely to be chosen by the airline should it choose the city.

Aer Lingus previously ran services from Belfast, via Shannon, to Baltimore in the US. This route ceased about five years ago.

Aer Lingus will take delivery of two new A320 aircraft in December, and is keen to base them outside the State in a bid to expand its services. These planes have 174 seats, making them suitable for short-haul services.

Aer Lingus has ruled out basing aircraft at Heathrow in London due to the high costs involved in flying from there.

Edinburgh, Glasgow, Newcastle and Bristol are all thought to have been considered, although it is not clear if they have made the shortlist.


Se fosse confermata BFS, che al momento sembra la più probabile, resterebbero comunque in Irlanda (sebbene U.K.). Secondo me non sarebbe una cattiva scelta, anche se probabilmente molte rotte saranno di nicchia, difficile pensare a voli daily o anche più, per destinazioni fuori dal mercato irlandese e U.K.