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Tuesday January 26 saw the latest Ryanair delivery arrive in Dublin from Boeing Field. The aircraft in question is B737-8AS registered EI-EKF, msn 35025, hex code 4CA804. Michael Kelly was on hand to capture flight RYR 800K as it touched down on arrival.
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The preponderance of pharmaceutical companies in Ireland guarantees the global players visit now and then with their corporate playthings. Yesterday Pfizer visited Dublin with Gulfstream 550 registered N4CP (msn 5005) and Gulfstream V registered N83CP (msn 635), the former which is pictured above in Derek Gannon's copyright photo.
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A weather diversion to Dublin on Monday was USAF C-37B serial 06-0500 which was unable to land in Shannon due fog. The aircraft, msn 5152 was delivered to the USAF in March 2008 and is still probably the least common C-37B to visit Shannon. After refuelling, SAM 6441 departed Dublin westbound and is pictured above in Derek Gannon's copyright photo.
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Once the skiing season begins the air ambulance season gets into full swing with a number of German, Austrian and Swiss aircraft registered aircraft almost guaranteed to visit Irish airports every month. Dublin had one such visit on Monday when Duesseldorf based Jet Executive International called with Bombardier Learjet 35A registered D-CAPO (msn 35-159), a 1989 vintage aircraft and one of three Learjets on hand at JEI. Pictured above in Derek Gannon's photograph, D-CAPO is seen on the pan after arrival.
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As part of it board rfreshment strategy, Aer Lingus announced Monday that it made two non executive appointments to the company's board.
Montie Brewer, former President and CEO of Air Canada where he formerly implemented many of the chnages that Aer Lingus says are currently underway at the airline He is also a non executive director of Alegiant Travel Company, parent of US low cost carrier Allegiant Air.
Nicola Shaw is Director, UK, Ireland and Germany at FirstGroup PLC, the UK's largest bus operator with a fleet of 9,000 vehicles. The Aberdeen based company also owns Aircoach which serves Dublin Airport as well as operating the carpark shuttle bus services at Dublin.
In announcing the appointments, Colm Barrington, Aer Lingus Chairman, commented "We are delighted to welcome Montie Brewer and Nicola Shaw to our board. Their knowledge, expertise and experience of the airline and transport sectors globally will make a major contribution to our board and to defining and implementing the changes required for the future success of Aer Lingus."
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The intention at "Contrails" is to bring you the latest from the Irish aviation scene - whatever the weather. The fog hung over the country almost all weekend throwing up the usual diverts and delays but Ryanair still managed to get EI-EKD onto the ground in Dublin on Saturday afternoon, January 23. The aircraft is msn 35024, hex code 4CA802. With the RVR at 600m Michael Kelly still managed to get a full frame of flight RYR800D about to touchdown on R24 - or was it on the ground ?
Pictured below, 'KD was captured on Tuesday January 26 in less challenging conditions.
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Wednesday's dispute between union IMPACT, representing Air Traffic Control Officers and the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) was one of those disputes where nobody was ever going to win the hearts of the travelling (and non travelling) public. Whilst the controllers may be criticised for their apparent lack of appreciation of tfhe current economic climate through their demands for a pay increase of 6%, their employer received no kudus for the manner in which it dealt with the demand. Twenty thousand passengers throughout Europe had their travel plans disrupted when the IAA suspended 15 controllers in Dublin and Shannon for refusing to implement "new technology", a phrase not heard since the1980's. Since Wednesday, however, the heads were obviousy banged together resulting in a statement this evening from the Labour Court.
Under the terms of todays discussions between the IAA and IMPACT, the union representing ATCOs, the suspended officers were to be restored to the company's payroll with effect from 18.00 hrs today, Friday January 22. For their part, ATCOs were to resume work with no industrial action of any kind to take place. On January 26 next, both parties will appear at the Labour Court and have agreed in advance that they will be bound by the decision of the court.
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Following the success of its Galway Carnmore - Lorient service launched in 2009, Aer Arann has confirmed that it will also operate the route for summer 2010. Commencing Saturday May 29 the airline will recommence the service to France adding a second weekly sector from Tuesday June 22.
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Former Aer Lingus B737-548 registered EI-CDG paid a return visit to Dublin yesterday when it was pictured by Derek Gannon. EI-CDG was delivered to Russian operator Pulkovo in December 2005 and subsequently transferred to Rossia in October 2006. The aircraft still operates in the Pulkovo colours although it carries small Rossia titles aft of the front passenger door. EI-CDG was delivered as a new aircraft to Aer Lingus in April 1992. For winters 1995 through 1997 the aircraft was winter leased to Ryan International. In August 2005 it was painted in partial Pulkovo colours and eventually put into storage at Dublin (until the cheque cleared in December of that year). The current scheme has the registratiion located in the rather unusual position of the forward tail, a different loaction from that of the taped on registration which was used during a test flight from Dublin on August 9 2005, pictured below.
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Although it was delivered in all white, Aer Arann has now added titles to ATR42-300 registered EI-EHH (msn 196). In Michael Kelly's copyright picture above the aircraft is seen lined up for departure on Dublin's R28 today.
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Ryanair took delivery of yet another aircraft this week when EI-EKE touched down in Dublin just after 3pm this afternoon. The aircraft is msn 35023 and carries hex code 4CA803. Pictured above in Michael Kelly's copyright picture RYR800E is seen about to land on R28 at the end of its delivery flight from Boeing Field.
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Ryanair announced this morning that it is to cut its capacity at Dublin Airport by up to 20% from the end of March 2010. Blaming a combination of the Irish government's €10 travel tax and the 40% increase in airport charges at Dublin, the carrier said that not many routes would be dropped from its schedule, rather that frequency will be reduced on existing services. A total of 150 jobs are forecast to be lost at Dublin Airport as a result of the decision which will reduce the Dublin based fleet from 18 aircraft to 15 for summer 2010. Passenger numbers are expected to drop at Dublin Airport by 2m per year as a result of today's decision.
Ryanair has however announced increased frequency for summer 2010 on sun routes from Dublin to Alicante, Malaga, Faro and the Canary Islands. A trend towards increased capacity on sun routes has emerged in the Ryanair schedules throughout europe in recent months as the carrier sees the travelling public willing to pay extra charges when going on holiday. Whilst these routes may only be seasonable in nature the yield in non discretionary revenue per passenger will be higher than on the traditional Ryanair rucksack "bus routes".
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Spanish operator Gestair visited Dublin today with its Gulfstream 5 registerd EC-IRZ, msn 582 of 1999 vintage. Moving up to a slightly newer vintage, Baxter Healthcare's 2008 manufactured Gulfstream 450 registered N9BX, msn 4145 also visited, both aircraft being captured by Derek Gannon.
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Ireland's Minister for Transport Noel Demspey is to refer the matter of a "No Strike Clause" for essential services to Government after today's strike by Air Traffic Control Officers employed by the Irish Aviation Authority left 20,000 passengers grounded at Irish airports and european. The final tally shows that Aer lingus cancelled 64 flights and Ryanair 52 as a result of the 4 hour work stoppage by ATCOs which took place between 2.00pm and 6.00pm today. Among the services affected was British Airway's flagship London City - JFK service, flight BAW 1 which fuel stops at Shannon and allows passengers clear US emigration, agriculture and customs checks. Both the Irish Aviation Authority and union IMPACT which represents ATCOs drew criticism from the travelling public and business leaders for the manner in which the dispute appears to have reached a head so quickly with little notice to intending travellers. Whilst controllers were criticised for demanding pay and employment conditions out of step with public sector workers, the IAA was also criticised for suspending controllers whilst negotiations had still not been exhausted.
IMPACT said that any decision on escalation of the dispute would not be made until the union's national executive council meets tomorrow, Thursday. Speaking in the Dail (Irish Parliament) Minister for Transport Noel Demspey said that the IAA was prepared to lift the suspension on the 15 controllers. The IAA contends that in order for the suspensions to be lifted however that the ATCOs will have to resume normal working conditions which includes the operation of new technology which IMPACT will not agree to until such a time as the Labour Court issues its judgement on the matter. Whilst the "shop" opened for business again at 6.00 pm today the matter is far from resolved.
The last aircraft to get airborne from Dublin before the 2.00pm shutdown was "Saxon 51D", Skydrift Norwich's Cessna Mustang registered G-KLNW, msn 510-0157, pictured above in Derek Gannon's copyright photograph.
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Its not even Friday yet but Ryanair took delivery of another aircraft today. B737-8AS registered EI-EKC landed in Dublin from Boeing Field just before the aircport was shutdown at 2.00pm due to the strike by ATCOs employed by the Irish Aviation Authority. EI-EKC is msn 38495 and carried hex code 4CA801. Pictured above in Michael Kelly's copyright picture, flight RYR 800C is captured on taxi to the Ryanair hangar after arrival on R28.