Ireland to sign pre-clearance agreement next week

In a surprise announcement today, Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey announced in Shannon that next week he will be signing an Inter-Governmental agreement with the US Secretary of Homeland Security, Michael Chertoff which will allow for full pre-clearance at Shannon Airport from summer 2009 and at Dublin from 2010.

Speaking today, Minster Dempsey said " The U.S. authorities have told us that they currently have no plans to extend pre-clearance elsewhere in Europe. This should give Ireland a comparative advantage in the highly competitive trans-Atlantic aviation sector. Passengers from Shannon and Dublin airports will benefit from uninterrupted passage through US airports on arrival saving time and hassle. Trans Atlantic airlines will benefit from being able to fly into less congested and less expensive domestic terminals on arrival at U.S airports. This should lead to easier access to aircraft stands thereby minimising the time between touchdown and passengers disembarking. In the competitive field of aviation time means money for airline operators. This Agreement will help operators save valuable time.”

Currently Shannon and Dublin only offer immigration clearance and passengers must queue to clear customs and agriculture inspection when they arrive in the US.

In addition to passenger traffic originating in Ireland, the Shannon facility is expected to be especially attractive to executive jet traffic originating East of the Continental US. This traffic is currently restricted to landing in US airports which have full clearance facilities before travelling onwards to their eventual destination.

Today's announcement was not expected since the Government had previously bumped the passing of the necessary legislation off the list in the current Dail session. There were also rumours that the US authorities were unhappy with the delay by the Irish authorities, or is it a case of putting pen to paper before the US administration changes ?

AAIU report into crash of EI-CIZ

The Air accident Investigation Unit today issued it's final report into the loss of Steen Skybolt EI-CIZ and the death of the pilot at Ardfert in Co. Kerry on July 29 2007.

On the day of the accident, EI-CIZ flew from Coonagh airfield to appear at the Ardfert Festival. After a display lasting 18 minutes the aircraft landed at Ardfert airstrip, a private field where the pilot enjoyed a 20 minute break with colleagues from Coonagh. On departure from the airfield, the pilot performed a number of aerobatic manoeuvers along the runway axis and in the final roll the engine was heard to 'bang' and 'splutter' as it cut out. The pilot who was in a climbing roll managed to straighten the aircraft's wings before impacting the corner of a field adjacent to the airfield, finally coming to rest on a boundary wall.

The report found that the pilot was medically fit at the time of the accident and that no failure on the aircraft could have contributed to the accident. The report focuses strongly on the design of fuel tank on the aircraft. The Skybolt is fitted with two fuel tanks - an upper ferry tank and a lower tank which is divided and internally baffled in  such a way as to ensure fuel flow throughout the entire flight envelope, including high speed manoeuvering or where sudden changes in attitude occur. In the case of EI-CIZ, the report finds that in certain conditions, and with as much as 34 litres of fuel remaining in the lower tank, the fuel inlet would become uncovered, leading to a loss of fuel flow to the engine. Analysis of the engine and propeller indicated that the latter was turning at a slow speed at the time of ground impact.

The report finds that the cause of the accident was the sudden stoppage of the engine due to fuel starvation during a climbing roll to the right. Contributory factors were uncovering of the fuel inlet tube, conducting aerobatic manoeuvers (high fuel consumption) having used the upper section of the lower fuel tank and having insufficient altitude to allow the pilot effect a recovery following engine failure.

Government to tinker with Air Travel Tax ?

Fine Gael's Deputy Spokesman on Foreign Affairs and T.D. for Clare, Pat Breen has been told today by the Minister  for Finance, Brian Lenihan T.D. that the Minister looks likely to examine concerns raised in relation to the effect of the €10 Air Travel Tax on the aviation sector in the context of the Finance Bill.

Deputy Breen said " I hope the message is finally getting through loud and clear. The introduction of this tax in it's current form places air travel at a competitive disadvantage. It is bad for Shannon Airport and it is bad for the tourist sector in this region. I await the Finance Bill with interest to see how the Minister intends to address these concerns."

Replying to Deputy Breen's question in the Dail, Minister Lenihan said that "This measure is estimated to yield €95m in 2009 and €150m in a full year. This is not an insignificant amount of money and given the current fiscal environment, I not wish to see this level of anticipated revenue reduced. However, I am aware of a number of issues that were raised subsequent to my Budget announcement and these will be borne in mind in context of the Finance Bill.  

Recent visitors

Shannon had a less than run of the mill visit in the shape of the Puerto Rico Air Guard. the aircraft concerned are two 1964-build examples of the C130E : 63-7851 (msn 3921) and 63-7859 (msn 3929), both tail code PR and based at Luiz Munoz Marin IAP.  

63-7859 is seen above lining up for departure off R24 as the RCH 935.

Today saw a visit by Israeli charter airline Arkia with a B757-3E7 msn 30179. The aircraft arrived in Shannon from Dublin after lunchtime as AIZ 921. Just 55 of this stretched variant of the 757 were built, 2 of which serve with Arkia. 4X-BAW is seen on finals for R24 at Shannon.

Aer Lingus deal could see return of LHR flights

Aer Lingus future at Shannon airport depends entirely on the profitability of the routes to and from the mid west airport. So says the Limerick Leader which reports that the airline would be better positioned to maintain and grow it's services at Shannon if it gets agreement on the €74m cost improvement program according to Aer Lingus Chairman Colm Barrington.

The remarks come in a letter from the airline's Chairman to Clare County Council following a plea by Sixmilebridge councilor John Crowe to Minister Noel Dempsey and the airline not to further cut services at Shannon.

If the airline gets the savings it wants it would 'consider anything' at Shannon including the return of the Heathrow service.

While the reinstatement of the LHR route would be more than welcome in the mid west, the gesture may not be that magnanimous after all - the Aer Lingus web site shows just 3 flights per day each way on the Belfast - Heathrow route, even at the holiday peak next summer - as opposed to the four each way which used to operate from Shannon. 

Which begs the question - is there a Heathrow slot looking for a home, even now ? 

Recent visitors

Flybe paid an unusual visit to Shannon today on a crew training detail. The aircraft concerned DHC-8-402 Dash 8, msn 4220 was registered G-ECOG to the airline on October 17 2008. After several hours in the circuit the aircraft departed for Belfast City.

Visits by Ilyushin 76 aircraft have become rare since the original variants have fallen foul of European noise legislation. Today saw a visit to Shannon by the 224th Flight Unit's RA-76638, a model IL-76TD msn 0053460802 on a transatlantic fuel stop. The aircraft is pictured above on finals to R24 at lunchtime. 

EI-DYG latest

At 17.30 today Ryanair issued a statement to the effect that the stricken aircraft from yesterday's flight RYR 4102 was in the process of being removed from the runway but that due to the damage to the main gear that this operation would take some hours to complete. Rome's Ciampino has remained shut  since early yesterday when the aircraft landed. It will be Wednesday morning November 12 before the airport becomes operational again.

Aer Lingus Interim Management Statement

Aer Lingus today issued an interim management statement covering the first nine months of the company's financial year.

During the nine months ended September 30 revenue increased by 8.5% over the same period in 2007.

Short haul passenger numbers grew by 10.2% YoY against a short haul capacity growth of 17.5% in available seat kilometers. Short haul load factor was down 1.1% over the same period in 2007.

Long haul passenger numbers grew by 6.6% YoY compared to a long haul capacity growth of 20.2% in available seat kilometers. Long haul load factor fell by 5.5% YoY.

The airline expects that against a background of weakening consumer demand that fares will continue to be under pressure for the remainder of 2008. A YoY reduction of 6 to 7% in short haul and a marginal increase in long haul fares is forecast for the full year 2008.

In the area of operating costs the airline said that 'there is no choice but to address legacy work practices, pay rates and pay inflation which are inappropriate to the business model and the competitive environment in which Aer Lingus operates'. The airline further states that they had engaged with unions in order to seek alternative cost reduction proposals to those identified by the Board on October 3. In the absence of alternatives, agreed by December 1, 2008, which deliver the equivalent level of annual cost savings, Aer Lingus will proceed to implement these approved proposals.

At the time of the announcement of the company's half year results Aer Lingus stated that they would be reducing capacity for Winter 2008/9. Today's statement outlines a further reduction in long haul capacity for Summer 2009 by cutting the A330 fleet from 9 to 8 frames. An as yet unspecified reduction on a number of long haul routes will result.

The airline had previously indicated an operating loss of between €20m and €30m for FY 2008. The company now expects a close to break even performance for H2 which would yield a full year result of €20m loss and have forecast a loss for 2009 given the worsening economic outlook.

Finally, Aer Lingus expect that the travel tax outlined in the recent Irish government budget will cost the airline €30m off the bottom line as they expect to have to absorb the cost on 75% of their bookings from next March.

Strike at Aer Lingus one step closer

The prospect of a pre Christmas strike at Aer Lingus loomed closer this evening as SIPTU formally served two weeks notice of industrial action at the airline. The union said it will commence industrial action if the airline continues with it's unilateral plan to outsource labour. Stoppages could begin as early as November 24. SIPTU has asked the Irish Congress of Trade Unions to set up a process which would allow talks with the airline in an effort to resolve the row.

Ryanair in emergency landing at Rome Ciampino

This morning's Ryanair flight RYR 4102 from Frankfurt Hahn to Rome Ciampino was involved in an emergency landing at the Italian airport this morning . The 166 passengers on board the aircraft EI-DYG, msn 33639 were evacuated by chute at the direction of the airport emergency services who foamed the aircraft. Two crew and eight passengers were later brought to hospital with minor injuries.

The exact sequence of events leading to the incident are as yet unclear. Airport sources indicated that the aircraft had suffered a burst tyre on landing, temporarily veered off the runway before being brought under control and back onto the runway surface.

The Ciampino fire chief reported that the crew had declared an emergency following problems with one of the engines. The main gear subsequently failed to function properly which caused the aircraft to depart the runway.

At 08.20 this morning Ryanair issued a press release saying that the aircraft had suffered multiple bird strikes to both engines on approach and that the aircraft had landed and made an emergency stop on the runway.

At 10.30 a second press release was issued which stated that substantial damage had been caused to the left hand main undercarriage on landing and that this would delay removing the aircraft from the runway. The picture above released by Ryanair shows the damage to the undercarriage and also shows a number of what appear to be blood patterns on the nose of the aircraft consistent with multiple bird strikes.

The airport is closed pending removal of the aircraft.

Recent visitors

Shannon had two heavyweight cargo visitors this weekend. This morning saw the visit by Southern Air B747-228F N753SA, msn 21787. The aircraft operated flight SOO 941 which routed Liege - Shannon - JFK. N753SA is a 1979 build aircraft which served as F-BPVZ with Air France prior to it's delivery to Southern Air in 2006. Pictured above, SOO 941 taxis onto stand at Shannon this am.

On Saturday Antonov Design Bureau made a welcome reappearance at the airport with the visit of AN124 registered UR-82072, msn 9773053359136. The aircraft was operating flight number ADB 2838 which originated in Tulsa, Oklahoma. The aircraft, pictured above on approach to R24 arrived at lunchtime Saturday for crew rest before departing in the early hours for King Fahd airport in Saudi Arabia.

Ryanair flight returns to Malaga, Aer Lingus delayed

Last night's Ryanair flight RYR 2849 from Malaga to Shannon operated by B737-8AS EI-DPD was forced to return to Malaga airport ten minutes into the flight after smoke was seen coming from a luggage bin. The aircraft was met by emergency services on it's return. 

Subsequent examination of the aircraft determined that it was safe to fly and it departed Malaga for Shannon 4 1/2 hours later. None of the crew or 133 passengers suffered any injuries in the incident.

On Friday, Aer Lingus flight EIN 118 from Washington Dulles to Dublin operated by A330-200 EI-LAX was forced to return to the terminal when one of the aircraft's hydraulic pumps failed. After 5 1/2 hours of attempting to effect repairs, the 260 passengers were disembarked and brought to local hotels. The aircraft departed as flight EIN 1118, 28 hours later.

Aer Lingus staff vote for action

SIPTU staff in Aer Lingus have voted by a margin of over 80% to take industrial action up to and including strike action should the airline's management proceed with unilateral plans to make almost 1,300 staff redundant. 

SIPTU National Industrial Secretary Gerry McCormack said " We regret the disruption to the public which will almost certainly begin before December 1.....We will now be serving notice of industrial action immediately".

Aer Lingus said it was disappointed with the result of the ballot. Yesterday the airline's CEO Dermot Mannion warned that the cost improvement program to shave €74m in costs is unstoppable and irreversible.

Ina separate ballot 97% of SIPTU members who will be affected by the redundancy plan in the airline voted to invoke collective redundancy legislation (which entered the statue books as a result of the Irish Ferries debacle) should management proceed with plans to replace them with outsourced labour.

Ryanair calls on Irish government to follow Belgium's lead on travel tax

Ryanair today called on the Irish government to follow the lead of the Belgian government which abandoned plans for a travel tax having considered the impact on the country's travel industry. Ryanair said at the very least the Irish government should restructure the tax so that it represented a percentage of the fare rather than a flat rate sum of €10.

New parking management system at Shannon

German company Designa have been awarded a €750,000 contract to install new car and coach parking hardware and software at Shannon airport.

Designa staff have been on site at the airport since September working on the installation which is due to go live at the end of this month.

Installation of the new pay machines and access barriers commenced this week.

Runway closure in Dublin

The Dublin Airport Authority announced today that the airport's R10/28 will be closed for five consecutive nights next week from Monday November 10 to Friday November 14 to facilitate the removal of rubber deposits on the runway surface. 

For the duration of the works which will take place from 23.00 to 05.00 each night, R16/34 will be in operation. The DAA have advised that an increase in aircraft noise levels is possible in North Co. Dublin as a result and in South Co. Dublin under certain weather conditions.

A free phone helpline has been provided for insomniacs and serial complainers.

Aer Lingus traffic statistics for October

Aer Lingus today released it's traffic statistics for the month of October. Passenger numbers for the month were up 3.8% YoY over the same period in 2007 at 904,000. 

Short haul numbers increased by 6.3% with a load factor of 79.4%, down 2.4% on the previous year. Short haul capacity was up 15.5% YoY.

Long haul numbers declined by 11.4% with load factor at 68.8%, down from 76.5% in 2207.

Long haul capacity was up 1.3% YoY.

Aer Lingus deadline

Aer Lingus today gave a December 15 deadline to staff to accept it's offer of voluntary redundancy or early retirement. The offer is open to ground staff and catering staff in Dublin, Cork and Shannon, cargo staff in Dublin and Shannon and cabin crew.

The announcement was made one day in advance of SIPTU announcing the results of it's ballot for strike action, should the airline proceed with plans to unilaterally implement a program to outsource labour at the airline.

The airline issued a staff bulletin today outlining the qualifying terms of the redundancy and retirement packages and placed a webcast on it's web site from CEO Dermot Mannion and CFO Sean Coyle.

Meanwhile the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) is gearing itself for lobbying the Government and the social partners in an attempt to prevent strike action at the airline before Christmas. The Government have already stated their intention of avoiding involvement in the growing dispute, but with their recent track record of U turns, how much longer will it be before they are drawn in ?

Aer Lingus punctuality statistics

Aer Lingus today published their punctuality statistics for the month just gone. 

During October, 78% of flights departed on time with 97% departing within 1 hour of scheduled. 

For the same period in 2007 the numbers were 81% on time and 97% within 1 hour.  

Ryanair and departure tax

MEP Simon Busuttil has called on Ryanair to stop charging departure tax after the Maltese government removed the tax effective November 1.

On the basis of complaints received from constituentson the island, Dr. Busuttil investigated the matter and found that Ryanair were charging the tax for flights booked after November 1.

When contacted about the matter, Ryanair said that they "have not had any notification of reductions in the level of taxes charged, including the date when this amendment applies from", adding that once they had received official notification they would update their records accordingly.

The Civil Aviation Department in Malta is investigating the matter and will compel Ryanair to refund the tax if they are found to have been charging incorrectly.

Base number 27

Ryanair today announced the establishment of their 27th base at Edinburgh. With the basing of two new aircraft at the Scottish airport an additional eleven new routes will be added to the eight already operating there. Four more routes including two seasonal ski routes are due to start in the near future. In total the 23 routes will deliver in excess of 1.2m passengers at Edinburgh airport.

Shannon Aerospace sign Air Mediteranee contract

Air Mediteranee signed a contract with Shannon Aerospace in mid October for the competion of a Twelve Year Check and Rib 5 replacement on one of it's A321's. The aircraft F-GYAO arrived in Shannon on October 28 and will also undergo a full strip and paint as part of the contract.

Shannon Aerospace also recently signed a contract to perform a C check on a B767 for LOT Polish in February 2009. This will follow on from the current program of structural and C checks that are being carried out on three other LOT 767 aircraft. 

The first of these checks has already been completed and the aircraft concerned, SP-LOA has returned to LOT. SP-LPE and SP-LOB are currently in Shannon.

Flight compensation ends in court

In a case which mirrors a recent case taken in Germany, Ryanair today found themselves in court in Sweden accused of compensation infringements over a cancelled flight. In this case the Swedish Consumer Agency is representing a couple who were booked on a flight from Brussels to Stockholm in May 2006. The flight was cancelled due to heavy fog. Ryanair offered the couple flights two days later and reimbursement for the tickets on the cancelled flight. The couple could not wait two days, decided to make their own way using surface transport and are now looking for €960 compensation for costs incurred as a result.

Ryanair has refused to pay the compensation on the basis that the delay was caused by weather conditions outside their control. The case got under way in Nykoping in Sweden today but was adjourned until February next year due to problems with an interpreter. 

Recent visitor

Shannon Airport had a visit today from Finnish Challenger 604 OH-WII. The aircraft, msn 5642 arrived from Dublin just before noon today with Latvian President Valdis Zatlers who was on a state visit to Ireland.  OH-WII is operated by Jetflite and operated under flight number JEF 33. Following visits to Limerick and Bunratty the President returned home to Riga, departing Shannon at approximately 8.00 pm.

OH-WII, pictured above was parked on Taxiway 11 for the visit.

Ryanair action moved to Commercial Court

The Irish Times reports that the Minister for Transport has moved to fast track a High Court proceeding by Ryanair by moving it to the Commercial Court. The action was lodged by the airline following the decision by the Minister for Transport to award the Knock - Dublin PSO route to Aer Arann. The route was originally awarded to CityJet following a tendering process and was due to commence in July. CityJet withdrew from the contract before the service was initiated, reportedly due to the hold up in the  merger with VLM which would have freed up aircraft.

Ryanair contended that the only way the Minister could have awarded the contract to Aer Arann would have been if identical conditions had applied. 

Ryanair says that a different contract was agreed by the Minister and Aer Arann from that agreed by the Minister and CityJet and wants a court order quashing the awarding of the contract to Aer Arann and instigating a new tendering process.

The hearing in the Commercial Court is due to be held on January 20 2009. Aer Arann have said that they will abide by the Court's decision.

The Grubby Government Gulfstream

A report in today's Irish Independent reveals that the Government Gulfstream IV is to undergo a major interior refit because funding for a replacement aircraft is not forthcoming. The 17 year old aircraft reportedly has 11,250 flying hours on the frame and is averaging 660 hours per annum whereas aircraft of this age and type average just 370 hours worldwide. Documents seen by the newspaper suggest that the aircraft has undergone unrelenting wear and tear with an interior that debunks the myth of luxurious ministerial travel.

In it's lifetime, IRL 251 has undergone just one full repaint and cosmetic repairs against a norm of interior replacement every five to seven years. Subsequent concerns were raised that the aircraft might not pass certification until the interior was tackled and Gulfstream Aerospace expressed concerns that an interior of this age might not be suitable for refit once removed from the aircraft.

The anticipated maintenance bill for the aircraft over the period 2008/9 comes to €5m. Prior to starting the process of refurbishing the interior, Airbus and Dassault had made offers to the Government on fractional ownership and replacement but the Government's contracts department had advised against accepting either since a tendering process is required. 

Pictured above is IRL251 on approach to Dublin's Runway 28.

Recent visitor

Shannon received an unusual visitor today in the shape of a Cathay Pacific B747-400 freighter. The aircraft concerned B-LIB is a model 747-467ERF msn 36867 and was delivered only two months ago on August 28. The flight, CPA 002 operated Brussels-Shannon-Dubai-Hong Kong and is seen commencing take off run for departure off R24 at lunchtime. 

Ryanair October passenger figures

Ryanair today published their passenger figures for the month of October 2008. At 5.35m the total is 18% higher than for the corresponding period last year. Load factor was static at 85% YoY.

To the twelve months ending October 31 the airline carried 56.8m passengers with a load factor of 81%

Ryanair first half profit fall 47% to €215m

Ryanair this morning released the eagerly awaited results of the first half year to the end of September.

During the period, fuel costs more than doubled at the airline to €788.5m as traffic grew 19% to 32m. The average fare fell by 4% to €47 with revenue growing 16% to €1.8bn. Load factor fell one point to 85%.

Speaking at the press conference to announce the results, Ryanair CEO Michael O'Leary said that the airline was 25% hedged on fuel costs at $77 per barrel for the first half of next year which would represent a 40% saving over 2007. 

Commenting on the woes of the airline industry in general, O'Leary said that "recession was a bigger issue than oil price" for the airline at the moment and that '"the deeper and longer the recession lasts, the better for Ryanair". A deepening recession would make Ryanair a stronger player in the European airline scene with a forecast 90m passengers generating €800m in profit by 2012. O'Leary also forecast that fares would continue to fall by between 15% and 20% in the second half of the year, leading to loss making in Q3 and Q4 but breaking even for the year.

As has come to be expected of the Ryanair chief, plain talking was the order of the day - speaking of the "lunatic tourist tax as we enter a recession" he predicted that traffic through Dublin airport will fall for the first time in 20 years as a consequence. The new Terminal Two in Dublin will be "available for rent as a sex shop when it opens for business in 2010" as he predicted there wouldn't be any passengers using it. The airline also predicted today that Shannon will be particularly hard hit by the tax and they foresee a 75% reduction in (RYR) services through the airport from November 2009 if the tax is implemented as announced.

In relation to aircraft acquisition plans,Ryanair fleet numbers are shown as 163 (2008), 195 (2009), 238 (2010), 264 (2011), 279 (2012). Howard Millar, Deputy CEO when asked about aircraft disposals,  explained that the current plan is to dispose of 46 aircraft. Of these 25 have already been sold and 6 delivered. The remaining 19 will be taken out of service over the winter period. Eleven aircraft are on operating leases and will be returned, which brings the total to 36, leaving 10 aircraft to be disposed of in 2010. 

Ryanair's plans to launch a trans Atlantic service had been much hyped in the print media in the days leading up to today's press conference. When asked about the airline's ambitions, Michael O'Leary responded "..on long haul, don't believe everything you read in the News of  The World..". He went on to explain that there is a plan but it needs a collapse in the price of long haul aircraft before anything happens. He didn't foresee anything of significance in aircraft pricing happening in the next 6 to 12 months which would put a launch at 18 to 24 months, minimum.  

With the Boeing Machinists strike over, Ryanair can look forward to a resumption of deliveries. Pictured is the last but one 737 to be delivered before the workers struck, EI-DYO, msn 33636. 

DUB-LGW to be first casualty of travel tax

British Airways are the first airline to announce the suspension of a scheduled service to Ireland as a result of the €10 travel tax  introduced in last month's budget.

In the Sunday Independent, BA's CEO Willie Walsh said that the route had been under review for some time but as a result of the imposition of the exit tax from March 30 "we have taken the decision to suspend our services from Dublin to Gatwick at that time."

As the "World's Favourite Airline" gives the thumbs down to the Irish Government's latest revenue earner, BA are soon to leave Irish skies once again. Pictured is Boeing 737-505, G-GFFG on finals to Dublin's runway 28.