5N-MJN delivered to Arik

Arik Wings of Nigeria have taken delivery of a B737-86N registered 5N-MJN. The aircraft is msn 35638 and arrived in Shannon this morning as flight number ARA 800 on it's ferry flight direct from Boeing Field. The aircraft is named Eddington and carries hex code 0640C2. Pictured above, 5N-MJN was initially parked on R13-31 on arrival before being towed to Stand 39.

Air Jamaica 6Y-JME at Shannon Aerospace

Eastbound transatlantic maintenance visitors are unusual in this part of the world so the arrival of Air Jamaica A321-211 registered 6Y-JME at Shannon today is certainly a noteworthy event. Arriving this morning AJM 6003 is pictured above arriving from Licenciado Benito Juarez International in Mexico via Gander.

D-AHIE arrives in Shannon for paint

Hamburg International B737-73S (msn 29081) registered D-AHIE arrived in Shannon this morning for painting. The aircraft was originally destined to go Sterling as OY-MRT last year but the demise of the Danish carrier meant that the deal never materialised. The aircraft will be painted for Aires Colombia at Lufthansa Paint Shannon. On arrival from Brussels it was noted that the aircraft's rudder had already been painted in Aires colours prior to balancing. Pictured above D-AHIE prepares to land on R24.

IAA publish traffic statistics for February 2009

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) today published it's traffic figures for February 2009.

Overflights for Febraury 2009 were down 4.8% YoY on February 2008 at 20,837.

Airport terminal movements for the month of February at the three state airports look like :

Dublin down 15.6% at 12,897.

Shannon down 6.5% at 2,234. 

Cork down 26.8% at 1,902.

The year to date, end of February figures for commercial movements look like

Dublin down 12.1%

Shannon down 8.1%

Cork down 23.5%

Ryanair's Callaghan to quit in April

Just one day after route development chief Bernard Berger announced his intention to quit the airline, Ryanair's head of legal affairs Jim Callaghan informed the airline of his intended departure at the end of April. Mr. Callaghan is understood to be leaving for a position with a long haul airline outside of Europe. He will remain with Ryanair up to the end of April to facilitate the transfer of his workload.

During his tenure with Ryanair, Mr. Callaghan has led several high profile cases including the Charleroi debacle and the Aer Lingus bids.

Ryanair announce 100% web check in from October

Ryanair today announced a three phase program which will lead to 100% web based in passenger check in from October 1 2009.

Phase 1 : From March 19 2009 web based check in will be extended to non EU citizens, passengers with checked in baggage and passengers with reduced mobility.

Phase 2 : From May 1 2009 all new bookings will be required to use web based check in with the phase out of traditional airport check desks beginning. To dissuade passengers from availing of airport check in, the fee for the use of such services will double to €20 or £20 per person per flight at the time of booking.

Phase 3 : From October 1, airport check in desks will no longer exist. Passengers will be required to check in on line and those with baggage will be required to bring their bags to a drop desk. From this date, unaccompanied passengers under the age of 16 will no longer be eligible to travel and passports / national identity cards will be the only acceptable form of identification.

IAA publish traffic figures for January

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) has published the traffic figures for January 2009.

En route overflights for the month declined by 4.6% Year on Year at 21,181 with North Atlantic HF traffic down a similar 5%.

At the three state airports, terminal movements at Dublin were down 10% YoY at 15,322. Shannon was down 12.4% at 2,919 while Cork was down 15.6% YoY at 3,703.

Commercial air transport movements at the state airports were Dublin down 8.8% YoY, Shannon down 9.5% YoY and Cork down 20.3% YoY.

Recession bites at order books

Just how deep the current recession is hitting aircraft manufacturers can be seen from Boeing's order books for this year.

In the week ending March 3 the manufacturer booked just three commercial aircraft orders. Year to date the company has taken 22 orders compared to 190 for the same period in 2008. Of the 22 YTD, 13 are from Ryanair, 5 from Southwest and one from Alaska Airlines.

Ryanair call for urgent action at Dublin airport

As the deadline of April 1st approaches for the implementation of the €10 travel tax Ryanair's calls to the Irish government to scrap the plan are reaching crescendo point.  The latest call comes as the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) issued the February traffic figures for Dublin airport which show a 12% YoY decline for the month. In February 2009, 1.4m passengers passed through the airport, some 200,000 less than in the same period last year.

The airline further called for a 30% reduction in the airport passenger handling fee and for the Commissioner for Aviation Regulation Cathal Guiomard to step down.

In the UK the airline made a similar call on the government to scrap the £10 passenger tax, claiming that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has failed passengers interests in favour of the airports by rubber stamping inflation busting price increases at London's airports. 

Ryanair's CEO Michael O'Leary said that “Harry Bush and his friends in the CAA wouldn’t recognise a passenger if he jumped up and bit them. Having proven to be an inept and incompetent regulator, the CAA should now be removed from regulation altogether and allow competing airports to deliver the improved facilities and lower costs where Harry Bush and the CAA have repeatedly failed”.

O'Leary admits publicity stunt

Just one day after insisting that the airline was serious about making passengers pay for the use of aircraft toilets, Ryanair's Michael O'Leary admitted at a tourism conference in Malahide that the whole incident was a publicity stunt.

“Boeing can put people on the moon, design fighter aircraft and smart bombs, but they can’t design a bloody mechanism to go on doors that will accept coins,” he admitted, which would indicate that there had at least been a discussion between the airline and the Seattle based aircraft manufacturer.

O'Leary further indicated that European law requires that free access to toilets be provided where food and drink are served. Sounds very like a case of "If all else fails - turn it into a publicity stunt". 

Ryanair take delivery of EI-EBL

Ryanair's latest B737 EI-EBL arrived in Dublin on Saturday using flight number RYR 800L. The aircraft is msn 37529 and wears hex code 4CA708.

I-ADJM delivered to Air Dolimiti

Air Dolimiti have taken delivery of a third Embraer 195. The aircraft registered I-ADJM arrived in Shannon this lunchtime from Las Palmas en route Villafranca in Italy, following the same ferry route as it's predecessors. I-ADJM is msn 190.00258 and carries hex code 3003AD. Pictured above, I-ADJM prepares to touchdown on R24.

BA quit DUB-LCY route

British Airways ceased services on  London City - Dublin on Monday of this week citing a shortage of aircraft and reduced uptake for seats on the route. Following the recent incident at LCY in which an RJ100, one of 12 BA aircraft based at the docklands airport, damaged a nose gear, the airline has been short on capacity. In addition, Flightline had operated 12 flights per day on behalf of BA before the former went into administration before Christmas. an airline spokesperson confirmed that following the bottom falling out of the financial services market that there had been a "distinct reduction in bookings". When all these circumstances were added together, the airline decided to drop the route from it's schedule.

Bernard Berger to leave Ryanair

The Irish Independent report that Ryanair have lost Route Development guru Bernard Berger to New Delhi airport in India where he will fill a similar role to his current position. Mr. Berger is a long serving Ryanair employee who has played a key role in the airline's growth by negotiating competitive airport deals.

In wishing Mr. Berger the best of luck in his role, an airline spokesman said it was a true case of a 'cowboy joining the Indians'.

SR Technics workers in protest at Swiss embassy

Hundreds of workers at Dublin based MRO provider, SR Technics marched in protest to the Swiss embassy in Dublin today. The workers are protesting at the size of the fund provided by the Zurich based parent company (€48m) for the wind down of the Dublin operation. Some workers have called the fund derisory and have called on the Irish government to intervene directly to ensure a better deal. The group marched from Sydney parade DART station to the Swiss embassy in Ailesbury Road where a letter was handed to the Swiss ambassador.

SR Technics announced in February that it was shutting it's Dublin operation with a loss of 1,135 jobs. The company has said that it has received upwards of 20 offers for various business units within the Dublin operation. The unions claim that not all these offers are based on securing employment in Dublin nor has one offer been received for the business in it's entirety.

Aer Lingus February traffic statistics

Aer Lingus today published it's traffic figures for February 2009.

For the month, a total of 688,000 passengers were carried, a Year on Year (YoY) decrease of 8.4% over February 2008.

Short haul passenger numbers fell 8% to 620,000. This represents a load factor of 77.5%, up 5.4% YoY against a capacity reduction of 9.2%, YoY.

Long haul passenger numbers fell 11.7% to 68,000. This represents a load factor of 64.3%, up 4.2% YoY against a capacity reduction of 20.7%.

Total load factor was 72.0%, up 5.3% YoY. 

Ryanair betting on failure

Ryanair announced today that they would offer 1,000 free seats for every €1m in after tax loss announced by Aer Lingus in it's year end results to be published on Wednesday next March 11.

Ryanair expects Aer Lingus to post an after tax loss of between €100m and €150m which will see between 100,000 and 150,000 free seats released for travel during the last week of March. The initiative is being taken by Ryanair to highlight what it says is the extent by which Aer Lingus misled it's shareholders in it's Defence Document published on December 22 2008.

Ryanair has highlighted comments made by Aer Lingus Chairman Colm Barrington including one in which he claimed that Aer Lingus would be profitable for 2008. 

The seats will be release on the Ryanair website on Wednesday next at 2pm.

9A-CTH carries out test flight

Croatia Airlines A319-112 registered 9A-CTH has been on a check with Shannon Aerospace since it's arrival in Shannon on February 10 last. This afternoon, the aircraft, msn 833, which has been repainted as part of the check, performed a test flight using flight number CTN 1234. Pictured above 9A-CTH lines up on R24 for departure.

4K-AZ04 returns home after maintenance

One of the more unusual maintenance visitors to Shannon in recent times has been Azerbaijan Airlines. The airline's A319-111 msn 2588 arrived in Shannon on February 23 last for attention at Shannon Aerospace. This lunchtime, 4K-AZ04 returned home using flight number AHY3004 and is pictured above lining up for departure off R24.

EI-ECL arrives in Shannon for painting

Ex Futura B737-86N msn 32655 arrived in Shannon today for painting. The aircraft, registered EI-ECL is ex EC-JDU and will become LN-NOP over the next week. Pictured above, EI-ECL taxis to the Lufthansa Paint hangar after arrival. Flight number GCC 655 was used for the ferry from Budapest to Shannon.

Taxi drivers hould work harder says O'Leary

1,500 taxis blocked the streets of Dublin today in a protest at what taxi drivers claim is a failure of the regulation process which grants licences to all comers. Michael O'Leary earned a certain amount of notoriety several years ago when he purchased a taxi plate which he uses for purely personal use. The taxi plate allows him use bus lanes in the capital to avoid congestion. 

Speaking to the Tourism Renewal Group in Dublin Castle, O'Leary said that he didn't support the taxi drivers protest and called on the government to have the guts to issue taxi plates to anyone who wants one. He also said that if people can't make a living from driving a taxi they should work longer hours or go somewhere else adding "Speaking as one of the many contented and very happy taxi licence-holders in the country, I think the present system is working fine."

O'Leary serious about toilet charge

Ryanair's CEO Michael O'Leary confirmed today that he wasn't joking when he suggested that the airline would consider charging for the use of toilets on the airline's aircraft.

O'Leary said that there were technical and safety reasons which would prevent the use of coin operated slots on the doors but that the airline was in discussion with aircraft manufacturers with a view to coming up with a credit card system. The airline estimate that revenue from such a system would earn in the region of €23m per year.

Ryanair presents tourism rescue plan

Ryanair has presented it's proposal for rebuilding the Irish tourism industry to the Tourism Renewal Group at Dublin Castle.

The airline's proposals include :

• Scrapping the €10 travel tax.
• Scrap the Aviation Regulator's Office, saving €5m per year.
• Scrap PSO subsidies, saving €20m per year.
• Reduce Government spending on tourism by 60%, saving €100m per year
• Scrap the Dublin Metro saving €250m per year
• Allow competing airports to incentivise low cost travel instead of using new route schemes
• Force the DAA to reduce charges by 30%

The airline again pledged to reverse it's plans to reduce the level of service at Dublin and Shannon if the Government scraps the €10 travel tax. Speaking in Dublin Castle today, Michael O'Leary said that "We are the world's largest airline, yet we are continuously ignored in this country by the idiots who run or supervise tourism."

Ryanair February traffic grows 7%

Ryanair today published it's February traffic figures. Year on Year (YoY) passenger numbers for the month grew 7% from 3.84m in February 2008 to 4.13m in February 2009. Load factor grew 3% YoY to 78%. 

For the 12 months ended February 2009, passenger numbers were 58.4m with load factor at 82%.

Ryanair launches attack on Regulator

Michael Cawley, Ryanair's Deputy CEO launched an attack on Aviation Regulator Cathal Guiomard today calling for the breakup of the Commission for Aviation Regulation.

Speaking at the annual conference of the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland on the theme 'Thriving as an independent in a regulated environment", Mr. Cawley said that the recent refusal by Cathal Guiomard, to correct his error ridden decision on airport charges, despite the scathing criticism of a government appointed, independent, Appeals Panel,“patently demonstrates the level of regulatory arrogance which has been allowed to fester in Ireland for too long. The result of this “Nearyesque” (referring to the former Financial Regulator)style of regulation has been a serious fall in passenger numbers at Dublin of over 400,000 since October 2008 and Ryanair, Dublin Airport’s biggest customer, being forced to withdraw 4 aircraft this summer (resulting in a further loss of almost 2 million passengers in 09/10). In light of such continued regulatory failures Irish industry, enterprise and taxpayers will once again be left to count the high cost of yet another useless regulator”

L'Avion F-HAVN makes fuel stop at Shannon

French 'business only class' operator L'Avion made it's first unscheduled appearance at Shannon today when B757-200 F-HAVN arrived for fuel. The aircraft was operating flight AVI 001 from Paris DeGaulle to Newark when the crew discovered that the fuel burn for the transatlantic crossing was higher than anticipated. As a consequence the decision was made to divert to Shannon for a further upload. Ironically the aircraft would have been over weight for landing at Shannon so fuel had to be dumped to get the aircraft's landing weight under the MLW figure.

F-HAVN is pictured above about to touch down on R24.

Gulf Air A9C-AA arrives for paint at Shannon

Gulf air have taken delivery of a factory new airbus A320-214. The aircraft was originally ordered by Chinese operator East Star Air but the order was cancelled, no doubt due to the current economic conditions. Today, A9C-AA arrived in Shannon to be painted in the livery of Gulf Air at Lufthansa Aircraft Paint Shannon. The aircraft is msn 3706 and wears hex code 894052.

Pictured above A9C-AA, in full East Star Air titles and colours,  prepares to touch down on R24 in the midst of a wintry shower. The Shannon weather played it's usual game with clear sunshine breaking out three minutes after it's arrival !

Aer Lingus take delivery of EI-EAV

Aer Lingus took delivery of Airbus A330-32 EI-EAV on Friday last February 27. The aircraft is msn 985 and wears hex code 4CA74E. The aircraft entered service on Saturday operating flight EIN 105 DUB-JFK, repeating the same flight on Sunday. Shannon had been due to get it's first visit today Monday with the aircraft operating EIN 110 / 111 but as the result of an aircraft snagging at JFK, a different aircraft substituted.

Aer Corps AW139 in emergency landing

An Agusta Aw139 helicopter of the Irish Air Corps made an emergency landing in Killarney this afternoon after the left hand door fell off in flight. The helicopter was carrying Minister for Tourism Martin Cullen, an adviser to the Minister and a crew of three and had just departed from the grounds of the Malton Hotel in Killarney three minutes earlier when the incident happened. The helicopter descended from an altitude of 500ft and landed in the grounds of the Killarney Golf and Fishing Club. 

The helicopter had routed from Waterford to Killarney this morning and was returning to Dublin.

The aircraft will be kept on the ground until a Military Airworthiness Inspection Team and Air Corps technicians make an examination. 

Could Ryanair take over SRT facility ?

Ryanair is currently looking around Europe for another aircraft maintenance base, having just opened a hangar next door to SR Technics at Stansted. The Irish government is searching Europe for someone to take over the soon to be vacated SR Technics facility at Dublin airport.

When asked if Ryanair would take over the SRT hangars at Dublin, the airline's CEO Michael O'Leary replied "There's every possibility. It's the logical solution ", adding "Someone would want to sell us or give us the SR Technics hangar. We're not interested in it if it's owned by the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA). Dublin isn't in our plans at the moment - we'll wait for the morons in the DAA or the government to approach us."