New baggage charge for Aer Lingus flyers

Aer Lingus is to introduce a new baggage charge on long-haul flights to and from the United States.

Economy-Class flyers will still be able to check-in one bag free of charge, but it will cost €40 (£36 or $50) to check-in second and subsequent bags.

Aer Lingus cuts - flyers can take JetBlue, United to US cities

Following Friday's story about Aer Lingus axing routes from Shannon Airport, the Irish flag carrier has now published full details of the service cuts that will take effect on October 25.

From Dublin Airport, flights to San Francisco and Washington will be suspended. However, Aer Lingus will serve these US cities via its other transatlantic routes with partner airlines JetBlue and United Airlines.

Aer Lingus to cut flights from Shannon Airport

© Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus is to axe key routes from Shannon Airport (SNN) this winter. There are also plans to reduce the number of flights it offers from Dublin Airport.

The Irish flag carrier is expected to announce these changes at lunchtime today (Friday, June 12), The Irish Times reports.

Flights to New York and Chicago, from Shannon, will be grounded between October and March 2010. However, it is believed that the Shannon-Boston route, which operates four-times-per-week, will be retained.

Aer Lingus unveils new Gatwick services

Irish national carrier Aer Lingus has added several new European destinations to its winter timetable at London Gatwick Airport, TravelMole reports.

From October 25, the airline will offer flights to Tenerife, Bucharest, Eindhoven, Lanzarote and Warsaw. Flights to Vilinus begin on September 10.

Aer Lingus axes five winter routes

Aer Lingus has confirmed that it will be suspending five of its connections from Belfast International Airport during the 2009/10 winter timetable.

The Irish national carrier told The Belfast Telegraph that one aircraft will be relocated from the base – a move that it described as a "temporary reduction for four months".

Aer Lingus CEO steps down

It's all change at the top at Aer Lingus where Dermot Mannion has resigned from his position as Chief Executive Officer (CEO). In a statement released this morning (Monday, April 6), Mannion said: “My decision to step down will allow a new CEO to bring fresh thinking and new ideas to the business”.

Colm Barrington, Chairman of Aer Lingus, will act as executive chairman until a new chief executive is recruited.

During Mannion's tenure, Aer Lingus spread its wings with new long-haul routes to the US and Middle East. The airline was also privatised with the former state airline floating on the Iseq exchange in September 2006.

Aer Lingus resumes Heathrow-Shannon flights

© Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus has resumed flights on the Heathrow to Shannon route after 17 months. The Irish flag carrier withdrew the service - that had been flying for 60 years - in August 2007 and transferred the lucrative Heathrow slots to Belfast.

The move sparked outrage in the mid-West region of Ireland with business and tourism leaders arguing that the move left the area without international connectivity.

Following a concerted campaign by local businesses, tourism leaders and Aer Lingus workers, the airline reversed its decision.

Aer Lingus boss’s prediction for the industry

Half of all European airlines will not be able to survive the recession, Aer Lingus has reportedly predicted.

According to The Irish Independent, chief executive Dermot Mannion has suggested that 15 of Europe's 30 airlines will go out of business as a result of the economic downturn.

Mannion made his comments in response to the suggestion made by Ryanair that there could one day be only three or four European airlines in operation.

Aer Lingus announces seven new routes

Aer Lingus has announced the launch of seven new routes from London Gatwick Airport.

Operation of the routes, including destinations such as Vienna, Nice and Faro, will begin in April this year.

Ticket prices for these top spots start from as low as £9.99 for one-way travel by July 15. Various terms and conditions apply and there will be limited availability during peak periods such as school holidays.

Aer Lingus rejects takeover bid

Irish carrier Aer Lingus has rejected a takeover bid from a fellow budget airline.

The airline announced today (January 7) that a bid from Ryanair was rejected on the grounds that it "fundamentally undervalues the airline".

Aer Lingus reopens Shannon route

Aer Lingus has revealed that it will reopen its Shannon Airport to Heathrow route in 2009.

The Irish flag carrier has told The Belfast Telegraph that it will commence services from March next year and reassured passengers that it will not affect the airline's schedules from Belfast International Airport.

Ireland's Transport Minister Noel Dempsey welcomed the move and declared it as of "strategic importance" for regional development in the west of the country. 

Aer Lingus plans Gatwick base

Aer Lingus is planning on occupying a base at London Gatwick Airport from early 2009, according to The Irish Times.

The daily newspaper reported that Ireland's flag carrier is considering offering passengers short-haul services from the UK's second largest airport, which would be the airline's first non-Irish hub.

Specifically, it is thought Aer Lingus will hold three aircraft at Gatwick that will manage seven European destinations, including Malaga, Munich and Zurich, as well as support the airline's existing Dublin to Gatwick route.

Aer Lingus thwarts Ryanair

Aer Lingus has reiterated its decision to reject Ryanair's €750 million acquisition offer, which would have created a monopoly on air travel to and from Ireland.

The Irish flag carrier met with the country's Minister for Transport and suggested that Ryanair's offer was primarily motivated by the desire to "eliminate competition in the market".

New summer routes launched by Aer Lingus

Irish carrier Aer Lingus has announced nine new routes for its summer 2009 schedule. The routes from Dublin, Cork and Belfast are on sale from today (October 28) and include destinations such as Milan and Lisbon.

Aer Lingus will also be offering additional capacity on 17 of its existing routes, including Paris, Edinburgh, Malaga and Faro.

Chief executive, Dermot Mannion said: "Today's announcement marks the continued development of Aer Lingus' short-haul network, with a focus on capitalising on our most popular European services."

"Moreover, it reaffirms Aer Lingus' commitment to providing direct, low fares access for Irish customers to new destinations as well as providing real growth opportunities in inbound tourism from emerging markets."

Aer Lingus 'still committed to Belfast base'

Aer Lingus has said that flagging passenger numbers at Belfast Airport will not prompt it to withdraw from the gateway.

Its new route linking the Northern Irish capital to London Heathrow Airport is now running 60,000 behind the abandoned Shannon to Heathrow link that preceded it.

And yet despite the pressure of rising fuel costs and tightened competition, chief executive Dermot Mannion has insisted the airline will maintain its Belfast base.

Aer Lingus sounds alarm bells over future

Aer Lingus has issued a stark warning that spiralling oil and operating costs directly threaten its survival.

Dermot Mannion, chief executive of the Irish flag carrier, made the comments after revealing an operating loss of €22.3 million (£18 million) for the first six months of 2007.

He blamed rising oil costs and heightened competition for the disappointing results, noting that the carrier's fuel bill has increased by €56.5 million since the beginning of the year.

Aer Lingus mulls new base in Scotland

Aer Lingus could expand its Glasgow or Edinburgh operations in the near future, The Scotsman reports.

The Irish national carrier only opened its first base outside of Dublin last year, but it is now said to be looking to establish a major presence at three more airports across the UK.

Airline spokesman Enda Corneille confirmed the plans, but declined to give a timetable for any expansion, saying progress will depend on the acquisition of a new fleet of short-haul aircraft.

Aer Lingus set to boost Dublin to Edinburgh link

Aer Lingus will increase the number of flights it operates between Edinburgh and Dublin, The Herald reports.

The Irish national carrier will boost the number of days it flies between the two capital cities from six to seven, as well as sustaining its present daily service to Glasgow.

It also intends to start using its Dublin base as a hub through which to fly Scottish passengers to the US.

Fuel surcharge increased on Aer Lingus flights

Aer Lingus has been forced to increase its fuel surcharge on a number of its long haul flights to US due to the high price of oil.

The airline has said that effective from July 30 the increased charges will apply on flights to Chicago, Orlando, San Francisco and Los Angeles, additional fees on New York, Boston and Washington Dulles, the shorter sector services to the US, remain unchanged.

Enda Corneille, corporate affairs director at Aer Lingus, said: "The overall effect of the price of fuel continues to be extremely challenging for the airline industry, despite some price fluctuations over the last number of days.

Aer Lingus opposes carbon trading scheme

Aer Lingus has backed fellow no-frills airline Ryanair in its opposition to Europe's proposed Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS).

The new measure, which is due to be debated by European MPs, will force airlines to purchase 'carbon permits' if they wish to exceed a pre-determined target level for CO2 emissions.

It has been estimated that the costly measure could deter many would-be passengers from taking a holiday, prompting several UK airlines to voice their opposition.

Aer Arann and Aer Lingus offer link up option

An agreement has been signed between Aer Arran and Aer Lingus that will allow passengers travelling from Cork to the US, via Dublin, easy access through the airport.

From today, bookings can be made on www.aerlingus.com directly both to and from Cork to all seven Aer Lingus USA destinations in one single booking transaction.

The agreement between the two airlines means passengers will be able to check-in at Cork Airport and have their luggage checked through directly to their final destination in the USA, making it easier for people to transfer to their flight at Dublin Airport.

Aer Lingus link between Newcastle and Dublin

Aer Lingus is to reintroduce flights between Dublin and Newcastle International Airport later this year.

Five flights a week will operate between the two destinations from October 26, offering both tourists and business people the chance to explore each city.

Chris Sanders, of Newcastle Airport, said "We are delighted that Aer Lingus is reintroducing its service to Newcastle this winter. The Dublin route is our busiest international low cost route and has become very popular for business and leisure trips in both directions.

"These additional flights will greatly benefit business and tourism activities at each end of the route."

Aer Lingus unveils new Sofia route

Irish national carrier Aer Lingus is to begin operating a new route to the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, this autumn.

Flights to the eastern European city will commence on October 28, with the Dublin-based airline servicing the route twice weekly.

The announcement comes on the day that Aer Lingus launches its other Bulgarian connection, which links the Irish capital to the Black Sea coastal resort of Bourgas.

Aer Lingus scales back US presence

Irish carrier Aer Lingus has confirmed that it is suspending its Dublin to Los Angeles service from November.

The airline cited concerns over "unprecedented fuel prices" as well as uncertainty over the stagnating global economy and the weak US dollar as the main reasons for the cutback.

Oil prices reached record high levels on Friday, rising by nearly nine per cent to $139.12 (£70) a barrel, before falling slightly during Monday morning trading.

Aer Lingus increases fuel surcharge on US flights

The continuing rise in the price of oil is being blamed by Aer Lingus for an increase in its fuel surcharge on routes to the US.

The decision comes just a few weeks after a similar increase with the additional fees effective from June 11, although the Irish flag carrier has said no fuel surcharge will be applied to any of its 82 short haul routes.

Enda Corneille, corporate affairs director at Aer Lingus, said: "With jet fuel prices reaching unprecedented levels, increasing by 13 per cent month on month May over April, we have been driven to increase our fuel surcharge on long haul flights once again.

Winter schedule announced by Aer Lingus

Irish carrier Aer Lingus has announced its winter schedule from Cork Airport.

Winter flights to Cork went on sale yesterday (May 21) and passengers can travel to a variety of destinations such as Tenerife, Lanzarote and Malaga

The schedule also includes the addition of a new service to Geneva which Aer Lingus will begin operating in early December this year.

Three new routes from Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus is to add three new services to its network of routes at Belfast International Airport.

From this winter, the Irish national carrier will start flying to the popular city destinations of Munich and Milan as well as the sun-drenched island of Lanzarote.

As part of the revised schedule, the frequency of flights to Malaga and Rome has also been increased.

Fuel surcharge increased on Aer Lingus flights

Aer Lingus has been forced to increase the fuel surcharge on its long haul flights to the US as the cost of oil heads upwards.

The Irish flag carrier has said the increases will be effective from May 14 and that no fuel surcharge will be applied to any of the 82 short haul routes it operates.

Enda Corneille, corporate affairs director at Aer Lingus, said: "The price of oil has risen to a record high in recent weeks. Today's increases in our surcharges reflect the continuing effect the high price of oil is having on our long haul operation. Aer Lingus will keep the level of the surcharges under constant review and make adjustments where appropriate."

Aer Lingus raises baggage charges

Aer Lingus has confirmed that the fee for checking in bags on its short-haul flights will rise by up to 50 per cent.

The Irish national carrier announced that from Thursday (May 8) the cost of checking in bags at airports will rise from €12 to €18 (£14).

Passengers who check in their bags online will enjoy a proportionally lower increase of €9 to €12 (£9.50).

Aer Lingus confirms new Airbus aircraft orders

Irish carrier Aer Lingus has confirmed its order of 12 new Airbus aircraft, making it the airline's biggest ever acquisition of long-haul aircraft.

Aer Lingus announced that it had received shareholder approval to buy six A350-900s, as well as six additional A330-300s.

Aer Lingus announces codeshare agreement

Ireland-based carrier Aer Lingus has announced a codeshare agreement with United Airlines.

The airlines' agreement will enable them to book on each other's flights from November 1 this year. It will cover Aer Lingus' seven US gateways and provide passengers with more than 200 additional destinations in the States.

In turn, it will allow US passengers to have greater choice in terms of flights to destinations in Ireland, the UK and Europe.

Aer Lingus begins flights to Paris

Aer Lingus has begun direct flights from Belfast International to Paris (Charles de Gaulle), with fares starting from £25.

This is in addition to its direct services to Amsterdam, Barcelona, Budapest, Faro, Malaga, Nice and Rome.

One-way fares include taxes and cha

rges, and a supplementary charge will apply for travel between Friday and Saturday.

There is limited or no availability during holiday and peak travel periods, and flights are subject to availability.

Aer Lingus’ winter transatlantic schedule

The Open Skies agreement between Europe and the US will enable Aer Lingus to expand its offering from Ireland across the Atlantic later this year.

In announcing its winter service, the airline announced that from the end of October it would operate two flights a day from Dublin to New York, daily flights to Boston, four flights a week from Dublin to Washington and San Francisco and three flights a week to Los Angeles and Orlando.

Dublin to Bulgaria link launched by Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus will start a new service from Dublin to Bourgas in Bulgaria, with the flight becoming the airline's first scheduled service to the Eastern European destination.

Starting on June 11, and operating until October 4, Aer Lingus will offer two flights a week to Bourgas Airport which is close to the major tourist resorts on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.

Aer Lingus launches new Belfast routes

Aer Lingus has launched four new routes to destinations across Europe from Belfast airport, with another of its planes also set to be based at the hub.

Bringing its total number of services offered from the airport to eight, the airline has introduced flights to Malaga, Faro, Rome and Budapest.

The Rome and Malaga services offer departures on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday, while the routes to Faro and Budapest operate on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

Aer Lingus starts Belfast to Paris link

A new service between Belfast and Paris operated by Aer Lingus will begin on March 30.

The Irish carrier has said it will offer a daily service to the French capital with one-way tickets starting from £25, although to fit the Paris connection into its route map Aer Lingus will now only offer one daily flight to Amsterdam from Belfast.

Dermot Mannion, Aer Lingus CEO, said: "Our market research has shown strong demand for Paris, Charles de Gaulle while Northern Ireland is increasingly popular with French visitors. We are delighted to be able to capitalise on this demand by launching Aer Lingus' low-cost, superior service offering on this route."

Aer Lingus criticised for Irish language ban

Dublin-based flag carrier Aer Lingus has been criticised by the Irish prime minister for not making on board announcements in its native tongue on services from Belfast Airport.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was asked for his thoughts during a debate on the subject in parliament, the BBC website reports, after it was revealed that staff had been banned from using Irish during in-flight announcements.

Bertie Ahern said Aer Lingus was still the Irish national airline and "a few sentences (in Irish) wouldn't hurt anyone."

Link-up plans between Aer Lingus and JetBlue

Aer Lingus has said its agreement with US-based airline JetBlue, set to be operative in the spring, will enable passengers to book a single reservation between Ireland and 40 US destinations.

The link-up will mean Aer Lingus passengers arriving at New York's JFK airport will, after security clearance, be able to connect to domestic JetBlue flights after checking in their bags at an Aer Lingus' transfer desk in the arrivals hall.

Customers will then be able to travel to JetBlue's Terminal 6, via an airtrain, for their onward US connection to destinations including Seattle, Denver, Fort Lauderdale and Las Vegas.

Aer Lingus ends Shannon to Heathrow service

Aer Lingus has brought its Shannon to Heathrow service to an end, replacing the route with daily flights from Belfast to the London destination.

The three-times daily service represents part of a £100 million investment in the airline's operations from the Belfast hub, with nine new routes set to be launched in all.

While Aer Lingus's decision to end its Shannon operation had been met with consternation by business leaders in the Irish city, Eddie Lynch, head of consumer affairs at the Consumer Council, told The Belfast Telegraph that the new service would help meet customer demand.

Aer Lingus starts flights from Belfast

The first Aer Lingus flights from Belfast International Airport will take off today (Monday, December 10).

Back in August the Irish flag-carrier said it would establish a new base in Belfast, offering flights to several European destinations.

Flights to Amsterdam, Barcelona and Geneva begin today, with further services to London Heathrow, Rome, Budapest, Malaga, Faro and Nice beginning early next year.

Aer Lingus to drop Dubai but announces two new routes

Aer Lingus has announced two new routes to begin next summer, from Dublin to Ibiza and from Cork to Jersey.

It is also upping the frequency of its flights from Dublin, Cork and Belfast, but will scrap its flights between the Irish capital and Dubai.

The airline is adding three new aircraft to its short-haul fleet for 2008, allowing for the expansion. New Belfast to Nice flights will be introduced, together with the Ibiza and Jersey routes. Introductory fares begin at €45/£31 (Dublin to Cork) and €19/£13 (Cork to Jersey), one-way, excluding taxes and charges.

Aer Lingus raises fuel surcharge

Aer Lingus has said it will increase its long-haul fuel surcharge from November 1 because of the rising price of oil.

The changes mean that the surcharge on flights from Ireland to New York, Boston and Washington will increase to €50/£35 per sector (i.e., per leg).

On flights to Chicago, Orlando and Dubai the charge will rise to €55/£40, and on flights to Los Angeles and San Francisco it will increase to €65/£45.

The airline's commercial director, Enda Corneille, commented: "We said last May that we would keep our surcharge under review to reflect changes in the price of fuel, and today's decision to increase the charge is consistent with that strategy.

Aer Lingus and BA sign code share on Heathrow flights

Irish airline Aer Lingus has signed a code sharing agreement with British Airways regarding its new Belfast to London Heathrow service.

This means that passengers flying with Aer Lingus to Heathrow and then connecting to an onward BA flight will be able to check their bags through to their final destination.

Aer Lingus announced back in August that it was going to end its Shannon to Heathrow flights, and use the Heathrow take-off and landing slots for a new Belfast route (see related Cheapflights story). The move caused an outcry among locals who believe that business in the area will be damaged.

Aer Lingus Shannon pullout is bad timing for CityJet

CityJet could provide a Shannon to London City Airport service, but it is unlikely to be in place by the time Aer Lingus discontinues its own Shannon to Heathrow flights.

The airline's chief executive, Geoff White, said that it is still in productive talks with Shannon Airport but that it would take "something extraordinary" for a new link to be in place as soon as the Irish national carrier pulls out.

"We're still actively talking to Shannon Airport about it and there has been some progress," he said.

Aer Lingus strike disruption imminent

Passengers who have Aer Lingus bookings for Tuesday, August 21 and Wednesday, August 22 are being warned that a strike is likely to disrupt flights.

Pilots belonging to The IMPACT trade union are to stage a 48-hour walk-out beginning at 12.01am on Tuesday morning, with further industrial action also possible.

Aer Lingus to establish base at Belfast Airport

Aer Lingus is to begin flights to eight destinations, including flights to Amsterdam, Heathrow, and other major European cities from Belfast International Airport.

The Irish flag-carrier will base three A320 aircraft at the Northern Ireland hub and offer connections to Heathrow, Amsterdam, Barcelona, Geneva, Rome, Budapest, Malaga and Faro.

Flights to Amsterdam (14 per week), Barcelona (5 per week) and Geneva (2 per week) will begin on December 10.

Aer Lingus plans to end Shannon-Heathrow connection

Irish national airline Aer Lingus is set to end its Shannon to Heathrow flights, with the Heathrow slots to be used for a new connection to Belfast.

The carrier currently offers four daily flights between the west Ireland airport and London during the summer months, dropping to three daily flights in the winter.

An official announcement regarding the route's closure is expected to be made today (August 7) by Aer Lingus chief executive Dermot Mannion, who is also likely to announce several other new routes from Belfast.

Aer Lingus Dublin to Washington flight takes off

Aer Lingus launched its new route from Dublin to Washington DC over the weekend, making it the first European airline to launch a new service under the Open Skies agreement, which was brokered earlier this year.

The four-times weekly (on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays) service leaves the Irish capital at 2.30pm, arriving in the US at 5.10pm. On the way back, flights leave Washington at 7.30pm and touch down in Ireland at 7.20am the next day.

Ireland's transport minister, Noel Dempsey, hailed the new route as significant, saying: "It symbolises the liberalisation of transatlantic air services and the creation of a more dynamic and competitive Aer Lingus under a new ownership structure."

Aer Lingus to fly Dublin to Gatwick

Irish national airline Aer Lingus is to begin flying scheduled services between Dublin and London Gatwick in the autumn.

The four-times daily connection, aimed at both business and leisure passengers, will begin at the end of October and will bring the number of new routes introduced by Aer Lingus in 2007 to 14.

Fares for the route will begin at just €1 one-way, excluding taxes (which come to around £40 return).

Aer Lingus could be heading to Belfast International

Aer Lingus may be set to open a UK base at Belfast International Airport as the Irish carrier looks to expand its operations.

The BBC reports that up to 15 new destinations could be offered, including the return of a link to Heathrow, and that up to a thousand jobs could be created at the airport.

Local MP, Jeffrey Donaldson, said he backed the airport's efforts to attract Aer Lingus, as he believed the two "could not be better suited" and that it would put Belfast International on the map.