V-Flyer

At the moment there is a huge furore going on in the Shannon and Limerick area about the decision of Aer Lingus to end its LHR service. While there isn't actually rioting in the streets (well no more than usual in the case of Limerick where a couple of rival gangs slug it out on a daily basis with an assortment of knives and guns and other weaponry [:0] ) the local business people are up in arms and are saying such things like the decision has already cost the area €75 million (how have they worked that out?) and that Cork and Dublin should each give up one of their LHR slots to restore the service.

While this has been going on Aer Lingus have chosen this time to bury some other news which directly impacts Cork, some of it favourable and some not so favourable. The first and major news is that it is starting an early morning flight between London and Cork. Up till now the first flight to Cork left LHR at 9:55 arriving at 11:15. From a business point of view that never made sense to me, that the earliest you could arrive in the southern capital was late morning, but at last Aer Lingus has woken up to the fact that people actually do want to come and do business in the southern half of the country as well as in Dublin. Therefore from next April there will be a 6:40 flight from LHR to ORK arriving at 8:00

When this was announced we were also told that we would lose the late night flight from LHR. That made sense to have the aircraft positioned in LHR and to be honest the news did not put me up nor down. I've taken that flight twice; once when returning with Aer John back from a VS Swingers competition and once when we arrived back from Dubai when the VS schedule had it leaving mid afternoon from DXB. I can't really imagine any time I would use it again unless I chose to take a day flight back from NYC.

What wasn't announced and really does impact on me is that there is a change in the schedules of all of the LHR flights from Cork. The 7:30 flight is now pushed back to 8:45 and does not arrive in LHR till 10:05. Lately rather than take that flight I have chosen to fly over the night before and stay in LHR before catching VS19 and VS21. Now that choice has been taken out of my hands. If I want those VS flights I will have to stay over the night before. Mind you there is a positive side to it - I don't have to get up in the middle of the night to get to ORK any more The other flights have also been pushed back and in fact I think we have lost one flight somewhere along the line but I haven't really examined the schedules to see how it will affect me in the future.

I think the 7:30 flight will be a big loss as it is a feeder flight to other destinations both in the US and in Europe. Aer Lingus will argue they have increased the capacity to Europe and the US but looking at the times of flights to say SFO, it isn't even a daily service and there is no way we can get to Dublin in time for that flight without overnighting.

What therefore looks to be a gain is in fact a loss for the people of the area [V]

Oh, and you should see the prices for that early morning flight. They range from £109 to £139 for the LHR-ORK leg. I could get to America cheaper!!

Originally posted by honey lamb
... I've taken that flight twice; once when returning with Aer John back from a VS Swingers competition....

For people new to V-Flyer / Virgin Atlantic.. this is a golf competition. [:I]... No.... honestly, it is. [8D]:D

Nick

Indeed, HL - it all seems a bit silly.

LOADS of Westbound flights leave London from 10am onwards - EI have just cut their rather large noses off by the sound of it.

Originally posted by Nottingham Nick

Originally posted by honey lamb
... I've taken that flight twice; once when returning with Aer John back from a VS Swingers competition....

For people new to V-Flyer / Virgin Atlantic.. this is a golf competition. [:I]... No.... honestly, it is. [8D]:D

Nick

I was wondering who would pick me up on that one!

Originally posted by Nottingham Nick

Originally posted by honey lamb
... I've taken that flight twice; once when returning with Aer John back from a VS Swingers competition....

For people new to V-Flyer / Virgin Atlantic.. this is a golf competition. [:I]... No.... honestly, it is. [8D]:D

Nick

Darn it [:#] [:p]

I am kind of surprised nobody has stepped in (maybe they tried and failed [?]) to take advantage of some of the "local" traffic that Aer Lingus doesn't want to take.

What were they using on the route, 737 ?

Originally posted by Scrooge

I am kind of surprised nobody has stepped in (maybe they tried and failed [?]) to take advantage of some of the "local" traffic that Aer Lingus doesn't want to take.

What were they using on the route, 737 ?

A320s. Aer Lingus is an Airbus fleet throughout

And to add to my woes, Aer Lingus pilots have announced a work stoppage for Tuesday and Wednesday of next week. While this does not directly affect me at the moment, on the Aer Lingus website are the ominous words "and subsequent work stoppages on dates to be advised". I'm due to fly out of Cork the following week and although Aer Lingus are offering the facility to change flights I shall be stuck if they choose to go out then. My only options will be to fly to LGW or STN the day before on Ryanair - always assuming availability - and overnight somewhere [:(!]

And Ryanair seeking an Aer Lingus EGM about its plans to cut the Shannon-Heathrow service
http://www.ireland.com/newspaper/breaki ... king46.htm

Edit: Flipping eck! Ryanair own 25% of Aer Lingus with the Government owning another 25%!!!

While the furore continues about the SNN-LHR link and also the pilot's strike next week there is some good news on the Cork front. Aer Lingus have done a U-turn and are not scrapping the 7:30am flight from Cork to LHR. [y]