Tag: Aer Lingus

Aer Lingus Launches Summer 2021 Schedule with Flexible Options

October 6, 2020 / WIL BALDWIN

– You and your family can travel safely and with flexibility with Aer Lingus

– Free Unlimited changes on all routes and all fare types

– Guaranteed Voucher and Cash Refund option on certain fare types

Aer Lingus today launched its summer 2021 schedule offering a range of fare options so customers can book that long-anticipated summer holiday with confidence. Aer Lingus is ensuring families can look forward to traveling safely and with flexibility in summer 2021, and today it introduced new ways to keep bookings flexible should travel plans change with its ‘Book with Confidence’ proposition. With direct flights to Europe starting at €25.99 and US and Canada at €159, now is the time to start planning summer 2021.

Chief Commercial Officer, Dave Shepherd said: “We are offering customers a range of choices. There are free unlimited changes on all routes and all fare types*. There is the option of a full cash refund** on our Advantage/Flex fares. And from today, our Smart / Plus fares includes a new feature so that customers can avail of a voucher up to 14 days before travel to any destination or within 14 days if a country’s travel guidance changes*** from just €25.99. Aer Lingus is giving our customers the confidence to dream, so you can start to plan next summer’s adventure today with confidence.

“With flights up to August 2021 available for sale, you can start planning a reunion with friends in the Algarve, a sunny beach break with family in Malaga, or a romantic adventure in a European city and have something great to look forward to next year with Aer Lingus. For those looking to travel across the Atlantic in 2021, we have 12 direct North American routes to choose from including New York, Florida, San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, and Toronto, ”

With Aer Lingus, customers can book with the confidence that the airline prioritises the safety and wellbeing of our customers and our people at all times. Earlier this year Aer Lingus introduced a range of safety measures in line with the guidance provided by the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention & Control). These measures include the mandatory wearing of face masks at all times by all customers and crew. Social distancing is practiced at check in, boarding gate, boarding and disembarking the aircraft. These measures, along with an enhanced cleaning system and our state-of-the-art air filtration technology as standard on our Airbus aircraft, ensure customers have a safe and comfortable flight.

For more information on the Aer Lingus summer 2021 sale, please visit www.aerlingus.com.

Notes to Editor:

*A fare difference may apply. Unlimited changes can be made on all bookings until 31st May

** Requests for vouchers and refunds can be made up until 14 days pre-departure

***Should a country move to red on the imminent EU Travel Framework

Terms & Conditions

Vouchers are valid for 5 years and can be used on the entire Aer Lingus network.
Change Fee Rules apply and fare difference may apply.
Change or Voucher requests must be made in advance of travel or these options will not apply.

Short Haul Fare Types
	Saver	Plus	Advantage
Free Unlimited Changes*	✅	✅	✅
Guaranteed Voucher**		✅	✅
Cash Refund			✅

North Atlantic Fare Types
	Saver	Smart	Flex	Business	Business Flex
Free Unlimited Changes*	✅	✅	✅	✅	✅
Guaranteed Voucher**		✅	✅	✅	✅
Cash Refund			✅		✅

IAG Ups Bet on Latin America with Air Europa Takeover

November 4, 2019 / WIL BALDWIN

* Buys Air Europa for 1 bln euros

* To be funded by external debt

* Shares rise more than 2%

* To be run by Iberia CEO

* Regulators may set requirements -analysts

Nov 4 (Reuters) – IAG, the parent of British Airways and Spain’s Iberia, announced a 1 billion euro ($1.12 billion) takeover of Spain’s Air Europa to boost its presence on routes to Latin America and the Caribbean.

The deal follows a setback in Latin America for IAG after Chile’s Supreme Court ruled against a plan that would have allowed it to bolster cooperation with partners in the oneworld airlines alliance.

**BA parent IAG ups bet on Latin America with Air Europa takeover**
Ryanair Chief Executive Michael O’Leary attends a Reuters Newsmaker event in London

Chile’s LATAM Airlines in September then announced it planned to leave the alliance, opting instead for a tie-up with SkyTeam member Delta Air Lines.

IAG shares initially rose more than 2% following the Air Europa takeover announcement but some analysts said IAG may have to shed routes in order to win regulatory approval.

IAG shares were up 1.2% at 1315 GMT.

Ryanair CEO Michael O’Leary said his company will ask the UK’s market watchdog to force IAG to make divestments as part of its Air Europa takeover, a deal he said would be bad for competition.

“Potential remedies, perhaps in the form of slot release or behavioural restrictions, may be required and these could impact the potential synergies,” an analyst at Liberum wrote in a note.

IAG also owns carriers Iberia Express, Level, Ireland’s Aer Lingus and Vueling.

“We are not convinced that having just another brand platform is the optimal move, and could see it potentially combining with Level, Vueling or potentially Iberia Express after some time,” analysts at Bernstein said.

FILE PHOTO: An Air Europa-branded Boeing 737 MAX aircraft is seen grounded at a storage area in an aerial photo at Boeing Field in Seattle

Air Europa serves 69 destinations, including long-haul routes to the Americas and the Caribbean. It had a fleet of 66 aircraft at the end of 2018.

Air Europa’s Spanish parent company Globalia earlier this year received authorisation from the Brazilian government to explore the possibility of flying domestic routes within Latin America’s largest economy.

It is unclear if that authorisation will remain with Globalia or be transferred to IAG.

Air Europa will initially keep its brand and as it gets integrated into the existing hub at Madrid it will be a standalone operation run by Iberia boss Luis Gallego, IAG said.

It will also withdraw Air Europa from the SkyTeam alliance once the deal is completed. Air Europa has a joint venture with Air France-KLM.

“This is of strategic importance for the Madrid hub, which in recent years has lagged behind other European hubs,” said Gallego, adding that Madrid had the potential to serve as a gateway between Asia and Latin America.

IAG said it expected the Air Europa deal, which will be funded through external debt, to close in the second half of next year and for it to add to its earnings in the first full year after the closure.

($1 = 0.8951 euros) (Reporting by Yadarisa Shabong in Bengaluru; additional reporting by Andres Gonzalez in Madrid and Marcelo Rochabrun in Sao Paulo, editing by Patrick Graham and Jason Neely)

An Air Europa Boeing 737 airplane takes off at the airport in Palma de Mallorca

IAG’s Aer Lingus Boss Stephen Kavanagh To Step Down

October 11, 2018 / WIL BALDWIN

(Reuters) – International Airlines Group (IAG) (ICAG.L) said on Thursday that Aer Lingus chief executive Stephen Kavanagh will step down on Jan. 1, 2019 and will be succeeded by Sean Doyle, a British Airways director.

Kavanagh, who will remain with Aer Lingus as a non-executive director, is stepping down to pursue other interests, after a career that spanned over three decades at the Irish airline, with the last four in the top job.

IAG Chief Executive Willie Walsh credited Kavanagh with modernizing Aer Lingus, the flag carrier of Ireland founded by the government in 1936.

Doyle, who hails from Cork, Ireland, is also the director of network, fleet and alliances at IAG-owned British Airways.

IAG also said Mike Rutter, chief operating officer of Aer Lingus, has extended his contract with the airline.

(Reporting by Shariq Khan in Bengaluru; Editing by Kirsten Donovan and Emelia Sithole-Matarise)

In other Aer Lingus news:

Meet Montreal and Minneapolis-St. Paul

Minnesota’s twin cities, Minneapolis-St. Paul, join Montreal, the largest city in Canada’s Québec province, as the latest additions to our expanding transatlantic network.

Ireland’s first direct Minneapolis-St. Paul service will operate daily from 8th July 2019, with fares from €249 each way, as part of a return trip.

Our new daily Montreal route will take off on 8th August 2019, with fares from €239 each way, as part of a return trip.

British Airways Loses New York Crown To Norwegian

October 8, 2018 / WIL BALDWIN

LONDON (Reuters) – Norwegian Air Shuttle (NWC.OL) has overtaken British Airways as the biggest non-U.S. airline on transatlantic routes to and from the New York area, in the latest illustration of the low cost carrier’s move into British Airways territory.

Norwegian carried 1.67 million passengers to or from airports in the New York area in the 12 months to the end of July, compared with the 1.63 million carried by British Airways, data from the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey showed.

No-frills carrier Norwegian has been rapidly expanding in the transatlantic market over the last five years, prompting the owner of British Airways, IAG (ICAG.L), to try to buy it earlier this year.

The data showed four U.S. airlines, led by United, are the biggest carriers of international passengers out of the main airports in the New York area, which include John F. Kennedy International, LaGuardia and Newark Liberty International.

Air Canada is the biggest non-U.S. carrier of international passengers, but its dominance is on travel between the United States and Canada.

Norwegian, and other relatively recent entrants to the market such as Wow Air, have led a charge to shake up Europe’s long-haul flight market, offering ticket prices that can be as little as half those charged by traditional carriers.

The traditional airlines have responded by selling a new budget class of ticket, as well as setting up, in IAG’s case, new airline Level to compete directly with Norwegian on price.

Lufthansa has also started budget long-haul flights using its Eurowings brand.

Norwegian said in May it had rejected two approaches from IAG, which also owns the Iberia, Aer Lingus and Vueling brands, because they undervalued the company. IAG owns a 4.6 percent stake in Norwegian.

The pace of Norwegian’s growth – figures from July 2017 show it only carried 750,000 passengers into and out of the New York region – has weighed on its finances and it faces mounting pressure to control costs and shore up its balance sheet.

British Airways did not immediately respond to a request to comment on the figures.

(Reporting by Sarah Young; Editing by Mark Potter)

Formula One Champ Niki Lauda Rescues His Old Airline

January 25, 2018 / WIL BALDWIN

The former Formula One champion Niki Lauda has rescues the airline named after him. Niki, formerly Aero Lloyd Austria, was acquired by Lauda and renamed in 2003 before being partnered with Air Berlin a year later. He later sold the airline to the larger Air Berlin in 2011, where it ferried Austrian and German sun-seekers to Mediterranean beaches.

Click the link below for the full story!

Niki lauda rescues his old airline

New airline routes announced in December, 2017

December 27, 2017 / WIL BALDWIN

Aer Lingus will begin flying between Dublin (DUB) and Seattle (SEA) starting on May 18, 2018. The route will be served by an Airbus A330, with flights on Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday.

Air Canada announced several new nonstop international routes starting in May of 2018, including Toronto (YYZ) to Omaha (OMA) and Providence (PVD); Montreal (YUL) to Baltimore (BWI) and Pittsburgh (PIT); Vancouver (YVR) to Sacramento, Calif. (SMF); and Edmonton (YEG) to San Francisco (SFO). All flights will operate daily, year-round except for Toronto/Providence, which will be daily summer seasonal service.

Cathay Pacific will begin nonstop service between Washington, D.C. Dulles International Airport (IAD) and Hong Kong (HKG) on Sept. 16, 2018. Flights will operate four times a week with Cathay Pacific’s new Airbus A350-1000. Flights from Washington, D.C., to Hong Kong will operate Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday and Sunday and leave IAD at 1:15 p.m.; flights from Hong Kong to Dulles will operate Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday and leave Hong Kong at 6:35 p.m.

United Airlines is adding 10 new routes from five of its domestic hubs, beginning in April of 2018, including the addition of service to two new cities: Wilmington, N.C. (ILM) from Chicago (ORD) and Washington, D.C. Dulles (IAD), and Elmira, N.Y. (ELM) from Newark Liberty (EWR). Starting on April 9, United will offer twice daily flights between Chicago and both El Paso (ELP) and Wilmington, N.C.; between Los Angeles (LAX) and both Redmond (RDM) and Medford (MFR), Ore.; between Newark and Elmira; and between Washington Dulles and Wilmington. There will be one flight daily between Denver (DEN) and Jacksonville, Fla. (JAX). Daily seasonal service between Chicago and Fresno (FAT), and between LAX and both Kalispell (FCA) and Missoula (MSO), Montana beginning on June 7.

Norwegian Air is adding four new routes between the United States and Europe. Service from New York (JFK) to Madrid-Barajas Airport (MAD) will begin on July 18, 2018, and operate three times per week. Service from New York (JFK) to Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) will start on May 7, 2018, and operate four times per week. Norwegian will begin flying from LAX to Madrid four times a week, beginning July 16, 2018, and between LAX and Milan-Malpensa Airport (MXP) four times a week, starting on June 18, 2018.