Aer Lingus Fleet/Routes Discussion

Mcc1411

First EI 321n is out of the shop

Tenger

Mcc1411 wrote: »

First EI 321n is out of the shop

Pic is up on Flickr, photographer is called Matthias Duber.
http://rw.www.flickr.com/photos/mathiasdueber/33747439088/in/photolist-Tq9rU5


Edit; just noticed the hi speed tape covering the tail reg. Certainly looks like ‘RA’ to me.

goingnowhere

Missing engines isn't a great sign

Satellite gear fitted already.

Tenger

goingnowhere wrote: »

Missing engines isn't a great sign
...................

You just don’t believe enough.....

sherology

Engines aren't the hold up at this juncture. New auto-riveting robots and new cabinflex layout/door configurations caused unexpected rework and slower production at Hamburg. They didn't forsee how cabin fittings and configs in a longer range aircraft would be more bespoke than a typical a321 layout (rather oddly)

EI chose two over-wing emergency exits? That's the first I've seen with two. Most LRs only have one as the cabins have relatively low density.

Anywho... Good to see things moving. Thanks for the pic. Keep'em coming.

Jamie2k9

So J pax will have to walk through Y or Y through the J cabin?

kevinandrew

Interesting to see the entire tail painted teal, the standard of the new livery is to leave the lower leading edge white as the "swoop" onto the rear fuselage begins there. Airbus always paint the tail first so maybe details connected with the overall livery will be dealt with later.

Regarding the exits, I think all A321LR are constructed with two over wing exits as standard with one of them getting plugged up at a later date. TAP Air Portugal recently took delivery of their first A321LR which features just one active over wing exit but the outline of the second is still visible.

California Dreamer

Tenger wrote: »

Pic is up on Flickr, photographer is called Matthias Duber.
http://rw.www.flickr.com/photos/mathiasdueber/33747439088/in/photolist-Tq9rU5


Edit; just noticed the hi speed tape covering the tail reg. Certainly looks like ‘RA’ to me.

Will that be flying to Las Vegas!?!? :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Comhrá

California Dreamer wrote: »

Will that be flying to Las Vegas!?!? :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

I wouldn't bet on it!

California Dreamer

Tenger wrote: »

Pic is up on Flickr, photographer is called Matthias Duber.
http://rw.www.flickr.com/photos/mathiasdueber/33747439088/in/photolist-Tq9rU5


Edit; just noticed the hi speed tape covering the tail reg. Certainly looks like ‘RA’ to me.

EI-LRA


Good thing they skipped 'I' :eek:

goingnowhere

This is a A321NXLR, it has the new cabin layout so no L2 door

The L2 door was rarely if ever used as the jetbridge would come far too close to the engine, it worked for some jetbridges (there was one at T1 in LHR) but the bits hanging out of the jetbridge, stairs etc will contact the engine

This is EI-LRA, the fleet will be assigned EI-LRx registrations

Kev11491

goingnowhere wrote: »

This is a A321NXLR, it has the new cabin layout so no L2 door

The L2 door was rarely if ever used as the jetbridge would come far too close to the engine, it worked for some jetbridges (there was one at T1 in LHR) but the bits hanging out of the jetbridge, stairs etc will contact the engine

This is EI-LRA, the fleet will be assigned EI-LRx registrations

Its a LR, not a XLR.

goingnowhere

To be pedantic

Its a A321-253NX-LR

2 200 series
5 Leap engine
3 version three
N is for NEO
X is the ACF cabin, the new doors
LR for the 3 ACT option

To confuse matters more there are two LR variants the WV071 and WV072

You can plug the second overwing and even the L3/R3 door depending on seating capacity

ozzy jr

goingnowhere wrote: »

To be pedantic

Its a A321-253NX-LR

2 200 series
5 Leap engine
3 version three
N is for NEO
X is the ACF cabin, the new doors
LR for the 3 ACT option

To confuse matters more there are two LR variants the WV071 and WV072

You can plug the second overwing and even the L3/R3 door depending on seating capacity

Is there anyone flying this version at the moment?

L1011

ozzy jr wrote: »

Is there anyone flying this version at the moment?

TAP took delivery of one last week but I don't think its in service yet. TAP and EI are the launch customers.

Captain_Crash

goingnowhere wrote: »

The L2 door was rarely if ever used as the jetbridge would come far too close to the engine, it worked for some jetbridges (there was one at T1 in LHR) but the bits hanging out of the jetbridge, stairs etc will contact the engine

I'm open to correction but I don't think the A321 was ever approved for boarding using L2. No one does it these days and many airlines strictly forbid it (although if an airline themselves has a policy of not allowing it, maybe its possible to do).

MoeJay

Quite some time ago now, Aer Lingus did board the 321 through 2 left, only on occasion though.....old cabin config too!

Bussywussy

Door 3 will be plugged I believe.
16/168 config

Accidentally

Captain_Crash wrote: »

I'm open to correction but I don't think the A321 was ever approved for boarding using L2. No one does it these days and many airlines strictly forbid it (although if an airline themselves has a policy of not allowing it, maybe its possible to do).

Lufthansa do it every day of the week

VG31

Captain_Crash wrote: »

I'm open to correction but I don't think the A321 was ever approved for boarding using L2. No one does it these days and many airlines strictly forbid it (although if an airline themselves has a policy of not allowing it, maybe its possible to do).

LH frequently board A321s with double airbridges at Frankfurt.

Tenger

MoeJay wrote: »

Quite some time ago now, Aer Lingus did board the 321 through 2 left, only on occasion though.....old cabin config too!

Did it dozens of tines when I was crew with them. A321s used to be mostly on the DUB-LHR route back in 99-02.
Board at L2, J class could extended as far as doors 3 on the budiest flights.

Locker10a

Bussywussy wrote: »

Door 3 will be plugged I believe.
16/168 config

It appears that way in the photo above

kevinandrew

I remember boarding the A321 via the second door at Heathrow in the late 90s. It was at one of the very last gates in the old green mile pier where the aircraft appeared to be parked at an angle and the jet bridge extended quite a distance to reach the aircraft door. Once on board you could see Premier Europe to the left and the larger economy cabin to the right, seeing the interior divided into sections always made the aircraft appear larger than it actually was for me. 

It's a pity the old episode of BBC Airport never resurfaced, the one with the inaugural A321 service to Heathrow and a race against time to find a missing bagpipe player!

Van.Bosch

EI2505 was due to fly Bordeaux to Dublin this evening but has been cancelled according to EI website. I think this was a ferry flight to bring EI-GEY back.

Be interesting to see what operates IAD tomorrow as per the website, this plane was due to restart the route from tomorrow.

Tenger

Is it more just upguaging for summer season?
I thought the B757 was on it over winter?

Van.Bosch

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Tenger wrote: »

Is it more just upguaging for summer season?
I thought the B757 was on it over winter?

Yes, was due to upguage tomorrow to A330-200 (EI-GEY) but that plane was cancelled coming back from Bordeaux, so wondering if its not back tomorrow will they have a spare to cover it.

cloudhopper19

ei-GCF will operate the flight tomorrow 18th.

cson

Tenger wrote: »

Is it more just upguaging for summer season?
I thought the B757 was on it over winter?

EI-GEY operates it occasionally from Nov-Mar from my experience.

Van.Bosch

cson wrote: »

EI-GEY operates it occasionally from Nov-Mar from my experience.

Wonder what it is about IAD that makes them put this “inferior” business class product on that route?

I guess from a scheduling point of view it’s easier to sell the seats in that layout in just one route rather than chopping and changing but curious why IAD.

cson

Van.Bosch wrote: »

Wonder what it is about IAD that makes them put this “inferior” business class product on that route?

I guess from a scheduling point of view it’s easier to sell the seats in that layout in just one route rather than chopping and changing but curious why IAD.

Good question.

If I had to guess its probably because the expense accounts on NYC/SFO/BOS need to be kept happy whereas the political expense accounts on IAD aren't as important.

goingnowhere

The competition is flying a clapped out 757 so the config on GEY is way better and bear in mind it is better than the former EI business offering of a few years ago.

There is amazingly a global shortage of business class seats which is actually delaying aircraft from factory.

Van.Bosch

goingnowhere wrote: »

The competition is flying a clapped out 757 so the config on GEY is way better and bear in mind it is better than the former EI business offering of a few years ago.

There is amazingly a global shortage of business class seats which is actually delaying aircraft from factory.

Yeah, good point about the competition. Is EI-Gey owned by EI? Or is it leased from QR?

kevinandrew

It’s on a five year lease from Castlelake, an aircraft lessor. The aircraft was a former QR bird but nothing to do with them now.

Jack1985

GEY positioning home tonight as EI993 from Bordeaux. EIS tomorrow for EI119.

liiga

Ei-LRA to delivered in June 2019
EI-LRB to delivered in July 2019
Ei-LBC to delivered in September 2019

marno21

EI-LRC to be the new setting for pilot disputes to be resolved?

Jack1985

marno21 wrote: »

EI-LRC to be the new setting for pilot disputes to be resolved?

:D:D:D

Karl8415

Just a question on EI getting the XLR based on pictures yesterday,I attached from airbus website tonight and it’s saying that the XLR is currently been developed and it’s launch date has not been confirmed,I personally wud love if the picture yesterday was of XLR because of its extra range on top of the LR would give EI opportunity for even more routes and if I’m not mistaken when TAP received it’s new A321 recently it was advertised as LR and not XLR

Tenger

Karl8415 wrote: »

Just a question on EI getting the XLR based on pictures yesterday,I attached from airbus website tonight and it’s saying that the XLR is currently been developed and it’s launch as date has not been confirmed,I personally wud love if the picture yesterday was of XLR because of its extra range on top of the LR would give EI opportunity for even more routes and if I’m not mistaken when TAP received it’s new A321 recently it was advertised as LR and not XLR

The aircraft pictured is an A321LR, NO A321XLR have been built yet. The design has yet to even be finalised.
Aer Lingus I believe are using the term A321NEO-LR in their press releases.

The numerical codes used by manufacturers are indicators of customers specs or variants, EG B737-8Q8
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Boeing_customer_codes

goingnowhere wrote: »

To be pedantic
Its a A321-253NX-LR

'2' 200 series
'5' Leap engine
'3' version three
'N' is for NEO
'X' is the ACF cabin, the new doors
'LR' for the 3 ACT option

Bussywussy

Rumours have another month or so delay

Jamie2k9

liiga wrote: »

Ei-LRA to delivered in June 2019
EI-LRB to delivered in July 2019
Ei-LBC to delivered in September 2019

That was the schedule before YUL was pulled? First due July now as far as I know.

Bussywussy

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

That was the schedule before YUL was pulled? First due July now as far as I know.

I heard August a few days ago but Airbus world CDIS confirms it's still July

Jack1985

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

That was the schedule before YUL was pulled? First due July now as far as I know.

Correct.

Jamie2k9

Bussywussy wrote: »

I heard August a few days ago but Airbus world CDIS confirms it's still July

I did say about further delays when they announced YUL cancellation. It could get very messy if they don't have it by 1st August.

Karl8415

Can I just ask if these delays are accurate then would it be fair to say EI would require compensation from airbus and if so does anybody have any idea at what level would it be at because if customers have already booked for travel on the new jets and they get moved then they will start looking for compensation

JCX BXC

You don't get compensated as a passenger for change of aircraft.

Karl8415

JCX BXC wrote: »

You don't get compensated as a passenger for change of aircraft.

Thank you for your reply.
My apologies I worded second half of my text incorrectly what I meant to ask was if customers have booked on routes already listed for the new jets but have to be canceled due to late delivery, so I was asking would EI receive compensation from airbus Incase these selected routes must be deferred as a result and customers who do not choose alternative dates offered would seek compensation

Van.Bosch

Karl8415 wrote: »

Thank you for your reply.
My apologies I worded second half of my text incorrectly what I meant to ask was if customers have booked on routes already listed for the new jets but have to be canceled due to late delivery, so I was asking would EI receive compensation from airbus Incase these selected routes must be deferred as a result and customers who do not choose alternative dates offered would seek compensation

Doubt it - if there is comp it will be to EI for loss of use of the aircraft. EI will offer refund or re routing, as long as it’s not cancelled close in to departure, that’s all they are on the hook for.

sherology

I get what you're saying.

EI would likely receive incurred-costs compensation from the the lessor as they haven't provided the aircraft at the time they stated, and EI have to rebook and reroute etc.

Airbus would likely provide compo to the lessor etc. All depends on lease/sale contracts between EI/LESSOR/AIRBUS. That info would be quite private, but EI would be unlikely to take-the-hit cost-wise if it's not their fault.

Hope this helps.

Karl8415

Thank you for that update, Separately just wondering now that GEY is back in service has anyone seen if it has had its cabin refitted to EI and if so has it maintained the same configuration