Papal Flights

GM228

Apologies if already asked, but any details on the Papal flights later this month?

I'm assuming Alitalia (usually a AZ 4000 call sign?? ) will be chartered to Dublin with Aer Lingus chartered for the internal and return flights which is generally the norm for Papal chartered flights?

afatbollix

Would Aerlingus change the seats for him?

Locker10a

afatbollix wrote: »

Would Aerlingus change the seats for him?

They may just use a 757 or a330 if they have one spare ? Wouldn’t business class do him ?

EchoIndia

I could be proved wrong but the days of Aer Lingus having a spare wide-body or even an A320 are largely gone, I would say.

Here is an article that speculates a bit on the issue. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/pope-airline-alitalia-bankrupt/

Tenzor07

I'd say he'll come in on a private jet, onto a helicopter over by the Aer Lingus hangar, place will be locked down tight too, essential airport/security staff only..

GM228

Tenzor07 wrote: »

I'd say he'll come in on a private jet , onto a helicopter over by the Aer Lingus hangar, place will be locked down tight too, essential airport/security staff only..

The pope always flies by a commercial carrier, Alitalia inbound and the national carrier outbound, and for any internal flights, that is the long standing tradition suggesting Aer Lingus for the return.

Can't see any helicopters used, from the official itinerary:-

DUBLIN-KNOCK-DUBLIN-ROME

8:40 Departure by plane for Knock
9:20 Arrival at the Airport in Knock
Immediate transfer to the Shrine
9:45 Arrival at Knock Shrine
Visit to the Chapel of Knock Shrine
Angelus on the square in front of the Shrine
10:45 Transfer to the airport in Knock
11:10 Arrival at the airport in Knock
11:15 Departure by plane for Dublin

Skuxx

EchoIndia wrote: »

I could be proved wrong but the days of Aer Lingus having a spare wide-body or even an A320 are largely gone, I would say.

Here is an article that speculates a bit on the issue. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/news/pope-airline-alitalia-bankrupt/

Let him pay the charter fee for the 320 and I'm sure EI will free one up!!

GM228

Skuxx wrote: »

Let him pay the charter fee for the 320 and I'm sure EI will free one up!!

Makes me wonder when is the last time they chartered an entire plane? Bray Air Show does not count

Skuxx

GM228 wrote: »

Makes me wonder when is the last time they chartered an entire plane? Bray Air Show does not count

According to www.thelingussource.com they had a charter to Loreint on August 2nd!

Tenzor07

GM228 wrote: »

The pope always flies by a commercial carrier, Alitalia inbound and the national carrier outbound, and for any internal flights, that is the long standing tradition suggesting Aer Lingus for the return.
Can't see any helicopters used, from the official itinerary:-

Hmm.. was wondering where to position for a bit of Pope spotting that morning he arrives!

Carawaystick

What did the pope do when he arrived last year from Egypt?

Under His Eye

He used AZ4000 as always and used Egyptair to get to FCO on the way back.

Is AZ4000 still on Italian plates? Most of Alitalia's stuff is on EI plates.

Coming on an Alitalia 320. Knock and back is EI 321 and flight back to Rome is an EI 321.

Arthur Daley

[Deleted User] wrote: »

Coming on an Alitalia 320. Knock and back is EI 321 and flight back to Rome is an EI 321.

Isn't Francis meant to be very low key. He was meant to have made his name taking public transport and living in a modest apartment around BA, Rome. So they could just use a stock A321, maybe give him one of the exit row seats to stretch the legs a bit.

Tenger

Deleted User wrote: »

Coming on an Alitalia 320. Knock and back is EI 321 and flight back to Rome is an EI 321.

Asked a mate a few days ago and he texted me last night to confirm that the return on the 26th is planned for an EI A321. Shame they don’t have the sparkly new A321LRs yet!

I remember reading in 1979 that EI had a B747 (EI-ASI) specially fitted for the JP2 visit, (private bedroom onboard and papal crest on fuselage) but that they had a 2nd temporarily named ‘St.Patrick’ as a backup.

ohnonotgmail

Tenger wrote: »

Asked a mate a few days ago and he texted me last night to confirm that the return on the 26th is planned for an EI A321. Shame they don’t have the sparkly new A321LRs yet!

I remember reading in 1979 that EI had a B747 (EI-ASI) specially fitted for the JP2 visit, (private bedroom onboard and papal crest on fuselage) but that they had a 2nd temporarily named ‘St.Patrick’ as a backup.

why would a bedroom be required on a flight from Italy to Ireland?

EchoIndia

ohnonotgmail wrote: »

why would a bedroom be required on a flight from Italy to Ireland?

The Pope left Ireland for the US and the same aircraft was used.

Tenger

EchoIndia wrote: »

The Pope left Ireland for the US and the same aircraft was used.

Glad you knew that answer. I would have had to dig out my EI history book.
Wasnt this the 1st time the Pope travelled non Alitalia to a destination?

EchoIndia

Tenger wrote: »

Glad you knew that answer. I would have had to dig out my EI history book.
Wasnt this the 1st time the Pope travelled non Alitalia to a destination?

I think so. I'm just going on memory as I am old enough to remember the events.

The other memorable feature of the 1979 visit was the use of several helicopters; the Gardai leased three West German Border Patrol (Bundesgrenzschutz) Puma helicopters, two KLM Helikopters S-61s served as transport for other members of the entourage and an Irish Helicopters Bell 212 served as the papal transport. All used "Papal" callsigns, e.g. "Papal 1", "Papal 2" etc.

Brennus335

And all for a man in a dress who hears voices in his head.

Pat Dunne

Tenger wrote: »

Glad you knew that answer. I would have had to dig out my EI history book.
Wasnt this the 1st time the Pope travelled non Alitalia to a destination?

Yes, this was the very first time that the Head of the Holy See, travelled on a non Alitalia flight. Arriving in DUB on EI-ASI St. Patrick B747-148.

I honestly don't know why I can remember such trivia.

GM228

Tenger wrote: »

I remember reading in 1979 that EI had a B747 (EI-ASI) specially fitted for the JP2 visit, (private bedroom onboard and papal crest on fuselage) but that they had a 2nd temporarily named ‘St.Patrick’ as a backup.

I forgot about that, but St. Patrick was the 747 he flew in on, don't think there was a backup.

I seem to recall the National Archives releasing documents years ago showing amongst other things that AL convinced the powers that be at the Vatican to let them fly him ex Italy as a publicity coup, the only airline to successfully do so.

Hector Savage

Good stuff here too ...

Tow

Who gets the job of cleaning/disinfecting the ground at the bottom of the stairs?

EchoIndia

The "Aer Lingus" titles above the door were non-standard and were, I think, added to ensure that the airline's name was in-shot at the pivotal moment when the Pope stepped out of the aircraft.

Nforce

From memory, as I was just a young lad back in '79, but didn't the Air Corps Fougas escort the Pope into Dublin for his visit? Wonder if the PC-9s will do the same this time.

peter1892

Nforce wrote: »

From memory, as I was just a young lad back in '79, but didn't the Air Corps Fougas escort the Pope into Dublin for his visit? Wonder if the PC-9s will do the same this time.

They did - low fly past over the park as well (it seemed low to 6 year old me at the time!). That was the most exciting part of the day

HTCOne

GM228 wrote: »

I forgot about that, but St. Patrick was the 747 he flew in on, don't think there was a backup.

There was an EI 707 on standby in FCO in case the 747 went tech.

Under His Eye

Just how many 747's did EI have lying around?

L1011

Fleet was 3 normally with 1 often leased out. Between those and the 707s they had plenty for the very few TATL frequencies they had at the time.

EchoIndia

This old RTE documentary contains some aviation footage. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YsSakT6DkYY