Dublin routes news and general chat

IngazZagni · 23-10-2021 2:27pm

Anyone know how Ryanairs winter schedule compares to 2019?

It looks near normal to me. From a brief look from November 1st they are back up to 8x daily on Stansted and Gatwick, up to 5x daily AMS and 14x weekly LIS (Aer Lingus seem to be 2x weekly LIS in November for comparison).

theguzman · 25-10-2021 9:04pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118054572#Comment_118054572

Turkish are a brilliant airline, 2 suitcases and a free hotel layover on 12+hrs connections. I used them this year going to Brazil due to their competitive price and I didn't trust any EU carrier not to cancel. Istanbul's new Airport is monstrous and puts Dubai in the shade. Turkish airlines are an airline run the way it used to be in the old days when things were better. They changed my flight times by 1hour and I was able to get a refund also.

Noxegon · 26-10-2021 1:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118072161#Comment_118072161

Istanbul's airport is indeed enormous, though I'd respectfully suggest that Dubai is much better organized.

I know where I'd rather connect anyway.

Clon63 · 27-10-2021 7:36pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118062451#Comment_118062451

Don't have actual figures from 2019 but looking at the current schedule it seems to me that they must almost me back at 2019 winter levels, Obviously they have announced serious expansion in Shannon and have also new routes to come in Cork on the reopening.

In Dublin (based on week commencing 8th November - the first "normal" week of the Winterseason they have 689 weekly frequencies (approx) - 14 to Ireland, 293 to UK, 378 to Europe (incl Kiev) and 4 toNorth Africa. That seems impressive given the situation over the last 2 years. Back in September they were operating about 750 weekly departures from Dublin at the peak and given the closure of some routes for Winter and reduction in frequency on other sunshine routes this seems a very strong schedule.

There have been significant growth on the UK routes since September which presumably indicates anticipated stong demand for VFR traffic. I counted 56 frequencies to LGW, 48 to STN and 18 to LTN which is 122 frequencies in total compared to EI with 54 between LHR and LGW and BA with 73 between LHR and LCY. Interesting that LGW is now busier than STN for FR. Makes sense to me as it is much cheaper to connect to central London abnd has good links with the rest of the South Coast. Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Bristol also seem to be back to close to pre Covid service levels with 39,32, 23 and 19 weekly frequencies respectively. Interestingly and maybe not surprisingly the 2 routes where Aer Lingus have stopped flying where they competed directly seem to be lower than before with Leeds having 9 a week and Newcastle 7.

Their mainland Europe services seem to be very strong too with double dailies or more on a number of routes. Portugal really stood out for me too - Lisbon, as you say has an incredible frequency given competition nfrom TAP and Aer Lingus just having 2 weekly. Faro too Ryanair have 9 weekly frequencies compared to 2 from Aer Lingus. Other routes that stood out for me whwew Milan - 7 per week to Malpensa and 14 into Bergamo (Aer Lingus have just 5) and Brussels with 15 per week plus Charleroi - Aer Lingus again just have 5. With so much business on that route frequency and prices must be beating tradition. The only routes where Aer Lingus seem to be close to Ryanair in terms of requency are Malaga and the Canaries with FR still being ahead with Paris the only one where we Lingus is wellahead is Paris where Aer Lingus has 17 compared to 10 FR (albeit going to Beauvais), AH have 20 on this route. EI and FR have pretty similar schedules on Hamburg and Vienna too.

One route where there seems a real dogfight is Frankfurt where EI are back from November with 10 flights a week, FR have 12 and LH have 20. I did a quick check on prices yesterday for Monday November 8th and the prices are very low, LH jhas the lowest basic fare of €17, Aer Lingus €30 and FR €32 on the outbound flights. Seems like an interesting dynamic on that route.

lgw is

Clon63 · 27-10-2021 7:42pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118021070#Comment_118021070

As well as it being "upgraded" to the 777 from 2 757s some time back I think they introduced the Washington route at the same time when they were trying to drive more transfer traffic through that hub.

Was just Looking up flights from 8th November. Aer Lingus have a relatively big schedule in November andI can see the United Newark service but apart from that I don't seee much else from the American carriers. I know November is usually a quiet month but surely the pent up demand would justify some service. I haven't looked at all the November schedules so just wondering if anybody knows the plans for the first part of the winter season?

Locker10a · 27-10-2021 8:49pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118081911#Comment_118081911

Pretty impressive over all. Hope demand is there to meet the schedules and we see summer 2022 being close to 2018/19.

I read elsewhere Ryanair are in a dispute with Lisbon airport and are in the process of canceling flights. In a way it looks like their schedule there is perhaps an intentional overkill which they will now be “forced” to tune down for dramatic effect classic Ryanair style.

California Dreamer · 15-11-2021 8:29am

With the US flights now happening, whats it like going through T2 these days? Back to normal levels and security taking a year and a day?

ongarboy · 15-11-2021 2:08pm

https://www.hospitalityandcateringnews.com/2021/11/dublin-airport-begins-first-phase-of-food-beverage-transformation/

Upgrade underway for food and beverage offering.

I was at the Marquette in T1 twice for breakfast in last month and both times dreadful. Cooked breakfast piled as slop into Styrofoam containers with cold toast plonked on top of it. No plates. Really awful. I remember breakfasts being a lot better there pre Covid so was very disappointed. Hopefully this announcement improves the quality!

Noxegon · 15-11-2021 3:11pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118169272#Comment_118169272

I've only been into Marquette once. They wouldn't sell me mushrooms with my cooked breakfast despite them being clearly visible to see next to the sausages and bacon – they were only for sale as part of an omelette, which I didn't want.

I ended up buying a sandwich from Boots instead.... first world problems!

L1011 · 18-11-2021 1:12am

Had the styrofoam and wooden 'knife' and fork in Marquette on Sunday. The March 2020 obsession with using disposable cutlery and plates has to stop - PPE is already causing an incredible increase in single use items being made and used.

Makes what was an OK product a lot worse and cannot be cheaper than washing ceramic/metal reusable crockery/cutlery.

They had glass beer glasses, at least.

Saladin Ane · 18-11-2021 1:42am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118167813#Comment_118167813

A cousin breezed through on Sunday - Dublin/Logan. It seems there was a huge rush initially but that has levelled off.

Can answer your question personally on December 6.

California Dreamer · 19-11-2021 11:52am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118184025#Comment_118184025

I will be going through on Sunday!

Saladin Ane · 20-11-2021 12:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118190475#Comment_118190475

Sunday Dec 6th?

L1011 · 20-11-2021 2:50pm

T2 at 6am last Sunday: Security empty (fast track was a waste of money, but it had been busy some months earlier). No queues for food but still not a lot of seats anywhere

Flight was actually going from Pier B, so went through to T1 which was busier but there were still seats available in Marquette.

No idea about CBP delays though.

john boye · 21-11-2021 6:02pm

Has the Harvest market in T2 closed down?

L1011 · 21-11-2021 6:11pm

Entire upstairs isn't open. So it and burger king are out of action

john boye · 21-11-2021 10:03pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118202302#Comment_118202302

Yeah I've been through T2 early twice recently and both were closed but I wasn't sure if they might open later in the day. Not a lot of options in T2 if they're both gone. There's a Starbucks going in beside the duty-free but that's not much of an option.

MagicBusDriver1 · 22-11-2021 1:05pm

I am flying Friday at 13:40 from T1. Should I get fast pass? Are the queues back to normal?

ongarboy · 22-11-2021 5:58pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118205434#Comment_118205434

I flew from T1 last Wed on a 13:15 flight and it was the quietest I'd ever seen it. No queue for security at all..I walked right up to it. No need for a fast pass at that time of day.

IngazZagni · 23-11-2021 5:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118207061#Comment_118207061

It should be noted that Fridays are far busier than Wednesdays. Last Friday at 4pm the queues were snaking around the main terminal in T1. Big delays. It might be slightly better before 1pm but not sure.

On a separate note Ryanair have announced Suceava and Madeira for next summer from Dublin. I'd be very interested in the latter.

blackwhite · 23-11-2021 5:45pm

I went through T2 on Thursday 18th Nov around 10.30am. Very quiet then.

Fast track lane wasn't open in T2

Locker10a · 23-11-2021 8:26pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118211790#Comment_118211790

Mate was flying today, T1, flight after 5pm. 45 min que for security, he got to the gate just as the gate was closing … made it by seconds in the end.

California Dreamer · 28-11-2021 9:25pm

I went through last Saturday and opted for Fast Track, I am glad I did as the normal queues were long.

I noticed that the food options were closed but I didnt mind too much as I had contacted travel services in advance to ask would hot breakfast be available in 51st & Green, the confirmed it would be!

IT WASN'T!!!!

I followed up on email and had the lounge fee returned so if anyone is considering that option be fore warned.

trellheim · 30-11-2021 12:32pm

security screening T1 at 1600 last Wednesday was back to the boarding pass scanners. DAA still refusing to push the number of belts manned back up . Its not as if they dont know how many flights are leaving at a particular time.

HTCOne · 01-12-2021 3:02pm

I noticed a QR A330 operating LHR-DUB yesterday and assumed it was in for painting, but then noticed another one doing the same route today. Any idea why it's operating?

EchoIndia · 01-12-2021 7:34pm

Cargo. This has been happening for a year or so, a couple of times a week. Originally it was mostly B789s before the A330s took over. I think most flights operate inbound via LHR (or at least used to).

LiamaDelta · 02-12-2021 3:11pm

Icelandic airline Play will begin flying between Dublin and Reykjavik three times a week from the end of April. The new route joins Madrid and Brussels as new additions for the summer, bringing to 23 the number of destinations that Play serves.

... Play will begin operations on the North America’s east coast next spring, with Dublin set to play a large part in the transatlantic operations.....

From the Irish Times.

Noxegon · 02-12-2021 3:33pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118256827#Comment_118256827

Here we go again – every time there's a new flight from KEF to the USA the Irish Times will run free advertising for them claiming it's a service from Dublin with a short stop in Reykjavik....

Blut2 · 02-12-2021 4:24pm

At least they're correctly reporting it (for now) as just a new direct flight to KEF. And not new "connections" from Dublin to NYC or wherever.

LiamaDelta · 03-12-2021 2:17pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118257031#Comment_118257031

Yeah I presume the whole 'dublin will play a large part in the transatlantic operation' is trying to hint at just that.

ongarboy · 03-12-2021 6:38pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118262861#Comment_118262861

Why would anyone in Ireland fly to North America via Reykjavik when DUB has a plethora of direct services to almost 20 cities across USA and Canada? Yes, this new service may provide connections to some secondary cities not directly connected by DUB but will there be enough demand? Also Icelandair already meets the demand for anyone wanting to visit Iceland.

I feel they are making the exact same mistake WOW did by providing far too many unviable routes which ultimately caused WOW's collapse. Iceland only has a population of approx 330k so its not like it has a huge domestic market.

HTCOne · 03-12-2021 6:47pm

WOW were doing great until they got greedy and leased in the A330s at astronomical rates (including A339s for flights to India). The airline existed for the Greyhound bus market who wanted no frills and they completely lost the plot. The owner was a .com millionaire who wouldn’t listen to his board when they advised against the A330s.

Because of their geographical location they could get more rotations out of the airframes than their competitors. DUB was one of WOWs profitable routes at 2 x daily right up to their demise. Both they and ICE mostly carried/carry North Americans transiting, who generally spend a few days in Iceland before continuing on. Icelandair will keep your checked baggage at the airport for 3 or 4 days for free IIRC allowing a short stay. Irish and Icelandic citizens make up a small % of those on the route.

Noxegon · 04-12-2021 2:27pm

The time for the KEF-DUB service is 06:00. That might be okay if you're connecting from a transatlantic, but it's a total pain in the proverbial if you're in Iceland – especially since KEF is a good 45 minute drive from Reykjavik.

HTCOne · 04-12-2021 4:45pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118268304#Comment_118268304

Pre COVID both they and WOW had a second afternoon/evening rotation which was more convenient for the p2p element. Hopefully when things pick up again one of the two airlines now on the route will do that again.

cson · 06-12-2021 7:43pm

Seeing a new set of IAD flights for the summer, 8.45pm IAD-DUB and 4.20pm DUB-IAD.

Can't remember IAD ever having double dailies.

Van.Bosch · 06-12-2021 9:16pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118279422#Comment_118279422

Aer Lingus?

goingnowhere · 06-12-2021 9:24pm

Wouldn't make sense to be anyone else as that leaves a lot of time at the Dublin end for an EU hop on a A321LR

kevinandrew · 06-12-2021 11:07pm

Does IAD do that well for Aer Lingus these days or is it just safer bet than starting something new?

I always considered it one of the weaker links in the earlier days, seem to remember one CEO even claiming they'd likely never make it work but it's definitely been a much more consistent performer in recent years, admittedly under a far more effective strategy.

Van.Bosch · 06-12-2021 11:20pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118280782#Comment_118280782

Yeah, it’s not one I expected. Would see a 3rd JFK or Boston before a 2nd IAD.

cson · 07-12-2021 2:58am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118279981#Comment_118279981

Yeah appears to be EI, numbers are EI118/119, all services (inc. EI116/117 the earlier departures) are on the A321neos, so not really as big a deal capacity wise as it seems as 2 x A321s isn't a million miles away from an A332/3 which they had running on the route pre COVID. Maybe they've got strong J bookings and can't spare an A333?

The 10.05pm UA flight is also there on a 757.

So that's about 50J seats, 450Y seats daily from DUB to IAD over the summer.

LiamaDelta · 08-12-2021 4:01pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118280782#Comment_118280782

I think i remember reading a few years ago that it was one of their best performers for transfer traffic.

kevinandrew · 20-12-2021 2:00am

Those PSO routes usually had a set fare with Stobart I think, I can't remember what each one was exactly but lead in fares were around €45 and very rarely did it go over €90, even for a last minute booking. Amapola seems to have come in with a slightly higher lead in fares.

Ryanair is operating Dublin to Kerry on a purely commercial basis, filling a 189 seater 737-800 with anything close to a useful frequency will be near impossible and they are undoubtably sustaining heavy losses with such low fares and equally low load factors. I suspect they're happy to do this if it stops a new regional entrant (Emerald) from gaining too much traction. We've seen in the past how aggressive Ryanair behaved towards Aer Arann, the ORK-DUB debacle was a particularly low point, and they've been very quick to jump onto former Aer Lingus Regional routes from ORK and SNN despite inevitable losses they will incur.

Most would assume Ryanair has bigger fish to fry but it's clear they're threatened by a regional carrier that has the backing of the Aer Lingus brand and has been proactive in creating an unwelcoming environment as possible for the new start up.

cson · 03-01-2022 3:10pm

Looks like general ops are getting slammed by COVID.

GF was 1hr50m from me dropping her off to getting through security with 1 bag to check in. She said they had 1 person operating the BA/KLM/Swiss check in desks (God love whoever that was) and that rows were breaking out in the queue. Luckily I bought her fast track so she didn't encounter anything substantial at security (the bulk of the time above was to check in a bag), but definitely relieved that we got there 3hrs prior to her flight (BA835 to LHR).

Locker10a · 03-01-2022 4:55pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118410551#Comment_118410551

It’s going to be like this probably for the next two/three weeks before things ease off and the hopefully we have a much better 2022 with more freedom returned

California Dreamer · 04-01-2022 9:18am

Swissport and Sky Handling thinking that they will always get staff to do check-in, ground handling etc but who really wants to do that kind of work for €10.50 an hour? Labour rates have gone up worldwide, although some industries have yet to notice and still treat their staff like crap.

One of the Qatar flights last week was delayed an hour outbound as they had no staff for check in.

How long will it be before the airlines complain because delays mount across their networks and those with connecting flights.

LXFlyer · 04-01-2022 9:29am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118414393#Comment_118414393

Surely the problem is the same one that is mounting up for pretty much every business here and abroad, which is the amount of staff off work due to having to self-isolate as a result of catching omicron or being a close contact.

The airlines themselves aren't immune from this issue either.

California Dreamer · 04-01-2022 9:33am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118414414#Comment_118414414

Granted but wages would also be a deciding factor. They could be short staffed as it already stands and covid related absences only adds to their issues.