Aer Lingus Fleet/ Routes Discussion Pt 2 (ALL possible routes included)

Aer Lingus has tried and failed in Scandinavia multiple times already. While SAS has been financially all over the place, it’s very strong on routes out of Dublin. Launching any of those routes would mean competing with SAS, Finnair, Norwegian and Ryanair.

The discussion has cropped up before but the one size fits all A320 fleet just doesn’t work in markets like this where you need frequency to be competitive.

Canada is traditionally lower yielding but must be a safer bet now than more expansion to the US. The fact they still only serve YYZ is disappointing.

I would imagine if EI were to return to CPH/ARN/HEL it would have to be with a main objective of Nordic-USA connections through DUB and not solely competing for leisure/busniess traffic from Ireland to there. I would be optimistic they could compete with SAS on price into the USA and with the advantage of CBP I'd be surprised if they weren't able to attract bookings but there probably just isn't quite enough demand to make it viable - or even it is viable, there's more money to be made flying to Malaga etc. This is probably where smaller jets would make sense.

SAS are 13x weekly from DUB to CPH this summer. There's a mid morning and evening flight every day except Saturday from Dublin.

ARN isn't as good at 9x weekly. Sunday has two flights and Saturday has an evening flight but weekdays are all morning flights, which isn't great for coming back from Stockholm.

OSL is 4x weekly with times varying depending on the month.

But more on topic, I can't see EI competing on CPH, ARN or OSL. Both Norwegian and Ryanair also fly DUB to CPH, Ryanair to ARN and Norwegian to OSL. HEL only has Finnair.

WAW would be a more realistic option IMO. EI only fly there in December and January and Ryanair fly to Modlin which is a long way out of Warsaw.

Finnair are probably a lesser known much better way of getting to the far east than Via Doha anyway

Hel is a very easy airport to transfer in and no transfer security or mad crowds like Doha when off to non Schengen/far east or ultimate Australian destinations if stopping over

It'd have to be a heck of a lot cheaper for me to even consider EI over QR for a flight to DOH.

The reality is that EI doesn't have a hope of competing with the ME3 for eastbound long haul.

it was a search on Sky scanner. But like I said I didn’t delve deeper as I thought I’d have to rob a bank with my 46kg luggage

https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2025/04/19/aer-lingus-considers-flights-to-mexicos-cancun-resort/

Nothing much of substance here as I'm sure EI "consider" many new routes each year but I suppose it's interesting as it marks a brand new territory if they did launch Cancún! Again, as mentioned in another post, if demand for travel to US is being dampened by the current turmoil, maybe such new routes elsewhere in the Americas may be seriously entertained.

Do you mean the Cancun route?

Seats are wider (and the latest Recaro R3 with great screens) on the a321xlr... 787 seat widths are about an inch smaller - but it's widebody so may 'seem' roomier... Direct is always better - especially if you're going the in the opposite direction to your destination for the connection +++hrs (and no pre-clearance).

Have around €10k to spend on the honeymoon holiday is about €4500 flights hotels etc included. Normally go through a travel agency so not sure if you can bid for an upgrade if flying with EI as its not a direct booking with them. Pre clearance would probably help on the JFK/BOS routes. When we flew to MSY originally it was via DFW ended up going via MIA due to snow at DFW. clearance at MIA wasn't to bad either. Just checked biz class is about €2500 each the missis said she happily sit in cattle class rather than pay for biz class.

They did AGA before I’m sure. TUN I’m not sure there is a huge demand. SSH could be an interesting one it does very well for easyJet but it’s a bit more complex I think they have to overnight there. Definitely some routes to be looked at. Even the likes of Izmir are extended for winter too. I wonder would the likes of LCA or Cape Verde work.