Aer Arann
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| Aer Arann | ||
|---|---|---|
 |
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| IATA RE |
ICAO REA |
Callsign AER ARANN |
| Founded | 1970 (Galway) | |
| Hubs | Dublin Airport Cork Airport Galway Airport Waterford Airport |
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| Focus cities | Cardiff Airport Manchester Airport |
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| Fleet size | 15 | |
| Destinations | 29 | |
| Parent company | Aer Arann | |
| Headquarters | Dublin, Ireland | |
| Key people | Padraig O'Ceidigh (MD & Owner) | |
| Website: http://www.aerarann.com | ||
Aer Arann is a regional airline based in Dublin, Ireland. It operates scheduled and charter services to eight destinations in Ireland, four in France and twelve in the United Kingdom, as well as Jersey. Its main base is Dublin Airport, with hubs at Cork Airport, Galway Airport and Waterford Airport.
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[edit] History
Aer Arann was established in 1970 to provide an island hopping air service between Galway and the Aran Islands off the west coast of Ireland. It started operations in August 1970. In 1994 Pádraig Ó Céidigh purchased the airline and began to expand its routes and fleet, launching scheduled services in 1998. Services to the United Kingdom and Jersey were introduced in 2002 and to Lorient and Nantes in Brittany in 2004[1].
Today Aer Arann is one of the fastest growing regional airlines in Europe[citation needed] with a turnover of €94 million and passenger numbers in excess of 1 million per year.
The airline operates 600 flights per week with a fleet of sixteen ATR aircraft, across Ireland, the UK, France and employs over 400 staff.[citation needed] In April 2007, Aer Arann announced sponsorship of Sunderland AFC’s pre season tour of Ireland, the first major soccer sponsorship deal for Aer Arann in the UK.
Aer Arann has recently announced flights from Galway to Newcastle and Bristol, Sligo to Manchester as well as Waterford to Birmingham.
May saw Aer Arann create a new base at Waterford Airport with an ATR 72 aircraft, operating services to London Luton, Manchester, Birmingham and Lorient.
2007 has by far been Aer Arann's most successful year of operations, and has seen increased destinations, increased frequencies, increased capacity and increased fleet across the network. It has been announced that Aer Arann will fly to Amsterdam , Bordeaux, Malaga, and Faro in the summer 2008 season from its Waterford and Galway bases. Aer Arann will also fly to Brest, Nantes, La Rochelle and Lorient for the summer season from its Cork base. These seasonal routes prove to be highly successful for the airline.
[edit] Destinations
Aer Arann serves the following destinations:
- Ireland
- Cork (Cork Airport) Hub
- Donegal (Donegal Airport)
- Dublin (Dublin Airport) Hub
- Galway (Galway Airport) Main Hub
- Kerry (Kerry Airport) ends July with loss of PSO
- Knock (Ireland West Airport Knock) ends July with loss of PSO
- Sligo (Sligo Airport)
- Waterford (Waterford Airport) Hub
- United Kingdom
- England
- Scotland
- Wales
- Cardiff (Cardiff International Airport) Focus City
- Northern Ireland
- Belfast (George Best Belfast City Airport)
- Derry (City of Derry Airport) begins July 22
Aer Arann Islands provides the following services (as of July 2006):
[edit] Fleet
The Aer Arann fleet consists of the following aircraft (at May 2008) [1] :
| Type | Number | Seats | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ATR 42-300 | 3 |
48 | Photograph of EI-BYO [1] |
| ATR 72-200 | 8 |
66-72 | Photograph of EI-REF [2], one aircraft is operated for Euromanx |
| ATR 72-500 | 3 (6 more on order) |
72 | Photograph of the first new ATR. [3], one aircraft is operated for Finncomm Airlines |
| BAe 146-200 | 1 |
92 |
which is operated by Orionair |
In May 2008, the average age of the Aer Arann fleet was 14.5 years[2].
In May 2006, Aer Arann placed an order for 10 new ATR 72-500 aircraft, two to be delivered in 2007, five in 2008 and three in 2009. The airline plans to be operating 20 ATR aircraft by 2009.[3] In mid-2007 the first ATR 72-500 has been delivered (EI-REL) and painted in a special livery inspired by Celtic rings or triskels.[4]
Aer Arann launched new VIP programme for frequent travellers called ‘Silver Club’ in early 2008.This new programme is designed to recognise Aer Arann’s loyal customers and make their travel simpler and easier. Aer Arann Silver Club will be invitation only, and strictly for Aer Arann frequent flyers, who will get even more benefits for flying.
The Aer Arann Islands fleet consists of the following aircraft (at March 2007)[1] :
| Britten-Norman BN2A Islander | 2 |
Photograph of EI-AYN [4] | |
| Britten-Norman BN2B-26 Islander | 1 |
Photograph of EI-CUW [5] |
[edit] Previously operated
- Shorts 360 1998-2001
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
[edit] References
- ^ a b c "Directory: World Airlines", Flight International, 2007-03-27, p. 45.
- ^ Fleet Age
- ^ ATR 72 order
- ^ "Aer Arann's first ATR 72", Airliner World, July 2007, p. 9.
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