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Aer Lingus plans to cut the number of flights on five routes this Autumn at Belfast International Airport but pledged to run the flights again as normal within 4 months of that date.

The five affected destinations are Barcelona, Milan, Paris, Rome and Faro.  There will be less aircraft available for the Dublin-Belfast route meaning less frequent flights. Enda Corneille speaking on behalf of Aer Lingus said that the move was not unusual as there would be less demand in these months. He also spoke of the need for Aer Lingus to be careful with expenditure so they could continue to offer low fares.

The downtime for certain aircrafts will be used to perform necessary maintenance. One plane will be removed from Belfast International Airport during this time with a number set to be removed from Dublin Airport. Everything is expected to be back to normal by March next year.

Aer Lingus plan to offer Winter getaway flights to Tenerife and Lanzarote. These routes will use up extra airtime. Aer Lingus denied they were cutting flights due to competition.

Irish budget airline Ryanair are always on the look out for a way to cut costs. Recent speculation on charging customers to use toilet facilities on the plane certainly raised a few eyebrows.

The latest idea from the airline is to do away with baggage handlers and have customers carry their own bags through security points. The bags would then be left at the bottom of the plane steps where they would then be placed in the hold.

When you arrive at your destination your bag would be available to pick up on the steps of the plane. Ryanair wished to allay fears over turnaround times saying that if times were affected they would not go through with the plan.

This is just one of the many cost cutting plans from Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary. The company expects to save forty million euro annually with its plan to axe airport check ins. This will come into operation in October.

O’Leary has also spoken of plans to purchase 2 to 300 new planes. They are currently in talks with Boeing and Airbus in an attempt to trash out a deal.

Ryanair gave a warm welcome to the United Kingdom Competition Commission’s call for the axing of the DAA monopoly.
 
Ryanair believes that the 3 competing airports in London result in better airline services for flight passengers, improved facilities, and lead to lower fares.

They have pleaded for the Irish Government to stop the DAA monopoly.

They believe a 25 million passenger terminal could be built for around EUR200m. Ryanair say the current situation could lead to passengers paying twice as much for charges at Dublin Airport over the coming years unless a competing terminal is developed. A competing terminal at Dublin Airport will lead to lower fares and better facilities.

Well they’re still probably cheaper than everyone else but the recent announcement of a “check-in” charge by Ryanair has caused outrage among some customers

Michael O’ Leary described the new charge as a move to encourage passengers to check-in online and only bring hand luggage with them

Counter check-ins will now set customers back another £3 on top of the current Ryanair check in charges. Ryanair has received a lot praise around the world for becoming one of the world’s most profitable airlines while still maintaining its low fares.

The new check-in charge is sure to save Ryanair even more money with less need for so many staff at check-in points.

The criticism is sure to be like water off a ducks back as far as O’ Leary is concerned. Mr ‘O Leary has in recent times called members of the European Commission “Morons” and “Communists” and politicians of high standing “idiots”

He also notably purchased taxi number plates for his car in 2005 in order to beat the traffic jams and get away with using bus lanes in Dublin

Pilots working for Aer Lingus have said they would cancel an intended strike this week if the corporation agrees to discussions aimed at preventing major interruptions during the the busy holiday season

“Our proposal is that we jointly approach the Labour Relations Commission with a request to facilitate joint discussions,” Captain Evan Cullen, President of the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association, wrote in a letter to Aer Lingus Chief Executive Dermot Mannion.

“If you are agreeable, the strike will be suspended when we have received written confirmation of the above.”

This month saw Aer Lingus launch its 1st base outside the Republic of Ireland in Belfast in the North of Ireland in a bid to increase development at the once state airline, which faces tough rivalry from the other major Irish airline Ryanair.

Pilots are furious saying they believe Aer Lingus will pay a lower rate to staff in Dublin than they will to staff in Belfast. Plans are afoot for Dublin Airport staff to strike on Tuesday August 21st and Wednesday August 22nd. There seems little hope at the moment of averting the planned strike

In order to prepare for the interruptions, Aer Lingus has hired planes to supply a restricted service for roughly 7,000 customers however that is only a small portion of the 46,000 to 55,000 expecting to travel.