Aer Arann, which operates services under the Aer Lingus Regional brand, has announced a series of measures which it says will help it “join Europe's top tier of regional airlines by 2015”, and to double passenger number in the next five years.
The carrier will begin taking delivery of eight new ATR 72-600 aircraft from this May, with the new fleet expected to be fully operational in time for the summer 2014 programme.
Under its Aer Lingus Regional franchise agreement (which has now been extended until 2022), Aer Arann will add frequencies to Aer Lingus’ existing routes from Dublin to Birmingham and Manchester from this summer.
Dublin-Birmingham will increase from three to six services per day, while Dublin-Manchester will go from three to five flights per day.
Aer Arann will also increase frequencies on its existing Aer Lingus Regional Dublin-Edinburgh route from four to six flights per day, and on its Dublin-Glasgow service from four to six times per day.
Aer Arann applied for Examinership in 2010, a process in Irish law which works similarly to bankruptcy protection, allowing an Examiner to be appointed to evaluate the company’s viability, and to develop a long-term survival plan where appropriate (see online news September 8, 2010).
Commenting on the “new beginning” for Aer Arann, interim chief executive Sean Brogan said:
“Just over two years ago, we stared closure in the face. Now, we have the fundamentals in place to join Europe's top tier of regional airlines.
"The completion of our restructuring programme represents a new beginning for the airline. Our extended franchise agreement with Aer Lingus to 2022 gives us a firm foundation for growth, and the fleet renewal programme allows us to enhance the passenger offering further."
For more information visit aerarann.com.
Report by Mark Caswell
