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Aer Arann

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Aer Arann
File:AerArannlogo.jpg
IATA ICAO Call sign
RE REA AER ARANN
Founded1970 (Galway)
Operating bases
Frequent-flyer programSilver Club
Fleet size18 (+4 orders) incl.subsidiaries
Destinations24 incl.subsidiaries
Parent companyAer Arann
HeadquartersDublin, Ireland
Key people
  • Paul Schütz (CEO)
  • Pádraig Ó Céidigh (Chairman)
Websitehttp://www.aerarann.com
Aer Arann's former logo, used between 2004 and 2011, although sometimes still used when displaying flights
Aer Arann headquarters in Dublin
An Aer Arann ATR 72 taking off from Bristol Airport

Aer Arann is a regional airline based in Dublin, Ireland.[1] Aer Arann operates scheduled services from Ireland and the Isle of Man to destinations in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and France, with a fleet of 17 aircraft. Aer Arann has expanded from a single aircraft to Ireland's third largest airline behind Ryanair and Aer Lingus. The airline has three bases under its own brand in Galway, Waterford, and the Isle of Man, as well as Conamara which operates under the "Aer Arann Islands" brand. It also has bases in Cork, Dublin, and Shannon, but all operate under the Aer Lingus Regional brand.

History

File:RE-LOGO.gif
Aer Arann's former logo, used between 1998 and 2003

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. Operations, using a single Britten-Norman Islander, began in August 1970. This service has since been moved to the less distant Connemara Airport and operates as "Aer Arann Islands". As of 2010 it still uses Islander aircraft.

The turning point for the airline was in 1994 when Pádraig Ó Céidigh purchased the airline. Ó Céidigh began to expand the airline's routes and fleet, launching scheduled services in 1998. Also in 1998, the Irish government awarded the airline the Public service obligation (PSO) route between Donegal and Dublin followed by the PSO route between Sligo and Dublin.

In 2002, service to the United Kingdom and Jersey was introduced, followed by service to Lorient and Nantes in Brittany in 2004.

In 2007, Aer Arann had a turnover of €100 million and passenger numbers in excess of 1.15 million.

In 2008, in recognition of the company's marketing achievements, the Head of Sales and Marketing, Colin Lewis was awarded the All Ireland Marketing Leader of the Year Award by the Marketing Institute of Ireland.[2]

In 2008, Aer Arann entered into a franchise agreement with Nex Aviation and introduced service to Amsterdam, Bordeaux, Málaga and Faro, using British Aerospace 146 aircraft during the summer months. The Amsterdam service, which was operated by an ATR 72-500, ended on 14 January 2009.

In October 2008, the airline announced that it would be implementing a cost-saving programme, due to the downturn in passenger traffic, which would involve some focus on charter flights and leasing of aircraft and their crews to other airlines.[3] The airline stated that up to 100 redundancies would be needed, but this was later revised to 70 which would represent a 20% reduction of staff.[4] The airline's key routes were to remain unchanged.

In January 2010, Aer Arann and Aer Lingus founded Aer Lingus Regional which effectively removed Aer Arann's hubs at Cork and Dublin under the new airline.

On 26 August 2010 an examiner was appointed to Aer Arann. A full hearing of the company’s application took place on 8 September and in the meantime Aer Arann is in interim examinership and under the protection of the Court. All Aer Arann flights will continue to operate normally including all Aer Lingus Regional flights. It was understood by the high court in Dublin that Aer Arann would return to profitability in 2011.[5][6]

In October 2010, British logistics company Stobart Group was named as the preferred buyer for the airline, also announcing that the airline would serve London Southend Airport from March 2011 to destinations in Ireland and possibly France and open a base there.[7][8]

Destinations

Main article: Aer Arann destinations
  • Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways signed a codeshare agreement with Aer Arann on 15 January 2009, allowing passengers from Galway and the Isle of Man to fly to Abu Dhabi all under the Etihad brand, with Etihad flight numbers being placed on Aer Arann flights to Dublin.[9] This was later extended to Aer Arann routes to Ireland West Knock and Sligo.

Aer Lingus Alliance

In February 2010 Aer Lingus announced that the carrier was entering into a joint venture with Aer Arann to start a new subsidiary airline, Aer Lingus Regional, which would be operated by Aer Arann with a portion of the profits going to Aer Lingus. Aer Lingus took no equity stake in Aer Arann but the deal involved Aer Lingus bulk-buying seats on Aer Arann services. The move allowed Aer Lingus to expand its operations without the need for additional aircraft plus serve airports that cannot handle the Aer Lingus fleet. The agreement covers all former Aer Arann flights from Cork as well as new and existing Aer Lingus flights from Dublin including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Cardiff, and Doncaster. Inaugural services began on 28 March 2010.[10]

Fleet

An ATR 42 on final approach at Dublin, in an older colour scheme
A plain white Aer Arann ATR 72 at Edinburgh Airport
An ATR 72 at Leeds Bradford Airport, in a new colour scheme

The Aer Arann fleet (excluding Aer Lingus Regional) consists of the following aircraft (as of May 2011):[11]

Aer Arann Fleet
Aircraft Total Orders Passengers Remarks
ATR 42-300 4 0 50 EI-BYO, EI-CBK, EI-CPT, EI-EHH
ATR 72-201/212 5 0 66/70 EI-REH, EI-REI, EI-SLN
EI-SLL, EI-SLM (Operated for Aer Lingus Regional)
ATR 72-500 4 4 72 4 on order due in 2011
EI-REL, EI-REM, EI-REO, EI-REP (Operated for Aer Lingus Regional)
Dornier 328 2 0 33 G-BWIR, G-CCGS
(Both leased from Scot Airways)
Britten-Norman Islander 3 0 9 EI-AYN, EI-BCE, EI-CUW
(All operate for sister company Aer Arann Islands)
Total 18 4

The Aer Arann fleet has an average fleet age of 15.1 years (as of May 2011):[12]
excl.leased aircraft


Former fleet

Aer Arann operated the following aircraft types (in alphabetical order):

Services

Silver Club

Silver Club is the travel rewards program of Aer Arann. Unlike traditional Frequent-flyer programes, there are no points or kilometres to earn, and is an invitation-only programme. Benefits of Silver Club include airport lounge access in Dublin, no change fees, an increase in baggage allowance to Template:Kg to lb, preferred seat selection and a dedicated free-phone number.[17]

In flight services

Aer Arann has a buy on board programme offering sandwiches, crisps, confectionery as well as alcoholic,non-alcoholic and Hot drinks for purchase.They also do a Duty free Buy on Board service.[18]

Sponsorship deals

Aer Arann was the main shirt sponsor of the Galway Gaelic Football team,[19] and has their logo on the back of the Connacht Rugby team shirts, as well as sponsoring the Munster Rugby team.

On December 17, Aer Arann announced that it would be ending its sponsorship of the Galway Gaelic Football team.[20]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Aer Arann Contact Information." Aer Arann. Retrieved on 12 November 2009.
  2. ^ http://www.aimawards.ie/2008/finalists/12marketingleader.htm
  3. ^ Aer Arann announces cost reduction programme
  4. ^ Aer Arann completes review of operations Jobs saved - some route changes
  5. ^ http://www.aerarann.com/about_us/news.htm EXAMINERSHIP
  6. ^ HEARING ON 08/09/10.
  7. ^ Daly, Gavin (10 October 2010). "British firm is revealed as new backer of Aer Arann". The Sunday Business Post. Dublin. Retrieved 11 October 2010. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ "Regular flights from Southend airport from next March". Southend Standard. 12 October 2010. Retrieved 15 October 2010.
  9. ^ Noonan, Laura (16 January 2009). "Aer Arann teams up with Etihad". Irish Independent. Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  10. ^ http://www.rte.ie/news/2010/0202/aerlingus-business.html
  11. ^ http://jethros.eu/fleets/fleet_listings/aer_arann.htm
  12. ^ http://www.planespotters.net/Airline/Aer-Arann fleet age
  13. ^ "ATW Daily News". ATW Online. 14 January 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2009.
  14. ^ "Engine problem forces Aer Arann flight to make emergency landing". The Irish Times. 30 April 2008. Retrieved 11 October 2009.
  15. ^ Goodman, Fergal (17 August 1985). "EI-BRC". Retrieved 12 October 2009.
  16. ^ "Plane skids off runway". BBC News. 1 February 2001. Retrieved 11 October 2009.
  17. ^ "Welcome to the Aer Arann Silver Club". Aer Arann. Retrieved 11 October 2009.
  18. ^ "Aer Arann Inflight Menu". Aer Arann. Retrieved 11 October 2009.
  19. ^ "Aer Arann swoops in to sponsor Galway". Galway City Tribune. 1 February 2008. Retrieved 24 March 2010.
  20. ^ "Aer Arann ends Galway sponsor link". The Irish Examiner. 1 February 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2010.
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