Aer Lingus expects more Airbus A350 delays

[East New York]

Photo Courtesy aviationgeeks.com

 

by By Jens Flottau for AWAST - Aer Lingus expects further delays in the delivery of the Airbus A350, CEO Christoph Mueller tells Aviation Week, and plans to begin talks with the airframer about a new delivery schedule for the carrier’s nine A350-900s on firm order.

 

Airbus late last year delayed entry into service of the aircraft by up to six months, with the first A350-900 now expected in the first half of 2014. The shift was due to the late completion of major components. At the time, A350 program chief Didier Evrard said Airbus wants to limit the amount of traveled work in final assembly, trying to avoid the issues that Boeing has faced in the 787 program. Mueller says he expects delays beyond the ones announced by Airbus. The airline is due to receive its first A350-900 in 2015.

 

The airline is nonetheless progressing with fleet planning. Mueller says the A321NEO would be the “ideal aircraft” for Aer Lingus’s transatlantic routes, which currently are served by four A330-300s and three -200s. The A321NEO would have enough range for the Dublin-New York and Dublin-Boston routes, but it could not be used for the Chicago service. The airline has not yet ordered new narrowbodies. It currently has a one A319, 34 A320s and three A321s.

 

Aer Lingus managed to reach a €49 million ($66 million) operating profit in 2011, a much better result than anticipated at the start of last year and a margin of 4.7%. The profit was only slightly below the 2010 earnings (€52 million). The carrier attributed the success mainly to a 4.8% improvement in average yield per passenger. Revenues increased by 6% to €1.3 billion.

 

Demand is particularly strong in the business travel market, and the airline finds its long-haul, business-class cabin is becoming “too small.” The airline therefore plans soon to make an announcement about increased long-haul premium capacity.

 

 

 

Aer Lingus Expects More A350 Delays | AVIATION WEEK