Emirates increases capacity on Dublin-Dubai service

Emirates, which launched daily services from Dublin to Dubai in January this year, has deployed a larger Boeing 777-300ER aircraft on the service two months ahead of schedule. It follow a review of passenger load factors and aircraft availability. The 360-seat Boeing aircraft replaces the Airbus A330 on the route, offering 52% more seats. Emirates had originally planned to deploy the larger aircraft on the route from July.

Lufthansa launches Dusseldorf-Knock service

Lufthansa has commenced services to Knock (NOC) with the launch of a weekly service from Dusseldorf (DUS). The flight, which runs every Saturday from 5 May to 29 September, is operated by Eurowings on behalf of Lufthansa and uses an 86-seater Canadair Regional Jet 900.

Flybe to expand Belfast City services

Flybe is to double its services from Belfast City to East Midlands from two to four flights daily. Flybe is also adding extra capacity on its Belfast City to Birmingham service with the introduction of its Embraer 195 jet aircraft. The move follows the announcement of bmibaby's withdrawal from Belfast City from 10 June 2012.

bmibaby pulls Belfast and Knock services

bmibaby will cease its Birmingham to Ireland West Airport Knock (NOC) service from 10 June 2012. The airport has confirmed that it is in negotiations with potential airlines to take up the route. bmibaby is also pulling Belfast City (BHD) services on 10 June. The routes affected are Alicante, Amsterdam, Birmingham, East Midlands, Faro, Ibiza, Mahon, Malaga, Palma and Stansted. Last year, a total of 420,000 passengers - 20% of the airport's business - flew with bmibaby. The announcements follow the sale of bmi to International Airlines Group (IAG).

New Dublin-Bournemouth service launched

Today (1 May 2012) marked the launch of Aer Lingus Regional's new Dublin to Bournemouth service. Operated by Aer Arann, the new service operates 6 times a week (daily except Saturday). Flights depart Dublin at 2.30pm and Bournemouth at 4.20.pm.

easyJet announces new Belfast International to Birmingham route

easyJet will launch a new route from Belfast International (BFS) to Birmingham (BHX) from October 2012, bringing the number of easyJet destinations from Belfast International to 23. A daily service from 22 October will increase to a twice daily service from Monday to Friday and a daily service on Saturday and Sunday from 29 October.

American Airlines resumes Dublin to Chicago summer service

American Airlines today (4 April) resumed its seasonal summer service between Chicago O'Hare (ORD) and Dublin (DUB). The daily service is operated by American's Boeing 767-300/300ER aircraft and runs through to 27 October. The route is also served daily by Aer Lingus.

Flybe doubles Donegal to Glasgow flights for summer 2012

Flybe and franchise partner Loganair are doubling the number of flights on the Donegal (CFN) to Glasgow (GLA) route from three to six for summer 2012. The route was launched last November with flights on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. Loganair has now added flights on Mondays and Thursdays, while a Saturday flight will operate from May until September. The service is operated by Loganair's 34-seater Saab SF-340 aircraft. Flybe/Loganair also fly twice daily from Donegal (CFN) to Dublin (DUB).

easyJet launches inaugural Belfast International to London Southend service

Today (2 April 2012) marked the launch of the inaugural Belfast International (BFS) to London Southend (SEN) service. Operated by easyJet, the new route will be served twice daily (once on Saturdays). easyJet alreay operates flights from Belfast International to London's Gatwick (LGW),Luton (LTN) and Stansted (STN) airports, while Aer Lingus operates daily services to London Heathrow (LHR).

Dublin to Chisinau with Air Moldova from 19 June 2012

Air Moldova begins a new service from Moldova's capital, Chisinau, to Dublin from 19 June 2012. The weekly service wll operate every Tuesday until September 4 with an Airbus A320. Flight 9U863 departs Chisinau at 5.25 and arrives in Dublin at 9.10; the return service 9U864 departs Dublin at 10.15 and arrives at Chisinau at 17.35.

All Aer Arann flights from Ireland to operate under Aer Lingus Regional brand

Aer Arann and Aer Lingus today (14 Mar 2012) announced an expansion of their franchise relationship which will see Aer Arann operate all of its services from Ireland to the UK, France and the Isle of Man under the Aer Lingus Regional brand from 25 March 2012. This includes flights between Waterford (WAT) and London Southend (SEN), Manchester (MAN) and London Luton (LTN) and routes from Dublin to the Isle of Man (IOM) and Kerry (KIR). There will be no change to existing flight times.

New routes with Aer Lingus from Dublin to Stockholm and Verona

Aer Lingus is launching new services from Dublin to Stockholm Arlanda (ARN) and Verona (VRN). Verona will be served twice weekly on Wednesdays and Sundays from 24 March 2012; Stockholm will be served 4-times weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays from 25 March. Both will be served by the airline's Airbus A320 aircraft.

Waterford to Birmingham - Flybe launches new route from March

Flybe will launch its daily Waterford (WAT) to Birmingham (BHX) service on 25 March 2012. The route will be operated by Flybe's Bombardier Q400 aircraft. This new service will allow passengers to connect to onward Flybe flights to Paris, Dusseldorf, Edinburgh and Glasgow via Birmingham.

Passenger numbers up at Ireland West Airport Knock - new routes on the way

It was a strong start to the year for Ireland West Airport Knock (NOC) as numbers grew for the second year in a row in January and February (up 16% compared to the same period in 2010).

In March, Ryanair starts four new routes to Barcelona Girona (GRO), Frankfurt Hahn (HHN), Milan Bergamo (BGY) and Paris Beauvais (BVA) while Flybe starts a new service to Leeds Bradford (LBA). In total, Ireland West Airport Knock will serve over 28 European destinations in 2012.

Shannon Airport launches Summer 2012 schedule

Shannon Airport (SNN) will offer passengers a choice of 34 direct destinations this summer (April-October). The schedule includes the UK, the US, Canada, Spain, France, Portugal, Turkey, Croatia, Switzerland, Poland and Austria. Aer Lingus will serve Boston and New York JFK and Delta will serve New York JFK. These are in addition to United's year round service to Newark.

Aer Lingus Regional from Dublin to London-Southend

From 10 May 2012, Aer Arann starts a new service between Dublin (DUB) and London Southend (SEN) under the Aer Lingus Regional franchise. The three daily flights will be operated by Aer Arann’s ATR42-500 aircraft. Aer Arann Regional already operates daily services from Waterford (WAT) to London Southend (SEN).

Aer Lingus Airbus A319 from Belfast?

It looks like Aer Lingus is basing at least one of its new Airbus A319 aircraft in Belfast (BFS) to serve destinations such as Barcelona (BCN) and Alicante (ALC). Aer Lingus took delivery of its A319s in mid-2011 and they've yet to enter service.