Dublin-based Aer Arann seems to be thriving under the Aer Lingus franchise banner. Whilst the airline is owned by a consortium led by the Stobart Group called Everdeal Holdings Ltd, which is owned 45% by Stobart; 42% Invesco; 8% Cenkos Securities; and 5% Pádraig Ó Céidigh, Aer Arann's former Chairman. It is effectively run on a day-to-day basis by Aer Lingus with EI stalwarts Simon Fagan as Chief Commercial Officer and A330 Captain Davina Pratt looking after the technical side. Sean Brogan is now Chief Executive and comes from Stobart Ireland.
Aer Arann is very much concentrating on a major fleet upgrade and should be operating 16 ATR 72s by this time next year.
It is also developing Dublin as a gateway to Boston, Chicago, Orlando and New York from the UK regions. Passengers from Aberdeen, Birmingham, Blackpool, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester and Southend can check themselves and their luggage in at the British airport, and route through the newly completed US immigration and security operation at Dublin T2. It is quick and brings the passenger out landside at JFK’s JetBlue Terminal. Simple onward connections can be made.
Later this year it is hoped that Dublin – Washington will also be on offer by United Airlines. www.aerlingus.com
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