Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Niall Carson/PA Wire

Aer Lingus passenger numbers increase by 0.9 per cent

The company did say, however, that good weather in July affected its forward booking profile.

AER LINGUS HAS seen an increase in passenger numbers for August 2013.

It said today that total flown passenger numbers, including Aer Lingus Regional operations, increased by 0.9 per cent to 1,126,000 in August 2013 compared to the same period last year.

The vast majority of passengers were taking short haul flights, including on Aer Lingus Regional – 1,005,000 of them in total last month, a decrease of 0.8 per cent on August 2012.

But the long haul passenger numbers saw a big increase, with 121,000 taking the longer journeys, an increase of 17.5 per cent on the same time last year.

The company had previously stated that good weather conditions in July had “somewhat eroded our forward booking profile”, and the impact of this is reflected in its August short haul figures.

Last week, Ryanair was ordered by the UK’s Competition Commission to sell its 29.8 per cent stake in Aer Lingus down to 5 per cent.

Ryanair has said it will appeal the UKCC report, claiming that it is “disproven” as competition between the two airlines has, it says, intensified rather than waned.

Read: Aer Lingus pilots balloted on strike action, but company says it has not been told>

Read: Summer holidays give boost to Aer Lingus passenger figures>

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

Close
42 Comments
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Simon Herriott
    Favourite Simon Herriott
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 8:02 AM

    And Ryanair says its numbers a down. See people are willing to pay fee quid extra to be greeted with a smile…

    140
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Deirdre Mac Mahon
    Favourite Deirdre Mac Mahon
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 8:45 AM

    Yesterday a French colleague was pleased to tell me that she flew Paris- Dublin- NY business class on Aer Lingus because it was so much BETTER than the rest.( me: Ryanair/ Easyjet/ Irish ferries…)

    62
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nelly
    Favourite Nelly
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 10:46 AM

    @simon Ryanair said its numbers were down burnt I bet they still make more profit than the union ruined aer lingus.when was the last time aer lingus made anywhere near the profits Ryanair did?

    9
    See 17 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Simon Herriott
    Favourite Simon Herriott
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 11:11 AM

    @nelly, I think you missed my point. Aer Lingus say their passenger numbers are up when Ryanair are reporting a drop in passenger numbers (due to the excellent weather we’ve been having). Maybe people aren’t willing to be treated like crap on a Ryanair flight and they’ll happily pay a little extra to fly with an airline that actually treats them properly as paying customers. I never mentioned profits…

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bilbo Baggins
    Favourite Bilbo Baggins
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 11:14 AM

    Aer lingus short haul numbers are down for August too, its long haul that’s up. Which the no frills boys don’t do. So its the likes of the American airlines that Aer lingus is winning over here.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ted Carroll
    Favourite Ted Carroll
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 11:20 AM

    Did Ryanair actually report a drop in passenger numbers Simon, I struggle to remember them doing anything but saying that their forecasted profits (and possibly forecasted passenger numbers) for the year were lower than originally anticipated. I would be surprised if Ryanairs numbers actually fell.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Simon Herriott
    Favourite Simon Herriott
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 11:26 AM

    Ryanair have reported a drop in numbers a couple of times over the summer as well as the profit warning earlier this week (or last week)

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nelly
    Favourite Nelly
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 11:29 AM

    Maybe I did miss your point,but even with the increase in numbers aer lingus are talking about they’re still not carrying anywhere close to the numbers Ryanair are.its just a PR exercise coming from Ryanairs statement during the week.but sure the gullible people will believe it

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Simon Herriott
    Favourite Simon Herriott
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 11:37 AM

    I was just having a nice little dig at Ryanair… Nothing wrong with that!

    @nelly, Ryanair have a fleet of 305 aircraft (if Wikipedia is to be believed) versus Aer Lingus’s fleet of 48 (again, Wikipedia) so of course they’ll carry more passengers. The two airlines really aren’t very comparable as they both operate very differently, long haul/short haul, different routes, Aer lingus uses major hubs across Europe, where our beloved Ryanair drops you in a field in the arse hole of nowhere if you’re lucky, etc, etc, etc

    31
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nelly
    Favourite Nelly
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 11:40 AM

    Simon if aer lingus were going to make the profit that Ryanair are going to make this year despite this profit warning.it would be a miracle

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Simon Herriott
    Favourite Simon Herriott
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 11:42 AM

    It would be a complete miracle, I agree especially as Ryanair have 6 times more aircraft than Aer Lingus…

    21
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nelly
    Favourite Nelly
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 11:49 AM

    And why is that Simon?cos people go for the cheaper better option.ive never been on a plane and said to myself god I’m happy I spent that extra 50/60 euro just so that air hostess puts on a fake smile to welcome me.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Darragh Flynn
    Favourite Darragh Flynn
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 11:58 AM

    Flew Dublin to Rome last week…my Ryanair flight flew me to Ciampino Airport which was considerably closet to the city than Da Vinci is. Do your research beforehand and you wont end up in “fields” you pleb.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Simon Herriott
    Favourite Simon Herriott
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 12:03 PM

    Word of advice if you do ever have to travel by air and opt to use Ryanair, check in online well in advance and print your boarding card, if you don’t it’ll cost you something stupid like an additional €60. Double, triple, quadruple check your carry on baggage meets their strict requirements, also don’t be surprised if the requirements at the gate differ from what’s online, as they might make you check your bag, an additional fee of €30 or €40. If you are checking a bag its over 20kgs it’s €20 per kilo. So basically, watch out for ryanairs hidden costs, they’re not always a cheap as they appear, little things like these can ruin your trip.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nelly
    Favourite Nelly
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 12:14 PM

    Thanks for the advice Simon but I do fly regular enough and having been caught out once by Ryanair it’s the only time I have.as someone on a previous thread called it “the idiot tax”if you don’t read the small print its hour own fault

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Simon Herriott
    Favourite Simon Herriott
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 12:33 PM

    Also look at the breakdown of the cost of the flight you’re booking. They charge you for the privilege of checking yourself in online and printing your own boarding card, then they charge admin fees also. God forbid you get caught out with their insure thing, don’t know if they still do that. Then of course there’s the charge for paying by credit card (which seems to be standard practice in the industry).

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bill
    Favourite Bill
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 1:00 PM

    With Aer Lingus you are at least assured you will have enough fuel to get to your destination

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Nelly
    Favourite Nelly
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 1:19 PM

    Bill when have you ever heard of a Ryanair plane running out of fuel and crash landing

    9
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute tom
    Favourite tom
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 7:03 PM

    3 aircraft declared Fuel Maydays but didn’t actually run out of fuel. Guess that’s ok then?

    Clown.

    8
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute tom
    Favourite tom
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 7:11 PM

    I don’t agree that if you don’t spot something in the small print it’s your own fault. Whatever happened to transparency? Why should buying an air ticket be any different to any other purchase. I challenge you that if you bought something in Harvey Norman or Argos or any other retailer and got screwed because you didn’t read something in the small print you would be the first to complain.
    If its a reasonable charge then why is it hidden away in the small print?

    If you went to the supermarket shopping and was followed by a staff member putting stuff into your trolley when you turned your back what would you think?

    Don’t agree at all.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Roy Scott
    Favourite Roy Scott
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 8:17 AM

    They got the pricing more competitive , no sleeveen charges , easier website and the smile all helped.
    Aerlingus welcome back you have been missed.

    137
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ted Carroll
    Favourite Ted Carroll
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 11:14 AM

    There is one sleeveen charge on their website, after you’ve purchased your ticket and everything is finalised they throw up this page that offers your the option to buy your seat but there’s nowhere to click that you don’t want it. You have to leave the website to get away from it. It’s easy enough to avoid when you know what’s going on but it’s a little bit on the sneaky side.

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Steven Clancy
    Favourite Steven Clancy
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 1:19 PM

    Also have to check in less than 3 days before each leg of flight or pay to reserve a seat.
    Very sneaky extra as not mentioned until after flight it’s paid for
    If travel for more than two days need to check in for return leg while abroad or pay for seat reservation.

    Don’t tell me aer lingus gave no sneaky extras, they are as bad as Ryanair, people just choose not to see this as they hate Ryanair too much.

    4
    See 2 more replies ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Catherine Barnes
    Favourite Catherine Barnes
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 1:45 PM

    i used to flyor we my sister and i all the time from usa to ireland we are from ireland, how ever the food got ugh terrible, and the service also , i have ckd the $ amout to shannon this sept holidays and A/lunghue was 190.00 more ret flight so there ya have it ! ant comments welcome, ua has our business once agion, i used to love to fly a/ lungus /

    1
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ted Carroll
    Favourite Ted Carroll
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 4:18 PM

    What in gods name does that even mean Catherine? I’m honestly completely lost, something about your sister and bad food!

    24
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute robert purfield
    Favourite robert purfield
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 8:46 AM

    Aer Lingus’ prices are generally in the same price range as ryanair now and you dont get half the hassle with aer lingus.

    98
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Joe Traynor
    Favourite Joe Traynor
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 8:51 AM

    I flew more with Aerlingus this year because their pricing is more competitive than it used to be.
    They Ryanair website is the worst site I’ve ever had to use and all the boxes you have to tick to say no
    To just to get my ticked are crazy, no I don’t want a bloody bag or a mobile phone I just want a flight.
    I use the site frequently and am used to it but it must be very confusing for people who don’t have great computer skills or visually impaired.

    61
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dave Byrne
    Favourite Dave Byrne
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 9:15 AM

    I was looking at flights to the Canaries with both Aer Lingus and Ryanair,Aer Lingus was €4 cheaper than Ryanair also Ryanair are sneaky f**ks they have the opt out of insurance box in between the countries that you select from.

    50
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Steve Hardy
    Favourite Steve Hardy
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 7:59 AM

    It’s not all emigration, those big multinationals also contribute.

    39
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ash
    Favourite Ash
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 9:20 AM

    Ryanair is only good for a boozy weekend flight away to the UK… Don’t expect a whole lot and you won’t be disappointed..

    29
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Andrew Matheson
    Favourite Andrew Matheson
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 9:14 AM

    It’s because they don’t charge extra for seatbelts….

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dominic Kyle
    Favourite Dominic Kyle
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 12:18 PM

    I fly air lingus the whole time to uk it cheaper faster nice comfy seats loads of space they fly to an airport close to we’re your going and not 100 miles away and if I was to book a flight for London on Saturday Ryan air would want €104 and fly me to stansted were as air lingus would fly me to heathrow for €69.99

    15
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colm O'Leary
    Favourite Colm O'Leary
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 10:40 AM

    Well they can’t get any cheaper! I booked a return flight, Dublin to Heathrow, the other day and the flights were listed as free. The €109 I paid was all taxes and fees. €35 tax going out, €60 tax coming back and €14 admin charge!

    12
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Matt
    Favourite Matt
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 11:56 AM

    The cheapest fare from Heathrow is £102. Gone are the days when they competed with BMI. I could get a ticket from £60.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Ted Carroll
    Favourite Ted Carroll
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 9:15 AM

    Delighted to hear this news, I think their prices have been coming down a bit of late with small increases in Ryanair that have basically wiped out the difference. Good healthy competition between the two is exactly what is need, especially for travellers like me that don’t care about anything other than price. That being said does does this not basically prove that the UK competition authority is wrong about the negative effect that Ryanairs 29% stake is having on AL’s performance though.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute tom
    Favourite tom
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 7:06 PM

    No Ted. It doesn’t.
    Show me 1 monopoly that hasn’t abused their position.

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Carol-Anne Howlett
    Favourite Carol-Anne Howlett
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 9:23 AM

    17.5% increase on long haul flights? I bet they one way.

    6
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Michael Flanagan
    Favourite Michael Flanagan
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 10:25 AM

    It’s actually more coming in to Ireland ill have you know! That’s a fact

    20
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Bilbo Baggins
    Favourite Bilbo Baggins
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 11:12 AM

    Yes that’s right over 20,000 people emigrated to the us alone in august ……..

    11
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Kevin Thornton
    Favourite Kevin Thornton
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 9:22 AM

    yeah think its called emergrating

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Darragh Flynn
    Favourite Darragh Flynn
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 11:59 AM

    It’s actually called emigrating but nice try Kev.

    18
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gerard Creedon
    Favourite Gerard Creedon
    Report
    Sep 5th 2013, 7:35 PM

    The,re flying !!!!!! Way better then Ryan……

    1
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.
JournalTv
News in 60 seconds