Ryanair has announced it is to operate 30 extra flights on the Dublin – Birmingham route for the Cheltenham National Hunt Festival.

The extra flights will operate as follows:

• 12 March – 4 extra flights
• 13 March – 8 extra flights
• 14 & 15 March – 4 extra flights
• 16 March – 8 extra flights
• 17 March – 2 extra flights

Aer Arann has announced its summer 2012 Aer Lingus Regional flight schedule which will see its Aberdeen-Dublin route increase in frequency to a daily service from 25th March.

Launched just last year in March 2011, the Aberdeen-Dublin Aer Lingus Regional service ,which is operated by Aer Arann under a franchise agreement with Aer Lingus, has proven especially popular among business passengers.

Due to increased demand Aer Lingus Regional, operated by Aer Arann is offering business and leisure passengers a new Saturday afternoon flight and more convenient schedules for better point to point connections.

Commenting on the 2012 summer schedule, Aer Arann’s Director of Corporate Affairs, Andrew Kelly today said, “As the first anniversary of our Aberdeen-Dublin service draws near, we are delighted to increase the frequency to a daily service and offer our customers even better regional connectivity and greater value this summer.”

“With our Aer Lingus Regional services which are operated under a franchise agreement with Aer Lingus, Aer Arann remains committed to regional connectivity and to promoting tourism by providing the most direct and easy links between Scotland and Ireland.” he continued.

Aberdeen Airport MD Derek Provan welcomed the news. He said, “We are delighted to see the Dublin connection going from strength to strength from Aberdeen. Both business and leisure passengers are seeing real benefits from the route, and I am pleased that Aer Lingus Regional are growing their offering to meet that demand.”

Under a franchise agreement between the two airlines Aer Lingus Regional flights are operated by Aer Arann using its own ATR aircraft and crew.

Ryanair is to add 18 extra flights to the Six Nation rugby matches.

The extra flights will operate on the following routes as follows:

• Bristol – Dublin – two extra flights on 5 February for Ireland vs. Wales
• London – Rome – two extra flights on 10 and 12 February for Italy vs. England
• Dublin – Paris – six extra flights on 10/11/12 February for France vs. Ireland
• Paris – Edinburgh – four extra flights on 25 and 27 February for Scotland vs. France
• Dublin – Edinburgh – four extra flights on 9 and 11 March for Scotland vs. Ireland

Here’s a chance to see a sneak preview of the Kevin Spacey, American Airlines television ad due to be screened in the UK this weekend.

United Airlines and Continental Airlines are set to launch several new international routes in the first half of 2012, as the company expands its route network as a result of the merger.

In May 2012, Continental will add new daily nonstop flights between Washington/Dulles and Manchester Airport, and in June 2012, subject to government approval, the airline will launch services between Washington/Dulles and Dublin.

“Since our merger last year, the new United’s unmatched global route network and U.S. hub structure have allowed us to offer our customers more flights to more places they want to go,” said Jim Compton, executive vice president and chief revenue officer. “By adding these new international routes, we continue to put the right aircraft in the right markets to serve our customers’ needs.”

Ryanair has announced it is to axe its Aberdeen to Dublin service from 29 October 2011.

The airline cites BAA’s refusal to extend a low-cost deal at Aberdeen as the reason for the withdrawal of it service.

The last flight will take of from Dublin at 14:00 on 28 October.

Passengers with bookings beyond 28 October 2011 will receive automatic refunds.

FlairJet has announced it is to open two new bases at East Midlands and Dublin Airports where it will position two Embraer Phenom 100 aircraft.

The new East Midlands location will enable FlairJet to operate its Phenom 24/7, opening up great potential for freight and aero medical charters.

Newly acquired Phenom 100 G-NUDD will be positioned there from the first week of September, complementing FlairJet’s Phenom 100 operations from its home base at Oxford.

A second Phenom 100 will be positioned at Dublin, which has consistently been a popular destination for FlairJet clients travelling on business and for leisure breaks from the UK and mainland Europe.

The business aviation operator continues to work closely with Embraer assisting with new aircraft deliveries. In August it delivered a privately owned Phenom 300 to Zurich and a 100 to Odessa in Russia. Meanwhile, the company is progressing with its plans to establish a centre of training excellence to carry out base and line training for Phenom pilots. Its third party training department is currently staffed by three Phenom 100 and two 300 examiners.

Backed by three London based QCs, FlairJet pioneered Embraer Phenom 100 and 300 operations in Europe, obtaining its UK AOC and commencing revenue charter flights in December 2009 with an two initial Embraer Phenom 100s.

Ryanair has announced it is to trial reserved seating on two of its services from Dublin.

The trial will take place on flights from Dublin to Malaga and Dublin to Gatwick from 16 May.

Seat reservation, which will be available for seats in the front two rows and over the wings (rows 16 and 17), will cost €10 each way and will include priority booking.

Ryanair’s Stephen McNamara said, “Ryanair will trial a reserved seating service on our Dublin – Malaga and Dublin – Gatwick routes from 16th May next. For just €10 passengers can pre-book their favourite seats in the front two rows, to ensure a prompt exit on arrival, or in over wing exits, for extra legroom.

If this new service proves popular with passengers then we will role it out selectively on other Ryanair routes in the coming months.”

This morning, Monday, 28th March 2011, the first Aer Lingus Regional flight to Dublin, operated by Aer Arann, took to the skies from Bristol airport.

Today’s launch marks the third Aer Lingus Regional connection between Bristol and Ireland with services also currently available to Shannon and Cork.

Operating under the franchise agreement between Aer Lingus and Aer Arann, the Bristol to Dublin service includes 3 return flights 6 days each week and two returns flights on Saturdays with new morning, afternoon and evening frequency options for business customers.

To mark the celebrations, all passengers travelling on the first flight to Dublin today enjoyed a complimentary breakfast reception in the departure area prior to boarding. In addition, a special green carpet was rolled out for the first passengers to ensure they received a warm Irish welcome.

2011 is a very special year for Aer Lingus as it marks 75 years of the Green Shamrock flying. On May 27th 1936 Aer Lingus launched its first ever flight between Baldonnel and Bristol, with five passengers, on a six-seater De Havilland 84 Dragon named Iolar, – meaning ‘eagle’ in Irish.

Dublin flights will connect Aer Lingus New York, Boston, Chicago and Orlando services to and from Bristol which currently has no direct services to the United States. As well as the convenience of flying from their home airport connecting passengers from Bristol will also benefit from the new US Customs and Immigrations clearance facilities in Dublin that will allow them to arrive in the US as domestic passengers.

Aer Lingus Regional yesterday launched its inaugural flight to Dublin from Aberdeen airport.

The flight, operated by Aer Arann, marked the first Aer Lingus Regional connection between Aberdeen and Ireland enabling Scottish passengers to take advantage of onward connections to New York.

Flights between Aberdeen and Dublin will operate every day except Saturday.

To mark the celebrations, all passengers travelling on the first flight to Shannon today enjoyed a complimentary refreshments reception in the departure area prior to boarding. The first passengers were also treated to live traditional Irish music at the check-in and boarding gate areas.

Welcoming the departure of the first flight, Sinead Murphy, Marketing Manager, Aer Arann said, “We are delighted to introduce our new service from Aberdeen to Dublin today. This new service further improves the direct links between Scotland and Ireland for both business and leisure passengers.”

Aberdeen Airport Managing Director Derek Provan said, “It is exciting for everyone at the airport to see the new service get underway. This route comes with many benefits, not only does it provide another connection to Dublin which is a very popular destination, but being able to clear US customs before you arrive on American soil creates an attractive proposition. It provides a terrific new hub choice and opens up North America to the North East of Scotland passenger. We wish them every success for the future.”