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.”

Aer Lingus has announced that from tomorrow, 1 February 2011, all Continental European flights will operate from T2 at Dublin Airport.

All Aer Lingus flights between Dublin and London already operate from T2.

The transition of transatlantic flights to T2 is planned for completion by 22nd February.