Aer Arann plans to double passenger numbers

[Humberside]

Could be something for HUY to keep an eye on. RE didn't exactly have much success with DSA-DUB, but if RE have major expansion plans a return to the region could be possible.

Irish carrier Aer Arann (RE), which flies as Aer Lingus (EI) Regional, is finalizing a deal for eight new ATR 72-600 aircraft, plus options, and is hoping to hit two million passengers within four years.

RE chairman Padraig O'Ceidigh told ATW at the European Regions Airline Assn. General Assembly in Dublin he believes the airline will double in size [in terms of passenger numbers] over the next three to four years. “We are already 37% up compared with last year.”

From atwonline.com/airline-finance-data/news/ireland-s-aer-arann-double-size-1002?NL=ATW-04&Issue=ATW-04_20121002_ATW-04_237&YM_RID=[e-mail]&YM_MID=1343599

[mrmoose]

Dublin from HUY could work with the right marketing and aircraft, it attracted almost 5000pax per month when Ryanair were operating - and that was with DSA-Dublin also operating. I believe most of the traffic came from the leisure market. If RE were to dip their toes in again, with a smaller aircraft, HUY could easily support 2-3 flights a week initially, timed to allow mid week and weekend breaks, rather than a focus on connecting to a Dublin hub type operation, or business users