Passengers promised greater comfort

Aer Lingus passengers can look forward to greater levels of comfort on long-haul routes when the airline begins introducing its new aircraft in 2009.

The airline is promising extra comfort, better air quality and an enhanced premier class product.

Chief executive Dermot Mannion, however, was keeping his powder dry on whether fares would rise sharply to pay for this, particularly for premier passengers.

He did, however, rule out the introduction of a "first-class" cabin. "We are not planning to offer first class, but we might decide to offer more premium seats," he said. At present, the plan is to go with 24 premium-class seats, the same figure as is on offer now.

The new aircraft will also boost Aer Lingus's capacity to carry cargo. At present, the airline sometimes has to leave cargo behind on flights to Chicago due to the size of aircraft being operated and the loads it is permitted to handle for takeoffs and landings.

Mr Mannion said the new A330-300E and A350 extra-wide body (XWB) aircraft would be able to meet the demand for cargo to be shipped to Chicago and the US west coast.

The XWB is Airbus's response to market demand for a long-range, wide-body aircraft and is being developed to counter Boeing's new 787.

Orders have been slow and Airbus will be happy to have Aer Lingus as a customer. The airline will take six of the aircraft between 2014 and 2016, and has options for another six by 2018.

By holding up to 342 passengers, the XWB will be the largest aircraft in the Aer Lingus family.

It will also be one of the most fuel-efficient aircraft in the world, according to Airbus. In addition, it will offer the widest aisles and the widest seats in the industry.

Mr Mannion said the aircraft would be up to 15 per cent more fuel-efficient than Aer Lingus's current aircraft and would reduce the airline's carbon footprint.

Aer Lingus's next challenge will be to fill the aircraft. When the retirement of aircraft is factored in, its long-haul fleet will double in size to 14 by 2016.

Open skies holds the promise of a raft of new routes to the US for the airline. Competition will be stiff, however, with US airlines likely to target routes into Dublin and possibly use Ireland as a hub for onward travel.

Mr Mannion is confident that Aer Lingus is up to the challenge. "There's no doubt there will be extra competition, but we're not afraid of the challenge," he said.