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fox1 · Guest

Source: Sunday Times

Tom McEnaney

AER LINGUS is planning to expand into the Asian and Australian
markets. It has looked at a number of Asian airports as potential
hubs and hopes to operate its first long-haul route to the east and
onto Australia by the end of this year.

After discussions with a number of international airports over the
past year, airline executives compiled a short-list which includes
Bahrain, Dubai, Bangkok, Singapore, Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur. It
is understood Singapore was the initial favourite but strong
lobbying by Kuala Lumpur airport has since made it the most likely
choice.

The Malaysian government is particularly keen to attract new
business to Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA). Built in 1998
at a cost of $3.5 billion, it is one of the most modern airports in
the world.

Aer Lingus is working on the assumption that any expansion into Asia
will be carried out with one of its partners in the Oneworld
alliance. If, as expected, it does opt for KLIA, it is most likely
to operate on a code share basis with Cathay Pacific, a Oneworld
member which already operates flights to KLIA.

Last year Aer Lingus was set to open a new route to South Africa,
but instead decided to concentrate on expanding its transatlantic
operations. The company is still considering launching a service to
South Africa, which has become increasingly popular with Irish
holidaymakers.

Some 35,000 Irish people holiday in South Africa every year and many
of them have purchased second homes there.

Aer Lingus has already determined that it could sell between 10,000
and 20,000 seats a year to an Asian hub, but this figure should grow
significantly once an Asian service is in place.

Aer Lingus declined to comment on its proposed Asian expansion
beyond a prepared statement saying that the matter was under review.

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Fraser · Guest

Surely they'll need to find some A340s or something first? Can't fly to
South Africa or Asia from Dublin with their current bunch of A330s.

"fox1" <fox1 (AT) NOSPAMedinburghairport (DOT) org.uk> wrote

Joe Curry · Guest

The message <JOF2c.16446$h44.1819074 (AT) stones (DOT) force9.net>
from "Fraser" <fraser (AT) lanakil (DOT) freeserve.co.uk> contains these words:

Doug Maclean · Guest

"Fraser" <fraser (AT) lanakil (DOT) freeserve.co.uk> wrote

Jim Mason · Guest

In article <c2fea6$b8d$1 (AT) titan (DOT) btinternet.com>, [email]drmayr (AT) btinternet (DOT) com[/email]
says...

David Kerr · Guest

"fox1" <fox1 (AT) NOSPAMedinburghairport (DOT) org.uk> wrote