Aer Arann announces record growth last year

REGIONAL airline Aer Arann yesterday announced record growth in 2007, with passenger numbers reaching 1.15 million, up 10% on 2006.

Turnover rose 6% to more than €100 million.

The airline says it expects continued growth in 2008, but Fergal Barry, commercial director, warned that double-digit growth would not be sustained this year.

“We expect it to be in the order of 5%,” he told a press conference in Cork.

“Our projection is that passenger numbers will grow to more than 1.2 million in 2008. In 2002, it was 350,000, so that represents very strong growth. It also represents an increase of 9,900% from 12,000 passengers in 1999. This is a considerable achievement given that Aer Arann only commenced regular scheduled traffic in 1998.”

Four years ago, the airline’s turnover was €25m but it is now more than four times that, added Mr Barry.

Aer Arann yesterday launched a VIP programme, called Silver Club, designed to recognise loyal customers and make their travel simpler and easier. The club will be invitation-only, and strictly for Aer Arann frequent flyers. It will only be offered to customers who fly more than 40 times a year with the airline, explained the company’s head of sales and marketing, Colin Lewis.

He added: “Silver Club is very simple for members to operate: there are no tiers, no points to count, and there is no complexity.

“We believe Silver Club will make our customers’ lives easier, reducing the hassle of travel, and enhancing the door to door experience.”

The airline also announced a new route from Cork to La Rochelle on France’s Atlantic coast. It will operate every Saturday from May 24 to September 13 and is the airline’s fifth French route.

Aer Arann operates 600 flights a week on 40 routes and continues to gain momentum in the Irish, UK and French markets. It has initiated its fleet replacement programme with the ATR 72-500 Green Machine, which the airline claims is far less damaging to the environment than conventional jet aircraft.

“Several factors combine to make the ATR an environmentally friendly aircraft,” said Mr Barry.

“It has lower emissions of CO2 due to reduced fuel burn, and 70% lower fuel consumption than a jet on similar routes. It is also much quieter.”

Aer Arann continued to expand its network at a rapid rate in 2007 with the announcement of regional routes from Cardiff, Bristol, Manchester, Newcastle and Birmingham.

Mr Barry said: “Our new routes have allowed Aer Arann to broaden its customer base from visiting friends and relatives traffic to the wider UK leisure and business customer.

“Our new routes in 2007 surpassed our expectations and we expect our 2008 new routes to yield similar success.”