A Gift and a half from Aer Arann

Local Sligo name takes flight with Aer Arann

Online Marketing Campaign results in Record Sales for Airline

Award winning Director touches down in style with Aer Arann

AER ARANN STATEMENT

Key European Post for Airline Chief

Aer Arann announces additional dedicated Premiership and Champions league Flights to the UK from Dublin.

Aer Arann and Munster Flying High Together.

Aer Arann introduces dedicated Premiership and Champions League flights to the UK from Dublin.

Aer Arann celebrates first anniversary of Dublin – City of Derry route

AER ARANN STATEMENT - An Bord Snip – PSO Routes

Fly the Family for less with 75% off all Aer Arann kids fares!

Keith Barry and Aer Arann Help Dublin's 98 Listeners Fly Without Fear!

Aer Arann Connects Cork with Donegal, Derry, Galway and Knock

Aer Arann Launches exclusive fast track domestic arrivals facility at Dublin airport

Aer Arann says Bonjour to Summer 2009 as seasonal schedule takes off!

Aer Arann website is compliant and transparent

Aer Arann sponsors “The Promise of a Generation Concert” on the Isle of Man

Aer Arann continues to implement cost reduction programme

Best club under the sun’ winners Portumna head for the sunshine with Aer Arann and Etihad Airways

Aer Arann’s Popular Cork – Jersey Route Returns For Summer 2009

Need a lift to see Munster v Leinster? - Aer Arann now offering extra flights to Dublin for semi-final

Book flights and meeting rooms together with Aer Arann and meetingsbooker.com

Irish Isles are smiling! Aer Arann’s popular Jersey - Cork route returns for Summer 2009

Avoid the queue: Check-In online at home with Aer Arann and make your journey shorter

Aer Arann welcomes travel tax exemption announcement

Aer Arann is first ATR 72-500 Operator at London City

Important Information for Customers Travelling to Dublin Airport

Etihad to codeshare with Aer Arann

Tuesday January 26th 2010: Aer Arann and Aer Lingus have today announced that agreement has been reached to establish a franchise arrangement between the two airlines.

Under this franchise agreement Aer Arann will operate 12 routes from Dublin and Cork . The routes will include current Aer Lingus and Aer Arann routes as well as 3 new routes.

These franchise services will be branded as “Aer Lingus Regional” and operated using Aer Arann ATR 72-500 aircraft and crew. All franchise flights will be sold and distributed through www.aerlingus.com . Aer Arann will assume full operational and commercial responsibility for the services covered by the franchise agreement with Aer Lingus receiving a franchise fee in recognition for providing its brand and product suite to Aer Arann.

The new agreement significantly increases Aer Lingus presence in the Ireland-UK market with new services to Ireland from Bristol , Blackpool, Cardiff , Doncaster/Sheffield, Durham , Glasgow and Edinburgh in addition to new seasonal services from Cork to Jersey in the Channel Islands and La Rochelle in France.

Welcoming the new agreement Aer Lingus Chief Executive Mr. Christoph Mueller said

“This franchise agreement is good news for all stakeholders in Aer Lingus as it will allow us to serve key regional destinations, linking them with our Dublin transatlantic network as well as offering our business and leisure customers improved schedule and frequency options.”

Aer Arann Chief Executive Mr. Paul Schütz also welcomed the agreement calling it “a major development for Irish aviation and the tourism industry. The combined strengths of both airlines, including brand power and market presence, will allow us to offer a quality customer product that meets the capacity requirements of existing and new routes.

Aer Arann is a leading regional airline that is wholly-owned by its Chairman, Padraig O'Ceidigh. In addition to operating routes for Aer Lingus Regional the airline will continue to operate under its own Aer Arann brand on routes within Ireland , from Ireland to the UK and France and from the Isle of Man to London and Paris .

Aer Arann Media Contacts:

Notes to the editor

The following routes and frequencies will be covered by this franchise agreement.

• The Dublin-Glasgow route will increase to up to four roundtrips per day

• The Dublin-Edinburgh route will see an Aer Lingus daily service supplemented by two Aer Arann round-trip services, one in the morning and one in the evening.

• Dublin to Cardiff – 3 Daily roundtrips

• Dublin to Blackpool – Daily service

• Dublin to Doncaster/Sheffield - Daily service

• Dublin to Durham Tees Valley – 6 roundtrips per week.

• A new service will be launched from Cork to Glasgow with six roundtrip services per week (excluding Tuesdays).

• Cork to Bristol – 6 roundtrips per week

• Cork to Edinburgh – 11 roundtrips per week

• Cork to Cardiff – Daily service

• Cork to La Rochelle – 2 weekly

• Cork Jersey – 2 weekly

Passengers who hold existing bookings on any of the services covered by this agreement will have their bookings amended and new travel documents will be issued without charge. Aer Arann will proactively contact each passenger with information on changes to their flight bookings

Aer Arann will continue to operate its own route network including flights between:

• Dublin and City of Derry , Donegal, Sligo , Ireland West Knock, Galway, Cork and the Isle of Man
• Galway and London Luton, Manchester , Edinburgh , Dublin and Lorient
• Waterford and London Luton, Manchester , Birmingham , Galway and Lorient
• Cork and Dublin and Belfast
• Donegal and Glasgow and Dublin

Monday January 25th 2010: A glimpse of summer sunshine has appeared in Waterford with the news that Aer Arann’s popular Lorient route has returned for summer 2010.

Taking off on May 29th and operating until August 28th, the route offers easy, direct access from Waterford and surrounding counties to Lorient, the gateway to the stunning Brittany region of France.

Flights from Waterford to Lorient start from €69 one way including taxes and are on sale now at www.AerArann.com

Andrew Kelly, Corporate Affairs Director at Aer Arann said “Following the success of the service in 2009 we are delighted to once again offer the south east this convenient link to France and all it has to offer. We look forward to welcoming both regular and new passengers onboard this service from May 30th”.

Graham Doyle, Chief Executive, Waterford Airport, said: “We’re delighted that Aer Arann is flying to Lorient from Waterford again this summer. It has proven a very popular link to and from the southeast. It will bring an exciting dimension to our services and further add to the convenience we offer to passengers throughout this region.”

The flights will operate ever Saturday from May 29th with a second daily rotation beginning every Tuesday from June 22nd.

So beat the January blues and get booking your summer break today. For further information on flight departure times, special offers and bookings, visit www.AerArann.com or contact Aer Arann reservations on 0818 210 210.

Wednesday January 20th 2010: Aer Arann has been advised by the Irish Aviation Authority that flights at all Irish airports will be disrupted due to a dispute between the Authority and its air traffic controllers.

At the moment flight disruptions will occur during the afternoon of Wednesday 20th January between 2pm and 6pm with follow-on delays to flight arrivals and departures.

Disruptions caused by the air traffic control dispute are entirely outside the control of Aer Arann and will impact all airlines flying to and from Ireland. The Irish Aviation Authority controls Irish airspace and as such all flights, including those to and from regional airports are subject to disruption.

At the moment only 5 flights have been cancelled:

RE 623 Dublin – Cork

RE 624 Cork – Dublin

RE 207 Dublin – Donegal

RE 206 Donegal – Dublin

RE 234 Galway – Dublin

Delays are expected on a further fifteen flights:

RE 377 Dublin – Isle of Man

RE 378 Isle of Man – Dublin

RE 315 Dublin – Cardiff

RE 316 Cardiff – Dublin

RE 287 Dublin – City of Derry

RE 288 City of Derry – Dublin

RE 217 Dublin – Sligo

RE 218 Sligo – Dublin

RE 209 Dublin – Donegal

RE 236 Galway - Dublin

RE 516 Manchester – Galway

RE 507 Galway / Waterford – London Luton

RE 508 London Luton – Waterford/Galway

RE 237 Dublin – Galway

RE 227 Dublin – Ireland West Knock

Passengers due to travel on Aer Arann flights today are asked to visit www.AerArann.com for updated information on flight disruptions. Alternatively, customers can contact Aer Arann customer relations on one of the following numbers:

Ireland: 08 18 210 210

UK: 0870 876 76 76

Passengers on Aer Arann flights today, 20th January, not listed in this media statement or on www.AerArann.com are advised to check-in as normal for an on-time departure.

For further information please contact

Gina Kelly

Media & Communications manager

Aer Arann

Gina.kelly@aerarann.com

+353 86 7805451

Tuesday January 19th 2010: A glimpse of summer sunshine has appeared in Galway with the news that Aer Arann's popular Lorient route has returned for 2010.

Taking off on May 29th and operating until August 28th, the route offers easy, direct access from Galway and surrounding counties to Lorient , the gateway to the stunning Brittany region of France and also twin to the City of Tribes.

Flights from Galway to Lorient start from €79 one way including taxes and are on sale now at www.AerArann.com

Andrew Kelly , Corporate Affairs Director at Aer Arann said “Following the success of the service in 2009 we are delighted to once again offer Galway and its surrounding counties this convenient direct link to France and all it has to offer. We look forward to welcoming both regular and new passengers onboard this service from May 30th” .

Michael Moloney, Marketing Manager at Galway Airport said “ Lorient continues to grow in popularity and I have no doubt that we will add extra passengers onto the route this summer as people from the Midlands now have easier and quicker access to the airport by using the new M6 motorway – it couldn't be easier to get to us”.

Flights from Galway to Lorient will operate every Saturday from May 29th with a second daily return flight beginning every Tuesday from June 22nd .

So beat the January blues and get booking your summer break to Lorient today. For further information on flight departure times, special offers and to make a booking, visit www.AerArann.com or contact Aer Arann reservations on 0818 210 210.

December 2009 For the perfect travel gift this Christmas why not buy an Aer Arann gift voucher and make your money go a little further this holiday season. Simply purchase a Christmas gift voucher online at www.AerArann.com and receive 50% extra free on whatever amount you pay.

Be it a purchase of €50 to receive a €75 gift voucher or a €500 purchase for a €750 voucher, you’ll always get more for what you pay!

Gift vouchers are available to purchase from as little as €10 up to €500. So whether it’s giving the gift of a relaxing weekend break or planning for that summer holiday, an Aer Arann Christmas Gift voucher is the perfect choice for that special someone.

For further information on this and all of Aer Arann’s amazing value offers, visit www.AerArann.com and sign up to the regular ezine.

• Free checked luggage up to 15kg
• Free hand luggage up to 7kg
• Free airport and online check in
• Free Allocated seating
• Shorter check in times

Tuesday 8th December 2009 : It was Christmas on air for children of Our Lady's Hospital for sick Children, Crumlin on Saturday as Aer Arann took to the skies from Dublin for a very exciting visit to Santa.

The group arrive at Isle of Man Airport !

The children arrived at Dublin Airport along with their parents and staff from the hospital to be greeted by a crew of Santa's helpers who looked after the guests on the dedicated flight to Santa's mystery location.

This was the eighth annual Christmas flight arranged by Aer Arann for the Children of our Lady's Hospital, Crumlin with this year proving extremely successful thanks to the commitment of Aer Arann volunteers, hospital staff and the staff at Isle of Man Airport.

Monday 23rd November 2009 - Aer Arann has announced the Sligo winner of its Name an Aircraft competition. Walter O’ Sullivan, from Collooney in Sligo recently had his competition entry Meadhbh chosen as the wining name of one of the airline’s fleet of aircraft. Entrants were asked to choose a name that they felt reflected Aer Arann and Sligo in the best possible way.

Walter O’Sullivan and Arlene O’Halloran, Aer Arann.

Mr. O’ Sullivan’s chosen name Meadhbh stands for Queen of Connacht in Irish mythology. With the grave of Queen Meadhbh situated very close to Sligo Airport, coupled with her strong association with the county, the judges felt that this was the most suitable name for a local Sligo aircraft. Both the winning name and the meaning of that name are now featured on one of Aer Arann’s ATR type aircraft and can regularly be seen by passengers as it passes through Sligo.

Walter O’ Sullivan, Arlene O’ Halloran, Aer and Berni Chambers, Sligo Airport.

Mr. O’ Sullivan got the opportunity to see his chosen name on the Aer Arann aircraft first hand last week at a dedicated photoshoot at Sligo Airport to mark the occasion!

For further information on all Aer Arann routes and services, and to book your next flight visit www.AerArann.com

Friday 6th November: - The growing power of online marketing was illustrated yesterday after a unique campaign by Aer Arann resulted in a 320%* spike in flight bookings; the highest sales achieved by the airline in one day this year.

25th October 2009 - Emmy Award winning director Dearbhla Walsh received a warm Irish homecoming today as she touched down in Sligo on her Aer Arann flight from Dublin.

Emmy Award winning director Dearbhla Walsh arrives in Sligo with Aer Arann.

For further information on all Aer Arann routes and services, and to book your next flight visit www.AerArann.com

For further information please contact:

Gina Kelly

Media & Communications Manager

Aer Arann

+353 86 7805451

Gina.kelly@aerarann.com

21st October 2009 - Aer Arann confirms an incident today at Manchester Airport involving flight RE 515 from Galway. The flight was operated by an ATR 72-200 aircraft, EI-REH.

At approximately 1145hrs the propeller on the arriving aircraft made contact with a docking guidance mirror as it parked on a stand at Manchester Terminal 1. Damage was caused to the propeller which was rotating slowly at the time. As a precaution the airport fire service attended the incident.

There were 32 passengers and 4 crew members on board. There were no injuries and all passengers left the aircraft normally. Airport operations have not been affected by this incident.

A replacement aircraft is being dispatched from Dublin Airport and Aer Arann has also sent engineers and customer service personnel to Manchester. The airline has launched an immediate investigation into the incident.

15th October 2009 - Aer Arann chief executive Paul Schütz has been elected to the Board of the European Regions Airline (ERA) Association, at the organisation’s General Assembly in Interlaken, Switzerland.

As a member of the board, the airline CEO will play a key role in overseeing the strategy and activities of the ERA, which is the primary body representing European regional airlines, airports and aviation companies.

In particular, he will be assisting and advising on the most challenging issues facing the aviation industry in Europe, such as driving success within the current economic climate and building on the continued efforts of the industry to reduce its impact on the environment.

Commenting on his election Paul Schütz said ‘I am delighted to join the ERA board and look forward to contributing to the united voice which promotes and protects the vital service provided by regional airlines.

This is a time of great challenge in our business but this recession, like those before it, will recede and we must be ready to take advantage of the opportunities that the emerging new economy will bring.

In doing so we must be prepared for the specific threats to our very existence as regional carriers, while at the same time recognising and facing up to our responsibilities as responsible corporate citizens.

I welcome the opportunity to play a key role in the decision making process of ERA strategies over the coming year” he concluded.

Paul Schütz took up the role of chief executive at Aer Arann on January 1st 2009 having previously worked as chief financial officer and company secretary for the airline since 2006. In total he has amassed over eighteen years’ experience in the aviation industry.

The ERA consists of over 200 members, broken down into 65 airlines, 20 airports and over 100 other aviation companies comprising aircraft and engine manufacturers, avionic suppliers and service members.

Monday 5th October - Aer Arann has added further scheduled flights to its series of dedicated soccer flight services to the UK catering for fans travelling to upcoming Premier and Champions League matches.

These soccer flight specials offer fans the opportunity to fly direct to several UK destinations with the airline tailoring each flight time around matches. This includes convenient departure times, ample time to travel to and from each fixture and a return flight that night to Dublin , eliminating the cost of an overnight stay.

The new flights services include:

Aer Arann is also operating daily return flights from Dublin for the following upcoming fixtures, with fares starting from €179 return*, including all taxes and charges:

Commenting on the series of soccer flights, Aer Arann Corporate Affairs Director Andrew Kelly said “Fans choosing to fly with us are guaranteed the most convenient service as we have tailored every flight to suit the match fixture times, taking into account travelling to and from the airport”.  

To make a booking or for further information on all Aer Arann destinations, great value fares and flight times visit www.AerArann.com . Alternatively, customers can call the Aer Arann reservations centre on 0818 210 210.

* Please note that flight fares do not include match tickets

For further information on all Aer Arann routes and services, and to book your next flight visit www.AerArann.com

For further information please contact:

Gina Kelly

Media & Communications Manager

Aer Arann

+353 86 7805451

Gina.kelly@aerarann.com

Monday 28th September 2009 - Aer Arann has teamed up with Munster Rugby to become the Official Airline to the Munster Rugby Team under a brand new sponsorship agreement.

Munster Rugby's Ronan O' Gara, Tomas O' Leary, Denis Hurley and Doug Howlett join Aer Arann's Melanie Fitzgerald and Caroline Bigger to announce a new sponsorship deal which sees Aer Arann become the Official Airline to Munster Rugby. The group were pictured boarding their Aer Arann flight to Cardiff from Cork ahead of the Munster V Scarlets Magners League clash on September 19th .

Already a popular choice for the Munster squad and rugby fans, Aer Arann's direct regional access from the province to Irish and UK rugby destinations make it the perfect fit as the club's preferred airline.

Commenting on the official announcement Aer Arann Corporate Affairs Director Andrew Kelly said “We are proud to become the official airline of Munster Rugby. We have a strong presence in Munster with bases in Cork and Waterford and we see this as a natural development of what is already a strong relationship with the team and Munster fans.  We look forward to welcoming both Munster Rugby and the Red Army on board many of our flights in the future”.

Garrett Fitzgerald, CEO Munster Rugby added “Aer Arann has been delivering Munster Rugby to destinations home and abroad for five  years.  Its efficiency and flexibility has proved essential in transporting the squad as effortlessly as possible  to their various match destinations and back. Just as importantly, Munster rugby supporters have also been able to lend their support thanks to the service provided by Aer Arann. We are delighted to be formally associated with Aer Arann. We believe that   Munster and Aer Arann share the same values. We passionately believe in what we do. We remain true to ourselves and our support base. We know we  have to punch well above our weight to stay ahead in a fiercely competitive European market”

The Munster Team join Aer Arann's Melanie Fitzgerald and Caroline Bigger to announce a new sponsorship agreement which sees Aer Arann become Official Airline to Munster Rugby'.

The agreement comes ahead of the Munster 's highly anticipated Magner's League clash against Leinster in the RDS this weekend, which will see both the team and many fans choosing to fly with Aer Arann to Dublin from Cork to watch the team in action.

Aer Arann customers are guaranteed greater value when they fly, with no charges for luggage (up to 15kg for checked luggage and 7kg for hand luggage), no airport or online check in fees, free allocated seated and much more.

To make a booking or for further information on all Aer Arann destinations, great value fares and flight times visitwww.AerArann.com . Alternatively, customers can call the Aer Arann reservations centre on 0818 210 210.

For further information on all Aer Arann routes and services, and to book your next flight visit www.AerArann.com

For further information please contact:

Gina Kelly

Media & Communications Manager

Aer Arann

+353 86 7805451

Gina.kelly@aerarann.com

Wednesday 9th September - Aer Arann has introduced a series of dedicated soccer flight services to the UK catering for fans travelling to upcoming Premiership and Champions League matches.

Aer Arann will operate daily return flights from Dublin for the following upcoming matches, with fares starting from €179 return*, including all taxes and charges:

Commenting on the new flight services, Aer Arann Corporate Affairs Director Andrew Kelly said “There are a huge number of Irish soccer fans planning to travel to the UK to support their teams throughout the season. We recognised this demand and adjusted our services to meet our customers' needs accordingly.

Fans choosing to fly with us are guaranteed the most convenient service as we have tailored every flight to suit the match fixture times, taking into account travelling to and from the airport” he added.  

To make a booking or for further information on all Aer Arann destinations, great value fares and flight times visit www.AerArann.com . Alternatively, customers can call the Aer Arann reservations centre on 0818 210 210.

* Please note that flight fares do not include match tickets

For further information on all Aer Arann routes and services, and to book your next flight visit www.AerArann.com

For further information please contact:

Gina Kelly

Media & Communications Manager

Aer Arann

+353 86 7805451

Gina.kelly@aerarann.com

Friday 24 th July - Aer Arann today marked the one-year anniversary of its Dublin – City of Derry service.  Since launching, this route has become a crucial commercial link for business and leisure passengers, providing access to international services from Dublin and supporting tourism in both cities.

Aer Arann operates two flights daily between Dublin and City of Derry Airport and most recently introduced a daily connecting flight to Cork offering even greater passenger connectivity throughout the island of Ireland .  

The success of this Aer Arann route over the past year further emphasises the key role that Public Service Obligation (PSO) air services play as a vital part of the economic infrastructure that sustains hundreds of jobs directly and indirectly in the regions.

Pictured celebrating the one year anniversary of the Dublin Derry route were Damien Tierney, Executive Officer, City of Derry Airport,Captain Caitriona Murphy, First Officer Clive Martin, Sharon O' Reilly and Andrew Kelly, Corporate Affairs Director, Aer Arann

Aer Arann Corporate Affairs Director Andrew Kelly said “We are delighted to celebrate the first anniversary of this very important business and leisure route. We believe the connections from City of Derry to Dublin , and now also to Cork, provide excellent support for both the tourism industry and economic life generally in all three regions and we expect the route to grow and become stronger in the future”.

“We would like to thank all of our passengers over the last year for their support and we look forward to welcoming them, and many new passengers, onto our services in the future”, he added.

Cllr Colm Eastwood, Chair of the City of Derry Airport Committee said, “the connections between Derry and Dublin provide essential regional connections and we look forward to working closely with Aer Arann to support and grow this service”.

For the first six months of 2009 over 150,000 passengers traveled through City of Derry Airport.

Aer Arann's new connecting flight service to Cork operates six days per week. Customers travelling from City of Derry airport to Cork need simply follow Dublin Airport 's standard transfer instructions in order to connect with their onward flight.

Aer Arann is committed to offering its customers more with a range of benefits including:

•  Free checked baggage allowance up to 15kg and hand luggage allowance of 7kg

•  Free airport check in and allocated seating

•  Passengers beginning their journey with Aer Arann and travelling onwards to international destinations such as the U.S, Asia, and Australia will receive their additional baggage allowance free of charge once they present their onward itinerary with proof of baggage allowance at Aer Arann check in desks

•  30 minutes check in time – less waiting time at the airport!

For further information on all Aer Arann routes and services, and to book your next flight visit www.AerArann.com

For further information please contact:

Gina Kelly

Media & Communications Manager

Aer Arann

+353 86 7805451

Gina.kelly@aerarann.com

16th July 2009 - Aer Arann today called on the Government to reject the recommendation by An Bord Snip that public Service Obligation (PSO) routes be discontinued.

The PSO routes support a vital part of the country’s infrastructure and sustain hundreds of jobs directly and indirectly in the regions. They are also a key part of the socio-economic fabric of life in the regions and the removal of accessible air transport will disadvantage many thousands of people from the North West and all along the western seaboard to the South West.

The cost of the PSO routes is less than €15million per year and all of this money supports infrastructure that in turn promotes business, industrial development and economic growth.

The recommendation to discontinue the PSO’s can only be seen as a flawed financial assessment driven by an absolute desire to cut spending with no economic impact study of the full financial cost in terms of job losses and the removal of infrastructure necessary to assist economic growth.

While some road and rail services have improved there are still North South and East West routes where air transport is required to support business and economic development. Industry and business in the regions should not be discriminated against and they need and deserve the same access to international air services from a hub airport like Dublin as that enjoyed by Dublin business people.

Similarly, the people living in the regions have the same entitlement to do a day’s work in Dublin or to connect to international services from Dublin for business and family reasons without the inconvenience and high cost of several hours of ground transport.

At this time domestic air fares are cost effective for both business and family air passengers and are competitive with ground transport costs. The discontinuation of regional air routes will significantly decrease competition and further negatively impact the people and business of the regions.

At this time only 16% of Aer Arann’s revenue comes from PSO routes but the discontinuation of the scheme will mean that some regional air routes will close and this will have an immediate impact on regional airports with potentially hundreds of direct and indirect job losses.

The PSO scheme is a European scheme that is used effectively in many EU countries to promote the economy of the regions. Ireland has 6 PSO routes while France, for example, has over 160.

The PSO scheme subsidises regional airports through the airlines and allows them to maintain infrastructure that is vital for the safe operation of air transport services. These air services in turn support the economy of the regions and open global business links, thereby increasing the market available to manufacturing and industry in the regions.

In simple terms, the discontinuation of the PSO scheme in Ireland will cost more than it will save and Aer Arann calls on the Government to consider this key point as it evaluates the proposal from An Bord Snip.

9th July 2009 - Following its phenomenal success, Aer Arann has re-introduced its 75% off sale offer on all kids’ flights beginning today. The sale will end at midnight Sunday 12th July so book now at www.AerArann.com!

This offer is available up to a maximum of four children in one single booking, between the ages of two and eleven. Children under the age of 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Commenting on the offer Andrew Kelly, Aer Arann’s Director of Corporate Affairs said “This is one of our most popular offers so we would encourage everyone to book now before it is too late. Families can enjoy holidays with us throughout Ireland, the UK and France without worrying about the bank balance back home”.

As well as this great value offer, Aer Arann also offers free checked baggage allowance up to 15kg, free hand luggage allowance up to 7kg, free airport check in and allocated seating. For further information see www.AerArann.com.

25th June 2009 - Top celebrity magician Keith Barry is going to drastically change the lives of ten lucky Dublin's 98 listeners who are terrified of flying.

Keith will help the aerophobia sufferers overcome their fears during a two day workshop where he guarantee's they will all defeat their in-flight terror!

24th June 2009 - Aer Arann has introduced connecting flights to Cork from Donegal, Derry, Galway and Knock Ireland West via Dublin. From as little as €45 one way including taxes, business and leisure passengers can now travel conveniently throughout Ireland, saving hours of additional driving time in the process.

All connecting flight options and further details can be found at www.AerArann.com Customers travelling to Cork from Donegal, Galway and Knock Ireland West can simply proceed directly to their onward departure gate. Derry passengers will need to follow the airport’s straightforward international transfer policy for travel between the UK and the Republic of Ireland.

“These new flight services open up the possibility for short but important business and leisure trips that would otherwise involve lengthy and often frustrating car journeys” comments Andrew Kelly, Aer Arann’s Director of Corporate Affairs. “By opting for a connecting flight rather than driving, customers can save significant travel time, as well as enjoying the added comfort of travelling with Aer Arann” he adds.

Air travel passengers receive more when choosing to fly with Aer Arann, including shorter check in times, free airport check in, free baggage allowance up to 15kg for checked luggage and up to 7kg for carry on luggage.

Flight times, booking details and further information on all of Aer Arann’s great value fares and travel benefits can be found at www.AerArann.com

11th June 2009 - Aer Arann domestic passengers will now enjoy a quicker, more convenient, travel experience with the introduction of the airline’s exclusive fast track domestic arrivals facility at Dublin airport.

The fast track arrivals channel allows Aer Arann passengers travelling to Dublin on domestic routes from Cork, Galway, Sligo, Knock-Ireland West and Donegal to bypass immigration and proceed directly to the arrivals hall.

The service is available for Aer Arann customers only and is another addition to the airline’s extended portfolio of services designed to make air travel a pleasant, convenient and quality experience. Passengers will be reminded about the service in flight by Aer Arann cabin crew and will receive direction on how to avail of the service.

Commenting on the new facility Andrew Kelly, Aer Arann’s Director of Corporate Affairs said “We are delighted to offer this latest quality service to our customers. We believe that this will be welcome news to busy passengers as it avoids queuing at the immigration area and having to present a passport in order to pass through to the baggage reclaim area. Simply follow the signs to the fast track channel, present your boarding card to the Aer Arann representative and be on your way”.

As well as the new fast track arrivals channel, Aer Arann customers also benefit from:

• Free checked baggage allowance up to 15kg and hand luggage allowance of 7kg
• Free airport check in and allocated seating
• Passengers beginning their journey with Aer Arann and travelling onwards to international destinations such as the U.S, Asia, and Australia will receive their additional baggage allowance free of charge once they present their onward itinerary with proof of baggage allowance at Aer Arann check in desks
• 30 minutes check in time – even less waiting time at the airport!
• Online check in, which is now available on many routes for passengers carrying hand luggage only. See www.AerArann.com for current online check in options

With so many benefits, it makes perfect sense to choose Aer Arann, the airline that gives you more! Visit www.AerArann.com for great value deals and booking or contact the reservations centre on 0818 210 210.

28th May 2009 - Aer Arann has launched its summer schedule which will see the return of the airline’s routes to La Rochelle, Nantes and Lorient in France from Cork beginning on May 30th. The airline will also be re-introducing its flights to Jersey and Southampton from Cork on the day.

Flights to Lorient in the beautiful Brittany region of France will also be available from Galway and Waterford airports.

Fly with Aer Arann to France from €60 and to Jersey and Southampton from €49, all one way including taxes, and discover that you don’t have to travel far for fun, relaxation and a unique holiday experience.

Commenting on the summer schedule Andrew Kelly, Aer Arann’s Director of Corporate Affairs said “Our summer routes proved very successful in 2008 so we are delighted to be offering them to customers once again this year.

The accessibility of Cork airport combined with our own convenient, pleasant service makes these destinations an ideal choice for people who want a holiday without the hassle”.

Florian Bernard along with Aer Arann staff Melanie Fitzgerald and Andrea Gibney celebrate
the launch of Aer Arann’s new summer schedule

So, whether it’s a romantic getaway to France’s stunning west coast, a family holiday in Jersey or a short break in Southampton, Aer Arann offers something for everyone this summer direct from regional destinations.

As well as that, Aer Arann customers also enjoy the benefits of shorter check in times, free airport check in, free baggage allowance up to 15kg for checked luggage and up to 7kg for carry on luggage.

Visit www.aerarann.com for booking times and for further information on all of Aer Arann’s summer destinations.

Aer Arann Summer Seasonal Routes will operate at the following times:

Cork – La Rochelle
Flights depart every Thursday and Sunday from Cork Airport at 08.30am and 12.30pm respectively from May 31st

Cork - Nantes
Flights depart every Saturday from Cork Airport at 08.30am from May 30th.
Additional flight will depart on Tuesdays at 5.00pm from June 16th

Cork – Lorient
Flights depart every Saturday at 3.55pm from May 30th.
Additional flight will depart on Tuesdays at 7.55am from June 23rd

Cork – Jersey
Flights depart every Saturday at 1.35pm from May 30th.
Additional flight will depart on Wednesdays at 9.30am from June 23rd

Cork – Southampton
Flights depart four days per week from May 30th
Mon, Wed and Fri – 2.20pm
Sunday – 6.20pm

Galway – Lorient
Flights depart every Saturday at 2.40pm from May 30th
Additional flight will depart on Wednesdays at 1pm from June 23rd

Waterford – Lorient
Flights depart every Saturday at 9.30am from May 30th
Additional flight will depart on Tuesdays at 9am from June 23rd

14th May 2009 - European Commission Praises Aer Arann: “Commissioner Kuneva would like to praise the practice of your company publicly and set it as an example for others to follow”.

As a quality airline that places a strong emphasis on transparency Aer Arann welcomes the report from the European Commission on airline websites. However, the airline questions its inclusion on what the media is calling a ‘Grey List’ as Aer Arann has no issues to address with its website and this has been confirmed in communication between the airline and the European Commission.

Aer Arann was asked two questions by the European Commission during its investigation; the first related to whether flights with an intermediate stop were shown as such, and the second was whether the EU regulation on carrier liability was published on the site in unmodified form.

Aer Arann’s response and transparency on these issues was accepted by the European Commission.

In a communication with Aer Arann on 7th May, Mr. Tamás Molnár, a Head of Unit in the DG SANCO in the European Commission said:

“Thank you for the swift response. I would like to thank you for the efforts that you making to meet consumers' expectations. The attached screenshots seem to provide the necessary information for consumers in a transparent way.”

Mr. Molnár continued “Commissioner Kuneva would like to praise the practice of your company publicly and set it as an example for others to follow”.

While the investigation looked at misleading and hidden charges on airline websites and focused on websites which are not up-front about their fees and charges, the European Commission did not at any stage raise any concerns with Aer Arann on these issues.

“Our inclusion on a so-called ‘Grey List’ is baffling”, said Aer Arann Director of Corporate Affairs, Andrew Kelly, “Aer Arann was never questioned on fares or charges and the airline has nothing to address in this area. Our website is fully compliant and will always strive for it to remain so. It’s hard to imagine how we would not want to be transparent on charges such as check-in, allocated seating and baggage as these are all free on Aer Arann”, he continued.

The ‘Grey List’ is being reported as a list of airlines that ‘have made commitments to have more transparency on their ticket websites, but have not yet fully fallen into line’.

However, the actual title for this list, as released by the Commission and as stated in the Commission’s Media Release is ‘Airlines providing commitments that issues raised by the health check have already been addressed (our emphasis)or will be addressed shortly to ensure that all standards are fully met’.

05th May 2009 - Aer Arann has become the official sponsor of the 2009 “Promise of a Generation” concert taking place on Thursday June 11th at the newly restored Villa Marina Theatre on the Isle of Man and performed by one of London’s finest Multimedia Orchestras, The LMO.

The concert is designed to celebrate the Isle of Man, the TT and the launch of the world first zero-carbon, clean-emission motorbike race: TTXGP the eGrandPrix.

Commenting on the sponsorship, Andrew Kelly, Aer Arann’s Director of Corporate Affairs, said, “We are delighted to support The Promise of a Generation concert, which recognises the importance of environmentally responsible practices in future technology.”

“At Aer Arann we are committed to providing an environmentally friendly service to our passengers such as our choice of aircraft, the ATR 72 500 dubbed ‘the world’s greenest aircraft’, which we operate on our Isle of Man routes.”

Azhar Hussain, founder of the TTXGP, said: “The TTXGP is all about competitive innovation – pushing the boundaries of what is possible with clean technologies. We are delighted Aer Arann, a company at the forefront of this struggle, has been inspired by the TTXGP and we welcome their support.”

The concert will be performed by the 70 piece London Metropolitan Orchestra (LMO), who will be flown by Aer Arann to the Isle of Man for the event. The programme will comprise iconic film and chart music, played over two hours with an interval. As well as a stunning backdrop of the Villa Marina, the concert will include a jumbo video system to add visuals to the performance including dynamic 3D special effects. It promises to be an unforgettable experience of sound and vision.

This not to be missed event will include:

• Very modern repertoire of film classics and rock/pop anthems and a special PA by Anna Goldsmith
• The largest symphony orchestra seen onstage at the Villa Marina joined by Rock band members.
• 3D imagery celebrating the TTXGP as well as the Isle of Man and the TT
• World premier symphony specially commissioned for TTXGP
• Performances from composers: John Williams, Michael Kamen, Stavinsky, Debussy, Prince, Queen, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Rob Doughan and many more.

For more information on the concert and how to attend visit www.ttxgp.com/concert

28th April 2009 - Salary Reductions Introduced – Expected Job Cuts Are Further Reduced

Aer Arann has announced that as it continues with its cost reduction programme, salaries are to be decreased across the airline. However, more jobs have been saved as Aer Arann continues to redefine its business model to better position the airline in the current economic climate.

Salary reductions at the airline will average 7% and will be tiered with higher salaries decreasing by a greater percentage. Executive and management salaries will reduce by an average 17%.

Redundancies at the airline since the cost reduction programme was introduced last October will now be contained at about 60. The vast majority of these job cuts were implemented before the end of 2008.

Initially the airline had planned on up to 100 redundancies but this was later reduced to 70 when a new base was opened on the Isle of Man to serve the new Aer Arann business route to London City Airport.

The success of the cost reduction initiatives has enabled the airline to confine its staged redundancy programme to about 60 jobs, a full 40% lower than first anticipated.

Commenting on the announcement, Chief Executive Paul Schütz said “We are committed to taking all steps necessary to ensure the company’s viability and long term development in this challenging economic environment. While salary reductions are regrettable, they are happening across the airline industry and are part of a necessary rebalancing programme as we create a business structure that will allow us to preserve jobs and build for the future.”

“We cannot stand still as the economy finds its level”, Paul Schütz continued, “we have to ensure that we are fit and lean and ready to respond to market conditions. That means controlling our costs while at the same time continuing to improve the level of service that we offer our customers”.

On behalf of the airline I would like to thank all staff for their continued loyalty to the airline and their ongoing efforts to develop our business model so that we can continue to stand out as the airline that combines great value fares with high quality service”, the Chief Executive concluded.

27th April 2009 - Pictured before boarding their Aer Arann flight in Galway and beginning their exciting trip to Abu Dhabi were Portumna GAA, winners of the Etihad Airways “Best Club Under the Sun” competition.

Also pictured are Aer Arann cabin crew Jane Taylor and Sharon Dervan, along with Galway Airport Marketing Manager Michael Moloney, Joe Walshe, Managing Director, Galway Airport, Peter Feeny, Galway County Mayor and Paul Shelley President of Galway Chamber of Commerce.

On Thursday 23rd April the team flew to Dublin courtesy of Aer Arann, who operate a codeshare agreement with Etihad Airways, providing travellers from Cork and Galway with greater access to over 50 Etihad destinations around the world through Abu Dhabi.

The “Best Club Under the Sun” competition took place last year as part of Etihad's sponsorship of the GAA All Ireland Senior Hurling Championship. The idea of the competition was based around what local GAA clubs give back to their community. Every club in the country was invited to nominate itself and outline why it was "The Best Club Under The Sun" and the public were then asked to vote for the club they felt deserved to win.

Aer Arann operates daily return flights from Galway to Dublin where passengers travelling onwards with Etihad Airways connect at Dublin airport. Those concerned about additional baggage should note that Aer Arann honours additional baggage allowance free of charge for passengers travelling onwards to international destinations, upon presentation of their onward itinerary at Aer Arann ticket desks.

23th April 2009 - Aer Arann is to re-introduce its Cork – Jersey route for the summer beginning on May 30th. The service, which was launched in 2007 was suspended over the winter months but the airline has confirmed that the route will operate from the end of May through to September 2009

Return flights from Cork to Jersey cost from only €49 one way including tax. For flight times and booking visit www.aerarann.com or call 0818-718-1818.

Andrew Kelly, Director of Corporate Affairs at Aer Arann said: “We’re very happy to be back on the Cork – Jersey network this summer. It’s a route with great attractions for both markets, offering Irish tourists access to Jersey’s stunning island attractions and in turn offering Jersey travellers access to Cork’s renowned attractions and events, as well creating a doorway to the county’s surrounding destinations.

Walking in Jersey

It’s the sort of win-win situation that we think will make the route extremely popular this year” he added.

“We’re delighted to welcome the return of the Aer Arann direct link to Jersey from Cork Airport, which has always been an extremely popular connection with Munster leisure passengers every summer”, said Kevin Cullinane, Cork Airport’s Marketing Manager.

“We believe that being able to fly to Jersey in addition to Aer Arann’s French flights to La Rochelle, Lorient and Nantes will prove to be extremely popular as the islands have some of the best beaches and restaurants in the whole of the British Isles.”

Situated just 14km off the French coast, Jersey is the most southerly of the British Isles. With an amazing variety of terrain for walkers, a coastline ideally suited to water sports, and a network of country lanes perfect for cyclists, the great outdoors is exactly that in Jersey. The Island is also home to world-renowned attractions like Durrell Wildlife, and spectacular events such as the Battle of Flowers Parade - sure to delight any visitor. For more information on all that Jersey has to offer, visit www.jersey.com

Aer Arann always gives you more with free baggage allowance up to 15KG, free check in and allocated seating. Plus! Start your journey to the U.S Europe, Asia or Australia and Aer Arann will honour passengers’ full onwards baggage allowance free of charge once presented with onward itinerary. So travel the convenient way this summer with Ireland’s premier regional airline!

20th April 2009 - Aer Arann now offering extra flights to Dublin for Heineken Cup semi-final.

Munster fans take note! Aer Arann has just added extra return flights from Cork to Dublin ahead of Munster’s highly anticipated Heineken Cup semi final clash with Leinster on May 2nd.

Travel to Croker the convenient way by booking your Aer Arann flight now at www.AerArann.com Departs from Cork airport at either 8am or 11am on Saturday May 2nd, returning at 10.40pm from Dublin the same day.

Fans will be able to travel to Dublin to see the game, enjoy the post match festivities in the City and return to Cork all in one day. No rushing, no lengthy car journey and no costly overnight stay!

Seats are limited, so don’t wait! Visit www.AerArann.com now and ensure that you get to savour the atmosphere in Croke Park this May bank holiday weekend!

14th April 2009 - Aer Arann is now offering corporate passengers the opportunity to book conference rooms at their final destination when booking their flights at www.AerArann.com. By integrating the booking system of Meetingsbooker.com, Aer Arann passengers can now access special offers of up to 50% off meeting room hire and book meeting rooms online.

Meetingsbooker.com will provide Aer Arann with a wide range of meeting rooms from conference hotels and venues throughout Ireland as well as a growing number in the UK and Europe. This innovative system allows people to search for venues in different locations, browse meeting room special offers, book refreshments such as coffee and tea breaks as well as select meeting IT equipment such as projectors.

Airlines traditionally include a number of additional products on their websites including hotel rooms and car hire. Aer Arann however, is one of the first to also allow corporate passengers the opportunity to book meeting rooms online. Commenting on the new service Andrew Kelly, Aer Arann’s Director of Corporate Affairs said “We are delighted to offer our corporate customers an even more convenient way to plan their business trip. By visiting www.AerArann.com customers can now arrange their travel, accommodation and venue hire in one go as well as benefitting from our great value offerings” he added.

Visitors to Aerarann.com can access meeting rooms through a homepage banner, the ticket confirmation page as well as their e-newsletters. “Business travellers are our main bookers so we are delighted to work with Aer Arann to deliver additional revenue to our partner venues”, said Ciaran Delaney, Meetingsbooker.com Managing Director.

08th April 2009 - Aer Arann is to re-introduce its Jersey- Cork route for the summer beginning on May 30th. The service, which was launched in 2007, was suspended over the winter months but the airline has confirmed that the route will operate from the end of May through to September 2009.

Return flights from Jersey to Cork cost from £35 one way including tax. The service will operate on Wednesdays and Saturdays departing at 09.35 and 13.35 respectively. For flight times and booking visit www.aerarann.com

Andrew Kelly, Director of Corporate Affairs at Aer Arann said: “We’re very happy to be back on the Jersey - Cork network this summer. It’s a route with great attractions for both markets, offering Irish tourists access to Jersey’s stunning island attractions and in turn offering Jersey travellers access to Cork’s renowned attractions and events, as well creating a doorway to the county’s surrounding destinations. It’s the sort of win-win situation that we think will make the route extremely popular this year”.

His sentiments are echoed by Senator Paul Routier, Assistant Minister for Economic Development who has specific responsibility for Jersey Airport. He said, "We are delighted to see the return of Aer Arann into Jersey and are pleased to support their efforts in re-establishing themselves on what I am sure will be a popular route, both in terms of inbound leisure visitors to Jersey as well as the local Irish community, using the service to visit family and friends".

Cork is Ireland’s third largest city and each year welcomes thousands of visitors who are drawn to its stunning coastline, internationally renowned events and cultural attractions. Sailing fanatics will relish a visit to Kinsale harbour; music lovers will enjoy Cork’s many music events including the Cork Jazz Festival in October, and of course, no visit would be complete without a visit to Blarney Castle to see the renowned Blarney stone. Kiss it and never be lost for words again! For more information on all that Cork and the southwest of Ireland has to offer, visit www.discoverireland.ie/southwest

06th April 2009 - From May 1st 2009 Aer Arann will introduce additional online check in services on its domestic routes between Dublin, Ireland West Knock, Donegal and Sligo. PLEASE NOTE: FROM THAT DATE ALL PASSENGERS TRAVELLING ON AER ARANN FLIGHTS WILL BE REQUIRED TO PRESENT A VALID PHOTO ID

The new online check in services will be available on the following routes:

• Dublin – Ireland West Knock
• Ireland West Knock – Dublin
• Dublin – Donegal
• Dublin – Sligo

The airline recently introduced online check in on its Galway routes between Dublin, Manchester and Edinburgh.

Online check-in provides valuable benefits including the removal of any need to queue at check-in for passengers carrying hand baggage only. The service adds to the convenience of travelling with Aer Arann with passengers able to check in from the comfort of their home PC and print their own boarding card.

Passengers should note that on all flights where online check-in is available ALL PASSENGERS must carry a valid form of photo identification. This is a Government regulation and it applies to all airports, airlines and flights where online check-in is available.

Consequently, as Aer Arann will be continuing to introduce online check in across its network; from May 1st ALL PASSENGERS travelling on Aer Arann flights MUST HAVE A VALID FORM OF PHOTO IDENTIFICATION.

To assist passengers Aer Arann accepts the following forms of Photo ID provided they are valid, i.e. in date:

The only accepted forms of photo ID for travel are:

• Valid passport
• Valid driving license with photo
• Valid national ID with photo
• Valid International Student Card
• Valid Bus Pass with photo
• Valid Work ID with photo
• Valid Northern Ireland Electoral Card. (With Photo.)
• Valid NATO/ U.N. Military I.D.
• Valid Disability Card with Photo

A child between 12-16 years travelling alone within Ireland or U.K. or between Ireland and the U.K. must produce a Form of Photo I.D.

25th February 2009 - Aer Arann, Ireland’s regional airline, has welcomed the announcement by the Minister for Finance, Mr. Brian Lenihan T.D., that some regional airports are to be excluded from the new Air Travel Tax.

Today’s announcement that airports that had less than 50,000 departing passengers in the previous year are to be exempted means that passengers flying from Sligo and Donegal Airport will not pay the new Air Travel Tax.

Currently Aer Arann serves Dublin from Sligo and both Dublin and Glasgow Prestwick from Donegal.

“All of the regional airports provide essential connectivity that is a key element in the economic viability of the regions. We are very pleased that the Minister has noted the importance of these airports to their local areas and the impact the tax would have on their ability to develop new routes”, said Andrew Kelly, Aer Arann’s Director of Corporate Affairs.

“Airports like Sligo and Donegal play a major role in tourism development and they are a necessary part of the infrastructure required to attract inward investment. Given the importance of maintaining and creating jobs we would encourage the Minister to look again at the impact the Air Travel tax will have on other airports including Waterford and Galway and Ireland West Airport Knock and use the opportunity of the proposed new legislation to exempt all regional airports from the tax”, said Andrew Kelly.

10th February 2009 - Regional airline Aer Arann today becomes the first operator of the ATR 72-500 series aircraft into London City Airport. The first flight is the morning service from the Isle of Man, Aer Arann flight RE801.

Aer Arann will operate the ATR 72-500 series aircraft on its services between London City and the Isle of Man and expects the new-generation turboprop to add to the success of this route which was launched on January 19th.

The ATR 72-500 has been approved for operations into the popular Docklands airport following a certification programme involving Aer Arann, ATR, London City Airport and the United Kingdom Civil Aviation Authority.

“This is a genuine good news story for the airline, the manufacturer and the airports, but more particularly its great news for our passengers”, said Aer Arann Chief Executive Paul Schütz.

“The successful certification of the ATR 72-500 means that we can now offer our passengers a superior service between London and the Isle of Man and it also introduces a new quiet and environmentally friendly aircraft to London’s premier business airport” the Aer Arann Chief Executive continued.

Richard Gooding OBE, Chief Executive of London City Airport said “We welcome the introduction of the ATR 72-500 at London City Airport. This new addition completes the ATR family at the airport and provides a wider choice of aircraft types for our customer airlines to operate. We are committed to working with aircraft manufacturers to bring future aircraft into London City Airport, a popular choice for business-focused airlines due to our location on the doorstep of London’s financial district.”

Aer Arann will base one of it’s ATR 72-500s on the Isle of Man and will operate three return flights between the Island and London City three times each weekday. Morning and evening departures are timed to offer a business day in the City, taking advantage of London City’s proximity to the financial centre at Canary Wharf.

The airline will also operate one return flight on Saturdays and two on Sundays, primarily aimed at the leisure market.

Isle of Man Airport Director Ann Reynolds commented “the business community and leisure travellers have been delighted at the new and efficient Aer Arann service between the Isle of Man and London City. Now greater customer comfort, as well as an excellent on-board service will be enhanced by the launch of this new aircraft into London City”.

Commenting further, Aer Arann Chief Executive, Paul Schütz said “the introduction of this new route is an example of our commitment to regional air travel and our focus on building our business by offering critical links and access to major centres from regional airports.”

“In addition to a schedule that offers excellent access opportunities for the business community and also very convenient travel times for leisure travellers, we are delighted that we can now offer all of our passengers the higher levels of comfort and quality of service that are part of our ATR 72-500 product”, the Aer Arann Chief Executive concluded.

Aer Arann also announced today that it has now confirmed new slots for its summer schedule, allowing earlier departures on all flights from the Isle of Man.

The summer schedule will be introduced on March 29th and will include an earlier 0805hrs departure from the Isle of Man arriving in London City at 0930hrs. This earlier flight time is expected to be very popular with the business and financial services communities.

26th January 2009 - Due to essential road works required for the construction of Terminal Two, vehicles will not be able to access Departures Road from 8pm Monday 26th January, until 4am Thursday 5th February 2009.

During this period, there will be no public pick up or drop off facilities on the Departures Road, which is directly in front of the terminal building.

A dedicated passenger drop off facility will be in place to the rear of the multi-storey car park. Signage and traffic marshals will direct traffic to the appropriate area.

Motorists should continue to use the short term car park when picking up passengers.

Dublin Airport thanks all its customers for their assistance and understanding while these essential works are underway. Please bear with us as we continue to improve your airport.

15th January 2009 - Etihad Airways is extending its services in Ireland with the announcement of a new codeshare agreement with Aer Arann which will provide travellers from Cork and Galway with greater access to 48 destinations around the world through its Abu Dhabi hub.

Announcing the codeshare at Dublin Airport on 15th January 2009

Under the deal, which is now in force, the Abu Dhabi-based airline will place its two-letter ‘EY’ code on Aer Arann’s regional flights from Cork and Galway to Dublin and also from the Isle of Man.

In turn, the codeshare agreement will give air travellers in Ireland and the Isle of Man access, via Dublin, to Etihad’s home base of Abu Dhabi and beyond it to 48 destinations on the airline’s global network which covers the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe and North America.

Beatrice Cosgrave, Etihad Airways’ country manager Ireland, said: “We are thrilled to announce this new code share agreement with Aer Arann. Following on from Etihad Airways sponsorship of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championship, this new development is a further step to solidify our involvement in Ireland. Irish travellers from Cork and Galway will now be able to fly via Dublin to Abu Dhabi and beyond, therefore making their travel experience more enjoyable with less stress.”

James Hogan, Etihad Airways’ chief executive, said: “Etihad Airways has developed a strong affinity with Ireland, with Dublin quickly establishing itself as one of our most popular routes, enjoying average seat factors during 2008 of more than 80 per cent.

“There is great demand amongst our customers to travel beyond the Irish capital, which this new codeshare agreement now allows.”

Welcoming the code share agreement Aer Arann Chief Executive Paul Schütz praised Etihad Airways for their recognition of the importance of regional connections to their global network.

“The importance of regional access to major international routes cannot be over-stated”, said Paul Schütz, “and this code share agreement is a very significant addition to the infrastructure supporting business and the economy in the regions”.

“The code share agreement is also a major boost for leisure travel to and from the regions” the Aer Arann Chief Executive continued. “This type of regional connectivity to large hub airports means that both business and leisure passengers can now enjoy seamless travel from Cork, Galway and the Isle of Man to the entire Etihad network” Paul Schütz continued.

“Etihad passengers from the regions will now be able to check-in with Aer Arann, get all their boarding cards and send their bags all the way through to their final destination” said Paul Schütz, “ensuring that it is just as easy to travel from the South or West of Ireland to Abu Dhabi, Bangkok or Sydney as it is from Dublin or London”, the Aer Arann CEO concluded.

Etihad Airways strengthened its ties with Ireland in March 2008 when it announced details of a two-year sponsorship deal of the All-Ireland Senior Hurling Championships. In the same month, the airline also increased its flights to Ireland to a daily service. Etihad is now the only carrier to fly direct from Ireland to the Middle East and beyond.

Etihad operates seven flights a week from Dublin. Flight EY48 departs Dublin on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays at 7.55pm and arrives in Abu Dhabi at 7.20am the following day. Return flight EY41 departs Abu Dhabi on the same day at 1.50pm and arrives in Dublin at 6.25pm the same day.

Flight EY42 departs Dublin on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 9.00am and arrives in Abu Dhabi at 8.25pm the same day. Return flight EY45 departs from Abu Dhabi on the same days at 2.10am and arrives in Dublin at 6.45am the same day.

Etihad currently has 10 other codeshare agreements with Brussels Airlines, Malaysian Airlines, Jet Airways, Yemen Airways, Saudi Arabia Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, Philippine Airlines, Middle East Airlines and UK-based airline, bmi.