Emerald Airlines
Emerald Airlines is an Irish regional airline headquartered in Dublin, on the grounds of Dublin Airport. In August 2021, the airline became the operator of the Aer Lingus Regional franchise, before operations launched on 26 February 2022.
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| Founded | May 2020 | ||||||
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| Commenced operations | 26 February 2022 | ||||||
| Hubs | |||||||
| Fleet size | 17 | ||||||
| Destinations | 21 | ||||||
| Headquarters | Dublin Airport, Dublin, Ireland | ||||||
| Key people | Conor McCarthy (CEO) | ||||||
| Website | www | ||||||
History
On 6 November 2020, it was reported that Emerald Airlines was bidding to operate the Aer Lingus Regional franchise,[2] with the winning airline to operate flights under the franchise beginning in January 2023.[3] The airline had also submitted an application for an Irish Air Carrier Operating Licence.[2] The following week, it was announced that Aer Lingus had chosen Emerald as the preferred operator of the franchise,[4][5] with agreements on the deal expected to be finalised in early 2021.[6] Following the June 2021 liquidation of Stobart Air, the previous operator of the Aer Lingus Regional franchise, Emerald Airlines hoped to start operations as early as October 2021, ahead of the original January 2023 operating date.[7] Subsequently, Emerald was officially signed as the Aer Lingus Regional franchise operator in August 2021,[8] and received its air operator's certificate (AOC) in September 2021.[9]
On 17 December 2021, Aer Lingus announced that franchised regional flights operated by Emerald would launch starting on 17 March 2022.[10] Additionally, Emerald established a subsidiary company in Northern Ireland, incorporated as Emerald Airlines UK, and applied for an AOC in the United Kingdom with the UK CAA.[11] On 7 January 2022, it was announced that Emerald had been awarded a PSO contract to operate a route between Donegal and Dublin from 26 February 2022, prior to its original March launch.[12]
Destinations
As of March 2023, Emerald Airlines operates to the following destinations under the Aer Lingus Regional franchise:
Fleet
As of September 2023, Emerald Airlines operates the following aircraft:[18][19]
| Aircraft | In service | Orders | Passengers | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ATR 72-600 | 17 | 0 | 72 | 7 operated by Emerald Airlines UK.[20] |
| Total | 17 | 0 | ||
Fleet development
Emerald's first aircraft order was an agreement to lease six ATR 72-600s from Chorus Aviation on 23 August 2021, which consisted of ATRs formerly operated by Stobart Air and Virgin Australia Regional Airlines.[21] On 4 October 2021, the airline leased an additional four ATR 72-600s from Nordic Aviation Capital.[22]
References
- "Airline and Location Code Search".
- O'Halloran, Barry (6 November 2020). "Emerald Airlines seeks licence from regulators in Republic". The Irish Times. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- Chambers, Alison (17 December 2020). "Start up Emerald Airlines already showing its mettle". BlueSky. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- Mulligan, John (14 November 2020). "McCarthy's Emerald Airlines confirms it is preferred bidder for Aer Lingus Regional contract". Irish Independent. Retrieved 12 April 2021.
- "Emerald Airlines zeroing in on Aer Lingus contract- Report". ch-aviation. 17 November 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
- O'Halloran, Barry (5 February 2021). "Talks on new Aer Lingus Regional deal could be concluded in weeks". The Irish Times. Retrieved 8 April 2021.
- Davies, Phil (5 July 2021). "New Aer Lingus Regional operator tipped for autumn take-off". Travel Weekly.
- Casey, David (4 August 2021). "Emerald Airlines confirmed as Aer Lingus Regional operator". Routesonline. Informa Markets. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- "Emerald Airlines secures its Irish AOC with "Gemstone" call sign and EAI code". World Airline News. 7 September 2021.
- Dyson, Molly (17 December 2021). "Aer Lingus and Emerald Airlines accelerate regional launch plans". Business Travel News Europe. Retrieved 18 December 2021.
- Caswell, Mark (20 December 2021). "Emerald Airlines to operate Aer Lingus Regional flights from March 2022". Business Traveller. Panacea Media Limited. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
Emerald has also established an airline company in Northern Ireland (Emerald Airlines UK Ltd) and has applied to the UK CAA for a UK AOC and Operating Licence.
- "Ministers Ryan and Naughton announce Emerald Airlines as the new operator on the Government funded Donegal – Dublin PSO air route" (Press release). Irish Department of Transport. 7 January 2022.
- "New Aer Lingus Regional routes from Dublin to Liverpool, Brittany". RTÉ News. 8 March 2023. Retrieved 12 March 2023.
- "Aer Lingus launches Cork-Bristol flights". The Irish Times. Retrieved 25 August 2023.
- Orban, André (2 February 2023). "Aer Lingus Regional to commence flights to Newcastle and Nottingham East Midlands from Belfast City Airport". Aviation24.be. Retrieved 2 February 2023.
- "Emerald adds two routes as competition ratchets up at Belfast City Airport". The Irish News. 28 June 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
- "Aer Lingus Regional announces new winter services".
- "Emerald Airlines Fleet Details and History". Planespotters.net. 5 September 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
- Company news on fleet extension, visited 7 July 2022.
- "Emerald Airlines UK Fleet Details". Retrieved 25 September 2023.
- Hemmerdinger, Jon (23 August 2021). "Emerald Airlines to lease ATRs from Chorus Aviation". FlightGlobal. DVV Media Group. Retrieved 11 October 2021.
- O'Halloran, Barry (4 October 2021). "Emerald Airlines leases four aircraft from Nordic Aviation Capital". The Irish Times. Retrieved 11 October 2021.