Aer Arann, the Irish regional airline based in Dublin, has taken delivery of the first of ten ATR 72 turboprops on order, while also confirming it has no plans to introduce baggage charges on domestic and international routes.
Head of sales and marketing, Colin Lewis, explained: ”While other airlines see baggage charges as a way of increasing revenue, Aer Arann is committed not to introduce this additional charge for passengers on our flights - we see it as a potential deterrent to frequent air travel.”
Within the next few years Aer Arann plans to replace its current, mainly leased, ATR fleet and standardise on the 68-seat aircraft. On a typical one hour Aer Arran sector, an ATR 72 is said to use 70% less fuel than a corresponding jet.
Lewis noted: ”In addition to lower carbon monoxide emissions, which are driven by low fuel consumption, the turboprop aircraft fly lower leaving the ozone layer and upper atmosphere unharmed. The planes are also quieter and therefore help decrease noise pollution.
”Aer Arann”s turboprop engines emit 15 times less carbon monoxide than a car and emissions are comparable to those of a train. Significantly, they produce three times less nitrous oxide than a car and 40% less than a train.”
Warming to his efficiency theme, Lewis added: ”On a 370km (230mi) sector, the fuel consumption per passenger of an Aer Arann flight is up to 15% lower than that of a typical European car. Amazingly, an Aer Arann aircraft uses as much fuel on a typical 370km sector as a Boeing 747 uses in just taxiing.”
Aer Arann is established as Ireland”s regional airline and has this year been particularly aggressive in developing routes and frequencies from London and the UK regions to Cork, Donegal, Galway, Kerry, Sligo and Waterford, as well as Dublin and Nantes in Northern France. Recent introductions have included Birmingham-Waterford, Newcastle-Galway, Manchester-Sligo, and Cardiff-Nantes.
The new Aer Arann ATR 72s are fitted with rear facing starboard side seats in row 1. Together with row 2 they form a virtually private area, useful for a group of four to travel together. Seen here in our photograph, airborne out of Luton, are (left to right) airport managing director, Angel Lerman; Luton passenger services and communication”s director, Natalie Raper; and Aer Arann head of sales and marketing, Colin Lewis.