Aer Arann Islands is planning a significant fleet upgrade that could potentially double its passenger capacity to the Aran Islands while reducing carbon emissions. The airline intends to invest in the De Havilland Canada Twin aircraft which has 19 passenger seats, ten more than its current airplanes, and is cleaner to operate.
Aer Arann Islands also plans to promote the establishment of flights supported by a Public Service Obligation (PSO) between Inishbofin and Indreabhán, potentially streamlining transportation and benefiting residents and visitors.
CEO Peter McKenna affirmed that the company is considering the purchase of the De Havilland Canada Twin aircraft, with an estimated investment of at least €8m. The aircraft visited Aerfort Chonamara recently for a demonstration, offers enhanced sustainability features such as the potential for retrofitting with hydrogen fuel cells or engines, running on sustainable aviation fuel.
The company aims to finalise its decision on purchasing the new aircraft within the next 12 months while actively evaluating new aircraft models entering the market. The move towards introducing these cleaner, more efficient aircraft could be a significant step towards achieving zero emissions and enhancing connectivity for passengers traveling to and from the Aran Islands, Cleggan, and Inishbofin.
Aer Arann Islands, currently situated at Connemara Airport in Inverin, facilitates transportation between the three Aran Islands with regular flights, ranging from ten to thirty, utilising Britten-Norman Islander aircraft.
The airline’s flight duration averages around eight minutes for these short-haul island-hopping routes, maintaining efficient and quick connectivity between the Aran Islands and mainland County Galway.
In 2021, Aer Arann Islands has shown a preference for using Britten-Norman Islander aircraft to cater to the demands of this specific service, boasting a fleet composed of three Britten-Norman BN-2 Islanders for their operations in the region.
Founded as Aer Arann in 1970 by James Coen, Ralph Langan, and Colie Hernon, initially offered air service between Galway and the Aran Islands in Ireland using a single Britten-Norman Islander aircraft.
The airline underwent various short-lived expansions over the years, including summer service along the south and west coasts with a Short Sandringham flying boat in the late 1970s, and commuter flights between Shannon and Dublin, as well as to the UK with Avair, in the 1980s.
In 1994, the regional airline was acquired by Pádraig Ó Céidigh and Eugene O’Kelly, who expanded its operations. Subsequently, the carrier was acquired by Stobart Group in the 2010s and rebranded as Stobart Air, leading to the Aran Islands service being separated into an independent entity known as Aer Arann Islands, which remained under Ó Céidigh’s ownership until 2020.
Mr McKenna said: “Aer Arann is on a flight path to zero emissions to meet our EU, National and sectoral targets and have started a project to evaluate suitable aircraft platforms that can achieve this goal. Aer Arann is on a flight path to zero emissions to meet our EU, National and sectoral targets and have started a project to evaluate suitable aircraft platforms that can achieve this goal. A shuttle bus and Inishbofin service shows great vision. You could leave Inishbofin and 15 minutes later land in Na Minna, and then with a shuttle bus you could be in town in 45 minutes – so one hour from ‘Bofin to Eyre Square. This could bring huge benefits in terms of general services to and from the island and would make the journey a bit easier for passengers travelling for hospital appointments and medical care.”
