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Aer Lingus moves into London City Airport – so goodbye CityJet

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In a surprise move, Aer Lingus has announced that it is launching a Dublin service from London City.

Even more surprising is how they are doing it.  Aer Lingus is taking over the six daily flights currently operated by CityJet.  CityJet will continue to operate the service but it will now be done on a contract basis for Aer Lingus.

British Airways will, at least for now, continue with its own London City to Dublin service.

The change takes place on 28th October.  If you are currently booked with CityJet to travel from London City to Dublin from that date, your existing ticket will be cancelled and you will be offered a refund or a seat on a replacement Aer Lingus service.  Flight times may differ.  You will earn Avios in AerClub on this replacement ticket.

From an Avios point of view, this is a positive move with additional redemption options.  However, if British Airways ends up pulling out of the route, it will be an overall negative as taxes are higher on Aer Lingus redemptions.

You can find out more, including about how Aer Lingus will deal with existing bookings, on their website here.

PS.  This change means the end of CityJet as an airline brand.  All of its routes are now flown under contract and its future will be as “a provider of capacity to customer airlines throughout Europe”.  You can find out more on the CityJet website here.

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Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which earn Avios. This includes both personal and small business cards.

Category

Aer Lingus and AerClub

Comments (57)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Sam G says:
    29 Aug29 August 05:26

    I think both carriers will remain, especially as the first EI flight won’t reach Dublin until ~10am. In these Brexit times I imagine business travel is very strong between the markets. Perhaps BA will rationalise some off-peak capacity

    I flew the Cityjet aircraft a lot when they were operating Amsterdam flights – very tight config if the middle seat is occupied – try get the back pairs of two (boarding is at front/rear at LCY at least)

    • BJ says:
      29 Aug29 August 06:15

      There was an article in Business Traveller yesterday that business travel is set to grow strongly through 2022. I hope competition between carriers continues to flourish otherwise we might be entering a period during which low premium fares and award availability start to dry up a bit.

    • Jack says:
      29 Aug29 August 10:03

      I’d be surprised too, I use this route very frequently and the BA flights are almost always close to full or actually full.

      • ADS says:
        29 Aug29 August 10:41

        but if BA currently fill the flights by offering discounts to compete with Cityjet – it’s hard to see that continuing!

        also hard to see BA continuing to operate 7 flights a day if EI are operating another 6 flights.

      • ADS says:
        29 Aug29 August 10:44

        i wonder if FlyBE will fancy giving LCY-DUB a go, since prices will presumably rise once it becomes an IAG monopoly

  • Optimus Prime says:
    29 Aug29 August 08:03

    OT – has anyone managed to renew their Ambassador membership on their website or the mobile app?

    Every time I enter my credit card details and click to proceed it just goes back to the same page.

    I’ve rang them to do this on the phone twice – the call always drops out after 2 minutes!!!

    • Genghis says:
      29 Aug29 August 08:10

      I plan on renewing today so will report back

      • Optimus Prime says:
        29 Aug29 August 08:16

        Thanks and good luck!

        I’ve reported my issue to their Twitter account, let’s see if this helps..

        • Genghis says:
          29 Aug29 August 10:29

          Renewed online fine just now using Revolut.

        • Optimus Prime says:
          29 Aug29 August 13:40

          Thanks, Genghis.

          I’ve tried again on the mobile app and this time it’s gone through.

    • Rob says:
      29 Aug29 August 08:58

      Hasn’t work for the past YEAR. You need to call.

      • Leo says:
        29 Aug29 August 15:40

        +1. Yes I ended up calling to renew this year. Thought it was just me…however the pack turned up quite quickly this year which is a bonus.

  • Maciek says:
    29 Aug29 August 08:28

    OT – has anybody received points from AmEx SPG since June? My last such transaction on – now Marriott – statement is 11 June. I have combined SPG and Marriott accounts last week, so that shouldn’t have adverse effect here.

    • Stuart says:
      29 Aug29 August 08:44

      Nope. Called customer service & told to “be patient”

    • Leigh says:
      29 Aug29 August 09:52

      I called Amex yesterday and was told that they are aware of the issue and that points will be added by Mid-September

    • RichS says:
      29 Aug29 August 10:48

      Mine transferred on 22nd July (including 10,0000 welcome bonus and 5,000 referral bonus – all “old” style SPG points).

    • mike says:
      29 Aug29 August 12:02

      remember to get your compensation, mine posted next day.

  • Mark H says:
    29 Aug29 August 08:59

    I’m not seeing a £20 discount on the price of Amazon Prime, is anybody else able to??

    • Rob says:
      29 Aug29 August 09:27

      If you already have it, you won’t see it. Go into private browsing and do a cut and paste on the link.

  • James says:
    29 Aug29 August 09:02

    Shame. I rather liked the Perrier water and Bombay (rather than Gordon’s). Will this mean BA will switch to BOB at LCY? I suspected they were hanging out as Cityjet was still offering a drink to business bods…

  • Eric says:
    29 Aug29 August 10:08

    Your link to sign up brings me to the registration web site which only offers a free 30 day trial of amazon prime (and after that £7.99 per month). I’m not an amazon prime member already. Any idea why this is not working?

    • JohnT says:
      29 Aug29 August 10:15

      It was in a small box across the top at the top for £59 till 30/8. 7.99/m is just one plan – there is an annual fee option at £79 – click on see plans.

    • Rob says:
      29 Aug29 August 10:26

      There is a banner at the top and in the right hand corner. Use private browsing if any trouble.

  • NFH says:
    29 Aug29 August 11:00

    Does this mean an end to CityJet’s annoyingly loud BAe 146 aircraft at LCY? They have such a poor rate of climb compared to other aircraft at LCY (mostly Embraer) that they disturb residents for miles around with their four engines and low altitude.

  • BJ says:
    29 Aug29 August 11:35

    OT Bit: £5 of £20 at Boots in amex offers today. On only 1 of 5 c ards for my partner and I.

    • Jay says:
      29 Aug29 August 11:36

      I got offer of 500 MR points for a £10 spend at Boots y’day – only on 1 of 5 cards as well.

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