Olivia Mitchell (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Question 339: To ask the Minister for Transport if Aer Lingus has acquired new aircraft for its European short haul fleet since 2003; the number, type and cost of this acquisition; if the new aircraft are now on stream; the progress that has been made on upgrading and expanding the long haul fleet; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9015/05]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Aer Lingus is upgrading and standardising its European fleet to become an all Airbus short haul fleet with the acquisition of 17 Airbus A320 aircraft, seven of which are being purchased outright and ten of which are being leased. These aircraft are replacing smaller capacity Boeing and BAE146 aircraft which have been sold or returned to lessors. To date, nine new aircraft have been incorporated into the fleet with the remainder due to come on stream over the course of 2005. At that stage, the short-haul fleet complement will be 27, similar to before, but with increased capacity and operational flexibility arising from the larger aircraft and lower unit costs. The investment is being funded from internal company resources with no recourse to the Exchequer.

As the cost of aircraft is commercially sensitive information it is a matter for the airline as to whether this information is made public. A review of the long haul fleet is under way in Aer Lingus and expected to be completed in the near future.