Thank you for taking the time to sign this petition to improve Aer Lingus flight times on the Geneva - Dublin route.

The existing flight times are highly inconvenient for most passengers as for a weekend break we need to take 1.5 vacation days to accommodate the poor flight schedule.

The alternative option is to fly via London with a connecting flight to Dublin.This option is also inconvenient but is about the same price as a direct flight and saves passengers from having to take unnecessary vacation days.

By signing this petition you are asking Aer Lingus to reschedule its route times to accommodate passengers. Thank you for your support.

Kind regards,

Matthew Reddington

EMAIL TO AER LINGUS:

Dear Aer Lingus,

I am contacting to you with a suggestion, that if implemented could lead to a noticeable increase in business on your Geneva-Dublin route.

I would like to highlight that your existing schedule from Geneva to Dublin is dramatically out of sync with the needs of your customers who wish to travel to Ireland for weekend breaks throughout the year. The inconvenient schedule puts passengers in a very difficult position as we need to either:

1. Take 1.5 vacation days to facilitate your schedule, or
2. Book connecting flights through London with alternate airlines

If Aer Lingus changed its route times to later in the evening (both directions) this should result in an increase in passenger numbers on this route as the preventative costs above would be neutralised.

Please see below example with real flight times and costs to illustrate the above point:

Flight search date: 04/07/2015

Weekend break in Dublin 21-23rd August.

Depart Friday from Geneva 10:40am / Arrive Dublin 11.50am

Return departure Sunday from Dublin 6.50am / Arrive Geneva 10am

Price CHF 269

1. In this example, the passenger must take a vacation day for the flight out (at great cost) and then lose a whole Sunday out of the weekend. So, why not fly back on Monday morning..?
2. If they fly back on the Monday morning this would require another half-day off work and potentially an additional hotel night stay. The costs of 1.5 days holidays on average would be CHF 600, plus a hotel night at CHF 100 avg. Total cost CHF 969.
3. The increasingly popular and cheaper option is to fly through London. This option does not require the passenger to take any time off work or book an additional hotel stay, saving on average CHF 700. Total flight costs CHF 305. (Workings below)

If Aer Lingus changed the route schedule to depart and return in the evenings, you would win incremental business from those currently travelling through London, from Irish expats flying more regularly and from Swiss-based holidaymakers choosing Ireland as a destination. In addition, you would have a competitive advantage over Swiss Air who have recently started flying this route (with similar times to your own).

I look forward to your serious consideration of this proposal and response in due course.

Kind regards,

Matthew Reddington

****Workings****

Flight search date: 04/07/2015

Weekend break in Dublin 21-23rd August.

Geneva-Gatwick-Dublin:

Friday: Easyjet Dept 7.10pm Arrive in Gatwick at 7.40pm

Ryanair to Dublin Dept. 9.35pm, arriving in Dublin at 10.55pm. (just in time to head out and meet friends)

Sunday: Ryanair Dept.3.30pm Arrive in Gatwick 7.05pm.

Easyjet Dept 8.15pm Arrive in Geneva 10.50pm

Price CHF 305