• Aer Lingus Tile
    Aer Lingus
    IATA/ICAO Code:
    EI/EIN
    Airline Type:
    Full Service Carrier
    Hub(s):
    Dublin Airport
    Year Founded:
    1938
    Airline Group:
    IAG
    CEO:
    Lynne Embleton
    Country:
    Ireland
    Region:
    Europe

Despite the challenges faced by the commercial aviation industry in the last few years, Aer Lingus has also had certain reasons to be cheerful. For example, 2021 saw the Irish flag carrier celebrate 85 years since commencing services in May 1936. Recent years have also seen various exciting fleet developments.The airline is known the world over for its iconic shamrock logo, which can presently be found on a grand total of 54 aircraft, according to data made available by ch-aviation.com. But which exact models comprise Aer Lingus' current fleet? Let's take a closer look at the make-up of the Irish flag carrier's all-Airbus operations.

Older narrowbodies

Many European carriers' short-haul fleets consist entirely of either Airbus A320 or Boeing 737 family aircraft. This uniformity offers airlines greater operational efficiency and flexibility when it comes to aspects like aircraft swaps. Aer Lingus is no exception to this rule, and the Irish flag carrier favors the European manufacturer's A320 family. Specifically, it flies 40 A320 ceo/neo family aircraft.

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Aer Lingus Airbus A320
Photo: Tom Boon | Simple Flying

These planes account for just under 75% of Aer Lingus's current fleet, and the standard A320-200 is by far the most numerous model. There are 31 examples of this twinjet from the Airbus A320ceo ('Current Engine Option) range in the Irish flag carrier's fleet, with an average age of 16.5 years old. 28 of these are active, with three in maintenance, and each of them has a grand total of 174 seats onboard.

The A320neo family

At the more modern end of the spectrum, Aer Lingus flies nine aircraft from the next-generation A320neo ('New Engine Option) family. Most are examples of the stretched-fuselage, long-range A321LR, with these seven narrowbodies clocking in at just 2.7 years old on average. Owing to their usage on lower-demand transatlantic routes, these aircraft feature flatbeds in business class.

This gives them a relatively low capacity compared to standard A321neos deployed on short-haul routes by other European flag carriers. Indeed, while such aircraft often have more than 200 seats onboard, Aer Lingus' A321LRs seat just 184 passengers. This figure consists of 168 economy seats, and the 16 aforementioned business class flatbeds. Six are active, while the seventh is in storage.

Airbus A321LR Aer Lingus
Photo: Airbus

Recent fleet developments have also seen Aer Lingus receive two Airbus A320neos. The first is registered as EI-NSB, and it joined the Irish flag carrier in May 2022, having been deferred by Russian airline SmartAvia due to sanctions. Meanwhile, EI-NSA followed two months later. According to ch-aviation, Aer Lingus has four more A320neos on order, and each of them has 186 seats onboard.

An all-A330 widebody fleet

In terms of widebody aircraft, just over 25% of Aer Lingus's current fleet, or 14 aircraft, falls under this category. The all-Airbus theme continues in this domain, with the A330 family being the sole representative of the twin-aisle cause at the Irish flag carrier. The oldest A330s in Aer Lingus's fleet are its three A330-200s.

Aer Lingus Airbus A330-302 EI-EDY
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

Clocking in at 19.6 years old on average, these aircraft are all in storage at present, sitting in a dormant state at France's Nîmes Garons Airport (FNI). They have three different two-class seating configurations, with these varying layouts seating 260, 271, and 276 passengers. Historically speaking, Aer Lingus has flown another two examples of the short-fuselage A330-200, and these departed in 2020.

Aer Lingus's remaining 11 A330s are examples of the larger -300 variant of the popular twin-engine European widebody jetliner. Their average age is a comparatively youthful 9.6 years old, and most have 317 seats in two classes. This consists of 30 business and 287 economy seats, laid out four/five and eight-abreast.

Aer Lingus Airbus A330
Photo: Vincenzo Pace | Simple Flying

Upcoming deliveries

It is also worth taking a quick look at what the future holds for Aer Lingus when it comes to the Irish flag carrier's all-Airbus fleet. For example, it has six Airbus A321XLRs on order, which will unlock long-haul markets where demand doesn't warrant an A330. This represents an increasing trend in long-haul travel. Aer Lingus is already a big fan of the A321LR's long-haul capabilities, and it states that:

"The A321neo LR facilitates long-range routes of up to 7400 km or 4000 NM. This aircraft is ideally positioned in the Aer Lingus fleet to serve both transatlantic and European routes."

A321XLR Aer Lingus
Image: Airbus

Until recently, Aer Lingus also had five Airbus A350-900s on order. These would have helped modernize its small but effective widebody fleet. However, as reported by Simple Flying in 2021, it is no longer set to receive these planes. The order, which dates back to 2008, ended up being transferred to an undisclosed customer.

Aer Lingus UK

It is also worth briefly touching upon the small fleet operated by Aer Lingus's UK-based subsidiary. Flying out of Manchester Airport (MAN) in the northwest of England, this carrier flies to New York JFK, Orlando International (MCO), and Barbados' Grantley Adams International (BGI). It does so using an A330-300 and an A321LR, with both of these Airbus jets having received UK aircraft registrations.

Have you ever flown with Aer Lingus? What's your favorite aircraft type in the Irish flag carrier's current fleet? Let us know your thoughts and experiences in the comments!

Sources: Aer Lingus, ch-aviation.com