Aer Lingus is to acquire four new aircraft over the next two years to cater for demand for its Dublin-London route. A spokesman said the state-controlled company was not benefiting from the 10 per cent traffic growth on the Dublin-London route because it was constrained from increasing its flights by a limited number of "slots" to Heathrow Airport. The first two of the A321 airbuses will be leased and will be available for next year's summer schedule with the other two, which will be purchased at an estimated cost of $90 million (£68 million), following in 1999. The 146-foot long A321, assembled in France by Airbus Industrie, has a capacity to hold up to 194 passengers, but this will be reduced to 168 to cater for business class space. It compares to a maximum capacity of 156 passengers for the largest 737 class.

The A321 has the widest fuselage in its category. Its twin engines are similar to those used in the Boeing 737. The airbus acquisitions will be the first by the company in six years. The state-controlled airline flies to Heathrow and Stanstead airports. Traffic to these airports comprises almost a third of all Aer Lingus traffic. Its main competitor, Ryanair, flies to Stanstead and Luton. Aer Lingus also faces competition on London routes from City Jet, British Midlands and British Airways Express. The Airbuses will replace two of the 24 Boeing 737s being used by Aer Lingus, but the two marked for 1999 will add to the fleet, which includes four A330 Airbuses, the spokesman said. "Even if there was no growth, the Dublin-Heathrow route, in particular, is a very steady business market," he said.