Aer Arann is planning to create 50 new jobs and invest €144 million in eight new aircraft.
The regional airline said today that it is planning to hire new flight and cabin crew, and engineering and support staff, increasing its workforce to 370 from 320, over the next year.
It is also taking delivery of eight new aircraft from French manufacturer, ATR, which will be used on the regional routes it operates for Aer Lingus from Cork, Kerry, Knock and Shannon airports to Dublin and Britain.
The aircraft, ATR’s 600 series, will cost a total of €144 million. The first recently began flying on key routes.
Aer Arann said today that it is on track to carry 1.2 million passengers this year after seeing traffic grow by 32 per cent over the last 12 months.
Interim chief executive, Seán Brogan, said that the recruitment drive and aircraft purchases are part of a new strategy, involving restructuring, new investment adn the extension of the Aer Lingus deal to 2022, on which Aer Arann began working last year.
Transport minister, Leo Varadkar, welcomed the announcement today, saying that Aer Arann is proving that it is is possible to operate successfully as a regional airline.
British transport and logistics group, Stobart and Invesco Asset Management each own 45 per cent of Aer Arann. Stockbroker and corporate financier, Cenkos Securities, holds the remaining 10 per cent.
Stobart’s original investment in 2010 paved the way for the airline’s rescue after it was placed in examinership.
