asked the Minister for Transport and Power whether any decision has yet been taken to withdraw Viscounts from Aer Lingus fleet; what is the average age of the remaining aircraft; and what is regarded as the normal running period for such aircraft.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Aer Lingus Viscount Fleet.
2.
Under the company's present fleet rationalisation programme the Viscount aircraft will be phased out of the Aer Lingus fleet during the winter of 1969-70. The average age of the 14 Aer Lingus Viscount aircraft is 11 years, or an average of approximately 22,000 hours flown per aircraft. The normal life running of the aircraft is 40,000 hours, or about 20 years at the Aer Lingus rate of utilisation. After this period it is still possible to operate the aircraft but operating costs are greatly increased.