A new service operating between Dublin and Holyhead flies passengers on Sikorsky S-61N helicopter.
The passenger service between Dublin and Holyhead was set up by Dublin City Helicopters as an alternative to the ferry service. This is the only international scheduled passenger helicopter service in the world. Using a Sikorsky S-61N helicopter leased from British Airways, there are five return flights each day. Each flight holds up to 26 passengers who pay between £57 and £65 return. There are plans to expand the service to eight return trips per day when a second aircraft arrives at the end of May.
Dublin City Helicopters (DCH) does not see itself as any threat to existing air services. It will provide competition to the ferry services provided by B&I and Sealink. With an investment of £1 million, their selling point is,
Cross the Irish Sea in 30 minutes.
John Riordan came up with the idea for the Dublin City Helicopter operation. From Fermoy in County Cork, he was previously vice president of an investment broker firm in New York. John Riordan outlines who the service is targetting. Last year, there were around three million round tickets between the ports of Dublin and the UK. John Riordan believes that travelling by air offers a cheaper, faster and more comfortable mode of transport.
The heliport in Holyhead is run by Anglesey Air Ltd, a subsidiary of DCH. This is a big investment for DCH and is still under construction. The success of the investment is dependent upon a previously untapped market.
DCH now employs 46 people, 14 in Holyhead, while the rest of the air and ground staff are based in Dublin.
Critics are sceptical that the new service will work. John Riordan is confident that the service will be a success story. At least half the seats on every flight must be filled in order for DCH to break even. So far, their load factor is recorded at just below 50 per cent. While DCH is happy with this level of load, it must improve if they are to survive. John Riordan is pinning the hopes of DCH on the travel agents being able to sell the seats.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 18 April 1985. The reporter is Andrew Kelly.
