Latest News

Flybe bailout thoughts...?

"Apart from any special treatment that the government might be affording Flybe, I think the main point that O'Leary is making is that because the government is being so secretive about it, hiding behind the commercial confidentiality screen, it's impossible for those who are paying (ie the British tax payer) as well as competitor airlines (that also pay taxes and presumably remit their APD collections to the government on time) to know exactly what help the government is providing. The fact that Ryanair, easyjet and Jet 2 don't operate the regional services that Flybe does and wants to continue (with the help of all tax payers even those climate change worriers who are anti-aviation which is ironic) suggests that such routes are inherently unprofitable. I can think of a number of domestic routes that would provide regional connectivity that aren't operated and probably never will be (some have been tried in the past and failed) so if Flybe gets the government money it wants some potential inter-regional air routes will remain unoperated. Significant distant regions that will still be left unconnected with each other by air include, for example, West Country-East Anglia and West Midlands-Tyneside. That is unless the government envisages a major pan-UK aerial transport system connecting everywhere with everywhere else that it is prepared to pay for (or more accurately we tax payers will have to pay for). Highly unlikely as that would cost the Exchequer a lot of money and damage any climate change credibility the government might hope to exude."......

A runway extention for Bristol...?

"It's certainly physically possible to extend the runway at the eastern end of the airfield although any type of extension would require the A38 to be dropped into a 150-metre long tunnel, and it's likely that even the most modest option would impact in some way on Felton Common which is beyond the A38. In its current master plan, pubished in 2006, the airport set out a number of options for extending the runway, all at the eastern end of the airfield - the land beyond the western end of the runway falls away significantly and any extension there would require major civil engineering. Although the promised new master plan has not materialised despite public consultations that began two years ago the airport has already said that a runway extension is not being considered. Presumably the reasons it gave in 2006 for maintaining the status quo are still in place.".....

Downloadable copy of the BHX winter timetable 2019-2020

"Find attached my compiled timetable for Winter 2019-20. all subject to change, missing charter flights not included are TUI to Sharm El Sheikh, Titan santa flights to Ivalo, Freebird Sunday charters to Dubrovnik, and as of yet no schedule for the expected return of Turkmenistan. enjoy!"......

Cardiff Qatar Doha stats breakdown...

"In what was a relatively easy exercise thanks to Jerry's monthly breakdowns in the CAA stats thread, I thought I'd have a quick add up and see what the rolling total for the past year has been on the Doha route. Just out of curiosity.
Nov 2018 - 5221
Dec 2018 - 6449
Jan 2019 - 6641
Feb 2019 - 5435
March 2019 - 6106
April 2019 - 7884
May 2019 - 4997
June 2019 - 6077
July 2019 - 10558
August 2019 - 11714
September 2019 - 9030
October 2019 - 7387
That would give a rolling year total on the route to the end of October of 87,472. Hopefully by the two year anniversary of the route we will be looking at a total comfortably into the 90's. It's strange how poorly May has performed for both years it has been in operation.".....

Cardiff airport public transport options...?

"With the T5 running at a 200k+ loss, would there be any possibility of the Welsh gov coming to some sort of agreement with Megabus? Stagecoach, who own Megabus, run the BRS flyer and that has been an unmitigated success. London Victoria to Cardiff runs regularly, via Bristol, UWE frenchay, Cardiff university and Cardiff... a 15 mile extension to that route would link the airport with some of its most crucial markets as well as London itself. The Welsh Gov owns the busses for the T5, which could be deployed elsewhere on Traws cymru's cross country routes. The Megabus website is a force in of itself and at least two or three full time jobs in a coach seat booking stand in arrivals could also be created. I only think of this because of my recent visit on a trip to Edinburgh using the T5 to Cardiff. Every time I've used the service there seems to be some sort of embarrassment or issue. I've seen drivers talking to tourists who can't speak English by just raising their voices and repeating themselves slowly in something fresh out of a dodgy 70's comedy. Nearly every time, my last visit included, the bus pulls up with a line of passengers waiting... And the driver just gets out, lights up a cigarette and leaves the queue standing blowing smoke across the waiting passengers. ".....

Leeds Consultative Committee Summary

"Today was the December meeting of the Airport Consultative Committee, so for what it is worth, here is my somewhat brief summary. The meeting included a very informative presentation by the CEO, Hywell Rees, who having been at LBA 6 months has now had time to assess the task and who is now getting down to the job. He:- Made the point that LBA was under-loved and had been subjected to significant under investment by previous owners. Don't we know it? Advised us that he has authorised significant investment (in the £ Millions) over this winter to resolve some of the main problems with airport infrastructure - notably a 7 figure sum to replace the Jet2 check in (Hall B) baggage belt equipment which broke down frequently last summer. Also additional security scanning equipment with additional lanes. Also additional works (where feasible) within the terminal area and outside, to enhance not only the customer experience but also rectify issues experienced by air crew. Also enhanced snow clearing capability and snow clearing plan and action to resolve an issue with icing up of the South Side apron outside the Multiflight hangars, which (on some days) has caused Jet2 difficulties in getting aircraft out of or into the hangars. These works will commence in January, and I am not sure if it is relevant or not but there is a crane on the apron today which appears to have reduced parking capacity, as a Ryanair arrival this afternoon ended up parked on the Eastern Apron among the many inactive Jet2 aircraft"......

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