Archive Flybe at Cardiff Airport

[Jerry]

With future Flybe expansion in mind and the availability of Flybe jets in the future i had a look at where there E jet fleet will be based for summer 2018. As we know 3 E195s are going back in July so i looked at a Wednesday 15th August.
CWL will be 1 E195 and 2 E175s, NQY will have 1 E175, EXT and NWI share 1 E195, SOU has 1 E195, DSA 2 E175s and MAN and BHX have 3 E175s each. That leaves Flybe with an E Jet fleet of 3 E195s and 11 E175s. There is also the unknown of Eastern Airways E170 that will operate ABZ-LCY until the 28th March but after that is unknown.
In 2019 there will be 4 E175s delivered which if 3 replace the remaining 3 E195s after they get returned will leave 1 extra aircraft. On the other forum as well the point was raised that Flybe may not be able to operate the E175 from Southampton to places like Malaga due to field performance in warm weather from SOUs runway. If that is true then that leaves 2 spare E175s in Flybe's fleet for Summer 2019.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

With future Flybe expansion in mind and the availability of Flybe jets in the future i had a look at where there E jet fleet will be based for summer 2018. As we know 3 E195s are going back in July so i looked at a Wednesday 15th August.
CWL will be 1 E195 and 2 E175s, NQY will have 1 E175, EXT and NWI share 1 E195, SOU has 1 E195, DSA 2 E175s and MAN and BHX have 3 E175s each. That leaves Flybe with an E Jet fleet of 3 E195s and 11 E175s. There is also the unknown of Eastern Airways E170 that will operate ABZ-LCY until the 28th March but after that is unknown.
In 2019 there will be 4 E175s delivered which if 3 replace the remaining 3 E195s after they get returned will leave 1 extra aircraft. On the other forum as well the point was raised that Flybe may not be able to operate the E175 from Southampton to places like Malaga due to field performance in warm weather from SOUs runway. If that is true then that leaves 2 spare E175s in Flybe's fleet for Summer 2019.

Interesting research. Flybe is getting rid of some Q400s though isn't it, as it reduces its fleet size? Will any of the 175s be needed to replace any of those I wonder.

 

[Jerry]

Interesting research. Flybe is getting rid of some Q400s though isn't it, as it reduces its fleet size? Will any of the 175s be needed to replace any of those I wonder.

Personally I'd be surprised if they used E jets as replacements on routes for Q400s without ordering more E jets and operate a fleet replacement programme. I think they'll just trim some routes and frequencies and maybe hand some routes over to Eastern Airways rather than reallocate the E jets.

 

[CWL94]

72 on CWL-FCO today, 70 odd of us on the return flight this evening.

The passport control area has been changed with the desks facing you straight as you walk in as apposed to being on the right. There are now 8 desks as apposed to the 4 before. The other half of the room appears empty, but blocked off with glass screens; this would be a prime spot for e-gates. Maybe this will be added in time

 

[Jerry]

The airport have launched a competition with Flybe, Belfast City airport and the Cardiff Devil's for a weekend away to watch them play the Belfast Giants.
https://twitter.com/Cardiff_Airport...y|twsrc^android|twgr^copy|twcon^7090|twterm^2

 

[CraigW92]

Looks as if Flybe have added a Sunday flight to GLA from June, timings suggest a GLA based Dash 8 operating flights BE513/4, at least now makes weekend breaks an option again

View attachment 7593

 

[Jerry]

It's now 5 weekly. Interesting bit though is that the prices on the website are very expensive. £200 each way and the seat plan is for 82 seats.

 

[aviatorconcorde]

It's a shame we no longer have a decent glasgow flight.

When I flew Easyjet to glasgow back in the summer it was packed with Welsh people.

 

[Jerry]

Yeah you'd think they'd have it at least daily. They seem to fluctuate with it. This winter it's 6 weekly but in the summer it was 4 weekly.

 

[Sean123]

Well if the base continues to grow to 4 tails then maybe the next double daily -hopefully !

 

[Jerry]

I can see Paris CDG going double daily maybe 12 weekly eventually. With Glasgow it would be nice if it could be a daily flight first of all and then maybe grow it over time. I do wonder if in the long term Flybe could base 3 Ejets and then base or rotate 2 Q400s to operate more of the domestic stuff while the Ejets operate more European routes and increased frequencies on others.

 

[Sean123]

The 170/5 does seem to feel the right fit for cwl euro routs and Q400 for domestic ie newcastle ? Anyone know what's happening with the 2 eastern 170 's ?

 

[Jerry]

The 170/5 does seem to feel the right fit for cwl euro routs and Q400 for domestic ie newcastle ? Anyone know what's happening with the 2 eastern 170 's ?

I think one in working for BA out of LCY and the other is operating for Flybe out of Aberdeen until the end of March i believe.

 

[Sean123]

Thanks for the info

 

[mathers_wales_uk]

I think it's fair to say there is a large number of routes that are suitable for Flybe aircraft especially the Q400 or E175.

If there was a 4th aircraft based at Cardiff then I believe quite rightly Paris CDG would move to 2 x daily which would make it suitable not only for business travellers but connections.

As for Newcastle I think Flybe wouldn't revisit this route as they didn't seem to be that successful last time.

With an additional aircraft Rome would likely be increased due to current high passenger loads. Amsterdam should certainly be a contender 4 x weekly minimum however I doubt the airport would want to annoy KLM further.

Flybe should also be a contender for Malta, Naples and maybe a French destination like Marseille

 

[CWL94]

Do people think that if Stobart by BE outright that it would have any sort of affect on the CWL base? I suppose it all depends on if they do reach a deal and if it's a minority share or full control.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

There is talk on other threads and forums about the speculation re Stobart buying Flybe. If it happens a completely new scenario is likely and not just with CWL. The current reduction in Flybe fleet numbers could be reversed.

A Stobart-led Flybe would be fascinating to see in which direction the airline would be taken.

This is the Stobart statement to the Stock Exchange.

As previously disclosed in October 2017, we have been reviewing alternative structures for our airline and leasing business that can play an important part in the consolidation of the regional airline sector.

A number of potential structures have been considered including taking a non-controlling interest in a vehicle to acquire 100% of Flybe likely to be in cash. It is not possible to say, at this stage, whether a transaction will take place, whether a firm proposal will be made or, if it is, the form a transaction to combine the airlines might take.

A further announcement will be made in due course.

 

[aviatorconcorde]

I think it's fair to say there is a large number of routes that are suitable for Flybe aircraft especially the Q400 or E175.

If there was a 4th aircraft based at Cardiff then I believe quite rightly Paris CDG would move to 2 x daily which would make it suitable not only for business travellers but connections.

As for Newcastle I think Flybe wouldn't revisit this route as they didn't seem to be that successful last time.

With an additional aircraft Rome would likely be increased due to current high passenger loads. Amsterdam should certainly be a contender 4 x weekly minimum however I doubt the airport would want to annoy KLM further.

Flybe should also be a contender for Malta, Naples and maybe a French destination like Marseille

I think Nice may be the one for a French destination!

Aren't the airport and flybe in a 20 year deal currently? does anyone know what the terms of this are? if there is any pull out penalties etc etc.

We'll soon see what happens. It could go etheir way. Stobart group may be willing to pour a lot of money in and take a higher level of risk as they are a diversified company, not a stand alone entity like flybe. We could finally see the money flybe needs to upgrade the fleet. I would imagine if the worst case scenario came and they prepared to pull out, the airport/WAG would come back with a impossible to refuse offer.

And of course, this may come to nothing...

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I would imagine if the worst case scenario came and they prepared to pull out, the airport/WAG would come back with a impossible to refuse offer.

Unless they could get Ryanair to substantially increase its presence or easyJet (this one highly unlikely) they would have to ensure that Flybe under whatever ownership continued to play a very important part at the airport. Jet2 would be a prize but these days it's primarily a holiday airline so there would be a problem with business routes.

 

[mathers_wales_uk]

I would envisage that if Stobart Air did purchase Flybe then they would likely keep the brand. After all between the franchise agreement between Stobart Air, Blue Islands and Eastern Airways the brand is far better known around the UK and Ireland than Stobart Air.

I imagine the deal that Flybe has with Cardiff Airport is a good one and maybe one that Stobart Air would like to continue and maybe in a position to expand far quicker than Flybe has in it's current form.

Cardiff Airport on the other hand will need to be looking at another leisure airline to fill the bucket and spade market so the likes of Jet2, Primeair or Norwegian will be the chief candidates or in a smaller capacity Ryanair.

I don't know if the airport has given up their quest for a Vueling base which was mentioned in an ACC meeting last year.