Route Development & Rumours

[lbaspotter]

Good job theses are just rumours then! But I get a feeling something is happening, or its just coincidence these rumours popped up so closely together when putting 2 & 2 together?

For the 3 bit of info going around I'll name the airline: Jordan Aviation using Airbus A330-200. They have been seen at both MAN & BHX recently.

 

[White Heather]

Good job theses are just rumours then! But I get a feeling something is happening, or its just coincidence these 2 rumours popped up closely together when putting 2 & 2 together?

For the 3 bit of info going around I'll name the airline: Jordan Aviation using Airbus A330-200. They have been seen at both MAN & BHX recently.

Well, as you mention it, I have heard this too. Exactly the same.

 

[LBA4EVER]

Well, as you mention it, I have heard this too. Exactly the same.

Perfect widebody aircraft for LBA operations.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Never heard of them before. According to Google its a charter airline with a small regional route network. So its not going to be a feeder service into their network. Maybe taking up Leeds to Islamabad route either in their own right or as a sub contractor to PIA. Could even be a limited number if Haj charters.

 

[lbaspotter]

Never heard of them before. According to Google its a charter airline with a small regional route network. So its not going to be a feeder service into their network. Maybe taking up Leeds to Islamabad route either in their own right or as a sub contractor to PIA. Could even be a limited number if Haj charters.

Jordan Aviation have been operating charter flights using A330-200, JY-JVB into the UK from Pakistan on behalf of PIA for several months now seen as PIA in there own right are still banned from European & UK airspace.

What they might be doing at LBA is anyone's guess at this moment in time, but if I do find anything else out rest assured you'll all be first to know on here.

 

[LBA4EVER]

Perhaps pia wish to operate some services to LBA with the large asian community nearby and not just MAN, split the flights, seems abit strange tho.

 

[lbaspotter]

Perhaps pia wish to operate some services to LBA with the large asian community nearby and not just MAN, split the flights, seems abit strange tho.

Or maybe move MAN ops to LBA due to direct competition from Virgin and British Airways via LGW. Then throw in Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad, Turkish Airlines and now Gulf Air into the mix.

I've also just noticed Jordan Aviation own 2x Boeing 767-204ER's JY-JAG & JY-JAL, both airframes are old time visitors to LBA when they operated for Britannia Airways as G-BRIG & G-BOPB respectively

 

[LBA4EVER]

Or maybe move MAN ops to LBA due to direct competition from Virgin and now British Airways via LGW. Then throw in Emirates, Qatar Airways, Etihad, Turkish Airlines and now Gulf Air to the mix.

I've also just noticed Jordan Aviation own 2x Boeing 767-204ER's JY-JAG & JY-JAL, both airframes are old time visitors to LBA when they operated for Britannia Airways as G-BRIG & G-BOPB respectively

Good points, and yes the a330s and 767 200s are perfect for LBA ops, another point to raise is that LBA has had a number of airlines operate the pakistan routes so really nothing unusual in jordan aviation operating the route

 

[White Heather]

Perhaps pia wish to operate some services to LBA with the large asian community nearby and not just MAN, split the flights, seems abit strange tho.

Why strange? They did it before for several years.

 

[HX3]

If the rumours of Jordan Aviation/PIA come to fruition, this route could be activated relatively quickly. Many people visiting friends and family in Pakistan book through travel agents that serve, and are part of the Asian community, therefore PIA only need to make them aware and they can drive volume bookings fairly quickly. This would be a great addition for the airport and local community, but the flight timings would need to be in a quieter period for the airport, so that facilities are not overwhelmed- especially arrivals.

 

[LBA4EVER]

Why strange? They did it before for several years.

I was thinking more of the cost bases of setting up at a new airport when there already established at MAN, i guess you have to spend to accumulate. But then again PIA are familiar with LBA, they have their pax client base esp in bradford which will please the community and i suppose extra flights is more revenue.

 

[White Heather]

I was thinking more of the cost bases of setting up at a new airport when there already established at MAN, i guess you have to spend to accumulate. But then again PIA are familiar with LBA, they have their pax client base esp in bradford which will please the community and i suppose extra flights is more revenue.

And, no competition at LBA. They know that the demand is there and in the doorstep with huge communities in Bradford, Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Keighley, Leeds and even down in places such as Rotherham.
The big issue is LBAs ability to handle the numbers on a wide body aircraft until such time as the extension is built. An early evening arrival, as in the past, will mean a fairly empty arrivals hall, but if flights get delayed, then it wouldn't end well at baggage reclaim!

 

[LBA4EVER]

And, no competition at LBA. They know that the demand is there and in the doorstep with huge communities in Bradford, Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Keighley, Leeds and even down in places such as Rotherham.
The big issue is LBAs ability to handle the numbers on a wide body aircraft until such time as the extension is built. An early evening arrival, as in the past, will mean a fairly empty arrivals hall, but if flights get delayed, then it wouldn't end well at baggage reclaim!

A new terminal would of helped! I knew id heard of jordan aviation, a certain a320 at lba that nearly over shot runway 14, did they not lease it to LTE to cover flights to the med?

 

[White Heather]

A new terminal would of helped! I knew id heard of jordan aviation, a certain a320 at lba that nearly over shot runway 14, did they not lease it to LTE to cover flights to the med?

Yes, they were operating for the now defunct LTE International. I think it was operating in from the Canaries though rather than the Med.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Perhaps pia wish to operate some services to LBA with the large asian community nearby and not just MAN, split the flights, seems abit strange tho.

Well, they did it before as WH says. PIA may find their market has been taken by VS who now fly from MAN to Pakistan. Given the choice I know which I would choose! Having said that I suspect that cost is the main driver on this market so if
any carrier offers cheaper fares then they should do OK.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

If the rumours of Jordan Aviation/PIA come to fruition, this route could be activated relatively quickly. Many people visiting friends and family in Pakistan book through travel agents that serve, and are part of the Asian community, therefore PIA only need to make them aware and they can drive volume bookings fairly quickly. This would be a great addition for the airport and local community, but the flight timings would need to be in a quieter period for the airport, so that facilities are not overwhelmed- especially arrivals.

Im not sure how long it takes to set up a base but let's hope they have an ace up their sleeve if the carrying of cargo is one of the airlines requirements.

 

[CM.]

Now then…

https://twitter.com/x/status/1510962748833910786

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Potentially? Are we an afterthought?

 

[gulftraveller]

What happens when PIA are cleared to restart ops using their own aircraft? Did PIA not end their operation last time because they did not wish to use 777 at LBA when the A310s were withdrawn from long haul ops?

 

[CM.]

What happens when PIA are cleared to restart ops using their own aircraft? Did PIA not end their operation last time because they did not wish to use 777 at LBA when the A310s were withdrawn from long haul ops?

They were suppose to use the B777 on Leeds flights when they last operated flights. But never happened for some unknown reasons. It’s unknown at this stage when they will be allowed to operate their own flights into the UK again. And with regards to the A310s they weren’t retired with PIA till around 2016/17 and the Leeds flights ended in May 2014.