Route Development & Rumours

[Jerry]

The problem with W patterns is crew hour limitations. For flight crew, the limit for a 4 sector day (e.g. BRS-ALC-EXT-ALC-BRS) is at best 11hr45m and at worst 9hrs (depends on what time the crew report).

I don't see Jet2 bothering with the smaller airports. I see them having the same attitude as Easyjet and relying on their product to attract customers to them.

 

[White Heather]

I don't see Jet2 bothering with the smaller airports. I see them having the same attitude as Easyjet and relying on their product to attract customers to them.

If and when Southampton gets its longer runway, then I could see Jet2 opening a small base there to cover the South Coast. At present they don't have any coverage in that area at all.

 

[Jerry]

If and when Southampton gets its longer runway, then I could see Jet2 opening a small base there to cover the South Coast. At present they don't have any coverage in that area at all.

They could just base at Bournemouth but might look to attract passengers from that area to Bristol.

 

[LBA787]

The problem with W patterns is crew hour limitations. For flight crew, the limit for a 4 sector day (e.g. BRS-ALC-EXT-ALC-BRS) is at best 11hr45m and at worst 9hrs (depends on what time the crew report). The BRS/ALC/EXT example would require a duty time of 13hr35m, so the crew would run out of hours before the final sector.

You could have the aircraft fly BRS-EXT-ALC-EXT-BRS, but that way you only get 2 revenue flights and it would likely be more profitable & efficient just to keep the aircraft at BRS all day.

That’s not how airlines crew W patterns.

Let’s take the example you gave Bristol, Exeter and Alicante:

Crew 1 check in at BRS as standard then Op BRS-ALC-EXT, A minibus then takes them back to BRS for check out and end their duty.

Crew 2 check in at BRS as standard then get the minibus down to EXT to op EXT-ALC-BRS before ending their duty as standard.

Theirs a slight added expense of one minibus/coach to take one crew down and return with the other, we are are probably talking 1-2 flights a week.

Schedule the bases closest to W point for ease of transportation and it’s not too difficult to schedule.

NCL for MME
LBA for DSA etc etc

The sticking point comes with the accounting and revenue generated. Would a 738 operating BRS-ALC-EXT-ALC-BRS make more money than BRS-ALC-BRS-(insert destination)-BRS

W patterns can and do work, PMI especially will sell from any UK point but you can use a PMI based frame, DLM on the other hand will sell for anywhere but there’s no base at DLM so you have to think outside the box.

 

[White Heather]

They could just base at Bournemouth but might look to attract passengers from that area to Bristol.

They could, but haven't. Perhaps Bournemouth's terminal facilities are inadequate. Jet2 started life at BOU so they will know the place well. I still think though that a base down there would cover an area currently not covered, especially given they don't have a base at LGW either.

 

[Jerry]

They could, but haven't. Perhaps Bournemouth's terminal facilities are inadequate. Jet2 started life at BOU so they will know the place well. I still think though that a base down there would cover an area currently not covered, especially given they don't have a base at LGW either.

I'd have thought that if they can get slots then Gatwick may well be their next target for a base.

 

[Coathanger16]

That’s not how airlines crew W patterns.

Let’s take the example you gave Bristol, Exeter and Alicante:

Crew 1 check in at BRS as standard then Op BRS-ALC-EXT, A minibus then takes them back to BRS for check out and end their duty.

Crew 2 check in at BRS as standard then get the minibus down to EXT to op EXT-ALC-BRS before ending their duty as standard.

Theirs a slight added expense of one minibus/coach to take one crew down and return with the other, we are are probably talking 1-2 flights a week.

Schedule the bases closest to W point for ease of transportation and it’s not too difficult to schedule.

NCL for MME
LBA for DSA etc etc

The sticking point comes with the accounting and revenue generated. Would a 738 operating BRS-ALC-EXT-ALC-BRS make more money than BRS-ALC-BRS-(insert destination)-BRS

W patterns can and do work, PMI especially will sell from any UK point but you can use a PMI based frame, DLM on the other hand will sell for anywhere but there’s no base at DLM so you have to think outside the box.

Different airlines do different things.

If the routes are short enough they can use the same crew. For instance at the moment some of the easyJet flights to Geneva from BHX, the crew starts in Luton and operates LTN-GVA-BHX-GVA-LTN.

If the flights are too long to use the same crew, they can do as you say with a minibus, however that will depend on which 2 UK airports the route is served from, as the minibus trip still counts towards duty time.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

1. Reduce the seasonality of the airline by operating more all year round destinations, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco, Gambia, Cape Verde etc

2. Skiing Holidays

3. Charter work (LGW this winter has been a good success)

1. Agree with. Especially Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco. Egypt and Morocco could be year around. Gambia would more likely be charter and that's tied off nicely now after TC collapse with Titan and other operators. Cape Verde is very TUI heavily dominated and hotels are somehow tied in with TUI (through TUI owing 49% share) or whatever. Look when TC tried in one winter. They never went back.
2. Never say never but I think they'll never do that. They do very well in Winter by offering seats for other tour operators who specialise on ski holidays. Booking with Neilson - you'll get Jet2. Why sh*t on your own door step? Plus the logistics of sorting out that operation is a nightmare.
3. Very successful on this front. This was some of their bread and butter in the early days. Still very good at it. Look at flight radar November through December. Jet2 armada. A football game overseas during the winter - look for Jet2.

The talk of other developments of tourist hotspots is interesting. I've always thought that it Black Sea could feature heavily in the next 10 years for UK tourism - Bulgaria already does but North Turkey. An alternative to the mediterranean. Alas given the geo political situation going on I think Black Sea resorts and the respective countries development to those will certainly be off the cards for a while. Thanks WEF/Klaus.

As for the W pattern - I very much doubt that they will happen in the future. It is evident that Jet2 would rather customers travel to one of the local bases then fly from their local airport and given the fact that Jet2 flies from some local airports that were once neglected by previous tour operators (EMA, LBA, NCL as 3 examples) I doubt they'll dilute those flights by W an aircraft off elsewhere. NCL/MME - MME can be served by NCL and LBA. Customers just book the cheapest option. I believe they did a press release for BRS when they announced it and for some strange reason I've got stuck in my head that within that press release they said nearly 50 million of the UK population and approximately within an hour of a Jet2 base.

The only places I could see, if they were to re-open the ALC/PMI bases, getting a Jet2 flight 2/3 a week would be ABZ and NQY/EXT (Cornwall) given the fact the nearest airports are a good track away and those 2 markets can easily sell. (I've said previously on an other thread PMI in the Summer should be able to sell from even the most remote places at least once a week). Otherwise why sent an aircraft on a 13 hour jaunt to serve a market, when it could easily go somewhere more profitable (Turkey, Canaries) and they can add another flight to make the flight times more attractive to those coming from further afar.

I believe we've gone off track and some of this is more Jet2 related then LBA route development related. IN other news I've heard that ATH is doing well. Let's hope we get to see ATH/LIS on the LBA destination list for S23 if not S24.

 

[Coathanger16]

I'd have thought that if they can get slots then Gatwick may well be their next target for a base.

As you say the problem with Gatwick is access to sufficient slots and also going up against:

easyJet (biggest UK base)
TUI (biggest UK base)
BA (second biggest UK base)
Wizz Air (second biggest UK base)

I'd think BOH/SOU are more likely than LGW and even then its a very remote chance IMHO.

 

[LBA787]

I believe we've gone off track and some of this is more Jet2 related then LBA route development related. IN other news I've heard that ATH is doing well. Let's hope we get to see ATH/LIS on the LBA destination list for S23 if not S24.

The future loads look promising for a new operator on a niche route with competition from multiple carriers. This weeks loads below;

Thursday

MAN - ATH 168
ATH - MAN 165

BHX - ATH 161
ATH - BHX 189

Sunday

MAN - ATH 148
ATH - MAN 188

BHX - ATH 121
ATH - BHX 188

All flights scheduled 738

 

[jason1-11]

IPS Airways are seeking to launch new routes between the United Kingdom and Pakistan serving:
East Midlands - Islamabad
East Midlands - Lahore
Leeds/Bradford - Islamabad
Leeds/Bradford - Lahore

https://twitter.com/x/status/1528613121656557568

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Interesting. Will be interested to find out if its one aircraft operating via EMA or direct. Also what type of aircraft.

 

[Aviador]

Interesting. Will be interested to find out if its one aircraft operating via EMA or direct. Also what type of aircraft.

The above indicates direct.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

The above indicates direct.

Lets see. Either way its good news if confirmed. Two destinations in Pakistan would be great. Who are IPS? are they a start up airline or do they already trade in some capacity?

 

[SierraHotel]

Start up airline. HQ is London.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Start up airline. HQ is London.

Start up airline, yes. But are they a start up company? Web site indicates they are an aviation services company but Ive never come across them before.

 

[mdobuk21]

Just had a quick search for a Facebook page and found on cheap flights club that flights apparently start 11/6/22 - Tuesday’s/Thursday’s and Saturday’s. Not sure how reliable a source it is?

 

[LBA4EVER]

If they use the A330 then thats the perfect widebody aircraft for LBA!

 

[A400]

Great news and hopefully soon we will know more

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Great news and hopefully soon we will know more

Lets hope so. 11th of June is less than 3 weeks away. Im surprised its taken this long for the news to leak out. By this late stage a lot of people must have known about it.