Jet2.com

[paully]

A lot of people in the industry are thinking that Jet 2 are being courted by the South Yorkshire politicians to look at the lease deal Doncaster are offering around for Finningley.
The next two or three months could tell us more if they are interested.
You never know what they may be offered to start operation there and stagnate the growth at Lba.
I know nothing about this myself but do wonder if there is a plot to get the noise and operational problems moved away from Lba to a more remote location and a much more pro active supportive council.
And the relationship between Lba management and the Leeds City Council cannot be helping the situation.

What always counts against Doncaster is their lack of critical mass...They are out on a limb in terms of numbers..That has always been critical to Jet2 and others thinking...No matter how cheap the landing fees if the passengers have to travel further it won't work...
They have EMA down the road and Birmingham not much further...LCC has been hijacked by single issue lunatics but if Doncaster was to be very successful, these same imbeciles would take up residence there and commence offensive action...
Be interesting to see what, if anything,does happen though.

 

[Finger66]

Jet2 from LBA to DSA won't happen because as @paully says there is no critical mass at DSA. U2 and FR would pick up the LBA shortfall in a flash and LS ain't gonna let that happen. Remember Jet2 do not get things wrong

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Jet2 from LBA to DSA won't happen because as @paully says there is no critical mass at DSA. U2 and FR would pick up the LBA shortfall in a flash and LS ain't gonna let that happen. Remember Jet2 do not get things wrong

Jet2 are on a bit of a 'roll' at the monent and just because they have been smart until now it doesnt mean they wont be caught out either by a bad decision or events outside their control in the future.

I can see some advantages for them in them taking up residence at DSA and as we know they are not afraid to 'break the mould' so unlikely as it may seem we cant rule it out.

 

[White Heather]

Jet2 are on a bit of a 'roll' at the monent and just because they have been smart until now it doesnt mean they wont be caught out either by a bad decision or events outside their control in the future.

I can see some advantages for them in them taking up residence at DSA and as we know they are not afraid to 'break the mould' so unlikely as it may seem we cant rule it out.

I can see no advantage in them going to DSA. They will gain nothing in terms of passenger revenue and the opposite is far more likely. Any saving from being paid to fly there will be written off and then some by the lost passenger revenue. That alone means it's a ludicrous risk to take. You dont just up and go from a market you started off and have built up over a 22 year period, to gain nothing other than a super duper long runway.
Not only that, you dont move away from a base and city where all your staff are and force them to relocate. Or quit. Huge amounts of compensation to pay. Lots of unhappy staff. Lots more staff to recruit and train.
And as stated, it's likely any gap left by Jet2 would be snapped up instantly by easyJet. A great opportunity handed on a plate to expand their own holiday business. Remember Thomas Cook picking up the passengers at LBA when TUI made the mistake of taking a cheap deal at DSA thinking their loyal customers would just tramp down the A1 after them?
None of it makes any sense at all so I'd be interested to know what possible advantages you could see.

 

[Severn]

One thing to consider going forward is that there are a number of stands at LBA that are only capable of handling B733s.
When Jet2 retire the B733s, they will be replacing them with B738s (or even A321s), meaning that they will need LBA to redesign the current stands or build new larger stands just so they can maintain the same number of based aircraft.
There are 2x new stands that are to be built this winter if I recall correctly, but lets say these are to be used by Jet2 upgrading their B733s to larger aircraft then even more new stands are going to be required to allow for any Jet2/Ryanair expansion or to allow a "new airline" to be able to based.

 

[White Heather]

One thing to consider going forward is that there are a number of stands at LBA that are only capable of handling B733s.
When Jet2 retire the B733s, they will be replacing them with B738s (or even A321s), meaning that they will need LBA to redesign the current stands or build new larger stands just so they can maintain the same number of based aircraft.
There are 2x new stands that are to be built this winter if I recall correctly, but lets say these are to be used by Jet2 upgrading their B733s to larger aircraft then even more new stands are going to be required to allow for any Jet2/Ryanair expansion or to allow a "new airline" to be able to based.

Two stands this winter is only the start. There are 10 new stands to be built over the next 6 years and LBA have said repeatedly they will be built as and when there is a confirmed need for them.

 

[lbaspotter]

Wow can’t believe All this nonsense of Jet2 moving into DSA has all come about after the South Yorkshire MP’s and Doncaster mayor were pictured at the Labour Party conference.
I wonder if Free Gear Keir visited the jet2 stand. The way his popularity is falling he might need some free flights to get away?

Anyway back to the serious business, Jet2 summer 2026 sun routes were put on sale yesterday and they will operate up to 190+ weekly flights (Peak) from LBA

But that’s not all. As the City routes are to be added soon, so the is still more to come.

Leeds Bradford Airport

• 44 destinations on sale (peak number of flights per week in brackets)
• Antalya (7), Bodrum (2), Dalaman (7), Izmir (2), Tenerife (10), Lanzarote (7), Fuerteventura (4), Gran Canaria (4), Reus (3), Alicante (16), Malaga (14), Girona (2), Costa de Almeria (2), Barcelona (2), Palma (Majorca) (26), Ibiza (9), Menorca (5), Faro (Algarve) (14), Madeira (1), Crete (Heraklion) (5), Crete (Chania) (2), Corfu (4), Kefalonia (3), Skiathos (2), Kos (3), Rhodes (4), Halkidiki (1), Zante (3), Larnaca (3), Paphos (4), Naples (2), Sicily (1), Verona (1), Bulgaria (Bourgas) (2), Dubrovnik (3), Split (2), Malta (2), Bergerac (1), Jersey (3), Pisa (1), Agadir (2), Jerez (1), Nice (2), Rome (2)
• Over 190 departing weekly flights during peak periods

One thing to consider going forward is that there are a number of stands at LBA that are only capable of handling B733s.
When Jet2 retire the B733s, they will be replacing them with B738s (or even A321s), meaning that they will need LBA to redesign the current stands or build new larger stands just so they can maintain the same number of based aircraft.
There are 2x new stands that are to be built this winter if I recall correctly, but lets say these are to be used by Jet2 upgrading their B733s to larger aircraft then even more new stands are going to be required to allow for any Jet2/Ryanair expansion or to allow a "new airline" to be able to based.

By the start of summer 2026 only 1+ B733 will have been retired. 2+ will leave end sumner 2026 with the final 4- to be retired end of sumner 2027.

So there is plenty of time for LBA to get them bigger stands built.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

We just need to make sure that any articles relating to this event are saved for future prosperity, you know just in case the Mayor has another opinion swing on aviation should a certain group of people get to her...

Jet2 and Jet2holidays host fringe event at Labour Conference

Jet2.com and Jet2holidays hosted a fringe event at the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool, to discuss UK-wide economic growth.

www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk

 

[Bantamzen]

A lot of people in the industry are thinking that Jet 2 are being courted by the South Yorkshire politicians to look at the lease deal Doncaster are offering around for Finningley.
The next two or three months could tell us more if they are interested.
You never know what they may be offered to start operation there and stagnate the growth at Lba.
I know nothing about this myself but do wonder if there is a plot to get the noise and operational problems moved away from Lba to a more remote location and a much more pro active supportive council.
And the relationship between Lba management and the Leeds City Council cannot be helping the situation.

It would be little short of a disgrace if the region's glorious mayor was busying herself in plans to stifle growth and employment in West Yorkshire. A disgrace, but not surprising, after all neighbouring Labour councils in South Yorkshire seem to have very different approaches to aviation, so who knows what goes on inside the minds of Labour's big players..

But as others have said Jet2 are smart cookies, they aren't going to be wooed by promises of untold fortunes from Doncaster CC, no matter how shiny they try to make DSA seem. They've done the numbers, and they will know that DSA isn't for them. If anything I'd suspect they held the event to remind the movers and shakers within Labour that aviation is big business in the UK, and a driver for growth, and that trying to stifle future growth could hurt us economically.

 

[BCFC]

I said many months ago don't discount Jet2 going to DSA if it reopened, they wont leave LBA as they make a shed load of money there but I could see them basing an aircraft or two there to test the water, it will never have the number we have but if they can build up to 1-2 m passengers a year with literally free landing fees it makes sense for them to do that. Lots of passengers in South Yorkshire, Humberside for them to service.
Lets give them GDFO to get the ball rolling .
As I said to WH many moons ago…..never say never.

 

[Finger66]

I said many months ago don't discount Jet2 going to DSA if it reopened, they wont leave LBA as they make a shed load of money there but I could see them basing an aircraft or two there to test the water, it will never have the number we have but if they can build up to 1-2 m passengers a year with literally free landing fees it makes sense for them to do that. Lots of passengers in South Yorkshire, Humberside for them to service.
Lets give them GDFO to get the ball rolling .
As I said to WH many moons ago…..never say never.

And could that then stand for Getting Doncaster Free Operations!

Still think any involvement with as yet a still unopened DSA is very very unlikely. They are too smart for that. The only way it may, and I say may, happen is if they want to give LCC a real kick in the teeth if they keep standing in LBA's way. But as I have said previously there is FR and U2 waiting in the wings if anything significant were to change with LS

 

[Aviador]

I said many months ago don't discount Jet2 going to DSA if it reopened, they wont leave LBA as they make a shed load of money there but I could see them basing an aircraft or two there to test the water, it will never have the number we have but if they can build up to 1-2 m passengers a year with literally free landing fees it makes sense for them to do that. Lots of passengers in South Yorkshire, Humberside for them to service.
Lets give them GDFO to get the ball rolling .
As I said to WH many moons ago…..never say never.

No need to test the waters if easyjet, Ryanair, Flybe and Wizz did but couldn't make a good go of it. Also not to mention the risk of another airport closure due to the airport not being financially sustainable.

 

[paully]

No need to test the waters if easyjet, Ryanair, Flybe and Wizz did but couldn't make a good go of it. Also not to mention the risk of another airport closure due to the airport not being financially sustainable.

Tui of course would be back like a shot...Like last time they'd pay peanuts for the facilities at the same time charging more for DSA than pretty much anywhere else on the route network....Win win for them...but that was why Peel pulled the plug in the first place...
People like the MOT Tester think critical mass is something you fail a cars exhaust for..

 

[Jerry]

Jet2 going to DSA if it reopened

I generally don't see that happening. They have a big base at LBA and can cover South Yorkshire and Lincolnshire from East Midlands. They don't need to operate from DSA.

 

[SierraHotel]

EMA and BHX are not massively distant from each other.

 

[ChrisBBB]

EMA and BHX are not massively distant from each other.

But they do serve largely different populations, admittedly with an overlap.
Birmingham the West Midlands (several big cities as well as three welsh borders down towards Oxfordshire) and East Midlands well, the East Midlands Cities and Lincolnshire etc….up to South Yorkshire.
To base in between East Midlands and LBA would (if it proved successful) either flood the market or dilute sales at the two existing airports.
I just can’t see it happening

 

[HX3]

If and it is an if, Jet2 up sticks to Donny, I would simply use whoever replaced them at LBA, or if I had to I would use Man. I used DSA once, it was like a hollow shed and it stank of chip oil in the departures. I then had the motorway journey back, which is just as bad as going to MAN. I see no benefit for WY punters. If Jet2 did this, they would also be dead to me

 

[White Heather]

EMA and BHX are not massively distant from each other.

True, but between them they have a huge catchment area warranting ops at both. DSA doesn't. Much of Sheffield falls within the MAN catchment in terms of distance and travel time and the area South of Sheffield can easily reach EMA. The population of what's left of South Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire isn't that great and many of them will still opt for other airports offering more choice and lower fares.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

I can see no advantage in them going to DSA. They will gain nothing in terms of gained passenger revenue and the opposite is far more likely. Any saving from being paid to fly there will be written off and then some by the lost passenger revenue. That alone means it's a ludicrous risk to take. You dont just up and go from a market you started off and have built up over a 22 year period, to gain nothing other than a super duper long runway.
Not only that, you dont move away from a base and city where all your staff are and force them to relocate. Or quit. Huge amounts of compensation to pay. Lots of unhappy staff. Lots more staff to recruit and train.
And as stated, it's likely any gap left by Jet2 would be snapped up instantly by easyJet. A great opportunity handed on a plate to expand their own holiday business. Remember Thomas Cook picking up the passengers at LBA when TUI made the mistake of taking a cheap deal at DSA thinking their loyal customers would just tramp down the A1 after them?
None of it makes any sense at all so I'd be interested to know what possible advantages you could see.

Jet2 like to be in control and avoid sub-contracting. Having their own airport would give them total control.

The long runway and reasonable weather record are both positives, but Im not suggesting they would reduce ops at Leeds or anywhere else.

DSA has lots of hangarage and this opens up the possibility of this becoming their engineering base and even having the simulators and some crew training there. You would assume they could base the same number of aircraft there that Tui did, thereby attracting the DSA faithfulls back and at the same time excluding Tui. They might even be able to attract non competitor airlines like Air Transat and Play.

I think Jet2 taking over at DSA is unlikely but I think we must accept there are plus's as well as minus's.

 

[pug]

EMA and BHX are not massively distant from each other.

You can’t really compare based purely on distance. There’s plenty of examples where airports relatively close to each other can happily co-exist.

BHX EMA
MAN LPL
EDI GLA

However, what sets those apart is the unique catchment areas of each. For instance, EDI and GLA are two specific city regions that, whilst there may be overlap, there are enough people in the immediate catchment area who want to fly from their respective airports. EMA may be close to BHX, but EMA is closest to Nottingham, Leicester, Derby, and that in itself is probably around 2 million people, it’s also on the M1 which probably picks up people from north and south of that core market. Not to mention Lincolnshire and South Yorkshire! Whereas BHX is on the M6/M5 and will be able to pick up passengers outside of its huge immediate catchment area in those regions that do not overlap with EMA whatsoever. Of course to caveat this most large airports in England are quite easily accessible from the midlands and people will travel from where they can get the right flight times at a decent cost.

Case of DSA vs LBA is that DSA is on the periphery, it’s relatively close to EMA which itself draws people from South Yorkshire, and to the East there isn’t very much in the way of population. Sheffield is large, but its population have access to lots of different airports and that access makes the case for establishing routes from an airport on the periphery very hard to sell.

I have no doubt at all that if Jet2 moved to DSA that they would be able to fill their flights and sell their holidays. What I’m not convinced about is whether there are any strategic benefits in doing so. Yes the runway at Leeds prevents the A321 that’s jet2 have purchased from operating at optimal performance, yes the moves by the authorities to restrict night time movements is a PITA, but it’s a huge base in a very large urban area and, assuming the airport is to remain open, a shift over to DSA would only provide an open door for a competitor to get a foot in and there goes millions of potential customers.

Never rule anything out, anything is possible. Also don’t forget that SH once worked for an operator that were once intending to add a large operation at Finningley when it was in the planning stage some 20 odd years ago (bit that never happened) and of course PM no longer controls the business..

All that said, Jet2 were not at the conference to talk business with SY authorities, they were there to promote the work they have been doing in the North. Dont read too much into it.