Route Development & Rumours

[Jerry]

And I have a funny feeling that one or two people may just end up eating humble pie. It may not be instant but it won't take long for new airlines to start appearing

As someone who now lives in Leeds I'd love to see new airlines at the airport especially hub ones and more city destinations but I do think as enthusiasts there needs to be a bit of realism on what regional airports in the UK can achieve route wise and passenger volume wise and don't expect miracles to happen.

 

[Aviador]

As someone who now lives in Leeds I'd love to see new airlines at the airport especially hub ones and more city destinations but I do think as enthusiasts there needs to be a bit of realism on what regional airports in the UK can achieve route wise and passenger volume wise and don't expect miracles to happen.

Perhaps you need to tell the bosses of LBA then. This is a list of routes the airport is aiming for. Of course not all the routes will be acquired but it's a good starting point for growth, not to mention all the underserved routes LBA has.

• Düsseldorf Airport (DUS)
• Copenhagen Airport (CPH)
• iGA Istanbul Airport (IST)
• Triana International Airport (TIA)
• Tivat Airport (TIV)
• Lisbon Airport (LIS)
• Southampton Airport (SOU)
• King Abdulaziz International Airport – Jeddah (JED)
• Kuwait International Airport (KWI)
• Sharm El Sheikh International Airport (SSH)
• Helsinki Airport (HEL)
• Vilnius Airport (VNO)
• Underserved:
• Bergen Airport (BGO)
• Keflavik-Reykjavik Airport (KEF)

 

[White Heather]

And I have a funny feeling that one or two people may just end up eating humble pie. It may not be instant but it won't take long for new airlines to start appearing

The LBA CEO told the Consultative Committee that airlines were queuing up to enter talks about LBA ops once the terminal works are completed in 2026. He said that the airport would not have invested as much as they are doing unless there was a realistic likelihood of more airlines and more routes. Non based airlines is a priority given the as yet unresolved night movements issue.

 

[gulftraveller]

I would only question Kuwait. There is not a chance. KU took about ten years to proceed with MAN. And Jazeera is not interested in UK. If the management are chasing this, they should do something else. Jeddah must be an option with FlyNas.

 

[Jerry]

Perhaps you need to tell the bosses of LBA then. This is a list of routes the airport is aiming for. Of course not all the routes will be acquired but it's a good starting point for growth, not to mention all the underserved routes LBA has.

• Düsseldorf Airport (DUS)
• Copenhagen Airport (CPH)
• iGA Istanbul Airport (IST)
• Triana International Airport (TIA)
• Tivat Airport (TIV)
• Lisbon Airport (LIS)
• Southampton Airport (SOU)
• King Abdulaziz International Airport – Jeddah (JED)
• Kuwait International Airport (KWI)
• Sharm El Sheikh International Airport (SSH)
• Helsinki Airport (HEL)
• Vilnius Airport (VNO)
• Underserved:
• Bergen Airport (BGO)
• Keflavik-Reykjavik Airport (KEF)

All airport bosses no doubt have their targets.
It's an interesting list i assume Copenhagen is with Norwegian not SAS? Düsseldorf Eurowings? Tivat, Bergen & Lisbon Jet2? Tirana & Vilnius Ryanair?
Sharm & more KEF Easyjet? Helsinki Finnair? Istanbul Turkish? Kuwait Kuwait Airways? Jeddah Saudia?
Surprised though that Frankfurt, Munich & Milan aren't on the list.

 

[Aviador]

I would only question Kuwait. There is not a chance. KU took about ten years to proceed with MAN. And Jazeera is not interested in UK. If the management are chasing this, they should do something else. Jeddah must be an option with FlyNas.

I believe the airport has done its homework. Destinations like Kuwait and Jeddah I think have been requested by the Asian communities of Leeds and Bradford.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

The LBA CEO told the Consultative Committee that airlines were queuing up to enter talks about LBA ops once the terminal works are completed in 2026. He said that the airport would not have invested as much as they are doing unless there was a realistic likelihood of more airlines and more routes. Non based airlines is a priority given the as yet unresolved night movements issue.

Although I think you also said that interest would only peak when the 5m milestone was achieved.

 

[Aviador]

Although I think you also said that interest would only peak when the 5m milestone was achieved.

As a general understanding when passenger numbers reach 5mppa it is regarded as reaching a passenger level that can sustain more longer routes. It isn't a figure set in stone but clearly it's when an airport reaches a critical mass in relation to its catchment area.

 

[White Heather]

Although I think you also said that interest would only peak when the 5m milestone was achieved.

No, I reported that he said that in the case of some airlines, Lufthansa in particular, they weren't interested in airports that hadnt reached 5m passengers per year. Once they did, Lufthansa started to take notice.

 

[Len Fish]

Not forgetting in all of this when considering airport growth and route expansion that the population of the West Yorkshire urban area alone is predicted to rise from the current 1.95 million to 2.5 million in 2043 which may seem a long way off but it really isn’t in aviation development terms.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

No, I reported that he said that in the case of some airlines, Lufthansa in particular, they weren't interested in airports that hadnt reached 5m passengers per year. Once they did, Lufthansa started to take notice.

Ok, didnt you say that the same applied airport retailers?

 

[Finger66]

I think there has to some degree come a point of over eagerness for new airlines at LBA. I think a pause here to reflect on the fact the new facilities are far from finished - the terminal refurb still has to happen and new stands need to be finished. The existing terminal was at bursting point so was going to be of little appeal at this stage to new airlines, especially legacy carriers, or those associated to them.

The expanded facilities, even for this year, will not only only improve the customer experience but relieve some of the current capacity limitations. That in itself should generate growth and push us nearer to what is supposed to be a market at 5mppa.

Just a little more patience should enable us to start seeing what we all crave. Remember this has been one huge undertaking and as has already been said, as it's private investment then some guarantee on return would have first been needed.

 

[White Heather]

Ok, didnt you say that the same applied airport retailers?

No, I don't think so.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

The speculation regarding Easyjets new base is over- its Newcastle.

 

[Aviador]

The speculation regarding Easyjets new base is over- its Newcastle.

For now.

 

[XEROX]

I believe the airport has done its homework. Destinations like Kuwait and Jeddah I think have been requested by the Asian communities of Leeds and Bradford.

Saudi definitely wants to be the next Dubai, Kuwait is a really odd one for sure - didn't BA drop this route after 60 years?

 

[gulftraveller]

Yes. All the major European airlines have pulled out of Kuwait. The airport should stop wasting time on this when there are other more viable destinations.

 

[LBA4EVER]

Yes. All the major European airlines have pulled out of Kuwait. The airport should stop wasting time on this when there are other more viable destinations.

You mean like frankfurt, madrid and lisbon!

 

[BCFC]

Saudi definitely wants to be the next Dubai, Kuwait is a really odd one for sure - didn't BA drop this route after 60 years?

One of my Chinese suppliers said that Saudi Arabia are spending fortunes on building hotels etc as they realise if and when the oil runs out they have nothing to fall back on…well his exact words were 沙特阿拉伯正在斥巨资建造酒店等，因为他们意识到一旦石油耗尽，他们就没有任何依靠

 

[White Heather]

One of my Chinese suppliers said that Saudi Arabia are spending fortunes on building hotels etc as they realise if and when the oil runs out they have nothing to fall back on…well his exact words were 沙特阿拉伯正在斥巨资建造酒店等，因为他们意识到一旦石油耗尽，他们就没有任何依靠

I think he's hit the bail on the head there!