Leeds Bradford: Sun Express Flights, New Routes & Schedule Updates

[JRP]

Seen on X by SeanM that Antalya 5 weekly next summer

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

They’ll be a 12 pages of debate on here over an 1x weekly increase.😅

 

[A400]

It’s a forum for discussion so I don’t understand the point you’re making exactly but an increase is better than nothing.

Hopefully more routes will be on the cards next Dalaman. Bodrum has been announced from other UK airports but we can hope.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

It’s a forum for discussion so I don’t

They’ll be a 12 pages of debate on here over an 1x weekly increase.😅

One more per week is pretty disappointing, especially with the expectation that the terminal extension would boost flights, however if its all you get you just have to make the most of it.

 

[jason1-11]

One more per week is pretty disappointing, especially with the expectation that the terminal extension would boost flights, however if its all you get you just have to make the most of it.

Here's the quote from the Vincent Hodder, so a tad disappointing:

"The biggest problem we face is not flying to new destinations but having more flights to existing destinations. Take popular routes like Malaga and Alicante. Currently, around 60% of Yorkshire travellers use LBA. But for destinations like Antalya, that figure plummets to just 13% – not because of lack of interest, but because of limited flight options"

 

[White Heather]

Perhaps we should take account of the fact that recently the cost of holidays in Turkey have increased considerably and I've seen various reports of UK holidaymakers looking elsewhere, Greece in particular. In light if that, any increase in flights at this stage is good. They could easily have cut back or just left things as they are. And there's plenty of time to add more, or a new route.

Bear in mind too that the terminal development isn't completed for part of next summer, but when it is, airlines aren't just going to drastically increase flights overnight. They'll add one or two, see how it goes, and if it goes well, add more.
I really don't understand this glass half empty attitude that seems so prevalent on this forum. We get flights increasing from Wizz snd Sun Express, and it's not good enough. It's a year away! Just wait and see how things develop and what gets announced over the next 12 months.

 

[Finger66]

One extra flight in percentage terms represents a 25% increase. That is a healthy increase in anyone's books.

This is also an airline we didn't have at LBA until last year, one that has also just put extra flights on for the current half term, and increased next year.

Things are very much positive in the Sun Express camp from where I am sat that's for sure.

 

[HX3]

An increase is an increase, so it all adds up to a higher annual passenger total. As an aside, I have been to Turkey years ago, but what puts me off is the transfer time from Antalya to some of the resorts. Why is it that no carriers fly from the UK to Gazipasa like they do from Scandinavia and Germany/Netherlands?

 

[gulftraveller]

I think one factor in Sun Express’s increases across UK is that TUI are transferring pax from their own metal onto SXS flights (lower cost base perhaps). The Turkish market seems to be contracting, so the UK SXS upgrades are welcome but, maybe, a little surprising.

 

[752]

They’ll be a 12 pages of debate on here over an 1x weekly increase.😅

Interesting comment..

Anyway, as we will continue to discuss as it is a forum, it appears to be a good increase like previously reported of 25%. Hopefully DLM is added next.

Other airports have not reported any increase (yet/at all) these include: BRS, GLA, LPL.

So again a win.

 

[Finger66]

They’ll be a 12 pages of debate on here over an 1x weekly increase.😅

For reasons I won't go into here, for all us LBA supporters I would completely ignore the above comment. All I will say is if you check the BHX threads, albeit a lot of reading to do so, it would tell you all you need to know with a bit of detective work

 

[A400]

One more per week is pretty disappointing, especially with the expectation that the terminal extension would boost flights, however if its all you get you just have to make the most of it.

The terminal extension hasn’t opened yet and this extra weekly flight is for next summer so there’s still plenty of time to add if they see fit but surely an increase in frequency is better than decreasing.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

The terminal extension hasn’t opened yet and this extra weekly flight is for next summer so there’s still plenty of time to add if they see fit but surely an increase in frequency is better than decreasing.

Yes, its better but still disappointing. Suppose it depends on what your expectations are.

 

[752]

25% increase from S25.. I'm not sure how high peoples expectations are in terms of an increase but I see it as great news. There is still plenty of time to add extra rotations, like they did last year.

 

[Finger66]

If we had a 25% increase overall we will be handling circa 5.5mppa by next year.

Now of course that may not happen straight away, but if Sun Express can do it and we also see some new carriers, it proves it doesn't need too much to get there.

Viva LBA!

 

[White Heather]

Yes, its better but still disappointing. Suppose it depends on what your expectations are.

Perhaps your expectations are unrealistic?

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Perhaps your expectations are unrealistic?

Could be, but of course I don't think so!

 

[HX3]

There are so many positive things happening at LBA with the prospect of better facilities, increased frequencies and the potential for new routes and carriers. However, just like at any other airport, these things take planning and co-ordination, and these decisions are also made by third party businesses who will have wider plans not solely focused on LBA. All on the LBA threads want the airport to succeed and grow, but we maybe have to accept that the timeline will be at a pace not of our own choice, but will be dictated by airlines and external factors.

 

[lbaspotter]

Seen on X by SeanM that Antalya 5 weekly next summer

Sun Express additional 5th weekly Antalya - Leeds flight will operate on Saturdays commencing from July 25th 2026, so looks to be only operating for Peak (School Holidays)

 

[White Heather]

Sun Express seem to be operating an additional 5th weekly Saturday service on its Antalya - Leeds route this and next weekend May 24 & 31st.

Presume today's outbound to AYT is the final one on Saturday after the holidays, as there were only 33 on board. Better than nothing though on what is effectively a positioning flight.