It is disappointing and yes as someone who booked a flight with KLM it does feel like a downgrade but it is better than no service at all or like Cardiff having frequency cut. KLM are obviously struggling and I'd expect mainline is stretched as well.
The cause of the problem is retaining staff at KLC as people move up to mainline they can’t replace them. This is compounded by the engine issues that have occurred on some of the fleet. Not only this but they closed their crew bases in the U.K. over a decade ago and to maintain frequency have had to HOTAC crew daily across the network. Then there is the general decline in business travel after Covid and it’s a perfect storm to start causing problems.
Yep the only e jet operator with a significant fleet in the UK is BA Cityflyer going to be hard to attract pilots from them. The Embraer is an excellent aircraft but its not as common as an A320 or 737 series and I'd imagine pilot's of those would potentially see it as a downgrade so yeah it would be challenging to find pilots but if Eastern get it right it could mean they provide a niche capability that other ACMI airlines can't provide.
We could talk what ifs, like what if Flybe had only just folded or what if Eastern had taken them off Flybe’s hands with ready made flight crew.. But the reason Flybe went to the wall is the same reason Eastern have been struggling and to be honest this KLM is highly lucrative unlike other things Eastern have gotten involved with in recent years in their own race for survival!
KLM operate to 18x UK airports, every single one of those see KLM Cityhopper operating, with 7x airports seeing mainline operating as well (LHR, MAN, BHX, NCL, EDI, GLA & ABZ). Each week, Eastern will be operating to 10x UK airports, with bases in BRS, LBA, HUY and MME making it unlikely that there's any favouritism going on.
Aren't they using Hop now instead?
They are but no one seemed to be able to confirm whether an addition in or replacement, plenty of speculation both ways. Perhaps T3 will be caught on the hop with this
I think that is still the airports plan, but with Loganair as the carrier.
I was aware of that but think there is little chance of that coming to fruition as LM themselves seem to be struggling too at the moment. Absolutely more than happy to be proven wrong though.
Or better still an eastern base at LBA with some decent routes, desperately needed at LBA with a whole market to themselves, just woke up myself now!
Its reported by The Sun (online) that unless they can fix their problems within 10 days, they will appoint an administrator . Some of those days have already passed. So its not looking great when you look at all that's happening.
Looks like MOL was right about some airlines are going to struggle to get through winter….
Doesnt look like Eastern will make it beyond October unless they find a buyer in the next couple of days. All flights cancelled according to reports. The footy teams are going to struggle to find enough aircraft available to fly them to matches without Eastern.
Sad…another airline gone and now less routes within the UK.
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