Route Development & Rumours

[Starflyer]

As in Wizz leaving LBA altogether?

Yes. Watch this space.

 

[HX3]

Not LBA specific, but I see Jet2 tweets is hinting at 3 new destinations pending. Let’s hope for something new from LBA

 

[Aviador]

Yes. Watch this space.

So the rumours about them going to Manchester are probably true?!

PA222 and PA223. Not sure where, if ever, those were used by Pan Am.

And yes, the potential backward step I suspect may come is Wizz.

We are fairly used to two steps forward one back at Leeds so no shock horror there.

 

[Bigman]

Yes. Watch this space.

They could of course go back to Donny where there will be no barriers to operating late night flights like they used to.

 

[Finger66]

So the rumours about them going to Manchester are probably true?!


We are fairly used to two steps forward one back at Leeds so no shock horror there.

Not going to doubt @Starflyer and they being sceptical of Wizz remaining at LBA but if they go then someone somewhere not providing the truth about them being happy at LBA. And that is no slight on you @White Heather as I know you only advise what you are told

 

[White Heather]

Not going to doubt @Starflyer and they being sceptical of Wizz remaining at LBA but if they go then someone somewhere not providing the truth about them being happy at LBA. And that is no slight on you @White Heather as I know you only advise what you are told

We've been told repeatedly they are happy at Leeds which is where their customers are. Not Doncaster and not Manchester. Only yesterday we were told they had advised Vincent Hodder again recently that there's no way they would return to DSA - but of course a move to MAN wasn't mentioned.

Vincent has said previously that MAN trying to get Wizz to relocate there from both LBA and LPL would not be a surprise at all, and he said it's the sort of thing thats happening all the time, but at that time he indicated it wasn't a concern. That would be a year ago. I guess it only takes a change in management or strategy at Wizz and it could all change again but the large Romanian population in the Leeds area won't be impressed at having to travel over the Pennines if it happens. Flights to the likes of Cluj Napoca were centered on LBA for a reason.

They could of course go back to Donny where there will be no barriers to operating late night flights like they used to.

They're going to have a long wait!

 

[HX3]

Yes. Watch this space.

That would be significant and disappointing. May I ask, would it just be specific to LBA, or part of a wider UK contraction also impacting other airports?

 

[LBAYORKIE]

We've been told repeatedly they are happy at Leeds which is where their customers are. Not Doncaster and not Manchester. Only yesterday we were told they had advised Vincent Hodder again recently that there's no way they would return to DSA - but of course a move to MAN wasn't mentioned.

Vincent has said previously that MAN trying to get Wizz to relocate there from both LBA and LPL would not be a surprise at all, and he said it's the sort of thing thats happening all the time, but at that time he indicated it wasn't a concern. That would be a year ago. I guess it only takes a change in management or strategy at Wizz and it could all change again but the large Romanian population in the Leeds area won't be impressed at having to travel over the Pennines if it happens. Flights to the likes of Cluj Napoca were centered on LBA for a reason.


They're going to have a long wait!

It would be a real shame if they left, but especially so if another carrier didnt take up their routes or increase their frequency on them if they operate on them already as Ryanair do.

From the airports perspective it would also mean their risk isnt as well spread.

 

[pug]

That would be significant and disappointing. May I ask, would it just be specific to LBA, or part of a wider UK contraction also impacting other airports?

Wizzair appear to have been unable to stick to a strategy, its consolidation all the way for them. Wouldn’t be surprised about a move to MAN, particularly if the migrant workforce that was in such regular support previously doesn’t exist in such numbers now? So centring ops at MAN could help maximise coverage and revenue and cut costs, perhaps even with a base on the UK AOC.

 

[White Heather]

It would be a real shame if they left, but especially so if another carrier didnt take up their routes or increase their frequency on them if they operate on them already as Ryanair do.

From the airports perspective it would also mean their risk isnt as well spread.

I would think it's highly likely that if they left, Ryanair would increase flights to Warsaw and Bucharest...... the latter is averaging around 10k passengers monthly in June and July. Flights to Cluj always look full when I've watched them unloading on Blue Sky Aviation but there aren't enough flights to get that destination in the top 30 at LBA so if we lost the route, it would be sad, and annoying, but wouldn't make a huge dent in the passenger figures. Very similar to the loss of Vilnius I guess.

If MAN offer them a centralised location and a deal that's hard to refuse, then it could happen obviously. But I've heard this before and they're still here, but there's no doubt they're finding things tough in competition with Ryanair and may look to change their strategy. Quite why going to MAN, where FR are even bigger, would help their cause, Im unsure.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

I would think it's highly likely that if they left, Ryanair would increase flights to Warsaw and Bucharest...... the latter is averaging around 10k passengers monthly in June and July. Flights to Cluj always look full when I've watched them unloading on Blue Sky Aviation but there aren't enough flights to get that destination in the top 30 at LBA so if we lost the route, it would be sad, and annoying, but wouldn't make a huge dent in the passenger figures. Very similar to the loss of Vilnius I guess.

If MAN offer them a centralised location and a deal that's hard to refuse, then it could happen obviously. But I've heard this before and they're still here, but there's no doubt they're finding things tough in competition with Ryanair and may look to change their strategy. Quite why going to MAN, where FR are even bigger, would help their cause, Im unsure.

Maybe they think with a centralised location they will get enough pax to justify daily flights.

 

[White Heather]

Maybe they think with a centralised location they will get enough pax to justify daily flights.

Maybe. Its certainly nothing to do with loads at LBA. Im told all flights are full or nearly full at LBA, but Vince did say yesterday their strategy now is to operate routes on a daily basis.

 

[gulftraveller]

My recollection is that Wizzair has spoken to MAN more than once and MAN have seemed happy to walk away. The East European expat worker traffic is declining, so I cannot see MAN being any keener now to engage them. This makes we wonder whether Mr.Hodder is actually referring to Wizzair UK who have expressed an interest in basing at MAN.

From a ULCC airline’s perspective, having stations close together in LPL and LBA is suboptimal from a cost base perspective. Given that ULCCs do not care how far their customers travel, a single operation at MAN would make sense. And the absence of MAN from the route network looks a bit odd. But I really do not see it happening.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

My recollection is that Wizzair has spoken to MAN more than once and MAN have seemed happy to walk away. The East European expat worker traffic is declining, so I cannot see MAN being any keener now to engage them. This makes we wonder whether Mr.Hodder is actually referring to Wizzair UK who have expressed an interest in basing at MAN.

From a ULCC airline’s perspective, having stations close together in LPL and LBA is suboptimal from a cost base perspective. Given that ULCCs do not care how far their customers travel, a single operation at MAN would make sense. And the absence of MAN from the route network looks a bit odd. But I really do not see it happening.

I would ignore any assurances airlines give. They have always been fickle. Say one thing one day and another the next.

Both Leeds AND Liverpool have cause for concern. Lets hope it never happens.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

The issue is does MAN have any room at the in if they wanted to attract Wizz? I don’t think MAN has anything left. Until after the reconfiguration and complete refurbishment of everything.

And do they want to rock the apple cart? Wizz moving into MAN will attract attention / response from Ryanair who will go on the attack. They’ll attack from every angle ensuring Wizz fail. easyJet will likely go on the defensive too if Wizz were to open any “leisure” routes that make money. I’d even say Jet2 would likely be on the defensive.

Would MAG/MAN want to really upset carriers they’ve got a fantastic relationship with for another carrier that’s hit miss and hasn’t really got a consistent strategy?

I can see some form of presence at MAN but only small. Exactly like they’ve got at LBA and LPL.

 

[Starflyer]

I would ignore any assurances airlines give. They have always been fickle. Say one thing one day and another the next.

Both Leeds AND Liverpool have cause for concern. Lets hope it never happens.

Correct. And correct in your second statement also.

 

[Bigman]

I am curious as to where they are going to find parking space and slots over there. I thought Manny was pretty full?

 

[Starflyer]

I think it is largely full for new based aircraft, but has plenty of capacity for away-based operations. That's probably why it is such an attractive target for Manchester's aviation development team.

 

[Finger66]

If it's a WUK base then yes where is the parking coming from, however if it's WMT and W6 away based flying then I suspect they may be ok. This rumour seems to be gaining quite a lot of traction so is be moving increasingly worrying, but could just be in line with RYR supposedly increasing LBA flying. Think this will only increase the pressure RYR puts on WZZ overall. MOL is remember confident WZZ won't even be around in its current guise in the not too distant future

 

[Len Fish]

Wizz is of such a size now that it’s increasingly becoming a threat to other airlines. Ruthless airline bosses such as O’Leary will respond aggressively as we’re seeing at LBA, especially when they smell the blood of a competitor with problems.