Leeds Bradford: EasyJet Flights, New Routes & Schedule Updates

[Finger66]

If we are not the last then the business model change/direction argument stands up ok. But if do end up being the only one then questions may have to be ssked

 

[pug]

Shame after all the strong rumours of an eventual base, but I suppose if the flights weren’t selling as expected then there’s no loyalty. Does seem strange to abandon all routes though, makes me wonder whether the allure of DSA possibly reopening has given them options to serve Yorkshire without having to go head to head with Jet2/FR at LBA. Ultimately though it’s quite surprising given the recent purchase of the controlling shares by AENA.

Be interested to know what’s actually happened here, most likely just a slimming down of the network under the new ownership.

 

[AviatorYorks]

FR and LS have been here for years
They have built up millions of data points about pricing and demand and know the market
They are based carriers, operating at scale, meaning they have all sorts of cost advantages
They have a lot of capacity on popular routes and can easily afford to attack new comers
Etc

Easyjet on the otherhand
- no base
- low frequency routes
- brand new entrant
- entered in a tough market
- vulnerable to pricing attacks
- very easy to move the capacity somewhere else
Etc

EasyJet very much have a cost advantage over based carriers being based outside the UK. Yes scale can reduce costs but being based overseas will mean much lower staffing costs, lower fuel costs, lower handling costs. UK airports are some of the most expensive in Europe as O’Leary reminds us regularly.

The proposed new owners have made it clear that Easyjet may well chsnge its business strategy. I just wish LBA wasnt the first victim!

The new owners haven’t taken control yet and there’s still major hurdles to overcome. It’s business as usual at easyJet at the moment and this has nothing to do with any potential takeover unfortunately.

Sad news but like @pug says, I wonder if LBA have left the door ajar for DSA to attract easyJet with no competition!

 

[Statto]

EasyJet very much have a cost advantage over based carriers being based outside the UK. Yes scale can reduce costs but being based overseas will mean much lower staffing costs, lower fuel costs, lower handling costs. UK airports are some of the most expensive in Europe as O’Leary reminds us regularly.

But the question was asked about FR&LS vs EZY at LBA specifically. FR&LS are scale operators at LBA and EasyJet are not. They operated a handful of flights and I would be amazed if their seat costs on LBA-PMI for example were lower than Jet2. Even if they are, the other point is that Jet2 can just outprice them. If I was Jet2 and could see that Easyjet were planning to move in and develop a base I would absolutely make life as difficult as possible for them.

 

[SierraHotel]

EasyJet announces it will stop flying from Leeds Bradford Airport

EasyJet has announced it will stop flying from Leeds Bradford Airport early next year.

www.yourharrogate.co.uk

 

[AirBingley]

So they are offering MAN as an alternative or deposit refund. The eye watering part is the differential to swap to Jet2 holidays! Gosh yields must have been thin.

 

[Aviador]

Well, hope isn't all lost, just look at what happened with Newcastle and Southend.

In both cases, easyJet pulled right back, operated a handful of away based flights to test the waters, and then came back years later to launch full 3 aircraft bases.

EasyJet certainly doesn't view pulling non based routes as burning bridges. Non based flights are basically fluid trial runs. If LBA’s new terminal delivers the fast turnarounds easyJet demands, and as their new A320neo deliveries keep rolling in, there is zero reason Leeds Bradford couldn't be on their radar for a proper, based return further down the line.

You have to remember that airports generally give more concessions to airlines depending on how many passengers they can get through the airport terminal. Perhaps EasyJet isn't quite ready for that commitment just yet.

One of the things apparent from using LBA's new facilities is how quick you can get through the terminal on arrival. The check-in facilities in Hall A still feel somewhat cramped but more check-in space has been mooted.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Very disappointing news but lets hope they return and in greater numbers.🙏. As i have reported previousy, BFS loads have been consistently high on the many occasions i have used the service.Surely FR will see the potential? Definitely a blow for LBA.😞I wonder how much Declan Maguire gets paid?

What I would like to know is how his performance is measured.

 

[Pudseylad]

Why would FR and LS seemingly sustain a profitable operation out of LBA and EZY not?? There has to be more to it.

Surely LBA has a big enough catchment area to sustain significant operations from at least 3 major players.
Monarch had 2 based aircraft and my understanding is that loads were healthy!
I've heard too many DSA rumours re EZY for there to be "no smoke without fire" - if that's the case, good luck to them, I think they'll need it!

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Thats really bad news. The airport seemed enthusiastic about Easyjet expansion as recently as last year. I seem to remember they had employed someone that either worked at Easyjet or had a good relationship with them.

The loss of their routes is going to have a big impact on the 'route to 7m'. Lets hope another airline steps in on the BFS route and offers low fares (therefore not Jet2)
I cant see the other routes attracting interest from other carriers as they were already served by other airlines from LBA anyway.

This isnt the kind of announcement I was hoping for. No doubt it will be all over the media very soon

 

[SierraHotel]

Its already all over the media.

 

[AviatorYorks]

But the question was asked about FR&LS vs EZY at LBA specifically. FR&LS are scale operators at LBA and EasyJet are not. They operated a handful of flights and I would be amazed if their seat costs on LBA-PMI for example were lower than Jet2. Even if they are, the other point is that Jet2 can just outprice them. If I was Jet2 and could see that Easyjet were planning to move in and develop a base I would absolutely make life as difficult as possible for them.

I appreciate they are scale operators but they have high base costs which will include property and staffing, while Jet2 operator older aircraft with high fuel and maintenance costs.

As @AirBingley has said below, the difference in pricing between easyJet and Jet2 is staggering so Jet2 certainly didn’t drop prices to run them out of town. The biggest problem is that easyJet couldn’t make some of these routes work on wafer thin yields. That will discourage future low cost carriers who think they can compete in the LBA market.

There is clearly much more to this as @Starflyer alluded to and it definitely seems to be just LBA related with growth ongoing at Southend, Southampton and Newquay.

 

[Aviador]

The biggest problem is that easyJet couldn’t make some of these routes work on wafer thin yields.

Does anybody here have access to that information?

 

[AviatorYorks]

Does anybody here have access to that information?

One quick check on their current pricing will give you a big clue….£17 to Palma one way in September, £32 to Barcelona, £26 to Paris.

These are all within a month of departure. It’s impossible for the airline at these air fares to have good yields when compared to Jet2 and Ryanair.

I’d question as to how/why the airline isn’t filling seats at these prices? Surely it isn’t to do with the size of the market as Yorkshire is plenty big enough!

 

[LBA4EVER]

Bet the new owners are thinking "what is this place we have purchased!" Seriously though BFS is getting the chop too, absolutely 100% there is something going off at lba, management or marketing not upto scratch? literally half our carriers have said bye or reducing ops this year is just bonkers! Who will be next, my bets on wizz which in my opinion could be huge for LBA, so come on LBA and the team behind it, this mess needs sorting!

 

[ChrisBBB]

One quick check on their current pricing will give you a big clue….£17 to Palma one way in September, £32 to Barcelona, £26 to Paris.

These are all within a month of departure. It’s impossible for the airline at these air fares to have good yields when compared to Jet2 and Ryanair.

I’d question as to how/why the airline isn’t filling seats at these prices? Surely it isn’t to do with the size of the market as Yorkshire is plenty big enough!

Just to emphasise my earlier point. I’ve just seen the T&A article announcing the news on facebook and at a rough guess about half the comments are along the lines of ‘I never knew Easyjet flew from Leeds Bradford’

 

[SierraHotel]

Do LBA marketing actually exist????

 

[JRP]

It’s a sad loss this, but I think we need to think positive as we have growth from the red and blue army’s..
But the question which needs to be put to the management is how do they expect to get to 7m passengers a year by 2030, can’t see us getting there by 2035 at this rate.
And as various members keep pointing out LBA seems very poor at marketing, I was up in Glasgow recently and Wizz Air were advertising in the back of buses up there, not seen anything around West Yorkshire, back of a bus is good advertising especially as Leeds seems to be in love with buses

 

[SierraHotel]

Several months ago on this very forum, i highlighted the fact that aside from a brief mention on the LBA website, i had never seen nor ever heard any mention of Easyjet operations at LBA. EGNM is currently going backwards. Declan Maguire (aside from Blue Islands, which never materialised due to the airline collapsing), hasnt justified his existence.Furthermore, LBA marketing need to raise their game massively.Im totally disillusioned with the place.

 

[HX3]

This is really disappointing news, but maybe it’ll be the catalyst for Ryanair to finally commit to the aircraft and routes that were in the ACL initial slot report for summer 26 and expand in the future (maybe once the terminal development is finalised).
Whilst unfortunate, it’s not the end of the world, airlines and the travel market are quite fickle and things can change. EasyJet abandoned Southend but have returned, so who knows what may happen in the future.
IF Easyjet were to go to DSA, I wouldn’t use them. Partly on principle of leaving LBA, but also I didn’t like DSA when I used it.