Ryanair

[whoshotjimmi]

I don't think it is as much about Ryanair not wanting to take them on rather than their complacency about Wizz expansion. Ryanair, whilst having the majority of the market, has been neglecting Eastern European routes for some time from many of their bases. Now that Wizz has come along and shown what is possible, Ryanair has suddenly had to take it seriously. If they didn't act they would lose the market as Wizz is not a million miles away from having the lead in flights between the UK and Eastern Europe. With that in mind, Ryanair has announced Warsaw from LBA but it is also worth mentioning that they will be starting year round flights from BFS to Gdansk, Warsaw, Wroclaw and Krakow, NCL to Gdansk, Warsaw and Wroclaw, MAN to Wroclaw, EDI to Warsaw and BHX to Warsaw, all this winter and all from airports where Wizz does not yet have a significant foothold. This is alongside their already well developed network to Eastern Europe from EMA, LPL, and BRS, of which the latter two now have significant competition. This sudden expansion appears to me to be an attempt to quell some of Wizz's own expansion plans.

Additionally, Ryanair has had to move its Polish domestic operation from Modlin to the more popular Chopin in response to local demand. It seems to me that Ryanair no longer has the power to force airports and customers to do their bidding as a result of increased competition and I wouldn't be surprised, in time, to see all of Ryanair's operations move to Chopin.

The only potential problem I envisage is that we have seen Ryanair suddenly and aggressively compete on routes with others previously, only to can the route once they have eliminated the competitor. On the other hand, they have been unable to stop Aer Lingus expanding into the UK and I cannot foresee Wizz being put off in the slightest.

 

[tleeds]

Some very good points already made and just to point out in addition to those, 5 of Robin Hood's top 10 destinations in terms of passengers on those routes, are all Polish routes of which include - Katowice, Gdansk (Served from LBA), Warsaw, Wroclaw and Poznan for 2015.
Villnus (Lithuania) isn't far behind either, so there's clearly demand for such routes within the region, if not more so from LBA?

Think I'm right in saying too that WizzAir have quite a few a/c on order still, as do Ryanair so watch this space, hopefully if Gdansk continues to perform and Warsaw does well, which I think it should being the capital, more routes will be introduced.

 

[jfy1999]

Certainly Vilnius or Kaunas would be a good addition for LBA and there is still an opportunity to be seized as Ryanair don't fly to Manchester from either of those destinations.

 

[Aviador]

Do you think their decision to add extra flights to eastern Europe is a little preemptive considering there's a very strong possibility we will leave the EEC and therefore the number of economic migrants coming to the UK will almost certainly reduce which will in turn reduce the requirement for flights to these places. (not my opinion by the way. Personally I think we need to stay in the EEC)

 

[White Heather]

Certainly Vilnius or Kaunas would be a good addition for LBA and there is still an opportunity to be seized as Ryanair don't fly to Manchester from either of those destinations.

Both of which are routes Ryanair have already operated from LBA in the not too distant past, and dropped far too quickly.

 

[whoshotjimmi]

Both of which are routes Ryanair have already operated from LBA in the not too distant past, and dropped far too quickly.

Looking back, some of the decisions Ryanair made when it came to negotiating with airports, particularly in Eastern Europe, have backfired somewhat with the emergence of competition and I'm pretty sure that both of the above routes were dropped as a result of Ryanair messing around with negotiations.

Just out of interest, I hadn't realised until I tried to book it, the new flights to Warsaw compete directly with the flights offered by Wizz on the same days from Doncaster. Coincidence? I think not. Shame really that they have decided to try to steal customers rather than generate new ones. But there we go.

 

[lbaspotter]

Rumour has it we might be seeing a whole alot more extra Ryanair flights next summer 2017.

 

[airforced]

The chap who lives next door who flew back from Palma on Weds was delayed by a couple of hours or so told me that the delay was due to the incoming Palma flight being involved in a bird strike incident. I'm not sure if the incident was on departure from Leeds causing it to return there or on the approach into Palma. A replacement aircraft had to be found which caused the delay.

Anyone any ideas?

 

[whoshotjimmi]

Rumour has it we might be seeing a whole alot more extra Ryanair flights next summer 2017.

Lbaspotter, these teasing posts get everyone excited only to have their hopes cruelly dashed when said flights then set up shop at Doncaster. Is your source on this more reputable than the one that dangled Flybe in front of us?!

I personally would be very happy to see Ryanair expansion at LBA, though I would be even happier if it turned out to be new and exciting routes rather than more of the same old, same old. In my selfish world, of course....

 

[lbaspotter]

I understand a plans are in place regards to extra overnight aircraft parking on the limited spaced apron. And it comes from a reliable source.

PS; Don't know if you knew but planning had taken place as to where them 2x flybe Embraer's were going to be parked at LBA this summer, well that's until they decided to put them into DSA due to getting a deal they couldn't refuse. It's a good job Ryanair don't op into DSA now-a-days.......

 

[White Heather]

It really wouldn't surprise me if the long awaited apron extension happened, at least in part, this coming winter, given the positive news recently.

 

[Aviador]

Fingers crossed. LBA seems to have been in a period of stagnation so far as infrastructure improvements go. It would be nice to see some ground works at long last. If indeed it does happen.

 

[B737]

I think there will just be a reconfiguration of stand 1 to accommodate a B737 parked nose in.

 

[a300boy]

I have a contact at Ryanair and the story around the company is a fourth aircraft is to be based at Lba next summer. Lets hope this is confirmed soon.

 

[lbaspotter]

I have a contact at Ryanair and the story around the company is a fourth aircraft is to be based at Lba next summer. Lets hope this is confirmed soon.

You not heard about the possible 5th as well then a300boy?

 

[Airplane]

Where would the proposed apron extension take place?

 

[oldendays]

There isn't a great deal, if anything, that can be done with stand 1 to accommodate nose-in parking for an aircraft the size of a 738. The tail fin would encroach on the protected strip for the RW14 approach. So unless the rules have changed or my knowledge is out of date, stand 1 won't be seeing a 738.

I would say that LBA needs to make more efficient use of the apron space it already has, i.e. between stands 1 and 5. Only a few pre-fab buildings in the way...

 

[lbaspotter]

Plan is to put a Jet2 B733 on stand 1. Which isn't so much a problem compaired to a larger B738

 

[rmac]

I see on Google maps buildings occupying Stands 2 & 4. Can anyone explain what these buildings are and could they be removed thereby providing 2 more stands? They must have been erected at some time when the apron space was less crowded.

 

[oldendays]

Stand 2 is Baggage Hall and check-in B, used exclusively by Jet2.com. Stand 4 is Arrivals baggage belts 3 and 4, Swissport and LBIA Operations offices. All built from bolted together soft aluminium. Hopefully easy come, easy go.