Birmingham: Wizz Air Flights, New Routes & Schedule Updates

[IanFarquharson]

BHX have said that there will be more from Wizz and Vueling, I think Riga will be next.

 

[Ray Finkle]

BHX have said that there will be more from Wizz and Vueling, I think Riga will be next.

It's a shame that Wizz couldn't have squeezed an extra frequency or two into this summers schedule. Today's Wroclaw was sold out inbound and about 92% outbound. Tomorrow has Budapest, Poznan and Warsaw all either sold out or only one or two seats remaining.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

It's a shame that Wizz couldn't have squeezed an extra frequency or two into this summers schedule.

Possibly, they've been surprised by their own success. If the fleet is fully committed to the timetable (not to mention crew rostering), it could be very difficult to find an aircraft to add new frequencies, unless they reduce services on other routes.
Hopefully though, the excellent loads (the other factor, being yields), will put BHX high on the list for upgrades.

Kevin

 

[richard winterbourn]

I am a little confused as regards the frequent linking of loads and yields and understand the principle that yield is vital to the success of a route.

But where loads are around the 96-98% mark how can an airline not have high yields? I would have thought that low yields would be more likely when loads are around the 70% mark, ie having to keep the price lower to attract the pax. Thus, when demand from pax is very, very high, nearing 100%, that is when the airline can charge the premium price.

Is that too simplistic an assessment?

 

[nwoody2001]

well that's pretty much bang on....

The normal low cost model works on the basis that the first 50% of seats are sold at a low price, the second 20-30% sold at a medium price and the final 20% is sold at a premium. in other words, it encourages people to book far in advance to get the lowest price, and then those who leave it to the last minute or those that need to travel short notice (normally business men) have to pay the premium fro doing so. Consequently, full planes often suggest that both the low, medium and premium tickets have been sold and therefore makes for a very profitable flight.

not withstanding that, it depends on the variation of price. Look at Norwegians flights for Malaga for example. their lowest price is £29,99 one-way for that route.... but their highest price is around the £299.00 one-way.

Assume the following hypothesis

a 180 seat plane, 100% full ...

50% seats sold at £29.99 (average low price) = £2,700
30% seat sold at £99.99 (average medium price) = £5,400
20% sold at £299.99 (average high premium) = £10,800

Total revenue = £18,900 per flight (average of £105 per passenger)

now compare that to a flight that 85% full....

50% seats sold at £29.99 (average low price) = £2,700
30% seat sold at £99.99 (average medium price) = £5,400
5% sold at £299.99 (average high premium) = £2,700

Total revenue = £10,800 per flight (average of £60 per passenger)

Now I have made those proportions up with regard to how expensive they sell seats. However, it just goes to show that filling a plane is crucially important to the low cost market. To us, we might not appreciate there to be much difference between a plane with an 85% LF and a plane with a 98% LF but the margins can be massive!!! As we know, in full service airlines, the first class and business passenger make a route profitable, with 1 first class ticket making being able to make 10-20x more profit than an economy seat. The reality is, the similar approach apprise to low cost airlines with premium/last minute seats, which can be 10x worth as valuable se the lowest price ticket!

hope that helps explain a few things!!!

 

[richard winterbourn]

Thanks nwoody2001 for your erudite explanation. So although my crude approach answered the blunt question, there is clearly a defined strategy in price-per-seat structure.

And on the basis of that being the case then, Wizz look as if they are doing just fine at BHX and we may hope for further good news in the not-too-distant future...

 

[nwoody2001]

indeed.... as I said, unless the airline has a very poor seat selling strategy or there is a specially offer on where they are giving away seats, a full plan is good news...

I would be very shocked in this summer doesn't bring with it a few more routes/frequency increases from Wizz...

 

[Ray Finkle]

I would be very shocked in this summer doesn't bring with it a few more routes/frequency increases from Wizz...

I really hope they can squeeze something extra in for winter. We've had a few aircraft upgrades and frequency increases but it doesn't seem to be enough. We know there are some new routes planned for 2017, hopefully they can be bought forward.

Tomorrow's Bucharest has 4 seats left inbound and 7 seats left outbound. I'd bet by tomorrow they'll be sold out.

 

[IanFarquharson]

Wizz - seat maps 28.06.16

BUD – 180 /171
WAW – 174 / 178
POZ – ? / 173

 

[Ray Finkle]

Wizz have cancelled Glasgow-Vilnius from the end of the month and it's been suggested elsewhere that the UK will see some 'readjustment'.

As soon as the leave vote came through I thought that Wizz could be affected the most.

I guess it's too early to tell what will happen at the moment so lets hope that BHX comes through relatively unscathed.

 

[Daza]

I wondered what will happen to Wizz flights too? I guess Luton will have a lot to lose? BHX will probably lose FR Eastern European flights too.

 

[JENNYJET]

I wondered what will happen to Wizz flights too? I guess Luton will have a lot to lose? BHX will probably lose FR Eastern European flights too.

Mr O'Leary has indicated that all future growth and new aircraft shall be within EU. Thus, Ryanair shall honour existing contracts in UK until expired and future Ryanair flights shall only originate from exclusively EU based aircraft.

The new players from the east have other plans and may be more open to UK being a non EU state.

 

[jfy1999]

He's talking about the UK missing out on new routes/bases, not shutting down existing UK bases, which is what would happen of all the aircraft were moved to the continent. I can't see it happening when you look at the size of their bases at Stansted and Manchester. How could all the UK-based aircraft be effectively distributed across Europe? It would be a foolish thing to do since the UK is one of their biggest and most profitable markets.

The worst I can see happening is the closure of one or two bases and/or some of the larger bases losing one or two aircraft each, although I don't know what they actually intend to do and I'm hoping most of this is just scare tactics.

 

[JENNYJET]

Oh Hum, not reading and understanding of my words is becoming an issue here, disappointed is the kindest response I can give.

I tend to read transcripts in full, digest them and consider in context any underlying unspoken meaning, I then attempt to craft a credible response to aid forum members. I may be correct or totally incorrect and that is not for me to determine.

I simply ask members to read, I mean READ and try to understand before responding in perhaps unfortunate ways and in a few cases, abusive and subtle ways.

I shall repeat that I am no expert in airline matters, I am simply an aviation junkie with a passion for Birmingham Airport. With the the permission of the membership, I shall remain until it becomes intolerable to continue.

Incidentally, since when has Mr. O'Leary been a rational being?

 

[jfy1999]

Hello Jennyjet

Did I misunderstand your statement "future Ryanair flights shall only operate from exclusively EU based aircraft"? It seemed like you were saying that the UK bases will close, especially when I saw your preceding statement about UK contracts expiring. Were you referring to Ryanair's existing operations or just to new flights being planned for the future?

 

[Jon Dempsey]

Oh Hum, not reading and understanding of my words is becoming an issue here, disappointed is the kindest response I can give.

I tend to read transcripts in full, digest them and consider in context any underlying unspoken meaning, I then attempt to craft a credible response to aid forum members. I may be correct or totally incorrect and that is not for me to determine.

I simply ask members to read, I mean READ and try to understand before responding in perhaps unfortunate ways and in a few cases, abusive and subtle ways.

I shall repeat that I am no expert in airline matters, I am simply an aviation junkie with a passion for Birmingham Airport. With the the permission of the membership, I shall remain until it becomes intolerable to continue.

Incidentally, since when has Mr. O'Leary been a rational being?

Please carry on, Judge Jenny! 👍

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Please carry on, Judge Jenny! 👍

I agree one hundred per cent. I enjoy reading your posts; they add greatly to the forum, not least because they stimulate discussion.

 

[JENNYJET]

Hello Jennyjet

Did I misunderstand your statement "future Ryanair flights shall only operate from exclusively EU based aircraft"? It seemed like you were saying that the UK bases will close, especially when I saw your preceding statement about UK contracts expiring. Were you referring to Ryanair's existing operations or just to new flights being planned for the future?

I was 'quoting' after a fashion an article published in the Wall St. Journal reported by the BBC on 27th June of Mr. O' Leary following up his threat of allowing future growth to be within EU to include aircraft deliveries should UK chose an exit. Understanding that 'threat' to mean future and not current arrangements was to me simple to deduce. Nothing about base or route closures under current agreements.

It is easy to find the article on Wall ST. Journal referencing Ryanair.

 

[nwoody2001]

After the good news with Jet2 and Ryanair of late, things are t looking as rosy for us with regard to Wizz...

http://www.wsj.com/articles/wizz-air-to-cut-u-k-growth-plans-after-vote-to-leave-eu-1469001659

Our loads have been pretty stunning to date, so I hope BHX will not be 1st in the firing line, but just have to hope that they still have faith in the UK as things settle down in the future!

 

[Ray Finkle]

Some of S17 is now being uploaded although Budapest is the only one bookable at the moment. It looks broadly similar to this year, the only difference is BUD currently showing seat maps for an A320 but that may still change.

Budapest 3x weekly Tue, Thur and Sat. Now bookable.
Warsaw 3x weekly Tue, Thur and Sat. Showing 'sold out'.
Poznan 2x weekly Tue and Sat. Showing 'sold out'.
Wroclaw 2x weekly Mon and Fri. Showing 'sold out'.

Given that Wizz have been pretty vocal about cutting UK capacity, which they have done elsewhere, I'll be happy if we at least maintain the schedule that we have seen this year.