Rumours about new destinations or airlines?

[White Heather]

I don't know if it is significant at all, but today whilst looking at the LBA on-line interactive route map, I noticed that the map is now showing Bergen, Norway as a destination. Nothing was coming up relating to any airline when you clicked on Bergen (which it does for other destinations), so I am not sure if this is shown on the map due to a few charters flying there (as is the case, for example, with Naples) or whether this might indicate a forthcoming route. Personally I would think Oslo the more likely scheduled route in Norway.

It was also noted that within the list of destinations from LBA (but not on the route map) is Montenegro, but again, clicking on it brought up no detail. I know Jet2 fly to Dubrovnik, which although in a different country is widely used as a gateway into Montenegro, but if that was the case, you would expect that clicking on this destination would result in a link to Jet2, and it doesn't link to anything.

As far as I am aware, both are recent additions.

 

[tleeds]

Hi White Heather,

Bergen is probably showing up on the map due to the fact that there is a one of Cruise Charter heading there on 25th January. This is being operated by a company called Hurtigruten and I believe that they are to charter a Jet2 B737 out of LBA to Bergen for the ship.

I have just tried to investigate the Montenegro problem and it seems that this is baffling me as well. As you said it is on the list on the external website the airport provide, but I don't see it anywhere else. Fingers crossed on it being a new destination but its likely to be either an error, or an offering that will mean an indirect flight or a hop over to Manchester for your flight...
As you said though the offering could be through Jet2's flights to Dubrovnik, but unfortunately the search criteria, whatever you decide to put in, doesn't work...

 

[lbaspotter]

The Montenegro connection is been offered through Balkan Holidays who are taking a seat allocation on Jet2.com's flights to Dubrovnik from Leeds/Bradford.

I think this maybe another reason as to why the Dubrovnik service is been increased from once weekly to twice weekly next summer 2012 season.

By way I also understand that Bergen has been added due to the Hurtigruten Cruise charter. I see Hurtigruten tend to use (SAS) Scandinavian Airline Systems for there charter flights. But what's the betting that the LBA charter ends up been operated by Jet2 instead in this instance though.

Hope that helps

 

[pss53]

Wish they did a Florida connection, would be worth offering a base to FChoice now they've gone AI...

 

[tleeds]

Ap1995, Orlando in general is a key destination that the LBA management are keen to secure in the not too distant future!

Jet2 has been the favoured suggested carrier for this when the B767 rumours were doing their rounds...

 

[whoshotjimmi]

I would have thought, 767 or not, Jet2 have an awful lot to prove with larger aircraft before they start going long haul on a weekly basis. Their record with the 757 is abysmal and I would certainly want a largely trouble free season before they start setting their sights on Orlando.

FlyGlobespan at LPL anyone?

 

[lbia]

I would hardly say the 757's have been abysmal. Lets not forget that out of 70 odd departures a week on 757's, over 90% left on time. It was only a handful of flights each week that got a technical fault delay, each one was droned on about on here, severaly sqewing our perception. In fact, the last 757 that I personally remember dealing with that had a tech fault was back in october. Yes it is however, quieter now.

I think orlando is realistic, but not with Jet2. Possibly Monarch, similar to what they do at NCL. I think it is still years off though.

 

[Jordan-34092]

I know this is highly unlikely what with Manchester, but i seen somewhere a mention of Virgin Atlantic are wanting to operate into more airports using the A330 and soon to be 787, now these aircraft, no doubt, would be ideal for the operation.

 

[whoshotjimmi]

LBIA - the issue is not necessarily the overall reliability of the fleet. Let's say the flight is once a week. The same aircraft would be diagrammed for the route every week. If the particular plane operating the service happened to be the problem child over summer, the publicity would be apalling. It is all very good and well sending a replacement aircraft to Spain a couple of hours away but getting one to Orlando would be rather more of an issue. Then you have to bear in mind that a 757 would not make it to Orlando - the distance is right on the bubble for a -200 so anything short of perfect conditions would lead to a refuelling stop. So the flight would have to be operated by something like a 767. In that eventuality, Jet2 would only have one of the type. If that plane was the problem plane, it would be a disaster. It is a very dangerous route to open without the right backup. A full season of relatively problem free flying would be the minimum requirement for any Jet2 aircraft to start that route IMO.

The reason I mention Globespan and Liverpool is that the 767 booked on the New York route was hugely unreliable. The route received nothing but bad press and, in the end, the route was cancelled altogether due to the ongoing issues. This was the beginning of the end of the airline which, up until that point, had grown steadily and was showing increases in pre tax profits. The public image of the airline suffered, as did the overall operation of the airline. Though the financial issues that eventually engulfed them were mainly due to E-Clear witholding payment to the airline for 6 months, this decision was made on the back of a large increase in claims against the airline due, mainly, to poor service levels and a subsequent decision not to provide the airline with credit card payment cover.

It is a trap that no one would want to see Jet2 fall into but constant bad publicity is not insignificant. That is why Orlando may be a bridge too far for Jet2 at this moment in time.

 

[lbia]

Yes you are quite right that regularly publicised routes that faced regular delays would really put the nail in the coffin. Your globespan example is very good, ive never flown from LPL or with Globespan but I had heard about the regular delays. Thankfully, (and im very pleased) that despite it been Philip's dream to have 767's flying long haul, he has seen sense. In these tough economic times, as you mention, the business is taking a route of efficiency increases (737NG aircraft) and some pretty impressive steps to iron out the problems seen this summer.

Despite modest growth, a conservative approach at J2 is being taken to expansion. The general mood is that we need to get better at what we are doing before anything adventerous is embarked upon. Hence why longhaul has been called off, and some new staff have been drafted in with pretty impressive track records at improving how airlines run. This is why Orlando, Barbados, Mexico etc are (despite being high high high on the company wish list) destinations we will not fly to in the forseeable future.

 

[pss53]

As you appear to work for Jet2, forgetting long haul for a minute, would there be any scope to re-opening the sharm flights any time soon?

 

[wawkrk]

Sharm as a destination may be over. The Muslim brotherhood who are gaining power in Egypt and are against such decadent places and would stop tourism.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

Sharm as a destination may be over. The Muslim brotherhood who are gaining power in Egypt and are against such decadent places and would stop tourism.

With the west however being such a demand, and the fact that tourism is such a big part for Egypt surely they'd wouldn't be as blind as you make out. If they are, then i hope their country/people rebel again.

 

[lbia]

Sharm will never return. Before the troubles started in Egypt it was becoming a marginal route already. When Jet2 started Sharm, it was a relatively upmarket destination. However after a year or so, people were realising it was cheap hence why Thomas Cook/Thomson went big in Egypt. This saturated the market and meant to fill the suddenly huge capacity everything was having to be massively discounted. Then came the troubles and it all fell to bits big time.

Despite massive flight cuts, TCX/TOM are still flying 757's to Egypt with less than 100 passengers on, but to the hotel contracts they need to stick to.

 

[wawkrk]

Nicholas wrote...
(With the west however being such a demand, and the fact that tourism is such a big part for Egypt surely they'd wouldn't be as blind as you make out.)

The problem is religion Nicholas, common sense or logic may not play any part in what happens.
Even in the Maldives the Muslims are demading the closure of tourist health spa's as places of sin.

 

[Galaxy]

I'm beginning to wonder if Santorini may materialise from LBA this Summer via TCX. It has been mentioned on here, and is showing as a destination from Leeds on the TC website. I have tweeted LBIAirport who usually answer fairly quickly and have had no response, so I'm wondering now if it is going to happen, but LBIA daren't say until the official announcement from TCX??? This route would be a dream come true to me, as Santorini is one of my favourite destinations in the world. I'm not sure if there would be enough demand from Leeds to fill it though, so if it did happen, it might include a pickup elsewhere. My last flight to Santorini from Birmingham also called at Bristol.

 

[tleeds]

The rise in interest of the Skiathos route has been sparked due to the filming of Mamma Mia on the island next door Skopelos I believe. The only way to get to Skopelos is to fly into Skiathos, then catch the frequent ferry over.

The Skiathos route also opens up the possibility for people to holiday on many other islands in the Aegean Sea, as I believe that Skiathos port, is one of the busiest ferry ports throughout the islands, due the convenience of the airport.

I do hope this route materialises as well as Kefalonia, which is just next door to the island for Zakynthos, the popular holiday destination for people travelling from the UK.

 

[Jordan-34092]

Well as far as I am Aware Thomas Cook are to commence operation of the route from 8th June 2012, so perhaps the route could operate BRS-LBA-JSI or LBA-BRS-JSI, which ever would be easiest. It would make sense to operate the route Along with Bristol if they do plan to operate.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

Well as far as I am Aware Thomas Cook are to commence operation of the route from 8th June 2012, so perhaps the route could operate BRS-LBA-JSI or LBA-BRS-JSI, which ever would be easiest. It would make sense to operate the route Along with Bristol if they do plan to operate.

Which ever way they operate the first set of pax aboard should be told at check in NOT to purchase duty free. Stupid UK & dft pencil pushers.

 

[Galaxy]

It would probably be LBA - BRS - JTR then I reckon, with the return being JTR - BRS - LBA, that would follow the Birmingham pattern anyway. Although there was an additional stop at Athens on the way back for fuel, not sure if this is standard or was a one-off.

Just to clarify, I'm talking about Santorini and not Skiathos.


I have noted (and been confused by) the JSI / JTR codes, Bristol to JSI begins on the 8th of June, so does this mean LBA also? I still hope JTR happens.