Flybe

[TheLocalYokel]

I think that you are right.

However, it's pretty certain that Flybe returned to CWL because of the substantial route development funds made available by the Wales Assembly Government (£13 million over three years).

That being so Flybe probably reckons that it's not too bothered if the E195s have low load factors. When the subsidies run out it may be that the based aircraft type will change. Flybe reportedly has a ten year deal with CWL so the routes will have to become self sustaining at some point and it may well be then that smaller aircraft are used.

If November had been fully Q 400 the load factors would not have been too bad although on some of the routes (FAO, EDI and CDG) there may well have been days when the Q400 would have been overbooked, and FAO on a Q 400 is not an ideal scenario for many people.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Manchester?

There is a discussion on the Dried Plum suggesting that Flybe will launch a 6 x weekly Manchester-Cardiff service in May using E175 aircraft.

If this is confirmed I would think that the most useful aspect would be MAN's many Flybe connecting flights. A similar service from EXT up to 3 x daily seems to have been very successful with 109,000 passengers using it in 2014.

 

[Em0866]

Hi Local. This is an interesting post and I wonder how much truth is in this rumour. Only time will tell of course but it would open up Flybe's routes from MAN to CWL passengers. I also wonder if they would tie up with other flights on intercontinental flights, e.g. Middle East or USA. A good alternative on some onward flights to LHR. As I travel at least once a year to the US it would be something I would consider on direct flights from MAN. I am not sure how or if this route would work, but we'll see. We have to watch this space. Was there any indication on how long it would roughly be before they make an announcement?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I suppose the only snag would be that if the long haul flight was not a Flybe code share there would be no guarantee of a connection.

It's a very interesting possibility nonetheless but if it's intended primarily (as at EXT) as a vehicle for connecting to Flybe's own flights from MAN then (again as at EXT) perhaps more than a single daily rotation would be required to make the most of it.

We will have to await an official announcement. I'm not aware when any announcement will be made but one would assume very soon, if it is to happen, as we are now approaching the second week of this year.

 

[Em0866]

Yes it would only be most advantageous if Flybe had codeshares with other airlines. I know they already do this on some of their routes from CWL, I think DUB is one of them.

I wonder what effect this will have, if true, on the double daily flights to VLY? It may have an impact but only for hose pax who live in North East Wales, not so much for those in North West Wales

 

[TheLocalYokel]

You may have seen on a forum dedicated to Wales aviation (I believe that you sometimes post there) that a poster has just posted that Flybe has applied for slots from MAN to CWL, giving flight numbers and timings.

 

[Em0866]

As it happens I have not checked that forum this evening, but I shall take a look. Hmmmm interesting

 

[TheLocalYokel]

There is now a suggestion that the application for a MAN-CWL route may be an exercise to reserve MAN slots for something else. It's now reached the stage where only an official announcement will clear the air.

I note that Flybe has taken the sensible (in my view) decision to cut the frequencies on some of its CWL routes in December and January.

 

[Em0866]

Yes I have seen posts on the other forum. To know the truth we will see what happens in the days or weeks to come.
Yes a wise move by Flybe on some of their routes in Dec/Jan. They'll pick up soon enough I am sure

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Verona summer 2016

Inghams are now taking seats on the new Flybe summer Saturdays service to Verona for their lakes and mountains holidays. They are also allowing customers who have already booked from BRS to switch to the CWL flight at no additional charge.

This will be the first time for many years that CWL has featured as a departure airport for these lakes and mountains holiday flights.

 

[Em0866]

This is a good way of making use of the seat availability and filling those flights with passengers booking a package. This is a welcome return to Lakes and Mountains holidays from CWL. A good step in increasing pax from CWL. It is good they have allowed those BRS pax to change to CWL at no extra charge

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I believe that Newmarket Holidays are also taking allocations on some of the Flybe MXP flights this summer.

 

[Em0866]

Yes I saw that on the other Forum too, although they only have monthly deps. Still, it will make an improvement on figures on this route for 2016 during the summer months. I wonder what else is on the cards in the next few months?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I wonder what else is on the cards in the next few months?

There may not be that much for the coming summer now whether with Flybe or someone else, but who knows outside the airport and any airline that might be interested?

The aviation market is on a substantial climb currently with many airports seeing more and more passengers and airlines and routes, and it's to be hoped that nothing major occurs to put a brake on things. Already Egypt and Tunisia are suffering; we certainly don't want this sort of thing to spread (if it did it would have meant more terrorist outrages elsewhere).

As for CWL I suppose part of the mix is how much money the airport will have out of its WAG route money allocation to tempt others.

I can't say I've heard any rumours that I might take notice of. Even the Flybe initiative announced last March was not a complete surprise as there had been persistent rumours that the airline and airport were negotiating something. The scale of the network and aircraft size were perhaps surprising though.

Ryanair is always there when it comes to rumours and a Vueling expansion might not be out of the question. Incidentally, as things stand CWL and Flybe will have the MXP route to themselves from Severnside this summer as there is still no sign of bmi regional continuing the BRS route once winter ends.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

The details of flights from CWL to Toulouse and Bordeaux this summer in connection with the European Football Championships have now been released via a press release on the CWL website.

http://www.cardiff-airport.com/news/201 ... euro-2016/

[textarea]Flybe to operate two brand new routes from Cardiff for Euro 2016

Leading regional airline to support Wales fans travelling to games in Bordeaux and Toulouse with brand new routes – seats on sale Thursday 14th January

Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline, is supporting local supporters wanting to travel to watch the Welsh team’s European Championship opener against Slovenia by operating a brand new route on 11th June direct from Cardiff to Bordeaux, enabling fans to go to and from the game on the same day.

On 20th June, Flybe will similarly be offering a new route from Cardiff to Toulouse for the Russia fixture, the final game of Group B, returning on 21st in the early hours of the morning.

SCHEDULE DETAILS OF EURO 2016 ROUTES FROM CARDIFF (CWL)

TO BORDEAUX (BOD)

11th June 2016

Dep CWL 0730 Arr BOD 1010

Dep BOD 2330 Arr CWL 0010 (+1)

TO TOULOUSE (TLS)

20th June Dep CWL 1400 Arr TLS 1655

21ST June Dep TLS 0100 Arr CWL 0145

Whatever the result in Bordeaux, it is sure to be an historic day for Welsh football and Flybe couldn’t be more thrilled to assist the Welsh fans by ensuring they spend more of it supporting their team - and less of it travelling or having to fork out for a hotel stay in the South of France. The 1,600 mile round trip would take 24 hours in total by either rail or car, while those taking advantage of the flights will spend just three hours in the air, proving that Flybe really is faster than road or rail!

The Flybe flight on June 11th ensures that fans will have plenty of time to get to the Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, either heading straight to the stadium which is under 20 minutes away, or to the centre of Bordeaux which is even closer. Toulouse will be the host city for what could also be one of the most important games in Welsh football history where potential qualification from the group stage could hinge on the result. Flybe will allow fans to be there just two hours after leaving the green green grass of home, arriving in the south of France four hours before kick-off.

Being part of a major tournament goes far beyond the 90-minutes on the pitch, and Flybe hopes that these new flights will give fans a chance to really enjoy the full Euro 2016 experience.

Spencer Birns, Commercial Director at Cardiff Airport, said: “As the national Airport for Wales we’re pleased to see Flybe taking steps to enable Welsh football fans to watch their national team as they take part in such a prestigious sporting event. We know these special flights will be very well received when they go on sale, our presence in France will certainly be felt this summer! Go Wales!”

Wales’ supporter, Cara Dyas has commented: 'Excellent news for Welsh football fans that we can fly from Cardiff Airport direct to the games in France for Euro 2016! #TogetherStronger': while Ben Smith said: 'Fantastic news that Welsh football fans can travel from Cardiff Airport direct to the cities where Wales are playing their group games in the Euro 2016 games. Well done Cardiff Airport and Flybe!'[/textarea]

 

[Em0866]

This is great news for Flybe and CWL, and good to know they have got in there first. I wonder if other airlines may follow suit (e.g. Vueling). I also wonder if the flights sell out quickly maybe Flybe may put on more flights?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

The one point that I would make is that the flights cater only for those fans who are happy to fly out on the day of the match in both cases and return immediately afterwards.

In the Euros as in the World Cup many fans like to make an occasion of it and follow their country's team around, often staying in the host country for a week or more, or until their team is knocked out or they have tickets for the final whoever is in it.

That said I'm sure there will be fans who will fly out for a game and come straight home.

I'm not sure whether Vueling has a base at Bordeaux or Toulouse. It would otherwise mean flying in an aircraft to CWL to take out fans, return with it to CWL and then take it back to its home base wherever that may be.

I note that easyJet has already got in on the act with high priced fares from £167 to £399 one way to both BOD and TLS on their regular services from BRS for several days before and after the matches. For the rest of June most of the fares are under £65 so easyJet's booking model must either have already sold a lot of tickets or anticipates doing so in connection with these matches. They've done the same for England's match in Marseille.

Incidentally, Wales's other match which is against England, is at Lens in northern France with Lille the nearest airport. There may not be too much scope for special flights to that airport.

 

[Em0866]

It will be interesting to see what happens with this. Incidentally I remember reading an article in the Daily Mirror in the middle of last month on the various charters available for the Wales, England and Northern Ireland matches. I found it again and the Wales matches are being booked through Gullivers Travel. Flights are to Toulouse, Bordeaux and to Ostend (for the Lens match) all direct from CWL. It seems the package for the Slovakia match on 11 June is already fully booked!
Here is the link for info
http://gulliverstravel.co.uk/event/fran ... game-trips

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I found it again and the Wales matches are being booked through Gullivers Travel. Flights are to Toulouse, Bordeaux and to Ostend (for the Lens match) all direct from CWL. It seems the package for the Slovakia match on 11 June is already fully booked!

That sounds a promising situation both for the FAW and for CWL. Perhaps then there will be scope for additional flights over and above the charters and Flybe.

 

[Em0866]

I hope so. Flybe didn't mention flights to Ostend so it must be with another carrier/charter airline. This makes me think that the other two flights will also be with another charter...let's wait and see though