Leeds Bradford: EasyJet Flights, New Routes & Schedule Updates

[Finger66]

The one very large cat amongst the pigeons re DSA is will it really ever re-open? I really can't see U2 committing anything to that at this stage. And even then, having failed once is there any real likelihood of it being successful as V2 - doubtful. Regardless of this, something ain't sitting right with this easyJet decision. I get the EU routes were maybe marginal but BFS seemed to have been performing well - why add a 5th frequency if it wasn't!

 

[White Heather]

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 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!

If they cant fill em at LBA they wont at DSA just as they didnt last time. DSA is 2 years away yet. At least.

 

[Starflyer]

Sorry - this was what I feared was on the cards.

It's not related to the likely new easyJet owners - they're nowhere near getting the keys to the ignition yet.

As I understand it, at the likes of SOU, easyJet is the largest carrier and will undoubtedly grow further. They have a lead position in that market. At LBA, they were a very distant placing behind Jet2 and Ryanair and yields were low. Flying from LBA was, quite simply, a complication that they didn't need when returns were poor and there was no prospect of it growing.

Although it really doesn't fit with their model nowadays, one has to wonder if there is any prospect of Jet2 re-looking at LBA-BFS. With bases at both ends, they could presumably mount a schedule relatively easily. Either that or whether another Ryanair aircraft at either BFS or LBA could be an RK one - if not, that's the likely end of LBA-Belfast International for the forseeable future.

 

[Aviador]

Do LBA marketing actually exist????

Maybe they're still busy doing "what do aircraft sound like" impressions?

 

[Finger66]

OMG I have just sussed it. Clearly Declan Maguire is a member of they who shall not be named 😜

 

[Seasider]

As @White Heather said, It is 2 years until DSA opens (if then) so I can't see that as a reason for transferring there.

 

[JRP]

Maybe they're still busy doing "what do aircraft sound like" impressions?

Maybe they could carry on doing aircraft sounds, but have model aircraft painted in the airlines that fly from LBAin there hands, they will only need to purchase a couple at this rate

 

[White Heather]

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

Yes, Wizz were advertising. Not Glasgow Airport. And it should be Easyjet advertising here if they were serious about growing LBA. For me, the signs have been there that they weren't. Lazy route choices in PMI and AGP, both already very well served by Jet2 and Ryanair, not all that great timings, no advertising to raise awareness.

Had they found spare aircraft to operate routes less well served already and advertised them, the outcome may have been different although there is no doubt that the Middle East War and rising fuel costs, which Easyjet are more exposed to than Jet2 or Ryanair, has made their efforts at LBA doomed to fail.

The quote by Easyjet says they appreciate the relationship built with LBA and leaves the door open for a future return, but it needs to be a base or nothing.

 

[AviatorYorks]

Yes, Wizz were advertising. Not Glasgow Airport. And it should be Easyjet advertising here if they were serious about growing LBA. For me, the signs have been there that they weren't. Lazy route choices in PMI and AGP, both already very well served by Jet2 and Ryanair, not all that great timings, no advertising to raise awareness.

Had they found spare aircraft to operate routes less well served already and advertised them, the outcome may have been different although there is no doubt that the Middle East War and rising fuel costs, which Easyjet are more exposed to than Jet2 or Ryanair, has made their efforts at LBA doomed to fail.

The quote by Easyjet says they appreciate the relationship built with LBA and leaves the door open for a future return, but it needs to be a base or nothing.

Wizz may do the marketing but there will be a big ask for the airports to fund it. Every airline I’ve worked for it’s always been the case that the marketing is a partnership but there is an expectation that airports put their hands in their pockets. Only legacy airlines these days will fund and do their own marketing such as seen with KLMs excellent UK campaigns.

I agree that Palma and Malaga aren’t inspiring but with easyJet Holidays becoming so prominent they had to stick for easyJet at LBA. As much as we all want Munich, Berlin, Athens or Rome, they had to make the big thick leisure markets work first. It looks like this failed at the first hurdle.

 

[White Heather]

I wrote to LBA this morning regarding Easyjet (and other matters) and an official email has been issued just now to all ACC members which I copy below for information. This includes a statement from Easyjet themselves. Hopefully this provides some clarity as to why this decision has been taken.

Dear ACC Member

We wanted to share an update regarding easyJet's operations at Leeds Bradford Airport.

Over the past 12 months, LBA has built positive momentum in discussions with easyJet, with a shared ambition of developing their presence at LBA into a based operation. This would have presented opportunities for additional routes, improved schedule resilience and connectivity for our passengers, and supported further employment growth across the airport estate with easyJet operations representing 2.5% of our overall pax.

Following a review of its fleet forecast and aircraft allocation plans, easyJet has advised that it is not currently able to consider any new bases across its network before 2030. While this means progress towards a based operation at LBA will pause for now, network priorities remain fluid and we intend to maintain a positive dialogue with the airline as circumstances evolve.

Operating a small number of low-frequency away-based routes presents operational and commercial challenges, and as part of wider network consolidation efforts, easyJet has confirmed that it will cease operations from Leeds Bradford Airport from Tuesday 5 January 2027.

The airline has begun contacting affected customers today to advise them of changes to their bookings and outline the options available to them.

EasyJet's media statement is included below for reference:

“Following a review of our routes from Leeds Bradford Airport, we have made the decision to no longer operate flights from the airport after 5 January. Our focus is on maintaining and developing routes which prove most popular with customers.

“We have contacted customers with bookings beyond this date to provide them with advance notice and inform them of their options, including a free transfer to flights from an alternative airport or a refund, and we are very sorry for the inconvenience caused.

“We value the relationship we have built with Leeds Bradford Airport, and we always keep options for our network under review, with the aim of providing more choice and connectivity where we see demand.”

 

[752]

Very contradicting from easyJet focusing on the wider network, when announcing GVA-NQY.. right ok.

TheDSA rumour is laughable, why would they bin S27 off at LBA if they was (massive was) to set up shop at DSA earliest S28 (more like W28 but who would set up a base then)?

They tried DSA once failed miserably.

Where was the advertisement? Instead LBA are making literal stupid teenager videos and sarcastically replying to comments on social media, attempting to imitate Ryanair team (which is actually funny).

We only have had blue islands announcement and now sun express and easyjet gone. Crazy BFS has gone.

Hope emerald jump on this one.

Doom and gloom indeed.

 

[White Heather]

Very contradicting from easyJet focusing on the wider network, when announcing GVA-NQY.. right ok.

TheDSA rumour is laughable, why would they bin S27 off at LBA if they was (massive was) to set up shop at DSA earliest S28 (more like W28 but who would set up a base then)?

They tried DSA once failed miserably.

Where was the advertisement? Instead LBA are making literal stupid teenager videos and sarcastically replying to comments on social media, attempting to imitate Ryanair team (which is actually funny).

We only have had blue islands announcement and now sun express and easyjet gone. Crazy BFS has gone.

Hope emerald jump on this one.

Doom and gloom indeed.

Well, the above seems to kill any prospect of a DSA base anyway, at least not before 2030, by which time it will probably be bankrupt anyway, assuming it did open in 2028. Some will claim DSA will gain from this loss at LBA but the reality is somewhat different. I suspect too that the offloading of A319s by Easyjet and delays in delivering A320NEOs has also played a part in this. The above certainly hints at that.

 

[The Pole]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2090004006961623286

Makes our several trips to Portrush every year a pain as longer train journey to and from City!
Hope someone picks it up

I don't get it as every flight we have been on there and back have been virtually full.
Some of the timings were crap which we never used like late out of LBA or from Belfast early Monday so can't comment on those loads. Maybe someone can?

Maybe back on 8 hour ferry from Liverpool with car overnight which is more than the flights!

Hopefully Aer Fungus or Bryan Air

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Very contradicting from easyJet focusing on the wider network, when announcing GVA-NQY.. right ok.

TheDSA rumour is laughable, why would they bin S27 off at LBA if they was (massive was) to set up shop at DSA earliest S28 (more like W28 but who would set up a base then)?

They tried DSA once failed miserably.

Where was the advertisement? Instead LBA are making literal stupid teenager videos and sarcastically replying to comments on social media, attempting to imitate Ryanair team (which is actually funny).

We only have had blue islands announcement and now sun express and easyjet gone. Crazy BFS has gone.

Hope emerald jump on this one.

Doom and gloom indeed.

Emerald need larger aircraft and lower fares to replace Easyjet on BFS.

I wrote to LBA this morning regarding Easyjet (and other matters) and an official email has been issued just now to all ACC members which I copy below for information. This includes a statement from Easyjet themselves. Hopefully this provides some clarity as to why this decision has been taken.

Dear ACC Member

We wanted to share an update regarding easyJet's operations at Leeds Bradford Airport.

Over the past 12 months, LBA has built positive momentum in discussions with easyJet, with a shared ambition of developing their presence at LBA into a based operation. This would have presented opportunities for additional routes, improved schedule resilience and connectivity for our passengers, and supported further employment growth across the airport estate with easyJet operations representing 2.5% of our overall pax.

Following a review of its fleet forecast and aircraft allocation plans, easyJet has advised that it is not currently able to consider any new bases across its network before 2030. While this means progress towards a based operation at LBA will pause for now, network priorities remain fluid and we intend to maintain a positive dialogue with the airline as circumstances evolve.

Operating a small number of low-frequency away-based routes presents operational and commercial challenges, and as part of wider network consolidation efforts, easyJet has confirmed that it will cease operations from Leeds Bradford Airport from Tuesday 5 January 2027.

The airline has begun contacting affected customers today to advise them of changes to their bookings and outline the options available to them.

EasyJet's media statement is included below for reference:

“Following a review of our routes from Leeds Bradford Airport, we have made the decision to no longer operate flights from the airport after 5 January. Our focus is on maintaining and developing routes which prove most popular with customers.

“We have contacted customers with bookings beyond this date to provide them with advance notice and inform them of their options, including a free transfer to flights from an alternative airport or a refund, and we are very sorry for the inconvenience caused.

“We value the relationship we have built with Leeds Bradford Airport, and we always keep options for our network under review, with the aim of providing more choice and connectivity where we see demand.”

'Our focus is on maintaining and developing routes which prove most popular with customers' says quite lot.

 

[LBA4EVER]

The one very large cat amongst the pigeons re DSA is will it really ever re-open? I really can't see U2 committing anything to that at this stage. And even then, having failed once is there any real likelihood of it being successful as V2 - doubtful. Regardless of this, something ain't sitting right with this easyJet decision. I get the EU routes were maybe marginal but BFS seemed to have been performing well - why add a 5th frequency if it wasn't!

Fully agree with your comment regs the BFS route, something is clearly not right with this easyjet decision, its one of LBAs key domestic routes due to been an over water route and to a degree serves a different type of pax with no doubt a reg pax base. The route also in a way competes against aer lingus with their BHD route. Wonder if we may see an increase now on the EI BHD route which would ease the bad news today?

 

[michael]

If my memory serves me right didn't BA Cityflyer step in on Belfast for a short while when FlyBe went bang a few years ago? Wonder if they could be persuaded again until someone else (Jet 2 or FR) steps in on it, after all both have bases at both ends

 

[Jetchaser]

Be interested to hear what Vincent Hodder has to say when he talks to the media.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Be interested to hear what Vincent Hodder has to say when he talks to the media.

Will presumably reitterate wbat the airpitt put in the statement released to ACC members.

 

[Starflyer]

DSA isn't connected to this in any way. I don't think it's on the radar of any credible airline decision making (certainly not yet).

BACF were running BHD-LBA as a stopgap after Stobart / Aer Lingus Regional ceased but Emerald weren't yet up and running. Their involvement in routes other than BHD-LCY all ceased when Emerald were running.

 

[The Pole]

If my memory serves me right didn't BA Cityflyer step in on Belfast for a short while when FlyBe went bang a few years ago? Wonder if they could be persuaded again until someone else (Jet 2 or FR) steps in on it, after all both have bases at both ends

Yes they did used them a few times