Loganair

[lbaspotter]

Well it might not be as bad as first thought. As its been reported today by BBC News Scotland that "Airline Investments Limited" (AIL), groups 2x brands (Loganair and bmi regional) will remain separate identities. It would seem that Loganairs owners Stephen and Peter Bond have gone and taken full control of bmi regional from Sector Holdings Ltd.
The combined group has 46 aircraft, flying 47 routes across 10 countries in Europe. Its annual turnover is about £200m and it employs a total of 960 people and will be managed by Peter Simpson, whom was the former managing director of British Airways at Gatwick Airport and group managing director of bmi british midland.

Source: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-s ... s-33766635

 

[White Heather]

So rather than assuming the worst, perhaps it could turn out to be good for LBA, with the continuation of Glasgow, and the new route to Edinburgh that was applied for, and perhaps something more in the future. Perhaps, we might even see Bmi come back to LBA!

 

[a300boy]

I am not sure getting Bmi back would be good ! they did murder most of the routes they did from Leeds. However better them than nothing.

 

[White Heather]

Different management though now A300boy?

 

[lbaspotter]

Not to go totally off topic on this thread yeah I agree with you White Heather.

When Sector Holding got hold of bmi regional from its previous owners IAG (British Airways owners after the bmi group take over) they pulled 2 of the based Embraer aircraft that operated the Edinburgh and Glasgow routes and moved them North of the border to Scotland. A few weeks later after operating the routes from the Scottish end they were both pulled altogether without much explanation at the time. Then what seemed to be within a months they decided to pull remaining single based Embraer aircraft that operated the Brussels route.
I know for a fact that when bmi regional finally pulled totally out of Leeds it displaced a lot of long term locally based (disgruntled at the time) crews to other bases in the UK eg Bristol and Birmingham.

Now that the Bond Brothers owners of Loganair have got hold of bmi regional i wish them all the look in the world. They have successfully operated the Glasgow route now for a good few years and there has been talk of an Edinburgh link been reinstated as well. If I remember correctly they still hold slots at Edinburgh of an 3x daily Leeds/Bradford service.

 

[a300boy]

With you both in wishing them well ! I am forever in hope of more flights and routes from Lbia.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Stephen and Peter Bond have been the main owners of Sector Aviation Holdings since the company acquired bmi regional three years ago. The fact that they also own Loganair probably makes it a natural progression for the two airlines to be brought together in some way.

 

[lbaspotter]

Loganair summer 2017 Glasgow - Leeds/Bradford flights now on sale up to and including September 30th. The service will continue to operate up 2x daily Mon-Thu & 1x Fri using Saab 340 aircraft

BE6980 = GLA 07:00 - LBA 08:10 / BE6981 = LBA 08:40 - GLA 09:45 M/TU/W/TH
BE6984 = GLA 17:25 - LBA 18:30 / BE6985 = LBA 19:00 - GLA 20:05 M/TU/W/TH/F

 

[lbaspotter]

Loganair's Managing Director Jonathan Hinkles issued a press release yesterday regards its up coming Summer 2017 schedule and its breaking away from the Flybe franchise. You'll be pleased to know that this one dose include mentions of Leeds/Bradford..

Source: http://www.loganair.co.uk/loganair/...airline-launches-largest-ever-flight-schedule

Scotland's Airline launches largest ever flight schedule
23rd November 2016

Loganair’s Summer 2017 schedule is “a statement of intent” says MD Jonathan Hinkles

Loganair, Scotland’s Airline, has today announced its largest ever flight schedule as its services for Summer 2017 go on sale. The new schedule includes new overseas summer flights between Scotland and Norway and the Faroe Islands, together with more flights and more seats on existing routes.

A non-stop twice-weekly service will link Glasgow and the Norwegian city of Bergen – known as “the gateway to the fjords”. The Glasgow-based airline will operate the new route on Mondays and Fridays from May 5 to September 25 2017. It’s part of a sizeable expansion which will also see the airline’s schedule to Bergen bolstered by extra flights from Shetland and new direct flights from Orkney.

Scotland’s Airline has also revealed the first regular service in recent years linking Shetland and Aberdeen with Vagar, the airport of the Faroe Islands, again starting in May. The service will operate on Fridays and Sundays from May 26 to September 3 2017, and Loganair will carefully evaluate demand on the route with a view to moving to year-round operations in future.

Managing Director Jonathan Hinkles said: “It’s always a pleasure to introduce new routes, and our links to Bergen and the Faroe Islands are great news for both leisure and business travellers. I’m also certain that we’ll see Norwegian and Faroese visitors taking full advantage of the wide range of leisure and retail options on offer in Scotland.”

Hinkles continued: “Our summer schedule is a statement of intent as we announce our transition from the Flybe franchise arrangements to become an independent operator from 1 September 2017. As Scotland’s Airline, Loganair is strengthening its network and adding more seats and more flights than ever before.”

The summer schedule, most of which begins on March 26 and for which tickets go on sale today, has a significant number of highlights, including:

· An overall growth of 20% in seat capacity to and from Glasgow.

· A fourth weekday flight between Glasgow and Manchester, plus a new Sunday lunchtime service - providing
enhanced connections to domestic UK destinations and the expanding range of long-haul destinations available via Manchester.

· A fourth daily service between Inverness and Manchester, also opening up the wide range of connections available from Manchester.

· An 18% increase in seats between Glasgow and Stornoway through introduction of larger Saab 2000 50-seat aircraft on three of the four weekday round trips - and use of the larger aircraft on selected weekend flights between Glasgow and Benbecula for the first time.

· A third weekday flight from Glasgow to Islay, and a second on Sundays, opening up a wide range of new domestic and international connections to and from Islay.

· New convenient one-stop, same-plane services linking Manchester with Sumburgh and Stornoway, cutting journey times and offering lower fares than connecting flights.

· A second weekly Bergen service from Sumburgh, operating on Tuesdays between May 30 and August 29 and complementing the Saturday service (13May – 02 September)

· A non-stop service linking Kirkwall on Orkney with Bergen on Saturdays between May 13 and September 02 while also operating a complementary Tuesday connection via Sumburgh.

· Expansion of services between Edinburgh and Wick with the introduction of a second flight on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays.

· A new timetable for Edinburgh-Stornoway services to ensure that the route remains commercially viable despite new charges for airlines being introduced by Edinburgh Airport in April 2017.

· Additional weekend flights between Glasgow and Kirkwall - with a new Friday night southbound service from Kirkwall and an extra Sunday evening return flight, coupled to larger aircraft deployed on Saturday services.

· More seats between Glasgow and Sumburgh through use of larger 50-seater Saab 2000 aircraft on one of two daily flights during the summer.

· Developing use of Glasgow as a hub airport to link Loganair’s Highlands & Islands network with its growing network of services to Manchester and Leeds Bradford.

· Continued expansion outside Scotland with the introduction of a new four-times weekly service linking Loganair’s base at Norwich with the Channel Island of Jersey.

www.flybe.com for travel up to and including 31 August 2017. Services to the Faroe Islands will be on sale from 5 December 2016 and are subject to government approval.

 

[lbaspotter]

Also good to see Loganair are now advertising the Leeds/Bradford - Glasgow route on its own website page.

Source: http://www.loganair.co.uk/

 

[lbaspotter]

Looks like the main man at Loganair is doing something right as I see Leeds/Bradford Airport are saying the Glasgow service is the fastest growing domestic route in its network and are looking at expanding services to Scotland according to this article that's appeared in today's Yorkshire Evening Post,

Read more at: http://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co....s-bradford-sees-surge-in-popularity-1-8324879

Scottish shuttle flight from Leeds Bradford sees surge in popularity

An internal flight from Leeds Bradford Airport has been named as a Scottish airline's fastest-growing route. The Loganair service to Glasgow is popular with business travellers and weekend breakers visiting Scotland's largest city. It is now experiencing the largest passenger growth of any of the routes on the Scottish airline's network, and is also one of Leeds Bradford's fastest-growing services. Tickets can be booked via budget airline Flybe until September, when bookings will be taken over by Loganair.

The flight time of just over an hour has proved attractive to travellers faced with four-hour road and rail journeys, and the twice-daily weekday service has also been scheduled to provide good links with onward Loganair connections to the Shetland Islands, Orkneys and the Outer Hebrides. The airline is now planning to expand services to Scotland from Leeds Bradford.

 

[a300boy]

A bit unbelievable but if this is true I am very happy.

 

[lbaspotter]

And here's the official press release from the airport.

Source: Link opens in PDF Format http://www.leedsbradfordairport.co.uk/media/2442/09012017.pdf

PRESS RELEASE
Issued: Monday 9th January 2017

Record passenger growth on Leeds Bradford Airport to Glasgow route
Flights between Leeds Bradford Airport and Glasgow have taken off, as the route has recently become the fastest growing route on Loganair’s domestic network.

In addition, it is also one of LBA’s fastest growing services as passengers have realised the significant time savings and attractive fares now on offer. The route, which is very popular with business passengers and weekend break visitors to Glasgow, is operated by Loganair – and bookable via Flybe .

With road or rail journey times from Leeds to Glasgow taking around foyr hours, the flight time of just over an hour represents a huge saving for both business and leisure travellers. Apart from connecting Yorkshire with Glasgow, this twice daily weekday service also offers a range of excellent onward connections on the Loganair network across Scotland including the Shetland Islands, Orkney Islands and the outer Hebrides.

Lower fares recently introduced on the Glasgow route start from £78.99 (including taxes) and so there has never been a better time to take to the skies and fly to Scotland from LBA.

Jonathan Hinkles, Loganair’s Managing Director, said:
"We're delighted with the response to our new, lower fares on the Leeds Bradford Airport - Glasgow route, which has become the fastest growing route in the Loganair network and the fastest growing route at Leeds Bradford. Our twice-daily service is ideal for business travel, and increasing numbers of customers are discovering that flying is a much more convenient option than a long journey by road or rail.

"We're looking forward to building on this success with further expansion of our services linking Scotland and West Yorkshire in the near future.

" Tony Hallwood, Aviation Development Director at Leeds Bradford Airport’s said:
“It is not surprising that demand on the Leeds Bradford to Glasgow route is taking off – with lower fares and a flying time of only 65 minutes there is no quicker or more relaxing way to Scotland.”

To book, visit www.flybe.co.uk until September 2017; after which time all bookings will be made directly with Loganair at www.loganair.co.uk

- ENDS -

 

[jason1-11]

I see tonight's arrival is showing cancelled.

I would love to see the operatioal performance stats for this apparently successful route.

 

[Aviador]

With road or rail journey times from Leeds to Glasgow taking around foyr hours

Does nobody proof read the press releases before they go onto the airports website.

 

[White Heather]

A bit unbelievable but if this is true I am very happy.

Believe it. This was included in the airport's update last Friday from Tony Hallwood although he didn't mention any expansion (he never does until it is announced). Edinburgh anyone?

 

[Seasider]

What a load of spin!
Quote " two flights per day ..." There is only one flight on a Friday and none at all on Sat/Sun.

 

[whoshotjimmi]

I see tonight's arrival is showing cancelled.

I would love to see the operatioal performance stats for this apparently successful route.

Amazing to think that the fastest growing route in the Loganair network and the fastest growing route in the British Airways network are also probably statistically the two least reliable routes out of LBA. What a world we live in....

Additionally, I've said it before and I'll say it again. I would use it all the time if it weren't so darned expensive to connect to the Highlands and Islands for weekends away and such. Then again, the lack of a Friday morning rotation does make it impossible to connect to any other destinations for that purpose. But, just for kicks, a return flight from Leeds to Barra on a random date in April is £207.91. Whichever way you look at it, that is a bit dear.

 

[Aviador]

£207 quid to Barra might sound a tad expensive but it beats an 11h 55min drive with a ferry crossing and probably £100 (each way) of petrol not to mention the 800 mile round trip wear and tear on your vehicle.

 

[whoshotjimmi]

£207 quid to Barra might sound a tad expensive but it beats an 11h 55min drive with a ferry crossing and probably £100 (each way) of petrol not to mention the 800 mile round trip wear and tear on your vehicle.

Which is PRECISELY why I don't do it very often! That and CalMac is an overpriced and unreliable joke. I suspect you may have exaggerated a little bit though Aviador! The drive to Oban would probably be about 6 hours and approx. 325 miles. In my car, that would probably cost about £90 in petrol there and back. In a more economical car, it could be easily done for about £55. If you then left the car in Oban, the ferry crossing would be about £30 return. So for me, we'd be looking at about £120 in travel costs. The train is not a suitable alternative as there is no way of connecting to islands ferries from Leeds without an overnight stay in Glasgow.

For the record flying the same trip with FlyBe on the same weekend from Manchester is around £150. That's not just a coincidence either. The base fare is always cheaper from MAN. I'd be happy somewhere between £100 and £150 return for such a route on the basis that, on the same weekend, flights from LBA to NQY (broadly the same distance) are about £90 return. I appreciate that it is a supported route and there is no need for a change of aircraft but still. My sense of outrage cannot be quelled....