Archive Eastern Airways at Cardiff Airport

[StanMan]

With regards to Eastern trying to get more money out of WG for the VLY service, given WG's commercial interest in the route, the route award is subject to a competitive procurement under the UK procurement legislation. This legislation would make it unlawful for WG to substantially change the commercial arrangements unless they commenced a new procurement for the route. Under the current circumstances, a procurement may be very unhelpful as it could see them with no bidders and so lose the VLY route as well. Any changes of the commercials without a procurement would need to be subject to changes to what can be done in respect of PSO or APD.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Maybe the crew who do the early flight is the same that do the late flight on a split duty.

throwing an extra flight in the middle May add too much complexity.

Maybe the move to Teeside has not had the desired effect and passenger number have dropped making it unviable.

There has to be a bigger market for CWL-NCL than CWL-MME. Why was the route ever switched from NCL to MME? Was it a case of operational expediency in the North East winning out over commercial considerations?

 

[Foxlimayankee]

Maybe the crew who do the early flight is the same that do the late flight on a split duty.

throwing an extra flight in the middle May add too much complexity.

Maybe the move to Teeside has not had the desired effect and passenger number have dropped making it unviable.

With the right scheduling a daily BHD in between VLY services during the day then an evening departure about 1930 to somewhere (EDI/DUB?) would make a second crew viable doing 4 sectors each. Could even maybe squeeze a JER and BHD in between VLY services provided the turnarounds are kept tight. I can't help but think there's missed opportunities here.

I'm sure I'd heard before that the WG weren't keen on paying for the VLY route and Airlines wanting to utilise the aircraft in between flights. Things are different now so hopefully there's some open minded thinking.

 

[mathers_wales_uk]

Be careful on an older aircraft squeezing too much in. Your actually adding more airframe/engine hours.

you will also be forced to spend a lot of money on delayed flight compensation if the first flight is severely delayed.

Unsure what the current dispatch reliability of the Jetstream 41 is.

Also 2nd set of crew means another 3 hotel rooms per night as don’t believe the crew are Cardiff based so to speak.

 

[Jerry]

Maybe the move to Teeside has not had the desired effect and passenger number have dropped making it unviable.

When I flew it March there were only 2 passengers heading to Teesside and they said when they flew down a few days before they were the only ones on the aircraft.

 

[Jerry]

Also 2nd set of crew means another 3 hotel rooms per night as don’t believe the crew are Cardiff based so to speak.

No they weren't. They were north east based and the Teesside flight positioned them to CWL and back.

 

[Jerry]

There has to be a bigger market for CWL-NCL than CWL-MME. Why was the route ever switched from NCL to MME? Was it a case of operational expediency in the North East winning out over commercial considerations?

Eastern were pushed out of Newcastle by Loganair and the Teesside Mayor is subsidising their base at MME.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

On the other forum it's been reported that Eastern have an E190 being painted at EMA. Would love to see that at CWL but I'd imagine it'll go to Southampton.

It's also reported on that forum that Eastern have three E190s joining them.

 

[superking]

Word on the street says,the E190 aircraft will be used on sun routes out of Southampton. Any gaps to be filled with short routes from Southampton as well.

 

[Jerry]

So apparently Eastern Airways are recruiting for a Cardiff base.

 

[Foxlimayankee]

Careers l Eastern Airways | Eastern Airways

Eastern Airways is constantly recruiting to provide sufficient staffing levels to cover our expanding route network. To ensure our operation runs smoothly and efficiently we need to employ the very best people.

www.easternairways.com

This however was also available back in February. So either they stopped recruitment when covid19 hit and are now looking again for the VLY flights, or there's more to it. It is only for cabin, nothing for pilots currently available.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

So apparently Eastern Airways are recruiting for a Cardiff base.

Careers l Eastern Airways | Eastern Airways

Eastern Airways is constantly recruiting to provide sufficient staffing levels to cover our expanding route network. To ensure our operation runs smoothly and efficiently we need to employ the very best people.

www.easternairways.com

This however was also available back in February. So either they stopped recruitment when covid19 hit and are now looking again for the VLY flights, or there's more to it. It is only for cabin, nothing for pilots currently available.

If there is anything in such a rumour it could be a reprise of the Flybe 2 x E190 base, or something like it.

As an aside, how is Eastern funding its expansion, especially in these uncertain financial times? I can't think the mayor of Teesside is splashing that much cash.

 

[Jerry]

If there is anything in such a rumour it could be a reprise of the Flybe 2 x E190 base, or something like it.

It's probably the only way the airport could get the core routes back as I generally don't think airlines like Aer lingus, Ryanair, loganair and Blue Islands are going to be interested in them.

As for money maybe they've had an investor or something?

 

[fly4gigs]

Any idea when CWL-VLY flights will resume?

 

[Jerry]

Any idea when CWL-VLY flights will resume?

7th September

 

[Silvercity]

So apparently Eastern Airways are recruiting for a Cardiff base.

That would be good news for CWL

 

[Jerry]

That would be good news for CWL

Depends on the base!
If it's for 2 or 3 E190s or ATR72s that would be brilliant, just for the VLY J41 maybe not so much.

 

[aviatorconcorde]

Depends on the base!
If it's for 2 or 3 E190s or ATR72s that would be brilliant, just for the VLY J41 maybe not so much.

where did you get wind of this jerry?

 

[Jerry]

where did you get wind of this jerry?

Online. They advertised pre covid as well I believe.

 

[geoff]

A poster on the Eastern Airways thread on dried plum, has stated that Easterns next two routes will be Cwl-Dub and Cwl-Bhd, let's hope he's correct, we could do with some good news.