Route Development & Rumours

[AirBingley]

I’m a regular (ish) leisure traveller to Germany having previously used LS to BER when it was year round (presumably they came make more money on a bucket and spade route) and BE to DUS and generally flights were high 90% load factor. The lack of choice to Germany is astonishing given its a major trading partner! Having to use KLM this summer and boy that wasn’t cheap as Easyjet timings from MAN didn’t work and I’m dead against the trip over the Pennines unless absolutely necessary. BA connections used to be half decent via LHR but unless there’s a miracle with the extra slots we must content ourselves with hoping LH see the light!

 

[LBAYORKIE]

I notice Lufthansa are starting a new short/medium haul subsidiary 'city airlines' to feed into their hubs. I wonder if Leeds is on their radar?

 

[Finger66]

I notice Lufthansa are starting a new short/medium haul subsidiary 'city airlines' to feed into their hubs. I wonder if Leeds is on their radar?

I too saw that article and wondered the same re LBA, but it did also mention A319 aircraft which I thought might be too large to start for LBA. Going back to when BMIR were about to start LBA MUC I am sure there was to be an LH codeshare. WH did mention in her CC report that there was a possibility of 1 or 2 new airlines for LBA this year, and then LH announce this. Could be 2 and 2 making 5 here but we can continue to hope..........

 

[Coathanger16]

I notice Lufthansa are starting a new short/medium haul subsidiary 'city airlines' to feed into their hubs. I wonder if Leeds is on their radar?

I think initially at least, most of the routes "City Airlines" will serve are ones currently operated by Eurowings - the idea being you get the branding of Lufthansa but with a lower cost base.

It's all aimed at trying to increase Lufthansa's market share in Europe, so in time that could mean new routes so fingers crossed for LBA.

 

[XEROX]

Lufthansa would be great for opening up Star Alliance networks flying eastwards.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

I see Eastern are launching flights from a couple of regional airports to Paris, with an AF codeshare. Ive put the article in the 'Airlines' thread. On the face of it would seem to be another case of Leeds being overlooked, but its worth noting the airport is ORY.

 

[White Heather]

I see Eastern are launching flights from a couple of regional airports to Paris, with an AF codeshare. Ive put the article in the 'Airlines' thread. On the face of it would seem to be another case of Leeds being overlooked, but its worth noting the airport is ORY.

Given the way Eastern left LBA at short notice after being here years, taking our Newquay route over to HUY, I'd be surprised if they came back or were welcomed back.at LBA. I don't think it's a question of LBA being overlooked. It seems to me that something went on that resulted in that hasty departure.

 

[Coathanger16]

On the face of it would seem to be another case of Leeds being overlooked

Or the fact that none of CWL, SOU or EMA have routes to Paris, whereas LBA does...?

Even if Jet2 use the -300 on CDG, LBA will still have c. 10% more seats per week than any of the 3 Eastern routes (rises to 40% more if the -800 is used). As you highlighted, they're also serving Orly where onward connections with Air France are limited.

Just because an airline doesn't launch a route to LBA doesn't mean the airport/city is being overlooked.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Or the fact that none of CWL, SOU or EMA have routes to Paris, whereas LBA does...?

Even if Jet2 use the -300 on CDG, LBA will still have c. 10% more seats per week than any of the 3 Eastern routes (rises to 40% more if the -800 is used). As you highlighted, they're also serving Orly where onward connections with Air France are limited.

Just because an airline doesn't launch a route to LBA doesn't mean the airport/city is being overlooked.

No, but theres been plenty of discussion about the need for a regular service to Paris and also Easterns apparent reluctance to serve Leeds, so I thought the article would be of interest.

Given the way Eastern left LBA at short notice after being here years, taking our Newquay route over to HUY, I'd be surprised if they came back or were welcomed back.at LBA. I don't think it's a question of LBA being overlooked. It seems to me that something went on that resulted in that hasty departure.

 

[lbaspotter]

Yes we already have 2x airlines serving Paris from LBA.

Jet2 - CDG 4x weekly Boeing 737-300
Ryanair - Beauvais 2x weekly Boeing 737-MAX8

I would welcome an An Air France/Hop or Eastern codeshare service to Paris, but if I'm being honest it would work better into CDG rather than Orly.

 

[Bigman]

CDG is definitely where you want to be with all it's connections

 

[markietg]

I see that Loganair have been allocated 30 pairs of slots a week at LHR to operate on domestic services. When they flew to LHR from MME didn’t they have a BA codeshare on those flights? Perfect for a twice daily from LBA.

 

[Finger66]

Sneaking in both an ABZ and NQY rotation in between. Great a/c utilisation for the one to be based at LBA. Alarm clock.........

 

[White Heather]

I see that Loganair have been allocated 30 pairs of slots a week at LHR to operate on domestic services. When they flew to LHR from MME didn’t they have a BA codeshare on those flights? Perfect for a twice daily from LBA.

Shame they are run by the ex self proclaimed LBA biggest fan who now it would seem, will fly anywhere but LBA......

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Shame they are run by the ex self proclaimed LBA biggest fan who now it would seem, will fly anywhere but.......

Loganair expands at Heathrow

The airline has secured 30 additional pairs of slots each week under a lease arrangement with BA, which takes effect from May 2023.

www.businesstraveller.com

 

[Starflyer]

Given the way Eastern left LBA at short notice after being here years, taking our Newquay route over to HUY, I'd be surprised if they came back or were welcomed back.at LBA. I don't think it's a question of LBA being overlooked. It seems to me that something went on that resulted in that hasty departure.

It did. There was a major falling-out between the airport and the airline over the thorny issue of paying bills.

Shame they are run by the ex self proclaimed LBA biggest fan who now it would seem, will fly anywhere but LBA......

Isn't it more likely that they just don't see anything at LBA on which they could make money?

 

[dmrodgers]

It did. There was a major falling-out between the airport and the airline over the thorny issue of paying bills.


Isn't it more likely that they just don't see anything at LBA on which they could make money?

Just tried to make a dummy booking in June to Newquay from Humberside on a summer Sunday. Only 6 seats sold to date, so not exactly profitable so far for Eastern. Humberside too far away from the major areas of population will always be a issue in maintaining a profitable sustainable service unlike LBA which has a vast area of population to call on and a dreadful train service to Nequay o no competition

 

[Finger66]

There are routes they could make money with the right schedule - thinking SOU and NQY. However it could also be that they can’t get these into the existing route network without basing at LBA which does of course come at a cost. If LBA-LHR not served then I would suggest something like LBA-SOU-LBA-ABZ-LBA-SOU-LBA-NQY-LBA would work. 8 sectors a day is good a/c utilisation too. But doesn’t look like any of this will happen unfortunately

 

[ChrisBBB]

There are routes they could make money with the right schedule - thinking SOU and NQY. However it could also be that they can’t get these into the existing route network without basing at LBA which does of course come at a cost. If LBA-LHR not served then I would suggest something like LBA-SOU-LBA-ABZ-LBA-SOU-LBA-NQY-LBA would work. 8 sectors a day is good a/c utilisation too. But doesn’t look like any of this will happen unfortunately

Swap the second Southampton for the later Newquay (more suited to business travel for Southampton and families heading to Newquay) and I think something like that could work.
But, seems no appetite.
Would make my life far easier when travelling to Gosport for work!

 

[Finger66]

Fair comment. Part of my thinking with the original suggestion was to get some through SOU-ABZ-SOU pax to top up the respective SOU-LBA-SOU legs a bit like T3 used to do. I know LM’s fares aren’t always cheap but better than T3 and certainly more reliable so much better pax appeal