Route Development & Rumours

[752]

I still think a UAE route is a while off with a permanent USA route even further. Do I think its impossible? nope. if I was LBA, id be routing for a Qatar daily 787-8 to Doha.

 

[gulftraveller]

Sadly, I think Qatar is unlikely to expand its regional UK offering in the near future. Even before Covid, the airline was looking at consolidating operations because of the effects of the Gulf blockade.

Diluting their services to Manchester by opening LBA is an unlikely strategy. The route to Cardiff has not been a success, which is likely to make them more cautious about the UK regions. We wait to see whether BHX and CWL return after Covid.

 

[LBA4EVER]

Be interesting to see if emirates even return to NCL. I feel some routes will be cut back or suspended next year but then again I expect a mass serge of pax wanting to fly to shorter destinations like Alicante, Malaga and Palma. Until LBA gets its new terminal and a better infrastructure there is not a chance of getting any middle east or USA routes, even European destinations like Frankfurt would be distant dream, at most we might see an increase of Belfast flights, upgrade of klm AMS etc. LCC approve the terminal!!

 

[LBAYORKIE]

DSA: Not sure if this is old news or not, but it seems to have only just reached the media.

https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2020/12/24/wizz-air-to-add-six-routes-from-doncaster-gatwick-and-luton-in-2021/

 

[752]

Not too sure what this has to do with LBA.. Wizz have been chopping / changing their S21 schedule from DSA, with sun routes like AGP, FUE & LPA suspended replaced by DLM, HER & BOJ

 

[Superleeds123]

DSA: Not sure if this is old news or not, but it seems to have only just reached the media.

https://www.businesstraveller.com/b...rom-doncaster-gatwick-and-luton-in-2021/[/URL

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Not too sure what this has to do with LBA.. Wizz have been chopping / changing their S21 schedule from DSA, with sun routes like AGP, FUE & LPA suspended replaced by DLM, HER & BOJ

I think what it shows is that Wizz are struggling to make these new routes work.

After COVID, I for one will be making sure I always book a package deal as I suspect many others may as well. TUI and Jet2 will remain the market leaders in this regard unless Wizz set up a tour operation, which is hugely unlikely.

 

[Jerry]

TUI and Jet2 will remain the market leaders in this regard unless Wizz set up a tour operation, which is hugely unlikely.

But Wizz isn't after TUI and Jet2 customers. It's after Easyjet and Ryanair passengers. Flight only.

 

[752]

With Loganair's recent expansion from IOM, does anyone think a LBA link could be viable? with MAN x4 Daily and LPL x3 Daily from just loganair alone, surely LBA could support a 3/4 weekly?

 

[LBA4EVER]

With Loganair's recent expansion from IOM, does anyone think a LBA link could be viable? with MAN x4 Daily and LPL x3 Daily from just loganair alone, surely LBA could support a 3/4 weekly?

until the new terminal is approved we will be ignored, simple as! With a new terminal and population IOM is a def as well as other destinations in europe esp germany

 

[752]

I'm sorry but I have to disagree with you on that one fight2win, a new terminal itself does not and will not guarantee LBA routes, will it help? absolutely yes, but the feedback will be from carriers such as AF, LH, EK, QR, TR (most likely) who's passengers require a more luxury service. The current terminal is perfectly adequate to serve LBA-IOM route and their is no reason why an airline could not sustain the route. it is simply getting people from A2B. Similar to GCI, JER, NQY, SOU, BHD.. if there is money to be made, an airline will jump on it, regardless of the terminal condition.

 

[a300boy]

Lets see if we can get Loganair back !
Something happened between them and our management I believe as they operate from just about everywhere except Leeds these days.

 

[752]

Yes thats what i was thinking a300boy, however I did here the CEO was local from round here ? (maybe, if someone can confirm or deny) we always seem to miss out on routes from them.

 

[ls27]

I think he lived in Grassington

 

[Seasider]

He developed his interest in airlines from regularly visiting LBA as a youngster.

 

[Finger66]

I do know that whatever they tried they couldn’t get LBA - GLA to pay. But as I have said before when there is water in between A and B it’s a whole new ball game. Think they have just announced a 4 weekly IOM - SOU Route. Perhaps leaves 3 days a week for somewhere else!! But I am not sure LBA is really on LM’s radar. Perhaps one T3 could make a go of though

 

[a300boy]

Yes the Ceo was a spotter in his teen years around Leeds I would describe him as a super spotter as he talked about the profitability and Yield of routes when the rest of us were wondering how an aircraft flew.
He was very pro Lba which makes the situation a little strange and whilst Glasgow may have been a challenge and the trains took over this individual would have had a look at what else could have been on the table I am sure.
Hope they re-visit the situation at Leeds and they can move forward together.

 

[White Heather]

I used to talk to him regularly. He asked to join the Support Group at one time. He had a habit even then of telling the airport director what he was doing wrong, which showed his direction of travel career wise, but it didn't make him popular with said Director! He lived locally and some may remember he did a monthly article in Aircraft Illustrated detailing a flight in the jump seat of various airlines and aircraft.

He was in charge of the airline that hoped to operate low cost to Toronto but they went bankrupt. He was also in charge of the airline that remains the only one to fly from LBA to Cape Verde via Bournemouth (Astreus). So it's odd that now he has a real opportunity to do something from LBA, he repeatedly passes it up. It's not as though it's even the same owners at LBA now that were here when he pulled the plug on the GLA route, so no reason at all for any animosity.

 

[ls27]

He also printed and published a small magazine like the Air Yorkshire one. He used his fathers equipment to produce it. When he decided to stop publishing the magazine, he refunded any outstanding payments that had been made. I thought that was a good gesture on his part. It was a very informative little magazine with plenty of info.

 

[Finger66]

He certainly knew, and still knows his stuff. I had the pleasure of having dinner with him a couple of years ago and he made some fairly accurate predictions around UK aviation. Any LBA loyalties are now super ceded by business decisions, which to be fair are the right thing to do

 

[LBA4EVER]

I'm sorry but I have to disagree with you on that one fight2win, a new terminal itself does not and will not guarantee LBA routes, will it help? absolutely yes, but the feedback will be from carriers such as AF, LH, EK, QR, TR (most likely) who's passengers require a more luxury service. The current terminal is perfectly adequate to serve LBA-IOM route and their is no reason why an airline could not sustain the route. it is simply getting people from A2B. Similar to GCI, JER, NQY, SOU, BHD.. if there is money to be made, an airline will jump on it, regardless of the terminal condition.

why then is every airport around us such as MAN,DSA,MME Gaining new services on a regular basis yet we get nowt, not even an IOM service! LBA has numerous drawbacks to it but if we can get this new terminal that will be one very big obstacle out the way. Its so obvious that its our terminal and infrastructure thats holding us back in what is a mass populated area, we can chat forever about this but im afraid no one inc LM will operate new services from LBA until the terminal is built, i know this anyway as well those in the biz! its risky because of the stigma and image LBA has but this will hopefully change.