Route Development & Rumours

[Galaxy]

Re: Potential Routes

I would really like to see more German destinations. At present I have to either fly in the evening to DUS with Jet2 and stay overnight in a hotel before carrying on my journey the next day, or get the train to MAN and Flybe it to FRA before getting a train (I work in Eastern Germany mostly), it's not ideal for business passengers as it currently is from Leeds. Would like to see Frankfurt, Berlin and / or Munich from LBA.

 

[White Heather]

Re: Potential Routes

Well BMi were supposed to be on the verge of doing Frankfurt just before the economy went to pot, but no doubt if they had, the prices would have been astronomic. It would be nice to see low cost airline do all three of those, even a German one. The problem would be, would a loco airline fly into FRA or would you end up down the road somewhere?

 

[backtrack]

Re: Potential Routes

Id take an FR operated LBA-HHN anyday though. Anything to ehance germany. Or Air Berlin to operate LBA? But what are the chances?

 

[Galaxy]

Re: Potential Routes

Probably slim chances, aside from the German locations mentioned above, there are so many cities in particularly East Germany that are crying out for direct flights from the UK, Erfurt, Leipzig and Dresden being three specific examples who would welcome a 'budget' route - but no takers. Dresden especially would be a corker, it's an amazing city and the huge airport is vastly underused in terms of capacity. There are loads of students from East Germany currently studying in Leeds, they tend to go Berlin - Liverpool or Prague - Leeds. I'm almost certain that if there was a scheduled flight it would 'take-off'....boom boom!

 

[backtrack]

Re: Potential Routes

Probably slim chances, aside from the German locations mentioned above, there are so many cities in particularly East Germany that are crying out for direct flights from the UK, Erfurt, Leipzig and Dresden being three specific examples who would welcome a 'budget' route - but no takers. Dresden especially would be a corker, it's an amazing city and the huge airport is vastly underused in terms of capacity.

Do FR fly to any of these places though? Dusseldorf weeze yes, however i dont think they could sustain that one with LS flying directly into DUS main. Im just making an assumption here with Ryanair, as they have come out most recent to say expansion may be on the cards...?

 

[Galaxy]

Re: Potential Routes

As far as I'm aware FR don't operate to any of the above from the UK, they don't seem to have much (if anything) in Eastern Germany.

 

[jason1-11]

Re: Potential Routes

As its gone a little quiet on this subject, how about Ryan Air to Belfast City which would also spell the demise of the Flybe route there and as a consequence also the Gatwick run?

 

[Aviador]

Re: Potential Routes

As its gone a little quiet on this subject, how about Ryan Air to Belfast City which would also spell the demise of the Flybe route there and as a consequence also the Gatwick run?

A FR service to BHD would also finish the Belfast International route with Jet2. The LGW route is at a constant threat while the loads remain far from ideal.

One thing for sure is FR is the one to watch especially now that their spat with MAN has been resolved. LBA will need to tread very carefully with them over the coming weeks, months and years.

 

[jason1-11]

Re: Potential Routes

The future of LBA-BHD and LBA-LGW aren't necessarilly linked

As the based unit flies a couple of times a week to BHD, the loss of this revenue on top of the poor performance to LGW may be the "straw that breaks the camels back" in relation to keeping the Dash 8 at Leeds. Pure speculation of course.

 

[Aviador]

Re: Potential Routes

The airline might have it's own performance targets for each airport. This could include either the individual routes or actual base performance. As far as I am aware, the Belfast City route is performing well and much better than the London Gatwick route. The airline could look at this two ways either the LBA performance as a whole, or as two separate cases with one doing OK, the other not doing so well. If Flybe want to show a greater presence at Leeds then they may wish to continue the London Gatwick route almost like a supermarket loss leader.

It's all speculation by any account and only the airline knows what it intends to do in the future.

 

[backtrack]

Re: Potential Routes

They will not axe the BHD route. BHD is a strong performer for flybe, it does very well indeed. If any route is under compromise for flybe at LBA, it will be LGW, but im sure somehow the airport will help flybe with this as they wont want to "loose a connection to London" AGAIN!

 

[rhinoscrazy]

Re: Potential Routes

I have just sent I message to tony hallwood asking for routes to china(major buissness boom) florida(leasure) new York (jet2.com aircraft are always full when flying there) India (massive in west Yorkshire) and Toronto (tourest, skiing , winter olympics)

 

[backtrack]

Re: Potential Routes

It sure will be interesting to see his reply...

 

[rhinoscrazy]

Re: Potential Routes

I know

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Re: Potential Routes

I think you are being over optimistic here.

Florida- I can see a market here even in the current economic environment
New York- These flights are only full because they are basically charters
India- There are few Indians in W. Yorkshire, plently Pakistani's though
Toronto- I would say this is worth a try, it's worked in the past.

Lbayorkie

 

[pilot_737]

Re: Potential Routes

There are tons of Indians in Bradford!!!

 

[Aviador]

Re: Potential Routes

Orlando

Orlando has to be a target destination for for LBA.

Manchester - Orlando Sanford - 15,668 passengers during June 2010
Manchester - Orlando International - 32,423 passengers during June 2010

June passenger figures show that more than 48,000 passengers travelled to Florida from Manchester airport last month. A substantial number of those passengers will have originated from this side of the Pennines.

Dubai

Another one for the destination hit list must be Dubai. Currently more than 40,000 are using flights from Manchester to Dubai. Around the same number of passengers travelled to Ibiza from Leeds Bradford as did travel to Dubai from Newcastle!

Manchester - Dubai - 45,542 passengers travelled to Dubai from the airport during June.
Newcastle - Dubai - 12,584 passengers travelled to Dubai from Newcastle during June.

 

[White Heather]

Re: Potential Routes

Agree totally Aviador. If we had longer runway and there were no issues at all using larger aircraft types on long haul routes, I think we would have these routes already. As long as certain weather conditions or loads result in operational issues of any type, airlines will baulk at using LBA. We had flights with TOM to Orlando some years back now and they didn't last very long. In the end only about 5 or 6 operated and some of those I recall did refuelling stops (using a 767). It is a good deal further to Florida than New York (obviously) so the 757's are not really the right aircraft either. Based on discussions at the Consultative Committee in the past, the airport are relying on the 787 Dreamliner to be the answer to their prayers as it should be capable of using the runway with a full load due to its lightweight construction, but the way it is going it could be some time before they are in service with the right airlines for us!

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Re: Potential Routes

Pilot Ben

There are very few Indians in Bradford or West Yorkshire as a whole. Majority of Bradford's population is Muslim, which indicates they are basically Pakistani or Bangldeshi. There are a small number of Siks's/Hindu's but not many.

 

[michael]

Re: Potential Routes

Mr Branson is allegedly changing the present 747's on MAN - MCO to A330's from next April. Whenever there's a diversion at MAN they nearly always go to LGW - I assume because thats their next nearest base. Would an A330 do Orlando from Leeds? If so would Virgin consider it??