Route Development & Rumours

[lbaspotter]

I often wonder why Jet2 are not at Liverpool.....but hey ho !

Or Bristol.

 

[lbaspotter]

Ok just been doing a bit of looking around, like you do on a Thursday night.

Back in November 2017, Chamber International whom are backed by all UK Chambers of Commerce's did a simple poll vote on its twitter account asking its 5,386 followers "If @LBIAirport introduced a direct flight to #Pakistan would you use it?"
Well the results are in. Of the 5,386 follows only 8 people took part in the vote, of them 8 votes 38% said Yes and 62% said No

https://twitter.com/ChamberInt/status/931433763841740800

View attachment 7935

 

[Aviador]

Ok just been doing a bit of looking around, like you do on a Thursday night.

Back in November 2017, Chamber International whom are backed by all UK Chambers of Commerce's did a simple poll vote on its twitter account asking its 5,386 followers "If @LBIAirport introduced a direct flight to #Pakistan would you use it?"
Well the results are in. Of the 5,386 follows only 8 people took part in the vote, of them 8 votes 38% said Yes and 62% said No

https://twitter.com/ChamberInt/status/931433763841740800

View attachment 7935

It should have come as no shock that 5 thousand UK Chamber Of Commerce members didn't fancy making use of a direct flight to Pakistan. A niche flight like this can only be supported by the community it is aimed at which is of course the Pakistani community.

 

[Silvercity]

Liverpool just suffers from being in Liverpool haha! Joking apart I agree leakage LPL to MAN is probably far greater than LBA to MAN. We should still embrace MAN as its good for the North but it may just become saturated a la Heathrow. The overflow then has to go somewhere!

Although I have to say people from Manchester fly from Liverpool too, so yes there is leakage but it's not all one way.

 

[Silvercity]

It should have come as no shock that 5 thousand UK Chamber Of Commerce members didn't fancy making use of a direct flight to Pakistan. A niche flight like this can only be supported by the community it is aimed at which is of course the Pakistani community.

Exactly wrong place to get any result to assess anything.

 

[White Heather]

Exactly wrong place to get any result to assess anything.

The ultimate in pointless surveys. There is no doubt that if an airline operated a non stop service to Islamabad, it would be used by the Pakistani community, as it was when PIA operated it, and Shaheen, and Swefly before them (even though that one was via Skatsta).

 

[Aviador]

The ultimate in pointless surveys. There is no doubt that if an airline operated a non stop service to Islamabad, it would be used by the Pakistani community, as it was when PIA operated it, and Shaheen, and Swefly before them (even though that one was via Skatsta).

I'll be honest, I can recall speaking to many passengers using the PIA flight and they would say they wanted decent aircraft to fly on, not a rusty tin can which is what it they had. As much as the A310 was ideal for LBA with regards to it's operational characteristics it was far from idea so far as the passenger experience goes. The Pakistani community generally like their high-end gizmos, Mercedes, BMW's and their iPhone's. Flying to Islamabad is no different, they want to travel with all the perks you would expect when travelling on a new aircraft model.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

Have to say around 5 years ago I arrived at LBA and in dismay noticed a PIA was disembarking as we taxied to our stand.
I was amazed when I got to the baggage hall how many Asian businessmen I knew who were on the flight.
Certainly the equipment etc did not stopped some of West Yorkshires leading businessman using this service, I do remember us all moaning about the length of time clearing customs as the PIA late and arriving with two full 757's.
However as business folk used to delays at major airports, just put the time to good use by using the 90 minutes to catch up on business affairs, no time is ever a waste, plenty of swapping of business cards.

 

[White Heather]

I'll be honest, I can recall speaking to many passengers using the PIA flight and they would say they wanted decent aircraft to fly on, not a rusty tin can which is what it they had. As much as the A310 was ideal for LBA with regards to it's operational characteristics it was far from idea so far as the passenger experience goes. The Pakistani community generally like their high-end gizmos, Mercedes, BMW's and their iPhone's. Flying to Islamabad is no different, they want to travel with all the perks you would expect when travelling on a new aircraft model.

Which would suggest that if an airline operated the route with something better than the ancient A310, it would be ever better supported than before.

 

[michael]

I know the A321neo has been mentioned as an ideal aircraft for LBA for a link to Turkey and possibly onwards from there, but of the wide bodies now available, I'm thinking A332, A359, B772 and B788, which of these would - in a 'standard'seating configuration (if there is such a thing) - be most suitable to LBA ?

 

[Sam b]

Well emirates are getting dreamliners delivered soon so they can use lbia runway!

 

[Aviador]

Well emirates are getting dreamliners delivered soon so they can use lbia runway!

It isn't as clear cut as that. The 787-8 series should have no problem using LBA but the 9 and 10 series are very different in size and they could have limitations using LBA. The same applies to the A350 varients.

 

[michael]

It isn't as clear cut as that. The 787-8 series should have no problem using LBA but the 9 and 10 series are very different in size and they could have limitations using LBA. The same applies to the A350 varients.

Hence why I specifically asked about B788 and A359. I wouldn't have thought the stretched versions of the 787 9&10 and the A350 1000 would ever realistically be considered for LBA

 

[a300boy]

The aircraft we get now have restrictions operationally so anything bigger is likely to have even bigger problems.

 

[LBA787]

It’s a real shame. There are so many issues at LBA solving one just leads to another and another. Runway, taxiways, parking stands, terminal the list is almost endless! I doubt we’ll see a decent carrier operating a dreamer until some serious changes have been made.

As for direct Pakistan flights please god no! Horrifically low yielding with exceptional amounts of work per flight!

I wish I could air some of the horror stories I’ve heard!

 

[White Heather]

It’s a real shame. There are so many issues at LBA solving one just leads to another and another. Runway, taxiways, parking stands, terminal the list is almost endless! I doubt we’ll see a decent carrier operating a dreamer until some serious changes have been made.

As for direct Pakistan flights please god no! Horrifically low yielding with exceptional amounts of work per flight!

I wish I could air some of the horror stories I’ve heard!

Yet, LBA management have made a flight to Pakistan one of their highest priorities!

 

[LBA787]

Yet, LBA management have made a flight to Pakistan one of their highest priorities!

Well good luck to the management team. I just hope it doesn’t become embarrassing for LBA.

 

[a300boy]

I see Tui are making it clear where they believe the best Airport in Yorkshire is ! So we now have a second source of serious competition.

 

[mdobuk21]

yeah TUI have announced longhaul route to Sanford.

 

[lbaspotter]

Woopie do, TUi the airline that's never really favored LBA has announced a host of new routes and 3rd based aircraft from DSA for next Summer 2019. It also includes a once weekly 787 screamliner service to Orlando Florida.

Wonder if LBA have anything up there sleeve, seen as its been really quiet lately.