Route Development & Rumours

[rhinoscrazy]

Re: Potential Routes

1. For those wanting to go into central London use the train.

or build a trainstation from lba using direct train routes were airlines wont fly to like some one said heathrow train from leeds bradford international TRAIN STATION(LBTS) to somewherenear london heathrow
leeds bradford international TRAIN STATION (LBTS) to manchester airport trainstation for more direct long haul fights
leeds bradford international TRAIN STATION(LBTS) to edinbourgh (dont know how to spell it)
leeds bradford international TRAIN STATION(LBTS) to glasgow
leeds bradford international TRAIN STATION(LBTS) to cardiff
ECT....

 

[Aviador]

Re: Potential Routes

Rhinoscrazy

You are spoiling a perfectly good debate behave!

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Re: Potential Routes

Everyone is avoiding the obvious, as has been stated several times previously, a point to point service to London is NEVER going to pay.

It is crazy to speculate that a J41 could operate a service economically (even if it is allowed to fly into LCY) with that number of seats how much would they have to charge? It would be ridculously expensive.

I am not being negative, merely pragmatic, a Leeds-London service is not going to happen.

Incidentally, I believe the MAN-LHR BMI service will be the next to go. As we are aware its been reduced to an embraer service.

LbaYorkie

 

[User0001]

Re: Potential Routes

I am sick and tired of people using the rail argument as an excuse to knock down any links to London. Manchester is closer to London...has 3 faster trains and hour, but still has BA and BMI to LHR, so rail travel cannot be the overriding factor.

I regularly travel to London with work and live so close to the airport I can see the apron lights at LBA. I tried the LGW service 3 times in its first summer and encouraged others at what is a major employer in the Leeds area to do the same. At the end of the day, the train provides flexibility that the plane simple couldn't and we never used it past that first summer. The beauty of the train is you don't have to worry about a timetable or allowing enough time to check-in, get through security which is ideal when you are in London, having meetings and dealing with a flexible schedule. The overall difference in door to door journey times was about 30 - 45 mins in favour of the plane, but that needed everything to work like clockwork which it seldom does at a major international airport on a single runway....on my last flight from LGW, we were sat in the cul de sac for 20 mins for push and then at the holding point for another 20 minutes. It also took 20 mins to get through security and when I got home, it worked out that it would have been as quick and far less stressful to get the train.

The reason MAN has what it has is due to connections via LHR which is the main traffic feed. Also, with no direct rail link into LHR from the North and no alternative LHR services from LPL / LBA etc, then there is a sizeable traffic feed from parts of Yorkshire and Merseyside who use the BA service in particular. I'm personally aware of at least 20 or so passengers from the Leeds area who have routed MAN-LHR-xxxin the last 6 months. For some of those people then driving to MAN and flying into LHR was considered the lesser of 2 evils when compared to getting to LHR by road or rail. For others, the connecting flight was so cheap as part of the main ticket, they thought "why not"

There is absolutely no future for a "point to point" service between LBA and London. The attraction is the connections and Heathrow has a fantastic range but is heavily slot restricted as we all know. In the meantime, I suspect the airport management will continue their pursuit of other airlines offering connecting opportunities via airports in France, Germany and in the longer term, the Middle East.

 

[ryan]

Re: Potential Routes

1. For those wanting to go into central London use the train.

or build a trainstation from lba using direct train routes were airlines wont fly to like some one said heathrow train from Leeds Bradford international TRAIN STATION(LBTS) to somewherenear London heathrow
Leeds Bradford international TRAIN STATION (LBTS) to Manchester airport trainstation for more direct long haul fights
Leeds Bradford international TRAIN STATION(LBTS) to edinbourgh (dont know how to spell it)
Leeds Bradford international TRAIN STATION(LBTS) to glasgow
Leeds Bradford international TRAIN STATION(LBTS) to cardiff
ECT....

But why build a station at LBA when there's a perfectly good station in Leeds City Centre? You can travel to all those places (with a change), which, apart from if you live in/near Yeadon, is probably much easier for all to get to as well!

 

[White Heather]

Re: Potential Routes

I think Rhinoscrazy is just being mischievous Ryan - we can't even get the money for a small tram train link, never mind a station capable of handling trains to LHR etc, and if we did it would have to be underground since the slope up to LBA from the nearest line at Horsforth is too steep for a mainline train.

LS16 is probably right on most of what he says, although I am not quite convinced that the market is not there for a couple of flights a day to LCY, but only if the right operator and equipment is used. I will be suprised if, in the current climate, anyone would give it a try. I am sure LBA will continue to seek further upgrades in routes such as AMS with KLM but equally I do know that they are not giving up on getting a LHR flight back, nor are they ever likely to. Apart from anything else, they come under a lot of pressure from the business community of West Yorkshire to continue to seek another operator, but clearly they are going to have their work cut out to achieve anything, especially without the 3rd runway, which was previously described as 'essential'.

I think also that it is almost certain that BMi will give up the MAN - LHR route. They dropped the LBA flights down to Embraers and we lost the route a year later, so if they have done that at MAN, I suspect they will do the same there - a sort of gradual fade away from the route. BA will be delighted if it happens, so all we need is them to come to LBA too and then they have a complete monopoly across the North. Come to think of it, they will have a complete monopoly if they stay at MAN too. Unlikely they will come to LBA but keep the faith!!

 

[pug]

Re: Potential Routes

I also agree mostly with LS16, though I do think there could be some scope for an SEN service in the future perhaps, I would think LCY is a non-starter. Its not worked from most other regional airports in England and hasn't worked from LBA in the past. For hub operations perhaps in the future a North American service could be sought, but in the meantime there are connections available via AMS and BRU, AMS being far more customer friendly than LHR in my opinion.

 

[Seasider]

Re: Potential Routes

I don't think that anyone has mentioned a service to FRA. Germany is poorly served from LBA and don't forget the interlining passengers. The drawback? LH are deeply entrenched at MAN but I think that are we more likely to get a FRA service than LHR.

 

[tleeds]

Re: Potential Routes

One thing that I'm not sure has been mentioned is Eastern Europe. With the number of migrants from Poland and other Eastern European Countries living within Bradford and Leeds, surely there is some market. Wizz Air and Ryanair are both big Eastern Europe Players and so I wonder if this is a possible market for LBA...?

 

[whoshotjimmi]

Re: Potential Routes

I have posted vociferously on another thread about the possibility of routes to Eastern Europe citing the recent Wizz Air expansion at donny as viability. The Yorkshire region certainly does have an Eastern European contingent as do Bristol and Liverpool where there are a large number of routes available.

 

[rhinoscrazy]

Re: Potential Routes

we need some routes to the south of Italy somewhere :S could possibly do alright for a route once of twice a week

 

[White Heather]

Re: Potential Routes

I agree with that - Sicily would be good (is that Alghero or am I getting my airports confused??). Anyway, it could be nicknamed 'the Mafia Express' and I am sure it would do OK with a weekly flight, similar to the Olbia service.

 

[whoshotjimmi]

Re: Potential Routes

Alghero is in Sardinia. Sicily would be Palermo or Catania.

 

[Aviador]

Re: Potential Routes

With new airports having opened, or opening on the Iberian peninsular; I wonder whether we could see new routes to Murcia Regional (Corvera) instead of MJV. In addition, Castello (Castellon) is opening shortly and has no operators - this is very handy for Valencia and Peniscola and as far down as Javea/Denia.

In Portugal, Beja has just opened and this could open up the Alentejo and northern Algarve to the more cultural traveller.

I wonder whether Ryan or Jet2 will take a stab at these, as I could see the airports giving significant deals.

I posted something similar in the Ryanair thread given the airlines recent spat with the Alicante airport authority. Who owns the new Murcia airport?

 

[White Heather]

Re: Potential Routes

Thanks Whoshotjimmi - I was close - it had an 'o' on the end and was Italian!! It was Palermo I was thinking of.

 

[User0001]

What are B767's like at LBA?

Sunwing are starting Euro-ops this year. They were also due to start a 1 weekly B767 flight to DUB, which has now been cancelled. Maybe one for LBA to pick up?
Air Transat, and from next year, Air Canada will have MAN sewn up, so, if Sunwing wanted North west pax, at 1-2 weekly, MAN would not be the place to go, so, Leeds as a good alternative?

 

[Aviador]

This is the old Potential Routes thread. I've re-named it the Route Development thread to reduce confusion.

 

[lbaspotter]

Hi

Looks like Tony Hallwood is going on his travels again to try and attract some new routes for LBA at the 6th European Route Development Conference which is been held down in Sardinia this week.

I guess John Parkin will be busy this week as well seen that ryanair's MOL is in Leeds this coming Tuesday.

Source: http://www.leedsbradfordairport.co....5-06-lba-promotes-leeds-city-region-in-europe

LBA promotes Leeds City Region in Europe

06 May 2011

Tony Hallwood, Leeds Bradford Airport's (LBA) Commercial Director, will be 'flying the flag' for the Leeds City Region at the 6th European Route Development Conference to be held in Sardinia next week.

Over 1,000 airline and airport delegates from across Europe will meet in Cagliari to discuss new route development opportunities. LBA will be meeting selected airlines to encourage the introduction of new business and leisure destinations from Yorkshire's gateway airport.

New services linking Leeds with Germany, France, Spain and Eastern Europe will be a priority to deliver enhanced business connectivity to the region and to increase the number of inbound visitors to Yorkshire.

Tony Hallwood, LBA's Commercial Director, commented; '' Routes Europe will be the perfect shop window for Leeds Bradford to highlight the growing market potential of the Leeds City region. As one of the UK’s fastest growing regional airports, we are committed to attracting new routes to LBA and have a number of route targets which we are confident will deliver in 2012”.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

With the 3million target, LBA could do with some new brand routes.

As before Eastern Europe/Baltic States would be very big with a very big population of eastern Europeans in Yorkshire & catchment area. FR could make a great profit with these routes, and LS maybe could join in on the 'party' with a 737-300. Maybe One is waiting for the other to then make their decision? Wizz Air would be nice but i very much doubt it!

Some new holiday routes from Jet2 also would be nice. I know Thomas cook do some of these, but they are very expensive when buying or looking to buy seat alone. Zante & Kos for greece maybe just initially with a 737-300 or maybe if they are daring a 757 which I don't think they will do. Incidentally did they start the RHO flight with a 737-300 but the Cyprus flights with a 757? I was just remembered looking at RHO flights and it been a 737-300 seat map, on there first season.

We've now for S12 got the LPA flight which looks like the a/c will do a PMI rotation before heading off! (flight times). While good, they could do with really adding FUE, otherwise i can see FR starting to dominate that market, and slowly but surely rise the prices. Again i know this is very demanding on Jet2 and they are tied with other things at the moment but over the next few years these really need to be added from the home base!

Ideally could do with a proper regional carrier based out of LBA doing full service. BD could easily re-time the flights they currently operate after all if I’m not wrong, GLA & EDI are now operated by GLA/EDI based aircraft leaving BRU the only 'based' out of LBA. Bit of a shame. FRA, CPH would be really nice. I know LH have written it off, but they are doing a good job of restructuring the main company so need to start to make BD regional sellable or a dominant full service carrier against flybe. Incidentally BMI baby no one knows what's going on with this, but could very easily see this fit into Jet2's operations. That’s another thread, another subject for another time.

Another few city routes! MAD, ZRH (maybe LCC or BD to tranfer onto LX network), FRA, MUC!

Then maybe we could eventually get back Egypt! Could really do with them back! Ultimate year round route for Jet2 tbh! Alongside TFS & ACE!

These are my dream list of routes to be added to LBA but all very plausible! Very Plausible indeed.

 

[tleeds]

Well with G-LSAL/AM leaving the fleet this winter, LS obviously need to replace these 2 757's. The might just be able to be operated with a 737-300 over the quiet winter period, but if they are to expand I think that they will need to replace these and maybe acquire some more. As you said above Nicholas1992, they could do with 1 or 2 more 757's at LBA for the longer destinations with earlier departure times.