Route Development & Rumours

[HX3]

LBAYORKIE I agree that maybe they could look to do something for ceiling height, once the new extension is in situ. However, if the finish is modern, most people don’t notice as they just go with the design of the flow within the building and are normally per-occupied anyway.
As an aside, I’m 6’3 and the ceiling height doesn’t make it feel claustrophobic to me, so if the design is light and modern, I think it would be ok for most people.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

2023 for LBA:

Continued expansion by Jet2 - new destinations hopefully Winter ones with those A321 NEO's coming.
Ryanair continuing their niche expansion of new routes untried and untested from LBA. We need them. The road to that 4th based Unit.
Wizz Air - continued success of them. I don't see any expansion other then newer Eastern European routes. I personally don't want to see them try city break routes we need just because I feel they don't have the brand that carries for that. Ryanair is a household name.

TUI success. Yes I'm writing that.

Turkish Airlines on the destination board. They can offer so much without really going overboard. Istanbul also a good destination to have to visit.

 

[LBA4EVER]

Turkish to istanbul, play to iceland and lufthansa to frankfurt would be 3 key airports for connecting traffic plus tourism and city breaks.
It really is incredible for a city the size or leeds and its wealth to not have flights to certain key hub airports, munich, paris and Brussels are 3 others that are desperately needed. Lets hope 2023 brings us change.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

Play are good and I'd welcome them. But at first I'd rather them get a few more American destinations and "proper" airports in America. Once this is done I feel Play will do well out of LBA.

If play are then to exploit out good the LBA market is for Yield and the American connections I'd not be surprised to see Icelandair. Tbh Icelandair would be good - 737MAX.

 

[XEROX]

Noticed a few have mentioned TK, don't they have a massive pilot shortage?

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

Noticed a few have mentioned TK, don't they have a massive pilot shortage?

Which airline in Europe doesn't? It seems they have a problem with leavers and not repacking them fast enough. Seems pilots are going back to the sandbox which is causing an issue.

 

[Coathanger16]

With regards to Turkish, there is this:

https://simpleflying.com/turkish-airlines-aims-carry-88-million-passengers-2023/

Targeting 88mppa in 2023, almost 30% more passengers than in 2019; aiming to add 37 aircraft next year, roughly 1 every 10 days; and wants to operate to Australia directly themselves (rather than via code shares at present).

I'd personally bet on TK before LH at this point, though probably not until 2024 at the earliest.

 

[Finger66]

Yeah I too don’t see too much else for 2023 - maybe a bit more from Flybe. But hopefully if Terminal is pretty much sorted for 2024 then we have a chance. Or even Winter 2023 as not quite such a strain on capacity during the winter months

 

[752]

right ok so my 2 pence on future routes

The usual:
TK IST
AF CDG (considering Jet2 loads are strong on this route)
LH FRA (BHD New & LPL doing well)

Likely:
PLAY - KEF
Sun Express (or similar carrier) to AYT/DLM
Jet2 - Increase CDG, Winter increases to FCO, VIE, CGN, CPH, KEF, add ATH

Wish:
Aegean - ATH (NCL & BHX just secured, NCL more of surprise)

 

[Finger66]

Reported on the Aegean MAN thread that they are starting new routes to RHO and HER from MAN. That would suggest to me that LBA are not currently on their radar, however much we all agree/think an ATH-LBA route would work for them

 

[752]

Aegean are reported to operate RHO & HER from MAN & EMA on behalf of TUI. Not their own flights

 

[Finger66]

Teasing post from Kevin Farrell in the World Airports and Airlines section. Let’s hope that there is some mileage in the comment and that LBA becomes a beneficiary. Know they have applied for slots at various airports so no gimme for anyone I wouldn’t have thought

Unless of course it’s just a deliberate play on words!

And sorry @Kevin Farnell slight typo on your name above

 

[Kevin Farnell]

And sorry @Kevin Farnell slight typo on your name above

Don't worry, I've had worse!

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Looks like Easyjet are continuing to expand over this Summer. Nothing for Leeds though.

Easyjet adds 11 routes to its UK network for summer 2023 – Business Traveller

The low-cost carrier is launching a Manchester-Paris Orly route from March, and resuming flights from London Gatwick to Ancona in Italy…

www.businesstraveller.com

 

[Finger66]

Really don’t think EasyJet were/are our best hope for new routes anyway

 

[LBA4EVER]

I've mentioned it before but i feel a x2 daily A319 LBA-AMS Would work well esp with jet2 now off the route.
One hopes.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

I've mentioned it before but i feel a x2 daily A319 LBA-AMS Would work well esp with jet2 now off the route.
One hopes.

Well we have to hope LBA get that across to prospective carriers.

 

[White Heather]

The previous LBA CEO said that there was no chance of easyJet expansion at LBA without the new terminal and the capacity increase it enabled. Presumably, the terminal extension now being pursued, which provides the same capacity, will suffice too, but until it's built, further easyJet presence seems unlikely.

 

[Finger66]

Whether U2 on AMS would work or not, it would ideally be new routes we would want, not necessarily more capacity on existing routes

 

[Easy289]

Totally agree. FRA or BER surely would be a huge seller