Route Development & Rumours

[ChrisBBB]

A lot of airports would be crying out for that. Its really good news.

Agreed, it’s not just about gaining new airlines and routes but retaining existing services. This could have been another one on the list of lost services.
Admittedly @LBA4EVER is right in that it’s not the most exciting

 

[752]

Agreed, it’s not just about gaining new airlines and routes but retaining existing services. This could have been another one on the list of lost services.
Admittedly @LBA4EVER is right in that it’s not the most exciting

It's not but was one of concern for us and clearly other airports. In challenging times like this. I think its really good news and hope Aurigny manage to turn it around.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

LBA have just put a press release out for a short winter 25 season for Sofia in Bulgaria in Feb / March for the ski season. It's run by Balkan holidays and runs on 6 Saturdays! Using Jet2 LBA based aircraft:

LBA 14.45 SOF 20.15 / SOF 21.05 LBA 23.05

LBA confirmed yesterday that this series of flights were definitely operating as advertised.

I challenged this and they told me today the whole programme ex Leeds had been cancelled.

So no Balkan ski programme again this winter.

 

[752]

So LBA wasn't aware it had been canned?

 

[LBAYORKIE]

So LBA wasn't aware it had been canned?

Definitely not.

 

[lbaspotter]

The initial Slot coordination report for LBA summer 2025 has just been uploaded onto the ACL website.

This isn’t the final version, so the could be more changes ahead before March 30th 2025

Anyway so for the First week of August 2025 - The are 930 weekly slots already applied for which works out at 465 weekly rotations as follows.

1x weekly - Balkan Holidays Air (BGH)
2x weekly - Aurginy (AUR)
3x weekly - Ryanair UK (RUK)
4x weekly - EasyJet UK (EZY)
4x weekly - Sun Express (XQ)
4x weekly - Freebird (FH)
6x weekly - EasyJet EU (EJU)
6x weekly - TUi Airways (TOM)
7x weekly - Wizz Air (W6)
7x weekly - Wizz Air Malta (W4)
21x weekly - KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL)
44x weekly - Emerald Airlines (EA)
149x weekly - Ryanair (FR)
207x weekly - Jet2.com (LS)

 

[SierraHotel]

Average of 66 rotations per day which is certainly going to justify the terminal extension.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

The initial Slot coordination report for LBA summer 2025 has just been uploaded onto the ACL website.

This isn’t the final version, so the could be more changes ahead before March 30th 2025

Anyway so for the First week of August 2025 - The are 930 weekly slots already applied for which works out at 465 weekly rotations as follows.

1x weekly - Balkan Holidays Air (BGH)
2x weekly - Aurginy (AUR)
3x weekly - Ryanair UK (RUK)
4x weekly - EasyJet UK (EZY)
4x weekly - Sun Express (XQ)
4x weekly - Freebird (FH)
6x weekly - EasyJet EU (EJU)
6x weekly - TUi Airways (TOM)
7x weekly - Wizz Air (W6)
7x weekly - Wizz Air Malta (W4)
21x weekly - KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL)
44x weekly - Emerald Airlines (EA)
149x weekly - Ryanair (FR)
207x weekly - Jet2.com (LS)

6 weekly for EJU, is that indicative of Easyjets 'W' pattern flights from the continent?

 

[SierraHotel]

Presumably 2 of the 6 will be CDG. So seemingly 4 new weekly rotations (to be announced)

 

[Finger66]

And 14 in total for Wizz/Wizz Malta. Isn't that more than we currently have operating?

See Loganair are currently absent from the list too!

 

[SierraHotel]

Yes, I believe that would suggest an increase from Wizz

 

[AirBingley]

Fingers crossed for LM as hanging back from booking KLM for the summer holidays! Overall a very encouraging start!

 

[White Heather]

The initial Slot coordination report for LBA summer 2025 has just been uploaded onto the ACL website.

This isn’t the final version, so the could be more changes ahead before March 30th 2025

Anyway so for the First week of August 2025 - The are 930 weekly slots already applied for which works out at 465 weekly rotations as follows.

1x weekly - Balkan Holidays Air (BGH)
2x weekly - Aurginy (AUR)
3x weekly - Ryanair UK (RUK)
4x weekly - EasyJet UK (EZY)
4x weekly - Sun Express (XQ)
4x weekly - Freebird (FH)
6x weekly - EasyJet EU (EJU)
6x weekly - TUi Airways (TOM)
7x weekly - Wizz Air (W6)
7x weekly - Wizz Air Malta (W4)
21x weekly - KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL)
44x weekly - Emerald Airlines (EA)
149x weekly - Ryanair (FR)
207x weekly - Jet2.com (LS)

Does Buzz and Malta Air come under Ryanair? Seems odd if they do, yet Ryanair UK is shown separately.

That looks to be a substantial increase coming from Wizz, & confirmation of the additional 6 easyJet flights. Clearly Loganair are not yet as far advanced but we knew that given their CEO only had his first meeting at LBA recently. Plus, no point in applying for slots at LBA to operate to LHR until you've secured the slots there. I'm sure there'll be a few to add yet.

 

[lbaspotter]

Does Buzz and Malta Air come under Ryanair? Seems odd if they do, yet Ryanair UK is shown separately.

Yes Buzz, Lauda & Malta Air all operate for Ryanair (FR). If you not noticed before they all operate with “Ryanair” ATC call-signs and (RYR) flight numbers.

Whilst Ryanair UK operated flights use the (RUK) flight umbers and “BlueMax” ATC Callsign.

 

[mullion]

Yes LBAspotter Ryanair UK has to due not being part of EU

 

[Len Fish]

As I understand it, due to Brexit Ryanair had to set up a U.K. based airline and obtain a U.K. AOC to be able to continue to fly domestically within the U.K.

 

[gulftraveller]

As I understand it, due to Brexit Ryanair had to set up a U.K. based airline and obtain a U.K. AOC to be able to continue to fly domestically within the U.K.

And not just domestically. RUK also flies from UK to non EU destinations such as STN-RAK or MAN-TIA because they fall outside the EU/UK air service agreements.

 

[mullion]

It not always as simple as it seems as Ryanair UK does operate flights to EU and sometimes with Irish registered aircraft

 

[lbaspotter]

Currently the only Ryanair RK/RUK operated flights from Leeds/Bradford is the 2x weekly service to Marrakesh.

But in future using more of the Ryanair UK AOC it would allow them access into other markets from Leeds eg. Tunisia & Turkey.

 

[752]

The initial Slot coordination report for LBA summer 2025 has just been uploaded onto the ACL website.

This isn’t the final version, so the could be more changes ahead before March 30th 2025

Anyway so for the First week of August 2025 - The are 930 weekly slots already applied for which works out at 465 weekly rotations as follows.

1x weekly - Balkan Holidays Air (BGH)
2x weekly - Aurginy (AUR)
3x weekly - Ryanair UK (RUK)
4x weekly - EasyJet UK (EZY)
4x weekly - Sun Express (XQ)
4x weekly - Freebird (FH)
6x weekly - EasyJet EU (EJU)
6x weekly - TUi Airways (TOM)
7x weekly - Wizz Air (W6)
7x weekly - Wizz Air Malta (W4)
21x weekly - KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (KL)
44x weekly - Emerald Airlines (EA)
149x weekly - Ryanair (FR)
207x weekly - Jet2.com (LS)

CDG not on sale for S25 but is for W25 so could imply other W patterns form the continent.

Ryanair have a large amount, they're creeping up on Jet2. even with x3 based, it shows how big FR are at LBA with non based flying.

Wizz would be great to see additional flying. One I'm hoping for.

Also shows you how big LBA is for the EI network. Good to see.