Route Development & Rumours

[Finger66]

Why is that @LBA4EVER? Oh don't tell us, the runway ain't long enough and the general infrastructure ain't good enough!!!

 

[Aviador]

Why is that @LBA4EVER? Oh don't tell us, the runway ain't long enough and the general infrastructure ain't good enough!!!

And say Qatar, Etihad etc and the default is to think it has to be an A380 or another large option. It's the range and comfort that matter.

It's not the size of the ocean...

 

[Statto]

Imagine speaking to someone 25 years ago and saying there would be 220 seaters flying to Romania at that LBA would be one of the biggest regional departure points to somewhere called Cluj. There were plenty of doom mongers when Jet2 announced their plans. It won’t last a year they said.

The aviation scene looks nothing like it did even 5 years ago, let alone 15-20 years back. Capital went bust in 1990 and barely 10 years later we had jet2, easyJet, Go, Buzz etc. It moves really fast so in my view fantasy land is reserved for that group of people who despite the evidence about how fast it does move and change, they seem convinced it will suddenly stay the same in the future. But as long as they aren’t the ones running the airport, then it’s all good fun

 

[HX3]

The Middle East hubs as well as Istanbul are all expanding facilities, all of which need filling via hub and spoke operations. The airlines that feed these are also expanding with routes and new fleet.
Daily flights may be being expanded out of MAN, but as any one knows who travels out of there, or follows the MAN thread will know; it is stand constrained at certain parts of the day, so how many more daily services could be added?
So why wouldn’t the likes of Qatar for example, not look to supplement existing routes to feed their hub and look to new options from LBA.
We will have a much enhanced terminal, more stands, the runway as we read on the forum is long enough, and the diversion rate is smaller than general perception. So maybe the question is why not

 

[Jerry]

Daily flights may be being expanded out of MAN, but as any one knows who travels out of there, or follows the MAN thread will know; it is stand constrained at certain parts of the day, so how many more daily services could be added?

Airlines don't just have the ability to add extra flights though they can use larger aircraft. Look at MAN. Qatar Airways uses the 787-9 and A350-1000 so could look to change the 787-9 flights to A350-1000 flights giving more seats or even 777-300s. Also for an airline like Qatar Airways they could also use partner airlines like BA through other hubs.

 

[BCFC]

Do we really think Qatar and Etihad are going to start just after both airlines have just announced extra services ex MAN

Absolutely not a cat in hells chance….

 

[Aviador]

I don't think anybody did but hypothetically for the reasons explained in previous posts, yes it is possible. Some airlines prefer high density hub ops and some airlines prefer point to point or smaller regional ops and for that reason, yes it is entirely possible if they decide to diversify and use aircraft such as the A321XLR.

 

[BCFC]

Why is that @LBA4EVER? Oh don't tell us, the runway ain't long enough and the general infrastructure ain't good enough!!!

He never said that, all he said was that they to move the touch down zone…..to Elland Road!

 

[LBA4EVER]

He never said that, all he said was that they to move the touch down zone…..to Elland Road!

Its alright joking and been all clever but can we just face reality here! Emirates, qatar and etihad all have large operations from MAN with a full infrastructure and yes dare i say it 2 3048m long runways that face an ideal direction. Does anyone honestly think there going to set up ops at LBA and dilute their MAN ops for an airport where lets say it could be a bit more challenging. Its just not going to happen!
Like i previously mentioned can we firstly get the orange crew to LBA, wizz expansion be great too and of course some key european routes esp germany, that would be a start!

 

[CM.]

A bit of positivity wouldn’t go amiss regardless weather they were to come to LBA or not all I seem to read is the negativity and why they won’t come etc..

Moving on to domestic there’s been talk that the airport are hoping to gain more domestic routes (Londons been mentioned) and that they (might) have a domestic aircraft stand set up where it doesn’t require a pushback. The aircraft can move off on its own from the stand and it will be just for domestic flights. Again just rumors and talk at present

 

[Statto]

ts alright joking and been all clever but can we just face reality here! Emirates, qatar and etihad all have large operations from MAN with a full infrastructure and yes dare i say it 2 3048m long runways that face an ideal direction. Does anyone honestly think there going to set up ops at LBA and dilute their MAN ops for an airport where lets say it could be a bit more challenging. Its just not going to happen

A post that proves my earlier point exactly. In one breathe talks about airlines with large operations at MAN that won’t dilute themselves by operating more from LBA and in the next says the airport management should concentrate on Easyjet. Erm, don’t they have very large operations at MAN? I’d love to know how anybody thinks LBA can grow its passenger numbers by only securing growth from airlines that don’t have a large established presence at MAN. That’s a lot of eggs in the Wizz basket if you think thats the way forward.

And just for the record, i don’t think anyone is suggesting that its credible to try and attract large wide bodies from EK etc. The point being made is that if these, already very large markets, keep growing and the airlines introduce smaller aircraft to their fleet to support their growth, then its worth a conversation

 

[Severn]

It will be interesting to see which UK airports see expansion to the ME3 market, and by who over the next 5 years.
I put together a table below looking at all UK airports in the the UK serving more than 4 million pax per year, and if they have flights to the ME3. One takeaway I found is that Emirates clearly leads the pack with the number of UK airports served and departures per week, but I didn't realise how small in comparison Etihad's presence is in the UK market.

 

[The Pole]

A bit of positivity wouldn’t go amiss regardless weather they were to come to LBA or not all I seem to read is the negativity and why they won’t come etc..

Moving on to domestic there’s been talk that the airport are hoping to gain more domestic routes (Londons been mentioned) and that they (might) have a domestic aircraft stand set up where it doesn’t require a pushback. The aircraft can move off on its own from the stand and it will be just for domestic flights. Again just rumors and talk at present

Edinburgh be good

 

[Finger66]

Edinburgh be good

EDI is a bit like LHR these days. Interline and possible code-share needed due to the rail services that exist for P2P. It's one drawback LBA has in that it's almost too central. There needs to be water in the way, poor overland connections or some form of viable onward connections to make a lot of previously served domestic routes actually work now

 

[markietg]

A post that proves my earlier point exactly. In one breathe talks about airlines with large operations at MAN that won’t dilute themselves by operating more from LBA and in the next says the airport management should concentrate on Easyjet. Erm, don’t they have very large operations at MAN?

I think we’re all well aware on here that @LBA4EVER has a love for things that are sprayed orange …so of course he wants to see EZY big at LBA

 

[HX3]

I agree with CM. we should have a bit more positivity.
Clearly none of the ME3 carriers are going to send in an A380, but as fleets diversify then there are options. As for dilution of MAN, EDI and GLA are roughly the same distance as MAN/LBA, but both Scottish airports have flights to Dubai. I appreciated EDI has a draw of inbound tourism, but as a domestic market the population is similar to Yorkshire. Yorkshire is also very diverse and diaspora’s like to frequently visit home. People of Pakistani heritage used a large(ish) aircraft from LBA and now are all funnelled through hubs, served from elsewhere. Most of those people would use LBA if it were an option.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

A post that proves my earlier point exactly. In one breathe talks about airlines with large operations at MAN that won’t dilute themselves by operating more from LBA and in the next says the airport management should concentrate on Easyjet. Erm, don’t they have very large operations at MAN? I’d love to know how anybody thinks LBA can grow its passenger numbers by only securing growth from airlines that don’t have a large established presence at MAN. That’s a lot of eggs in the Wizz basket if you think thats the way forward.

And just for the record, i don’t think anyone is suggesting that its credible to try and attract large wide bodies from EK etc. The point being made is that if these, already very large markets, keep growing and the airlines introduce smaller aircraft to their fleet to support their growth, then its worth a conversation

Its a bit contrary to say (as many do on here) that Jet2 and Ryanair will never fly to DSA because of the negative impact on their traffic from LBA (and EMA) yet advocate airlines with established MAN operations serving LBA.

 

[Jerry]

A bit of positivity wouldn’t go amiss regardless weather they were to come to LBA or not all I seem to read is the negativity and why they won’t come etc..

Well there's being negative and being realistic. A lot of the airlines talked about is it realistic for them to come to this airport?

the next says the airport management should concentrate on Easyjet

Because Easyjet are already operating from LBA and short haul is a very different market to long haul.

 

[SierraHotel]

Unfortunately, the "LBA Rumours and development" thread is definitely skewed towards the "Rumours"

 

[Len Fish]

I’m pinning my hopes on IPS Airways.