Route Development & Rumours

[Bigman]

At present there is no direct flight from the north to Pakistan and for many years pax have had to change via an airport. Even with a few no doubt unreliable direct services if they come to fruition by PIA, I can still see at one hop option from LBA at the right price being popular.

Well the lads in my local takeaway seem happy about it

 

[lbaspotter]

Everything is pointing to this being legit which would be fantastic if true. Regulatory approval still a possible hurdle
However assuming this happens I can see quite a reasonable frequency on this.
Plus isn't Pakistan one of the markets LBA has said its looking to get restored?

My source says It’s definitely legit and Knew the airport had been talking to an unnamed Pakistan based A321 operator. I’m really glad it’s Air Blue as this the type of operator the airport has been looking to attract with there long haul ambitions.

———————————————————

Current active Airbus fleet of Pakistan based operator Air Blue

A320-200
AP-BNU
AP-BNV
AP-EDA
AP-EDG
AP-EDH

A321-200
AP-BMM
AP-BMN (Parked/Maintenance)
AP-BMO
AP-BMP (Parked Lahore)
AP-BMW

A321neo
AP-BOD (Parked Islamabad)
AP-BOE

 

[LBA4EVER]

When you look back at the history of the LBA to Pakistan (islamabad) route and what aircraft and airlines have operated the route its certainly the most interesting and varied! Hope this rumour about air blue comes true, it would certainly be something special and unique for LBA! We shall see.

 

[Starflyer]

If the airport can land this one, it’s a major coup. I do not doubt that they will have looked at the airlines heading for Manchester, and taken a view on the one most likely to be attracted to fly from LBA. The pitch is most likely to have been that you can fly from LBA and have the market to yourself, or you can fly from MAN and go head to head against PIA, emirates, Qatar, Etihad, Turkish and many others.

If this comes off, it is a major boost to the airport. I do not doubt that the work that the airport has done with the political leaders and influencers in the Bradford Pakistani community will pay dividends if so.

 

[752]

If the airport can land this one, it’s a major coup. I do not doubt that they will have looked at the airlines heading for Manchester, and taken a view on the one most likely to be attracted to fly from LBA. The pitch is most likely to have been that you can fly from LBA and have the market to yourself, or you can fly from MAN and go head to head against PIA, emirates, Qatar, Etihad, Turkish and many others.

If this comes off, it is a major boost to the airport. I do not doubt that the work that the airport has done with the political leaders and influencers in the Bradford Pakistani community will pay dividends if so.

Makes complete sense to fly to the airport nearest to the largest community are based. Instead of adding more capacity into MAN. However I'm sure similar advertisements from Air Blue have been posted before LTN maybe MAN? not 100% sure. However its good to see a job being advertised.

Will be interesting to see if its just a quick fuel stop or it would offer Türkiye / Bulgaria as a option from LBA.

I remember talking to a taxi driver and he mentioned about wanting a Saudi Link, another destination we have heard LBA keen to get secured.

 

[IanFarquharson]

Air Blue were going to MAN so it looks like LBA may have pulled off a really good coup here.

 

[Finger66]

Air Blue were going to MAN so it looks like LBA may have pulled off a really good coup here.

This is what I don't get about a lot of airlines, they seem to go where other airlines already are rather than seeing an unserved opportunity. Jet2 proved something by starting out at LBA. @IanFarquharson I do read the BHX threads quite a bit and sense similar frustrations amongst the posters there

 

[gulftraveller]

In the past, Air Blue did not have traffic rights UK-Trabzon. There would surely not be enough demand there to fill up the vacated seats to Islamabad, so it would make no financial sense. Same would apply to Sofia or Tbilisi.

Apparently Air Blue do have slots for MAN but the rumour was it would be on a leased ?A330. I doubt there was any coup: they likely concluded that competing against non-stop PIA with a 1 stop A321CEO would be a bad idea. They are regarded in the Gulf as being every bit as shambolic as PIA so leasing A330s may be ambitious.

 

[Jerry]

This is what I don't get about a lot of airlines,

Because that tends to be where the demand is a lot of the time and they often want to offer an alternative to their rivals.

 

[Finger66]

Because that tends to be where the demand is a lot of the time and they often want to offer an alternative to their rivals.

Agreed but Jet2 made a fortune op from LBA because of the untapped market. Whilst I get some of the logic it is often very short sighted. CWL Vs BRS another prime example

 

[Jerry]

Agreed but Jet2 made a fortune op from LBA because of the untapped market. Whilst I get some of the logic it is often very short sighted. CWL Vs BRS another prime example

Jet2 are very different to an airline like AirBlue though and they eventually expanded into airports like Manchester and if Jet2 weren't a homegrown airline would their operation at LBA be as large or at LBA at all? We'll never know i suppose but an airline like AirBlue would be looking at in a different way they've not got that local connection and will be looking at where they can make the most money and where the biggest demand is for them and where the passengers for their competitors come from or travel to.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

In the past, Air Blue did not have traffic rights UK-Trabzon. There would surely not be enough demand there to fill up the vacated seats to Islamabad, so it would make no financial sense. Same would apply to Sofia or Tbilisi.

Apparently Air Blue do have slots for MAN but the rumour was it would be on a leased ?A330. I doubt there was any coup: they likely concluded that competing against non-stop PIA with a 1 stop A321CEO would be a bad idea. They are regarded in the Gulf as being every bit as shambolic as PIA so leasing A330s may be ambitious.

I wonder if its more financially viable to operate a full A320/1 with a tech stop or a lightly loaded A330 direct?

If its a wide-body I hope they're not expecting cargo to make a contribution.

 

[Finger66]

It doesn't alter the fact that there is huge demand for an LBA-Pakistan schedule and I think if the Pakistan Aviation Industry hadn't suffered years of turmoil then we would be already seeing numerous flights operating to/from LBA as the success of short lived services several years ago. They weren't canned due to lack of demand - it was outside factors that contributed to this.
Relevant to this is how noticeable the argument about others go where operators already exist, so this could prove a real catalyst for LBA, not just to Pakistan. Definitely the best potential route news we have heard in quite a long while

 

[Bigjflo]

Vacancy is also now live for Manchester

 

[IanFarquharson]

Vacancy is also now live for Manchester

I cannot see them doing both LBA & MAN tbh

 

[Aviador]

Because that tends to be where the demand is a lot of the time and they often want to offer an alternative to their rivals.

That is very much the assumption many take. The reality can be somewhat different. On my recent flight from Manchester to Punta Cana there were many people with Yorkshire accents, many whom like me who would have preferred to have flown locally from LBA had the option been available. For Tui, the aircraft was a 787, an aircraft more than capable of operating from LBA. As the focus switches to the smaller A321XLR, routes like this will become a distinct possibility from more regional airports. With a departure in the early afternoon from the UK and an arrival back into the UK after 07:00 makes the flight possible from Leeds without using any of the nighttime flying quotas at LBA. With the ever increasing Airbnb accommodation crisis in Europe, holiday airlines are likely to seek alternatives further afield.

Jet2 are very different to an airline like AirBlue though and they eventually expanded into airports like Manchester and if Jet2 weren't a homegrown airline would their operation at LBA be as large or at LBA at all? We'll never know i suppose but an airline like AirBlue would be looking at in a different way they've not got that local connection and will be looking at where they can make the most money and where the biggest demand is for them and where the passengers for their competitors come from or travel to.

I once had a conversation with Phillip Meeson where he said they chose LBA because it had the largest untapped market anywhere in the UK. So if anything, would Jet2 have grown they way it has had it not chosen LBA in the first place.

 

[northsouth]

Well that was nice while it lasted ( hate been negitive)

 

[752]

Well that was nice while it lasted ( hate been negitive)

LBA & MAN both online to apply for jobs.

 

[Jerry]

On my recent flight from Manchester to Punta Cana there were many people with Yorkshire accents,

The difference though is that for TUI the Manchester route just doesn't cover people from Yorkshire its used for the whole of northern England. That's part of the challenge airports like LeedsBradford have when it comes to long haul routes like Punta Cana.

As the focus switches to the smaller A321XLR, routes like this will become a distinct possibility from more regional airports.

Honestly I'm very sceptical that will happen especially with regional routes in the UK. Maybe with niche airlines like AirBlue but I suspect for mainline alliance airlines we'll not see much of a change.

I once had a conversation with Phillip Meeson where he said they chose LBA because it had the largest untapped market anywhere in the UK. So if anything, would Jet2 have grown they way it has had it not chosen LBA in the first place.

We'll never know I suppose.

 

[Finger66]

I certainly wouldn't bet against them operating to both. PIA operated to both quite successfully at one time so absolutely no reason why this shouldn't happen again

At least Bradford is good for something! And that's coming from a Bradfordian