Route Development & Rumours

[BCFC]

I thought we had already established they hadn’t applied for any slots to base more aircraft at LBA for S26 ?

Had we? Must have missed that.

 

[Statto]

Had we? Must have missed that.

it must have been a good holiday - you were one of the contributors. Lbaspotter pointed out easyjet have slots for 10 weekly flights and 2 were unaccounted for based on what’s on sale. Hence speculation about what a new 2 x daily route could be. You were hoping for FAO but didn’t think the demand was there for 3 carriers

The carrrier that has applied for many more slots at LBA appears to be Ryanair

 

[ChrisBBB]

it must have been a good holiday - you were one of the contributors. Lbaspotter pointed out easyjet have slots for 10 weekly flights and 2 were unaccounted for based on what’s on sale. Hence speculation about what a new 2 x daily route could be. You were hoping for FAO but didn’t think the demand was there for 3 carriers

The carrrier that has applied for many more slots at LBA appears to be Ryanair

Do you / we know what the usual level of conversion from slots to actual flights is? Is it likely to be a handful, most, I presume not none or all?
E.g. say there are 50 new slots filed - is it fair to expect a large number of those will be acted on?

 

[BCFC]

it must have been a good holiday - you were one of the contributors. Lbaspotter pointed out easyjet have slots for 10 weekly flights and 2 were unaccounted for based on what’s on sale. Hence speculation about what a new 2 x daily route could be. You were hoping for FAO but didn’t think the demand was there for 3 carriers

The carrrier that has applied for many more slots at LBA appears to be Ryanair

Ah yes..... it's all coming back now.....hahaha

 

[Jetchaser]

I have just seen on facebook that Westjet are announcing a new route from Cardiff and Glasgow to Toronto Pearson. I just do not understand why LBA has not managed to secure a deal with Westjet too. Compared to Cardiff, we have a much larger catchment area.

 

[YorkshireLad]

Cardiff makes sense to me. While not an unserved market (thanks to LHR), it is far enough away in order for a new market to be formed (LBA also has this potential IMO, but Cardiff has the attraction of Wales as a country and is further from LHR than we are from MAN if I’m correct)

Glasgow seems to be matched by service cuts to Edinburgh

Not one I’d rule out for the future, however as first steps I believe CWL was the way to go

 

[gulftraveller]

My caution is that no other airline operates inbound tourism focused flights to CWL, and the outbound market is constrained by a pretty small catchment. Subsidies work well with strong potential routes but less well on speculative routes as they soon end!

Nevertheless, it is great news for CWL which has been in need of a fillip. As for a blueprint for other regional airports, I strongly doubt it.

 

[Aviador]

My caution is that no other airline operates inbound tourism focused flights to CWL, and the outbound market is constrained by a pretty small catchment. Subsidies work well with strong potential routes but less well on speculative routes as they soon end!

Nevertheless, it is great news for CWL which has been in need of a fillip. As for a blueprint for other regional airports, I strongly doubt it.

Although flights to Canada from Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) may now be a thing of the past, carriers such as Wardair, Caledonian, Odyssey International and Worldways were regular visitors over many years. What makes the newly announced service between Canada and Cardiff particularly noteworthy is the aircraft type: the route will be operated by a Boeing 737 MAX.

In recent months, we've discussed extensively on the LBA forum the new opportunities emerging from advancements in aircraft technology now being adopted by airlines. The extended range of the 737 MAX, alongside the Airbus A321XLR, enables carriers to operate significantly longer routes that would previously have required costly wide-bodied aircraft.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Although flights to Canada from Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) may now be a thing of the past, carriers such as Wardair, Caledonian, Odyssey International and Worldways were regular visitors over many years. What makes the newly announced service between Canada and Cardiff particularly noteworthy is the aircraft type: the route will be operated by a Boeing 737 MAX.

In recent months, we've discussed extensively on the LBA forum the new opportunities emerging from advancements in aircraft technology now being adopted by airlines. The extended range of the 737 MAX, alongside the Airbus A321XLR, enables carriers to operate significantly longer routes that would previously have required costly wide-bodied aircraft.

Unlike Wales there are lots of family links with Canada in Yorkshire. These stem from multiple intermarriages during the war. Surely we could support a 737/A320 operation.

 

[Snackbar]

I have just seen on facebook that Westjet are announcing a new route from Cardiff and Glasgow to Toronto Pearson. I just do not understand why LBA has not managed to secure a deal with Westjet too. Compared to Cardiff, we have a much larger catchment area.

Suspect it comes down to cash - remember the Welsh gov are currently subsidising a number of routes into Cardiff under their “route development” package….Will lend more weight to Bristols’ legal case and suspect once the cash goes so will the route as is the norm in these instances…

 

[Severn]

Unlike Wales there are lots of family links with Canada in Yorkshire. These stem from multiple intermarriages during the war. Surely we could support a 737/A320 operation.[/BOX]

I posted the following on the CWL forum. These new routes by WestJet to Europe are more aimed at Canadians going on holidays (like our Jet2 and TUI):

What fantastic news for CWL, and for Wales!

WestJet’s decision to launch Toronto–Cardiff is less about attracting Europeans to Canada and much more about serving where Canadians themselves now want to travel.

Over the past couple of years, Canadians have been moving away from U.S. holidays. A weaker CAD/USD rate, stricter border experiences, and the “Trump effect” have all pushed demand towards Europe, Mexico, and Central/South America instead. With the U.S. softening, Canadian airlines are shifting capacity to markets that still have strong pull.

In that context, CWL and GLA make more sense than they might at first glance:

• CWL works as a direct gateway to Wales, attractive for VFR and for Canadians who want an easy alternative to London.
• GLA is a long-established entry point to Scotland with strong name recognition in Canada.

From a UK perspective it may seem surprising that WestJet chose CWL/GLA instead of Manchester or Birmingham. But Manchester already has Air Canada and Air Transat to YYZ, and WestJet’s strategy here isn’t about building inbound tourism to Canada—it’s about opening new, low-competition options for Canadians heading outbound.

Here’s the latest list of WestJet’s summer 2026 additions (All 737 MAX8):

• Halifax – Copenhagen / Lisbon / Madrid (all 4x weekly)
• Toronto – Cardiff (4x weekly)
• Toronto – Glasgow (4x weekly)
• Toronto – Ponta Delgada (4x weekly)

Toronto – Edinburgh has been reduced from 11x to 7x weekly.

US city and sun routes have been reduced or cut in S26 to make way for the new European routes (A clear reflection of falling U.S.-bound demand):

• Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Nashville, Tampa, Atlanta etc. dropped from various Canadian cities

Other leisure routes now operating into S26:

• Calgary – Guadalajara / Mazatlán (1x weekly each)
• Toronto – Puerto Plata (1x weekly)
• Winnipeg – Cancun (1x weekly)

Bottom line: these new European routes (CWL included) are being launched primarily because Canadians are choosing Europe over the US, not because WestJet expects big inbound numbers from Wales or the UK. For WestJet, this is about giving Canadians more alternatives less about tapping deep UK–Canada demand.

 

[pug]

Unlike Wales there are lots of family links with Canada in Yorkshire. These stem from multiple intermarriages during the war. Surely we could support a 737/A320 operation.

They’re generations no longer around unfortunately. As families extend and the inevitable happens the direct ties to the U.K. become less prevalent and so too is the frequency at which people travel. Apparently the CWL route is to serve some demand to visit the valleys in Wales. Can’t see it myself but maybe I’m just ignorant, or maybe it’ll abruptly end when the subsidies dry up.

 

[Aviador]

They’re generations no longer around unfortunately. As families extend and the inevitable happens the direct ties to the U.K. become less prevalent and so too is the frequency at which people travel. Apparently the CWL route is to serve some demand to visit the valleys in Wales. Can’t see it myself but maybe I’m just ignorant, or maybe it’ll abruptly end when the subsidies dry up.

But if this is Canadian tourists coming to the UK much the same as Jet2 going to New York then its unlikely the Welsh government have given any subsidies.

 

[Bigman]

So why not come and visit the real Halifax with it's fantastic Peace Hall, Shibden Hall and some decent boozers

 

[LBAYORKIE]

They’re generations no longer around unfortunately. As families extend and the inevitable happens the direct ties to the U.K. become less prevalent and so too is the frequency at which people travel. Apparently the CWL route is to serve some demand to visit the valleys in Wales. Can’t see it myself but maybe I’m just ignorant, or maybe it’ll abruptly end when the subsidies dry up.

The ties are still there, but to a lesser degree. Plus theres surely a tourist demand for travel to Yorkshire.

 

[White Heather]

But if this is Canadian tourists coming to the UK much the same as Jet2 going to New York then its unlikely the Welsh government have given any subsidies.

I think its highly likely they've given subsidies for all their routes, this included. Without one I doubt this route would ever have happened.

 

[pug]

But if this is Canadian tourists coming to the UK much the same as Jet2 going to New York then its unlikely the Welsh government have given any subsidies.

I get it, but I’m not convinced it’s based on a strong inbound market without at least initial subsidy. GLA makes a bit more sense to me.

 

[LBA4EVER]

I just dont get it with our airport, the only reason we see growth is through the ever expanding bucket and spade flights which is of course still great news, but why on earth are all other airports seeing the juicy route announcements ie westjet, and LBA nada! And aint it just typical that when we finally see a decent route announced (blue islands) the airline goes bust 2 weeks later!
Still though LBA is doing great but it would be nice to have something abit different at the airport instead of just LS, FR. Im sure others feel this way?

 

[pug]

I just dont get it with our airport, the only reason we see growth is through the ever expanding bucket and spade flights which is of course still great news, but why on earth are all other airports seeing the juicy route announcements ie westjet, and LBA nada! And aint it just typical that when we finally see a decent route announced (blue islands) the airline goes bust 2 weeks later!
Still though LBA is doing great but it would be nice to have something abit different at the airport instead of just LS, FR. Im sure others feel this way?

It takes time for airports to land big deals, I doubt LBA are in the heavy subsidy game, they know there demand in the region and they’re encouraging growth but must look after the incumbents too. Growth has to be sustainable. Look at how long it took LPL to secure its third based airline for instance.

 

[Snackbar]

Are they? Which routes are subsidised?


Define what you mean by subsidies? Because I'm sure most airlines at most airports are subsidised in some way or another.

See page 4 of the SAU report - all clearly articulated there….”….form of incentive payments to new and existing airlines to expand their operations there” and no most airports do not subsidise routes as usually once the money goes so does theairline….https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/66fbd5f730536cb927482a22/Report_on_the_proposed_subsidy_to_Cardiff_International_Airport_Limited.pdf