Route Development & Rumours

[White Heather]

I believe The Gambia is possible from LBA. It was served or due to be served about 15 years ago for The Gambia Experience using Astraeus Airlines 737-700. If I remember correctly the tour operator went out of business after the first couple of flights.

It operated via Bournemouth, not direct. And it lasted more than a couple of flights.

I thought it went via BOH back in the day?

It did go via Bournemouth.

 

[gulftraveller]

Gambia was once very popular from UK but, as mentioned, is now niche with seasonal flights only from LGW and MAN. The long block times do not fit well for companies such as EXS or EZY.

The UK is poorly served for longer haul destinations in comparison with continental Europe. But as long as UK tourist demand is for cut price, all inclusive holidays in Spain, Portugal and Greece, it will remain that way.

 

[ex_crew]

Am I right that Astreus operated some flights for a very short period or were going to operate to Taba Heights in Egypt ?

 

[White Heather]

Am I right that Astreus operated some flights for a very short period or were going to operate to Taba Heights in Egypt ?

Astreus operated The Gambia (Banjul) via Bournemouth on a 737 700. From memory it lasted about 6 weeks but its a long time ago ......

The Astreus CEO at the time was our own Jonathan Hinkles.

 

[Aviador]

Am I right that Astreus operated some flights for a very short period or were going to operate to Taba Heights in Egypt ?

Yes I recall that too. Not too sure it ever materialised in the end. Our friend JH I think was involved with Astraeus at the time but the problem in getting the flight operational wasn't with the airline but the tour company involved. That's how I remember it but it is a long time ago now.

 

[White Heather]

Yes I recall that too. Not too sure it ever materialised in the end. Our friend JH I think was involved with Astraeus at the time but the problem in getting the flight operational wasn't with the airline but the tour company involved. That's how I remember it but it is a long time ago now.

It did operate.

 

[ex_crew]

This is what I found but don't remember any of these airlines operating it

 

[lbaspotter]

It was definitely Astraeus. The flights were operated by the then Leeds based Boeing 737-700.

Here goes of memory.
The Leeds - Taba was direct for an independent tour operator called . “Voyages Jules Verne“
Leeds - Banjul was via Bournemouth for another independent tour operator called “The Gambian Experience”

Thomas Cook was the main tour operator whom Astraeus did a lot of flying out of Leeds during both during summer & Winter season.

 

[JRP]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2000892251669401884

Dunno if the link works but Sean m has posted this for new routes for 2026 and I can only see one new route from LBA unless I need new glasses and that’s Ryanair to Agadir, surely we have more than that?

 

[752]

easyJet BCN for Summer is new also (it is operating this Winter).

 

[White Heather]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2000892251669401884

Dunno if the link works but Sean m has posted this for new routes for 2026 and I can only see one new route from LBA unless I need new glasses and that’s Ryanair to Agadir, surely we have more than that?

Well I guess he cant list it if it hasn't yet been announced.

 

[LBA4EVER]

https://twitter.com/x/status/2000892251669401884

Dunno if the link works but Sean m has posted this for new routes for 2026 and I can only see one new route from LBA unless I need new glasses and that’s Ryanair to Agadir, surely we have more than that?

So basically absolutely bugger all new! Very disappointing indeed esp as i thought summer 2026 would be the year we see plenty of new announcements with the terminal and infrastructure well underway. The blue islands announcement was a complete disaster which i still find unbelievable, x2 daily then 2 weeks later the airline goes under after many years of service!
Lots of new routes from wizz at luton, still feel wizz could expand more out of LBA, a market to themselves.

 

[White Heather]

So basically absolutely bugger all new! Very disappointing indeed esp as i thought summer 2026 would be the year we see plenty of new announcements with the terminal and infrastructure well underway. The blue islands announcement was a complete disaster which i still find unbelievable, x2 daily then 2 weeks later the airline goes under after many years of service!
Lots of new routes from wizz at luton, still feel wizz could expand more out of LBA, a market to themselves.

Just because there's nowt much in this list doesnt mean there isn't more to come . Ryanair often announce routes at relatively short notice so could still surprise us. So could easyjet for that matter.

As for the terminal development, its not going to be finished until well into next summer so scope/capacity for loads more passengers isn't really there until winter 2026/2027. And we've already got two new Jet2 routes from Feb 2027, Hurghada and Sharm el Sheikh plus Tallin for a month before next Christmas. Chances are there'll be more.

The Blue Islands situation was really disappointing after all the work was done to get them on board with a really significant schedule and effectively two new routes in one, but its not the airports fault. There's still the possibility that once they're settled with their new Jersey base, Loganair could pick it up. They've already said they would look at the other routes to LBA, EMA and NCL in due course.

 

[BCFC]

So basically absolutely bugger all new! Very disappointing indeed esp as i thought summer 2026 would be the year we see plenty of new announcements with the terminal and infrastructure well underway. The blue islands announcement was a complete disaster which i still find unbelievable, x2 daily then 2 weeks later the airline goes under after many years of service!
Lots of new routes from wizz at luton, still feel wizz could expand more out of LBA, a market to themselves.

The amount of rumours we have had this year and as you say none of them came to fruition….where do these rumours start from?

 

[Statto]

The amount of rumours we have had this year and as you say none of them came to fruition….wht do these rumours start from?

From the fact that LBA is now slot coordinated for the summer season and so anyone who wants to operate services has to apply for slots. The details of those slots are then released in a slot report which lots of people get access to. Thats why all the discussion a few weeks ago was specifically about the slot report and, in particular, that Ryanair applied for a lot more slots than their current schedule.

Applying for slots doesn’t mean the airline will follow through on it all, however.

 

[BCFC]

From the fact that LBA is now slot coordinated for the summer season and so anyone who wants to operate services has to apply for slots. The details of those slots are then released in a slot report which lots of people get access to. Thats why all the discussion a few weeks ago was specifically about the slot report and, in particular, that Ryanair applied for a lot more slots than their current schedule.

Applying for slots doesn’t mean the airline will follow through on it all, however.

Seems bonkers then, crazy in fact.

 

[Statto]

Seems bonkers then, crazy in fact.

Why?

 

[Len Fish]

So if an airline bids for slots and receives an allocation can it just sit on them without using them? Plus do they pay anything for an allocation?

 

[Statto]

At Heathrow or probably Gatwick there is more demand for slots than there are available. So at LHR especially, slots are owned, protected and can be traded for often significant amounts between airlines. This isn’t the case at LBA. So applying for a load of slots is just a necessary part of the admin process if you have any intention of operating from there. But I believe the first report is provisional and there is a point in the process where you have to hand them back if you don’t want to use them

 

[HX3]

This is what AI gave as a response to why an airline would request, but may not use a slot.

Airlines request more slots than available at congested airports to gain a strategic advantage, create a buffer for potential schedule changes (
blocking), maximize their presence (legacy rights), secure preferred times, and even trade them later, even if they don't intend to operate all flights, ensuring they have flexibility and presence in a highly competitive environment where slots are valuable assets.

Key Reasons Airlines "Over-Request" Slots:

1. Strategic Buffering (Blocking): Airlines often request slots slightly before or after their ideal time. If the preferred time isn't available, the coordinator moves (blocks) them to the requested alternative. This buffer prevents them from losing a slot entirely if their primary choice fails, allowing for schedule adjustments.
2. Maximizing Presence & Competition: More slots mean a bigger footprint, enhancing brand visibility and offering more choices for passengers, which is crucial at competitive hubs like London Heathrow.
3. Securing Preferred Times: By requesting early, they lock in desirable, high-demand times (like morning or evening peaks) for better connectivity and passenger convenience.
4. Protecting Legacy Rights: A significant factor is the "use-it-or-lose-it" rule, where airlines must use a slot at least 80% of the time to keep it. Having extra slots provides a cushion against low demand or operational issues without losing the core slot.
5. Market Power & Trading: Slots are valuable, almost property-like assets. Airlines might hold excess slots to sell or trade to other carriers, generating revenue or strategic partnerships.
6. Future Growth & Flexibility: Over-requesting allows airlines to adapt to market changes, add frequencies, or enter new markets without waiting for new capacity to become available.
7. Operational Necessity: They need slots at both ends of a route (arrival and departure) and often request multiple variations to ensure the whole journey is viable and consistent.

How the System Works:

• Level 3 Airports: These are slot-coordinated (e.g., major London airports) because demand exceeds capacity.
• Independent Coordinators: A neutral third party (like ACL in the UK) manages the allocation fairly.
• Submission & Allocation: Airlines submit requests, and the coordinator allocates based on rules and available capacity, prioritizing viability and fairness.

Essentially, it's a strategic game to secure vital access to congested airports, balancing operational needs with market competition and future growth.