Route Development & Rumours

[WYIA]

Re: Potential Routes

I know that there is the argument about diluting traffic on existing routes but is it completely inconceivable that we won't see Air France through one of its subsidiaries flying LBA-CDG alongside KLM on LBA-AMS?

No not at all, again not what i said. Just not a FK70 LBA-CDG of KLM cityhopper.

Two minor points but Airlinair are a franchise, not a subsidary, and Cityjet are of course Irish

Oh yes sorry, franchise Airlinair is but still more chance of them operating the LBA-CDG for Air France.. that is the point i was trying to get across Humberside and i dont think my post was misleading in anyway. Cityjet yes they are Irish... but an Air France subsidary and again more chance of AF turning to them.

Who knows what the future... may hold but you can not compare LBA-CDG to LHR-LAX, EWR-AMS joint ventures.

 

[Bigman]

Re: Potential Routes

Very interesting conversation this. I personally see no reason why AF/KLM couldn't operate LBA-CDG with a second based F70. They are the same airlines now on papers and surely the chane to mop up the interlining business from Yorkshire would be as good a reason as any to give it a go. AF from CDG fly to a lot of destinations that KLM don't from AMS.

 

[drpiruthivi]

Re: Potential Routes

AF from CDG fly to a lot of destinations that KLM don't from AMS

Exactly. My point is also same. Hope it happens (AF/KLM LBA-CDG 2/3X daily rotations) soon..

Anyway, happy to see that many are interested in this topic (Which I started!! :good: )

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Potential Routes

Re the possible dilution of traffic I accept that my post did not make the point I was trying to make clear enough.

When AF restarted its BRS-CDG route (previously flown by AF Regional with ERJ 145s) it was the first time they had flown the route since joining with KLM and there were those (not on this forum) who suggested that some traffic would be taken from the KLM BRS-AMS route which meant that in some ways AF/KLM would be competing against itself.

In the event both routes have held up well with KLM's reduction in rotations this summer not matched by a similar reduction in passenger numbers.

If it can work at Bristol I don't see why it won't work at LBA and there seems to be general agreement in this thread that it could or would.

 

[backtrack]

Re: Potential Routes

As the thread title explains, lets discuss new routes you would like to see operating from LBA. I have thought about 40 routes so far, some less feasable than others i know, but see what you think and add your own;

The UK & Ireland:
London Heathrow, London City, Guernsey, Shannon, Inverness

Spain, Italy, Germany & Portugal:
Oporto, Lisbon, Jerez de la frontera, Madrid, Seville, Reus, Valencia, Naples, Hamburg, Munich, Frankfurt (Hahn), Berlin.

Eastern Europe:
Warsaw, Budapest, Kiev, Gdansk, Wroclaw, Stockholm, Katowice, Riga

Other European:
Rekyavik, Zurich, Copenhagen, Athens, Kos, Kefalonia, Casablanca, Tunis, Funchal, Marrakesh

USA & Canada:
Toronto, Montreal, Orlando, New York, Boston, Miami

Other Long Haul:
Dubai, Mexico City, Lahore, karachi

 

[Bigman]

Re: Potential Routes

I would also add Cardiff, Derry, St Etienne (Lyon), Oslo Torp, Gothenburg, Bergen, Split, Izmir and Bratislava (Vienna)

 

[White Heather]

Re: Potential Routes

I would like to see Cork and Galway in Ireland rather than Shannon, which I don't really think will ever be a success. If Ryanair can't make it work who will?

I would also go for Tel Aviv (Jet2), and Brindisi which I believe is a Ryanair base. We have nothing to Southern Italy at all.

All those mentioned above would be nice, especially Montreal so I don't have to faff around going to Heathrow or Amsterdam next May!!

 

[Bigman]

Re: Potential Routes

Do you not think that the Shannon was killed off when they retimed the flights? Who would want to be at Shannon airport for a 06:30 flight on a Sunday morning after a good bender the night before?

Maybe, if they brought it back with sensible flight times it might have a better chance of success. Having said that, I would also like to see Cork back.

 

[WYIA]

Re: Potential Routes

I think the Jet2 Tel Aviv route from Manchester does too well for them, I dont think they will look at it from leeds and risk affecting the Manchester numbers. The larger Jewish community is also towards Manchester.

I think LBA really needs to get more Egypt on the map, we only have a sharm. This holiday destination is booming right now, people love getting out of the Euro zone! Luxor, Hurghada could easy be a winner for Jet2 or another Charter airline.

Its great to see Antalya finally makes it to the list of Turkey destinations from Leeds, great to get to Side and Alanya. More capacity would be great and lets hope Onur comes back in with the A300.

I also hope a low fares service can be re-introduced for Gran Canaria! Ryanair are doing it this winter from several UK airports, however I dont think it will be a year round service. The island really needs support right now, its a fab destination that can be done on a shoe string despite the Euro.

 

[ls27]

Re: Potential Routes

Alas I don't think Onur Air have any A300s now. The last fleet list showed that they had gone, and that was earlier in the year. That is more than likely why LBA was reduced to A321s this summer.

 

[WYIA]

Re: Potential Routes

Vile, Poor mans 757 lol

 

[White Heather]

Re: Potential Routes

I have only flown on the A321 once (First Choice Airlines from LBA to ACE via Cork as it was an end of season flight and doing a split load), but I thought it was really nice. Like all the Airbuses, it had more leg room and wider seats that the Boeings do. I have always found the same with the A320 too. What I don't like with the Airbuses though is the loud whining noise every time the undercarriage goes up or down, or whenever the flaps and slats are moved. The first time I flew on one (after only ever flying on Boeings previously) I wondered what the hell was going on as we climbed out of Palma!

I have now got the choice of flying to Montreal next May on an Air Canada A330. BA Boeing 777 or KLM MD11. Thoughts on which would be best from a purely aircraft preference point of view? My leaning is towards the A330 simply as it is less crowded with a 2-5-2 seating layout.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Potential Routes

I've not flown with Air Canada, have flown with BA but not on a 777 and have flown with KLM on an MD 11.

That was around ten years ago to/from Vancouver and the daft things I remember is that the fleet members were each given a woman's name. We had Florence Nightingale one way (Britannia also had a F N in their 737-200 days when all their aircraft were named after Great Britons, though they were a bit flexible and included one or two Commonwealth names such as the New Zealand pioneer pilot, Jean Batten) and Audrey Hepburn the other.

The MD 11 was fine. From memory its seat configuration was 2-4-3. I know we managed to get the side with the two seats both ways.

I'm a misery on a long haul flight if I can't get a window seat so if the AC 330 is 2-5-2 I would opt for that myself because the chance of a window seat without a third person interloper is doubled.

Let us know what you decide in due course.

 

[White Heather]

Re: Potential Routes

Thanks Local Yokel. Will do.

Being very supportive of my local airport I really would like to fly KLM via AMS, but the transfer times either have me leaving LBA too early (0605) and sitting in AMS for 5 hours, or too late and having no room for manouevre in the event of a delay. Alternatively I can fly BMi (A319) from MAN then AC from Heathrow, or BA from MAN/LHR. The BA prices are highest and they charge extra to choose seats unless you wait until 7 days before flying, by which time all the best ones are probably gone. But BA involves no terminal change and much better timings. AC allow you to choose your seat and are around £40 less than BA but the timings are not as good, resulting in having to use the M62 and M60 in the rush hour, which isn't ideal.

Decisions, Decisions !!

 

[lbaspotter]

Re: Potential Routes

Hi

A freind of mine who works for a travel agent has said that LBA is looking at reinstating a direct link to Toronto from the summer 2011 season. Canadian affair is said to be intrested but they cant find the right airline to partner with just yet.

Canadian affair work with both Air Transat and Thomas Cook on the UK to Canada market.

 

[Aviador]

Re: Potential Routes

I would have thought Thomas Cook would be obliging given their expanding presence at Leeds.

 

[White Heather]

Re: Potential Routes

I have seen elsewhere that Jet2 are in talks with Canadian Affair and LBA to operate the Toronto route. I would presume that if they do it would be on a 757WL , but of course there might also be scope to upgrade it to a 767 if the demand is there, or, operate a 767 on a split load like Air Transat used to do, for example LBA - NCL - YYX.

 

[XEROX]

Re: Potential Routes

Leeds-Bradford in talks with Air France-KLM boss
12:26pm Monday 21st December 2009

Print Email Share By Chris Holland »


Bosses at Leeds-Bradford Inter-national Airport are hopeful that initial talks with an international airline chief will lead to an expansion of key routes within 18 months.

They are keen to develop more services for destinations used by business travellers, many of whom currently drive to Manchester Airport to catch direct international flights.

Henry Hourcade, the new UK boss of airline Air France-KLM, made his first visit to LBIA and met with Tony Hallwood, LBIA’s commercial director.

KLM operates three flights a day between LBIA and Amsterdam Schiphol airport which provides an international gateway to more than 600 destinations worldwide.

Airport chiefs want to expand that service and also introduce extra flights between LBIA and Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, probably in 2011.

Mr Hallwood, who recently launched a regional campaign to bring daily New York flights to LBIA, is also keen to expand services to Europe.

He briefed Mr Hourcade, Air France-KLM UK chief executive, about the £28 million upgrade and expansion of the main terminal complex on which airport chiefs hope work will start in the first half of next year.

Mr Hourcade said: “I agree with the aim of reducing the number of travellers who currently drive across the M62 to Manchester.

“It is against this background that we will look to consolidate our Amsterdam services, which provide Bradford and Yorkshire business and leisure travellers with a convenient link to more than 600 international destinations through Schiphol. We have a common interest with LBIA, whose development plans I saw for the first time and was impressed with the plan to attract more passengers to the major international hub of Amsterdam Schiphol.

“These are difficult times for aviation but I would hope that we can work with LBIA with a view to further expansion of our operations.”

Mr Hallwood said: “It’s early days, but we were very encouraged by our first meeting with Henry who underlined Air France-KLM’s commitment to the airport.

“We need to get more people to recognise the benefits of using the Amsterdam route and I’m also hoping that we could see extra services between LBIA and Paris, probably in 2011.”

Low-cost airline Ryanair, which is transferring its operations from Manchester to Leeds-Bradford next March, has pulled out of talks with Boeing.

It had planned a potential multibillion-dollar order for up to 200 new aircraft.

The decision will result in a major change in strategy for the airline, which has no plans to reopen discussions with other aircraft manufacturers While a separate deal for the delivery of 112 Boeing 737s over the next three years will still take place, Ryanair said it will reduce growth and capital expenditure beyond 2012 to maximise returns to shareholders.

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/b ... to_Europe/

***************

Hopefully some good news if this does go ahead.

 

[White Heather]

Re: Potential Routes

Indeed it would. Ideally we need the Amsterdam up to 4 times a day with peak flights on an E190, and a new service to Paris CDG to replace what we lost when BMi packed up is vital. The Jet2 service is little use when only daily particularly for interlining passengers wanting to fly to destinations with French connections such as French Canada and the French West Indies (like me!!). It is a pity we have to wait until 2011 but in the current climate I guess we will just have to wait and hope.

 

[backtrack]

Re: Potential Routes

Seems very encouraging indeed this report. One of many things needed at LBIA in order for it to achieve its full potential of an up-coming majorly growing regional airport, currently sitting with less than 3M passenger throughput. I wonder what Mr Hourcade thought of our current passenger figures and how he thought these could be improved with some new operations by Air France/KLM.

White Heather, i think you're right with regard to the AMS route, an upgrade to 4 x a day at potentially better timings on an embraer 190 would be a great improvement, and if so the less demand flights for example, the middle two rotations are using Fokker70 craft. If advertised correctly and passenger numbers increase, showing demand there, KLM may decide to operate AMS-LBA using B738 aircraft, its possible if the demand is there. Plus would they consider offering flights to continental Europe, an area well known to Ryanair, and a gaping big hole in LBA's destination list.

With regard to Air France, services from then would be a good one for the spotters definately, and connections to CDG welcomed, with better timings again, with onward connections provided in the same way as KLM AMS does currently.

However, 2011 is a long time away yet, and nothing is definate, but a very pleasing read albeit.