Route Development & Rumours

[JakeS]

As Jet2 begin to replace the 733's with 738's focusing more and more on bucket and spade destinations it interests me if city routes could still be filled on an 800 namely Paris and perhaps Düsseldorf. Jet2 to Paris for example... I'm sure Air France-KLM/ Hop would be eying up an E190? Interesting times ahead.

 

[Aviador]

Definitely interesting times ahead although I am less optimistic we'll get the outcome we'd like which is either Jet2 purchasing aircraft more suited to city destinations or selling the routes to other airlines with the equipment for the job. I think there is probably too much economic uncertainty for either of those scenarios to materialise at the present time.

 

[oldendays]

I shouldn't worry too much folks. Jet2 may be retiring the older 733s but those with winglets (LH and LI) and the newer members ( FB, FH etc.) will be around for a few years yet. So, provided the likes of Paris, Jersey and Dusseldorf remain sufficiently profitable, they won't be going anywhere in the near future. Of course, routes such as these may no longer fit the business model in years to come if Jet2 fully embraces the business of package holiday and flight operator.

As an aside, the current obvious successor to the 733 is the 737-700. I suppose, technically, it would be possible to convert some existing -800 orders to the -700, if there was to be a long-term future for such a sub-fleet within Jet2's plan. As I've just alluded to, the plan could change according to the company's preferred business model.

Gasp !

 

[yorkie40]

Why don't jet2 order some 900s aswell they could replace the 757s we'll sort of!!

 

[Bigman]

Cue the discussions on performance issues of 737/900's at LBA!!!!

 

[LBA787]

I'm quite sure the max will replace the 75's.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

Some 700's would indeed help replace the thinner routes that the company has especially from LBA, and in turn would further allow them to add these routes from other bases (JER,SXF and other city routes) that do not warrant the size of the 800.

As for 757 replacements - who knows. They are around to stay, apparently, until into 2020's (they go out full week in week out in peak summer and in winter TFS seems to be rammed). Personally i think the 737(max) is a dead do do. Why Boeing are insistent on flogging something from the 1960's i'll never know. Who knows the direction J2/H will take over the next 5 years, but i would imagine if long haul is in the pipeline it is the question of will they go down the avenue of what Thomson have (78/73) or do the Thomas Cook Avenue (Airbus). I would much prefer them to do airbus, 319/20/21 and 30.

As for route development, whilst AMS/CDG/DUS are 'business routes' i do not see Jet2 dropping these. They have have waved a path for the business segment out of LBA area and do well in terms of selling seats to business people as well as leisure.

 

[Jerry]

As for route development, whilst AMS/CDG/DUS are 'business routes' i do not see Jet2 dropping these.

Unless they plan to transition to a holiday airline more like Thomson and Thomas Cook? Do they have any 737 700's on order?

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

No 700's as yet. And they do well on the said routes. I just can't see an 800 going to JER or to PSA from LBA. It is a 300/700 sized route. Who knows ... after all think next year is all about STN/BHX.

 

[White Heather]

I have heard nothing, but they do tend to play cards very close to chest. It hasn't been too bad a year though has it? New routes to Warsaw, Bratislava, Vilnius (again), Berlin (again), Newquay, and earlier in they year Guernsey, and still to come next year there is Thessalonika.

 

[rmac]

I agree that WOW may well be a possible new route with its connections to the USA especially because there are no direct flights to the likes of New York, etc from West Yorkshire, except of course Aer Lingus Reg via Dublin which appears to be quite successful. I would have thought that Reykjavik itself would be popular destination in itself.

 

[whoshotjimmi]

I would like to chirp in and say that Icelandair is consistently the cheapest way of getting to most of the United States from London - and by some margin too (based on skyscanner searches). One can only assume that WOW is even cheaper. They additionally have the option of splitting any trip from Europe to the US in two and spending up to 7 days in Iceland at no extra cost. I suspect that Keflavik will eventually become a new 'hub' for flights between Europe and North America both in Low Cost and Full Service form. Trying to get WOW on board at LBA ought to be a priority. The downside to this idea is that WOWs route network is still relatively undeveloped and you have to imagine that LBA is very low on their list of expansion opportunities.

 

[lbaspotter]

I keep hearing rumors of Iberia Express launching a 2x weekly Leeds-Madrid service.
Wither it happens remains to be seen, But I see they have just announced this morning a new Cardiff-Madrid service starting for summer 2017.

 

[ethanegcc]

I think this would be perfect, although could it dent their MAN figures? As much as it would be great for LBA to expand, wouldn't NCL be a better option for them? So they served CWL, BHX, MAN, NCL, EDI going north?

I am not sure, but even so if LBA scored this service, it would be superb and show commitment from IAG - although a BA night stopper should top that list, imo.

 

[lbaspotter]

Honestly would a 2x weekly Leeds - Madrid service really dent there own Manchester - Madrid figures, especilly when the have multiple airlines already flying to Madrid.
It was announced a few weeks ago that Ryanair are starting a Madrid - Newcastle route from next summer so the is no reason for Iberia Express to go there now.

So all the more reason to try and attempt them into Leeds and open up 1 point connection to South America. I understand Jet2 did really well with passenger loads on there previous attempt at Leeds - Madrid but we're forced out by price increases by the Spanish Airport operator. So it was better for them to send full aircraft on the sunshine/beach routes instead.

You only have to look at what Vueling have done with 2x weekly Leeds - Barcelona up against both Jet2 and Monarch. Has that effected or distorted the Manchester- Barcelona route? No...

I hear we should be hearing from IAG and the owners of Heathrow Airport very shortly regards the carrot which was dangled in front of LBA owners Bridgepoint Capital as part of them supporting expansion and runway 3..

 

[rmac]

I believe Ryanair are to start NCL-MAD. An FR LBA -MAD would be something I would have thought was in the pipeline sometime however IB Express would be better.

 

[ethanegcc]

Can I just point out, FR does not serve the same purpose as IB. We have those two operating at MAN. You also have two connection points to S. America - BA and KL. IB is not all that strong in MAN so, comparing it to BCN which is a much larger o&d market is inadequate.

I am completely for IB to start LBA-MAD. I have said before that I am completely in favour of LBA growing and another European airline starting flights would do that. I do wonder whether LH also have an eye on LBA with a CRJ/E190?

 

[White Heather]

Can I just point out, FR does not serve the same purpose as IB. We have those two operating at MAN. You also have two connection points to S. America - BA and KL. IB is not all that strong in MAN so, comparing it to BCN which is a much larger o&d market is inadequate.

I am completely for IB to start LBA-MAD. I have said before that I am completely in favour of LBA growing and another European airline starting flights would do that. I do wonder whether LH also have an eye on LBA with a CRJ/E190?

I wish with regard to Lufthansa, because they are an airline LBA has courted for many years and they have consistently refused in order to protect their interests in MAN, despite the fact that there is plenty of evidence that the passenger numbers are sufficient to support operations on both sides of the Pennines. Iberia Express would be the ideal choice on MAD so we can have connections through to South America on Iberia, but twice weekly is insufficient. That would be fine for weekenders, and some interlining, but we need to be covering any business passengers too, and they would be looking for a considerably greater frequency. I would suggest 4 times a week would be required (3 as a minimum).

 

[lbaspotter]

Did anyone from the airport's management (eg Tony Hallwood) travel to IATA slot conference that was been held in Atlanta last week?
Because if anyone did attend from LBA it may mean we might have some more route announcements for next year. It just seems to have gone really quite of late and its times like these that the airport has managed to spring a surprise route announcement eg Vueling/Barcelona & SAS/Copenhagen, which no one was expecting!

 

[mdobuk21]

I saw this about the conference and thought the exact same thing. I hope someone did attend from LBA. Like you say it has been really quiet regarding route expansion (not including Ryanair etc). Other airports seem to announce new routes/operators quite regularly. Hoping we can attract Iberia Express or possibly a Eurowings??