Flybe

[backtrack]

We can expect things to pick up i would imagine also. I mean at LGW, i would assume most pax are onward connection using VS (virgin atlantic). Im not sure how many would be business?

I would of liked to see VLM start a daily service to LCY using their fokker 50's personally.

 

[backtrack]

Bad times u guess. Got to admit not seen many onward connections as yet... shame really. When LHR was operating id say at least 50% if not more were connection flights.

 

[White Heather]

Flybe have announced that their bookings on the LBA to LGW route are above expectations, and that on 30th June they took more bookings than on any other day since launch - I am not sure but I think that was the date when it was announced that National Express were to lose the East Coast Mainline railway - anyway, it appears that the route is doing OK so far, which has to be good news.

 

[backtrack]

All we need now is an upgrade to the E195! now a regular visitor on the afternoon SOU flight!

 

[WYIA]

A Flybe Dash 8 has just made an emergency landing with full scale evacuation at Gatwick. A picture seems to show it could be off the runway. Info is pretty thin at the moment.

 

[WYIA]

BE1432
CDG-CWL

Diverted to LGW at about 1230

Passengers said to leave the aircraft through the main passenger door and not evacuate. LGW closed one runway for a period and the aircraft was then towed to a remote position after fire service cleared it. Passengers describe smoke/fire onboard however flybe have made only a statement calling it a "priority landing/diversion" due to a suspected technical fault.

 

[Aviador]

Thanks for that update. Hopefully everyone on board are safe.

 

[Bigman]

I see that there are now 19 destinations available from LBA on the drop-down list on the FlyBe website. Limoges and Perpignan have been added.

 

[White Heather]

Pity that most of them are via Gatwick and Southampton with an aircraft change, but if the demand is there, it could lead to more direct routes in time. After all, we have an additional Bergerac flight this year, and how many routes have expanded in the current climate??

 

[Aviador]

Plenty of people are now using LBA as their transit point travelling between Aberdeen and Southampton and between Southampton and Belfast etc etc.

 

[User0001]

Flybe will nightstop an aircraft for the winter season to allow a much better LGW schedule to be operated. There will be an 07:00 departure down to LGW which will be much more attractive for business users

 

[lbaspotter]

Here's the schedule for the planned new LBA based flybe.com Dash 8 aircraft.

BE350 |1|2|3|4|5|_|_| LBA - 07:00 - LGW - 08:15
BE351 |1|2|3|4|5|_|_| LGW - 08:45 - LBA - 09:55
BE350 |_|_|_|_|_|6|_| LBA - 07:55 - LGW - 09:10
BE351 |_|_|_|_|_|6|_| LGW - 09:45 - LBA - 10:55
BE730 |_|_|_|_|_|6|_| LBA - 11:35 - BHD - 12:30
BE731 |_|_|_|_|_|6|_| BHD - 12:55 - LBA - 13:50
BE352 |1|2|3|4|5|_|7| LBA - 14:30 - LGW - 15:45
BE353 |1|2|3|4|5|_|7| LGW - 16:20 - LBA - 17:30
BE356 |1|2|3|4|5|_|7| LBA - 18:10 - LGW - 19:25
BE357 |1|2|3|4|5|_|7| LGW - 19:55 - LBA - 21:05

 

[empire]

Here's the schedule for the planned new LBA based flybe.com Dash 8 aircraft.

It is not a based aircraft, it is a nightstopper.

 

[User0001]

Correct. It will be gatwick based crew and aircraft overnighting in Leeds. Flybe operate the NQY-LGW schedule on the same basis.

 

[lbaspotter]

Oh I see. At least its a better schedule and yet another aircraft parked up on the apron over night at LBA. I guess the LGW crew will have to start exploring Leeds and the surrounding area for some where to stay and some decent Hotel deals.

Also I wonder what they will do with themselves with the aircraft been parked up at LBA from 09:55 till 14:30 Monday to Friday?

It would sure make more sense to use local based crews . But thats for somebody else to decide I guess.

 

[Aviador]

Airlines tend to have contracts with hotels and taxi firms. The Marriott is a popular one at Leeds. I think the only requirement is that they have to have the availability of food so the onsite Travelodge will be out of the question.

 

[backtrack]

Better being a nightstopper in my opinion that what we have at the moment with flybe.

On a more rather depressing note, todays flybe BE731 BHD - LBA Service, (G-ECOV), which landed at 13.10 busrt one of its main gear tyres on landing. The fire service were immediately on the scene, and followed it onto a remote stand as the dash 8 taxied at a very slow 5mph (if that).
The LGW - LBA aircraft that landed shortly after took the BHD passengers to BHD, whilst the LGW passengers have a delay untill a positioner arrives. Currently estimated departure for the LGW flight is at 19.30!

 

[White Heather]

Flybe do seem to be having a lot of 'incidents' recently.

Whilst they are not basing the LGW aircraft here during the winter, the fact that it is night stopping is still significant as they have never done this before. I think the last time they had aircraft overnight at LBA they were still under the Jersey European name and flying F27 Friendships. Hopefully this will prove to be a forerunner of aircraft staying overnight that ARE based at LBA.

 

[Aviador]

[textarea]Flybe Announces More 2010 Early Summer Routes For Leeds Bradford

Flybe, Europe’s largest regional airline and the UK’s number one domestic carrier, has now put on sale its complete new early 2010 summer schedule that features a total 130 flights a week from Leeds Bradford including services to Aberdeen, Belfast City, Exeter and Southampton. These include the 36 flights to and from the airport each week to London Gatwick announced last month, key amongst which is its convenient new early morning departure.

Early sales on Flybe’s popular London Gatwick service for next summer have already proved brisk particularly from those business travellers wanting to take full advantage of early-bird low prices on the new early morning departure from Leeds Bradford (dep 0700 arr LGW 0815) and the later evening departure from London Gatwick (dep 1955 arr Leeds 2105).

All early summer services from Leeds Bradford are all available for booking now at http://www.flybe.com with one way fares from £25.99 including taxes and airport charges. Tickets are valid for travel between 28th March and 30th June 2010.

Mike Rutter, Flybe’s Chief Commercial Officer, comments: “Releasing these final additional flights today gives travellers the opportunity to plan cost effective travel for next summer as early as possible. The travel period currently available also includes the Easter holiday and Bank Holidays, which is great news for families looking for a late spring break or long weekend post exams!

Comments Tony Hallwood, Commercial and Aviation Development Director at Leeds Bradford International Airport: “The addition of Flybe’s 0700 flight to London Gatwick show their continued commitment to serving the region and keeping the business community on the move. An early morning departure from LBA is crucial for our corporate customers who need to be in central London for 9am to attend meetings.
In addition, Flybe’s new summer flight schedule to a selection of cities in the UK is frequent, affordable and convenient for both leisure and business customers.”

Mr Rutter adds: “Our early summer selection of seats feature some of our most popular leisure and business destinations so we’d urge travellers to book early so they don’t miss out on the lowest fares possible.”

Source[/textarea]

 

[Bigman]

Not really more routes is it. We already have them. Give us Frankfurt, Inverness, Guernsey and Newquay please.