Flybe

[Jerry]

You can`t help but wonder how long Eastern are going to be around

Or in what capacity. I can see them ending up an ACMI airline similar to Cityjet.

 

[Finger66]

You can`t help but wonder how long Eastern are going to be around

Maybe this was always the plan. By entering a franchise with Flybe that has given them the opportunity to do away with their reservations staff. They were already short of air crew and reliable aircraft so that is now allowing a gradual phase out of routes. Flybe will then just pick up any that are profitable. These are only my thoughts, not something I know. The one thing we do know is that Eastern aren't the airline they used to be.

 

[Bigman]

So what will happen to the Sunday LBA-SOU? Will this now be operated by a SOU based aircraft, given that the LBA base doesn't seem to be open on Sundays except for the odd footie charter?

 

[Finger66]

Whilst not LBA related I feel this is still very relevant. GDS schedule changes now show T3/BE have also now xxld the NCL - IOM - BHD route from 11Jun. Suspect there is probably more to come. Will keep you posted of any more that come to light.

 

[lbaspotter]

It must be true if Starflyer messaging, As he only ever posts on the threads when the is bad news.

Whilst not LBA related I feel this is still very relevant. GDS schedule changes now show T3/BE have also now xxld the NCL - IOM - BHD route from 11Jun. Suspect there is probably more to come. Will keep you posted of any more that come to light.

Following Eastern routes are off sale as of
June 3rd LBA-ABZ & ABZ-LBA-SOU
June 11th IOM-NCL, IOM-GLA, IOM-BHD & NCL-IOM-BHD

 

[Aviador]

It must be true if Starflyer messaging, As he only ever posts on the threads when the is bad news

Not necessarily LBAspotter, he or she could just be more informed about what's going on at Eastern or Flybe?

 

[lbaspotter]

Not necessarily LBAspotter, he or she could just be more informed about what's going on at Eastern or Flybe?

True and i totally agree with you, just to clarify I wasn't having a go at anyone, It was meant in jest!

 

[Aviador]

Whatever happens, fingers crossed the route can be filled once again soon after. Both Aberdeen and Southampton have featured in the LBA drop down list for many years. Rail travel offers no real alternative, especially for day travellers and people who just want to get their quick.

 

[LBA8098]

Is that the end of T3 at LBA then??

 

[paully]

Is that the end of T3 at LBA then??

looks like an orderly wind down to a different type of business model..

 

[AirBingley]

The LBA - SOU route is now showing as twice daily within Flybe's booking engine with an early morning and early evening rotation and a long daytime layover for the aircraft at LBA from June.

 

[Finger66]

Gds also showing twice a day mon to fri plus a sun eve rotation. All flights showing as op by Saab 2000

 

[lbaspotter]

Rumour has it that LBA-SOU will operate 2x daily and LBA-ABZ will operate 1x daily (Mon to Fri). All flights will be operated by a LBA based Saab 2000 aircraft.

Example aircraft working patten MON-FRI
LBA-SOU
SOU-LBA / LBA-ABZ
ABZ-LBA / LBA-SOU
SOU-LBA

Whilst Sundays will remain ABZ based aircraft operating
ABZ-LBA / LBA-SOU
SOU-LBA / LBA-ABZ

 

[Finger66]

I hope you are right LBASpotter but GDS was showing ABZ as zero'd out. That said GDS on SOU changed from yesterday so who knows what tomorrow brings. It is strange though that GDS shows LBA - SOU Sunday rotation as the same times as the weekday evening rotation and on a S2000 again with ABZ zero'd out on Sunday's. It would be great if we can at least keep a token ABZ service rather than lose it altogether. Will check again tomorrow

 

[Starflyer]

They have advised both airports that the LBA-ABZ route is gone from 3 June. If it returns then it's due to a change of heart. Not totally without precedent but also pretty rare at the same time.

 

[Silvercity]

Whatever happens, fingers crossed the route can be filled once again soon after. Both Aberdeen and Southampton have featured in the LBA drop down list for many years. Rail travel offers no real alternative, especially for day travellers and people who just want to get their quick.

These destinations are two missing from Liverpool also, both have been popular in past and could do with reintroduction.

 

[Finger66]

So todays GDS investigations are as follows:
LBA - SOU - LBA twice a day monday to friday and once on a sunday. All seems to be an LBA based Saab 2000.
LBA - ABZ - LBA now offers "no response from BE". It isnt even zero'd out with BE anymore. So you can definitely draw your own conclusions from that. June July August have always been months where T3 have cut back on schedules because the same level of business traffic is not there as in some other months. The downtime of the Saab at LBA would give scope for something though I suspect it is to remain idle between the morning and evening SOU rotations

 

[Finger66]

Maybe it's time to reinstate that EXT - LBA - ABZ link then lol!

 

[whoshotjimmi]

It has to be said. The last 12 months have been a disaster in terms of lost and reduced connections for LBA. Considering David Laws' ongoing remit to provide more business connections to the airport, as well as the absolute mockery this situation has made of his undeservedly positive article in the YEP just the other day, surely his position has to be up for question.

Other than that, Eastern has been a complete waste of time for a number of years now and I pointed out at the start of this franchise agreement that Eastern would not be able to provide the service they do whilst operating in line with Flybe's business model. This is just the inevitable conclusion to a diabolical situation.

 

[paully]

Bit hard on David Laws Jimmi..I think his words were a statement of intent which no doubt he is still pursuing..Flybe though are a dead loss in themselves.Massively in debt, run by people without much business acumen, hence the deal with an even bigger dead loss called Eastern. No wonder they are often refered to as `Fly Maybe. Sure business connections are presently in the hands of KLM and a declining BA but have faith, something might already be in the pipeline, but I can`t imagine David Laws wasting too much time on unreliable outfits..