Flybe

[012tom012]

It was reduced to two rotations, though three rotations seem to be operating most if not all weekdays at the moment.

 

[lbia]

Loads are generally around 35-45 so not too bad, Southmpton and Belfast City seem to attract roughly similar loads, whilst I can't imagine LGW is hugely profitable for Flybe I think it is a fair success considering it is not a well established route from LBA.

 

[White Heather]

Well if it is carrying loads of that size, then it is likely to do even better in the summer and even better again as the recession improves. Hopefully they will look to the future and stick with it.

 

[lbaspotter]

Here is the full list of flybe’s new Alpha Numeric flight number tie ups.

BE350 LBA-LGW = BEE01KN
BE351 LGW-LBA = BEE03KB
BE352 LBA-LGW = BEE02YV
BE353 LGW-LBA = BEE08JQ
BE356 LBA-LGW = BEE09NR
BE357 LGW-LBA = BEE05EL

BE171 SOU-LBA = BEE07DE
BE172 LBA-SOU = BEE049R
BE173 SOU-LBA = BEE703N
BE174 LBA-SOU = BEE05CK
BE175 SOU-LBA = BEE02PL
BE176 LBA-SOU = BEE05EL

BE729 BHD-LBA = BEE074H
BE730 LBA-BHD = BEE542B
BE731 BDH-LBA = BEE04RG
BE732 LBA-BHD = BEE01PE
BE733 BHD-LBA = BEE078E
BE734 LBA-BHD = BEE06DB

BE643 EXT-LBA = BEE02CH
BE644 ABZ-LBA = BEE06KB

Only non changes made by flybe are the BEE0643 to Aberdeen and BEE0644 to Exeter

 

[Aviador]

The LBA website indicates that Flybe is to operate services to Belfast tomorrow... but to Belfast International if the information is to be believed?

Flybe.com: Flights cancelled Mon 19th Apr 10. Confirmed for Tues 20th Apr 10:
BE733 from BELFAST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT on the 20th April at 1930.
BE734 to BELFAST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT on the 20th April at 1955.

 

[White Heather]

Everything is shown as cancelled again now in view of this latest ash cloud.

 

[News Guru]

[textarea]Flybe Launches latest 'Book with Confidence' with Leeds Bradford Airport (LBIA). Insure against disasters.

Flybe, the UK’s Number One Domestic airline, has become the first airline in the world to offer its passengers the opportunity to buy separate Volcanic Ash Insurance underwritten by their travel insurance partner, Chartis.

The innovative measure has been designed to offer long-suffering travellers the opportunity to book and get on the move once again with renewed confidence not only following the disappointment of two failed ‘barbeque summers’ and the curse of last year’s ‘Staycation’ but, now, following the volcanic ash disruption of the past week.

Mike Rutter, Flybe’s Chief Commercial Officer explains: “All these events will undoubtedly combine to dent travellers’ confidence and generate understandable doubts. Will we be able to fly away and enjoy a well deserved ‘sea and sun’ holiday farther away from home this year either in the UK or Europe? Will our holiday plans again be scuppered? So, Flybe’s way of helping restore travel confidence is twofold .

“While we fully stand by our commitments under EU regulation 261, regardless of our concerns about the justness of its design, Flybe nevertheless wants to make sure our passengers have insurance to help pay for any additional costs they may face due to authorities closing airspace and scuppering their travel plans.”

Tony Hallwood, LBIA Commercial Director, added: ''We are delighted to support this flagship initiative to give passengers peace of mind when booking flights on all of Flybe's domestic routes from LBIA linking Yorkshire to London Gatwick, Belfast, Southampton and Exeter'.

The option to purchase this separate Volcanic Ash policy is available with all online bookings made between today and May 10th 2010 and, for £6.99 per person, will reimburse the policyholder for any holiday costs already paid if the flight is cancelled prior to departure or delayed for more than 24 hours due to airspace being closed by the UK Civil Aviation Authority or overseas equivalent.*

If passengers are stranded away from home it will pay for any reasonable unplanned-for costs incurred for additional accommodation and travel expenses up to £150 for each 24 hour period (maximum £1,050) in the event of the passenger being stranded away from home.

The announcement complements Flybe’s ‘Smile’ campaign that was launched at the weekend promoting the fact that Flybe wasted no time in returning to the skies with its normal extensive regional schedule and ensuring Britain gets back on the move.

Adds Mr Rutter: “Flybe is making no money from this initiative. In creating this new Volcanic Ash policy with our travel insurance partner, Chartis, we have worked hard to ensure that, should any future volcanic activity result in any further flight cancellations or delays, Flybe will be there for them.”

Flybe’s Volcanic Ash policy will be available at the time of booking as a stand alone product or in conjunction with any of its other existing travel insurance offerings. The Policy is available to all UK residents and those of the Channel Islands with online bookings made with immediate effect for the next 14 days at www.flybe.com.

Source[/textarea]

 

[Bigman]

Nice of Tony to forget Aberdeen in his press statement.

Is it just me or is not much said about FlyBe these days. They just seem to be plodding on nicely, but there seems to be no hint of any expansion. HUY seems to be their current focus in these parts.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Flybe tend to do this.

They will move in or increase their presence at an airport with all sorts of hints or even stated intentions of developing something really big, then..................................well, nothing or not very much.

It's been seen at such places as Liverpool and Bristol, and Cardiff is waiting expectantly for Flybe to expand in the way it suggested it would a year or so ago.

 

[lbaspotter]

Flybe now have there winter 2010/11 programme of flights on sale.

Here is the planned LBA services details.

Non based Aircraft
BE643 = EXT-LBA = 14:50-15:55 = 12345-7
BE644 = LBA-EXT = 19:55-21:00 = 12345-7

BE643 = LBA-ABZ = 16:20-17:35 = 12345-7
BE644 = ABZ-LBA = 18:15-19:30 = 12345-7

BE729 = BHD-LBA = 07:10-08:10 = 12345--
BE730 = LBA-BHD = 08:35-09:35 = 12345--
BE729 = BHD-LBA = 08:00-09:00 = -----6-
BE730 = LBA-BHD = 09:25-10:25 = -----6-
BE729 = BHD-LBA = 12:25-13:20 = ------7
BE730 = LBA-BHD = 13:45-14:45 = ------7
BE731 = BHD-LBA = 15:50-16:50 = 12345--
BE732 = LBA-BHD = 17:15-18:15 = 12345--
BE733 = BHD-LBA = 18:30-19:30 = 12345-7
BE734 = LBA-BHD = 19:55-20:50 = 12345-7

BE171 = SOU-LBA = 07:20-08:25 = 12345--
BE172 = LBA-SOU = 08:50-10:00 = 12345—
BE171 = SOU-LBA = 11:15-12:20 = ------7
BE172 = LBA-SOU = 12:45-13:50 = ------7
BE173 = SOU-LBA = 15:40-16:45 = 12345--
BE174 = LBA-SOU = 17:10-18:15 = 12345--
BE175 = SOU-LBA = 18:25-19:30 = 12345-7
BE176 = LBA-SOU = 19:55-21:00 = 12345-7

Based Aircraft
BE350 = LBA-LGW = 07:00-08:20 = 12345--
BE351 = LGW-LBA = 08:55-10:05 = 12345--
BE350 = LBA-LGW = 07:35-08:55 = -----6-
BE351 = LGW-LBA = 09:35-10:45 = -----6-
BE352 = LBA-LGW = 10:45-12:00 = 12345-7 Flight retimed to mid morning instead of Afternoon
BE353 = LGW-LBA = 16:30-17:35 = 12345-7
BE356 = LBA-LGW = 18:10-19:25 = 12345-7
BE357 = LGW-LBA = 19:55-21:05 = 12345-7

BE172 = LBA-SOU = 11:25-12:30 = -----6-
BE171 = SOU-LBA = 12:55-14:00 = -----6-

 

[jason1-11]

Looks like the based unit will do a sector ex Gatwick between 12:00 and 16:30.

Does it usualy sit on the deck at the LBIA between the early and afternoon flights Monday to Friday?

 

[012tom012]

Yeah it normally sits there from around 1000 until around 1430, good to see that the LGW is continuing at 3x daily, must be working for FlyBe!

 

[lbaspotter]

Looks like the based unit will do a sector ex Gatwick between 12:00 and 16:30.

Possibly Nantes looking at the timings

Do Flybe have any crew based at LBA yet, or is it nightstopping Gatwick crew?

From what I have been told the Leeds based aircraft is operated by Manchester based crews who travel over the M62 everyday.

 

[empire]

Indeed the aircraft will do LGW-NTE inbetween the LBA sectors from July as a way to increase revenue with an additional sector to offset the operating costs of the unit. Don't be disillusioned, LBA-LGW is not performing well, inspite the various previous reschedules and rejigged crew origins, consider this as the last survival move for the route. Flybe review their route performance on a quarterly basis, so just because it is on sale for winter does not necessarily mean it will operate.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

I flew down to LGW on last flight on Wednesday- 24 pax. Stewardess said there had been 48 on the inbound. I returned last night (13th)- total pax 44.

Not looking good, having said this I believe that Southampton has been running light for years.

 

[WYIA]

I flew on the Late back in to Leeds last Monday, about 10 people on it. Shocking! People are not supporting this service & i fear it will get the chop. I am starting to think LCY may have done better,i think the bulk of people wanting to fly to London are wanting to get to the city for business or a trip & no longer connect to flights from LGW or LHR to further destinations.

I think most people on business see LBA-LGW then transport to the city a farse, the ash delays will have further impacted this. I fear the train is still drawing more business.

 

[Bigman]

Even more so from thsi weekend when Grand Central start their Bradford-Kings Cross service. Some trains going at £67 return.

 

[backtrack]

I agree with WYIA. I fear the service will be axed soon. Flybe cant operate a route with poor load figures. They will have to look at the average, and make a decision.

I think the LHR drop was a major blow for LBA, okay an Airbus A319/320 not the biggest of aircraft you will see going into LHR, but was good enough to support regional services across the UK. Even operating it on an E-145 was better than nothing. And now with the new government not supporting the 3rd runway, any hope or chance of regional LHR flights resuming are almost none.

If LGW, does go, what are the chances of LCY starting? I see the attraction for business pax, and think it may work better for the airport and airline operating it. I once suggested VLM, now citiflyer operate it with their Fokker 50's, could see that working. Or another possibility, could flybe operate into LCY from LBA, using a Dash 8 Q400? - they have no problem getting into LCY

 

[WYIA]

I really do hope that a LCY route is once again looked at. Cityjet would be perfect for it with the FK50 or RJ. Time will tell, it just needs an airline with a realistic price scale & good departure times to come along and make it work. Not make a complete hash of it like bmi did.

 

[Galaxy]

Agreed, I used the LGW route a few weeks back, the service was exceptional and timings inc connections were still better for me than getting into Leeds and getting the train, the price was slightly less to fly on this occasion also. However the aircraft was much less than half full in both directions. I do think that LCY would be a better option, it is so close to central London and Canary Wharf / the new Olympic site, that I'm sure it would draw custom. There can't be capacity issues at LCY, I go down there once a year and there are always long gaps with nothing in or out and spaces on the deck. i've never seen a Dash-8 there, but having seen how little runway they need at Leeds, I'm sure there would be no problem at LCY.