Flybe

[a300boy]

The importance of the airport to the local economy and its incoming business connections will have to be re-thought if the business model is now for bucket and spade only flights.
Can we really expect the local authorities to build roads and rail connections whch will have no benefit to the City and local area economy if the airport is only providing holiday flights from which the airport owners are unable to make a profit.

 

[Finger66]

The other problem when it comes to business routes from LBA is a lack of frequency. Business travellers need flexibility and choice. The Capital Airlines model worked there. 3 flights a day minimum requirement. So until someone provides that frequency, with reliable aircraft, then it will be an uphill battle. You only have to look at Eastern for that. But BHD does well. Yes there is water in the way but there is also frequency and therefore choice.

 

[lbaspotter]

You would think Eastern Airways had given up with the Leeds - Aberdeen route already. 2x return rotations were cancelled today and all 3x rotations are cancelled tomorrow

Seriously makes me wonder what Flybe were thinking going into a franchise with of this pile of ****??

 

[Finger66]

I hope LBA can attract someone to support these routes. Interestingly there are rumours of a new start up for Blackpool with a Saab 340. I wish them all the success if it happens but I know from experience just how hard it is to make the numbers work, and not just in the short term, so it won't be an easy ride for them. Maybe they should look at LBA too if they want to get routes under their wing. It's less than a month until T3 stop our ABZ so yes they probably have given up on it, especially as it will push pax towards their franchise partners offering from MAN. I hope DL and LBA do have something up their sleeves to address this decline, alas I fear not.......

 

[Finger66]

So given GDS a few days to have the chance to be updated and still absolutely nothing doing for direct LBA - ABZ flights. The only way to fly the route with BE is via BHD.

 

[lbaspotter]

So given GDS a few days to have the chance to be updated and still absolutely nothing doing for direct LBA - ABZ flights. The only way to fly the route with BE is via BHD.

The Flybe online timetable has also been updated to show ABZ-LBA flights stopping on June 3rd and Southampton route dropping to 2x daily from that date.

 

[lbaspotter]

Further cut backs for Flybe and its franchise with Eastern Airways now confirmed from June 11th.

Aberdeen-Stornoway = Reduced from 11x to 5 x weekly.
Aberdeen-Wick = Reduced from 11x to 9 x weekly

Already confirmed
Aberdee-Leeds = Axed
Aberdeen-Leeds-Southampton =Axed
Leeds-Southampton = Reduced from 19x to 11x weekly.
Isle of Man-Glasgow = Axed
Isle of Man-Newcastle = Axed
Isle of Man-Belfast City = Axed
Newcastle-Belfast City = Axed

Looks like the new management from Bistrow Group involved in running Eastern Aorways are getting rid of the deadwood.
Eg: Cutting there losses by either reducing services or completely running away by withdrawing routes.
Or could it be connected to the ageing and unreliability of the fleet?

 

[lbaspotter]

What are the rumours re donny... new airline?

Big announcement for Donny was confirmed today as a new route by Wizz Air to Debrecen in Hungary.

See below.
http://flydsa.co.uk/latest-news/new-route-to-debrecen-hungary-announced

 

[Bigman]

Isn't that one of those places that you only ever hear about when looking at the Europa League 1st Qualifying Round results?

 

[paully]

Isn't that one of those places that you only ever hear about when looking at the Europa League 1st Qualifying Round results?

LOL

 

[michael]

Another LOL moment, according to FR24 this mornings FlyBe Leeds to Southampton BE7602 is being operated by a BA B772 G VIIP . I was going to say stranger things might happen but on this occasion I'm not too sure!!!

 

[Bob101]

Re: the DSA - Debrecen flights. My company has a large office there and previously the only direct flights were via Luton so this could actually be quite useful for me. Just wish they were starting sooner.

 

[Finger66]

So based on Flybe's fleet announcement covering the next couple of years or so I think we can safely say we won't be getting much if anything in the way of new routes from Flybe. I think we will have to rely on the closure of their DSA base for us to have any chance of more and even then I suspect that will be far from a gimme. Someone please tell me where our next bit of good news is going to come from? And as you know it's not like me to be overly negative!

 

[Jerry]

If Flybe do launch more routes from LBA then it will probably be with non based aircraft.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

Someone please tell me where our next bit of good news is going to come from

Surely everyday is good news, we should get a parkway rail connection in the next decade, a proper link road, parkNride for both airport and central leeds. A reduction in the present poor air quality for local residents.
Relations between locals and residents vital if the airport is to grow, in my view the best for 3 decades, the new rail station and link road will improve even further this relationship.
Because of the strength of local feeling, I doubt any changes will be ever made to the currant landing position for runway 32, the airport must wait for aircraft that have the range but are able to use the existing airfield and its noise abatement regulations, if were ever to see long distance flights.
We should embrace that the airport can reach over 60 destinations this summer, that the second biggest package holiday company in the u.k. has a major presence at the airport and locally, 4 million passengers are passing through and that that many far off overseas destinations can be reached using the 4 major hub airports LBA linked too.
Regretfully commercial events will cause services to vanish or be curtailed, FLybe must be a huge concern for LBA management, they have now spent the £150m of their rights issue, most in the city feel very unwisely, how do they raise further capital, thye have had more business plans then I have had hot dinners in the last decade. I have no idea what security LBA has for its Flybe debts, insurance, asset security etc., but if I was the airport financial director, debt security rather then route expansion would be top of my list.
Chasing route development is fine as long as your getting paid, LBA now taken the special assistance staff on their payroll, a excellent move, and it may well be that all airport operations, baggage handling etc should come in house, Carillion, Interserve etc have shown that outsourcing companies maybe dont work and we should turn the clock back 50 years.
All industries have their failures which impact on all the rest, LBA suffered an impact from the demise of Monarch last year, the possible implosion of Norwegian airways, unless IAG rescues, will impact on many u.k. airports and LBA will get the rippling aftershocks.

 

[oldendays]

Agree with most of what you say TarnSpotter. However, the aircraft that could feasibly use RW32 as it stands for long haul are already in service, i.e. the Boeing 787 and Airbus A350. And we still ain't seeing them at Leeds Bradford. Today at Manchester, however, I have seen Qatar and TUI 787s and A350s from Singapore Airlines and Cathay Pacific. This is the problem for long haul as far as LBA is concerned. Always has been.

 

[a300boy]

Just had a couple of days at Frankfurt Airport !
Unbelievable numbers of B787 and A350 plus B744 and B748 movements and a great viewing deck for 3 euros per day. A bus trip around the airfield for 7 euros which took an hour.
I had to fly from Manchester on one of the almost 5 daily flights to Frankfurt 4 by Lufthansa and 1 by Ryanair

 

[Finger66]

I don't doubt FRA is a sustainable route from LBA however I understand FRA doesn't have much in the way of spare slots. Germany as a whole is still an untapped market from LBA but so is BRU and CDG is thin with current capacity. Just needs someone to take the Bull by the horns rather than being "cow"ardly

 

[Tarn Spotter]

Not sure I would want to fly in to Frankfurt unless there was no other choice.
Over the years often had to use the airport as a hub and its an awful experience, if you have to reclaim your luggage, for an onward flight, can take hours, okay if you can send your cases forward.
The security is usually poor and rude with long queues, there are long walks between each terminal, signage is often poor, some of the old gates are dingy dark and in mid summer stiffling.
Now older and needing a trolley, you cant take them on the transit shuttle, which means another trolley payment..
Makes passing through LBA seem like a walk in the park and a really pleasant experience.

 

[a300boy]

Yes I had a little hassle at security !