Flybe

[Finger66]

No one is suggesting everyone is going to west london, in just the same way not everyone is going to central london. I do agree it needs more than just point to point but some seem to be suggesting there isnt any. Get an interline and the two should go nicely hand in hand

 

[paully]

No one is suggesting everyone is going to west london, in just the same way not everyone is going to central london. I do agree it needs more than just point to point but some seem to be suggesting there isnt any. Get an interline and the two should go nicely hand in hand

OK you have a point but frankly who would want to interline with this lot...They would need to establish themselves as reliable first and I suggest they are a very long way from that..

 

[KARFA]

No one is suggesting everyone is going to west london, in just the same way not everyone is going to central london. I do agree it needs more than just point to point but some seem to be suggesting there isnt any. Get an interline and the two should go nicely hand in hand

I am not suggesting there isn’t any, but clearly there isn’t enough on its own to sustain the route. In fact the majority of passengers on that route should really be those connecting and that should be what any airline on that route tries to get. Hopefully BE will sort out a codeshare agreement soon, otherwise I fear the route is not long for this world.

 

[Aviador]

You can’t get from Leeds to Hounslow in an hour by train. As I have said before not everyone needing to fly to LHR is going to central London. There are plenty of outer London areas/towns close to LHR. I have started to see a few LBA-LHR point to point bookings now for our business clients. All that said how long can they sustain loads of 5 pax. More train strikes coming though. Could be some good self marketing again. I think they have to give it long enough see if any interline/codeshare deals improve things

And the same applies to Leeds. Its alright people saying you can get from Leeds to London in 2 hours by train but how many people live in Central Leeds. Not that many I would think and getting to Leeds will be just as bad or worse than getting to LBA for many.

 

[Finger66]

Regardless of all our views and opinions on this route, as it is almost certainly a slot sitter, it will be gone anyway once they can sell those slots. As I am sure we all are, more than happy to be proved wrong and for the route to survive

 

[rmac]

Personally I would prefer to see BA back with a twice daily LHR, maybe when the new departures extension is in operation. If the new terminal had being going ahead then I think BA would want to have a presence.

 

[KARFA]

Regardless of all our views and opinions on this route, as it is almost certainly a slot sitter, it will be gone anyway once they can sell those slots. As I am sure we all are, more than happy to be proved wrong and for the route to survive

they will be waiting a while to do that. i am sure the time period they need to use them for before they own them is measured in years rather than months.

in fact i am not entirely sure whether these are even the remedial exBMI slots BA has to make available or not, LBA was not one of the routes they were available for.

 

[Finger66]

As we say, time will tell. But been some good healthy debate and opinions, because as ever, it's because we care

 

[michael]

We all (mostly) had the opinion that one of the original FlyBe's problems was the 'impression' that the Dash 8's being a prop - were old planes. I'm firmly of the opinion that the fact they have basically reincarnated their old machines and given them a lick of paint hasn't helped them this time around even though most of the Dash 8's are still only 14/15 years old. I can't help feeling - and I know they would have no doubt being more expensive to own and run - that a little fleet of E175's would have given a different impression.
Having just said the above though from what I can tell from the outside Are Lingus's ATR's don't seem to have the same problems with impression.

 

[Finger66]

The thing with Flybe mk2 flying ATRs is that everyone would then say they were A Troubled Reincarnation

 

[KARFA]

I doubt most people booking flights have a clue what the aircraft type is when paying.

BA usually operated with 20 year old A319s and I don't remember anyone suggesting there was an issue with the age of aircraft which held the route back.

 

[Len Fish]

It’s only when they board and see it has propellers they regret their booking!

 

[lbaspotter]

It’s only when they board and see it has propellers they regret their booking!

Totally disagree with that, as I just don't get it!
Honestly from my own personnel past experiences the is nothing wrong with the Dash 8's or ATR's operating on short regional or high frequency feeder routes. I've had both smooth and comfortable journeys on each type.

It really is all about getting the product right. We can all argue & possibly agree on this forum which airlines get it right and those whom get it wrong.

 

[lbaspotter]

Flybe op's update.

As of tonight the leased Marathon Airlines Embraer 175, SX-ASK will be night stopping at LBA 5x nights a week. I'm not sure how long this arrangement lasts for though.

She will operate inbound as BE739 from Belfast City at 21:25 (Mon-Fri) evening, then operate out (Tue-Sat) morning at 06:45 as BE751 to London Heathrow.

A Flybe Dash 8-Q400 will night stop once weekly arriving (Sun) evening at 21:50 as BE739 from Belfast City, then operates the (Mon) morning 06:45, BE751 departure to London Heathrow.

 

[jason1-11]

Dilemma. I have meeting at LBA in late September. Should I use Flybe even though of the 4 flights previously booked, only 2 have actually operated – Y / N ?

 

[lbaspotter]

Dilemma. I have meeting at LBA in late September. Should I use Flybe even though of the 4 flights previously booked, only 2 have actually operated – Y / N ?

On the Leeds - Heathrow route? If so since the changes the schedule has been stable now for past 2-3 weeks without major delays or cancellations.

If Leeds - Belfast city beware the schedule is been reduced from 4x to 3x daily from mid August, which with all this competition between Flybe, Aer Lingus and Easyjet makes alot of sense to combined 2 early evening rotations into 1.

Better still I see Flybe are axing the Belfast City - Manchester route very shortly.

 

[LBA4EVER]

It’s only when they board and see it has propellers they regret their booking!

When at work if a turboprop passes over a fair few of my clients often say, wow i didnt realise they were still propeller aircraft! Id always prefer to fly on a dash rather than an ATR as i hear the ATRs can be a bit underpowered?

 

[AirBingley]

They so should have put a few Newquays on rather than saturating an existing market very late in the day! their competitors were on sale much earlier!

 

[752]

Winter 22 now loading..

 

[lbaspotter]

Winter 22 now loading..

I understand Flybe's Full winter 2022/23 schedule should be released and on sale by early next week.

Until then, expect some changes.