Flybe

[LBAYORKIE]

Distance from London is definitely a key factor, having said this though the rail links from Newcsatle to London probably provide roughly the same journey time as from Leeds, remember that Newcastle is situated directly on the East Coast main line.

I was impressed with Newcastle airport. The pre flight facilities, shops, bars, restaurants etc are far better than at Leeds and in fact in comparison Leeds seems extremely claustrophobic.

As fas as facilities for business class passengers go, Newcastle did not offer any more than Leeds. There was not, for example, a fast track or segregated waiting areas for business class passengers, although there were several airline specific business lounges. This is one drawback with Leeds- there is only one lounge and anyone who pays has access. Airline specific lounges are more desirable.

Having mentioned facilties for business passengers I am not personally too bothered about sitting in a general waiting area, I normally find somewhere upstairs which is less busy than the downstairs bar area- which I have to say is often a real nightmare- it's so busy and hot.

LbaYorkie

 

[Bigman]

I see they have finally changed their advert in the cafe and taken Gatwick off the list.

 

[tleeds]

I don't understand why FlyBe see set on not expanding at LBA, take for example the Jersey route.
It is offered to DTV, HUY, MAN, NEW, EMA so why not compete with Jet2 on the Jersey route. I think it is only offered twice a week at the moment by LS so I don't see why FlyBe don't seize the chance.

Is there a reason why FlyBe are just leaving LBA out of their current expansion programme?

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

May get boring, but terminal building/current offerings. Could that be it?

 

[wawkrk]

I wonder if the loss of Flybe at DSA will increase pax numbers at LBA.

 

[lbaspotter]

I wonder if the loss of Flybe at DSA will increase pax numbers at LBA.

We still don't know yet if Jet2 will be dropping there Leeds - Belfast Int'l route seen it's the only route that's still not on sale for next summer 2012 season? #

I guess this is all down to ADP and passenger numbers at the end of the day. Oh well at least if Jet2 do dropped Belfast at least it still has flybe.com on the route 2 to 3x daily.

 

[tleeds]

I remember cutting out an article out of the Daily Mail when Jet2 and FlyBe first started competing on LBA-Belfast route. Although Jet2 insisted that because they were flying to Belfast International and FlyBe to Belfast City, it would attract different types of passengers.

This looks the case as the article was published I think in 2004 and they have been competing ever since. It looks like FlyBe will be the winner out of the two if Jet2 do drop the route.

 

[User0001]

Flybe today issued a profit warning, and I wonder if a lot of trimming of the less than good routes is happening where a nearby alternative is available.

LPL-BHD gone where MAN is an option, DSA-BHD gone where LBA is an option.

Id look out for more cuts to be honest.

 

[Bigman]

All Flybe need to do to see off jet2 IMHO is to make the route a jet service when their new ERJ170's come on stream. I think that there is still a perception that a Jet (albeit 23 years old) is better (or newer) than a rubber band (probably only a few years old).

Given the profit warning, I would not be at all surprised to see the ABZ and EXE route canned.

 

[Seasider]

I think a stand alone Exeter flight would have been "under scrutiny" but the fact that it also serves Aberdeen, from Exeter, should ensure its survival.

 

[whoshotjimmi]

A stand alone exeter flight would never have happened in the first place. One has to take into account the competition on Aberdeen from Eastern. That may just be enough to make the LBA - ABZ portion untenable for FlyBe, especially considering the better frequencies offered by Eastern.

 

[michael]

frequency maybe, but it amazes me that Eastern ever get any passengers considering the prices they charge compared to FlyBe

 

[Bigman]

whoshotjimmi the Exeter did start off as a stand alone service. We often saw Astraeus 737's working it on a weekend. It was a few years that it was extended to ABZ. And to make matters worse, they always had good loads.

 

[tleeds]

Yes I remember often seeing the 737 in Flybe livery in and out of Leeds on a regular basis. It did, on more than one occasion night-stop as well!

 

[lbaspotter]

Flybe.com have released for sale there full summer 2012 flying programme today. It looks like there are no changes for LBA at least for now anyway, Which is good news i suppose.

Aberdeen = 5x weekly, MON - TUE - THU - FRI & SUN
Belfast City = 16X weekly, 2x SUN, MON & TUE - 3x WED,THU & FRI - 1x SAT
Exeter = 5x weekly, MON - TUE - THU - FRI & SUN
Southampton = 15X weekly, 2x MON & TUE - 3x WED,THU & FRI - 1x SAT & SUN

 

[White Heather]

Yes I remember often seeing the 737 in Flybe livery in and out of Leeds on a regular basis. It did, on more than one occasion night-stop as well!

Tom, the Flybe 737-300 you are referring to was chartered for a summer season by Jet2, round about 2006 or 2007 I believe. It was certainly there one day when I flew out of LBA - I have a feeling it was at the time Britannia used a 767-200, so probably 2006. No doubt someone will be able to clarify which year it was.

 

[tleeds]

I didn't know that White Heather, so thanks for correcting me on that!

Yes I do believe it was when G-BYAB was stationed at LBA so 2006. Jet2 had no based 757's to my knowledge but did have 8 (9 including the FlyBe liveried aircraft) based 737's and BMI had their regular based A319.

 

[lbaspotter]

3x Boeing 737-300's were operated for flybe.com back then as they leased the aircraft from Astraeus to cover there longer Spanish routes from there Birmingham and Exeter bases before acquiring the new Embraer 195's.

With Astraeus then having a base at Leeds operating the weekly charter flights for My Travel Holidays the leased aircraft use to make quite a few visits into Leeds operating on the Exeter schedule flights and then been swapped with the charter unit here and end up been based here for a while.

This was before Astraeus started basing the newer Boeing 737-700's at Leeds...


Thomsonfly's, Boeing 767-200's G-BYAA/B & G-BRIF/G were all regular visitor's to LBA in there time of operation with the airline. Like Heather says they were part based for the first 3 months in the summer's of 2005 & 2006 before the Boeing 757's they turned up for the reminder of the season I think. I could be wrong with the dates.


The only leased aircraft I remember jet2 using back then were the Futura Int'l, Boeing 737-400's and i think they also used a MD80 for a while from somewhere. The first Jet2 Boeing 757-200, G-LSAA was delivered to the airline in late 2005. If i remember correctly its delivery date to Leeds was delayed by 2 weeks so they had to lease in a Titan Airways, Boeing 757-200 to cover it's duties.

Hope that helps..

 

[tleeds]

No that sounds about right Lbaspotter.

Reverting back to Flybe, even though it's in the wrong area, I have heard that there is uncertainty over it's Norwich operations and also the Durham Tee's Valley - Jersey route after the recent publicised profit warnings with the airline.

It seems that there is speculation over the Aberdeen route from LBA I heard today, after I also heard about Eastern Airways' intentions to expand it's whole Aberdeen hub.... it could be 'all talk' on the other hand.

 

[White Heather]

On the occasion I flew in 2006, when the Flybe 737 was based at LBA, I watched a Jet2 flight board the Flybe aircraft. I believe it was operating to AGP. I asked one of the airport staff I knew if it was a one off, but he told me that the aircraft was operating for Jet2 for an extended period due to aircraft shortages. Certainly it was in and out of LBA just as frequently as the other Jet2 aircraft. However, if I am wrong - apologies.