KLM

[a300boy]

We have Fokker F70 PH-KZT inbound on this evenings tea time flight.

 

[lbaspotter]

It would seem that KLM are sending the Fokker 70 on the evening KLM1549/1550 rotation due to lower passenger numbers travelling over the holiday period. I suppose it makes sense instead of sending a half empty Embraer 190.

 

[lbaspotter]

As predicted Fokker 70, PH-KZR on this evenings KLM73E/1550 rotation.

 

[Bigman]

Might poor weather capability have something to do with it?

 

[yorkie40]

Might poor weather capability have something to do with it?

You could be right there bigman? The E190 has been useless in bad weather at LBA

 

[imagineif]

The Fokker 70 was planned to operate several LBA flights over the festive season for some time and purely down to bookings under the 76 head mark & not the weather. Unfortunately the E190 of KLM is still not allowed to do auto-land just like the Fokker - so low visibility causes issues. Also, the E190 cross wind limit is reduced to 31kts on a wet runway which lets face it - is a frequent occurrence at LBA.

It caused havoc on the 22nd with the aircraft originally intended to operate the early flight finally able to push at 1840 and depart for AMS.

Winter will see some inconveniences for KLM at LBA but the overall capacity gains and product appreciation since the E190 was introduced outweigh this. The normal 3x Daily E190 schedule is planned from January 5th and for the summer back to 4x Daily.

An announcement was due on the replacement of the Fokker in November but this was postponed after a sudden CEO change at KLM. Last Fokker 70 flight still expected in 2018.

 

[Seasider]

I was on the KLM website looking at flights to AMS in Jul/Aug/Sep and they were only showing 3 flights per day, similar to the winter timetable. Does anyone know that they are not re-introducing the fourth flight?

 

[cmj]

I was on the KLM website looking at flights to AMS in Jul/Aug/Sep and they were only showing 3 flights per day, similar to the winter timetable. Does anyone know that they are not re-introducing the fourth flight?

KLM have launched a few new destinations, so maybe they need the planes?

 

[imagineif]

Up until very recently 4 rotations featured in the timetable but the lunch time one now seems to be withdrawn completely and just operating 3 daily during the summer.

Perhaps 4 Embraers a day is just too much capacity, with 100 seats on-board versus the 76 available on the Fokker 70.

That will be the reason behind the decision more than anything, they are set to order more Embraers apparently and withdraw another 4 Fokker's.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

About the same time that the LBA route was reduced from 4 to 3 daily the CWL-AMS route which is 3 x daily throughout the year found one of its daily rotations for summer 2015 'upgraded' from F 70 to E 190 (the other two rotations remain at F 70). It would be pure conjecture to suggest these two events are linked in any way, but it's a possibility I suppose.

 

[cmj]

Up until very recently 4 rotations featured in the timetable but the lunch time one now seems to be withdrawn completely and just operating 3 daily during the summer.

Perhaps 4 Embraers a day is just too much capacity, with 100 seats on-board versus the 76 available on the Fokker 70.

That will be the reason behind the decision more than anything, they are set to order more Embraers apparently and withdraw another 4 Fokker's.

Hmm. 3 x E190 will have (slightly) less capacity than 4 x F70s. Most of them seem to be pretty well loaded at the moment, so there probbaly is demand there.

I wonder if the dropped rotation (wasn't it around lunchtime) didn't have great connections?

 

[imagineif]

The lunch time one was not too busy and did have less connections than the morning and evening wave so I think thats the reason behind dropping it this summer.

Still much nicer having the E190 on the route and I expect all 3 flights will be going out with good loads this year.

 

[imagineif]

KLM finally revealed the replacement for the Fokker 70 today - no real surprise that they are going for the E175+ - this is the latest variant of the E175 featuring weight savings and enhanced winglets.

Also in the announcement was that yet another 2 E190 aircraft are on order and will be in fleet by December this year.

The E175+ starts to arrive in a year (March 2016) - they will feature 88 Ultra Slim seats, this offers 29" pitch - ok on regional/short haul but that suggests no business class on the E175's - or at least ... I would like to see them try sell a 29" business class product

Fokker 70 phase out will begin as the E175+ starts to arrive, pretty much 1 in 1 goes and more pilots will train up from the Fokker to the E-jets.

A key factor in the decision for KLM will be the added efficiency of the E175+ which can compete with turboprops - both the ATR & Dash was on the consideration list but the Fokker 50 departure was celebrated and KLM boasted an all jet service.

Like the Airbus families, cross type commonality will allow all KLM Cityhopper pilots to fly both types - this will be fully realised by 2018 when all the E145+'s have arrived and the Fokker 70 is gone.

For Leeds, this will no doubt mean more variation in the future - with a mix of E190/175 possible any time after March 2016. It will help match equipment with demand and could encourage the return of a 4th rotation, after it was axed this summer - widely believed due to lack of equipment down to new routes and added rotations elsewhere on the network.

 

[Seasider]

I don't know if it has been done before, but I have just upload a photo of Skyteam/KLM EMB190 PH-EZX.

 

[cmj]

Noticed (from twitter) there is a competition to win a trip to any KLM network destination on the LBA website. It was on the LBA twitter account, so i guess they're running it.

 

[lbaspotter]

Just been announced by that KLM are increasing flights from 3x to 4x daily weekdays again Leeds/Bradford to Amsterdam next summer 2016 schedule.

Source: http://www.leedsbradfordairport.co.uk/m ... elease.pdf

PRESS RELEASE 10 December 2015

KLM announces significant capacity growth from Leeds Bradford® Airport to Amsterdam

Thursday 10th December 2015: KLM Royal Dutch Airlines has today announced a significant increase in capacity from Leeds Bradford® Airport to Amsterdam. Commencing on 16th May 2016, KLM will introduce a fourth additional weekday service from Leeds Bradford® Airport to Amsterdam Airport Schiphol for summer 2016, providing an extra 25,800 seats.

This growth in KLM frequency is a direct result of strong passenger growth on the Leeds Bradford® Airport to Amsterdam route in 2015 and the delivery of record load factors on the route. This development will cement Leeds Bradford® Airport’s position as one of KLM’s most successful departure points on its extensive UK network providing over 130 worldwide connections on its intercontinental network via its award winning hub at Schiphol Airport.

The regional business and tourism community has welcomed today’s announcement by KLM which will enable both corporate and leisure passengers to fly from Leeds Bradford® Airport to access the world avoiding the need to travel across the increasingly congested M62 motorway.

Better connections to destinations in the Far East and South Africa have now been made easier flying with KLM via Amsterdam and point to point business travellers can benefit from the convenient flight schedule out of Leeds Bradford® Airport which enables them to conduct a full day’s business in the Netherlands.

Tony Hallwood, Leeds Bradford® Airport’s Aviation Development Director commented:
“Leeds Bradford® Airport welcomes KLM’s decision to increase flight frequency to Amsterdam which will further support our regional businesses in gaining quicker and easier access to a wider number of international destinations and key markets.”

Warner Rootliep, General Manager of Air France-KLM UK and Ireland, said:
“We are delighted to be able to announce a frequency increase on our Leeds service to Amsterdam and hope it will be warmly welcomed by the local community. We know how important connectivity is to our passengers and we are always looking at ways to provide them with the best service.”

To book Leeds Bradford® Airport flights to Amsterdam (and onward across the world) with KLM go to www.klm.com

 

[Seasider]

Good news, but it would have been a disappointment if they hadn't.

 

[Bigman]

Maybe they want to ensure that FlyBe don't have too much impact down the road at Donny. Has their Humberside route received any upgrade I wonder?

 

[Seasider]

There have been quite a few flights upgraded to EMB195 this winter.

 

[lbaspotter]

The extra 4th daily weekday KLM Leeds/Bradford - Amsterdam service is now on sale. Looks like the extra flight will be the reintroduction of the mid-day rotation and we will be seeing the Fokker 70 return to Leeds/Bradford on a scheduled basis once again. Meanwhile the 3x remaining daily services continue to operated by the Embraer 190.

Summer 2016 timetable as follows.

KLM1540 = LBA 06:20 – AMS 08:45 – 1234567 = E190

KLM1545 = AMS 08:25 – LBA 08:35 – 1234567 = E190
KLM1546 = LBA 09:10 – AMS 11:25 – 1234567 = E190

KLM1547 = AMS 12:40 – LBA 12:50 – 12345-- = FK70
KLM1548 = LBA 13:35 – AMS 15:40 – 12345-- = FK70

KLM1549 = AMS 16:45 – LBA 16:55 – 1234567 = E190
KLM1550 = LBA 17:30 – AMS 19:45 – 1234567 = E190

KLM1551 = AMS 21:10 – LBA 21:20 – 1234567 = E190