KLM

[WYIA]

Re: KLM cityhopper B.V

SOME AFKL / CITYHOPPER NEWS



Rumour has it that KLM will take a further 5 E190 frames next year and sell its remaining 5 Fokker 100 aircraft.

There is little movement on the LBA front at the moment in terms of frequency or aircraft changes but both NWI & HUY are going back up to 4 rotations a day. Signs that pax numbers are on the up, the LBA route is also seeing good loads.

Air France is however set to trim its regional carriers, Brit Air, Regional, Airlinair & Cityjet. Reducing the work force and routes and concentrating on getting back dominance on the french internal route market. (Eastern Airways UK have just announced a Dijon base so clearly AF is missing gaps in the market)

KLM has indicated that Martinair passenger services will end within 12 months and the 767 fleet will be sold. Martinair will continue operating as cargo only. Both KLM & Air France will transfer their cargo operations to the wholly owned Martinair over the next 12 months.

Transavia.com also owned by Air France KLM is not competing with Easyjet & Ryanair. They plan to strip down the service completely, stop using air bridges at AMS & other cuts to bring down costs and turn the loco to profit.

Finally, the EU has issued a statement apologising to KLM if any statements made regarding compensation claims by passengers not getting honoured was seen as a "public rapping" of the airline. It said the ash crisis was a difficult set of circumstances and it appreciated the great financial impact it was having on airlines. It said it continued to work with all airlines in reviewing EU passenger rights and recognised the need to change policy to protect both airlines & passengers. KLM said it would continue to review "acceptable" compensation claims individually.

 

[White Heather]

Re: KLM cityhopper B.V

Thanks for that WYIA - very interesting stuff. I hope that the AMS passengers numbers pick up and force KLM to introduce either a 4th rotation or a switch to E190 aircraft. I know for certain that LBA bosses are very keen to get the route upgraded, so there will certainly be discussions going on about it on a regular basis.

 

[WYIA]

Re: KLM cityhopper B.V

Dont think it will be long now before the E190 is scheduled on a rotation, perhaps even a night stop or based within a year or so

 

[backtrack]

Re: KLM cityhopper B.V

KLM(C) have confirmed they will operate two flights this year on christmas day to/from AMS, which falls on a saturday this year from LBA.

 

[White Heather]

Re: KLM cityhopper B.V

In view of the fact BMi have altered their timetable to Brussels and introduced a Code Share with Brussels Airlines (so providing LBA pax with links to numerous cities throughout Europe ), is there a chance that to ensure the KLM route to AMS remains the preferred choice, they will bring forward an upgrade to the service with either more flights or the introduction of a based E190? It would be easy to see some passengers going via BRU if the fares are competitive. I would not think that KLM/Air France would want to see their position eroded by doing nothing?

 

[WYIA]

Re: KLM cityhopper B.V

Think KLM/Skyteam still have the edge on destinations & frequency with more chance to re-route in the event of delays or cancellations. Plus as someone who fly’s to BRU on a regular basis the airport and airspace is often affected by ATC delays. I also think that the possible segregation of the Country that has several different governments will have an impact on BRU in due course.

If the north of Belgium comes under Dutch rule a lot would change.

KLM loads from Leeds have bounced back to a very satisfying level and even bookings for C cabin are up. Its true that on most flights its now quite cosy with 85% + load factor most the time.

In terms of frequency yes it is possible they would look at an extra rotation with a FK70 or E190 and this would be relatively cheap to do. It would also open up some more connection possibilities that passengers from HUY, NWI & LPL already benefit from with their 4 rotations a day.

For most passengers, a plane is a plane and I don’t really think upgrading to the E190 (as lovely as it is) would draw business.

If the airline put the E190 into Leeds completely, it would be more costly. The LBA captains would need to convert over to it, on such a short flight the company would probably need to have 3 cabin crew as oppose to its very efficient 2 & it would need to be full of connecting passengers to make it pay. AMS only passengers don’t generate profit. It could happen and there are lots of jungle drums and meetings and spotting of KLM upper table at LBA recently.

If indeed KLM have put an order in for 5 more then we might just get a very pleasant announcement.

 

[White Heather]

Re: KLM cityhopper B.V

Thanks WYIA - fingers crossed for something then, even if it is just a return to 4 rotations a day.

 

[User0001]

Re: KLM cityhopper B.V

Look out for new lunchtime flight from end of March-11. KL1547/1548.

 

[lbaspotter]

Re: KLM cityhopper B.V

Look out for new lunchtime flight from end of March-11. KL1547/1548.

Now comfirmes by the looks of things LS16. As KLM's Summer 2011 Timetable is now bookbale on its website at www.flyklm.com

Timetable as follows. All flights to be operated daily by Fokker 70 aircarft at the moment

KLM1540 = LBA 06:35 – AMS 08:50
KLM1545 = AMS 08:30 – LBA 08:35
KLM1546 = LBA 09:15 – AMS 11:25
KLM1547 = AMS 12:45 – LBA 12:50
KLM1548 = LBA 13:30 – AMS 15:45
KLM1549 = AMS 16:25 – LBA 16:30
KLM1550 = LBA 17:20 – AMS 19:25
KLM1551 = AMS 20:45 – LBA 20:55

 

[White Heather]

Re: KLM cityhopper B.V

Excellent!

 

[Runway 32]

Re: KLM cityhopper B.V

Good news. Very surprised we still haven't had an upgrade especially on the night stopping aircraft as the first rotation from LBA is often full. Maybe if we have another bad winter with low visibilty we'll start to see the Embraer! Wishful thinking.

 

[WYIA]

Re: KLM cityhopper B.V

Suprise lol

No E190 just yet, but rumour is a uk base is going to get it

 

[backtrack]

Re: KLM cityhopper B.V

Suprise lol

No E190 just yet, but rumour is a uk base is going to get it

Okay, so with so much news happening recently at LBA, could this really be something else the airport can boast about? What choices, as far as UK bases to KLC have to choose from?

 

[WYIA]

Re: KLM cityhopper B.V

KLC have active crew bases at LBA, HUY & NWI

They have a combined Captain & Cabin Crew base at EDI/GLA but the 737 now operates the route so crew just position to AMS to fly the FK70 or E190 fleet.

BHX is a cabin crew base and again they just position to AMS. BRS is a Captain only base, currently FK70.

The largest active crew base for both Cabin and Captains is LBA and if they acquire more E190s then it would make sense to put LBA captains on the E190 and base an aircraft here.

All KLC cabin crew are now trained on the FK70/100 & E190 so a change at base is no issue.

I must say now that the 4th rotation is in the booking engines, it should be on the LBA website news section! Then again, it hasnt made it into the KLM timetable system yet. Just bookable.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: KLM cityhopper B.V

WYIA

Am I right in saying that Bristol and Cardiff to AMS were always KLM Cityhopper routes (NLM before that) whilst airports such as LBA and NWI to AMS were formerly KLM-UK (Air UK before that) routes and/or bases?

I know that Air UK never operated from BRS or CWL to anywhere.

Incidentally, what status does CWL have now in terms of base? I know no aircraft are based there, only night stoppers (as BRS).

Many thanks.

 

[WYIA]

Re: KLM cityhopper B.V

Yes you are right, and CWL is just a night stop destination. An aircraft stops every night but no crew based at CWL. Its classed as an outstation.

The only reason LBA HUY & NWI are classed as a "base" is crew & offices on the airports. The aircraft in reality is AMS based, it just flits between AMS and LBA etc etc. Its not an AC base as such as its 1 aircraft, flying 1 route. Not like Ryanair, 2 aircraft based flying to multiple destinations.

Strange set up, still offices in Stansted too running admin on the UK side. Seems to still work for them.

 

[Bigman]

Re: KLM cityhopper B.V

Well that was in increasingly rare sight yesterday. Not 1 but 2 F100's in the same afternoon.

 

[lbaspotter]

Re: KLM cityhopper B.V

Well that was in increasingly rare sight yesterday. Not 1 but 2 F100's in the same afternoon.

And the reson why? Let me explain

Well the early inbound KLM1545 operated by PH-OFM Diverted to Donny due to low vis at LBA yesterday morning. She later re-positioned back to LBA to operate the dealyed outbound KLM1546 service.

Meanwhile PH-OFN came in on the afternoon KLM1549/1550 service which was also runing a bit later than planned.

 

[WYIA]

Re: KLM cityhopper B.V

This evenings KL1551 has diverted to Manchester. It is reported the aircraft declared a PAN & eventually executed a full scale emergency landing into Manchester without incident. The aircraft was not evacuated on arrival and there are no reports of any injury to crew or passengers. They will continue their journey to LBA by road. The specifics of the emergency will be made public in due course.

 

[derrick g8swk]

Re: KLM cityhopper B.V

last nights klm69w was heard to say that they had trim control problems

g8swk