KLM

[AirBingley]

Quick update! This evenings flight is overbooked and KLM are looking for offload volunteers!

It gets better! The captain came out into the cabin to apologise for the delay mentioning Eastern by name explaining they had been called in on standby!

 

[Seasider]

Get them to put you up in the hotel in the terminal.

 

[White Heather]

Quick update! This evenings flight is overbooked and KLM are looking for offload volunteers!

It gets better! The captain came out into the cabin to apologise for the delay mentioning Eastern by name explaining they had been called in on standby!

How to kill a route in one easy lesson.

 

[AirBingley]

Now offloading 1 pax! You couldn’t make it up!

 

[Finger66]

How to kill a route in one easy lesson.

KLM needs teaching and "Easy" lesson! Come on boys you know you want to.......

 

[pug]

Quick update! This evenings flight is overbooked and KLM are looking for offload volunteers!

It gets better! The captain came out into the cabin to apologise for the delay mentioning Eastern by name explaining they had been called in on standby!

Just an observation but it’s not eastern who take the bookings, the overbooking will have been of KLMs making.

Why the flight is being operated by KLC o have no idea, but LBA still isn’t fully crewed.

 

[White Heather]

Just an observation but it’s not eastern who take the bookings, the overbooking will have been of KLMs making.

Why the flight is being operated by KLC o have no idea, but LBA still isn’t fully crewed.

I can't help thinking that if Eastern are not fully crewed yet at LBA, and if they still don't have enough aircraft to operate a reliable service with the right aircraft at the right time (leaving aside the problems at AMS which are beyond their control), then the handover should have been postponed.

Whether the blame lies with Eastern, KLM, AMS, or a combination of all three, the service is currently a shambles and far from that needed by interlining passengers who have a lot to lose if flights are delayed or cancelled.

 

[pug]

I can't help thinking that if Eastern are not fully crewed yet at LBA, and if they still don't have enough aircraft to operate a reliable service with the right aircraft at the right time (leaving aside the problems at AMS which are beyond their control), then the handover should have been postponed.

Whether the blame lies with Eastern, KLM, AMS, or a combination of all three, the service is currently a shambles and far from that needed by interlining passengers who have a lot to lose if flights are delayed or cancelled.

As I’ve said before, the issues that Eastern have are known about and KLM are well aware. It’s a shame but again I ask what the alternative is.. Either KLM get their capacity issues sorted and take it back in house, or eastern manage to attain a level of resource for it to be fully sustainable. The third option is the route vets canned.

There’s a lot more to this than meets the eye.

 

[HX3]

Looking at March caa stats AMS is down 12% from LBA - this may be a result of lack of confidence in Eastern/KLM?

 

[LBAYORKIE]

As I’ve said before, the issues that Eastern have are known about and KLM are well aware. It’s a shame but again I ask what the alternative is.. Either KLM get their capacity issues sorted and take it back in house, or eastern manage to attain a level of resource for it to be fully sustainable. The third option is the route vets canned.

There’s a lot more to this than meets the eye.

We came back via AMS last August and the flight was overbooked so its not an Eastern 'thing' as you point out.

 

[Finger66]

There’s a lot more to this than meets the eye.

Indeed there is but let's leave it there

 

[White Heather]

We came back via AMS last August and the flight was overbooked so its not an Eastern 'thing' as you point out.

Clearly not. It's KLMs flight and their booking system.

 

[Finger66]

Some interesting analysis on AMS figures in the CWL KLM thread where it seems several airports have seen a decline.
London quite possibly down to Eurostar, but bringing it back to LBA I suspect leakage to MAN is a big one where they have two carriers and KLM being cheaper from over t'ill.
I will say this again but we need U2 (or someone) on LBA-AMS to hopefully wake KLM up and help reduce our fares on the route. There is a definite opportunity for the Orange boys on the basis the red and silver ones won't be returning to the route.

 

[pug]

Some interesting analysis on AMS figures in the CWL KLM thread where it seems several airports have seen a decline.
London quite possibly down to Eurostar, but bringing it back to LBA I suspect leakage to MAN is a big one where they have two carriers and KLM being cheaper from over t'ill.
I will say this again but we need U2 (or someone) on LBA-AMS to hopefully wake KLM up and help reduce our fares on the route. There is a definite opportunity for the Orange boys on the basis the red and silver ones won't be returning to the route.

It’s a fact that people aren’t flying on business as much as they were before Covid, this could be attributable to the decline. I’ve noticed at HUY there’s been some quite solid growth recently when compared to other airports with just the KLM to AMS, perhaps a factor of the nature of the industries HUY serves? But interestingly it’s suggested that passengers from Cardiff are transferring to BRS which has transferred to Eastern..? Of course BRS also has easyjet plugging away at the route.

I do think LBA would benefit from having easyjet on the route to offer the leisure and point to point business passenger an option. It could also generate some growth for the KLM if the timing work better. I do think it’s important that this partnership with Eastern works though because if we’re seeing general decline in passenger useage it could translate into less KLM capacity being utilised in the longer term. Didn’t LBA have 4 x daily frequency last year too?

 

[Finger66]

Yes LBA has been at 4 daily. Now whether AMS capacity limitations is a reason for going back to 3 (if we are lucky) then that's open to debate. And just before COVID the mid morning rotation was going to Mainline on the 737-700. That never re materialised. And now look where we are!
Competition on the route is needed, and quickly

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Some interesting analysis on AMS figures in the CWL KLM thread where it seems several airports have seen a decline.
London quite possibly down to Eurostar, but bringing it back to LBA I suspect leakage to MAN is a big one where they have two carriers and KLM being cheaper from over t'ill.
I will say this again but we need U2 (or someone) on LBA-AMS to hopefully wake KLM up and help reduce our fares on the route. There is a definite opportunity for the Orange boys on the basis the red and silver ones won't be returning to the route.

On the other hand it would dilute KLM's traffic further and we could end up without a legacy carrier at Leeds.

 

[Finger66]

On the other hand it would dilute KLM's traffic further and we could end up without a legacy carrier at Leeds.

Really wouldn't expect that to happen, especially if BA are to also return in some guise as that will be nearly all connecting traffic lost by KLM, very little would likely go to other airports. Plus Jet2 never forced KLM off the route when they operated. Healthy competition with room for two carriers

 

[jason1-11]

I see this mornings 06:20 Eastern / KLM departure still hasn't left. More missed connections to deal with, when they eventually get to AMS.

 

[Finger66]

Just checked FR24 and the early MME and HUY flights were only around 30 mins delayed. We really do need this sorting

 

[Jerry]

Competition on the route is needed, and quickly

Would that really change anything though? The delays etc seem more to be operational rather than KLM not seeing the route as a priority.