Jet2.com

[TheLocalYokel]

An article today in a Welsh newspaper discusses the future of CWL and makes the comment that, of course, the airport is always talking to airlines but is focusing on getting Jet2 as it feels the CWL market would not displace any of Jet2's existing passengers.

See this link for the report: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/busin ... ck-5268951

My immediate thought is that were it to happen the majority of the routes would be to the sun and would clash with a number of Vueling routes already in existence and possibly with others that CWL would hope Vueling expanded into.

Is there enough business for two low-cost airlines to go head to head, even on popular sun routes?

My initial belief is that there isn't.

It would be especially interesting to be a fly on the wall at negotiations to see how the airport tries to persuade Jet2 that Vueling would not be a threat to it.

 

[Aviador]

I personally think Jet2 will look at other airports to base at first like Birmingham. I've mentioned before the added benefit of serving airports that are close together. There's the potential for duel crew and engineer basing along with potentially cheaper advertising costs. The airline already does this with GLA & EDI and LBA & MAN airports. Birmingham fits nicely in with EMA allowing a duel base to reduce costs there.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

It seems there are rumours in South Wales and around the airline that Jet2 will be coming to CWL.

 

[lbaspotter]

It seems there are rumours in South Wales and around the airline that Jet2 will be coming to CWL.

Funny how this rumour has started all because Eastern Airways operated a charter flight from Cardiff to Leeds/Bradford (Jet2 home base) this afternoon using an Embrear 135 which was carrying Sir Elton Johns stage band seen as he is playing the opening gig at the "First Direct Leeds Arena" this evening??

 

[TheLocalYokel]

A rumour of significant developments at CWL started this week in South Wales before today's Eastern flight.

It was partly based on a newspaper report of a few weeks ago that highlighted Jet2 as a particular CWL target.

My only reservation about Jet2 is that they would probably want the sun routes at CWL - the one segment of the industry where CWL has a decent track record down the years re passenger numbers, at least in the summer - and Vueling already has its feet under the table there with the main Spanish costas.

I doubt that CWL could sustain two low-cost carriers going head to head even on the main sun routes. My belief is that CWL's best bet would a substantial expansion of Vueing there.

Monarch has also been mentioned in passing but the same would apply with them as with Jet2.

CWL is at last showing some green shoots of recovery in passenger numbers but this needs to be built on significantly.

 

[lbaspotter]

Slight correction as it looks like the Eastern Airways charter flight into Leeds/Bradford this afternoon from Cardiff actually brought in Leonard Cohen as he did a show in Cardiff Yesterday evening and is next set to play at the "First Direct Leeds Arena" this coming Saturday evening...
Meanwhile (unrelated to Cardiff) I understand that Elton John arrived in Leeds by Car earlier today from London using the M1, but he is flying out of Leeds/Bradford this evening using the Birmingham based Cello Aviation BAe 146-200, G-RAJJ.

Sorry about the mix up...

 

[lbaspotter]

There is a Jet2 aircraft due to position out to Cardiff at 07:10 tomorrow morning from Leeds/Bradford as EXS142C.

Are Jet2 operating some charter flights from down Wales?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

There is a Jet2 aircraft due to position out to Cardiff at 07:10 tomorrow morning from Leeds/Bradford as EXS142C.

Are Jet2 operating some charter flights from down Wales?

Jet2 is operating a series of cruise flights from CWL to Girona for P & O and this is the latest one, so I've been reliably informed.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I spoke with the same Jet 2 pilot last night and he told me they had 30 738s on order of which 24 had been
allocated leaving 6 not allocated to a base yet. He said to put money on Jet 2s next base to be BHX, the only
other option was CWL but he thinks that this has now been discounted. He reckoned on a time scale of approx. within 18 months

There has been a discussion in the BHX section in recent weeks about Jet2 rumours re that airport, with CWL also mentioned as 'being in the frame'.

The latest post on this subject appeared today and is quoted above. I have copied it here in order to update the CWL Jet2 thread.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Obviously not confirmed but i always did have a feeling that if Jet2 were to announce a base in the SW England/Wales that it would be Cardiff rather than Bristol.

Cardiff is crying out for investment and new routes and it still serves the BRS area. And they have the welsh government behind them too.

Brum X made the above comment in the BHX thread so I have copied it here should anyone want to comment further.

 

[Tinkerman]

With regard to Jet2 having 6 spare aircraft for Summer 2017, I actually believe that they have a little more than that.

The forthcoming ACC at CWL is due next Tuesday, so as in the past, prepare ourselves for a Jet2 or Ryanair announcement on or before that date. In fact, i'd put money on it ...

Looking back through at previous ACC's, Last October's coincided with VY's Summer 2016 release, the previous one was around the time of the Flybe base, and there are many others. The one before that being the launch of CWL-TFS with FR. There will be some news of some kind, just can't pinpoint the significance of what is coming ...

 

[TheLocalYokel]

So are you saying that CWL only has consultative committee meetings when there is something important to announce?

Do you know how long ago the date for the next meeting was announced? Other airports tend to schedule meetings at least a year ahead.

It won't be a surprise if a route expansion is in the wind whether by a new airline or by an existing one or ones as there is still scope for considerable growth. A two-aircraft base by, say, Ryanair or Jet 2 would see annual passenger numbers climbing back up towards 2 mppa. With expansion at many airports around the country we're back to the situation of the first few years of this century when airports grew like that beanstalk and CWL was enjoying its best ever years.

Good to see you back posting on Forums4Airports by the way, AG14.

#Jet2 #Ryanair #CWL

 

[Tinkerman]

I sort of am saying exactly that Local !

Also this meeting was only scheduled a few weeks ago, so it was not far in advance at all. They do seem to enjoy holding these meetings around major announcements so that there is more to talk about.

And no i guess it wouldn't really be a surprise, but it needs to happen for the benefit of CWL !

No problem, nice to be back !

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Many thanks for that.

 

[Tinkerman]

There are some intriguing posts on the Leeds Bradford thread of this forum, with regard to a possible Jet2 base at CWL. I guess we'll just have to wait and see what comes of these rumours, either way i think CWL is now well placed for a carrier to finally fill the void once left by Baby (never thought i'd be saying that so many years on), whether it be Jet2 or Ryanair, and I believe the timing of this current ACC meeting is rather coincidental to likely tie into a Jet2 Summer 2017 announcement given that they are currently putting S17 on sale from all of their current airports.

However, it does already appear as though Jet2 will base an aircraft at PMI for S17, although they still have numerous spares still left. For me if any new UK bases by Jet2 are to be announced, BHX, CWL, and/or possibly BOH/SOU are the likely front-runners in my eyes, majorly the former two.

 

[pug]

Not heard anything, people are tight lipped for a reason (if there are plans)..

I'd put money on BHX being a base at some point, but not sure where CWL has come from..? Not that I'm suggesting it won't happen, just interesting to know where these rumours start.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

CWL has come into the frame in recent weeks because of rumours both on this website and on at least one other, reportedly substantially based, that CWL is amongst a number of UK airports outside the airline's 'northern heartland' that have been speaking to Jet2. Now I realise that airports probably speak to potential partner airlines regularly but the rumours suggest that this was something more concrete. Speaking to an airline, however seriously on both sides, doesn't necessarily mean a deal will be struck.

When Jet was rumoured re CWL about three years ago it was probable then that the airport could not have coped with two low cost airlines competing even on sun routes as Vueling was in the early stages of building its CWL presence and the airport was still to show that its early green shoots of recovery would continue and grow.

Three years on and it's a different situation with Vueling well established and increasing its CWL presence and passenger numbers rising spectacularly in percentage terms.

 

[pug]

It's plausible as any I guess. People say all sorts, I've even heard STN mentioned amongst others. But I think whatever that most growth will come from existing bases. One thing is certain, it is hugely important to be tight lipped on these things. I heard one reason was that GIFIT had visited CWL. That should never be read into.....

 

[Tinkerman]

A poster has also just posted on another forum that CWL has asked on Twitter for a freelance video journalist, with the hashtag, #PRRequest ...

Maybe just maybe we have interesting times on the horizon !

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Announced this evening that Jet2 are to set up a base at BHX from next year. CWL was also rumoured to be another airport in contention when the BHX rumours surfaced several months ago. Will have to wait and see.