Archive Route Development & Rumours

[User001]

Where are the GF rumours? Can't see anything on a.net

 

[Coathanger16]

There was discussion some weeks ago that Emirates might be / were trimming capacity at BHX - what was the outcome of this? I'm not sufficiently familiar with their schedule.

The morning Emirates service from BHX was dropped for some of October and all of November, but has since started again. To my knowledge there hasn't been any other rumours/developments.

 

[Land23R]

There have been subtle adjustments though. Qatar Airways is operating B788's on all MAN services at present - this is a significant capacity downgrade from the B77W's which we enjoyed for afew months recently. And Etihad have replaced the afternoon B77W with A332 equipment. Of the MEB3, only Emirates have increased capacity with the move to 3 x A388 from January 2017, and that is not a huge jump in seats from 2 x A388 + 1 x B77W. Remember as well that some have expressed relative disappointment that they haven't yet introduced a fourth daily flight (though we mustn't be greedy). We also have Saudia 5 x W B789 and soon Oman Air daily to the region, so maybe a bit of caution makes sense all round, particularly with expansion by prestige Far East carriers and Shaheen eating into sandpit connecting markets as well. And Turkish Airlines connecting flights which compete with the MEB3 have been especially cheap since the coup attempt. Some bargains there.

If yields are threatened, I'd rather see these carriers manage capacity for long-term sustainability rather than engaging in a race for numerical supremacy at the expense of profits. .

Wise words EGCC_MAN. The CAA stats. for MAN for Oct. are now showing and long haul is a pretty mixed bag, despite some huge increases on short haul, especially to Spain.

EY, using the A332 on afternoon flights, were 13% down on the same month last year. LF would be 77% if the B777s were all the 2 class version with 412 seats.
QR were up 15% but not sure what the capacity increase was vs Oct'15. If all 16 weekly flights operated this Oct. I reckon the average load was 188, or 74% LF.
EK were up 4% with an average load of 409, but didn't we have an A380 on the morning flight for a week or so?
I was shocked to see SV with only 3,834 pax and down 21%, until I noticed Jeddah from LHR was down 30%. Unless the stats are wrong, I assume it was some religious holiday or festival that caused the variation.

CX increased 3%. If all 36 flights operated, it was an average load of 290 or a LF of 85% vs 83% last year.
HU carried 7,564 pax, or an average load of 210. The A332 with 222 seats was used occasionally I believe rather than the 292 seat A333, presumably a reflection of lower demand at certain times.

 

[User001]

The Hainan A332 issued when cargo loads are very high, as it offers more pallet space versus bag loads than the A333

 

[Land23R]

Yes, thanks User. I guess we should always put a caveat in about the impact of cargo when mentioning LFs for pax.

 

[Aceshigh]

I think it would be wise to let Oman air bed in before Kuwait and Gulf joined the fray. That said Gulf are buying A321neo which I guess would have the legs and be ideal in terms of capacity.

 

[David_itl]

Nice to see Visit Britain also hightlight the MAN option for the Arab visitor. If it helps swing more traveller here then it should keep all existing and potential carriers happy

http://thebiguknewsroom.co.uk/membe...to-better-understand-the-arab-visitor-market/

 

[ethanegcc]

Well Kuwait is looking likely for September, according to rumours but they will serve a completely different market to Oman Air.

 

[Aceshigh]

I noticed Vueling are adding Orly ex Birmingham. If it can work from there it must be a route that could work Ex Manchester with its larger catchment?

 

[Coathanger16]

Which is the mystery airport ?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2016/12/10/ryanair-feeder-flights-deal-set-take-off-within-months/?WT.mc_id=tmg_share_tw
Was this the gamechanger for Manchester mentioned two weeks back ?

It's not the main NOR base Oslo, as RYR don't serve main airport.

It can't be Gatwick can it. Barely worth it with RYR having a small presence.

Not STN unless Norwegian open up there as well as LGW unlikely. And I can't see NOR shifting their operation for just a few passengers.

Dublin ? Would Norwegian open up in IAGs backyard. MOL would like nothing better than to start dismantling BA EI.

OK maybe a leap of faith, but Manchester is the largest airport with both airlines and we know long haul is coming albeit not in the 1st QTR.

Apparently someone things its Gatwick:

https://www.businesstraveller.com/b.../16/ryanair-provide-feeder-flights-norwegian/

Don't know if the author just assumed its Gatwick as Norwegian have one of their largest TATL from Gatwick, or if there's actually been a statement saying it is Gatwick.

 

[Aceshigh]

I think Ryanair routes out of Gatwick number 20 but a good percentage of these are to/from some fairly obscure locations and seem more geared for onward travel specifically to London eg Kerry or outbound to sunshine locations.

 

[Coathanger16]

I think Ryanair routes out of Gatwick number 20 but a good percentage of these are to/from some fairly obscure locations and seem more geared for onward travel specifically to London eg Kerry or outbound to sunshine locations.

I must say, based on current routes, the Ryanair/Norwegian "plan" doesn't seem to do a lot. The only places that Norwegian fly long haul routes from lack a significant Ryanair presence. One can only assume that when whichever airport/s is announced, either Ryanair or Norwegian or both will announce a large selection of new routes.

 

[Aceshigh]

The obvious place would be one of the RYR power hubs eg Stansted but that seems a non starter given expansion at Gatwick.

I can't recall any major RYR base where Norwegian also have a presence and a main base.
Eg
Norwegian use Orly but not RYR
Norwegian use El Prat but RYR use Gerona

Logically you would expect it to be a UK base with the UK at the epicentre of the two continents.

Gatwick
Manchester
Edinburgh
?

There appears to be little or no synergy between the two airlines schedules!

A better option for NOR would have been EZY at Gatwick.

 

[Jerry]

Don't Ryanair rely on quick turnarounds? Wouldn't that be slowed down because long haul travellers tend to have more luggage than short haul travellers?

 

[Coathanger16]

Don't Ryanair rely on quick turnarounds? Wouldn't that be slowed down because long haul travellers tend to have more luggage than short haul travellers?

I believe in the article it claimed that flight times between the two airlines would be coordinated as to allow for transfer of passengers. If they provide through ticketing perhaps they won't allow you to book flights with less than a certain connection time to allow passengers from the arriving flight to be processed and ready for the next flight on time.

 

[ethanegcc]

Apparently Manchester is to get a 5 weekly Dortmund link from April 2017, according to User001. This is along with another raft of UK routes from GLA/BHX-VIE, LBA/LPL-MUC, although there has been no official announcement.

Not sure if User can elaborate on this thread about aircraft used etc.?

Great news for MAN if so.

 

[ethanegcc]

It seems that over the festive season, Finnair is upgrading many of it's flights to the airbus fleet and then every Thursday for the rest of the winter, AY934 will operate with Airbus A319/320.

 

[User001]

http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/news/51725-bangladeshs-united-airways-eyes-uk-flights-with-a340s

One to keep an eye on, but don't hold your breath!

 

[Dobbo]

Haven't we seen this broken record before? Interesting, but as you say unlikely!

 

[User001]

Well, one thing it may do is cause Biman Bangladesh to suddenly get interested in MAN again, so, even though I hold no hope of United Airways starting, it could still reap a curve ball reward.....