ExtraJet

[lbaspotter]

Extrajet = New Business Airline setting up @ LBA!

Some very interesting news coming out this moring from the Business Desk website
A new business based airline Extrajet is looking to start up operations from Leeds/Bradford Airport. It's been set up by Leeds based businessman James Thorpe. He already had the 37 seater aircraft in place and by looks of things will start operating 2x daily flights to Copenhagen and 1x daily Antwerp.

See following link for more details. http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/yorkshir ... aunch.html

So what do all you guys and girls think. LBA has been crying out for something like this for a very long time, well since bmi regional dissappeared. 37 seater aircraft bit is interesting as well. CRJ200 or ERJ135 come to mind?

 

[lbaspotter]

Re: Extrajet = New Business Airline setting up @ LBA!

Some more information on Extrajet can be found on its website which is still been developed here: http://info-james.wix.com/extrajet

Looks like a full management structure has/is been set up with ex bmi and other experienced aviation personnel involved. It sounds like flights operations should be commencing early 2016. It also seems they have already in place signed a deal to lease 2x (37 seated) Embraer 135 Regional Jet aircraft from bmi (British Midland Regional International) on full charter ACMI contract.

Flights prices will be as follows;
Leeds-Bradford to Copenhagen £300
Leeds-Bradford to Antwerp £250

 

[Aviador]

Re: Extrajet = New Business Airline setting up @ LBA!

Superb news and just what LBA needs, an airline that focuses on serving Leeds.

 

[Bigman]

Re: Extrajet = New Business Airline setting up @ LBA!

And I thought that Australia being reduced to 42 for 7 was the most amazing news today!!! Let's hope this comes off and takes off in every sense.

 

[alpha.alpha]

Re: Extrajet = New Business Airline setting up @ LBA!

wow this does sound promising, however does anybody think the name is too similar to Easyjet?!?! (not a criticism)

I hope they don't have a problem with it like Jet2 had a problem with Jetxtra!

 

[Aviador]

Re: Extrajet = New Business Airline setting up @ LBA!

Good point ap1995, I was thinking the same. Also isn't there another airline with the same name?

 

[ChurchFenton]

Re: Extrajet = New Business Airline setting up @ LBA!

Great news, didn't see this one coming. Could be Brown Air from the 1980's all over again!

Whilst I wasn't expecting fares to be low, should this come off I do hope they might offer some fares lower than those quoted on their web page, unless they know of enough people willing to pay £300 for Leeds-Copenhagen (can't work out whether that price is supposed to be one way or return).

Hopefully more information about this new venture will be forthcoming soon.

 

[White Heather]

Re: Extrajet = New Business Airline setting up @ LBA!

That is brilliant news if it happens. I am always cautious with new airlines as I have seen this before and it didn't happen for one reason or another (not at LBA I hasten to add). Lets hope it does. No clue here as to whether these aircraft will be based at LBA. If they are, Bridgepoint might need some more concrete to park them on sooner rather than later. No doubt they would park up at the western end, but might well displace one of the other regulars that park up there overnight, so there would still be a need. I hope they are based here, as it will bring other jobs into the equation at LBA.

On the other hand, we do know that LBA are trying to avoid having to build more stands by maximising utilisation of the airport facilities during the quiet times when our based aircraft are away. So, these two aircraft popping in and out of LBA during the day would be a start, even if they are not LBA based.

 

[ex_crew]

Re: Extrajet = New Business Airline setting up @ LBA!

Church Fenton.

Exactly my thoughts.

 

[Aviador]

Re: Extrajet = New Business Airline setting up @ LBA!

I was kind of hoping we'd see Frankfert before having another stab at Copenhagen but I guess with plans for two based aircraft there could be more to come.

 

[jason1-11]

Re: Extrajet = New Business Airline setting up @ LBA!

Very exciting news and badly needed, but I do have a feeling of foreboding as with any niche start up.

I wonder why with the size of the Leeds catchment area, BMI, Eastern or Flybe haven’t been rushing to get routes to the likes of Paris, Frankfurt and Copenhagen covered. They have a head start based on their legacy brands, perfect fit aircraft size , all important codeshare agreements in place and knowledge of Leeds winter “ops.” Just look at the Manchester monthly passenger figures for these destinations to give you an idea of how popular they are with both the leisure and business traveller with a large percentage originating from North and West Yorkshire.

Good luck and fingers crossed.

 

[lbaspotter]

Re: Extrajet = New Business Airline setting up @ LBA!

This might sound like a daft question!

Can anyone remember if bmi regional Embraer 135's aircraft were CAT2 certified to use LBA's runway 32 in LVP's? As this might be a one of the many reasons as to why they Extrajet have chosen to lease aircraft from bmi and use its local based knowledge of flight crews who have past experience of landing at LBA in all weather..

 

[Aviador]

Re: Extrajet = New Business Airline setting up @ LBA!

It's a good question. It's not just down to the aircraft capability but also the crews and if the airline doesn't wish to pay for the additional training involved the aircraft might only be cat 1. I don't know if anybody remembers but before Eastern Airways took on the City Flyer(?) Jetstream 41 aircraft they didn't keep the crew training for cat 2 and so they became cat 1 only.

 

[lbaspotter]

Re: Extrajet = New Business Airline setting up @ LBA!

Looks like things might be happening for Extrajet as its was listed on "The World's leading Airline Intelligence Provider http://www.ch-aviation.com/ website this morning.

Source: http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/n...art-up-extrajet-eyes-euro-flights-from-1q2016

Leeds-based start-up ExtraJet eyes Euro flights from 1Q2016

ExtraJet (Leeds/Bradford) is a Yorkshire-based start-up looking to connect Leeds with mainland Europe and Scandinavia with scheduled operations beginning early next year.

Focussing on the business traveller segment, ExtraJet says it will wet-lease a pair of ERJ-135s from bmi british midland (BD, East Midlands) for planned double-daily flights from Leeds/Bradford to Copenhagen Kastrup and Antwerp.

Once the operation gains traction, the intention is to expand into the rest of the United Kingdom as well as Europe.

 

[Aviador]

Re: Extrajet = New Business Airline setting up @ LBA!

Looks like things might be happening for Extrajet as its was listed on "The World's leading Airline Intelligence Provider http://www.ch-aviation.com/ website this morning.

Source: http://www.ch-aviation.com/portal/n...art-up-extrajet-eyes-euro-flights-from-1q2016

Leeds-based start-up ExtraJet eyes Euro flights from 1Q2016

ExtraJet (Leeds/Bradford) is a Yorkshire-based start-up looking to connect Leeds with mainland Europe and Scandinavia with scheduled operations beginning early next year.

Focussing on the business traveller segment, ExtraJet says it will wet-lease a pair of ERJ-135s from bmi british midland (BD, East Midlands) for planned double-daily flights from Leeds/Bradford to Copenhagen Kastrup and Antwerp.

Once the operation gains traction, the intention is to expand into the rest of the United Kingdom as well as Europe.

Good find LBAspotter.

I particularly like the part which says "Once the operation gains traction, the intention is to expand into the rest of the United Kingdom as well as Europe."

Leeds is crying out for an airline to do to the scheduled business sector what Jet2 has done to the holiday charter market.

Fingers and toes crossed ExtraJet gets past the paper airline stage.

 

[whoshotjimmi]

Re: Extrajet = New Business Airline setting up @ LBA!

This thread has tempted me out of semi-retirement.

4 Questions.

1. Why Antwerp and not Brussels?

2. Why would the Copenhagen link work now having been proven to not work time and again?

3. Why haven't Eastern or Flybe even considered these possibilities?

4. Who in their right mind will pay £300 to get to Copenhagen?

I am all for expansion and new enterprise but not on a whim. Quite aside from anything else, it is bad for the airport's reputation. How many times have things been tried and ultimately failed at LBA? It is because of these failures (among other issues) that LBA keeps missing out on the potentially massive expansion plans that keep going to the neighbours. "It could be like Brown Air from the 1980's all over again." And what happened to them? Bankrupt with debts of £20m. Or £38m in today's money. If they do this and manage to pull it off, fair play to them. But I have no confidence that the group of Ex-BMI management (who completely ruined BMI and left LBA bereft of precisely this kind of service) have the ability to do it. Anyone for Lille?

If you are a top European footballer, right now, do you go to Manchester United, with their proven history of success at the very top of European competition or do you go to Leeds United, who cannot manage themselves properly, have the wrong owners and promise far more than they can deliver?

 

[cmj]

Re: Extrajet = New Business Airline setting up @ LBA!

The SAS Copehnagen link had pretty bad times and was only twice a week. It wasn't much use to get to Copenhagen, let alone connecting there for elsewhere in Scandinavia (or further afield).

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Re: Extrajet = New Business Airline setting up @ LBA!

I think whoshotjimmy makes some excellent points. Have Extrajet thought this through? I just cant see this getting past the planning stage, must less actually coming to fruition.

 

[Aviador]

Re: Extrajet = New Business Airline setting up @ LBA!

When BMI Regional operated to Copenhagen everybody said it would never work because business passengers wanted a twice daily service. Now ExtraJet is proposing just that people are now questioning if the route would ever be viable at all?

If ExtraJet takes off, it will do so having undergone through all the viability studies any airline would undertake prior to opening up a new route.

One further thing to consider. I recall Ryanair saying it was looking at operating new routes to Scandinavia and Germany for 2016 from LBA?

 

[lbaspotter]

Re: Extrajet = New Business Airline setting up @ LBA!

Daft thing about it Leeds - Copenhagen worked for bmi as they started the route using Embraer 145 but quickly switched it to the Fokker 70. It was moved back onto the based Embraer fleet as bmi withdrew the Fokker and was then eventually axed as they killed the Paris route and also moved 2x LBA based Embraer's to Scotland.

Antwerp might actully work as is its cheaper to operate into than Brussels plus the fact we haven't had a link to Brussels since bmi regional dropped the route. also did you know it's actully quicker to travel from Antwerp airport into Brussels business sector rather than flying into the main Brussels airport by about 30 mins using public transport?