Aurigny Air Services

[lbaspotter]

Think Aurigny now deserves its own thread as it becomes officially another airline partner with LBA operations.

Good news Aurigny Air Services new 4x weekly Leeds/Bradford to Guernsey flights are now on sale at http://www.aurigny.com The new route will commence operation starting Friday May 27th flights using ATR42 aircraft.

Mondays
GR664 = GCI 12:00 – LBA 13:40 / GR665 = LBA 14:10 – GCI 16:00
Wednesdays
GR664 = GCI 12:00 – LBA 13:40 / GR665 = LBA 14:10 – GCI 16:00
Fridays
GR664 = GCI 12:00 – LBA 13:40 / GR665 = LBA 14:10 – GCI 16:00
Saturdays
GR664 = GCI 12:00 – LBA 13:40 / GR665 = LBA 14:10 – GCI 16:00

No official press release has been issued as yet. But one is expected later today.

 

[lbaspotter]

Press Release now issued on Guernsey Airport website. Even better its also confirmed as a year round service operating 4x weekly (MON, WED, FRI, SAT) in the summer season and 2x weekly (MON, FRI) during the winter season.

Source: https://www.airport.gg/news/article/aur ... rd-airport

Aurigny to launch a new service to Leeds Bradford Airport
11th December 2015

Aurigny is to begin a new, direct, year round service to Leeds Bradford airport beginning on Friday 27th May 2016. Throughout the summer, it will operate on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, leaving Guernsey at midday and arriving in Leeds Bradford at 13.40. The return flight will depart Leeds Bradford at 14.10, arriving in Guernsey just before 1600. From October to May, it will run on Mondays and Fridays, at the same times. This will allow customers from the Channel Islands to enjoy off season, weekend breaks away.

Malcolm Coupar, Aurigny’s Commercial Director says: “Leeds Bradford is a welcome addition to the Aurigny network and it’ll offer a gateway to Leeds and Yorkshire to our local customers. There are some amazing places to visit in an area rich in history and landscape. For those who love the outdoors, the Yorkshire Dales and Bronte country are close to both Bradford and Leeds, which themselves are large, culturally diverse cities. In fact, the Leeds Bradford conurbation is the largest “city” area outside London and is perfect for quality shopping and a wide range of cultural activities. Also easily accessible from Leeds Bradford are Harrogate and York, the former famous as an upmarket spa town and latter for its Minster, Viking heritage and National Railway Museum. Sports fans can enjoy top level cricket courtesy of Yorkshire County Cricket Club and football fans can make the trip to see Leeds United play at Elland Road or Bradford City at Valley Parade. Cyclists can retrace the route of the opening stages of the 2014 Tour de France.”

He continues: “We anticipate a lot of interest in what will be the eighth, year round destination served by Aurigny and our first new link since the introduction of London City in September 2014. Fares will start at £89 return and include Aurigny’s standard “frills” of a free 20kg hold luggage allowance and an extra 10kg as cabin baggage. We’ll also be serving complimentary soft drinks, or tea or coffee.”

Tony Hallwood, Leeds Bradford Airport’s Aviation Development Director, commented: “We are pleased to welcome Aurigny to Leeds Bradford, introducing direct services to Guernsey commencing May 2016. This new service will now allow fast and direct access to one of the airport’s most widely requested destinations and we expect significant leisure demand from across our catchment area. We believe this year round route will become a firm favourite with our passengers who enjoy visiting Guernsey and, in return, Leeds Bradford will be the perfect gateway for Guernsey residents taking short breaks and holidays in Yorkshire. We now look forward to developing a long lasting relationship with Aurigny and enhancing and widening our connectivity with the Channel Islands.”

Mike Hopkins, the Director of Marketing and Tourism at Visit Guernsey says: “The launch of the new Leeds Bradford route provides an excellent opportunity for us to target and attract additional visitor numbers from the north and north east of England. We will be working closely with Aurigny and our tour operator partners to help maximise the potential from this new route.”

You can book your flights online now at http://www.aurigny.com or via your usual travel agent.

 

[Aviador]

This as been a long time in coming since we last had direct flights to the island of Guernsey. We first heard about Aurigny Air Services possibly starting flights to Leeds sometime ago in the local Guernsey press. Finally this has come to fruition after many months of waiting, lets hope it's a huge success for them. It's nice to see Aurigny marketing Leeds and Bradford and not just relying on passengers visiting Guernsey from the Yorkshire region to fill their planes.

 

[lbaspotter]

Also good to see that Aurigny are offering onward connections to both Alderney and Jersey by using the new Leeds/Bradford - Guernsey route.

 

[lbaspotter]

Full press release now issued on the LBA website

http://www.leedsbradfordairport.co.uk/m ... se-gci.pdf

 

[alpha.alpha]

As Aurigny is starting in just over 2 weeks time, ive had a quick look at their booking system and the flights are look fairly positive.

27th May - LBA - GCI is showing as SOLD OUT
28th May - LBA - GCI is showing as 1 seat available
30th May - LBA - GCI is showing as 1 seat available
1st June - LBA - GCI is showing as 4 seats available

Very positive indeed, especially for a brand new route!

 

[whoshotjimmi]

It almost begs the question as to why we don't seem able to do the same with a route to Jersey.

 

[Bigman]

Isn't the Aurigny booked for an ATR42? That's a third of the size of a Jet2 737/300, so a lot less seats to fill. I would be interested to see what that average loadings are on the Jersey.

 

[White Heather]

It is an ATR72 Bigman. I think the point is that Guernsey is all year round, and Jersey...........isn't! As Jersey is the bigger and more popular island, you would think that with the right operator, we could sustain a year round service using a suitable aircraft type if it can be sustained to Guernsey - and whether it can or not remains to be seen.

 

[whoshotjimmi]

Precisely my point. You would have thought that a similar route to Jersey could be sustained. Having said that, as long as I can remember, Guernsey has seemed to be the more popular route at LBA.

On a totally different note, why are flights from LBA - Guernsey £30 or so more expensive than flights from Guernsey - LBA?

 

[lbaspotter]

It is an ATR72 Bigman

No its not going to be ATR72 operated White Heather. As Bigman says Aurigny's new Leeds/Bradford - Guernsey service is booked to be flown by the airlines sole ATR42-500, G-HUET in between its duties operating the Guernsey -London City service.

Jet2 operate the Leeds/Bradford - Jersey service 3x weekly Tue, Thu & Sat during the summer using Boeing 737-300 equipment.

 

[Seasider]

Precisely my point. You would have thought that a similar route to Jersey could be sustained. Having said that, as long as I can remember, Guernsey has seemed to be the more popular route at LBA.

I beg to differ, Jersey has had continuous service (sometimes summer only) from the mid 60's to the present day. Last time Guernsey was available was in 2000 by British European and I don't think that it has ever operated in the winter.

 

[White Heather]

No its not going to be ATR72 operated White Heather. As Bigman says Aurigny's new Leeds/Bradford - Guernsey service is booked to be flown by the airlines sole ATR42-500, G-HUET in between its duties operating the Guernsey -London City service.

Jet2 operate the Leeds/Bradford - Jersey service 3x weekly Tue, Thu & Sat during the summer using Boeing 737-300 equipment.

In that case it has been downgraded lbaspotter as it was orginally announced as an ATR72 and confirmed as that by the airport itself at a recent consultative meeting. Shame, but hopefully next year it will be operated by the bigger aircraft.

 

[lbaspotter]

In that case it has been downgraded lbaspotter as it was orginally announced as an ATR72 and confirmed as that by the airport itself at a recent consultative meeting. Shame, but hopefully next year it will be operated by the bigger aircraft.

No that's not true either. The original press release issued by LBA even states that the route would be operated by an ATR42. See the second page of this link: http://www.leedsbradfordairport.co.uk/media/2115/aurigny-press-release-gci.pdf

 

[White Heather]

OK LBASpotter, I am convinced! Obviously there are people at LBA who are getting their 72s and 42s mixed up as they even said it was an identical aircraft type to the Aer Lingus operating to Dublin.

 

[JakeS]

Strange. GR664 still hasn't been updated onto Friday's arrival page.

 

[White Heather]

It isn't strange for LBA! They often don't update the arrivals and departures until about a day before when a new airline or service commences. Perhaps their 'updater' is on leave!

 

[alpha.alpha]

Aurigny is now showing on the arrivals and departures, Friday is showing a 14:40 arrival and a 15:10 departure, currently not showing the Aurigny logo yet.

 

[lbaspotter]

Strange. GR664 still hasn't been updated onto Friday's arrival page.

The Air Europa charter flight been operated on behalf of Thomson Holidays to Palma-Majorca which actually also starts this Friday morning (My have missed informed a few members regards start date) is also not showing on the LBA website.
Knew the inbound AEA337 which is due in at 09:30 might not appear on the arrivals board with it been a positioning sector but thought the first outbound AEA338 which is due out at 10:20 would have be listed on the departure boards.

 

[JakeS]

Aurigny is now showing on the arrivals and departures, Friday is showing a 14:40 arrival and a 15:10 departure, currently not showing the Aurigny logo yet.

Beat me to it