Routes that never were.

[User001]

thought I would start this random thread, as it's a fascinating insight into the past that can often get forgotten. It's also a learning curve, as the first one on my list was unknown to me until recently.

Now, I'm looking at routes that were actually announced by the airline directly, but ultimately didn't happen for one reason or another. I'm not looking for rumours of flights (so unfortunately no 'I heard X wanted to start YYY-ZZZ), just ones that were actually announced but didn't start.

I'll start with some:

Around the late 1990's, US air announced Pittsburgh-Manchester on a B767-200, subject to government approval. It never started however.

Cathay Pacific in 2005 announced HKG-DME-MAN 4 weekly A340-300 but never started as BMI objected the routing.

Oasis Hong Kong announced HKG-DUS-MAN 4 weekly B744 just weeks before they went under, timetables were released and flights were days away from going on sale.

In 2012, Montenegro Airlines announced that Manchester and Lyin would be served in 2013. Lyon happened, Manchester didn't.

Thomas Cook to San Fransisco nearly fell into this category, but thankfully has now been announced.

Over to you guys, I'll update if I find anymore.

 

[David_itl]

Air Maldives in the late 1990s. Made it onto MAN's website!

Olympic Airways 3 weekly A300 ATH-MAN-BOS with 5th freedom MAN-BOS around 2000. 1 year of negotiation between governments then they weren't permitted to operate the A300 over the pond... this then metamorphosed into the 3 weekly 737 ATH-MAN service.

 

[User001]

Another few:

Jet2 Manchester-Istanbul. Was bookable as 2 weekly on B757 but then cancelled a few weeks later due to Turkish Airlines increasing their flights. Route never ran.

Thomas Cook planned and put on sale Gatwick-Reno, but cancelled plans after it was found the US customs would not be able to cope with the passengers off an A330.

I believe Malaysian Airlines also planned a 2 weekly KUL-LGW on B777 in the early 2000's, again put on sale but never ran as far as I know.

Biman Bangladesh planned Birmingham/New York but they couldn't get the DOT approval.

PIA planned to switch their JFK flight from MAN to SNN, but again couldn't get DOT approval.

Flyglobespan planned to operate ABZ-SSH in 2009 but were cancelled before launch.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Wizz Air announced flights from Bristol to Warsaw Chopin around 2010. Within a few weeks the flights were withdrawn from sale. Wizz did eventually operate the route - from this year!

 

[David_itl]

Would Beijing Capital Air's Beijing-BHX fall into this?

 

[User001]

I suppose it could, there was an airport announcement with flight numbers and times, just no actual airline announcement, but yes, it can count.

 

[thunderchild]

A few more for BHX;

Gulf Traveller in 2005 but cancelled when EK went double daily.

Spanair announced MAD and BCN but they never materialised.

Monarch announced plans to fly to Amritsar with the A300/A330.

Armavia to Yerevan - actually might have lasted two flights?

 

[User001]

I think Armavia had at least one flight, so technically ran.

 

[Jerry]

Would Flyforbeans count? With the 12 destinations that never materialised along with the airline at CWL in 2007?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Ah FlyForBeans, the would-be airline that must not be mentioned on a certain plummy aviation message board.

The chief executive was/is a well regarded individual in aviation circles and I have no doubt this was no mere pipe dream. It was ambitious but it had the misfortune to coincide with the beginning of a major recession. Whether it would have got going otherwise we shall never know.

Would have been interesting. The routes were never published although I believe that Keflavik and Malta were rumoured strongly to be two of them.

 

[thunderchild]

Another one for BHX - Iceland Express to KEF summer 2010. I think the volcanic eruption put paid to that one.

 

[User001]

And should we taunt the whole 'africaada' thing, or, are we still holding out hope for that one?

 

[User001]

One for Manchester again, the return of Air Blue. Proudly announced on their social media but quietly dropped when Shaheen Air came on the scene.

flynonstop was another, announced and made bookable several routes such as Manchester and Dublin to Kristiansund, but went bust before the routes started.

 

[David_itl]

Freshaer and Now became "a lot of hot air" and "Never".

 

[User001]

I'm sure there was an airline called Kiss, made up of former Excel Airways colleagues that proposed Manchester flights, put them on the website but obviously never came to anything too.

 

[User001]

Transaero also announced 1 weekly Moscow-Manchester/Edinburgh but never started the flights.

 

[Aviador]

Does this thread include paper airlines that never made it for one reason or another?