BA CityFlyer

[TheLocalYokel]

Florence

Seems to have been extended until 18 November. I thought it was originally until October. I think that the BHX-Florence route is extended too.

 

[Jerry]

Does anyone know how the BA flights are doing? Are they getting decent loads?
I can't see Florence not doing well but the other routes have stiff competition on them.

 

[superking]

Florence must be doing all right with extra weeks service from brs and bhx.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Does anyone know how the BA flights are doing? Are they getting decent loads?
I can't see Florence not doing well but the other routes have stiff competition on them.

Haven't heard any news about the performance of the other routes. Florence has some competition in that easyJet flies 6 x weekly (no Thursdays) to Pisa which is often used by travellers to reach Florence, and I don't just mean from Bristol.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Does anyone know how the BA flights are doing? Are they getting decent loads?
I can't see Florence not doing well but the other routes have stiff competition on them.

Florence

It looks as though the route started ok. It began on Saturday 20 May meaning there were two rotations in May.

CAA stats show 189 passengers which divided between the four sectors in May averages 47.25 per flight - load factor of 62.2% on the 76-seat BACF E170.

However, it's likely that there were few passengers on the first inbound. If there were none the average load on the three other sectors would be 63, load factor 82.9%.

The BHX route to Florence that started on the same day with the same number of rotations in the month was broadly similar in that it carried 176 passengers.

 

[Jerry]

However, it's likely that there were few passengers on the first inbound. If there were none the average load on the three other sectors would be 63, load factor 82.9%.

That does seem a decent LF. It should do well and no doubt attract a fair few welsh pax as well. I'm sure Flybe and CWL will be keeping an eye on how the route is doing and I wouldn't be surprised to see a weekly Florence from CWL next summer!

 

[TheLocalYokel]

That does seem a decent LF. It should do well and no doubt attract a fair few welsh pax as well. I'm sure Flybe and CWL will be keeping an eye on how the route is doing and I wouldn't be surprised to see a weekly Florence from CWL next summer!

Pisa is a much more popular airport in that neck of the woods and is handy for Florence as well as for Pisa itself and other attractions in the area.

easyJet carried not far short of 5,800 on Bristol-Pisa in May. Would probably be a better bet.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Florence

CAA stats show that in June 422 passengers were carried on the service. Average load 52.75, load factor 69.4%. Nothing to shout from the rooftops although as a comparison the BACF BHX-FLR route carried fewer passengers - 339.

BRS-PSA (Pisa) carried 7,839, up 43% on June 2016 following an increase in frequency this summer.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Florence

CAA stats show that in August 586 passengers were carried on the service. Average load 73.25, load factor 96.4%

July figures were 714 passengers (five Saturdays in that month). Average load 71.4, load factor 93.9%.

So this summer load factors on the 76-seat E170 have been:

May (part month) 62.2%
June 69.4%
July 93.9%
August 96.4%

May started late in the month and it's likely the first inbound was not heavily loaded. Beyond that the route has picked up steadily as far as passenger numbers are concerned. It's to be hoped the yield is satisfactory.

Over 8,000 used the BRS-Pisa easyJet route in August which is used by Florence-bound passengers and has a much higher frequency.

 

[Marko1]

Florence flying with an e190 today rather than the usual e170

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Florence was cancelled today. I don't know why. It was shown in Mayfly - with an E190 - as it is next Saturday.

Looking at the BHX arrivals page which the aircraft visits after returning to Florence from BRS, the arrival at BHX is shown as coming from Pisa and is three hours late. This might suggest some form of operational problem at Florence today.

PMI and IBZ seem to have ended at the end of September but Malaga continues this month. I can't remember when these routes were due to finish. The original press release doesn't seem to say.

 

[forest1979]

Appears on the face of it that BA’s dabble into regional airports with selected summer routes worked well. Don’t know the official picture for Bristol but I assume it was good enough for them to return.
Would be interested to know if we feel BA have more to offer? I understand that available aircraft from LCY was the reason they started this venture initially but I wonder if they might have an eye on other routes.? maybe they could challenge BMI on some of their routes? Their aircraft seem a good fit and i think it might be good for BA and airports for them to expand their pressance a little. Might give BMI something to think about and up their game which of late has been a little poor.

 

[Jerry]

More Italian routes and maybe Corsica and Sardinia could be options. Another possibility could be places like Coruna Seville and Asturias in Spain.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I think you are correct, forest, that the reason for these regional services at weekends was to utilise the aircraft that might otherwise have been parked up idle. I believe they are used at London City and Stansted during the 'working' week which probably gives a better return.

If they have more 'unused' aircraft at weekends then perhaps we'll see more in the regions.

Looking at their operation at LCY and STN the only routes served from those airports not served by someone at BRS are Mykonos, Quimper, Rotterdam, Manchester and Zurich. BACF also serves Paris Orly, Milan Linate and Berlin Tegel which aren't served from BRS but other airports in those cities are.

 

[Marko1]

A lot of talk on the other site about ba expanding at Manchester next summer. Any more coming our way. There is a big niche market to be had at Bristol

 

[TheLocalYokel]

A lot of talk on the other site about ba expanding at Manchester next summer. Any more coming our way. There is a big niche market to be had at Bristol

A poster on that other forum reckons that BACF will be cutting back at BHX net summer. If that's the case it might not bode well for BRS either. Something to keep an eye on.

 

[Marko1]

All of bristols routes are still on sale whereas birminghams to Ibiza and Florence have been taken off.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

All of bristols routes are still on sale whereas birminghams to Ibiza and Florence have been taken off.

I'm sure that the problem that BHX had was the awful late-night timings of the flights. BRS was very lucky to have more agreeable flight times.

Let's hope that ticket sales are good over the next few weeks. At least there is a longer lead-in time for summer 18 plus the fact that people should be more aware of the service. The flights for this year were't announced until February. I still think it's something to keep an eye on though.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Summer 2018

Same programme as summer 17 but new timings in the main (now 'out and backers' instead of the middle of a 'w' as was the case in summer 17), plus AGP increased to 2 x weekly in 2018 which facilitates the E190 positioning in and out at the beginning and end of the Saturday programme.

Saturday
BA7340 AGP 0105 BRS 0245
BA7023 BRS 0615 PMI 0940
BA7022 PMI 1025 BRS 1155
BA7016 FLR 1105 BRS 1225
BA7021 BRS 1245 AGP 1625
BA7017 BRS 1310 FLR 1625
BA7020 AGP 1715 BRS 1900
BA7019 BRS 1945 IBZ 2310
BA7018 IBZ 2355 BRS 0120 (Sun)

Sunday
BA7021 BRS 0625 AGP 1005

All E190 except Florence which is E170 as summer 17.

 

[Marko1]

Excellent news. Be nice to see some more new routes as well though