Leeds Bradford: Air Blue Flights will they ever happen?

[Sherburnflyer92]

The bigger question is-do Turkish Airlines need LBA?

The feed that they could get for Australia / Asia will be great considering Emirates are now on a 4th daily flight (is it 4 daily or 24/25 weekly flights) via one stop in IST.

In terms of Middle Eastern feed:

Afghanistan - 2 destinations
Iran - 6 destinations
Iraq - 5 destinations
Pakistan - 3 destinations
India - Delhi and Mumbai (one suspects Turkish will look at rapidly expanding India once fleet grows).

Pakistan alone will fill a Turkish airline flight without even needing any feed to FarEast, Thailand, Australia etc.

With a feed to the Pakistan / Middle East (and a huge population that demands it) plus a more attractive 1 stop option over KLM or for example Emirates from MAN I'm seriously questioning why we haven't got Turkish here.

 

[Jerry]

I'm seriously questioning why we haven't got Turkish here

4 daily flights equaling 28 weekly departures from Manchester mostly on an A321neo and sometimes on a widebody like the 787 may well be a reason why.

 

[White Heather]

4 daily flights equaling 28 weekly departures from Manchester mostly on an A321neo and sometimes on a widebody like the 787 may well be a reason why.

And on A330s too.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

On top of Emirates 4 daily flights is it?

4 daily flights equaling 28 weekly departures from Manchester mostly on an A321neo and sometimes on a widebody like the 787 may well be a reason why.

One understands that sometimes airlines put widbodies on for cargo capacity over the seat capacity. That's just a bonus.

 

[mullion]

The Turkist A330 are scheduled several days week and is for passenger loads

 

[Jerry]

On top of Emirates 4 daily flights is it?

3 daily A380s

One understands that sometimes airlines put widbodies on for cargo capacity over the seat capacity. That's just a bonus.

Turkish often add widebodies for extra passenger capacity.

 

[Aviador]

The question here is do you think Manchester Airport bosses sit back and say there's no point in aiming for a particular long haul flight because Heathrow already has it? Of course not, they will continue to persue it with the same argument of people want a local departure and the catchment shows demand exists which is a fair argument. So there is every reason to expect LBA and other airports to do the same with routes such as Istanbul with Turkish Airlines and they will continue to persue Air Blue to Islamabad.

 

[Jerry]

So there is every reason to expect LBA and other airports to do the same with routes such as Istanbul with Turkish Airlines and they will continue to persue Air Blue to Islamabad.

I've no doubt but there has to be a realism about the challenge faced when trying to attract airlines like Turkish Airlines. AirBlue are a different proposition as they don't serve the UK.

 

[mullion]

But have done so why not

 

[Iron Duck]

LBA now showing as a destination on the AirBlue site!

 

[White Heather]

LBA now showing as a destination on the AirBlue site!

Nothing actually bookable yet, but that probably won't happen until after any official announcement. Appearing on the drop down destination menu is a very positive first step.

 

[gulftraveller]

SPD travels and a Pakkstani site say that for now, Air Blue have returned all their UK slots.

 

[White Heather]

SPD travels and a Pakkstani site say that for now, Air Blue have returned all their UK slots.

Presumably because as yet, they haven't signed any contracts or don't have any intended start date, but once they have definite plans they can reapply for slots. There must be a reason why yesterday they suddenly added LBA to their destination drop down menu.

 

[752]

Seems like it’s on visible ISB to LBA in the drop down, LBA to ISB doesn’t show. Interesting development. Hopefully not all is lost, fingers crossed on this one

 

[gulftraveller]

As SPD travels points out, their entry into the market has so far been totally shambolic. I have never heard of an airline applying for slots and then handing them back pending signing of contracts. I suspect Air Sial’s announcement of using an A330 to launch UK flights has spooked them. Air Blue were also rumoured to be leasing A330s for flights to MAN. Not sure we will see them in UK any time soon.

 

[SierraHotel]

"Pakistan" and "Shambles" appear inextricably linked.

 

[rollo]

Airlines from Pakistan are like tommorow -as in it never comes.

 

[Finger66]

You never know, they might turn up out of the (air) blue!

 

[lbaspotter]

Flights not bookable yet, but LBA dose now appear on the Air Blue website home page drop down menu.

 

[Aviador]

"Pakistan" and "Shambles" appear inextricably linked.

Loonatics running the asylum.