Leeds Bradford: Air Blue Flights will they ever happen?

[BCFC]

They've been gone a while now but I've seen several Pakistani publications saying they plan to start in November. Hope they are Cat 3 capable and do low cloud and crosswinds!

And that's on a good day!

 

[Aviador]

And that's on a good day!

Why all the negativity? The A321 is not new to LBA. It is a more than capable aircraft from LBA.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

Why all the negativity? The A321 is not new to LBA. It is a more than capable aircraft from LBA.

I’m not sure where this “A321 cannot operate into LBA” has come from. But it’s 2025 with NEO’s. Not 1995 with old (new then) models. The A321N is the modern day B75.

 

[Aviador]

I’m not sure where this “A321 cannot operate into LBA” has come from. But it’s 2025 with NEO’s. Not 1995 with old (new then) models. The A321N is the modern day B75.

I've no idea, its baffling. I flew with LTE on an A321 from LBA about 20 years ago to the Canaries. No issues at all. I think many people are just so used to seeing countless 737s they've either forgot or weren't aware of LBAs varied use by other aircraft types over the years.

 

[gulftraveller]

Whilst I do not agree that the A21N is the new 757 ( e.g. former needs longer runways), the A21N should have no difficulty operating LBA-IST. If ever the airline’s two neos are unavailable, IST/SOF/BOJ to ISB could be a problem for the ceo aircraft. Other fora have suggested the stopover will be in Bulgaria. In the past the service to MAN used TZX which seems perfect and less congested than SAW or IST.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

That would be then up to air blue to have ran all the worst case scenarios to work out the probability (%) of 2 tech stops. Which must be minimal.

My question is - the crew. Will get operate intermediate stop to LBA as a round trip? One suspects so.

 

[Bigman]

Whilst I do not agree that the A21N is the new 757 ( e.g. former needs longer runways), the A21N should have no difficulty operating LBA-IST. If ever the airline’s two neos are unavailable, IST/SOF/BOJ to ISB could be a problem for the ceo aircraft. Other fora have suggested the stopover will be in Bulgaria. In the past the service to MAN used TZX which seems perfect and less congested than SAW or IST.

Onur Air never seemed to have any problems with their 321s.

 

[HX3]

This and the jet2 Lba thread have been taken over by whether the a321 can fly from Leeds. It can, it does and will in the future. Can a separate a321 thread be set up if the debate is still necessary.
Back to airblue, I hope that the route goes on sale soon and we can have something to celebrate and look forward to for winter. Takk skal du ha👍

 

[SierraHotel]

Presumably shelved??

 

[Aireman]

Wouldn't surprise me. A regular service with a fuel stop is never a good idea.

 

[Aviador]

Wouldn't surprise me. A regular service with a fuel stop is never a good idea.

Not if it isn't planned but actually for a flight over 8 hours it's a chance for a walk and a stretch to be honest.

 

[mullion]

Air Blue used to do MAN for several years and was always a one stop and going back a few more years so was Air India

 

[Finger66]

If LBA has been canned (hopefully just postponed for now) then that is a real shame. However I will say again there are challenging times ahead for the airline industry so they may just not feel it's quite the right time to launch, but suspect someone will at some point down the line

 

[752]

It could be AC availability from their side.

Until PIA announced direct, the only way to Pakistan was via a hub (which is subsequently longer then a fuel stop). if its priced right, i have no doubt airBlue would of had no problem filling the plane.

 

[White Heather]

It could be AC availability from their side.

Until PIA announced direct, the only way to Pakistan was via a hub (which is subsequently longer then a fuel stop). if its priced right, i have no doubt airBlue would of had no problem filling the plane.

On line, there are still references stating the flights to Leeds start on 15th November. Clearly, these need updating. Hopefully this is just a postponement rather than these plans being canned altogether.

 

[BCFC]

Not if it isn't planned but actually for a flight over 8 hours it's a chance for a walk and a stretch to be honest.

I fly MAN-HKG direct every year…if I want to stretch my legs I walk from 1 end of the A350 to the other end and back…sorted. A stop is a pain…needs fuel then could get delayed and lose its slot.

 

[Aviador]

I fly MAN-HKG direct every year…if I want to stretch my legs I walk from 1 end of the A350 to the other end and back…sorted. A stop is a pain…needs fuel then could get delayed and lose its slot.

Not necessarily because not all airports have slot restraints.

 

[BCFC]

Not necessarily because not all airports have slot restraints.

Ok…you don't mind a stop and stretch your legs but I prefer not to.

 

[HX3]

It’s actually about what the potential airblue customers are prepared to accept for the price, not us here on this forum. On previous long haul I have done direct, fuel stop and transit and all were ok, but I too would prefer direct, but then look at the me3 hub model, that is all with a stop and that is what the Pakistani diaspora have been used to in recent years, so I don’t expect issues if the route does come off.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

If this doesn't come to anything ...

I'll say this again. We need Turkish airlines. Hello LBA airport routes team. We, as an airport, need Turkish airlines.