Leeds Bradford - General Thread

[ls27]

The actual report says that 'that airport hopes to begin talks with airlines including Continental, American, Delta and US Airlines.' The plan is called Project America, and states that an estimated 250,000 passengers travel from our region to the US every year, and there are also some 750 American owned businesses.

 

[stewief1]

Sounds promising. Continental would seem quite likely i suspect, given their history of providing 'the smaller airports' with direct flights across the pond. Would you expect this to be a daily flight, or less frequent than that?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

This has Tony Hallwood stamped all over it.

When at Bristol he had a Project USA that sought to bring in a New York regular scheduled service and eventually persuaded Continental to operate it. It has now been running four and a half years going daily Mar-Oct and 5 x weekly/4 x weekly Nov-Feb.

Clearly he has great experience in this sort of thing so if anyone can get a NY service he can. I once read an interesting piece on evidence BRS gave to the Competition Commission and they described how they went about getting the CO route to Newark.

They didn't sell the airport, after all as they put it no-one would normally look at an airport with a 6,600 foot runway for a regular transatlantic service. They sold the area both as a business location with links both ways between the USA and West Country and as a place that US leisure travellers would enjoy visiting.

At one point they got the local 'Great and Good' into a hotel with the CO people to support the airport's argument.

Expect a similar approach from TH for LBA. It worked once so could well work again.

 

[White Heather]

That is exactly what is happening Local Yokel. The airport issued an on line press release today outlining their plans and why the region needs flights to the US. It is clear from that they are trying to get the local businesses rallying round to support the demand for services, and it points out just how much trade the Yorkshire region has with the US. It also states thath this catchment area is the largest in the country not to have direct flights to the US.

However, it also states that the intention is to have direct flights by the middle of the next decade, which could be anything up to 2015, not 2012, so there is no reason to get excited just yet. It could be a long wait folks!

 

[Aviador]

However, it also states that the intention is to have direct flights by the middle of the next decade, which could be anything up to 2015, not 2012, so there is no reason to get excited just yet. It could be a long wait folks!

Given the state of affairs with the economy at the moment I think 2015 is more realistic than 2012. I hope I am wrong but only last week Continental Airlines said that transatlantic capacity needs to be reduced not increased because of over capacity. The US Airways withdrawal from Birmingham has just highlighted this problem. To be honest although I would really like to see a scheduled service across the pond, I think it's more of a prestige thing or a status symbol for the airport rather than a necessity for the region. Businesses always rally around airports when airports are seeking prestigious routes like this but when the crunch comes to the crunch people tend not to use them.

 

[pug]

There seems to be increasing vitriol over this on the fraternity forum... They obviously dont understand what TH managed to achieve during his time at BRS...

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I was told on very good authority recently that BRS made a lot of money out of the CO service in 2007, some money in 2008 but the person who told me sort of avoided talking about 2009 - I was too polite to ask - so perhaps not much money has been made this year.

My informant would know although it would not be fair to say who it was.

So when times are good it seems even the smaller regional airports can proft from such routes.

 

[Aviador]

Are there any pictures of the new destination map?

Like I said before, it would have been nice to see the places look bolder on the map similar to how Ryanair and Jet2 have done it on their destination maps.

 

[Aviador]

no Islamabad and Sharm? are they on a separate map?

They have a spot on the map it just says "to Islamabad", you can't see it very well on the picture.

 

[stevolba]

hiya guys and girls
found this video on youtube didnt no what thred to put it in so please feel free to move it. its a brill little video of concorde at LBA. also at the end there is a very good shot of concorde sat on the apron

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1zA24zjdwLg[/video]

 

[White Heather]

Brilliant. I have to say it made me feel rather hungry too looking at the meal on board. What a shame these beautiful aircraft are a thing of the past. They were a national heritage and should have been kept in the air as long as possible.

 

[stevolba]

Brilliant. I have to say it made me feel rather hungry too looking at the meal on board. What a shame these beautiful aircraft are a thing of the past. They were a national heritage and should have been kept in the air as long as possible.

me to! and the champain look very nice! ino i think they should do a restoration program like they did with the vulcan!

 

[Bigman]

So, anyone care to comment on the potential impact of Easyjet's 5 new rouites from Donny. Just as well we have got Ryanair!!!

 

[Aviador]

Congratulations to Doncaster and good luck to them but I think they will have little or no impact at all on the LBA operation. It's clear now why they moved out of East Midlands, the competition from Bmibaby and Ryanair must have been too much for them. Furthermore, I expect that Peel must have dangled that juicy carrot to get them to use the airport in the first place. Seriously though, I don't think it will affect Leeds at all. If you look at the amount of passenger still transiting from the East of the Pennines to catch flights from Manchester, the only airport that will loose out long term is Manchester.

 

[rmac]

Aviador, you beat me to it. I completely agree. EasyJet are moving out of EMA and there must be a few EasyJet supporters in the Sheffield area who will want to use the Med routes who will transfer to DSA. I think the AMS service will struggle as the departure time is in the afternoon, and HUY , LBA and MAN nearby for early morning and connecting flights with KLM. Even Thomson eventually dropped their AMS service.
It may be that LBA will have a better TOM presence eventually as EasyJet will dilute their overlaping DSA services and they may feel that LBA deserves more from them. Additionally I think Ryanair will eventually drop their DSA to ALC and GRO services altogether as these are available all year round from both LBA and EMA. If EasyJet do not make a success of Donny it may all end in tears as other operators may have all left. For LBA it is even more important to get those road and rail issues sorted.

 

[Seasider]

I don't think that Thomson will increase their flights from LBA. Any spare capacity due to EZY competition (PMI only) will be used to offer other destinations from DSA.

 

[wawkrk]

Post and responses moved to the Passenger & Frequent flyer thread.

by Aviador

 

[Aviador]

[textarea]A flight of fantasy for little Niamh

A BRAVE Sheffield toddler was flying high when she went on her first aeroplane... and met Father Christmas on board.

Niamh Coyne, who turns three on Boxing Day, was invited on a special Santa Flight from Leeds Bradford Airport chartered for sick children and those lives have been blighted by illness.

The Woodseats youngster - who was born with her bowel growing outside her body and then developed a serious liver condition - was so ill earlier this year medics feared for her life.

But a liver donor organ was eventually found for the tot and she was finally allowed home after spending the first two years of her life in hospital.

This Christmas Day will be her first at home since she was born.

Mum Hannah Wilkins, who went on the Santa flight with Niamh, as well as the toddler's dad Rob Coyne, 30, and grandfather Robert Wilkins, 60, said: "The flight was amazing - I don't know how we will ever top this Christmas for Niamh.

"As soon as she stepped foot on the plane she was beside her self with excitement and screamed 'I'm on a plane'.

"There was Christmas music playing and the children could go to see the cockpit and then suddenly we all felt a bump while we were flying and the children were told that Santa had just landed on the roof of the plane with his sleigh.

"When he walked down the aisle the children were so excited, it was lovely to see. When we got off the children were then taken to his grotto where they talked to him and were given a present.

"It was a once-in-a-lifetime trip for Niamh, something she will always remember and for us it was such a magical moment to have her with us enjoying life like a normal little girl.

"We are now looking forward to having our first Christmas Day at home with her and celebrating her birthday on Boxing Day."

The flight was organised by Leeds Bradford International Airport and Ryanair.

Source[/textarea]

 

[backtrack]

Ryanair Santa Flight Takes Off






To view the full news report on this item click here: http://www.itv.com/yorkshire/insearchofsanta95610/

Ryanair and Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA) recently offered a fantastic festive treat for families in the region whose lives have been touched by a life threatening illness.

Children from Martin’s House Hospice in Wetherby, Cancer Research UK and hospitals across Yorkshire were invited to take to the skies in search of Santa and his team of reindeers.

The children were greeted at the airport by various pantomime characters and an array of Santa’s little helpers.

They then joined in the party fun whilst having a festive bite to eat before searching for Santa high in the Skies above Yorkshire.

LBA's air traffic was put on standby to find Santa’s whereabouts on his secret training trips prior to the big day. Their mission was then to help guide him onto the plane so that he could take part in the festive games and Christmas Carols whilst Rudolph refueled with some hand-picked Yorkshire carrots!

Eddie Wilson, Ryanair Director of Personnel and In-flight Services, said “We were delighted to be able to offer families who have had such a hard time this year, a day to remember. The children really got into the party spirit and came dressed as princesses, superheroes and fairies – it was heart-warming to see them having such fun.”

Nicki Embleton of Cancer Research UK said: 'Many of these children have never flown before or even been on holiday due to illness in their family so it really made Christmas extra special for them'.

A number of Cancer Research UK's nominated 'Little Stars' were on the flight. The Little Stars' Awards Scheme recognises the bravery of children who are currently battling cancer, or have undergone treatment for the disease.

Tony Hallwood, Commercial Director of Leeds Bradford Airport, said “As Ryanair’s newest UK airport base we were really pleased to have been chosen to host this festive flight. We wanted to ensure that families in the region who have been touched by illness could have some precious quality time, not just with mum and dad but also brothers, sisters and grandparents.”

 

[tomh]

Lets hope England win the bid for the 2018 World Cup next December, as Leeds has been named as a host city should they win the right to host it. It could bring a very busy June 2018!