Flybe

[TheLocalYokel]

I have a feeling that the Southampton-Isle of Man route operated at greater frequency than the BRS route - possibly up to 6 x weekly. Their passenger figures for January were about twice those of BRS to the IoM.

The IoM-SOU also continued to Brussels, then back to the IoM via SOU. The BRU leg also seems to be for the axe.

When Flybe started the IoM Bristol route in summer 2010 the service continued to Jersey, and then returned to the IoM via BRS. Last summer and this winter the route is IoM-BRS-IoM, so no Jersey pax to supplement it, though the Jersey loads in 2010 seemed pretty low - no doubt why that leg was axed.

Flybe in its Jersey European days used to operate from BRS to Belfast City 3 x daily with one of the rotations calling in at the Isle of Man in both directions. This was one of those peculiarities where it was cheaper to fly on the same aircraft to Belfast than get off at the intermediate stop in the Isle of Man.

When Jersey European chopped the the route Eastern came on to it but gave up about three years ago shortly after Manx2 started its Gloucester-Isle of Man route with cheaper fares and greater frequencies.

I've checked the Flybe booking engine again this morning for flights in May and they are still advertising direct flights. I have a personal interest as the Isle of Man is near the top of our visit list for this year.

If Flybe did pull out I note that Blue Islands have a Jersey-Isle of Man route (3 x weekly). Maybe something could be done with that airline if, as seems the case, it's going down well at BRS.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Flybe Bristol-Isle of Man

Further to the above, I read a piece concerning the Isle of Man airport's performance in January which, though it saw an increase of 1.3% in passenger numbers, was regarded by the airport management as a disappointment.

The IoM airport director made the following comment in her summary of the airport network's performance.

"The Flybe routes to Southampton and Bristol averaged less than a quarter full during January, following some disappointing months with relatively low passenger loads and Flybe have decided to close Southampton from the end of February."

The Bristol route was not mentioned there for closure despite rumours and it is still being advertised for booking in the summer ahead on the Flybe website.

 

[conns757]

retained -sou pax to brs! free car pak offer for iom .

 

[TheLocalYokel]

retained -sou pax to brs! free car pak offer for iom .

Many thanks for that, conns757.

That's excellent news.

Addendum (2150 22.2.12)

Have now seen the parking offer on the BRS airport website.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Who managed to get Cardiff Airport to advertise the Flybe Bristol-Isle of Man route on its official website?

 

[Aviador]

Who managed to get Cardiff Airport to advertise the Flybe Bristol-Isle of Man route on its official website?

A bit like Ryanair advertising the tunnel?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

retained -sou pax to brs! free car pak offer for iom .

Perhaps the competition is hotting up for the West Country to Isle of Man.

What with the BRS free car parking offer and the Flybe BRS-IOM advert appearing on the CWL official website, I noticed this week that the Bristol edition of the Metro newspaper contained a full page advertisement for the Manx2 route from Staverton (Glos) to the Isle of Man.

I thought I ought to see what the fuss is all about so Mrs Yokel will be flying with me to Ronaldsway with Flybe from the North Somerset mountains next month for a short break on the island that I'm told was the inspiration for the Rev Awdry's Thomas The Tank Engine books. I'm looking forward to riding the trains there - steam and electric.

I met the Reverend once in the 1970s - nice old duffer, a bit like me now though I'm certainly not a cleric, nor a writer of children's books.

 

[conns757]

I see Manx2 had another incident at IOM last nite.

Let me know if I can extend the car park offer for one more punter!

Brs

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Let me know if I can extend the car park offer for one more punter!

We shall be flying in April so will come within the free parking offer having booked in March.

Confirmed procedure with parking supervisor this week having had one or two problems at the long stay last year during the time when the barrier system was changing from credit/debit card recognition to number plate recognition.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Mrs TLY and I enjoyed our Flybe flights from BRS to IOM and back last week.

It now looks as though they might not operate IOM from BRS this coming winter - no booking availability after the end of October following Flybe's winter programme announcement today.

Jersey and Belfast City still bookable for next winter.

Spoke to an IOM-based couple on the the aircraft on the way across to the Island who told us they had used the BRS link because the Manx2 from Gloucester was too expensive.

We saw a Manx2 from GLO arrive at Ronaldsway on Saturday at lunchtime and only seven passenger got off the Dornier 228.

 

[alphagolf]

Reported today that FlyBE are to cease flying the Bristol to Belfast City route from June 10th! Citing unsustainable passenger levels!

Not surprising to be honest when you look at how Belfast International is performing with easyjet at the moment!

Wonder if anyone will step in to continue the route once FlyBE have gone?????

alphagolf

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Reported today that FlyBE are to cease flying the Bristol to Belfast City route from June 10th! Citing unsustainable passenger levels!

Not surprising to be honest when you look at how Belfast International is performing with easyjet at the moment!

Wonder if anyone will step in to continue the route once FlyBE have gone?????

The BRS-BHD figures for April were 3,902, down just 1 per cent on April 2011. That gives an average load of around 38 or load factor of just under 50%.

easyJet carried 19,397 on BRS-BFS, up 35% on April 2011.

I can't think of anyone who might want to try BRS-BHD at the present time unless Ryanair goes back into BHD.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Belfast City

To add a bit more to alphagolf's and my previous posts, the passenger figures for Flybe's BRS-BHD in January, February and March were all up on these months in 2011, with April down just 1%.

The easyJet BRS-BFS with a third rotation on three days of the week saw a 35% rise to 19,397 passengers over April 2011 with an average load of 141 or just over 90% load factor which is probably as high as it's ever been on that route.

I suspect it's easyJet's actions that is more to do with Flybe's decision than 'unsustainable passenger levels'.

This happened six or seven years ago when Flybe (maybe in its Jersey European persona) was trumped by easyJet coming in on BRS-BFS and pulled out.

It's a shame because the City airport is a useful alternative though Flybe's timings for the morning rotation made a day trip from Belfast to Bristol difficult and one from Bristol to Belfast impossible unless only an afternoon in the Northern Ireland capital is all that was wanted.

I hope that Flybe doesn't lose touch with BRS - only the JER will remain after the IoM goes this coming wnter - because it has the right sized aircraft for some potential routes.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Summer 2013

Flybe has announced its summer timetable for 2013 until mid July.

The Isle of Man route doesn't seem to be coming back, having been dropped from the end of this month for winter.

Furthermore, the codeshare flights with Air France to Cdg are only advertised in the timetable until the end of the coming winter season (end of March 2013).

Air France was reported to be reducing its BRS services next year from 18 weekly to 12 weekly but its timetable only showed 6 x weekly for next summer when I checked last, albeit with a larger Embraer 190 aircraft (currently ATR 42).

As things stand BRS will lose two island routes next summer, Scilly (Skybus) and Man.

I wonder if Blue Islands would be interested in serving the Isle of Man from BRS. They operate there from the Channel Islands and also go head to head with Flybe on BRS-JER (Flybe's only BRS route so far shown in their timetable for summer 2013).

 

[Aviador]

Flybe are having a rough old time at the moment and they're having to offload a number of marginal routes. The Isle of Man is a strange route anyway. It suffers from high peaks and low troughs, more so than many others. The TT motorcycling races attract many thousands of visitors between the end of May and the beginning of June but for much of the rest of the year it can be very quiet. Flybe's Q400's are probably too big for the Isle of Man route. Has Manx2 operated on the route before? They seem to have the right sized aircraft.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Flybe's Q400's are probably too big for the Isle of Man route. Has Manx2 operated on the route before? They seem to have the right sized aircraft.

Historically Flybe in its Jersey European days used to operate BRS-BHD 3 or 4 x daily with one rotation calling in at IOM each day.

When that ceased Eastern took over the route with daily Jetstreams but several years ago Manx2 started Gloucester-IOM with at least 2 x daily and with generally considerably cheaper fares than Eastern, though I'm not sure their fares were always cheaper than Flybe's. A few months after Manx2 commenced at Gloucester Eastern chopped its Bristol route having seen passenger numbers begin to fall.

Two years ago Flybe came back onto the route but have axed it from the end of this month.

Blue Islands certainly have the smaller Jetstream aircraft and might easily do a daily service. Depends on viability of course and only the airline and airport would be privy to that.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Flybe BRS-IOM

The route appears to be back for summer 2013.

It's in the Flybe web timetable and is bookable on their website. Shown as Tue, Thur and Sat from early April to late October as summer 2012.

That's good news.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

The BRS-IoM route has resumed for the summer (3 x weekly).

I note that this lunchtime two Flybe aircraft are due in from Lourdes. Mayfly doesn't show the type.

 

[superking]

flybe due in lunchtime saturday were e190. hope that helps local.

 

[Marko1]

Flybe starting their cuts. Cardiff losing glasgow and paris. It appears bristols link to jersey may have been dropped too . Cannot see any availability for next summer