Eastern Airways

[Aviador]

By all accounts the DTV service is a non starter. So far very few passengers if any at all are using the service from DTV. It is possible that Eastern might just have a change of heart about pulling the Leeds base.

 

[backtrack]

I heard that also somewhere else and read on here just now the same. I definately agree with you Aviador and think Eastern Airways regret their decision, as the service from DTV is shockingly poor, i mean we are used to low numbers here at LBA, but the 2 or 3 (if lucky) passengers per day cant be paying off...

 

[White Heather]

I think that part of the problem for DTV is that once an airport starts to lose its flights and airlines, passengers lose faith in the airport and start to look elsewhere, not even considering the options (very few in the case of DTV) that are available to them. They have little faith that even if they book, the route won't be pulled by the time they fly, leaving them with a few travel problems to sort out. Added to which Eastern are not noted for their low fares, so a lot of passengers might view booking with them as an expensive gamble. It could therefore take a long time, especially in winter in the middle of a recession, for the bookings to get to the point where the route is viable. The question is will Eastern stick with it? And if they don't will they bring the aircraft and crew back to LBA or abandon SOU from both LBA and DTV?

 

[backtrack]

I think (and hope) they will bring it back to LBA, and give up on a bad job. I think they are feeling regret now with their move and the sooner they move back to LBA the better. Flybe for instance, may be relishing this time for their own SOU operation. Does anybody know how the flybe SOU has been affected, have they had a general increase since the eastern airways switch

 

[lbia]

SOU for Flybe goes from strength to strength. Loads are consistantly good, over 100 often on the evening E195. If i'm honest Flybe and Jet2 are really the few airlines out of LBA that show any commitment, not that I want to loose Eastern but they are not exactly going to help the airport grow and have hardly showed much imagination with their routes. The whole DTV thing is a last ditch attempt to keep the route viable. They suit a niche market, but with times of recession, people flying to SOU for example are not willing to pay over the odds for Eastern, when really its such a short flight and 'business' class travel exepectations dont really exist in Europe anymore. As from what we have seen, people obviously prefer Flybe and I would not be surprised, as much as it would not be good, to see Eastern dissapear.

 

[WYIA]

DTV/MME really is a shocking little airport i have to say. It seems KLM & T3 are only just keeping it going now. Its stuck in the dark ages, no airlines are showing an interest in it. The check in hall consists of 4 used check in desks and over 10 unused including a former bmi area. The staff across the airport are clearly fed up of coming into work for the same 4 flights a day and it would not suprise me if this sorry little airstrip was the next to go the same way Sheffield City did!

T3 no doubt got a bargain deal from the airport with this new SOU setup but the loads speak for themselves, nobody wants to pay £100+ to fly to Southampton via Leeds! Its just utter pants.

We all have to embrace the fact, low cost airlines are the future. We may hate the tack, the high priced coffee, the annoying marketing PA's & the bag charges but FLYBE, JET2 & Ryanair can all offer LBA more for the future and thank god they are all involved even through these difficult times.

T3 would not be missed at LBA if they went.

 

[stewief1]

I would definitely miss Eastern if they went. Think they are a great little airline - overpriced i acknowledge, but their service onboard is excellent. How are their loads usually? I do hope Flybe take over BMI routes though - we need a low cost airline on EDI/GLA.

 

[john2408]

Eastern are to start flights to Aberdeen from Tuesday.

 

[White Heather]

Not any more their not - all cancelled again according to the airport website due to the latest ash cloud heading our way.

 

[backtrack]

Rumour had it, Eastern were to gain 2 x EMB 135's. They know have them, but are not planned to be operated into LBA for the time being.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

The late afternoon/early evening rotation to/from BRS from/to Aberdeen now operates each way via Leeds-Bradford Mon to Fri and Sun (no Sat service).

In summer 09 and winter 09/10 only the Sunday service operated via LBA with the others non-stop.

Equipment for flights operating via LBA is scheduled as a Saab 2000 and there is still no booking facility between BRS and LBA.

 

[Aviador]

It's been nice to see the Saab 2000 coming into Leeds on a more regular basis.

 

[masere]

It's been nice to see the Saab 2000 coming into Leeds on a more regular basis.

This one came in yesterday. It parked next to the fire station. Thought there was a problem at first but think it was just due to the fact there were quite a lot of aircraft in already.

[rimg]http://i783.photobucket.com/albums/yy113/masere/DSC00537.jpg[/rimg]

 

[012tom012]

Stand 1 is been used regularly now, mainly for the Eastern Saab and the Manx2, stuff that has to go nose out.

 

[backtrack]

Indeed, Stand 1 has seen this recently and is usually used more often for `nose out` aircraft parking, hence the examples of the Saab and manx2. I have noted also the occasional flybe has parked on stand 1.

 

[White Heather]

Easstern today positioned in a Saab from Aberdeen which departed at 10am to Bergen. I am almost certain that this will be carrying Leeds United FC for their friendly match against Bran Bergen tomorrow evening, so it will no doubt be back again late on Tuesday or some time Wednesday if they stay overnight after their game.

 

[backtrack]

Easstern today positioned in a Saab from Aberdeen which departed at 10am to Bergen. I am almost certain that this will be carrying Leeds United FC for their friendly match against Bran Bergen tomorrow evening, so it will no doubt be back again late on Tuesday or some time Wednesday if they stay overnight after their game.

White Heather, you are spot on. I had the pleasure to meet them all as they boarded their chartered Saab. It seems Eastern offer their saabs for charter use often, last season it took Huddersfield FC away and LBA has seen it numerous times before on private charters (eg: Emmerdale cast etc)

Good Luck lads.

 

[backtrack]

Aircraft reg. for anyone interested for todays Leeds United charter flight was G-CDEA.

 

[WYIA]

Eastern is to aqcuire Air Southwest, the deal is expected to be complete by the end of October. Initially, Air Southwest is to continue under its own brand. The Dash8 fleet will also stay. From what i can tell, Air Southwest will stick to operating routes in the Southwest.... Eastern may well end up on routes such as Bristol - Leeds using their own fleet.

 

[Bigman]

Does this mean they can utilise the current afternoon Aberdeen-Leeds-Bristol service to carry passengers between LBA-BRS in addition to the current ASW service?