Eastern Airways

[White Heather]

Seems like a happy airline!

 

[Finger66]

How long before the franchise agreement with Flybe becomes a full scale merger?

 

[lbaspotter]

See Eastern Airways used a Saab 2000 on the early morning LBA-ABZ-LBA along with both the mid morning and afternoon LBA-SOU-LBA rotations before it did the last northbound LBA-ABZ. The returning night stopping ABZ-LBA service has been cancelled. That just leaves just BAe Jestream 41, G-MAJJ night stopping at LBA after it operated this afternoons ABZ-LBA late LBA-SOU-LBA rotation

 

[lbaspotter]

How long before the franchise agreement with Flybe becomes a full scale merger?

How long will it last before both airlines are in serious financial trouble. Surely both Eastern and Flybe can't carry on like this?

 

[Finger66]

Torally agree. This is unsustainable and not good for passengers. Hence my previous post of how long before a full scale merger. Consolidation of assets (a term used loosely) has to be the way forward for them both

 

[lbaspotter]

What a mess Eastern Airways are in again this morning what with having a night stopping aircraft missing..

The one and only night Stopping BAe Jetstream 41, G-MAJJ did the EZE70Y/71G LBA-SOU-LBA rotation as scheduled. It then for some reason it managed to pick up a 1 hour 45 min delay operating the EZE4701 LBA-ABZ service

Saab 2000, G-CDEA positioned HUY-LBA as EZE10W to operate the 2 hour delayed early northbound EZE4711 LBA-ABZ service. Meanwhile Saab 2000, G-CERZ has operated the delayed southbound EZE4701 ABZ-LBA then went onto operate the EZE72Y LBA-SOU.

 

[lbaspotter]

Saab 2000, G-CERZ again been used on this afternoons northbound EZE4705 SOU-LBA & LBA-ABZ service.

 

[Finger66]

Constant repositioning of aircraft and Saabs op with J41 loads at best must be costing them an absolute fortune. I suspect a story to unfold in the coming weeks......

 

[White Heather]

Suggest Finger66 that instead of starting a new airline, you take over Eastern and sort them out!

 

[Finger66]

Someone certainly needs to sort them out. It's probably less of a risk starting your own airline at the moment! Even though progress has stalled due to outside factors beyond my control. So in the short term I would love to see T3 get back to being the reliable product they once were. I really can't see how T3 and BE continue to op as they are. Something drastic has to happen. At least BE seem to be addressing things through a fleet reduction. T3 are in need of reliable crews and aircraft. Loganair must be doing something right which is no surprise knowing who is at the helm. There has to be a watch this space somewhere in amongst all of this!

 

[lbaspotter]

Eastern Airways in a mess again today.

1:The early EZE70Y/71G Southampton rotation was operated by G-MAJK with an 1 hour delay in both directions. Its now gone on to operate the 2nd EZE72Y Southampton rotation

2: The early EZE4711/4702 Aberdeen rotation was cancelled along with the 2nd Northbound EZE4701 up to Aberdeen. So no flights have operated from Leeds either to or from Aberdeen this morning.

3: G-MAJT positioned out of Leeds as EZE34P to Humberside whilst G-MAJU has been positioned in to Leeds from Humberside this lunchtime as EZE4702.

 

[Finger66]

With thee reliability issues perhaps we shouldnt be wishing for T3 on GLA. May end up doing more harm than good

 

[White Heather]

I wonder how Flybe will react if Eastern mess up like this when flying under their franchise. Flybe themselves used to be regulars for cancelling flights but have been better recently (excepting the Loganair/Glasgow route), so the last thing they need is to be getting a bad name due to Eastern performing the way they are at the moment.

 

[Finger66]

Couldnt agree more, especially when Flybe's fortunes have taken a turn for the better with the share price etc. Last thing they want is a third party famaging that

 

[lbaspotter]

Seems like Eastern had problems again yesterday as Saab 2000, G-CDKB arrived in as scheduled on the EZE91LK from Aberdeen but didn't operate any further and night stopped. Embrear 145, G-CGWV was positioned in from Newcastle as EZE72P so to operate the EZE91Y/81G Southampton rotation and the late EZE81LK to Aberdeen.

And it continues today:
As planned Jetstream 41, G-MAJU has operated the early EZE70Y/71G Southampton and afterwards the EZE4702 to Aberdeen.
The early Northbound EZE4711 to Aberdeen was cancelled whilst the Southbound EZE4701 was operated by BAe Jetstream, G-MAJW. She then positioned out to Humberside as EZE11P.

 

[lbaspotter]

Eastern at it again:

1: Last nights Aberdeen - Leeds EZE4716 service been cancelled, But some how we still ended up with 2x night stopping BAe Jetstream 41's G-MAJC and G-MAJY which has been here since last Friday.

2: Its looking like G-MAJC must have picked up an issue or has gone tech as its not operated this morning meanwhile G-MAJY operated the early EZE70Y/71G Southampton rotation.
3: Norwich based Saab 2000, G-CIEC called into Leeds as EZE72H to pick up the outbound EZE4711 pax heading up to Aberdeen.
4: The southbound EZE4702 from Aberdeen was then operated by Saab 2000, G-CERY which has now gone on to operate the EZE72Y to Southampton

 

[Finger66]

However much we think T3 have the right equipment for LBA - GLA I think we need to really consider the following:
The J41s are getting long in the tooth and keep breaking down
Saab crews are defecting elsewhere
I think our best hope has to be T3 op as a Flybe franchise for two reasons:
Provides better onward feed through GLA on top of point to point
BE would not tolerate poor reliability and performance

Perhaps even roll on Stobart flashing that cash of theirs!

 

[lbaspotter]

It continued this evening.

Saab 2000, G-CERY operated the EZE4705 from Southampton. It then as scheduled continued northbound to Aberdeen, But called into Humberside on its way. Its now returned back to Leeds operating the night stopping EZE4716 service
.
Good news Jetstream 41, G-MAJY looks to be back in action as it operated the evening EZE76/77G Southampton rotation. So it means at least Eastern have 2 serviceable night stopping aircraft for tomorrow mornings rotations.

 

[oldendays]

Hilarious. Even when an Eastern Saab was actually based at LBA, we didn't see as much of the type as we are now. It's a wonder the company is still in business given this sort of carry-on.

 

[Finger66]

Haven't yet established if it's across the whole network but Eastern appear to be changing their flight numbers to be T37xxx on the LBA SOU for W17. Is this a pre-cursor to anything else does anyone know?