Eastern Airways

[oldendays]

Strangely enough, when Genair folded, it was the later version of the company that incorporated Casair and...Eastern.

 

[A400]

NQY route doing pretty well by all accounts, seems they have extended the season into late September, and added extra rotations during the Jubilee weekend whilst also putting the ATR42 on over the same period.

Shows, albeit in a small part, that if the right routes are offered they will be supported.

It’s good to hear the Humberside-Newquay route is doing good

However when they did this route out of LBA their loads on average were good and I think there was mention on here that the airport had asked Eastern to use a larger aircraft for the NQY. It’s a bit annoying when they moved this route over and it’s doing good they are using bigger aircraft yet it was doing good at LBA they still used a small J-41. I wish HUY-NQY all the best. But is frustrating to know they could have given Leeds the same commitment that they have given to Humberside if the routes doing well from both airports.

 

[paully]

Maybe it had everything to do wth Humberside being their home base and owned by them. All their support is on site. Its a small scale airport, no security queue problems etc. Its at the end of uncongested motorways travelling East from our catchment area and not that long from West Yorkshire. There is a fairly new budget hotel built on site. Maybe they are thinking of expanding more flights in and out of there and the Newquay was a taster to see how it all went..You never know.

 

[Finger66]

As reported on the Humberside forum, T3 introducing HUY-EBJ (a route I think they may have flown previously) and also increasing HUY- NQY. In terms of pax increase it is minimal compared to what is going on at LBA but it again begs the question of why on earth have we not got a carrier operating LBA-NQY? The overland distance is vast and the route has previously performed well. Just one of a few missing routes of course but it looks like LBAs domestic route ship has well and truly sailed these days

 

[752]

Not a clue why Flybe have boycotted it, x3/4/5 a week and it would still be successful. Eastern have added a daily EMA-NQY route for next year also. Logan/Flybe/Eastern.. id be happy with any of them on the route.

 

[Finger66]

Wow, EMA-NQY too. They really have fallen out with LBA havent they

 

[White Heather]

Wow, EMA-NQY too. They really have fallen out with LBA havent they

Or LBA fell out with Eastern.

 

[Finger66]

Over what specifically? Not putting ATRs on SOU and NQY?

 

[Len Fish]

The Aviation Herald

Aviation Herald - News, Incidents and Accidents in Aviation

avherald.com

 

[White Heather]

The Aviation Herald

Aviation Herald - News, Incidents and Accidents in Aviation

avherald.com

Doesn't read was particularly well for Eastern does it? And today, Leeds United are flying to Cardiff. On Eastern Airways, although this time it's an E170.

 

[Finger66]

Every time something pops up on the T3 LBA thread my immediate reaction is "it's going to be negative". I know this may not be directly be T3's fault but whichever way you turn they don't appear to do themselves any favours. You only have to look at other threads (honestly absolutely no intended sarcasm intended there) e.g. CWL and SOU to show on going unreliability with their ORY flights. They seem to "play" at so much without doing something properly. If they had avoided the fall out with LBA and got NQY right, plus streamlining SOU and ABZ they could have made a fortune. For example a based ATR doing:
LBA-SOU-LBA-ABZ-LBA-SOU-LBA-NQY-LBA during the week and we know NQY would support weekends too. Through traffic SOU-ABZ and reverse too.
Anyway it's all hypothetical now and we know it won't ever happen but hey ho

 

[Finger66]

Here is yet more negativity surrounding Eastern - something I feel is fully justified based on their overall track record. It's reported on the Other Airports - Eastern Airways thread that they are to start operating the AMS routes from both HUY and MME on behalf of KLM. Yet more work/code share with the AF/KL group on top of the current ORY services from EMA, SOU and CWL. Is this the latest change of direction for T3? And I wonder what change of direction comes next? Yes this could prove lucrative but some folk already suggesting it's the beginning of the end for the MME and HUY links to AMS as the usual reliability issues are expected to surface etc. etc. So let's hope this is not a fate LBA-AMS suffers any time soon with T3 on behalf of KLM - probably not knowing how well LBA and T3 get (got) along!!!!!! But equally perhaps something to keep an eye on as KLCH look for ways to get round current fleet/engine issues. KL are apparently disposing of a few E175s imminently so might be interesting to see if part of the deal includes those coming T3's way. Interesting times!

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Here is yet more negativity surrounding Eastern - something I feel is fully justified based on their overall track record. It's reported on the Other Airports - Eastern Airways thread that they are to start operating the AMS routes from both HUY and MME on behalf of KLM. Yet more work/code share with the AF/KL group on top of the current ORY services from EMA, SOU and CWL. Is this the latest change of direction for T3? And I wonder what change of direction comes next? Yes this could prove lucrative but some folk already suggesting it's the beginning of the end for the MME and HUY links to AMS as the usual reliability issues are expected to surface etc. etc. So let's hope this is not a fate LBA-AMS suffers any time soon with T3 on behalf of KLM - probably not knowing how well LBA and T3 get (got) along!!!!!! But equally perhaps something to keep an eye on as KLCH look for ways to get round current fleet/engine issues. KL are apparently disposing of a few E175s imminently so might be interesting to see if part of the deal includes those coming T3's way. Interesting times!

I dont like the sound of this. I would be gutted if we lost KLM even temporarily.

 

[pug]

Here is yet more negativity surrounding Eastern - something I feel is fully justified based on their overall track record. It's reported on the Other Airports - Eastern Airways thread that they are to start operating the AMS routes from both HUY and MME on behalf of KLM. Yet more work/code share with the AF/KL group on top of the current ORY services from EMA, SOU and CWL. Is this the latest change of direction for T3? And I wonder what change of direction comes next? Yes this could prove lucrative but some folk already suggesting it's the beginning of the end for the MME and HUY links to AMS as the usual reliability issues are expected to surface etc. etc. So let's hope this is not a fate LBA-AMS suffers any time soon with T3 on behalf of KLM - probably not knowing how well LBA and T3 get (got) along!!!!!! But equally perhaps something to keep an eye on as KLCH look for ways to get round current fleet/engine issues. KL are apparently disposing of a few E175s imminently so might be interesting to see if part of the deal includes those coming T3's way. Interesting times!

It is a bit concerning, however in fairness German Airways have been standing in for a number of KLM sectors in the last months so it might just be a variation of that. KLM have been employing the E190 more frequently on the HUY recently, perhaps for this reason. Eastern have been drifters for years now, just picking up any lucrative contract as and when they can. I do think the guy at the top appreciates the importance of the route, and he does have a handful of E-jets sat at Humberside not doing very much so it could be a good way to get some use out of them and in turn generate some employment. I just hope it’s not a long term agreement and is just to see out the impending capacity constraints. Would expect LBA NWI etc to at least see some of their flights operated by Eastern and German in the summer. Hopefully they have been agreed with some robust SLA’s in place.

 

[Finger66]

@pug I really hope you are right. You would though have thought AF would have wanted some surety re those ORY services mentioned but reliability still been an issue. I am more than happy to be proven wrong in all this as I wish every aviation business success, but at this moment in time, based on past records, I definitely remain to be convinced. This could however turn out to be a shrewd and lucrative move for a lot of parties. Time will tell.

 

[White Heather]

Right now, some reliability on the LBA -AMS route would be good from KLM themselves, irrespective of which airline actually flies it for them. So many flights cancelled in recent months. We are supposed to have 4 a day, but there's been very few days where 4 have operated. Yesterday afternoons flight was cancelled but having checked the AMS departures it was one of only a couple not operating. The HUY, NWI, MME all were. And LBA was operating normally well before then. It's not good enough and most unlike the KLM of old.

Hopefully Eastern operating the HUY and MME routes will ensure they don't come to LBA and further ruin KLM's rapidly dwindling reputation here.

 

[pug]

@pug I really hope you are right. You would though have thought AF would have wanted some surety re those ORY services mentioned but reliability still been an issue. I am more than happy to be proven wrong in all this as I wish every aviation business success, but at this moment in time, based on past records, I definitely remain to be convinced. This could however turn out to be a shrewd and lucrative move for a lot of parties. Time will tell.

Think the difference here is that those were new and untested routes and strange choices for the most part with very few passengers actually using them.

What they appear to be doing here is taking well established (in the case of HUY 50 years!) routes and bridging a gap that needs to be filled whilst KLM have aircraft downtime. So I think this is different. Whether it has any impact on the reliability of the service remains to be seen, but as WH says there have been issues with reliability already anyway and much of this is outside of their control.

Wet leasing is inherently different from operating on a franchise agreement. Indeed, Jet2, TUI etc employ a number of wet leases during the summer with little to no negative impact on the operation. They will be closely monitored by KLM.

 

[Finger66]

If this proves to be a positive move for T3 (and for that matter KL) then I am all for It because as I said I want all aviation businesses to succeed. It's unfortunate that reality says otherwise. Think I, like many, are just very frustrated at the way T3 treated and dumped LBA a few years ago. Whatever path they take going forwards, as with any business not just in aviation, it needs a clear direction. And as has also been stated, if this has a positive knock-on effect to LBA-AMS then superb.

 

[pug]

If this proves to be a positive move for T3 (and for that matter KL) then I am all for It because as I said I want all aviation businesses to succeed. It's unfortunate that reality says otherwise. Think I, like many, are just very frustrated at the way T3 treated and dumped LBA a few years ago. Whatever path they take going forwards, as with any business not just in aviation, it needs a clear direction. And as has also been stated, if this has a positive knock-on effect to LBA-AMS then superb.

In fairness, and in a don’t shoot the messenger kind of way, I don’t think leaving LBA was entirely of their own making. I understand there was an element of LBA not really wanting small operators like T3 there which may have caused friction. This is the impression I get.

I like you am cautious of this and I’m hoping it’s only a temporary measure whilst the issues with capacity at KLM are ironed out. But at least they haven’t pulled the plug!

 

[GolfFox]

Right now, some reliability on the LBA -AMS route would be good from KLM themselves, irrespective of which airline actually flies it for them. So many flights cancelled in recent months. We are supposed to have 4 a day, but there's been very few days where 4 have operated. Yesterday afternoons flight was cancelled but having checked the AMS departures it was one of only a couple not operating. The HUY, NWI, MME all were. And LBA was operating normally well before then. It's not good enough and most unlike the KLM of old.

Hopefully Eastern operating the HUY and MME routes will ensure they don't come to LBA and further ruin KLM's rapidly dwindling reputation here.

And so many cancelled for no apparent reason. I can understand if the weather conditions at AMS and/or LBA are outside operating limits, but many do not appear to have been cancelled for that reason. The service has become so unreliable.