CAA Provisional Statistics Update

[Seasider]

The LBA figures are finally on the CAA website. February was 162495 a 14.9% increase on last year. Let's hope it continues through the year.

 

[752]

I'm not sure of the figures as I cant access them on this laptop, but Dublin had a big increase, I think around 6000+ pax and also Amsterdam had an increase! Good to see LBA grow over the winter months.

 

[Tarn Spotter]

When people talk about a shrinking of flights from LBA, surprised therefore, to note an increase of 22.9% in February flights against the previous year, where have they all come from?

 

[LBA787]

When people talk about a shrinking of flights from LBA, surprised therefore, to note an increase of 22.9% in February flights against the previous year, where have they all come from?

Flybe shuttle to SOU/JER & ABZ
Aer lingus regional to DUB

:crazy:

 

[Aviador]

When people talk about a shrinking of flights from LBA, surprised therefore, to note an increase of 22.9% in February flights against the previous year, where have they all come from?

The increase in passenger totals is in the right direction of course, the problem we have is Manchester airport is growing so quickly it will be taking passengers from the Leeds catchment area who should be flying from Leeds Bradford Airport.

Manchester saw a 10.3% increase in passenger totals. That's a whopping 139,037 more passengers this year compared to last year. Leeds Bradford Airport however saw a 14.9% increase in passenger numbers, but that only amounts to 24,211 more passengers. Now I know Manchester airport is in another league compared with Leeds Bradford but the Leeds population catchment area would suggest demand exists for a much larger airport in the Yorkshire region. Sadly I would expect a good half of the passenger growth at Manchester probably originates from the Leeds catchment area.

 

[Bigman]

Yes, great increase indeed. Keep up the good work.

 

[lysander]

The reason for Manchester's growth is , in my opinion, quite simply that airlines wish to operate their services from a succesful and growing airport, which already has a large number of operators. Success breeds success! Passengers, given a choice of two or more airports, in my experience, always choose the most convenient for accesibility ...and cost. I live in Sheffield and would never dream of flying from LBA...given a suitable alternative...simply because , in my case, of its relatively poor access by road or rail , whereas with rail MAN is an all weathers doddle.

DSA has similar problems, in that its City Region's biggest conurbation is easily able to access EMA and ,its western parts ( with the highest propensity to fly)... MAN

A few people have "brand loyalty" but lo-co's have diminished this effect!

 

[airforced]

The reason for Manchester's growth is , in my opinion, quite simply that airlines wish to operate their services from a succesful and growing airport, which already has a large number of operators. Success breeds success! Passengers, given a choice of two or more airports, in my experience, always choose the most convenient for accesibility ...and cost. I live in Sheffield and would never dream of flying from LBA...given a suitable alternative...simply because , in my case, of its relatively poor access by road or rail , whereas with rail MAN is an all weathers doddle.

DSA has similar problems, in that its City Region's biggest conurbation is easily able to access EMA and ,its western parts ( with the highest propensity to fly)... MAN

A few people have "brand loyalty" but lo-co's have diminished this effect!

I'm sure you have hit the nail in the head - partially at least - lysander insofar as LBA's lack of growth when compared to MAN is down to the fact that airlines don't want to operate from here because of the poor infrastructure and associated weather problems faced, especially during the winter months, as they know that their chances of delays, cancellations and diversions are far greater than they are over the hill.

Where I would disagree with you, being from coastal North Yorkshire, I don't think that the road, rail etc issues have anything to do with it. The percentage of folk using public transport to get to both airports is remarkably similar so I would need convincing on that one. That isn't stopping people from using LBA. It is the lack of destinations that is the root cause. I wouldn't travel to MAN unless I was forced because it is a pig to get to by road and because it has been so successful there are far too many people using it, I'm thinking primarily of T1, although the same could be said of the other terminals, that check in, security etc can be horrendous at busy times making the whole experience far less satisfactory than LBA.

Having said that I shall be using it in September as I can't get a flight from LBA to my Greek destination but EasyJet are providing me with that choice from MAN.

 

[lysander]

I suppose hitting the nail on the head, if only partially, is better than hitting ones finger or thumb.

My perception of LBA is that it is a pig to get too from where I live....a bit like your comments regarding MAN. I do agree with you about crowds at MAN, which is why I tend to fly in spring or fall when the terminal is not as frenetic as it is in high season.... But, as you say, the real problem, as it is in my "Local" DSA airport, is the lack of destinations.

 

[White Heather]

Whilst there are many destinations that LBA could and should serve, we do have somewhere in the region of 75 destinations, even if some are not all year round and some are only at particular times of the year. DSA doesn't come even close to that number. I agree that from the South, LBA is not well positioned as far as access is concerned. Most people expect to be able to drive right up to the door on a reasonably quick road, rather than through city roads that are choked with traffic. How easy it is to get to LBA and how long it will take to do so is very much dependent upon which route is taken and the time of day. If you get an early flight so you are coming through Leeds in the early morning, or if you are returning into Leeds late in the evening, there is no real problem - but during the day there is always the potential for hold ups. That said, if it were me, I would rather be in Leeds with lots of alternative routes than stuck on the M62 in a traffic queue with no possible way of getting off. More than once I have almost missed a flight out of MAN due to accidents occuring on the M62 and finding myself up close to the farmhouse in the middle of the motorway, going nowhere, for a very long time.

 

[lysander]

Even before Sheffield had a direct rail link with MAN I avoided the M62... travelling by the Snake or Woodhead may not be ideal, but at least you are travelling in the right direction ,rather than taking a northern detour.. Truthfully, by road or by rail delays can happen and like yourself I have almost missed flights through delays in getting to the airport.

Current poliical thought , well at least with the blues, is talking about a Northern powerhouse. Better all weather links are needed. Sheffield and its City Region are poorly served with road/rail links across the Pennines which is why the LEP is placing so much hope ( and money)with DSA.

 

[lbaspotter]

CAA have just released March 2015 provisional passenger stats. As has been the case for the last few months it looks like the LBA figures are delayed as they haven't been added yet.

Some domestic results have been released by other UK airports

Heathrow = 10,984 +19%
Aberdeen = 1027 +78%
Belfast City = 13,313 +10%
Glasgow = 922 +4%

 

[Aviador]

Thanks Seasider. Some good increases on domestic routes then. I expect BA will be especially happy with increases like that.

 

[Seasider]

Thanks for the compliment Aviador, I hope you haven't upset Lbaspotter

 

[TheLocalYokel]

CAA stats March 2015

203,271 passengers used the airport in March, up 18.8% on March 2014. Atms were up 21.7%. Rolling 12-month total was 3,327,673, up 0.8% on a year ago.

A very satisfactory month it seems, putting it mildly.

 

[Aviador]

Thanks for the compliment Aviador, I hope you haven't upset Lbaspotter

:blush:

 

[Seasider]

I hope that these figures are correct as people are questioning the figures for BRS/BFS.

 

[White Heather]

They should be as they tie in with what the airport said at the last consultative committee meeting.

 

[752]

A few more highlights

AMS - up 9% to 20,642
ALC - up 41% to 16,653
TFS - up 14% to 14,670
DUB - up 52% to 23,894 - seems to become one of our most popular routes! Looks like Aer Lingus is pulling in the pax alongside Ryanair!

 

[Tarn Spotter]

It should be remembered Easter earlier this year and March figures will show this years traffic especially on the bucket and spade runs.
However with Dublin and LHR does this not show LBA as a feeder to the hubs, Dublin onward to the states and LHR worldwide. My experience on the LHR BA route is that over 50% of us were linked to onward flights, not stopping in London.
March had a 20%+ more movements then a year ago, which again is something to celebrate.