easyJet

[TheLocalYokel]

New Routes

easyJet is to fly from Bristol to Fuerteventura 2 x weekly this winter and will also fly to Salzburg 2 x weekly for the ski season from mid December. It announced a new Lyon ski route recently and the Innsbruck will continue.

This will be in alongside charter flights to Salzburg and Innsbruck.

FUE was the only major Canary Island not served by a low cost airline from BRS so in addition this winter easyJet will fly 3 x weekly to TFS with Ryanair operating 2 x weekly and Ryanair will fly 2 x weekly to both Las Palmas and Lanzarote.

easyJet also announced today that from this winter it will increase its EDI rotations from 3 x daily to 4 x daily.

I note that Paphos will also operate through the winter at 2 x weekly except for January when it will be weekly.

 

[backtrack]

FUE seems an obvious choice then to make here. Good news for the airport then, now with all three canary islands served regularly.

For some reason why does FUE always be the last of the islands to be served from regional airports? Is it simply the British demand?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

It's all four main Canary Islands served by locos now.

I don't know why FUE was left until last. I expected Ryanair to fill this gap, having made their peace with the Fuerteventura Airport owners a while back.

We used to holiday in Fueteventura a lot in the late 90s/early 2000s but that of course was by charter flights - both First Choice and Thomson (before the two married each other).

In fact, Bristol had FUE charters before one or two larger UK provincial airports and they still operate. Four or five years ago there were 5 charters each week to FUE in winter with TOM, FCA, TCX, MYT and XL all on the route.

I think it's just TOM and TCX now on all the Canary routes from BRS.

 

[Aviador]

It will be a shame if people have to eventually rely on the locos to get to the Canary Islands. I for one would much prefer to fly with a tour company, particularly once outside of mainland Europe.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Advertising

I read in an LBA thread that easyJet is actively advertising its GVA service from there.

I've noticed that many of the buses in Bristol have big easyJet advertising banners along the side at present.

There seems to be two versions: one advertising Faro, Alicante and Malaga and the other advertising Prague and Berlin.

Intriguing that they should choose these. The sun routes are probably because Ryanair has increased its rotations from Bristol next summer on them.

Prague and Berlin are more of a puzzle. They invariably have very good loads all-year round, though as I've posted elsewhere today in the BRS section high loads don't always guarantee a route's future, but perhaps forward bookings this year aren't so good. I might have expected Madrid rather than either of these two. It does pretty well but not quite as popular as Prague and Berlin usually.

Then again perhaps the costs in operating BRS-MAD are lower. That's always something we on the outside are never privy to.

 

[Aviador]

Interesting stuff indeed. You need a crystal ball to even begin to understand the way airlines work these days. Obviously I have no inside knowledge but I would go with the theory that the routes advertised are usually the ones that are performing least well and so need pushing.

 

[News Guru]

[textarea]easyJet create 65 jobs at Bristol Airport

easyJet has announced 65 new jobs at Bristol Airport, its largest UK base outside of London. The jobs, created to support more flights from the airport, range from permanent positions to flexible summer roles.

Carolyn McCall, easyJet's chief executive, said the recruitment drive ‘clearly shows our commitment to our business presence here. We are seeking highly talented and customer-focused people to join our business.'

Source[/textarea]

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: easyJet create 65 jobs at Bristol Airport

There is certainly no sign of more easyJet routes from Bristol so I don't know what these people's tasks will be, unless they are seasonal workers taken on for the summer.

In fact, easyJet has more or less stagnated at BRS since 2008 when the airline had 12 based A319s in peak summer that year. In the previous five years the airline had added at least one extra based unit per year, sometimes more, to reach that figure of 12.

Summers 2009 and 2010 saw only eleven based aircraft though in peak summer 2010 two of them were 320s.

Winter is far worse with this one and the previous one particularly seeing a huge scaling back of flights compared with the airline's network in the winters before those.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Rome

The easyJet BRS-Rome Ciampino route will cease on 5 June this year. It's been operating for six or seven years.

From 6 June the airline will switch its daily Rome-BRS service to the much larger Fiumicino Airport which although is further from central Rome than CIA has better rail and road connections.

I hadn't realised that easyJet only serves two UK airports from Rome - Bristol and Gatwick which already operates to FCO.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Further to my previous post, the switch from Rome Ciampino to Fiumicino from 6 June this year has been presented to the Bristol local press by both airline and airport as if easyJet had never previously flown from Bristol to Rome; ergo, yet another new route from Bristol thanks to us clever fellows.

It's the latest example of one of my betes noires of aviation - misleading spin from airport and airline operators.

[textarea]New flight to Rome launched from Bristol

easyJet has announced a new route between Bristol and Rome.

The low-cost airline will be operating the new route from Bristol to Leonardo da Vinci International (Fiumicino) Airport from June 6 through to February 2012.

Flights went on sale this week to the Italian capital for from £37.99 (one-way including taxes).

Ali Gayward, UK commercial manager of easyJet, said: "This is exciting news which demonstrates our commitment to Bristol Airport which has grown to become easyJet's biggest UK base outside of London."

Shaun Browne, aviation director at Bristol Airport, said: "This announcement further improves connectivity for the South West's business community, as well as providing convenient access to one of Europe's great capital cities.

"Flights from Rome's main airport also help to put Bristol and the wider region on the map for Italian tourists."[/textarea]
http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/New ... ticle.html

 

[TheLocalYokel]

[textarea]Free flights for airline's 25 millionth passenger

THE 25 millionth passenger to fly from Bristol with easyJet is to receive a year's worth of free flights.

Since the budget airline arrived at Bristol International Airport in 2001 it has grown into the largest at the airport.

In the past year, three million passengers have used it to travel to one of 43 destinations.

In celebration of the milestone, easyJet will reward the 25 millionth passenger with a return flight each month from Bristol until April 2012.

It is anticipated the lucky passenger will be flying either tomorrow or on Wednesday and will be identified at check-in.

Ali Gayward, UK commercial manager for easyJet, said: "We have come a long way since the launch of our first five routes out of Bristol Airport back in May 2001 to Malaga, Alicante, Faro, Palma and Nice.

"In our first 12 months at Bristol Airport we carried nearly 700,000 passengers now we carry three million a year and we'll hit 25 million passengers in total this week – it's a phenomenal achievement.

"I can't think of a better way to celebrate than by rewarding our 25 millionth passenger to fly out of Bristol with free flights for a year."[/textarea]
http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/news/Fre ... ticle.html

Quite a notable couple of months with Ryanair announcing its 6th million customer through BRS last month.

The easyJet figures include Go which operated for about the first 18 months of the period under review.

It seems though that easyJet may have about reached the limit of its network from Bristol - at least for the forseeable future. Destinations, frequencies and total passenger numbers have reached a plateau over the past 2-3 years.

There might be the odd new route but nothing like the incessant and rapid growth of 2001-2008.

With Ryanair also seemingly showing no signs of further expansion (an almost carbon copy of its existence at BHX) I have a feeling that the BRS management may be talking seriously with Flybe who have the sort of equipment that would suit some of the unserved routes from Bristol.

 

[Aviador]

Perhaps that wouldn't be a bad thing. Flybe equipment is more suited to some of the shorter routes and as I think you have already mentioned, some of which aren't currently served.Others would argue all the airports eggs are in one basket, so again perhaps it's not a bad idea.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

[textarea]easyJet’s 25 Millionth Passenger Scoops Free Flights For A Year

easyJet has marked flying a record 25 million passengers out of Bristol Airport by rewarding the 25 millionth passenger with free flights for a year.

Andreas Yiasoumi, 57, from Kingswood, Bristol, was surprised at check-in as he booked onto an easyJet flight to the popular Toulouse.

easyJet's UK commercial manager, Ali Gayward, was on hand to congratulate Andreas with a special boarding card entitling him to free flights up until April 2012.

Andreas comments: "I only confirmed my flight an hour ago as I'm on a last minute business trip for Airbus to our offices in Toulouse."

Ali Gayward, UK commercial manager for easyJet, adds: "We're proud of flying 25 million passengers out of Bristol Airport since our arrival in May 2001 and what better way to celebrate than rewarding our 25 millionth passenger.

"This highlights the benefits of easyJet's large network from Bristol to key business destinations such as Toulouse and the conveniences for local businesses in the region.

"I'd like to pass on our congratulations from everyone at easyJet and hope that Andreas enjoys selecting where to fly during the next year.

With a choice of 43 destinations and operating a fleet of 11 aircraft out of Bristol Airport at the height of summer, easyJet has grown to become the largest airline in the south west.

The South West's favourite airline has recently increased the number of easyJet routes from the airport to include popular destinations including Bodrum, Dalaman, Cyprus and Rome to meet increased customer demand. For the business traveller easyJet has increased capacity on key business routes including Edinburgh, Amsterdam and Geneva and it is currently evaluating additional destinations to add to its Bristol network.

This summer easyJet has more than 15,000 flights and 2 million seats on sale to top destinations such as Murcia, Fuerteventura, Madeira, Faro, Malaga, Split and Alicante.[/textarea]
http://www.beattiegroup.com/prclients/p ... 1&id=10936

Lucky businessman on a last-minute trip for Airbus wins the prize.

I wonder how much spin has been put into the 'currently evaluating additional destinations'. I note they still say Rome is a new route. Fiumicino is but the replaced Ciampino certainly isn't and they are both 'Rome' airports.

 

[alphagolf]

CEO Ms McCall of easyjet at delivery of the airlines 200th airbus aircraft stated;

We are really pleased with the way things are going in Bristol and it is one of our most profitable airports in the country

Well I hope we have some new routes in the pipeline, I think the airline has been consolodating since the arrival of Ryanair onto the stage, but seems to have held its own as Ryanair seem to have stalled recently on any more expansion at Bristol. Who knows I may be wrong, but saying that it maybe nice to get some more full service airlines coming to Bristol.

My first post for a while, hopefully many more to come!

alphagolf

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Good to see you again on here, AG.

That's certainly encouraging news concerning easyJet.

As I'm sure you will know easyJet added at least a based aircraft every year from around 2003/4 to 2008 but has marked time since then, with a small decrease from 12 (the maximum in summer 2008) to 10 at the moment, but to be increased to 11 for high summer as last high summer, so I'm told.

As in 2010 two of the aircraft will be 320s - currently just the one.

The main concern with easyJet, as with all airlines and not just at BRS, is the ever increasing gap between summer and winter flight schedules. The past two winters have been noticeably cut back and last winter, of course, Ryanair reduced its BRS programme by around 35% on winter 09/10.

They are now talking of reducing significantly more this winter across the board, though I've not checked BRS's FR winter timetable as the airline forever chops and changes its many versions of the timetable before eventually settling on one that more or less coincides with what actually happens. I suspect the definitive one won't be in the public domain for a few months yet.

The recent announcement from the airport about new routes for 2012, with the CEO at the consultative committee meeting saying full service airlines are showing serious interest, sounds very promising. There is a strong rumour that bmiRegional will be starting a German route on behalf of the LH Group. Remains to be seen if it has legs and, if so, whether it is Frankfurt which I suggest would be the best option.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

[textarea]Airline adds an extra jet to fleet due to demand

Budget airline easyJet has announced it is increasing its presence at Bristol Airport as a result of demand from passengers.

The budget airline has had a tough year as a result of the recession and last winter's weather.

But demand appears to have returned with a vengeance and easyJet has added another aeroplane to its fleet at Lulsgate as a result.

The airline bases ten aircraft at Bristol Airport throughout the year, with an eleventh operating during the peak summer season. But that has been extended due to demand.

Routes where additional seats are now available include Geneva, Pisa, Nice and Malaga. Bristol is the airline's largest base outside London and easyJet flies to more than 40 destinations.

As well as an increase in the leisure market the airline says many business travellers are opting for cheaper flights.

The airline said it saw a 9.1 per cent growth in passengers over the last four weeks.

In June of this year 4,952,305 people flew with the airline compared to 4,537,959 in the same month last year. And over the last 12 months the airline has flown 53,356,353 passengers, up from 47,637,797 in the previous year, a rise of 12 per cent.

The aviation industry is still facing the soaring cost of aviation fuel. As a result easyJet doubled its losses for the six months of the year from £79 million to £153 million, mostly as a result of increased fuel costs.

The airport itself has continued to buck the national trend and seen passenger numbers rise. The number of people using the airport increased by 2.5 per cent in June compared with the same period last year. According to bosses at the airport the total number of passengers this year was 2,641,000.[/textarea]

The 11-aircraft season must be continuing further into September as next week there are only 10 aircraft operating, when in previous years the enhanced peak summer base would have been expected to kick in towards the end of next week. However, the second A320 is shown as operating next week.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Confirmation from Bristol Airport that the annual additional peak summer aircraft will be retained right through September this year. There is speculation with some substance to it that the aircraft will be an A 320 which, if true, will give BRS three based 320s this peak summer along with the eight 319s.

[textarea]easyJet set for ‘Indian Summer’ as extra seats go on sale

easyJet is set to enjoy an ‘Indian summer’ at Bristol Airport by putting an additional 10,000 seats on sale in September.

The airline bases 10 aircraft at Bristol Airport year round, with an eleventh operating during the peak summer season. This plane had been due to depart in mid-September, but will now continue flying until the end of the month as a result of strong sales.

Routes where additional seats are now available include Geneva , Pisa, Nice and Malaga. easyJet serves over 40 destinations from Bristol in total.

Seats go on sale later this week, and Travel Rewards members will receive discounts on selected routes.[/textarea]
http://www.bristolairport.co.uk/news-an ... otion.aspx

 

[alphagolf]

A post on the dried plum states that the 11th easjet aircraft arrives at Bristol on the 29th July, but cannot confirm whether it is an A319 or A320 Airbus!

Will just have to await the Mayfly's, to scour them for the detail!

My normal Monday routine!

alphagolf

 

[TheLocalYokel]

A post on the dried plum states that the 11th easjet aircraft arrives at Bristol on the 29th July, but cannot confirm whether it is an A319 or A320 Airbus!

Will just have to await the Mayfly's, to scour them for the detail!

It looks from Mayfly that it's a 319 so we will have 2 320s and 9 319s again in the peak summer season.

I notice a 320 has been used on the Madrid route for a while. Can't remember that happening last year when it was usually the longer sun routes interspersed with the likes of Malaga and Faro.

 

[TOGA10]

Looking at the BRS - MAD load factors then no matter what aircraft is used the service is fully booked (today its a A319, tomorrow and Friday an A320). So the demand is high for that route.

Another point is that the A320's are rotated around the network for maintenance reasons (with LPL and LTN as major engineering bases). MAD is a useful place to conduct aircraft swaps as it is well connected, so you'll find that the aircraft that leaves BRS may well end up flying BRS - MAD - LPL, and the aircraft from LPL will do the opposite. Just means the crews have to switch aircraft in MAD and can mean an A320 is used more often on this route than would normally happen.