LEEDS 5
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire
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The Thomson Holidays, Tuesday Palma charter flight is split to be operated by Thomson Airways, Boeing 757-200 from May 1st till June 12th and from October 9th until October 30th.
In between them dates June 19th until October 2nd flights will be operated by Air Europa's Boeing 737-800's as follows.
01 May 12-12 Jun 12 & 09 Oct 12-30 Oct 12
TOM3251 = PMI 10:50 - LBA 12:30
TOM3250 = LBA 14:05 - PMI 17:40
19 Jun 12-02 Oct 12
AEA293 = PMI 12:45 - LBA 14:34
AEA294 = LBA 15:25 - PMI 19:00
In between them dates June 19th until October 2nd flights will be operated by Air Europa's Boeing 737-800's as follows.
01 May 12-12 Jun 12 & 09 Oct 12-30 Oct 12
TOM3251 = PMI 10:50 - LBA 12:30
TOM3250 = LBA 14:05 - PMI 17:40
19 Jun 12-02 Oct 12
AEA293 = PMI 12:45 - LBA 14:34
AEA294 = LBA 15:25 - PMI 19:00
If BA wanted to keep slots warm at Heathrow in the short term, they would simply operate them on existing routes by flying extra frequencies on the likes of MAN/EDI/GLA/ABZ/NCL/BRU/CDG/BHD-LHR for the defined period rather than starting a new route to Leeds Bradford. BA would also not start LBA/LHR in the certain knowledge that they would be pulling off 18 months later to incur a shedload of bad press in the Yorkshire region, questions in Parliament about ringfencing of slots at LHR for regional UK air links etc etc. Why on earth would you?
If they start LBA-LHR, it would be because there is a business reason to do so - e.g. due to the value of new feeder traffic ex LBA which they could get on LHR services, whereas direct competition ex MAN from the likes of Continental, Emirates etc makes MAN/LHR increasingly less valuable as a feeder. If the route gets off the ground, it's because BA see merit in flying it in its own right versus using those LHR slots (today, tomorrow or in 18 months time) to fly something else.
Quite why BMI pulled off LBA-LHR to continue losing money on MAN-LHR - where the average fares were about half those on LBA-LHR - is anybody's guess to begin with.
It will be an interesting one to watch if BA do decide to reinstate LBA/LHR - last flown in 1980, if I recall correctly. I genuinely don't know whether there is any substance or not to these rumours, but the notion of this being a short-term slot sitting exercise is as unrealistic in commercial terms as it would be damaging to the consumer confidence in the route if indeed it does materialise.
If they start LBA-LHR, it would be because there is a business reason to do so - e.g. due to the value of new feeder traffic ex LBA which they could get on LHR services, whereas direct competition ex MAN from the likes of Continental, Emirates etc makes MAN/LHR increasingly less valuable as a feeder. If the route gets off the ground, it's because BA see merit in flying it in its own right versus using those LHR slots (today, tomorrow or in 18 months time) to fly something else.
Quite why BMI pulled off LBA-LHR to continue losing money on MAN-LHR - where the average fares were about half those on LBA-LHR - is anybody's guess to begin with.
It will be an interesting one to watch if BA do decide to reinstate LBA/LHR - last flown in 1980, if I recall correctly. I genuinely don't know whether there is any substance or not to these rumours, but the notion of this being a short-term slot sitting exercise is as unrealistic in commercial terms as it would be damaging to the consumer confidence in the route if indeed it does materialise.
I consider it totally credible that BA are considering re-instating LHR-LBA. They have a large number of slots they need to protect at LHR and they need to do that in the way they consider will produce the best commercial results, given the constraints of those slots.
The period BA needs to protect will stretch far beyond 13 months. Let's not forget that a longhaul aircraft can only use one slot pair per day. and some slot pairs will be unsuitable for the required longhaul.routes. Planned deliveries of new longhaul aircraft are gradual, only a few extra airframes for 2013 . BA will not want to throw capacity at longhaul if it risks trashing their yields. Expansion will be measured and take place over many years.
BA may well take the view they have sufficient frequencies and capacity already on existing shorthaul routes. Some or all of BMI’s LHR-MAN slots could transfer straight across to LHR-LBA and larger aircraft deployed on LHR-MAN to compensate for a perceived capacity shortfall..
Then there is that BA statement in FT.com last week announcing the departure of Digby Jones due to possible conflicts of interest with his new post at Flybe:
“We’re keen to strengthen our regional network in the UK,” said a BA spokesman last week,referring to routes between London and the regions.
A misquote, or a U-turn ? My guess is that BA are looking hard at the commercial implications. Presumably there will be competing interests for resources within BA and I would not pretend to know the outcome.
The period BA needs to protect will stretch far beyond 13 months. Let's not forget that a longhaul aircraft can only use one slot pair per day. and some slot pairs will be unsuitable for the required longhaul.routes. Planned deliveries of new longhaul aircraft are gradual, only a few extra airframes for 2013 . BA will not want to throw capacity at longhaul if it risks trashing their yields. Expansion will be measured and take place over many years.
BA may well take the view they have sufficient frequencies and capacity already on existing shorthaul routes. Some or all of BMI’s LHR-MAN slots could transfer straight across to LHR-LBA and larger aircraft deployed on LHR-MAN to compensate for a perceived capacity shortfall..
Then there is that BA statement in FT.com last week announcing the departure of Digby Jones due to possible conflicts of interest with his new post at Flybe:
“We’re keen to strengthen our regional network in the UK,” said a BA spokesman last week,referring to routes between London and the regions.
A misquote, or a U-turn ? My guess is that BA are looking hard at the commercial implications. Presumably there will be competing interests for resources within BA and I would not pretend to know the outcome.
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire
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Regarding the latest rumour no airline name was mentioned to me. I was just told that there is expected to be some new routes announced on Tuesday, It came for a reliable source.
I see the speculation has already started on here who it might be. I guess we will just have to wait and see what happens on Tuesday.
I see the speculation has already started on here who it might be. I guess we will just have to wait and see what happens on Tuesday.
Join Date: Jan 2007
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Monarch will be announcing a 'full list' of new destinations on Tuesday, but they'd be more related to EMA and BHX where they have introduced a new base, with very few destinations announced, and where they are planning growth also due to bmibaby's demise. They are only at LBA because they are operating for TOM, don't expect too much.
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Monarch Munich
Munich flights seem to start just before Christmas and seems to be with a Manchester based aircraft on the one day.
Grenoble is offered from BHX but aircraft timings does not tie-in with the Leeds flight but again it appears to be an away based aircraft
Pete
Grenoble is offered from BHX but aircraft timings does not tie-in with the Leeds flight but again it appears to be an away based aircraft
Pete
Join Date: Jul 2005
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Good news that the 2 new routes by Monarch Airlines to Munich and Grenoble have now been confirmed. It also looks like Monarch have further expansion plans for LBA. With further routes to be announced in a few weeks time.
Will these be the summer 2013 charter flights been operated for Thomson Holidays or will it be further scheduled routes?
I see Jet2 are up for a fight. As a few minutes after the Monarch announcement Jet2 announced that they are starting a new once weekly service to Grenoble.
Will these be the summer 2013 charter flights been operated for Thomson Holidays or will it be further scheduled routes?
I see Jet2 are up for a fight. As a few minutes after the Monarch announcement Jet2 announced that they are starting a new once weekly service to Grenoble.
Join Date: Apr 2009
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Airlines battle in bid to win winter passengers at Leeds-Bradford International Airport (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
So it looks like Leeds will become a Monarch base from Summer 2013 with flights to the Med and Canaries.
On another note, with Thomas Cook releasing summer 2013 holidays, I note Leeds Bradford is no longer an option as departure airport. Is this yet to be released or could Monarch effectively be replacing them with the introduction of their scheduled routes from the airport?
The news came as Monarch’s deal with the airport was hailed after months of negotiations between the firms. Initially, the airline, which flies almost 90 routes from four other airports across the UK, will start with their ‘ski flights’ to Grenoble and Munich in Germany in December, but has promised a wider range and some new routes to tourist hotspots next summer.
Monarch’s managing director Kevin George said Leeds-Bradford was becoming a “very good regional airport” to fly from and his firm will set up an operational base at the site.
“The launch of scheduled flights from LBA is an exciting move for the airline as it also coincides with the introduction of our first programme of ski flights,” he said.
“We see this as the first step of a long relationship with Leeds-Bradford and in the coming weeks will be the announcement of plans for Summer 2013 which will include Leeds-Bradford. Monarch is all about flying to leisure destinations, like the Mediterranean and the Canaries and they are the kinds of destinations we will be covering.”
Monarch’s managing director Kevin George said Leeds-Bradford was becoming a “very good regional airport” to fly from and his firm will set up an operational base at the site.
“The launch of scheduled flights from LBA is an exciting move for the airline as it also coincides with the introduction of our first programme of ski flights,” he said.
“We see this as the first step of a long relationship with Leeds-Bradford and in the coming weeks will be the announcement of plans for Summer 2013 which will include Leeds-Bradford. Monarch is all about flying to leisure destinations, like the Mediterranean and the Canaries and they are the kinds of destinations we will be covering.”
On another note, with Thomas Cook releasing summer 2013 holidays, I note Leeds Bradford is no longer an option as departure airport. Is this yet to be released or could Monarch effectively be replacing them with the introduction of their scheduled routes from the airport?