Load factors may be good, but realistically for domestic services you need at least daily flights, preferably x2 daily or more. Ryanair would never be able to sustain daily B738 operations to GLA or LPL. Ryanair may be in LDY for the long run, but a lot of people would prefer to have the ability to return home on the same day, or to at least be able to choose to fly any day.
Originally Posted by
Fly757X
That's why the Franchise operation would work. No real financial bearing on Flybe, just the name on the plane and the routes on their website with a financial kick-back. A setup like what Stobart are going for in Southend and potentially Carlisle. Maybe a E195 was a bit too much considering their situation.
Perhaps Stobart's ATR 42s would be a good fit. That would allow for double daily flights, without flooding the market.
Originally Posted by
Fly757X
The Domestic UK services that Ryanair operate are much better suited to LDY as realistically they can still pull loads from Antrim for the lower fares and also the Northwest of island thus keeping the local customer in the Londonderry area from going to Easyjet.
I find it highly unlikely that FR are attracting passengers for their LDY services from the likes of Antrim. Lower fares than from BFS or BHD won't attract them because a) LDY is a pain to get to, and b) most people want multiple flights a day. Only people who live close to the airport will forgo choice of when to travel.