Originally Posted by
Speedhawk
Clearly the route didn't work given that United axed the service last year. BFS-EWR was also one of United's cheapest UK/Ireland routes, with economy fares regularly £150-£200 below United's services from BHX, MAN and other airports. I know of several people who self-connected at BFS as it was cheaper than flying direct from MAN or BHX.
From 2006-2011 Continental carried over 100,000 annual pax on the route. From 2012-2016 United carried approx 80,000 annual pax.
To some extent perhaps, but there were multiple daily flights from DUB throughout the route's existence.
The route was only seasonal in 2015; United resumed year-round flights in 2016, showing United couldn't make the route work year-long without the additional funding promised by Stormont.
Continental stated at the time that the route was only viable in the long term with a load factor of over 80% (which is approx 98,000 pax), meaning passenger figures suggest BFS-EWR was viable from the route's inception in 2005 until 2011. However, the route's financial performance was likely marginal during this period, given that Continental were planning to axe the route in 2011 unless APD was cut.
From 2012 to 2014, the route carried on average 83,000 pax, and fell to 69,258 when the route went seasonal in 2015. When the route returned to year-round in 2016, United handled 79,042 pax. United went to Stormont in 2016 to request additional funding, meaning that the route was clearly still marginal in 2016 despite 2011 APD reductions and other funding from Stormont throughout the route's existence.
Aer Lingus will not be operating transatlantic flights from BFS, unless of course they completely tear up their current business strategy.
Not my experience. I paid £400 extra for the privilege of flying me and another individual Directly from Belfast in June 2016. I also always noticed that it was quite a bit more expensive any other dates that I checked.