Originally Posted by
Nakata77
Why do people go on and on about SOU-MUC. The airline tried it for goodness sake. Frankfurt and Zurich were also attempted 15 years ago. If the yields were 'improving nicely' and 'it was popular' it would still be going. But it isn't because it wasn't viable. So either yields were not improving nicely or the passengers continued to use LHR due to the flight frequency choice. Either way it was not viable. With LHR just 60mins up the road SOU is going to struggle big time to go beyond 2m pax especially when considering the 3rd runway looming.
Therefore there is a finite level of demand at SOU - as other posters on here have mentioned. SOU is the ONLY airport in the country that is 1hr drive from LHR but not classified as a 'London' alternative airport. It's suffering from the 'black hole' effect that is LHR and LGW. Just look at U2 on SOU-GVA. SOU-GVA can only support 3 times per week, yet BOH can support 5-6 times per week as it is more distant from LHR and LGW & attracts a more western geographic catchment area. People in London are very unlikely to consider traveling to SOU to catch a flight.
I'd also be alarmed that the CEO up and left seeing more potential at BRS than SOU.
bore off back to the BOH thread Nakata. Your attempt to claim a vicotory for BOH over SOU is laughable. EZY have only operated out of SOU for one season and it went on sale pretty late. Given time I expect the route to be up to 5/6 rotations a week, whilst BOH is reduced to a weekend rotation.
arguements about LGW and LHR being up the road are a load of rubbish. I suppose the likes Luton, Stanstead, City and Southend should give up as well? The south is probably the most affluent area outside London, ripe market for city breaks and weekends away. Nobody flies from Heathrow unless it’s longhaul or connecting. Yes LGW is currently the default low cost carrier home, but it’s an awful airport and a right pain to get to. SOU could easily take a share of their market. And why would EZY cannibalise it’s own routes you might ask? Well, firstly they would not be losing any money stealing from themselves. Secondly, for an airline to remain profitable/competitive, it needs to maintain a certain growth, which the London airports cannot or shortly cannot provide for. Thirdly, if EZY based 6 aircraft at SOU and maxed out the stand availability, is there much chance of Ryanair being able to open a base and compete with them? They would have a captive market. The likes of flymaybe, BMI are wishy washy, their constant chopping and changing is no reflection on SOU.