Originally Posted by
shamrock7seal
What has happened to domestic UK aviation?
Flybe is continually loss making
Eastern is cost cutting so much it's now basically not working operationally anymore
Flybmi is limping along but doesn't seem to know what it wants to be or do and there is no expansion on the horizon
BA Cityflyer is London centric and seems to be struggling a little with its (temporary?) UK regional weekend expansion
BA domestic is static or declining
easyJet domestic is limited to big regional airports
Aurigny is loss making
Blue islands is basically Flybe now
Stobart Air is ... well
Loganair seems to be the only airline that believes it has a bright future with some growth potential
No other airlines?
The double whammy of APD doesn’t help either, with evermore sensors required on aircraft to meet RNP requirements flying elderly SAAB’s or Jetstream aircraft in the regional environment expensive to stay compliant, the market will continue to polarise between Loco to somewhere nearby or business aircraft/helicopters for point to point, but relying on a Loco to keep the link and short transfer times to your final destination is risky ask anyone who bought near Granada but now has travel via Malaga.
PSO contracts can help but these are politically sensitive when hospitals are being closed, but there is no doubt that some parts of the UK are becoming no go areas for certain types of businesses because of poor transport links, Cumbria, East Yorkshire, Lincolnshire and much of the South West, one only has to look at the train cancellation and strikes this past few months.
There is no easy answer, young pilots will be soaked up by the big Loco’s and are now paid more than Captains at many regional airlines, the equipment is better, the flying can be more interesting and most Loco airlines you’ll have a more respectful relationship with your employer.