Flybe's Fleet Replacement Collapsed Again
Shame about the RJ100's, just the aeroplane for SOU. After a bad 2003 with high summer temperatures causing a number of the146's to route via BOH when going south to Murcia/Alicante, due to the restricted runway at SOU, Flybe may be praying for a cool summer this year!
Looking at the take-off performance of the ERJ 195, this might be a problem at SOU, unless Embraer can work their magic and come up with an intermediate flap setting, as they did to make the ERJ 145 work out of SOU.
The other problem at SOU, if the 146's go, is where are the ERJ 195/737/AB318/9s going to park? Due to a mega cock up by a previous management regime a new multi-story car park was built next to the apron, against qualified advice. Car parking revenue obviously of more concern to the management. Nett result is that only aircraft with tail fin heights around 9 metres can park on most stands (ie 6-12). With Air Berlin a frequent visitor and Air Europa/Iberworld B737s & A320 taking up the parking stands that can take them during the summer, where is Flybe going to park their 146 replacements?