STN & BRS well the Chancellors (sorry PM’s) APD tax take has caused the reductions, if it had been that easy to get people to pay another £10 on a round trip fare the airlines would have done it already! What it has done is reduce demand and Easyjet have reacted accordingly but they look to have protected the schedule for business passengers at least. On European routes the effect has not been as marked but it still eats into profit margins!
CIA has gone because Easyjet have had to reduce their slot holding there due environmental concerns, so NCL and BFS went. Rumours in the Italian press are that Ryanair (and I guess all other airlines using CIA) may have to move to FCO!
The reduction in CDG frequency will be good news for Air France/Brit Air as it will strengthen their business on this important route.
Note the increase in KRK frequency, doing well for both Easy and J2! Should we be looking east for further expansion, my local Tesco is starting to put up signs in English and Polish!
GVA is starting mid-December as it does from a number of the airports they serve.
Overall, Easyjet are operating a programme which they can make money from given that they have a choice as to where they can fly from. The overall UK market is tough with virtually no growth at present so after three-four good years some slowing of growth/consolidation is only natural. At least NCL is in a stronger position than many other airports are at present!
If it’s that tough at NCL what must it be like at MME…………