This and that
Have been following the thread with interest. Firstly FR almost always use new routes to justify culling - see the new routes releases under news on their web site.. it makes for better publicity.
Ryanair grows at 20%+ a year and return a mega profit. There are not enough runway slots to achieve that level of growth at LGW/STN/LTN so most UK growth for FR will continue to be in the regions. So don't be too despondent about culled routes. FR will still grow at BOH if the routes are profitable.
The runway slot shortage is probably why FR bought BUZZ (runway slots at STN) and EZY bought GB (slots at LGW).
It also is reasonable to bet that the FR pax figures through BOH in 2008 will be 20% or so up on 2007 and EZY figures similarly 15% up. Some old routes will be back and new ones will emerge. Key as always will be profitability of the BOH routes vs what else the airline can do with the capacity. Am sure that FR will be looking at everything TOM is doing throughout the UK to pick off the juicy opportunities while TOM tries to figure out what kind of airline (LCC or Charter) the newly merged entities - 4 airlines into one -want to be.
Also sure that EZY will be doing the same as FR. EZY grow at 15% each year.. their figures at BOH have followed that trend and more. KRK is still earning it's stripes, was only announced mid july and has been operating for only a few weeks.
I personally saw the easy move on KRK/BOH as an indication that they have either BOH or KRK base in mind.. and wanted to make life harder for Wizz and occupy the route before FR could make a move. Their risk is a six month schedule so far.
The EZY KRK/BOH route is operated by a Dortmund based aircraft by the way. I used it last week. It serves a Dortmund rotation either side of the BOH.
Pax demographics on EZY and Wizz are interesting from BOH to Poland from what I xsaw last week. Wizz almost entirely Polish nationals and very full 90%, but EZY mostly Brits and less full - 75%ish, with a smaller aircraft an A319 vs A320.
Finally, if you are interested in understanding airline strategy and plans, you could do worse that look at the invetsor relations pages on the airlines web site (for Publicly listed airlines at least)
The CEO report to shareholders - normally a pdf file of a powerpoint presentation - reveals a great deal about aircraft and route plans..
Well worth a read.