but a raft of B752/B763 charters to Sharm-el-Sheikh disappear quietly from the programmes. There are no press releases, but the capacity is gone
Yes, but how many B757's and B767's are leaving the TOM/TCX fleets? Yes, they may not be as filled on the new routes they will be placed on, but, they are still there none-the-less.
Factor in the known scheduled cutbacks, the extremely difficult IT backdrop, the hard economic times and assorted wars / revolutions in key markets and you will appreciate why a negative stance is justified. A modest net gain in scheduled service capacity can not carry the day alone
Just because a new route comes on line does not mean it's going to be successful
Whoever said us nothern lot were miserable seem to be right on the mark looking at this forum. Yes, there are one or 2 cutbacks, and yes, oil may not be at its optimium price, but, MAN has worked hard to get the new services it has secured, probably the most new services in the last 2-3 years, and still people moan!
What about the fact that, as of April 13th, MAD will finally be back on the departure boards after a 2-3 year absence? What about the fact that we finally have our Berlin route back as of november?
The simple fact is, theres a lot more comming in than going out. Aside from the charter market which changes yearly, and lets face it, has been in decline for years now, so nothing new, if all we have lost is 4 5xCRJ to Libya, 7xDash8 to MSE, 3xA319 to HEL and the equivilent of say, 2xA320 to LHR, as opposed to the extensive list of whats new, Id say we havent fared as badly as being made out. And its not fantasy, its clearly there to see.
At the end of the day, If were were in Birmingham, they I could see a need to grumble, but come on, we've been blessed with 16+ new services, are we never happy?!?!?