Newcastle "Sleeping"? - Can't see DTV being any more successful on this route. Maybe it will be just a matter of time before Brussels is re-instated - although Frankfurt with Lufthansa would give better Star Alliance connections.
From an economic & not "sentimental" prospective which seems to come to the front all too often, then the issue of the NCL-BRU service actually brings home the point that there are now too many airports chasing too few pax in the North East. The NE economy isn't going to improve any time soon & the sooner a strategy is sorted to promote & support one airport from the region, then the better !
In the greater scheme then unfortunately for those down at DTV, as regards passenger services then they are the weak link, and their chance of achieving anything that adds to the aggregate resource of the "
whole" North east region appears even less than remote.
As to whether DTV can promote & survive on non pax activities is not for this forum, though there remain clear opportunities for freight, maintenance, & other aviation related opportunities that NCL is never going to be able to compete.
As to a FRA service then unfortunately there is a great deal of logic that if a long serving NCL - BRU service, how many years 20+?? has gone into demise, then why should any carrier wish to invest in NCL - FRA which with zero history suggests it's a gamble.
In addition for those that forget there have been German Loco's at NCL in the past offering various destinations albeit not FRA, so what logic is that a LH full fare NCL-FRA would work ?
In reality the no. of available pax. to NCL is unlikely to exceed those 5M plus highs of the mid 2000's, the money isn't there, and those that came from outside the region now have a greater choice than ever on their own doorsteps.
As such you now have the situation that one carriers gain is another's loss. Put in LH with global connections from FRA & you simply put more pressure ion the remaining legacy carriers, a "catch 22" situation.
I will finish this on a poignant note, in clearing out some old files I have come across a BA pocket NCL - LHR timetable for Mar - Oct 1988 which offered SEVEN flights from NCL on weekdays ( FOUR on weekends), roll forward 25 years & there are barely half this no. (and also reduced aircraft capacity) & it's not all down to slots ! Hmmmmm
