I see FlyBe have axed a number of flights from their SOU schedule with routes dropped or services reduced. Have they overestimated their 'London' operations with STN, SOU & LCY all being used?
INV LCY was running at 48% load factor, Winter is always low loads at this time of year, some of the EZY LGW have less than 100 on them over the last week, dont think flybe gave the route time to develop
It's quite clear that the policy is to bring on routes that their research (or that of the airport operators concered) convinces them might be goers; but they are working on them hitting the right numbers (yield-wise) in a very short period of time - looks like about 3-4 months. If at that stage they aren't cutting the mustard they are dropping them without ceremony. Airport operators, and local business groups are often guilty of bigging up route potential, only for airlines to find that in reality the business (and leisure) community continues to prefer flying from other airports, or via preferred hubs, on preferred carriers.
BHX has suffered in the same way as SOU and INV, and I feel sure that despite the alleged sweeteners from MAG, if the STN / BOH routes don't perform quick decisions will be made on those too.
It's a sad indictment of today's short term attitudes that routes can't be given time to develop, but the fact remains that FlyBe were in a hole, and the new management has a strategy to get them out of it. Whether it's the right one will come clear during the course of 2015 I feel.