Prices will stay lower for longer due to more capacity, but I think it will only steal pax back from the FR services. Not provide any real growth.
Give that same answer?
Notice I only disagree with the fact that this will grow pax. I think the WX service is good as it increases the airline diversity at ORK.
It will steel numbers but also increase overall numbers, just look at what FR increases ex NOC to LON have done over the last few months.
The real question is will WX have a sustainable service as FR/EI will see a fall in €€€ but will not exit the market as it's still a very profitable market.
FR grew STN in May by 7850*
FR grew LGW in May by 415
EI reduced LHR in May by 2,288**
Total increase of 5,997
* - assuming an increase in capacity
** - there was a fifth daily flight for some of May last year
May Figures!
SNN increased LON traffic by 1.628
WAT increased LON traffic by 2,708***
KIR increased LON traffic by 1,462
NOC increased LON traffic by 3,014
DUB increased LON traffic by 37,076
*** - lot of that traffic would of used Cork previously with Dublin taking the rest.
So total IRE-LON traffic increased by 51,885, it's clearly a market than can adsorb capacity that's dumped on it.
WX will increase traffic but the question can it be done at a profit. Time will tell...