bmi EDI-LHR

[generallee]

A quick look at the relevant websites (bmi, BA, EDI) shows that there are approx 12 daily (weekday) BA-LHR flights operating with A320s (plus one 757 and one A319) and 8 bmi-LHR operating with A320/321 aircraft.

I appreciate that the yield on the route must be fairly reasonable, but is the capacity/frequency justified on this route? Looking at other regional feeds(smaller markets, granted), is there not a heavy bias on the route?

Before anyone jumps on the wagon, I only looked as EDI as an example. I am am not party to the GLA v. EDI bashing!

[1261]

I couldn't say for certain what the load factors are, but have you ever tried to get a seat on LHR-EDI at short notice?

If you take all the EDI-London flights (i.e. Heathrow, Gatwick, Luton, Stansted, City) there must be close to sixty flights a day in each direction; in other words there must be a serious amount of traffic!

[rjdude]

There are some major corporate 'players' flying to/from EDI, hence the reason for the large capacity, compared with identical routes to GLA.

[WHBM]

I have been SLF to Edinburgh for many years and cannot remember many flights that were other than full. Over the years Edinburgh has slowly become the dominant Scottish commercial centre at the expense of Glasgow.

FWIW, after all those flights on every one of the carriers, the best service currently is still Scot Airways out of London City. It is so nice to work with an organisation where all staff bend over backwards to help the business traveller. There aren't many airlines like that nowadays.

[CHIVILCOY]

GLA has same weekday flights, 12 B.A. Heathrow as well as 6 Gatwick, BMI has 8 Heathrow. So big capacity on GLA-London as well as EDI.
Easyjet has a large presence on the London route from GLA and of course Ryanair has plenty of flights from Glasgows second airport at Prestwick.

[MD11FAN]

EDI flights

I have also noted the number of daily flight operated by BA on this route; considering the lack of slots at LHR then why don't they operate say 7 x 767s a day instead of 12 x 320s? Still a good frequency and they can use the slots for expanding new services.

[Jordan D]

I flew EDI-LTN/STN-EDI about a week ago, and the loads were heavy .... when I was departing EDI, there were 7 flights to LON within an hour, serving all 5 airports. Must be something in the water.

Jordan

[Findo]

MD11FAN

why don't they operate say 7 x 767s a day instead of 12 x 320s?

Because the business passengers don't want a 2 or 3 hour gap between flights. It is a high yield route because there are lots of fully flexible business tickets attracted by the hourly service and the ability to change if you get to the airport early. Going for 7 a day would mean you were less flexible and therefore you would probably not pay the (very much) higher fare.

Somebody else could probably add something about comparative utilisation of the longer range aircraft. Beyone me because I very seldom get over any water on business.

[generallee]

I guess then that there is a heavy bias - but justified by the pax numbers and type.

What then of the LHR feeds by bmi?

BHD/MAN/GLA/EDI - 8 to 10 daily A320/1
BRU - 7 F100
CDG - 6 F100
LBA - 4 F100
MME - 3 F100

I guess you can take out the top four given the previous replies and possibly BRU/CDG as here to stay (not sure about BRU/CDG freq/size though). What then does the future hold for LBA/MME - LHR? Given that the A319 will shortly replace the F100s, will these regional feeds simply be maintained at their current level with the larger capacity or can they realistically expect/drive more business given the lack of slots at LHR? Surely the respective catchment areas of each airport dictate that they should have sustained connections to LHR and can support additional services to the capital?

Or will any deregulation mean that these routes/frequencies will simply be cut to allow for additional transatlantic services?

[PPRuNe Radar]

Wondered how long it would take for Joe Curry and Gutsy Orange to get involved in a willie measuring contest ... both thread banned and their posts removed.

This is NOT a GLA vs EDI vs PIK vs anyone else thread

[generallee]

My apologies to one and all.

I didn't see the offending posts but can guess at the content. If anyone has a reasonable response to the most recent questions, i'd appreciate the continued (sensible) discussion/debate.

Regards,

generallee.