The Loco showdown??
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The Loco showdown??
Recent press speculation suggest a LOCO showdown this summer with perhaps only THREE locos serviving. What are the opinions of US PPruNers on this subject??
I suspect that it will be the likes of BA, BMI and other FULL COST opertators that will suffer rather than any of the LOCOs. Will airports such as NEMA suffer with over capasity in the LOCO market?
Recent moves by THOMSONS to cancel certain flights from Humberside and mover them to ROBIN HOOD is certain to dilute the market further. Will the bubble burst at Manchester and new International flights operate from ROBIN HOOD?
from YORKSHRE
the place to be is the city of Leeds.
I suspect that it will be the likes of BA, BMI and other FULL COST opertators that will suffer rather than any of the LOCOs. Will airports such as NEMA suffer with over capasity in the LOCO market?
Recent moves by THOMSONS to cancel certain flights from Humberside and mover them to ROBIN HOOD is certain to dilute the market further. Will the bubble burst at Manchester and new International flights operate from ROBIN HOOD?
from YORKSHRE
the place to be is the city of Leeds.
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Sorry boys, I disagree that only 3 will remain. I also doubt Jet 2 will disappear unless they sell out their sucessful operation to one of the big locos for an offer they can't refuse. If they did I would think the buyer will just repaint the ac and carry on the operation ex LBA, so no mouser I don't think LBA will take the hurt. Frankly the only hurt is likley to be felt by companies like BA/BMI as the locos continue to establish themselves where the demand is. BAs London policy is a bad one and BMI will suffer unless they transfer more routes to Baby(LBA/CDG for example , another JET2 target!). 
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Um. I think you'll find that BA/bmi now consider themselves to have their ducks broadly in line - their load factors and margins are now increasing, whilst the locos are decreasing - they are recapturing what were the low-cost airlines' high yield passengers (who have realised you don't need to spend £120 one way from London to Edinburgh, because the "low cost" airlines don't have a monopoly on the cheapest tickets). That's why BA and bmi are more bullish about their outlook at the moment, whilst the locos are issuing profit warnings and muttering about blood on the carpet.
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Youngpaul,
I agree: their biggest threat is from the fight back we are now seeing by the likes of BA, bmi, and EI (The latter must be considered as being very succesful in this regard)
I really dont see just three loco's left. There may be three major presences, yes, but there are plenty of niches to exploit in Europe.
I agree: their biggest threat is from the fight back we are now seeing by the likes of BA, bmi, and EI (The latter must be considered as being very succesful in this regard)
I really dont see just three loco's left. There may be three major presences, yes, but there are plenty of niches to exploit in Europe.
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I'm with Young Paul on this one.
BA have certainly changed an awful lot over the last few years to meet the challenge of the Locos. BA domestic ticket prices are very competetive on the routes that matter and they are recapturing some of the pax market that they lost to the Locos initially. I work for a franchise and have seen our ticket prices fall dramatically, with loads still rising and actually making a profit. About bloody time! Fair enough, BA needed a kick up the a@*e to sort their pricing out, but have proved that they are still a very popular choice in today's market.
Come on, if you had a choice between racing to the aircraft for a decent seat and seat allocation at check-in, a Deli bag and complimentary drink (No matter how small) against a £5 stale sandwich, and leather seats against well, whatever turns up, all at a reasonably comparable price....who would you go for?
For the business traveller, I'm sure that BA are pitching the right prices at the moment. Heck, just read the papers. They're carrying more pax and even making a bit of money.
I think it's the Locos that have the challenge on their hands to get through this summer alive!
CA
BA have certainly changed an awful lot over the last few years to meet the challenge of the Locos. BA domestic ticket prices are very competetive on the routes that matter and they are recapturing some of the pax market that they lost to the Locos initially. I work for a franchise and have seen our ticket prices fall dramatically, with loads still rising and actually making a profit. About bloody time! Fair enough, BA needed a kick up the a@*e to sort their pricing out, but have proved that they are still a very popular choice in today's market.
Come on, if you had a choice between racing to the aircraft for a decent seat and seat allocation at check-in, a Deli bag and complimentary drink (No matter how small) against a £5 stale sandwich, and leather seats against well, whatever turns up, all at a reasonably comparable price....who would you go for?
For the business traveller, I'm sure that BA are pitching the right prices at the moment. Heck, just read the papers. They're carrying more pax and even making a bit of money.
I think it's the Locos that have the challenge on their hands to get through this summer alive!
CA
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ACA, I'm not saying the loco's won't struggle or BA/BMI will. Jet2 however have been successful due to an untapped market, allocated seating, leather seats, excellent service and an superb on time record. They have won awards for customer service and as such I can't see them struggling if they continue to fill the nice in Yorkshire/Northern Ireland. Incidentally they delivered their newest ac G-CELB to LBA last night. Watch out for it, it's got a nice special scheme on it! My only worry is if they continue to expand at this rate LBAs infrastructure won't be able to keep up. The new ac is in Multiflights hangar probably because there are no spare stands on the apron!!
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HOODED.
Some other nice toys in that Multi-flight hangar aswell!
I agree with you totally, but I don't class Jet2 in the same bracket as Easy and Ryan. They are low cost, but offer something very different to the latter two in their little LBA niche. They seem to have pitched very cleverly to a captive market in the LBA area. Good on them. I'm sure they'll be around for a long time, but like you am watching their expansion and hope that they don't over do it.
Good luck to them all.
CA
Some other nice toys in that Multi-flight hangar aswell!
I agree with you totally, but I don't class Jet2 in the same bracket as Easy and Ryan. They are low cost, but offer something very different to the latter two in their little LBA niche. They seem to have pitched very cleverly to a captive market in the LBA area. Good on them. I'm sure they'll be around for a long time, but like you am watching their expansion and hope that they don't over do it.
Good luck to them all.
CA
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The trouble is we all think that we will survive and you others will fail.
Should Ryanair decide to pit itself directly against any of its smaller rivals, who will survive?.... I would think Ryanair. The likes of Jet2, Eujet & Flybe could not compete.
Should Ryanair decide to pit itself directly against any of its smaller rivals, who will survive?.... I would think Ryanair. The likes of Jet2, Eujet & Flybe could not compete.
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I think that there will be one or two supprises in the battle. God only knows who will win!! I think the problem with BA Young Paul is they have downsized to an extent, cutting back services around the country, closing bases. What passengers want is to fly from LOCAL airports BA cannot provide that service where the LOCOs can and do.
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Perhaps the problem with Ezy & Ryanair is that they have
forgotten where they came from,a low cost airline needs a
to keep its overheads low ,any organisation as it expands will
find this increasingly difficult to do.
JET2 is a genuine low cost carrier owning all its A/C outright & is in great shape to hold its own & in the long run thrive in the current market
forgotten where they came from,a low cost airline needs a
to keep its overheads low ,any organisation as it expands will
find this increasingly difficult to do.
JET2 is a genuine low cost carrier owning all its A/C outright & is in great shape to hold its own & in the long run thrive in the current market
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Jet2's owner is also then in a VERY good position to sell out with no peer pressure?
Sold as a going concern.
Mr M, the boss is a very shrewed business man.
Sold as a going concern.
Mr M, the boss is a very shrewed business man.
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Yes, but he is at LBA all of the time nurturing his baby, he's not gonna sell yet I tell you!!!!! There is more to come, Belfast, yes Easy beat him to it, but where next? Mr M has a goal, that I cannot repeat, but look out big boys and be sure he will succeed, watch this space and learn.
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If things are so rosy, why have Jet2 cut back on those little extras like crew transport (very necessary to the far flung stands at LBA) and suddenly about-faced and started charging new joiners for type ratings? Seems to me that when this kind of padding is cut there is likely to be a reason.