DERRY/LONDONDERRY
Not just Journal speculation, but rather direct quotes from the horse's mouth as it were.
(James Buchanan).
Yeah, fully aware of all the possibles, including those who once operated out of LDY (I've flown with all of them!), which is why the only viable option in my mind was Aer Arann, and even they seem unlikely.
As for Ryanair, they've been chopping capacity on the routes they currently operate. Stansted is down to 4 a week until the start of June (the idea being that the days there's no Stansted flight, there's a Luton flight instead).
Difficult times for all concerned, especially a council-owned, RYR dominated regional airport.
(James Buchanan).
Yeah, fully aware of all the possibles, including those who once operated out of LDY (I've flown with all of them!), which is why the only viable option in my mind was Aer Arann, and even they seem unlikely.
As for Ryanair, they've been chopping capacity on the routes they currently operate. Stansted is down to 4 a week until the start of June (the idea being that the days there's no Stansted flight, there's a Luton flight instead).
Difficult times for all concerned, especially a council-owned, RYR dominated regional airport.
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Yeah, but Mr Buchanan was only speculating. And all the report stated was the airport was looking to establish these routes, not that someone was actually interested in running them. They've been interested in establishing routes to these airports for a long time and noone has taken an interest.
There was a route at one stage to Edinburgh (MacAir or somebody) but regretably it folded.
Personally I think that since the council is already subsidising the airport to the tune of £4 million this year, that the council should wet lease aircraft and establish routes themselves ..... I mean Ryanair pulled the Bristol route even though it would have had 45,000 passengers per annum. Now if Ryanair are only interested in routes with over 65,000 passenger p.a. then Edinburgh, Manchester and Gatwick are its only viable UK routes left.
There was a route at one stage to Edinburgh (MacAir or somebody) but regretably it folded.
Personally I think that since the council is already subsidising the airport to the tune of £4 million this year, that the council should wet lease aircraft and establish routes themselves ..... I mean Ryanair pulled the Bristol route even though it would have had 45,000 passengers per annum. Now if Ryanair are only interested in routes with over 65,000 passenger p.a. then Edinburgh, Manchester and Gatwick are its only viable UK routes left.
AE, I too was speculating (the ability to read allowed me appreciate the tone of Mr Buchanan's comments 
)
Good point about Bristol, a route I used quite often. RYR have continued the BRS-NOC route despite some apalling numbers (~66 per flight in Feb, less than 35% load)).
Where LDY is going to go now is anyone's guess, but it's a great small regional airport, so let's hope something positive happens ASAP.
)Good point about Bristol, a route I used quite often. RYR have continued the BRS-NOC route despite some apalling numbers (~66 per flight in Feb, less than 35% load)).
Where LDY is going to go now is anyone's guess, but it's a great small regional airport, so let's hope something positive happens ASAP.
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What puzzles me is that the Bristol route has proven its ability to attract 45000 passengers per annum and yet seemingly no other airline is interested in the route following its dropping by Ryanair.
If you look at the number of passengers per flight out of LDY you find it is about 76. BHD is about 64 though prior to Ryanair operating from there it was about 53. This shows that smaller aircraft operate out of BHD and as such can operate on smaller routes more frequently.
If Britsol is not attractive to Ryanair the airport needs to find a carrier who is interested. Newcastle would have similar numbers going by the total Northern Irish passenger pool going to there from the other two airports, and therefore would not be attractive to Ryanair either.
If you look at the number of passengers per flight out of LDY you find it is about 76. BHD is about 64 though prior to Ryanair operating from there it was about 53. This shows that smaller aircraft operate out of BHD and as such can operate on smaller routes more frequently.
If Britsol is not attractive to Ryanair the airport needs to find a carrier who is interested. Newcastle would have similar numbers going by the total Northern Irish passenger pool going to there from the other two airports, and therefore would not be attractive to Ryanair either.
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What puzzles me is that the Bristol route has proven its ability to attract 45000 passengers per annum and yet seemingly no other airline is interested in the route following its dropping by Ryanair.
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Alicante - Summer only or all year round
The Alicante flight is listed on the Ryanair route map as an all year round service but is currently only bookable until 22nd October presumably due to the fact that the winter schedule hasn't being uploaded yet.
There is nothing cheap about some of the summer flights but as for September and October, some flights are costing only £7.49 (plus all the additions). This has not changed since the flights were first announced.
I am therefore sceptical that Ryanair will announce any winter flights to Alicante and so this flight will become a summer only service (if it is even repeated next summer).
There is nothing cheap about some of the summer flights but as for September and October, some flights are costing only £7.49 (plus all the additions). This has not changed since the flights were first announced.
I am therefore sceptical that Ryanair will announce any winter flights to Alicante and so this flight will become a summer only service (if it is even repeated next summer).
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Terminal extension for Derry
The Derry Journal is reporting that the council have issued tenders for an extension to the terminal building.
The new terminal will have two new retail units and a couple of additional diners together with a business lounge and a VIP lounge. (Why?)
No mention in the article about whether there will be a larger arrivals hall with a new larger carousel which I would have thought is major problem at the moment notwithstanding Ryanairs attempts to discourage anyone from taking hold luggage.
The council were refused government funding for the terminal extension when they were building the runway extension so I don't know where the money for the extension will come from.
Also given falling passenger numbers, is this really a priority? I think they should be concentrating on route development. Nevertheless it will be a welcome development.
The new terminal will have two new retail units and a couple of additional diners together with a business lounge and a VIP lounge. (Why?)
No mention in the article about whether there will be a larger arrivals hall with a new larger carousel which I would have thought is major problem at the moment notwithstanding Ryanairs attempts to discourage anyone from taking hold luggage.
The council were refused government funding for the terminal extension when they were building the runway extension so I don't know where the money for the extension will come from.
Also given falling passenger numbers, is this really a priority? I think they should be concentrating on route development. Nevertheless it will be a welcome development.
Last edited by Amelia Earhart; 17th Apr 2009 at 16:25. Reason: typo
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Thats a good question.
I think the funding of the airport is a disgrace. The local rate payers have been left to shoulder too much. It is physically located in Limavady who pay nothing but after the reorganisation of the council boundaries the rate payers of Strabane will be left to pay.
Also, implicit in the joint funding arrangement for the runway extension was the notion that if the Irish Government had not coughed up equal funding then the Northern Irish government would have refused to pay anything despite the fact that the airport is located in the North. I know the argument that it also benefits Donegal and luckily the Irish Government seem to have seen some merit in this argument, but what seems unfair is that while the Southern Government have had to contribute equal funding, the subsequent airport taxes accrue only to Whitehall.
While the airport did obtain money for the runway expansion, it was refused money for a badly needed terminal extension despite the fact that the government receives several million pounds per year from the airport users in the form of airport tax. Local rate payers will now have to find the money for the terminal extension.
Local rate payers have probably paid somewhere in the region of £70 million so far for the airport, quite possibly even more. (Capital costs are approximately £40 million, together with an annual subsidy since it opened in 1979 - for a long time this subsidy was quoted at about £1 million per year but recently has been quoted as high as £4 million plus).
Now I know someone is thinking "why should they get any government money, the two Belfast airports are private", but you have to remember when Aldergrove opened it was state owned and funded. But in this case if the Council have not opened the facility then it wouldn't exist because the Northern government sure wouldn't have opened it.
I think the funding of the airport is a disgrace. The local rate payers have been left to shoulder too much. It is physically located in Limavady who pay nothing but after the reorganisation of the council boundaries the rate payers of Strabane will be left to pay.
Also, implicit in the joint funding arrangement for the runway extension was the notion that if the Irish Government had not coughed up equal funding then the Northern Irish government would have refused to pay anything despite the fact that the airport is located in the North. I know the argument that it also benefits Donegal and luckily the Irish Government seem to have seen some merit in this argument, but what seems unfair is that while the Southern Government have had to contribute equal funding, the subsequent airport taxes accrue only to Whitehall.
While the airport did obtain money for the runway expansion, it was refused money for a badly needed terminal extension despite the fact that the government receives several million pounds per year from the airport users in the form of airport tax. Local rate payers will now have to find the money for the terminal extension.
Local rate payers have probably paid somewhere in the region of £70 million so far for the airport, quite possibly even more. (Capital costs are approximately £40 million, together with an annual subsidy since it opened in 1979 - for a long time this subsidy was quoted at about £1 million per year but recently has been quoted as high as £4 million plus).
Now I know someone is thinking "why should they get any government money, the two Belfast airports are private", but you have to remember when Aldergrove opened it was state owned and funded. But in this case if the Council have not opened the facility then it wouldn't exist because the Northern government sure wouldn't have opened it.
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Derry to Close
"Ulster flying club chairman sent to close Derry airport by September"
The local council have brought in the new man to run the airport down to the stage where it will not be possible for the local schools and private aircraft operaters to run their business.
This will be followed by the airlines moving out and finally the airport will be mothballed similar to Enniskillen back in 2002.
The only problem is there will not be the private finance around to encourage private owners to do what was done in Enniskillen.
Sad to say it but RIP City of Derry
The local council have brought in the new man to run the airport down to the stage where it will not be possible for the local schools and private aircraft operaters to run their business.
This will be followed by the airlines moving out and finally the airport will be mothballed similar to Enniskillen back in 2002.
The only problem is there will not be the private finance around to encourage private owners to do what was done in Enniskillen.
Sad to say it but RIP City of Derry
And your information comes from.................?
At what point did St angelo handle 400,000+ pax/year?
As mentioned above the Council have applied for planning permission to EXTEND the terminal building. No doubt this is to allow the insertion of larger mothballs.
At what point did St angelo handle 400,000+ pax/year?
As mentioned above the Council have applied for planning permission to EXTEND the terminal building. No doubt this is to allow the insertion of larger mothballs.
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Watch this space then!
I know very little about Enniskillen other than it was costing the council money and they shut it down.
What I do know is that both Belfast airports, over the last week are working with the airlines that operate from Derry to find them an alternative for the winter.
There will be no more European or Irish money and the airlines will not pay anything to operate there so who is going to fund the big hole??
I know very little about Enniskillen other than it was costing the council money and they shut it down.
What I do know is that both Belfast airports, over the last week are working with the airlines that operate from Derry to find them an alternative for the winter.
There will be no more European or Irish money and the airlines will not pay anything to operate there so who is going to fund the big hole??
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DawnB, it would seem that your lack of knowledge is not just limited to Enniskillen - you are remarkably ignorant about City of Derry too. Your comparison of the two is laughable. Be sure to let us all know when we can stop watching this space...........
So BHD is working with Ryanair and Aer Arann? Nothing new there as both airlines operate out of BHD. Furthermore, the PSO (which is paid for by Dublin) subsidises the Arann LDY-DUB route. RYR already operate BHD to Stansted, Liverpool and Prestwick, with only Birmingham, Luton and Alicante being served from LDY and not BHD. So really the statement:
"What I do know is that both Belfast airports, over the last week are working with the airlines that operate from Derry to find them an alternative for the winter."
.....neither makes sense nor appears to have any basis in fact.
There would appear to be little chance of BFS suddenly getting RYR routes, BHD already has both airlines, and so, I'm sorry, I'll take what your saying with a pinch of salt (unless something more substantive appears from a reliable source)
"What I do know is that both Belfast airports, over the last week are working with the airlines that operate from Derry to find them an alternative for the winter."
.....neither makes sense nor appears to have any basis in fact.
There would appear to be little chance of BFS suddenly getting RYR routes, BHD already has both airlines, and so, I'm sorry, I'll take what your saying with a pinch of salt (unless something more substantive appears from a reliable source)
Last edited by cuthere; 19th Apr 2009 at 14:14.
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"Ulster flying club chairman sent to close Derry airport by September"
Mourned by all whom he used to rule at BFS.
If true I'll bet the people whose houses were bulldozed will be pleased!
Sorry, meant to say earlier, DRD reckons it'll cost £320million in total to dual the Derry-Randalstown road (http://www.roadsni.gov.uk/expanding_...n_document.pdf).
So maybe investment in the airport isn't so crazy after all (it's just the future development that needs sorting)
So maybe investment in the airport isn't so crazy after all (it's just the future development that needs sorting)
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with all the money spent on the facility over the years £70 million would have went a long way. And it may cost £320 million today, but they could have started 20 years ago - cheaper.
You are smart, did you find that out on google earth!!!. If I lived in the northwest why would I lengthen my journey, endure the severe traffic congestion of greater Belfast, drive by the major international airport, pay extra for parking, risk the higher chance of being diverted, pay extra for the flights..........
...........and from there it's motorway or dual carriageway all the way to BHD. ;-)