Air Caledonia
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Air Caledonia
Does anybody know how this new outfit is doing at PIK? I know they have only been operating for a week but they have had quite a few canx flight already and some delays to. Flight to LDY are meant to start later this week as well. How will they manage then?
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Not sure about future bookings but canx were due to low pax loads (zero) on some flights.
They are enthusiastic though, and if they provide a good service then word will spread through islands and they have a chance of making it.
Their website is interesting re future plans at PIK, have a look at it.
XSB
They are enthusiastic though, and if they provide a good service then word will spread through islands and they have a chance of making it.
Their website is interesting re future plans at PIK, have a look at it.
XSB
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I see tomorrow's first flight to City of Derry has been cancelled. I hope this is just a temporary blip due to the season and an apparent lack of marketing. It would be nice to see a small airline like Air Caledonian succeed as the flights to the outer isles etc are presently far too expensive with BA.
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Has anyone not thought ,why fares on these routes need to be so expensive ?
Fair enough BA have a monopoly on certain routes, but the costs are required to maintain a dedicated fleet of small turboprops, provide maintenance at remote airfields and cover the cost of operating flights with perhaps only 1 or 2 passengers on board- without cancelling willy nilly when it suits.
These short-lived types obviously don't understand the overheads involved in providing service commitment routes. These are not suitable for the typical low cost model as im sure Air Caledonia will find out to their cost in at most 6 months time.
Fair enough BA have a monopoly on certain routes, but the costs are required to maintain a dedicated fleet of small turboprops, provide maintenance at remote airfields and cover the cost of operating flights with perhaps only 1 or 2 passengers on board- without cancelling willy nilly when it suits.
These short-lived types obviously don't understand the overheads involved in providing service commitment routes. These are not suitable for the typical low cost model as im sure Air Caledonia will find out to their cost in at most 6 months time.
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Ah, a new start up wouldn't be complete without the "it'll never last 6 months" brigade. 
Give them a chance. Competition is VERY healthy, particularly on these routes. And by the way, when Willie Logan started Loganair would you all have said the same thing? Probably! I am sure Air Caledonian has a healthy bank balance and that all these problems were forseen and have been bugeted for.
Go'an yersel' Air Caledonian. Good luck to you. I hope it all works ouit well!
Give them a chance. Competition is VERY healthy, particularly on these routes. And by the way, when Willie Logan started Loganair would you all have said the same thing? Probably! I am sure Air Caledonian has a healthy bank balance and that all these problems were forseen and have been bugeted for. Go'an yersel' Air Caledonian. Good luck to you. I hope it all works ouit well!
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Runway 31 - There are also more than times ten the number of fare paying passengers on a trans-atlantic flight as on Loganair Saab to the Islands.
Flight economics do not work like taxi fares. Ryanair have a lot to answer for!
Flight economics do not work like taxi fares. Ryanair have a lot to answer for!
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Quote - Flight economics do not work like taxi fares. Ryanair have a lot to answer for!
That may well be the case and there are less passengers on each flight however while I do not know the costs involved, the economics of the aircraft are also very different covering shorter distances, using less fuel, less crew, less costly airports etc.
It is about time that someone gave BA some competition. Whether the economics allow the costs to be kept to the price charged by Air Caledonian and still allow them to make a profit only time will tell but at least they are having a go and giving passengers a choice. They are also opening up low cost routes to people who up until now had their choice limited and who now have easier access to these. Passengers coming from abroad by Ryanair will also find these destinations easier to access. I am a realist to and wish them every success.
That may well be the case and there are less passengers on each flight however while I do not know the costs involved, the economics of the aircraft are also very different covering shorter distances, using less fuel, less crew, less costly airports etc.
It is about time that someone gave BA some competition. Whether the economics allow the costs to be kept to the price charged by Air Caledonian and still allow them to make a profit only time will tell but at least they are having a go and giving passengers a choice. They are also opening up low cost routes to people who up until now had their choice limited and who now have easier access to these. Passengers coming from abroad by Ryanair will also find these destinations easier to access. I am a realist to and wish them every success.
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Sorry, but I am confoosed
Not sure about future bookings but canx were due to low pax loads (zero) on some flights.
From what I have heard they are having an impact with BA dropping their prices to try and match them
Justhow can an Airline cancelling filghts cause another to cut prices? Or am I missing something?
we aim to please, it keeps the cleaners happy
Not sure about future bookings but canx were due to low pax loads (zero) on some flights.
From what I have heard they are having an impact with BA dropping their prices to try and match them
Justhow can an Airline cancelling filghts cause another to cut prices? Or am I missing something?
we aim to please, it keeps the cleaners happy
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Good to see that the second scheduled flight to Derry went off OK despite the first being cancelled. Word on the street is that load factors are picking up after a few early cancellations. The fact that there has been very little in the way of marketing the routes and that PR has been minimal has meant that very few people know that Air Caledonian exist.
BA appear to have been dropping their fares, obviously to ensure that this new regional fails to get off the ground before it is established. The more competition on the Western Isles routes the better - the islanders have been ripped off with high air fares for years. Hopefully with both BA and Air Caledonian on the scene it will ensure that the beautiful Western Isles are opened up to more and more foreign tourists,
BA appear to have been dropping their fares, obviously to ensure that this new regional fails to get off the ground before it is established. The more competition on the Western Isles routes the better - the islanders have been ripped off with high air fares for years. Hopefully with both BA and Air Caledonian on the scene it will ensure that the beautiful Western Isles are opened up to more and more foreign tourists,
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BA ticketes purchased in the Islands are cheaper than those purchased on the mainland thanks to the way the PSO contracts work.
Highland Airways gave BEB & SYY a bash from GLA at around this time last winter using a Jetstream 31.
Winter is definitely not the season to be starting routes to the Islands.
Highland Airways gave BEB & SYY a bash from GLA at around this time last winter using a Jetstream 31.
Winter is definitely not the season to be starting routes to the Islands.
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Just had a look for comparisons sake at the BA website to see if their prices had dropped.
A return tomorrow 15/12 GOW-SYY costs £302:30 all in.
A return SYY-GOW out 15/01/05 return next day 16/01 costs £211
0.
If that is a price drop to match the competition what was it beforehand.
I am sure that you would agree that this is excesive compared to the £129 all in offered on every occasion by Air Caledonian.
A return tomorrow 15/12 GOW-SYY costs £302:30 all in.
A return SYY-GOW out 15/01/05 return next day 16/01 costs £211
0.If that is a price drop to match the competition what was it beforehand.
I am sure that you would agree that this is excesive compared to the £129 all in offered on every occasion by Air Caledonian.
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the economics of the aircraft are also very different covering shorter distances, using less fuel, less crew, less costly airports etc
Competition and choice is good, but at the end of the day you get what you pay for. £130 for a flight to Stornoway at 9000ft, unpressurised, in the winter. And if the Bandeirante goes tech, what is the options? A long wait at Prestwick for a repair or a trip back up to Glasgow.
I think I'd rather pay the extra £80 to travel in relative comfort knowing that Loganair have the resources to get me there if this start going wrong.
I am sure that you would agree that this is excesive
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Here's a word from the inside.
I fly the route for Air Caledonia, and I can tell you that I speak to each and every one of the passengers after the flight to ask them what they think of it. I have had very few negative comments, and lots of positives.
+ Cheap fixed price fares
+ Free railtravel anywhere in Scotland
+ Railway at the terminal
+ Lots of legroom
+ Friendly staff (they seem to like it when the pilot speaks to them personally)
+ Easy access to europe via Ryanair
+ Easier, quicker boarding/disembarking (due to less people)
+ Better timings
- A bit noisy
- Non pressurised
If a family of 3 are coming down, then the savings for them
with the cheap ticket and free rail travel are going to amount to a few hundred pounds. Sounding quite attractive now isn't it?
I hope it all works (obviously), but rather than taking passengers off Loganair, I'd rather hope that it will encourage people to use the service who otherwise wouldn't, which will bring more money to everyone, which can only be a good thing.
I think people should try and get behind a new service and encourage it, rather than being negative. Give it a chance!
Cheers
I fly the route for Air Caledonia, and I can tell you that I speak to each and every one of the passengers after the flight to ask them what they think of it. I have had very few negative comments, and lots of positives.
+ Cheap fixed price fares
+ Free railtravel anywhere in Scotland
+ Railway at the terminal
+ Lots of legroom
+ Friendly staff (they seem to like it when the pilot speaks to them personally)
+ Easy access to europe via Ryanair
+ Easier, quicker boarding/disembarking (due to less people)
+ Better timings
- A bit noisy
- Non pressurised
If a family of 3 are coming down, then the savings for them
with the cheap ticket and free rail travel are going to amount to a few hundred pounds. Sounding quite attractive now isn't it?
I hope it all works (obviously), but rather than taking passengers off Loganair, I'd rather hope that it will encourage people to use the service who otherwise wouldn't, which will bring more money to everyone, which can only be a good thing.
I think people should try and get behind a new service and encourage it, rather than being negative. Give it a chance!
Cheers
