LEEDS

[LBA]

Well I doubt they would only swap the based aircraft for one flight a week, so if that is the case, would assume it's going to be a based 757-200 all summer.

Great news about Inverness BTW .

[682ft AMSL]

Might the fact TUI are now actively selling DLM on Friday nights again ex-Leeds be a clue that the 767 has been canned - i.e they wouldn't commit to 290 seats, but are prepared to give it a go with 235?

Non appearance of the 767 would though be another blow to growth aspirations. The 767-2 has 23% more seats than the 757-2, so non-appearance for half-the season equates to a 11-12% capacity reduction overall.

682

[LBA]

Hm... They do seem to be selling Dalaman. Weren't Thomson supposed to be selling extra flights to Ibiza and Palma? They seem to have gone...

[682ft AMSL]

The WEDS pm IBZ is still there in lieu of Varna. The FRI pm PMI has reverted back from PMI to DLM.

682

[Jet2LBA]

Read on another thread that Air Blue plan to operate A321's on an Islamabad-Manchester route with a refueling stop in Turkey.

With the exception of the brief Swefly service, why is it that LBA have been unable attract such flights, with a similar aircraft type suitable to LBA? Everyone knows demand is there, so why has it become one of LBA's great mysteries?

[Leodis]

Originally Posted by Jet2LBA

Read on another thread that Air Blue plan to operate A321's on an Islamabad-Manchester route with a refueling stop in Turkey.
With the exception of the brief Swefly service, why is it that LBA have been unable attract such flights, with a similar aircraft type suitable to LBA? Everyone knows demand is there, so why has it become one of LBA's great mysteries?

What is important is that LBA seems to be holding its own all considering. With its neighbours in South, East and West under the ownership of the much bigger Manchester Airport Group and airports in the South, and the North East under PEEL ownership with the full weight behind them that that entails. All in all LBA does seem to be making reasonable progress.

I think LBA does seem to be showing signs of branching out more and it appears that the airport is actively looking for additional airlines to fill the gaps. ie. with the introduction of Central Wings to Warsaw. I don't think this will be the last, I would expect that over the course of the next year or so other airlines will follow suit.

Leodis

[BombardierCR7]

Air Blue were expected to launch Manchester - Pakistan back in November last year with A330 equipment, then it was postponed to January this year, I believe there has been a route change from Lahore to Islamabad (I think) and is now Summer this year with an A321. Assuming it starts, it may last a matter of weeks, or maybe a lifetime, who knows? but, if I was in any position of power at LBA, then I'd be avoiding this one like the plague!

One would hope that after the experience with Swefly, and the bad press that caused during their demise, that the airport company would shy away from attracting these small airlines with big international ambitions and look for a much more stable/local option on a Pakistan route from LBA. PIA is obviously not an option at present from LBA, but maybe to start small and attract a strong local asian travel agent with lots of "connections" as a charterer on a small widebody may be a more viable option. I seem to remember some guys in Bingley also had this idea a while ago. I believe it was only the ABTA bonding that prevented them. It's only my opinion, but I think it may be a safer move forward to pull one of the greatest underserved long haul routes out of West Yorkshire.

[LBIA]

Can anyone confirm the following?

Have Thomsonfly dropped the planned basing of a B767-200 in May, June and July and instead have decided to make it a B757-200 base all year round at Leeds/Bradford???

[LBA]

Can I ask if you don't know for sure, why do you post the news as 'confirmed' on other forums?

[LBIA]

LBA Wrote: Can I ask if you don't know for sure, why do you post the news as 'confirmed' on other forums?

No problems mate. I'll tell you that I have had it confirmed by someone who works with-in the tui group. Travel agent side. But the reason I ask on here is it’s not by anyone who works for Thomsonfly the airline, these are surely the guys who might actually really know the truth. Like LBA based crews.

This is the reason why I ask again. Ok?

[LBA]

Ok, No probs

[Frankfurt_Cowboy]

Looking at the timetables for the LBA-LHR service over the summer it appears that the non A319 rotations mentioned are being done by an A320 rather than the mentioned (feared) ERJ145. God, I sound like a spotter!!

[PTH needs tarmac]

bmi LBA-LHR

So you're saying bmi are using a BIGGER aircraft on an OFF-peak flight????? And a SMALLER aircraft on PEAK flights???

Logical! Nothing surprises us ant more with bmi.

Or do a lot of business traveller come up from London in the morning and head back to London for afternoon tea? Betty's not good enough for them?

[RobT100]

Originally Posted by LBA

Can I ask if you don't know for sure, why do you post the news as 'confirmed' on other forums?

Just remember LBIA is the one who told us FCA were basing an A320 this summer so dont beleive a word he says.

[Frankfurt_Cowboy]

"So you're saying bmi are using a BIGGER aircraft on an OFF-peak flight????? And a SMALLER aircraft on PEAK flights??? "

On closer inspection it appears that the based 319 will in fact be a 320 this summer, the only 319 flights being BD418 and 419 in the afternoon. Saturday is all 145's as is Sunday except for BD419 and 420 when the 320 reappears.

[LBIA]

Hi

The wednesday flight to Futeventura by LTE International Airbus A320's in summer 2006 has been changed.

This flight is now to be operated by Futura Boeing 737-800 Aircraft as follows.

FUA1755 Departs FUE: 07:45 Arrives LBA: 12:10
FUA1756 Departs LBA: 13:10 Arrives FUE: 17:15

And RobT100 if you don't belive in me about this. Just check out LBIA website along with Thomas Cooks, First Choice and My Travel sites, Ok??

[LBA]

Quite happy about that, we don't get alot of Futuras.

[LBA]

Its alright saying that, but you have to look at all the new business gained this summer.

Extra flights from FlyBe, Air Southwest, Jet2, Thomsonfly, Astraeus and a new airline in Centralwings. I would hardly say things are looking really bad!

As far as i'm concerned, if Jet2 are really commited to LBA and continue to expand their services, they can operate as many flights as they want!

[HOODED]

Interesting post Leodis and I see where you're coming from. Can't say loosing Thomsonfly will be too much of a problem for me personally as they've let me down twice when I booked ex LBA.
Interestingly Jet2 have just sent me an Email saying 100s of extra seats are now available to Prague Mar to June due to high demand. Good to see but as you say all eggs in one basket!
Just hope someone else comes in to fill the charter gap if we do loose TUI or whatever they're called today. Still the market seems to be moving slowly avway from IT to "make your own holiday on the internet" Thats what I now do with Jet2 being my preferred way of getting there/back.

[Leodis]

I understand what you're saying HOODED and I know that the days when airports look towards achieving a 50/50 split between Scheduled and Charter are long gone. I am certainly not saying that the airport hasn't made any progress, which indeed it has, but mearly pointing out that the inclusive charter market from LBA has always been underserved. To simply maintain the present level of services shouldn't be as big a problem as it is made out to be.There will always be people who prefer to pop down to their local travel shop and choose a holiday over the counter. People shouldn't have that option taken away.

I totally agree on your point about Thomsonfly, they've made more U-turns than Tony Blair and Margaret Thatcher put togeather! But, to sum up, Leeds must attract more airlines and soon. Yes, it looks good to see a ramp full of Jet2 aircraft but god forbid, what if?

Leodis. Thomsonfly - The U-Turn airline