Aer Arann
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Waterford was a ATR 72 last year but its being a 42 this year. Remember the days when RE busiest route and most profitable route was WAT - LTN. Serves RE right they destroyed there LON services and they clearly don't realize it and are not prepared to restore services at LTN and there SEN base has being scrapped.
WAT also has a passenger levy which is included in bookings (€7).
Ryanair clearly benefiting from RE moving to SEN. They increased DUB in August and with it only taking 90mins to travel DUB - WAT its quiet easy for people to use DUB.
WAT also has a passenger levy which is included in bookings (€7).
Ryanair clearly benefiting from RE moving to SEN. They increased DUB in August and with it only taking 90mins to travel DUB - WAT its quiet easy for people to use DUB.
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Combination
I think there are a combination of factors here.
Price - RE are expensive when compared to FR/EI/BD on London. So pop 2 people in a car and you are in DUB or ORK. Southend may end up working for RE - ie it's quieter and quicker to get out of. But the message isn't dropping yet that SEN is handy to get out of etc. The business guys will twig it quickly enough.
Regards
Shamrogue
Price - RE are expensive when compared to FR/EI/BD on London. So pop 2 people in a car and you are in DUB or ORK. Southend may end up working for RE - ie it's quieter and quicker to get out of. But the message isn't dropping yet that SEN is handy to get out of etc. The business guys will twig it quickly enough.
Regards
Shamrogue
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RE's declines at Galway and Waterford this year are quite staggering really - particularly at Galway:
Alot of Galway services have also been ATR42 compared to a 72 last season and then almost all Southend flights are shared between Galway and Waterford.
EI-SLN has also been painted in EI colours leaving just 72's REH/REI.
If I was a betting man Kerry will get a 72 when the PSO resumes with the second being based in Galway.
REX
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First off I've been a frequent SLF between Ireland and LON for the past couple of years, formerly almost always through WAT, more recently since SEN started, a combination of ORK/DUB, and WAT so feel qualiied to make a comment some of the recent posts here
Without clarifying if there has been a shift in frequency and/or aircraft type on these routes, it's unfair to give the Irish regional Airports the boot here.
.
A very small price to pay if it helps wean the Airport off the ever diminishing Government subsidys. PAX would not even notice this charge.
Particularly since SEN ops started, fares with RE compared with from LHR are I'd say 8 times out of 10 cheaper than EI. The WAT-LTN this summer on the other hand always seem to be priced at a premium and always seem to be full. The remaining WAT-LTN rotations badly need a 72 back regularly. RYR are generally cheaper than both by a small margin. The train or tube fare of course makes a huge difference to the overall cost.
Bang on, this is the unquantified 'elephant' in the caa stats.
If I can throw my 2 cents in this is my reading of things.
I don't accept its the fault of the regionals that pax numbers have declined. Practically every LHR-Ireland flight I take is almost full. This winters DUB-LHR schedule has A321 a plenty back in the schedule. With a chunk of the irish youth recently moved to London, it's no surprise there is still so much demand in the market.
Staying positive on SEN, it is very comfortable to transit through, rail station on site, professional and excellent staff who obviously have huge pride in the place. Great location for people working in the Canary Wharf and the City. They are also flexible with check in times when trains or flights have been delayed, something I doubt happens at LTN if the trains are a mess. Longer train trip probably not a factor for leisure PAX.
Negatives: Haven't yet "twigged" how easy the place is to travel from. Long way from London by train, same reason I don't like using STN. Sunday schedule is woeful, only trains every 30minutes from memory and journey time of 1hr plus. This coupled with a longer flight time takes a good chunk of your Sunday evening away. The earlier Friday evening departure makes it trickier to do a full day in work and get out to SEN in time.
Schedule was also better in the WAT-LTN good old days, the 0730 departure meant you could comfortable make a nonstop East Mids Train getting you to St.Pancras just before 10am. Almost all WAT-SEN departures are at 8am nowadays. Indeed travelling to LTN a few weeks back, the 3.15 flight had me in St.Pancras at 5.40. This is after eaving Waterford city at 2.30. I have no problem paying a small premium for that brilliant pace. Access by public transport from west, north, or south London to SEN is not the best.
In fairness to RE, I don't think people appreciated the excellent flight times on WAT-LTN the past few years. ThE schedule is nowhere near matched by KIR/NOC. NOC seems to have all their flights in a mid afternoon window.
Ideally once EZY get going in SEN next summer and fill the place, it would be great to see RE being able to up sticks fully back to Luton. Connectivity is so much better with multiple ways of reaching London by public transport. As much as I'm a fan of RE and put up with the 42's, its the added time and hassle of travelling to SEN that has pushed me back toward ORK and DUB flights. In a way I think RE are lucky that Flybe don't seem to have much appetite for significent LTN ops to date.
Galway routes - Jan-Jun 2011
Edinburgh <25%
London <27%
Manchester <26%
Waterford routes - Jan-Jun 2011
Birmingham <10%
London Airports <17%
Manchester <24%
...and these are on top of reductions in the previous two years also. It seems that the problem is at the base airports moreso than at Southend, the passenger levy at GWY can't have helped.
Edinburgh <25%
London <27%
Manchester <26%
Waterford routes - Jan-Jun 2011
Birmingham <10%
London Airports <17%
Manchester <24%
...and these are on top of reductions in the previous two years also. It seems that the problem is at the base airports moreso than at Southend, the passenger levy at GWY can't have helped.
WAT also has a passenger levy which is included in bookings (€7)
A very small price to pay if it helps wean the Airport off the ever diminishing Government subsidys. PAX would not even notice this charge.
Price - RE are expensive when compared to FR/EI/BD on London. So pop 2 people in a car and you are in DUB or ORK. Southend may end up working for RE - ie it's quieter and quicker to get out of. But the message isn't dropping yet that SEN is handy to get out of etc. The business guys will twig it quickly enough.
One think to remember is that drop to an ATR 42 has effected loads due to the drop in seats available, this has also reduced the amount of cheaper seats available.
Alot of Galway services have also been ATR42 compared to a 72 last season and then almost all Southend flights are shared between Galway and Waterford.
Alot of Galway services have also been ATR42 compared to a 72 last season and then almost all Southend flights are shared between Galway and Waterford.
If I can throw my 2 cents in this is my reading of things.
I don't accept its the fault of the regionals that pax numbers have declined. Practically every LHR-Ireland flight I take is almost full. This winters DUB-LHR schedule has A321 a plenty back in the schedule. With a chunk of the irish youth recently moved to London, it's no surprise there is still so much demand in the market.
Staying positive on SEN, it is very comfortable to transit through, rail station on site, professional and excellent staff who obviously have huge pride in the place. Great location for people working in the Canary Wharf and the City. They are also flexible with check in times when trains or flights have been delayed, something I doubt happens at LTN if the trains are a mess. Longer train trip probably not a factor for leisure PAX.
Negatives: Haven't yet "twigged" how easy the place is to travel from. Long way from London by train, same reason I don't like using STN. Sunday schedule is woeful, only trains every 30minutes from memory and journey time of 1hr plus. This coupled with a longer flight time takes a good chunk of your Sunday evening away. The earlier Friday evening departure makes it trickier to do a full day in work and get out to SEN in time.
Schedule was also better in the WAT-LTN good old days, the 0730 departure meant you could comfortable make a nonstop East Mids Train getting you to St.Pancras just before 10am. Almost all WAT-SEN departures are at 8am nowadays. Indeed travelling to LTN a few weeks back, the 3.15 flight had me in St.Pancras at 5.40. This is after eaving Waterford city at 2.30. I have no problem paying a small premium for that brilliant pace. Access by public transport from west, north, or south London to SEN is not the best.
In fairness to RE, I don't think people appreciated the excellent flight times on WAT-LTN the past few years. ThE schedule is nowhere near matched by KIR/NOC. NOC seems to have all their flights in a mid afternoon window.
Ideally once EZY get going in SEN next summer and fill the place, it would be great to see RE being able to up sticks fully back to Luton. Connectivity is so much better with multiple ways of reaching London by public transport. As much as I'm a fan of RE and put up with the 42's, its the added time and hassle of travelling to SEN that has pushed me back toward ORK and DUB flights. In a way I think RE are lucky that Flybe don't seem to have much appetite for significent LTN ops to date.
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On-line check in now availible for all flights departing Waterford.
Waterford Today - Waterford Airport New Online Check-In
Waterford Today - Waterford Airport New Online Check-In
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AER ARANN SUSPENDS GALWAY SERVICES FOR WINTER SEASON
(Wednesday, 12thOctober 2011) Aer Arann Regional is to suspend its services at Galway Airport for the winter season with effect from October 31st. The airline intends to operate a normal Galway schedule up to and including Bank Holiday Monday, October 31st.
The suspended Galway routes will be the Aer Arann Regional flights between the airport and London Southend, London Luton, Manchester, Edinburgh and Waterford.
Passengers with confirmed booking for flights after these dates will be contacted directly by Aer Arann about their travel options.
Booked passengers on all routes will be offered a full refund but passengers on the Manchester and Edinburgh routes will have a rebooking option, instead of a refund, on Aer Lingus Regional flights operated by Aer Arann from other airports.
“We sincerely regret having to make this decision and we particularly regret the impact that this will have on our customers, on our staff in Aer Arann Regional and on the staff of Galway Airport” said Paul Schütz, Aer Arann’s Chief Executive. “The reality however is that we are not yet a year out of examinership and we are not in a position to continue to operate routes that are not commercially viable.”
Aer Arann Regional has 35 flight deck and cabin crew based in Galway and all will be offered the opportunity to move to other Aer Arann bases in Shannon, Cork, Dublin and Waterford.
A small number of redundancies may arise, should some crew members not be in a position to relocate but it is Aer Arann’s priority to limit the number of redundancies where possible including the potential for staff to take unpaid leave through the winter.
The Aer Arann hangar facility and engineering staff at Galway Airport are not impacted by the decision to suspend services.
“My first concern is for our customers and our staff and we will be doing everything we can for them in the days and weeks ahead,” said Paul Schütz.
“Our staff have provided an excellent service to Galway and the West for many years and they have helped to build our reputation as a professional, safe and caring airline. Likewise, our customers deserve our thanks for their custom and remaining loyalty to us and to Galway Airport and we sincerely hope that we will be in a position to serve them again in the near future”, he said.
Aer Arann’s Chief Executive said that today’s announcement is necessary due to a number of factors that are outside the control of the airline.
“A number of issues have combined to bring about this decision but the biggest driver is the economy which has led to fewer people travelling and a significant reduction in fare revenues which is being experienced by regional airlines all over Europe”, Mr. Schütz continued.
“The emphasis now must be on sustainable services and by suspending loss-making services for the winter season both Galway Airport and Aer Arann Regional are doing what is best for both businesses at this time and we can work together on the potential for a resumption of services in 2012”, said Mr. Schütz.
In the months ahead Aer Arann intends to work with Galway Airport with the intention that a strategy be put in place for the re-launch of services from Galway at the beginning of the summer season in April. Aer Arann has committed to working in conjunction with Galway Airport to examine the potential for a number of routes from Galway to the UK and France.
(Wednesday, 12thOctober 2011) Aer Arann Regional is to suspend its services at Galway Airport for the winter season with effect from October 31st. The airline intends to operate a normal Galway schedule up to and including Bank Holiday Monday, October 31st.
The suspended Galway routes will be the Aer Arann Regional flights between the airport and London Southend, London Luton, Manchester, Edinburgh and Waterford.
Passengers with confirmed booking for flights after these dates will be contacted directly by Aer Arann about their travel options.
Booked passengers on all routes will be offered a full refund but passengers on the Manchester and Edinburgh routes will have a rebooking option, instead of a refund, on Aer Lingus Regional flights operated by Aer Arann from other airports.
- Passengers booked on flights between Galway and Manchester will have the option to travel instead via Shannon
- Passengers booked on flights between Galway and Edinburgh will have the option to travel instead via Shannon or Dublin
“We sincerely regret having to make this decision and we particularly regret the impact that this will have on our customers, on our staff in Aer Arann Regional and on the staff of Galway Airport” said Paul Schütz, Aer Arann’s Chief Executive. “The reality however is that we are not yet a year out of examinership and we are not in a position to continue to operate routes that are not commercially viable.”
Aer Arann Regional has 35 flight deck and cabin crew based in Galway and all will be offered the opportunity to move to other Aer Arann bases in Shannon, Cork, Dublin and Waterford.
A small number of redundancies may arise, should some crew members not be in a position to relocate but it is Aer Arann’s priority to limit the number of redundancies where possible including the potential for staff to take unpaid leave through the winter.
The Aer Arann hangar facility and engineering staff at Galway Airport are not impacted by the decision to suspend services.
“My first concern is for our customers and our staff and we will be doing everything we can for them in the days and weeks ahead,” said Paul Schütz.
“Our staff have provided an excellent service to Galway and the West for many years and they have helped to build our reputation as a professional, safe and caring airline. Likewise, our customers deserve our thanks for their custom and remaining loyalty to us and to Galway Airport and we sincerely hope that we will be in a position to serve them again in the near future”, he said.
Aer Arann’s Chief Executive said that today’s announcement is necessary due to a number of factors that are outside the control of the airline.
“A number of issues have combined to bring about this decision but the biggest driver is the economy which has led to fewer people travelling and a significant reduction in fare revenues which is being experienced by regional airlines all over Europe”, Mr. Schütz continued.
“The emphasis now must be on sustainable services and by suspending loss-making services for the winter season both Galway Airport and Aer Arann Regional are doing what is best for both businesses at this time and we can work together on the potential for a resumption of services in 2012”, said Mr. Schütz.
In the months ahead Aer Arann intends to work with Galway Airport with the intention that a strategy be put in place for the re-launch of services from Galway at the beginning of the summer season in April. Aer Arann has committed to working in conjunction with Galway Airport to examine the potential for a number of routes from Galway to the UK and France.
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Agree, difficult to see how services can return
in summer 2012 as AA would effectively be
reintroducing services competing with their existing
Shannon regional services. Also unclear as to how
services can be commercially viable next year when AA stated that
existing services are loss making, agree a sad day
for all staff at Galway airport.
in summer 2012 as AA would effectively be
reintroducing services competing with their existing
Shannon regional services. Also unclear as to how
services can be commercially viable next year when AA stated that
existing services are loss making, agree a sad day
for all staff at Galway airport.
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A Galway London service is probably still viable. Not sure about the others. Not easy bring sandwiched betwen two airports that have Jet Runways. Hope things work out in relation to 2012.
I totally agree with LTNman (now there's a first!).
It was a very poor commercial decision to transfer the GWY & WAT routes to SEN in March. The station was not open and didn't do so for another 4 months, the existing terminal facilities are poor and it was totally predictable that the runway extension would lead to the withdrawal of numerous approach aids. It would have been far better to wait until everything was in place at SEN (including the new terminal) and I can only assume it was pressure from Stobarts, who wanted to be able to announce that SEN was already attracting customer airlines, that caused this transfer of the routes.
On the assumption that GWY is planned to stay open after December I'm very surprised that the GWY-LTN wasn't maintained and, indeed, returned to a twice daily service with the SEN route being suspended for the winter. I would have thought that revenue and yields were pretty good on the LTN route - indeed wasn't it one of the best performing RE routes until recently?
It was a very poor commercial decision to transfer the GWY & WAT routes to SEN in March. The station was not open and didn't do so for another 4 months, the existing terminal facilities are poor and it was totally predictable that the runway extension would lead to the withdrawal of numerous approach aids. It would have been far better to wait until everything was in place at SEN (including the new terminal) and I can only assume it was pressure from Stobarts, who wanted to be able to announce that SEN was already attracting customer airlines, that caused this transfer of the routes.
On the assumption that GWY is planned to stay open after December I'm very surprised that the GWY-LTN wasn't maintained and, indeed, returned to a twice daily service with the SEN route being suspended for the winter. I would have thought that revenue and yields were pretty good on the LTN route - indeed wasn't it one of the best performing RE routes until recently?
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To generate traffic especially on the London route RE and GWY have to offer a definite advantage in time, convienience, service and reliability for their potential customers over SNN/NOC. Could this be achieved with the existing infrastructure? Possibly, if there are any small regional jets that can use GWY, but the economics may not fit. The 146/RJ7 was used a few years back to LCY and AMS, an excellent service but high cost aircraft.
The RE fares from GWY to LTN/SEN were already high relative to those from SNN/NOC, and if the breakdown was accurate some €50 was down to taxes and charges ex-GWY, which did not include the recently introduced €10 airport service charge, making RE's share of the total fare look very reasonable.
RE had to set up the SEN routes as part of the Stobart deal last year. The only way that a London service can be really attractive from GWY is to re-instate LTN direct at reasonable fare levels using a small regional jet able to use the existing runway at GWY.
Overheads at GWY could probably be reduced by using less ground staff more flexibly between the airline and the airport, but I am not sure what is allowed under current rules.
The RE fares from GWY to LTN/SEN were already high relative to those from SNN/NOC, and if the breakdown was accurate some €50 was down to taxes and charges ex-GWY, which did not include the recently introduced €10 airport service charge, making RE's share of the total fare look very reasonable.
RE had to set up the SEN routes as part of the Stobart deal last year. The only way that a London service can be really attractive from GWY is to re-instate LTN direct at reasonable fare levels using a small regional jet able to use the existing runway at GWY.
Overheads at GWY could probably be reduced by using less ground staff more flexibly between the airline and the airport, but I am not sure what is allowed under current rules.
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Sawtooth,
If those figures are correct that is very bad news. No luck with the link - comes back "page doesn't exist"
I guess the downturn is a big factor, SEN via WAT is not attractive, and with FR offering low fares from SNN/NOC and easy road access people are counting their pennies and going for the low cost option.
If those figures are correct that is very bad news. No luck with the link - comes back "page doesn't exist"
I guess the downturn is a big factor, SEN via WAT is not attractive, and with FR offering low fares from SNN/NOC and easy road access people are counting their pennies and going for the low cost option.