WATERFORD Airport

[Cabincrewifly]

There isn't must hope for WAT, even the BHX route is gone seasonal. Now only 1 based ATR 42. RE will concentrate on EI Regional for now, as long as the contract lasts anyway. Aer Arann only seem to be cutting back at smaller Irish Airports like WAT and GWY etc. Pity, as its so bad for the local economy. Its reported that EI Regional are to get another aircraft from summer 2012.

[EI-WAT]

If that was the case then why was the Waterford flight kept on when they dropped Galway? BHX I think has always being the lowest performing route at times but the fact it's gone to seasonal is more to do with RE not having the capacity to run the route with only 1 ATR 42 based in Waterford

[EI-A330-300]

If EI regional get another aircraft then it may be the repaired one from the SNN accident. RE are not flying all there own at the min and they are not going to come back to Galway so they still have a 72 for EI regional.

As said by EI-WAT RE can't operate BHX without a second aircraft based in Waterford. RE have yet to confirm if it will be back and if it going to restart then Kerry-Manchester will also and that may justifly a second aircraft based like there was for a week or two at the start of November.

If Aer Arann were flying to LTN full time then I bet there would still be a 72 based there full time or at least the summer months. SEN was RE biggest mistake (I know they didn't have much choise in the matter).

[mart901]

I asked about the BHX on the Birmingham forum and the reply was 100% RE will not re-open the route. I would think it could operate on about 3 days per week if the LTN and MAN flights we're properly spaced. I flew this week on EI-CBK and not quite sure but thought I heard the cabin crew saying to a passenger the aircraft was going to be refurbished, it looked in a sorry state in places with duct tape over one seat and another folded down and sealed off, fabric coming away on a lot.....such a shame as the service is so friendly and so far away from FR.

[irish laddie]

Does anybody see RE coming back full tilt on WAT-LTN. I ask more out of hope than expectation!

Agree completely with Mart's comment, the biggest asset on RE's books is arguably their crews.

[NABLAG]

The Waterford Airport CEO was on local radio recently and he was fairly certain that Birmingham was coming back for Summer 2012.

RE could also cover WAT/BHX by "W" with an aircraft from another base.

[mart901]

If the current schedule for SEN and MAN remains in place it leaves a gap on a Sat for Lorient. The LTN schedule was almost daily over Christmas and this could be put back into action for summer, it would still leave gaps on tue, wed and sat pm when a BHX could be operated, I couldn't see it being any less frequent. Alternatively the aircraft could do a W for MAN-KIR if LTN didn't run extra days. Despite all the moaing about SEN its really quick and easy to use, it can be quicker than LTN to get to from Cambridge because of the lack of motorway, nearly everyone that got off my flight headed to the train station at SEN so if that catches on it could do a lot better. Not every Irish descendant lives in North London.

[RE-tard]

There isn't must hope for WAT, even the BHX route is gone seasonal. Now only 1 based ATR 42.

I dont know where you have been for the last while but its been an ATR42 for nearly 18 months now. Nothing much has changed for Waterford 1 aircraft based there generally operating 4 routes.

RE will concentrate on EI Regional for now, as long as the contract lasts anyway.

Nothing new there either, EIR has been their baby since it was launched. PSO is the only think that kept the RE brand going. I was suprised with the RE Regional branding that never went anywhere, the only place its on is the website everything else is Aer Arann.

Its reported that EI Regional are to get another aircraft from summer 2012.

I hear its EI-SLM + another aircraft but with all the rumors seeing is believeing.

I heard the cabin crew saying to a passenger the aircraft was going to be refurbished, it looked in a sorry state in places with duct tape over one seat and another folded down and sealed off, fabric coming away on a lot

Have heard this aswell, the 42 fleet have had very little time out of the schedule over the years due to the PSO routes. Hopefully this wil give then another few years in the air.

RE Galway
All very quiet here, if there are going to be services Aer Arann need to give leadin time. Its the one thing that the leave to the last minute. Oh BTW were flying Galway to Luton tomorrow.... Galway could get W pattern traffic with no base but im sure the airport needs afew months notice to get staffing and equipment back up. Im really supprised that Galway have not pulled another carrier in yet. Luton and Manchester are both proven routes with high load factors. Edinburgh also performed good regardless of comments made else where


Birmingham to Waterford
As far as I hear no decision has been made in relation to Birmingam but I could only see it returning under one of the following scenaros and Aer Arann have to actually get off their arse to make it happen.

Waterford gets a second aircraft, can only see this happening if like above it operates a W pattern to Kerry or Galway as it would have to cover Birmingham and 6 other sectors to make it happen. Possibility but cant see this happening. Kerry Manchester had very good loads and it was madness for it to send. I dont know why the PSO aircraft did not cover this between its flights to Dublin

Birmingham covered by W pattern by EI Regional from Cork/Dublin. possibility but cant see this happening dont see Aer Lingus allowing their branding on this route.

Galway reopens and SEN or LTN is operated by a Galway based aircraft freeing up the Waterford base to cover Birmingham. No Galway announcements so I cannot see this happening.

Aer Arann change schedule to split operations
Manchester M-W-F-S
Birmingham T-T-S
It would be a sensible move so it wont happen.

Southend to Waterford
Southend loads are not as bad as people make, they are still lower than when Luton on the morning/evening slot but they continue to improve as passengers give it a go.

Regards

REX

[mart901]

Thanks for the info RE-tard. Indeed the aircraft I flew out on arrived into SEN from WAT with a full load and some flights are fairly busy like fridays. Have you heard are all the 42's going to have interior refits? It was RE's intention to replace them all with new 72-500's a few yrs ago. Apart from EI-SLM returning, in the event that GLY flights don't happen there was a 72-212 based there, I believe its probably receiving some TLC at the moment and who knows maybe an all green re-spray and interior refit! Lots of rumours flying about regarding EIR at BFS or BHD and SEN. Cork lost some EIR routes, thats another possible base for an extra aircraft.

[EI-BUD]

Oh BTW were flying Galway to Luton tomorrow....

Re-Tard, I'm confused was this a typo???

Lots of rumours flying about regarding EIR at BFS or BHD and SEN. Cork lost some EIR routes, thats another possible base for an extra aircraft.

Mart901, there were some rumours ages ago about EIR doing BFS BHX, outside of that I cant see what they would be doing.

Re Cork, what routes has Cork lost by EIR, Shannon lost Glasgow but Cork to my knowledge hasnt lost any???? Besides losing any 1 route would be unlikely to free up an aircraft for a new base.

[mart901]

ORK lost CWL and CWL lost a 3rd daily DUB flight I think as a result of lack of aircraft, possibly due to the SNN accident, can't remember now. Bear in mind ORK has lost BHD and DUB routes, the former being again down to lack of aircraft the case for basing another is there. The point about a second aircraft being available apart from EI-SLM is that the GLY aircraft will be free if they don't relaunch the routes, there was several of them, i.e. MAN, LTN, SEN, EDI.

[turas]

Cork-Southampton also gone I think.

[mart901]

Also in terms of BFS routes BHX could easily accomodate 2 daily rotations, ORK as previously mentioned, EMA, ABZ, CWL and who knows if EIR we're prepared to take on FR on DUB to BRS/ABZ would they take on EZY on a few routes?? MAN and maybe LGW or LCY for something totally different. I know the old argument about EIR being used as a feeder to EI transatlantic routes but its not all about that, a fair bit has to do with expanding EI's presence on routes that can't sustain A319+ size aircraft, for instance the SNN routes EIR run don't connect up to anything as such.

[EI-WAT]

I dont know where you have been for the last while but its been an ATR42 for nearly 18 months now. Nothing much has changed for Waterford 1 aircraft based there generally operating 4 routes.

Eh the 42 has only being based since they end of the summer so I don't know where your getting 18 months out of

[mart901]

Not totally sure about that, there was a 42 based there since ever the SEN routes started and WAT flights we're backed up by a GLY based 72 which routed most flights to SEN via WAT.

[EI-WAT]

No Waterford Flights apart from SEN we operated by a Waterford based 72 with a GWY 72 operating the SEN flights

[mart901]

gotcha, as in EI-REI and EI-REH one based at WAT and one based at GLY? So if only SEN routes from WAT we're served by a 42 what did the aircraft do for the rest of the day and how comes BHX for instance was operated by a 42 all summer?

[Jamie2k9]

Birmingham to Waterford
As far as I hear no decision has been made in relation to Birmingam but I could only see it returning under one of the following scenaros and Aer Arann have to actually get off their arse to make it happen.

Waterford gets a second aircraft, can only see this happening if like above it operates a W pattern to Kerry or Galway as it would have to cover Birmingham and 6 other sectors to make it happen. Possibility but cant see this happening. Kerry Manchester had very good loads and it was madness for it to send. I dont know why the PSO aircraft did not cover this between its flights to Dublin

Birmingham covered by W pattern by EI Regional from Cork/Dublin. possibility but cant see this happening dont see Aer Lingus allowing their branding on this route.

Galway reopens and SEN or LTN is operated by a Galway based aircraft freeing up the Waterford base to cover Birmingham. No Galway announcements so I cannot see this happening.

RE always confirm there summer schedule by late Jan. Would like to see BHX back and a 42 is much better for the route.

I also could not understand why they didn't do that with Kerry also.

Aer Arann change schedule to split operations
Manchester M-W-F-S
Birmingham T-T-S
It would be a sensible move so it wont happen.

That would be the sensible thing to do but I can see why RE would not do it.

T-T-S for BHX would not work. The Fri & Sun are key to making the route any way profitable. (SNN-GLA a perfect example, once it changed to T-T-S operateion it was dropped)

The ATR42 was based in Waterford all summer and a bit with that.

and CWL lost a 3rd daily DUB flight I think as a result of lack of aircraft, possibly due to the SNN accident

It was because of the new 3 daily BRS service from DUB.

[mart901]

As regards the BHX route revo posted on the BHX forum a couple of days ago that it would def not happen, based on what I dont know. In terms of a/c to operate it or anything else for that matter where have the a/c gone that operated LDY, GLY, NOC, CFN and Sligo gone?

[EI-BUD]

Sorry Mart901, in reference to routes lost at RE, the BHD ORK route and CWL is forever ago, I thought you meant routes lost recently ie in last or forthcoming schedule.