Cityjet

[Steviec9]

Oh for the days when Antwerp from LCY was five rotations a day, one aircraft, every 3 hours frequency.

Or the halcyon days of the Sabena/DAT F28 service from LHR, Connectair/Air Europe Express/CityFlyer Express from LGW on the Sheds and ATRs and for a while the new kid on the block, VLM From a very quiet LCY with their ex-BusyBee yellow F50s. All this AND, for a while, the long running x2 daily Hoverspeed CitySprint coach service from London to Amsterdam, stopping off at Berchem station, not more than 10 minutes from Deurne. Oh the choices we had! Then came Eurostar - and a reduction in people travelling for business thanks to technology. Things change. A x3 daily turboprop service from London is now sufficient I think. Still interested to see what CityJet do with the route in the longer term.

[sitgetan]

The opening of the direct rail link from Zaventem to Antwerp Centraal with 2 trains an hour taking just over 30 minutes means that the increased choice (of origin) will often make BRU the preferred airport for a visit to Antwerp

[Steviec9]

Flight Disruption

What do you know? Switching to ATR ops with Danish Air Transport from Southend. Not every flight and not permanently - but an interesting development.

[WHBM]

In fact only for one week. I'm guessing they are having to do this while their new Danish ACMI contractor is getting their crews validated and up to speed on the LCY steep approach. Presume we'll have the ATR beating round the LCY circuit for a few days now.

[PPRuNeUser0176]

Papers reporting that Aer Lingus have said it's fine for WX to takeover RE. Perhaps a few of those new jets will get a Shamrock on the tail. May be completed by end of the summer.

[Una Due Tfc]

Originally Posted by EI-EIDW

Papers reporting that Aer Lingus have said it's fine for WX to takeover RE. Perhaps a few of those new jets will get a Shamrock on the tail. May be completed by end of the summer.

An expansion of the EIR model into Benelux, France, Germany...could be onto a winner if true.

[alserire]

Never used WX before nor LCY from DUB. Decided to give them a go. An hour late on the outbound and I'm sitting here now in LCY with a return departure time at least an hour later than scheduled. And based on flight radar and some rather irate people I've overheard this is not unusual. No point in being minutes form the heart of London if you're planes are constantly late. Pity too as I was considering giving them some connecting business as it would seem like a great hub. Unlikely to get repeat business.

[WHBM]

You're very unlucky. I've been using LCY multiple times a month for many years, maybe once a year I get such a delay, and never recall getting hit both ways in a round trip.


My colleagues using Heathrow to the same destination, however ...

[alserire]

Originally Posted by WHBM

You're very unlucky. I've been using LCY multiple times a month for many years, maybe once a year I get such a delay, and never recall getting hit both ways in a round trip.


My colleagues using Heathrow to the same destination, however ...

LCY not the problem. Seems very nice. WX the issue today. Carnage all over the network based on info boards. No issue with other airlines that I could see. Over two hours late in the end and several other destinations the same. The outbound was a comedy of errors with a gate change, aircraft and crew changes. A shambles. Pity. But you only get one chance to make a first impression. Might try BA to LCY next time.

Comment about it being not unusual refers to WX, not the airport.

[chuboy]

So it's your first time using WX but you also can say for sure they are notorious for their unreliability? Because your experience telling you this was not just a one-off? Hmmm...

[alserire]

I did not say they were notorious for their unreliability. I said that based on a little research and on listening to the comments of two gentlemen who flew them a lot and were not at all happy with their time keeping, that delays are not unusual. I also pointed out, in my second post, that they were badly late on any number of routes today and that as all other airlines were working fine out of LCY then the problem was clearly not with the airport. Now all of that's a long way from the phrase that you used.

WX 114 DUB/LCY is due at 10 a.m. The last five flights on Flight Radar landed at 10.21, 10.28, 10.14, 10.58 and 11.18. Now that's pretty poor. Not one even close to being on time.

Last three days WX19 LCY to Paris (Orly). Due at 11.25. Landed at 11.51, 13.27, 13.28.

Last three days WX126 DUB to LCY landing at 18.55. landed at 19.42, 19.26 and 20.58.

Four of the last five WX129 flights, the last flight of the day from LCY to DUB have been a minimum of half an hour late.

Now they are major delays, and a lot of them, and in a very short space of time. Monday (an hour) and today (two and a half) were the longest delays I have ever had. Maybe I've just been lucky. And that's over 200 take offs. So why would I bother with them again? DUB/LON is one of the most competitive routes in the world. I gave them a chance. They failed miserably. I was hoping to use them for connection flights in the future. Could not possibly trust them now. Being late once is one thing. Being even later on the return just loses you the customer.

[harriewillem]

All airlines operating LCY coming from west (more as east) are affected, the new arrival procedure is killing LCY (pax will swap operaor ans will see its LCY). On top BACF and WX (as well as other DUB airlines) are affected by enormous taxi times at Dublin.

This new arrival procedure (both BACF and WX inform pax in speech on board) will kill LCY.

[EI-A330-300]

One of the SSJ will be apending some time operating for Finnair next month.

[Curious Pax]

Finnair website gives more detail: Warsaw, Billund and Geneva routes from 15 August to 31 August

[alserire]

Originally Posted by harriewillem

All airlines operating LCY coming from west (more as east) are affected, the new arrival procedure is killing LCY (pax will swap operaor ans will see its LCY). On top BACF and WX (as well as other DUB airlines) are affected by enormous taxi times at Dublin.

This new arrival procedure (both BACF and WX inform pax in speech on board) will kill LCY.

Dublin taxi times didn't affect me either way as the initial lengthy delays started with planes originating that morning in London. And taxi times don't create delays of an hour or more of planes that are on time. It's my home airport and I've never been delayed that long.

What are the new procedures that are holding things up? No other airline bar WX affected yesterday. Indeed, and much to my annoyance, a BACF left for Dublin bang on time just at the same time I was supposed to leave.

[harriewillem]

Hi Alserire,

Im not doubting that your experience was ****.

However if you google "LAMP PROCEDURE LONDON CITY" enjoy the read! Again, nicely ment ideas, and it works on paper however in real life it doesn't... people behind desks )

Think this procedure kicked inn in march / april, and it is adding time to the arrival, special coming from west from LCY. All operators are affected by this.

If you like to read page 111:

http://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/...Statistics.pdf

[alserire]

Originally Posted by harriewillem

Hi Alserire,

Im not doubting that your experience was ****.

However if you google "LAMP PROCEDURE LONDON CITY" enjoy the read! Again, nicely ment ideas, and it works on paper however in real life it doesn't... people behind desks )

Think this procedure kicked inn in march / april, and it is adding time to the arrival, special coming from west from LCY. All operators are affected by this.

If you like to read page 111:

http://publicapps.caa.co.uk/docs/33/...Statistics.pdf

Thanks.

That looks like a lot of delayed aircraft alright.

Ultimately I'll not use them again. Probably won't bother with LCY either. Too many other options that have always worked smoothly for me in the past.

[22/04]

Merge points are slated to replace holding for many routings in the London TMA. Keeps traffic higher - more fuel efficient sequencing.

LCY benefitted from relatively direct routings before - LTN for example has suffered from a long slog from the south and west over LHR and out to Cambridgeshire for many years now except off peak, when the much shorter routing from Brookman's Park or the west can still be used.

[mik3bravo]

Originally Posted by harriewillem

All airlines operating LCY coming from west (more as east) are affected, the new arrival procedure is killing LCY (pax will swap operaor ans will see its LCY). On top BACF and WX (as well as other DUB airlines) are affected by enormous taxi times at Dublin.

This new arrival procedure (both BACF and WX inform pax in speech on board) will kill LCY.

Dublin taxi times can be lengthy if push back from stand at D to the papa's and bravo's for RWY10 departure particularly at peak, miss your slot - goodnight Irene, whilst pax flute about with carry on bags.

Having said that, I think it's not as bad as some, for example EHAM can be horrendous for the long excursion taxying to the hold.

[gavinhicks]

The Irish times is reporting 19 pilots at the lcy base are starting strike action over a row due to pay cuts and working conditions, however management has said its due to the opening of an Amsterdam base and the loss of overnight allowances to some pilots. anyone have more info on this, and also if cityjet has found any new operators for its new superjets