DONCASTER/SHEFFIELD
They've spoken to KLM on more than one occasion, evidence of this can be seen on a competition commission enquiry into BAA, it was said that an agreement on fees with HUY was made and they decided not to leave, added to that i used KLM just before DSA opened and some marketing people from the airline at HUY doing some research into whether the passengers would be happy to use DSA instead, i heard later most said no. The contract was renewed not so long ago (when im told DSA had again tried to attract them away) so going by that information KLM do see that operating them side by side would be a problem.
The SZD route had good loads, yet it was a case of last in first out. HUY then had 6xdaily shuttle flights on an F50 at the time, but was cut to 4xdaily on the F70 after '9/11' (and has been the same since) and i would argue that SZD was in a better location to attract the Sheffield business passengers away from EMA and MAN. Therefore is there a good enough case for KLM to move in? I hope they do try it at some point, but i doubt it would be at the expense of their operations at HUY unless there is a serious break down in the relations or the yields have dropped off.
The SZD route had good loads, yet it was a case of last in first out. HUY then had 6xdaily shuttle flights on an F50 at the time, but was cut to 4xdaily on the F70 after '9/11' (and has been the same since) and i would argue that SZD was in a better location to attract the Sheffield business passengers away from EMA and MAN. Therefore is there a good enough case for KLM to move in? I hope they do try it at some point, but i doubt it would be at the expense of their operations at HUY unless there is a serious break down in the relations or the yields have dropped off.
Last edited by pug; 4th Oct 2010 at 23:57.
Now what the North-East could really do with is a carrier flying direct to a major US hub (Chicago, Minneapolis etc) with onward connections to the rest of North America. This would then save the drive to LHR or flights in the wrong direction to AMS. Slightly off the wall and a commercial gamble but I understand the Emirates from NCL to Dubai has been very successful in attracting pax bound for Asia and Aus. The facilities at DSA are available and the lenght of the runway has to make such a proposition viable.
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Nothing off the wall or a commercial gamble regarding Newcastle-Dubai by Emirates. They made a very smart move opening up the route. As for DSA-US no chance - the best DSA can expect is a KLM link to AMS 3xdaily with a F70 and perhaps a frequency reduction at HUY? Having said that they would find it tough going as I would be very surprised if HUY and DSA will work together for them. Similar problems exist for KLM in respect of MAN/LPL and NCL/MME. The days when it made sense to serve every dot on the map are disappearing.
Under the Governments spending review DSA has now been combined with NCL. Await outcome of review about LBA.
I posted an idea and have been shot down by Ian B and fj with no explanation- gentlemen would you care to elaborate? I said it would be a commercial gamble but DSA owners could offer a very lucrative deal to an airline and make the money on ancillaries - who knows I could be right - equally I could be wrong, but in business fortune favours the brave and this is something that neither LBA, EMA or HUY are offering ie something unique in a large catchment area - just cos any Easy to BCN doesnt work doesnt mean to say this wouldn't. Offer something different to your competitors and who knows? Remember 20 years ago Ryanair was a financial basketcase operating a few aged aircraft - this year it will carry close to 75m pax - mostly achieved by doing what everybody said was wrong...
As far as im aware Manchester has suffered recently with certin ong-haul routes. NCL worked very hard to attract a long-haul sceduled service once they had critical mass, Bristol did the same and has since lost its route. LBA are working very hard at attracting flights to a US hub.
Could there be a mass growth of low-cost long-haul in the future? In my opinion that would be a potential growth market for DSA, but apart from that i do believe long-haul scheduled flights are a non-starter. Im not sure how you can suggest that an inability to fill flights to Barcelona is not relevant? I think that is highly relevant!
Could there be a mass growth of low-cost long-haul in the future? In my opinion that would be a potential growth market for DSA, but apart from that i do believe long-haul scheduled flights are a non-starter. Im not sure how you can suggest that an inability to fill flights to Barcelona is not relevant? I think that is highly relevant!
niknak
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So why is EMA not offering long haul?
Brum offers long haul passenger flights, EMA does long haul freight.
For the same politics, many other competing airports are granted passenger rights whereas neighbouring airports concentrate upon freight.
Ask your local MP.
Pug - the crux of my argument is do something different - in marketing speak find a USP or unique selling point. You can get to Barcelona from just about every piece of concrete in the UK - but if you are the only one offering a hub service into the US people will travel from the catchment areas of LBA EMA and even NCL. Still a gamble though
I understand what you're getting at. What im saying is, do you not think the other airports like LBA are also trying to attract these routes? Hence highlighting just how difficult it actually is to attract a carriers interest in the regions. If LBA is struggling to attract interest then it would be even harder for DSA. I would certainly think that if it was possible then Peel/VAS would be going for it.
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I think its a very worrying time now for DSA. The loss of 6 routes with Easyjet and Aer Lingus pulling out, with nothing coming in to replace them.
There was a statement from Mike Morton to say that Wizz Air would be expanding, but this now just sounds like an off the cuff remark, as Wizz Air said they have no plans for expansion.
With the economic climate what it is, I just don't see a future for DSA. It cannot hang on to routes or attract new airlines.
There was a statement from Mike Morton to say that Wizz Air would be expanding, but this now just sounds like an off the cuff remark, as Wizz Air said they have no plans for expansion.
With the economic climate what it is, I just don't see a future for DSA. It cannot hang on to routes or attract new airlines.
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I think the best hopes DSA will have are:
-KLM comming in with 3 daily F70 operation
-TOM expanding their base, maybe add SFB back to the schedules
-AF/BE come in to CDG with their new codeshare operation
-TCX maybe base a unit or 2?
Apart from that, I dont see where else growth could come from? Jet2 seem entrenched at LBA/MAN/EMA, RYR seem to be holding off new UK bases for now, EZY has (will be) just gone, EI cant make DUB work and Euro-locos like Air Berlin/Vueling dont seem to like smaller airports?
-KLM comming in with 3 daily F70 operation
-TOM expanding their base, maybe add SFB back to the schedules
-AF/BE come in to CDG with their new codeshare operation
-TCX maybe base a unit or 2?
Apart from that, I dont see where else growth could come from? Jet2 seem entrenched at LBA/MAN/EMA, RYR seem to be holding off new UK bases for now, EZY has (will be) just gone, EI cant make DUB work and Euro-locos like Air Berlin/Vueling dont seem to like smaller airports?