ABERDEEN

[Richard Taylor]

Just watched the final Air Baltic pass over my napper on - per Capt Doony's earlier post - presumably it's final flight. So not even a full summer term.

So frustrating... this airport just cannot hang onto an airline or route for any decent length of time.

So goodbye BT... will it be goodbye RIX?

To think Aberdeen plays host to the routes conference in 2015 as well!

[CaptainDoony]

I see that ABZ has finally got themselves on the routeshop so we can see exactly what routes they're after. A line of sun routes and LGW, but I notice Gdansk (EGPD-EPGD ) is one of them. I also noted that Wizz Air are growing in Riga with LPL, SVG among others being announced from there.

I wonder if the likes of them would have more of a chance with their low cost base and more suitable aircraft? I mean, pax loads haven't been too bad but presumably yields have so would an ULCC work better on the route(s) at 3-4 weekly?

Unlikely it will happen but wouldn't be the most ridiculous combination in history...

[Richard Taylor]

Given the airport's success in attracting a LCC/ULCC, I'm not holding my breath!

Why is LGW in the route shop? Do they know something about EZY's intentions that the public to date don't?

I think they've been looking for a Polish link since about 2007! The influx of Poles that produced a boom in Polish flights around the UK has now dried up &, in some cases, reversed. Maybe they've (again) missed the boat on that one, although I think the jobs market here seems to have kept a still sizeable population in Aberdeen. I think 2007 was when they surveyed to gauge demand for Poland - have they only just found the survey languishing in a drawer somewhere?

[ANYWHERE BUT ABZ]

Perhaps it's time to admit to ourselves the airport managers are and have been totally useless and if we expect nothing to be done we won't be disappointed

[CabinCrewe]

The influx of Poles that produced a boom in Polish flights around the UK has now dried up

Not sure thats true, Scottish figures for example on some Polish routes are showing month on month increases....with new routes/frequencies being offered.

[CaptainDoony]

CPH

Interesting to see that Cimber A/S will shut down at the end of W14.

They operate the morning and weekend rotations on the ABZ-CPH route. SAS have already upguaged the evening weekday service to the A319 from S15. Will the morning and weekend rotations be upgauged as well or??...

[bravoromeosierra]

SAS also have their own CRJs so they may also be a candidate for the route.

[ANYWHERE BUT ABZ]

In regards to the post about route shop seems incredible that no one has picked up Alicante or any other leisure destinations, if all 9 routes were picked up could add more than a million pax a year, can the terminal cope, enough parking stands especially international stands? Fingers crossed management get their fingers out and start attracting and maintaining airlines

[Joe Curry]

Leisure destinations are dictated by High Street travel arms and where their fleets are based. Unfortunately for ABZ and other Scottish airports, they are firmly entrenched in GLA. Ownerships of airports will not change this. Bums on seats might, let's hope there are predators out there bold enough to challenge
the high street.

[CabinCrewe]

If you believe that you'll believe anything. You've been going on about a high street travel agent conspiracy for years. Its a completely different market now and EDI (to which im sure you're unsurprisingly alluding to) has had new owners for some time now, yet you still feel aggrieved. Why dont you post the EDI specific CAA figures for Malta, Corfu, Tenerife, Cancun over the past 5 years comparing with 10 years ago and then remind us of your argument then. I think you'll find EDI has done very well out of it. ABZ doesn't have any simply because the population cant sustain it. They've all been tried and dropped over many years. You do the math.

[Joe Curry]

ABZ doesn't have any simply because the population cant sustain it.

If other airports can be bankrolled on the basis of where High Street fleets are based, so can ABZ?

[McTeir396]

I think the view widely held before the break up of the BAA that new management substantially changed the fortunes of an airport has been blown out of the water. GIP bought EDI and appear to have attracted a number of high profile new routes but look closely at there growth this year its not much better than GLA. Its even more interesting if you consider GLA only attracted a small number of new routes for S14. For S15 the old BAA management team at GLA appear to be having a good old year and so far have attracted an additional 1.5millions seats already and they still have a few months to go before xmas. So I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss the ABZ team as attracting airline's to an airport which competes with hundreds if other EU airports with larger city populations than Aberdeen must be very difficult.

[McTeir396]

Joe Curry stated that high street travel agents dictate where airlines locate aircraft. This really demonstrates a real lack of understanding of how airlines work and indeed airports. Supply and demand is what its all about its really that simple. Airports located in capital cities tend to attract more international services even if they are not the largest city in the country with EDI being a classic example. Airports like GLA which is located in the countries largest city but not the capital tend to support more of the home grown market as the city they serve are not so well internationally known. ABZ for the size if its surrounding population with two competing airports within a couple of hours drive does i believe remarkably well and will i believe continue to struggle to attract and hold airlines regardless of the management and the tour operators.

[Joe Curry]

attracted an additional 1.5millions seats already

attracting and filling are two different scenarios. ABZ has no such commitments, airlines would prefer a dark horse to one on rockers?

[Joe Curry]

tend to support more of the home grown market as the city they serve

In theory yes, but take the equations of propensity and means to fly and the theory tends to get derailed? ABZ serves a wealthy city, why shouldn't it punch above it's weight under new owners..?

[McTeir396]

Aberdeen punters have both INV, EDI and I suppose GLA in easy reach and with flights normally significantly cheaper from the big central belt airports in particular many travel south to catch a flight. Its pretty similar to what happens with the estimated 800k a year punters who travel from the central belt to MAN for cheaper flights. So as I said I believe they do remarkable well in attracting airlines which support the oil industry but getting a airline to base a fleet of aircraft to operate Euro routes will always prove difficult as the airlines will look at demand and yield and although they might get the yield I think the central belt airports will continue to entice Aberdeen locals south which will soften the demand on any EU routes. If EZY can base an aircraft in LTN and it can fly four Euro routes a day and get good yield and demand why would they put that expensive unit to ABZ to get two euro routes per day with good yield but poor demand. Simple aviation economics and new management will simply not make any significant change to its fortunes IMO.

[McTeir396]

Your are correct filling is a different matter, however given its now well known to industry insiders that load factors from GLA are among the highest in UK and with yield now matching or in some occasions beating its closest competitor I fully expect GLA to attract around 1m to 1.3m extra passengers over the course of next year which should see the airport back to handling around 8.6 to 8.9M per year which is a significant improvement for that airport. It should be noted also that ABZ has had the highest growth of any main Scottish Airport in the last year (8% in one month) so from where I sit both EDI and GLA would love that rate of growth.

[CabinCrewe]

With FR to blossom at GLA by all accounts, those percentage growth rates will not be far off...

[coatimundi]

When FlyGlobespan had an aircraft based in Aberdeen some years ago for Euro Holiday destinations, didn't they do quite well out of it? Certainly when I flew with them to ALC the load factors were always very good.
I don't think their demise was due to any poor results from ABZ.

[Richard Taylor]

Flybe

Airline boss pledges more flights from Aberdeen International Airport - Local / News / Evening Express

Will they this time?

Are there still rumours of a reopening base, or has this cooled?