ISLE OF MAN
Join Date: May 2015
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Thanks Tony G for your comments. Firstly to be clear I was only referring to the evening rotation of EZY LGW and you seem to agree with that fact at least!
The issue of underwriting is well documented but to be fair BA were on that route well before that. The fact that's it carries a premium is in part (my view not a fact to be fair) that not enough people use it so they push for a higher yield to counterbalance the passenger numbers. If a few more people were positive about it talked about the benefits of it a regular 3 times a day service sometimes 4 that is reliable has easy access to London etc etc then maybe just maybe a few more people would give it a go and BA could reduce the prices. As one forum member points out getting back to London at midnight after an arduous 4 hour journey on the late flight is no fun. Also the transport costs and time from LCY to central London are considerably lower and less than LGW to central London.
My point is for some strange reason most on this forum want to talk the service down which is beyond me we should do all we can to keep it going.
The issue of underwriting is well documented but to be fair BA were on that route well before that. The fact that's it carries a premium is in part (my view not a fact to be fair) that not enough people use it so they push for a higher yield to counterbalance the passenger numbers. If a few more people were positive about it talked about the benefits of it a regular 3 times a day service sometimes 4 that is reliable has easy access to London etc etc then maybe just maybe a few more people would give it a go and BA could reduce the prices. As one forum member points out getting back to London at midnight after an arduous 4 hour journey on the late flight is no fun. Also the transport costs and time from LCY to central London are considerably lower and less than LGW to central London.
My point is for some strange reason most on this forum want to talk the service down which is beyond me we should do all we can to keep it going.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Isle of Man
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OK - if you were referring to the evening LGW-IOM-LGW, then, I agree that time-keeping is poor, and it is particularly accentuated when the scheduled arrival is so late anyway.
I do just need to correct your recollection regarding BA's involvement with IOM-LCY. Yes, there was a previous incarnation on the route, several years ago, (it is too late to look up the exact dates!) but this was withdrawn entirely and only re-instated when the financial incentives were made available through local (IOM) business connections.
I do just need to correct your recollection regarding BA's involvement with IOM-LCY. Yes, there was a previous incarnation on the route, several years ago, (it is too late to look up the exact dates!) but this was withdrawn entirely and only re-instated when the financial incentives were made available through local (IOM) business connections.
Join Date: May 2015
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Hello I am not sure I agree with your recollection of the BA involvement with LCY. The route was operated by Aer Arann until April 2012 and then BA took it over in May 2012. At this stage there was no underwriting to my knowledge. They continued with the route until July 2013 when they moved the SAAB 2000 they were using on the route to set up a new DUS-LCY route. At that time they continued with the IOM-LCY route using an Embraer 170 albeit once a day mostly mid morning.
It was only after protracted negotiations and the efforts of a lot of people to get it back that they then reinstated a three times daily service with another SAAB 2000 that they leased from Eastern.
I still say at least the IOM currently get a reliable three times daily service with early morning and evening slots and it should be encouraged. Also worth noting that when needed because EZY shift there aircraft elsewhere for the summer BA put on additional rotations.
It was only after protracted negotiations and the efforts of a lot of people to get it back that they then reinstated a three times daily service with another SAAB 2000 that they leased from Eastern.
I still say at least the IOM currently get a reliable three times daily service with early morning and evening slots and it should be encouraged. Also worth noting that when needed because EZY shift there aircraft elsewhere for the summer BA put on additional rotations.
Join Date: May 2015
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I agree the once a day service was wholly inadequate which is why we must do all we can to protect the route. But even at a once a day service it was pulling in around 2000 passengers a month during the winter.
Join Date: Mar 2003
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IIRC correctly, VLM operated a "parking exercice"-like service from LCY to IOM (and JER) for a while. How did they do with their mid-day flight? (parking exercice = aircraft had a long turn around so as to stay away from LCY during off-peak hours).
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Isle of Man
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VLM LCY-IOM
I used that service around 10 times, the last occasion being in 2008 which must have been around the time it finished. It was great; full service, very punctual, newly refurbished (at the time) aircraft and very good fares. But it had very little publicity and, although it is long time ago, my recollection is of LF's around 40%-50%.
Besides the Monday to Friday day-stopper, which used to arrive in IOM around 10.15am and leave at around 5.00pm, there was a Sunday evening rotation from LCY at around 5.00pm, getting back there at around 8.00pm.
There was also through ticketing to the wider VLM network.
Besides the Monday to Friday day-stopper, which used to arrive in IOM around 10.15am and leave at around 5.00pm, there was a Sunday evening rotation from LCY at around 5.00pm, getting back there at around 8.00pm.
There was also through ticketing to the wider VLM network.
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: Isle of Man
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Wonderful people were VLM. I used them a lot; I even joined their FF programme. I emailed them saying their 5kg hand baggage limit was a bit small for a business type lugging laptop, paper etc around. They replied offering to give me a letter authorising the ground staff to allow me to carry more! I never took them up on it but it was an excellent demonstration of their great customer service. And then they got gobbled up by Citijet and the service to LCY ended.
Join Date: May 2008
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Another question of interest would be, if BA can't fill 50 seat aircraft, how are BE going to fill 78 seat aircraft, especially without benefit of connectivity over LCY?
Join Date: May 2008
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Considerably cheaper with lower flight frequency in order to make load factors work? Actually, I'm not sure it's possible to operate cheaply through LCY given the airport charges.
I can well imagine BE driving off BA before determining the route is not financially viable and leaving the IOM without a LCY route ---- once again.
I can well imagine BE driving off BA before determining the route is not financially viable and leaving the IOM without a LCY route ---- once again.
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Somewhere in the Irish Sea
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The IOM Govt has to step in to stop this and get rid of Open Skies. I use this route very frequently and the last thing that I and many others on this route would want is for the purple shower to be left as the sole operator on this route. I do everything I can to avoid Flybe as they are just unreliable either through delay or cancellation.
Please tell me this a is a wind up - is there an official announcement?
If BA pull out they will pull out soon after and leave STN (which is a dump and a pain to transit through these days) as the only London option other than EZY service to LGW.
Please tell me this a is a wind up - is there an official announcement?
If BA pull out they will pull out soon after and leave STN (which is a dump and a pain to transit through these days) as the only London option other than EZY service to LGW.
Join Date: Apr 2001
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IOM Service
You still could have a good service with an aircraft based in IOM for services to the UK. I met up a few years ago with a proposal, but the apathy shown by your head of the Aviation Dept and Ronaldsway Airport led to nothing happening.
The government gives out over a million to carry on the hospital service to fly be, put a levy on the private biz jets registered on the Manx Registry and you would have enough money to operate 1 aircraft for 12 months, without the treasury putting its hand in or to take money away from other services.
The island has a wealth of experienced guys ie Terry Liddiard, that could lead to a successful small Airline serving the people on vital routes to the UK
The government gives out over a million to carry on the hospital service to fly be, put a levy on the private biz jets registered on the Manx Registry and you would have enough money to operate 1 aircraft for 12 months, without the treasury putting its hand in or to take money away from other services.
The island has a wealth of experienced guys ie Terry Liddiard, that could lead to a successful small Airline serving the people on vital routes to the UK
Join Date: May 2015
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Worth checking the punctuality of the evening EZY service to IOM this week. Shocking service and consistently an hour later than planned schedule. As I have said on this forum before people should recognise the quality of the LCY service and encourage as many people as possible to use it. Also worth checking out the costs as a lot of people on here seem to think this route is niche and carries a huge premium. I typed in a random date in September leaving London returning from IOM and found a difference of £24 between EZY and BA by the time you have factored in the £34 train fare from Gatwick. And for that you get an extremely reliable service free refreshments on board and baggage allowance. The transit time is also greatly reduced you can be at the gate in my experience within 10 minutes if anyone can do that at Gatwick or Stansted I will eat my hat! Lets encourage people to use it and keep it going!