IRELAND WEST AIRPORT KNOCK

[Kinocker]

Very decent loads for the time of year given the sheer number of sun flights now available from Knock. Good recovery from Gran Can as well after some bad numbers before Easter.

447 passengers also travelled to/from Jerez in May.

[sawtooth]

ALC - 69% - 26 flights - 3404 filled out of 4914.
REU - 66% - 26 flights - 3283 filled out of 4914.
LPA -76% - 10 flights - 1443 filled out of 1890.
ACE - 86% - 8 flights - 1305 filled out of 1512.
TFS - 77% - 8 flights - 1170 filled out of 1512.

Good for May, would expect better numbers for the summer months. No surprised LPA improved, lots looking for some variety in holday destinations.

-----

Business Post ran a long interview with the airports manager this week, summarised the main points:

Interview Joe Gilmore

Cost cuts:
"The bitterest pill was a salary cut tiered from 10 per cent up to 30 per cent for senior management, and a major reduction in overtime. Gilmore credits his staff with recognising that the airport was fighting for its survival"

- Turnover dropped by 23 per cent
- Total operational costs cut by 15% since 09
- Full-time equivalent workforce fell by 11% over the same time
- Total human resource costs slashed by 19%
- Employee costs per passenger have been reduced by 20%
- Operational cost for every passenger has fallen by 17%

Routes:
‘‘What business people are looking for is a flight direct into Schipol or Frankfurt or Charles de Gaulle, or direct services on a small jet to Heathrow that would give them connectivity," he said.

- Gains in passenger numbers last year "obliterated" by the Icelandic ash cloud (estimated 25,000 passenger loss)
- The forecast this year is 646,000
- Leeds and Bristol, have load factors of less than 50 per cent
- Average London Stansted and Luton are "high - up to 78 %"
- Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham and London Gatwick are all in the mid 60s
- Wants to open routes into Germany, similar to Kerry airport’s Frankfurt and the summer Munich services into Cork

Marketing:
‘‘The tourism agencies have to be accountable to deliver certain targets and not just deliver broad-based objectives," he said. "Tourism Ireland doesn’t have regional targets for the west of Ireland. It operates on national targets.
People are coming to the west of Ireland regardless of the work of the tourism agencies, not because of it."

Future development:
- Ambitious plan presented to government for funding of €25million over the next ten years
- Would grow passenger numbers over 1 million
- Includes €6m to extend the number of aprons stands
- €3.5m to develop the arrivals to the same standard as departures hall
- RESA and runway refurbishment of €9 million

"Department of Transport analysis shows that, since 2000, Knock has delivered the second-highest return on Capex investment, in terms of increased passenger numbers, among the regional airports."

[Jamie2k9]

Ryanair Winter 2011/12 - back bookable

STN - daily
LTN - daily
LPL - daily
EMA - 3 weekly

[FR-]

Glad to see EMA is to stop with BRS and LBA both gone for the winter.

fr-

[LBIA]

Ryanair's Knock - LBA route should be back on sale tomorrow for the winter.

As it was announced today that the Knock route will be 1 of ryanair's 13 winter services from its LBA base this coming winter season.

[Jamie2k9]

I wouldn't think so as Ryanair say that LBA - FAO is not operating when it has being bookable for weeks. The table with the routes was probaly copyied from the other press relase and the two new LBA routes added to it.

[sawtooth]

May UK figures:

STN 8860 +17%
LGW 6376 -1%
LTN 5833 +42%
LPL 5440 +52%
MAN 4051 +2%
EMA 3832 +7%
BHX 3776 +8%
BRS 2700 +10%
EDI 1039 (new)
LBA N/A

[Kinocker]

EDI loads staying on the right side of 50% for May which is good to see. Some of the other loads are average enough though given that the ash cloud had a fair impact in May of last year.

When the scheduled and charter flights to Faro and all those charters to Lourdes are thrown in the total passenger numbers for May should end up at about 60,000.

Ryanair going back to daily on the Luton route for the winter means there will be a serious abount of Knock to London capacity on offer for the time of year, three return flights a day. Yet the timings are still hopeless for day returns - you would think it would make sense for Ryanair to at least put Luton and Stansted on at opposite ends of the day and let Aer Lingus do Gatwick in between rather than have all three flights running between mid-morning and early afternoon.

[sawtooth]

Yet the timings are still hopeless for day returns - you would think it would make sense for Ryanair to at least put Luton and Stansted on at opposite ends of the day and let Aer Lingus do Gatwick in between rather than have all three flights running between mid-morning and early afternoon.

LTN 11.25 daily
STN 13.25 daily (8.30 Monday)
LGW 15.45 daily

Last year there were at least early morning flights out. With the messing going on with GWY-LTN you'd think they would at least attempt to offer a viable alternative to users in the West. Late service on Fri and Sun would facilitate so many workers and weekenders both ways

Guess you have to be grateful for small mercies with FR, could have had both flights at 5.20am!

[Knock63]

It would appear that those in power at IWAK seem to prefer the "in between office hours" approach to flight times. Keeps the working day (wages) down to a minimum.

[Roll to the end]

It would seem that way Knock63, I guess they're main objective is to make the operation viable so perhaps its the airport to an extent is getting in the way of an early and late flight to Lon.

[iwak]

I would prefer to see man sorted with flybe than a double daily stn.

[sawtooth]

It would appear that those in power at IWAK seem to prefer the "in between office hours" approach to flight times. Keeps the working day (wages) down to a minimum.

Really, I was under the impression the airports have little input into FR schedules? If it was worth staying open for 10 pax on an ATR every evening surely benefits of a proper schedule to London and resulting growth is worth it.

It would seem that way Knock63, I guess they're main objective is to make the operation viable so perhaps its the airport to an extent is getting in the way of an early and late flight to Lon.

I know there the implications of longer operating hours with ATC, fire cover, met, staff and energy costs etc. CAT2 morning flights may also come at a cost. Does this imply shorter operating hours after PSO ends, or "tea breaks" like GWY?

[Knock63]

Definitely a shorter working day after the PSO has gone.

[Knock63]

Heard a rumour today that FR are going to take on the Man route when BMI step aside. It came from a good source. Don't know if it would be viable with them already doing LVP unless they think the footy fans could fill both.

[Jamie2k9]

It might happon but I think it wont. Would love to see Jet2 operate the route. They have B737-300.

[iwak]

Manchester is a well established viable route I think fr would jump at it .in the winter I think 4per week would be ample on a 738 however with a Flybe 195 it could be daily all year round which would be much more attractive to pax.

In saying that it would be good to see jet 2 at knock.

[FR-]

What based crew would do the NOC-MAN? EMA has the spare a/c hint hint dublin.

fr-

[sawtooth]

MAN was double daily in summer at one point, and offered a hub connection option from NOC. I'm sure FR appeal would draw a lot back to the route in terms of numbers, at the expense of LPL/LBA.

But I fear that would mean low frequency on the 738, WW were 6x733, but the route could sustain daily with a smaller carrier and make it more attractive as a hub connection.

[iwak]

I would imagine it would be a dub based aircraft if fr were to take the route. I think a flybe 195 with a 2nd dash 8 on certain days over the summer peak season would be a perfect set up. Here's hoping for flybe but I doubt fr would let this one go .