IRELAND WEST AIRPORT KNOCK

[Kinocker]

Departures board for tomorrow on the website is looking good. Hopefully there will be plenty of local publicity for the launch of the Beauvais and Hahn routes in the next few days to help with bookings.

[sawtooth]

Summer schedule launched today, arrivals greeted with Irish Coffees and traditional music, and unusually for March - 20 degree sunshine!

Some of the management have been giving interviews this week to Mayo and Galway radio shows...

- 37% of outbound passengers were first time users in 2011, up 10%
- Still hopeful of evening STN service in "summer"
- LHR morning hub connection next goal, EI cited as the only obvious candidate
- AGP "haven't been able to secure"
- Discussing GLA service with carrier
- TA - "At least a Summer scheduled service viable in the next 2-3 years", but the US market remains challenging, and airport "cautious" in securing the right airline given the experience with the previous carrier.
- "Possible" ADF could be reduced in the future if they can grow to a level where they can offset the income.

[CabinCrewe]

NOC would work from GLA if it was the right carrier, frequency and aircraft- the last half hearted attempts were doomed and overkill (BMiB 737 !!??) from the outset. A Flybe Loganair Saab would be perfect. Though if current Flybe EDI loads are anything to go by... albeit on a larger Dash.

[Kinocker]

Interesting stuff from the interviews there Sawtooth

- Still hopeful of evening STN service in "summer"

Well worth a shot in the peak July and August months at least if there is an aircraft available. Would be interesting to see if airport users would be willing to pay a little extra to use a peak hours service, I would have thought that to London the answer would be yes.

- LHR morning hub connection next goal, EI cited as the only obvious candidate

Hard to see this one happening to be honest. Had hoped for a flybe to CDG as a hub connection but Ryanair to Beauvais has probably scuppered that, can't see two Paris routes working (one might prove a struggle).

- AGP "haven't been able to secure"

Would seem like a good charter route as there is no direct competition, presumably Ryanair feel they have enough sun capacity from Knock for now, they're probably right.

- Discussing GLA service with carrier

EIR perhaps - they seem interested in Knock judging by rumours regarding previous Birmingham plans ? Can't imagine flybe doing both GLA and EDI. To be honest I don't think the market exists for routes from both airports - I could be wrong and would really like to be but I think it might be best if it is just left at one Scottish route. flybe haven't even scheduled a summer frequency increase this year, which I think says a lot.

- TA - "At least a Summer scheduled service viable in the next 2-3 years", but the US market remains challenging, and airport "cautious" in securing the right airline given the experience with the previous carrier.

Who would take this on at the moment? EI - wrong aircraft, United and Delta are at Shannon. US perhaps? The best hope of this ever happening again would probably be EI narrowbody NEOs that could make the distance to Boston and NY, but that won't be for a few years at least.

- "Possible" ADF could be reduced in the future if they can grow to a level where they can offset the income.

Would probably take 1m pax per annum to be able to drop the charge - a long way off.

[PPRuNeUser0176]

. US perhaps?

They could only do PHL and that was dropped form SNN so would rule them out and agree with you LHR point.

Anyone have any info about which if any of the 4 new routes will operate all year with FR.

[Kinocker]

Anyone have any info about which if any of the 4 new routes will operate all year with FR.

I would guess it is undecided and will depend on how Hahn and Beauvais go over the summer. Bergamo and Girona are almost certainly seasonal routes. Gran Can was originally meant to be year-round but was switched to seasonal when it was realised that 3 winter Canary sun routes was too much. We probably won't know about these routes until the winter schedules are released in the coming months.

I see EI are looking to obtain extra Heathrow slots from BMI. Still a long shot for Knock though.

[Jamie2k9]

Travel Serivce Airlines will replace Aer Europa on chartered NOC-ACE.

ACE-NOC 11.35-15.55
NOC-ACE 16.50-21.40

[EI-A330-300]

This was tweeted by the airprot:

"Major US carrier to announce New York JFK and Boston Logan transatlantic services from Ireland west airport Knock shortly

[Kinocker]

It's after midday...

[cuthere]

EI-A330-300 This was tweeted by the airprot:

Quote:
"Major US carrier to announce New York JFK and Boston Logan transatlantic services from Ireland west airport Knock shortly

April 1st hopefully doesn't have anything to do with the above.

[PPRuNeUser0176]

As it from the airprot CEO would how joke about somthing like this?

[cuthere]

Indeed. It would seem silly, but why make an announcement like this on a Sunday?

Hopefully the date is just coincidence. It'd be stunningly good news for NOC, but when BFS struggles (at times) to support a Newark service, one has to question the likelihood of it being anything other than a poor gag.

[dog in park]

APD ! and a big shrine.

[CONAIR11]

I've heard better windups in the playground of a creche.

[dochealth]

NOC - LBA

Flew BE to LBA and return last week.

22 pax out and 26 pax back

Great service in nice clean a/c... hope it builds up to decent load factor over summer.

DH

[Mayfly1]

Let's be realistic this is highly unlightly in the current difficult climate especially on the north Atlantic. Re the tweeting I see it certainly has people talking about the airport and as they say it April fools day so I wouldn't read too much into anything today. Unless the airport releases a formal media statement tomorrow then my guess it's just the airport and CEO having a bit of fun on our account!
At least they have a sence of humour and we have to have the same

[sawtooth]

I see Europecar are offering a pre booked secure longterm parking facility now at their hire building next to the the airtport gates. Website quoting €8 p/d, €35 for 7 days compared to the airports €9 p/d rate.

Knock Airport Car Parking | Cheap Car Parking at Knock Airport

NOC often state how competitive their rates are compared to DAA airports, but never mention the private alternatives available at those, good to see some competition at NOC.

[EI-A330-300]

Liverpool reduced form 7 to 6 weekly for a few weeks in May.

[mart901]

Looking at the dep/arr page on the website is a far cry from the barren wilderness of a few flights a day it used to be. Does anyone know how well the new european routes are doing?

[Kinocker]

Yes it is really good to see. Although the small apron will come under pressure when there are delays at certain times with scheduling like this...

FR5721 14:40 FRANKFURT - HAHN

BE398 15:00 LEEDS/BRADFORD

WW1091 15:20 BIRMINGHAM

FR1742 15:25 EAST MIDLANDS


...it doesn't leave a lot of time to avoid one delay having a knock on effect onto other flights, especially as Knock tends to cater for an unusually high percentage of passengers with disabilities and special needs. Still a lot better than tumbleweed blowing around the place though!