PLYMOUTH -2
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: A different hotel to the one crewing told me...
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Groundhog and Mathers,
Sorry to come to this a little late but there are a couple of other points to consider on the economics of the LGW runs.
Firstly, the Q400 costs are significantly higher than those of the 300, and that includes leasing costs. Please believe me, a half full 300 will make less loss than a third full 400. Also Flybe have the extra cost of HOTAC/positioning crew for NQY, which is usually hire car.
I acknowledge your point about LGW direct, but in truth Groundhog there is always ultimately a compromise. You are benefitting at present from the fact that there are two carriers on the route. If Flybe succeeded in forcing WOW off the route you may still have your nice convenient service but you will pay significantly more for it, if previous form holds true. Ultimately, if the route doesn't pay it will be dropped or reduced in frequency.
I suspect Flybe would love a monopoly in the Southwest, but it is unlikely that in the absence of Air Southwest you'll ever see regional aircraft permanently based West of Exeter, so the local community will have to take whatever rotations route through NQY and be grateful, or else drive to Exeter/Bristol if they want to fly.
You pays yer money and takes yer choice.
Skybus are a great little company, but LGW is an awful long way in a twotter!
PS sorry for drifting the thread again, but the maintainance of a proper airlink for the region is important so wanted to shove my twopen'rth in.
Sorry to come to this a little late but there are a couple of other points to consider on the economics of the LGW runs.
Firstly, the Q400 costs are significantly higher than those of the 300, and that includes leasing costs. Please believe me, a half full 300 will make less loss than a third full 400. Also Flybe have the extra cost of HOTAC/positioning crew for NQY, which is usually hire car.
I acknowledge your point about LGW direct, but in truth Groundhog there is always ultimately a compromise. You are benefitting at present from the fact that there are two carriers on the route. If Flybe succeeded in forcing WOW off the route you may still have your nice convenient service but you will pay significantly more for it, if previous form holds true. Ultimately, if the route doesn't pay it will be dropped or reduced in frequency.
I suspect Flybe would love a monopoly in the Southwest, but it is unlikely that in the absence of Air Southwest you'll ever see regional aircraft permanently based West of Exeter, so the local community will have to take whatever rotations route through NQY and be grateful, or else drive to Exeter/Bristol if they want to fly.
You pays yer money and takes yer choice.
Skybus are a great little company, but LGW is an awful long way in a twotter!
PS sorry for drifting the thread again, but the maintainance of a proper airlink for the region is important so wanted to shove my twopen'rth in.
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: west of the tamar
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oapilot: Agree with pretty much everything you say, I have no idea what the comparison on hours/cycles is typically between the two airlines nor was I aware Flybe were putting crews in Hotac. I guess eventually one or other will give up the route then as you rightly say fares will return to the pre competition level whoever is left on it. It was always BA's most profitable regional route.
As this is a Plymouth thread after all...
As I have often said in the NQY thread, these small regional airports will always be limited by the small catchment area and must seek revenue from elsewhere to stay open. As controversial as it may be one decent centrally situated regional airport with a proper network of ground links to replace NQY/PLH,/EXT and maybe even BRS would be a much better bet.... the chance of that happening is the same as filling 747's from Plymouth even if you built a runway that stretched half way to Salcombe!
As this is a Plymouth thread after all...
As I have often said in the NQY thread, these small regional airports will always be limited by the small catchment area and must seek revenue from elsewhere to stay open. As controversial as it may be one decent centrally situated regional airport with a proper network of ground links to replace NQY/PLH,/EXT and maybe even BRS would be a much better bet.... the chance of that happening is the same as filling 747's from Plymouth even if you built a runway that stretched half way to Salcombe!
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Plymouth
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Plymouth On The Up!!
Plymouth is offically the fastest Growing airport in the UK. Up 34% on 2008.
That is great achievment for the airport. Hopefully 2010 brings mor routes and good news
That is great achievment for the airport. Hopefully 2010 brings mor routes and good news
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Blighty
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Still a pretty good growth story for Plymouth though, when you consider that every other airport in the South West is down. If you look at the CAA statistics for 2009, the "terminal pax" figure (so excluding transit pax) for Plymouth is up 17%. Then you look at the other south west airports, and it's a very different picture:
Newquay -19%
Exeter -17%
Bristol -10%
Newquay -19%
Exeter -17%
Bristol -10%
