Eastern Airways

[Richard Taylor]

Chose the Saab 2000s over them. Embraers not considered suitable for T3 ops.

[BYALPHAINDIA]

If T3 turn into BE - It could be 'curtains' at HUY??

[pug]

Nah, it wouldnt, theyd take over the ABZ route and perhaps start others.... Alternatively another airline would do it!

[ADC2604]

Thanks for the info Richard

If BE did acquire T3, it would be a very mixed fleet. The Jet Streams are not part of Flybe's fleet strategy and it would be interesting to see how long they lasted.

It would mean more orders for Q400's in addition to whats already on the way, to replace the smaller props currently used on T3 routes.

[airhumberside]

HUY and any takeover

If BE took over T3 and dropped HUY-ABZ im sure City Star or bmi regional would be interested

It would be curtains for the offices/maintenance though and a big loss for the airport and the wider area. And the employees I would feel sorry for - especially those who have moved from IOM after BE shut down the BA Connect facilities there

[Ian Brooks]

A lot of the routes Eastern operate I`m sure could not sustain a Dash 8 400
The Saab 2000 might just be the perfect aircraft for thinner routes and very fast on the longer ones


Ian

[Venkman]

What substance can be provided to back up this rumour?

[spanishflea]

The Times article earlier in the week for a start. Doesn't take too long to figure out who the prime candidates are.

Would there be an OFT interest in a BE+T3 company though? The two together would have a huge dominance on UK domestic flying.

If the tie up did materialise I would assume the Saabs would go (too similar to the Q400) and the Jetstreams would remain as an independant fleet. After all surely the main reason for acquiring T3 would be to efficiently serve markets that are too weak to sustain a Q400?

[pug]

But it wouldnt fit in with the BE low fares structure would it? Would they have to run like now but under an umbrella company? If BE did buy them and rationalised the fleet most of T3's routes would be unsustainable and no doubt get dropped...

[markiss]

Takeover

I missed the Times article. What has sparked all this talk of a takover?

[ADC2604]

Hmm, taking into account other's observations I have doubts now that T3 are the target.......I heard BE had made them an offer but nothing confirmed.

Maybe, as someone has already said, its an airline outside the UK.

[Wellington Bomber]

All of the top brass at T3 hate BE, with a passion, hell would freeze over before RL would sell his baby.

The 2 airlines have nothing in common, different fleets, different markets and one makes money the other does not, unless supported by a bigger player.

E.G If it was a friday night and Flybe had 3 pax travelling from SOU / LBA would it operate, not a chance

Where as Eastern would, that is why business travellers choose Eastern ahead of BE. they will find you a way home even if they have to choose another route to drop in to another airport on the way

[ADC2604]

Wellington Bomber - Flybe would actually - not once has a flight been cancelled because of load factors....not in the time I have been there anyway.

But your right - there both quite different in their own ways.

[Richard Taylor]

Well, 10yrs (give or take) & counting for T3, so not doing too badly for an airline that started out with one leased Metroliner.

[DTVAirport]

and every one of those years has been profitable. Quite an achievement since they've successfully reversed every modern aviation trend!

[ADC2604]

I didn't think Eastern were considered a 'low fare' airline?

[DTVAirport]

They're not, they're a business class airline.

[ADC2604]

I thought that is what they market themselves as.

[Richard Taylor]

Which is why I would find it surprising that Flybe would be interested in Eastern, given the different business models & markets that the respective airlines aim for.

Anything's possible I suppose!

[birdscarer]

I thought that is what they market themselves as.

In a simular way to BE?