Flyforbeans
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,758
Likes: 0
From: It wasn't me, I wasn't there, wrong country ;-)
FFB
Or the FFB bubble could burst then they'd squeak to go with the rest for a full fry-up. Sorry 'bout that but what the heck.
Arthur's little helper from the Valleys
PS Good luck to the FFB team, if no one tried then the Principality would have nil to talk about so stop slagging them off please. Nope I'm nothing to do with them.
Arthur's little helper from the Valleys
PS Good luck to the FFB team, if no one tried then the Principality would have nil to talk about so stop slagging them off please. Nope I'm nothing to do with them.
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,946
Likes: 0
From: Coventry
"you shouldn't judge the expertise in the company just fom the name!"
The name sucks, but the same could be said for several other airlines which are still with us - some of which might even be making profits.
But whatever they are called, I think there is good reason for healthy scepticism over what they are trying to do:
1) The 150 seat loco market is already very saturated.
2) B737-300s might be cheap to lease, but they don't offer much by way of fuel economy or green credentials.
3) Loco ultimately needs scale, but believing that this comes from a name which has great branding opportunities isn't the way forward.
4) Just because a route is unserved from CWL doesn't mean it should be served, or that it can be operated profitably.
5) As with most other European regional airports, there has to be more potential to serve thinner routes using smaller equipment - but again, there are already a fair few players here.
The name sucks, but the same could be said for several other airlines which are still with us - some of which might even be making profits.
But whatever they are called, I think there is good reason for healthy scepticism over what they are trying to do:
1) The 150 seat loco market is already very saturated.
2) B737-300s might be cheap to lease, but they don't offer much by way of fuel economy or green credentials.
3) Loco ultimately needs scale, but believing that this comes from a name which has great branding opportunities isn't the way forward.
4) Just because a route is unserved from CWL doesn't mean it should be served, or that it can be operated profitably.
5) As with most other European regional airports, there has to be more potential to serve thinner routes using smaller equipment - but again, there are already a fair few players here.
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 3
From: South Wales
Flyforbeans plans 12 routes from Cardiff Airport
11.06.07
Flyforbeans, the new budget airline to be based at Cardiff Airport, plans to launch cut-price flights from the city to 12 European destinations. The new budget airline predicts it will get nearly three quarters of a million passengers on the routes, which it hopes to launch this autumn. The new airline would create 100 jobs, 75 of which will be flight crew.
Flyforbeans said it has already secured investment, including support from Welsh investors, for its low-cost European airline business. If full funding and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) permission is secured, the airline will operate a fleet of Boeing 737-300 aircraft, each seating up to 148 passengers. The planes are used by many budget airlines, including Ryanair.
The airline is reported to be considering a flotation on London's AIM as one of several funding options. Managing director, Tim Lee, said Flyforbeans is also in the process of securing operational approval from the CAA to operate flights from Cardiff Airport to Eastern European countries, Germany, Spain, Italy and France.
Mr Lee said: 'This is a viable business model based just on Cardiff. We are a European jet low-cost operator, which is a model that has been proven time and time again with the likes of bmibaby. The routes we will be providing will be those not currently served by Cardiff Airport.'
However, Flyforbeans destinations will be in direct competition with several routes offered at Bristol Airport, as well as other regional UK airports.
Mr Lee said the long-term model was to establish other bases at airports across Europe and that the eventual aim at Cardiff was to increase the number of destinations from 12 to 20. He said: 'There are so many destinations currently not served by Cardiff and many places where we can fly. However, we don't want to grow too quickly. We will... add more aircraft when the funding and market conditions are right.'
'In the first year from Cardiff we are anticipating passenger numbers of between 600,000 to 700,000. On some routes we will be operating more than one daily service.'
************************************************************ ****************************************
To those that are saying that they don't have any funding
(They do have financial investment but not all the funding they will require to start operation. Flyforbeans has stated that they are considering listing the company on the London AIM to gather more funding.
Possible Routes?
******************************************************
I believe that Mr Lee shouldn't have any problem obtaining it's AOC from the CAA as he should have got the experience while with Air Wales.
Also the fact that BmiBaby base captain is leaving the company in order to fly for FFB is a strong indication that this venture is close to be finalized and for routes to be announced.
********************************************************
Does anyone know how long it takes for a proposed airline to gain it's AOC from application stage?
11.06.07
Flyforbeans, the new budget airline to be based at Cardiff Airport, plans to launch cut-price flights from the city to 12 European destinations. The new budget airline predicts it will get nearly three quarters of a million passengers on the routes, which it hopes to launch this autumn. The new airline would create 100 jobs, 75 of which will be flight crew.
Flyforbeans said it has already secured investment, including support from Welsh investors, for its low-cost European airline business. If full funding and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) permission is secured, the airline will operate a fleet of Boeing 737-300 aircraft, each seating up to 148 passengers. The planes are used by many budget airlines, including Ryanair.
The airline is reported to be considering a flotation on London's AIM as one of several funding options. Managing director, Tim Lee, said Flyforbeans is also in the process of securing operational approval from the CAA to operate flights from Cardiff Airport to Eastern European countries, Germany, Spain, Italy and France.
Mr Lee said: 'This is a viable business model based just on Cardiff. We are a European jet low-cost operator, which is a model that has been proven time and time again with the likes of bmibaby. The routes we will be providing will be those not currently served by Cardiff Airport.'
However, Flyforbeans destinations will be in direct competition with several routes offered at Bristol Airport, as well as other regional UK airports.
Mr Lee said the long-term model was to establish other bases at airports across Europe and that the eventual aim at Cardiff was to increase the number of destinations from 12 to 20. He said: 'There are so many destinations currently not served by Cardiff and many places where we can fly. However, we don't want to grow too quickly. We will... add more aircraft when the funding and market conditions are right.'
'In the first year from Cardiff we are anticipating passenger numbers of between 600,000 to 700,000. On some routes we will be operating more than one daily service.'
************************************************************ ****************************************
To those that are saying that they don't have any funding
Flyforbeans said it has already secured investment, including support from Welsh investors, for its low-cost European airline business
Possible Routes?
Tim Lee, said Flyforbeans is also in the process of securing operational approval from the CAA to operate flights from Cardiff Airport to Eastern European countries, Germany, Spain, Italy and France.
The routes we will be providing will be those not currently served by Cardiff Airport.'
However, Flyforbeans destinations will be in direct competition with several routes offered at Bristol Airport, as well as other regional UK airports.
However, Flyforbeans destinations will be in direct competition with several routes offered at Bristol Airport, as well as other regional UK airports.
I believe that Mr Lee shouldn't have any problem obtaining it's AOC from the CAA as he should have got the experience while with Air Wales.
Also the fact that BmiBaby base captain is leaving the company in order to fly for FFB is a strong indication that this venture is close to be finalized and for routes to be announced.
********************************************************
Does anyone know how long it takes for a proposed airline to gain it's AOC from application stage?
Last edited by mathers_wales_uk; 18th June 2007 at 21:17. Reason: remove link to the website
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 1,946
Likes: 0
From: Coventry
the airline will operate a fleet of Boeing 737-300 aircraft, each seating up to 148 passengers. The planes are used by many budget airlines, including Ryanair.
err, one small but fairly key point. Ryanair use an exclusive fleet of 737-800 aircraft, notably more efficient in terms of fuel burn per pax than a 737-300.And I'm still just not buying into the name I'm afraid.
If the implication is that beans = low cost, then how does this equate with:
For all employment enquiries: [email protected]
Mathers, I note that you provide an external link to FFB in your post.
Do you have an involvment with this airline, or are you just keen to see it shoot into the sky?
Oh - and just for the record, if you (or they) have funding to get started, that's great, will love to see the competition. Selecting viable routes, serving them with this equipment, and then making a profit and still being here after 3 years - I'm not so sure.
