FlyBe - 6

[Tonyq]

Not many good news stories coming out of Exeter at the moment. More routes getting chopped, unused Q400's parked up, new ones queuing up in Canada that they don't seem to want/need. And thats before we think about 35xE175's that they are committed to!

I'd like to think that they are just freeing up resources for the big opportunity in Europe that Sir Jim has talked about many times, but in reality, it looks more like further retrenchment, which is not good news with all those shareholders looking on.

Somehow, life seems to have got much, much tougher for BE over the last few months.

[Cloud1]

Lets try not to scare monger Tonyq - I am sure you are much more closer to the mark with freeing up a/c for expansion. Flybe are still in a good position compared to many other companies of their size.

Some good news is that the BA Codeshare has been extended to a number of other routes in the BE network, the three new SOU-France routes are doing well and passenger numbers appear to be on the rise. Its not all doom and gloom just because the good stuff isnt being reported.

[Tonyq]

Oh Cloud1, you've obviously swallowed the Rutter book of Corporate Spin and BS.......

Seriously though, I enjoy using FlyBe, I believe I get good service from them, and with judicious planning and booking, good value for money too.

However, in relation to their stellar performance over the last few years, they do give the impression of going through a rather sticky, and definitely unplanned, patch right now.

However, if they do get back on track to a 100+ fleet by 2015 (as predicted in their prospectus), I'll be as pleased as anyone.

[Cloud1]

Oh Cloud1, you've obviously swallowed the Rutter book of Corporate Spin and BS.......

Haha, well that is the sort of reply I would expect. Whatever. However, I see absolutely no point in being negative.

Moving on...

[Tonyq]

I think if you read my whole post properly, you'll find very little negative in there - it is simply pragmatic, realistic and an honest, detached, assessment of recent events.

BE are clearly going through a sticky patch, and are taking several significant actions which were not envisaged at the time of the share sale just six months ago.

Naturally you'll support your employer, and as I said, as a very regular customer, I too want BE to continue to be successful, but it is folly to pretend everything in the the garden is totally rosy.

[mathers_wales_uk]

Well if they want to put a few planes somewhere come October there will be plenty of room over at Cardiff with bmibaby pulling out. Could this be the chance finally for a base at Cardiff?

Heart says yes but head says no

[brian_dromey]

Nope, not an LH miles&less cardholder at all (BD*G, actually).
I don't buy your story of flyBe being the customer champion you say. I was looking at MAN-DUS flights last week, flyBe had worse timings and were about £100 more than the already steep £400 LH return.
With LH I had a choice of flights, free baggage, complementary food and drink on board, a (tiny number given the fare) of miles, and all my BD*G benefits, including priority check-in, security and lounges. Of course I should have paid £100 more for times that didn't suit me, no miles, no perks and a miserable flight on a Q400.

[sawtooth]

Reported in the Irish media that BE are interested in the KIR-DUB PSO service tender (requirement for 90 seater 2 x daily), and KIR say they are discussing UK routes also, taken together that suggest a based aircraft if they were given the contract.

With BE dipping their toe with NOC-EDI, wonder if they see more developments in Irish market? Lots of opportunities for smaller e-jets or Q400 on routes no longer sustaining 738/320 into Irish airports.

NOC are seeking a hub connection to AMS/FRA and replacements for WW MAN. FR ending BRS and LBA this winter (though FR may keep them seasonal). All showing good loads for a smaller aircraft. WAT also looks like a good niche for BE with no competition?

[Deano777]

sawtooth

Can you elaborate on that contract please? Who is it for? Can you also tell me where PSO is? Google comes up with an airport in Columbia.

Thanks.

[cuthere]

Deano,

PSO is Public Service Obligation, a subsidy paid to an airline to operate routes which are seen as necessary for regional development, but are not commercially viable as it stands. The PSO subsidy for operating Kerry to Dublin is now being tendered for, and BE are one of the airlines who could possibly service it.

[Deano777]

ah ok thanks cuthere Maybe I need to go to the opticians, I thought that read KIR-DUB-PSO

[BHX2FRA]

BHA - FRA via MAN ???

Sat in FRA at the moment. Did the mid afternoon BE flight from BHX to FRA route via MAN? It was only a few minutes late departing BHX but very late arriving into FRA. Departure from FRA already two hours late - even though flight boards still show only a one hour delay. Flight to MAN from FRA cancelled so guess those travelling to MAN will be bussed from BHX.

I'm on the 2225 LH/BD flight so the 2255 arrival at BHX won't be far behind the 2030 scheduled arrival for BE.

[BHX2FRA]

I'm on the 2225 LH/BD flight so the 2255 arrival at BHX won't be far behind the 2030 scheduled arrival for BE

LH/BD actually arrived ahead of the BE flight: LH/BD due 2255 arrived 2312, BE due 2030 arrived 2320. There was a coach waiting outside the "old" T2, so think my hunch was probably correct.

[jpthomas72]

BHA - FRA via MAN ???

I was on the BE FRA-BHX once where we took-in all the MAN people, who were then bussed-away. One of the few I've been in which was properly full. Might speculate that the sudden chopping of BHX/MAN-FRA is not purely for revenue, but also some organisational reasons, i.e. short-haul at FRA enduring long waiting loops at lowish altitude (not good in a Q400) and approaching via Offenbach (or even Aschaffenburg ? ). They just seem more 'welcome' at DUS (biggest airline there is AB, not LH). We were once too late for the DUS curfue and 'had to go' to CGN (no curfue). Now that's a friendly airport for you. LH is so powerful at FRA, one wonders if there were things behind the scenes. FRA reshuffles a lot with the new runway.

[redED]

Well if they want to put a few planes somewhere come October there will be plenty of room over at Cardiff with bmibaby pulling out. Could this be the chance finally for a base at Cardiff?

Heart says yes but head says no

Flybe have been stung badly by the LGW base, can't see any new bases for a while, although it would make perfect sense, big hole in the market and flybe already operate a couple of through routes.

[JobsaGoodun]

Flybe have been stung badly by the LGW base

Stung how exactly? From what I can gather LGW reduced from two based aircraft to one? but I'm not sure this was down to anything other than the poor economic climate and Easyjet launching on DUS rather than this being a bad decision overall.

[Aero Mad]

This is how they got stung - a fee hike which affected them and Aurigny.

[JobsaGoodun]

True Aero however, Flybe remain the third largest slot holder at LGW behind BA and EZY so I guess the majority of routes (with the exception of LBA and DUS) still make a good return.

[redED]

I was referring to LGW as a base for aircraft rather than a destination. Easy now moving in on Nantes too. 15 FOs for 1 airframe (average typically 4.5/aircraft).

[DomyDom]

Ex-WW routes from MAN?

Any likelihhod of the A/C used for the now defunct Flybe slot MAN-FRA being utilised for an ex-BMIbaby slot from MAN?