FlyBe - 6

[WHBM]

Originally Posted by wallp

Didn't Flybe try & fail once before at LCY; what's so different now to suggest it'll work, particularly at an airport where BA has such a dominant presence?

There have been, as stated above, several attempts at LCY-BHD over the years, and I've used them all from time to time whenever available. Flybe themselves were the operator around 10 years ago (it might even have been badged British European then), I recall a 146 once and a Dash 8 (the old type) more commonly. I also used the route quite a bit when Scot were running it under the Cityjet banner.

Consistently, loads were in single figures. The fact is that Northern Ireland does not generate the type of business traffic which wants to go to LCY, whereas places like Edinburgh do. It should be no surprise that there is different demand in different places, but having had these past experiences it just seems strange to repeat the service again.

[El Bunto]

There's a considerable number of biz-jet / biz-prop movements into both Belfast airports these days and a fair amount originates from London.

Not sure how a scheduled airline can compete with that, though, even using Lon City; they just don't have the flexibility to hold on the apron whilst a business deal is finalised.

For the calibre of employees who are still eligible to travel I think that flexibility beats frequency or proximity.

[Wycombe]

The colours in the background on the re-vamped Flybe.com homepage look spookily similar to me to those of SouthWest Trains (a Stagecoach Company).

Anything in that I wonder?

[MKY661]

On a side note it seems more E195's have been WFU this week

[stab3.5up]

If the rumoured be flts were code share with ba from lcy to bhd i would say they would be in with a chance otherwise a dead duck of a route

[Nextprop]

Despite a couple of errors, the 'new' Flybe brand and enhanced service offering announced appears to be an exceptionally positive move.

Their pledge to offer a £60 flight voucher towards another flight if a flight arrives 60 minutes late and in their control is an excellent innovation and should do much to restore confidence in the airline as with regards to punctuality.

[Climb_Out]

New Livery

Seems to have been leaked on Instagram.

G-JECY From the paint shop.

Instagram photo by @danarrow92 (Danarrow92) | Statigram

Instagram photo by @danarrow92 (Danarrow92) | Statigram

Another shot appeared on twitter tonight:

http://twitter.com/callumodonnell/st...871169/photo/1

[NickBarnes]

Certainly bright and distinctive

[GAZMO]

Next prop

I hope they improve their punctuality? I have encountered poor on time performance on regular trips from BHD

[CabinCrewe]

Not keen on that. Someones spent five minutes on Microsoft Paint by the looks of it.

[parky747]

New image but shame about the horrid Q400 props stay in fleet whilst E190 leave.

[BHD2BFS]

Think it's a great time for flybe now
Great new image
Great new concept
And great new management


Will the routes from Southend be announced tomorrow?
I assume LCY would be announced tomorrow also when they officially unveil the new aircraft

Also i wouldn't call the dash horrible, especially if they are completely renovating the interior

Some people are so negative for just the sake of it

[Skipness One Echo]

I assume LCY would be announced tomorrow also when they officially unveil the new aircraft

Unless they have BA strongly on side, going back into LCY again, where they lost an astonishing amount of money, owned by the same firm that runs LGW, where it's "too expensive" to operate, well look what happened to CityJet. Market leader to basket case in the few years since BA cold BACON and took LCY seriously.

[BHDflyer]

Looking at the top of the new look website it emphasises how flying to all these places is quicker than driving or the train... Really? I'm in awe of this!

Daily winners sounds good though. They should have a ballot to win cash and the proceeds go to charity. People would actually take part unlike the scratchcards on other carriers that nobody cares about

[cornishsimon]

On a side note it seems more E195's have been WFU this week

Any idea which have been WFU and where they have been parked ?


cs

[anne747380]

Flybe Fleet Details and History - Planespotters.net Just Aviation
Here you can see all the stored 195s.Great shame,loved these gorgeous jets

[Climb_Out]

Another image here, allows me to link in directly.

[EI-BUD]

So rumours about since last week of new LCY services to previous LGW destinations, now a suggestion that a big bang announcement of new services ex LCY, SEN (coupled with RE deal ) and a new livery/ imagery.

Best of luck to BE, but at best I'd describe the strategy as disjointed and make it up as you go at best. They have just exited one of their longest standing substantial routes, if they had a strategy of staying in that market for example, why is there a break in service? Exit LGW routes in March, customers migrate to other airlines and create habit, then as suggested they after a gap of 5 months re enter the market. Clearly after a business traveller at high fares ex LCY.

The suggestion of compensation for delays £60 etc, I'm not convinced that this is money spent wisely. Delays happen, I'd also suggest the airline has not diagnosed the reasons for its challenges.. It's not significantly about delays of reliability as far as I can see it.

[wallp]

It does indeed seem a strange strategy. Having a foothold in London is obviously key to the airline going forward so why leave LGW & to a lesser extent LTN with nothing lined up to replace it immediately?

A LCY operation, if true, represents a significant shift towards business travellers & presumably higher fares that often accompany LCY flights in comparison to other London airports.

Also, using LCY & SEN seems a slightly strange combination. Will a combination of both offer passengers something akin to what they were used to at LGW?

As EI-BUD rightly points out, by the time these new flights begin, regular passengers will have found alternatives, be that BA, easyJet etc so why go back to FlyBe? All in all, FlyBe's London strategy does on the face of it seem to be quite muddled.

[ATNotts]

It does indeed seem a strange strategy. Having a foothold in London is obviously key to the airline going forward so why leave LGW & to a lesser extent LTN with nothing lined up to replace it immediately?

Does the world begin and end with London????

Surely the new strategy of concentrating on major regional airports, with lower costs and because of less competition, better yields, is preferable to going head to head with all the majors in the London market.

Jet2 seem to be doing very well out of avoiding London!