NEWCASTLE - 8
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: the lonely desert
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WOW are obviously trimming frequency to suit demand, better to retain the service than to loose it altogether. I thought NQY/PLH was more geared towards lesiure/VFR passengers, particularly during summer months.
Route Opportunities
NCL has been quite unlucky over the past 12-18 months, having lost a number of routes for whatever reason.
KRK, PRG, INV, PUJ, BUD, BGY, TRF, GWY, SNN have all gone with other routes suffering drop in frequency. Obviously with the credit crunch and economic situation affecting not just aviation, but other industries as well, is there any routes out there which are still possibly workable and profitable from NCL? Do we stand any chance over the next 1-2 years of regaining our top spot in the top 10 UK airports? NCL used to be compared to BRS in competition stakes, now BRS is far more successful or is bouyant the right word?
The area NCL seems to do well in, is charter with expansion from TCX and a growth in frequency to Turkey, with TOM, TCX, OHY and VIK/SGX all operating larger programmes.
Route Opportunities
NCL has been quite unlucky over the past 12-18 months, having lost a number of routes for whatever reason.
KRK, PRG, INV, PUJ, BUD, BGY, TRF, GWY, SNN have all gone with other routes suffering drop in frequency. Obviously with the credit crunch and economic situation affecting not just aviation, but other industries as well, is there any routes out there which are still possibly workable and profitable from NCL? Do we stand any chance over the next 1-2 years of regaining our top spot in the top 10 UK airports? NCL used to be compared to BRS in competition stakes, now BRS is far more successful or is bouyant the right word?
The area NCL seems to do well in, is charter with expansion from TCX and a growth in frequency to Turkey, with TOM, TCX, OHY and VIK/SGX all operating larger programmes.
Join Date: Jan 2009
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I really think NCL is screaming out for a connection to the US. Surely someone out there could have a crack at NCL-NYC with a 757 or similar.
Emirates has shown that there is a good market for pax and cargo on a long haul market to Dubai, so surely theres a similar leisure/business market. Even if it just ran 3 or 4 times a week it would surely be able to turn a profit.
But thats just my guess, i have no doubt that American and COntinental have considered it in the past.
RTG!
Emirates has shown that there is a good market for pax and cargo on a long haul market to Dubai, so surely theres a similar leisure/business market. Even if it just ran 3 or 4 times a week it would surely be able to turn a profit.
But thats just my guess, i have no doubt that American and COntinental have considered it in the past.
RTG!
Join Date: Apr 2002
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Not 2 Worry, Emirates Will Still Fly From Newcastle
Join Date: Jan 2009
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GrahamK
Any passengers flying on EK from NCL is a bonus...
They turn a profit on whats below the cabin floor, and I have heard this on VERY good authority. Apparently, they can make a healthy profit on that alone, even if there were no passengers in the cabin. Its the demand for freight which has led them (on more than one occasion) to consider an upgrade to a 777. The recent "cheap flights" drive is more to keep the pax levels up, which in turn earns them certain "favours" from NIAL.
Its not like anyone else is competing out of NCL with daily airfreight services!
RTG!
Any passengers flying on EK from NCL is a bonus...
They turn a profit on whats below the cabin floor, and I have heard this on VERY good authority. Apparently, they can make a healthy profit on that alone, even if there were no passengers in the cabin. Its the demand for freight which has led them (on more than one occasion) to consider an upgrade to a 777. The recent "cheap flights" drive is more to keep the pax levels up, which in turn earns them certain "favours" from NIAL.
Its not like anyone else is competing out of NCL with daily airfreight services!
RTG!
Join Date: Oct 2002
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to consider an upgrade to a 777
In the long term, NCL's turning point in terms of long haul routes could be when airlines begin to introduce the 787. Afterall it was made for long, thinner routes - just depends on whether the airlines will use them on such services. I'm guessing we'll get the charter boys in with them, but not sure which scheduled carriers may use them through NCL?
Thread Starter
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Newcastle
Age: 54
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Without connections to a major hub nobody will sustain a route to NYC so forget all about that, it's not going to happen. EK won't upgrade to 777 as someone else said until they have a 2 x 330 rotation and that's a million miles away.
As for route closures, some were doomed to fail from the off. Galway was at best a weekend or mid week break trip and no use at all to any business traveller and Shannon was only put on two rotations a week to get rid of Aer Arran, it's a common FR trick to shaft them and walk away. As soon as Galway was gone, SNN followed soon after. The EI flights would be a success if the timings were better for transatlantic connections but even if you are prepared to overnight in DUB the EI booking enging doesn't permin through ticketing so its a complete waste.
As for route closures, some were doomed to fail from the off. Galway was at best a weekend or mid week break trip and no use at all to any business traveller and Shannon was only put on two rotations a week to get rid of Aer Arran, it's a common FR trick to shaft them and walk away. As soon as Galway was gone, SNN followed soon after. The EI flights would be a success if the timings were better for transatlantic connections but even if you are prepared to overnight in DUB the EI booking enging doesn't permin through ticketing so its a complete waste.
Join Date: Feb 2005
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GrahamK Ref "EK"
I would have presumed that LF's in the 70's, although not ideal, were not an issue to cause panic at EK. Clearly the yield may be lower with offer fares, but in reality are not these offers along the lines of those adverised when the route was first introduced? also there is the factor of onward connections at DXB, and of course this is where it becomes much more difficult to identify the extent of revenue generation without much more commercially sensitive data. On another tack then I believe LF's have historically been at an imbalance at NCL between outbound & inbounds, thus is 75% an aggregation? & if so given the effects of the current ecconomic environment then although not good, could be worse, though there is never any room for complacency. What can be said with clarity is that "Emirates" now has a massive profile with the travelling public in the North East, something that required a great deal of time, effort and at considerable cost. There is nothing to suggest that there is a chance anytime soon of EK allowing this to compromised at NCL.
April loads were around 75% according to my calculations, and that was with a lot of special offer fares...
Join Date: Jan 2009
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With regards an NYC connection, surely if and when (and its a very BIG if and when) the exchange rates are a little more favourable, NYC (either through JFK with American, or Newark with Continental) would be a very good hub setup for connections elsewhere stateside.
I'd love to know how many NCL pax a week transit through CDG, AMS or LHR to cross the pond. Would there perhaps be a market even for a 757 on a triangular routing with somewhere like Bristol, Aberdeen or Cardiff?
I know there were rumours of Jet2 and Globespan having a go a few years ago. I think even American considered it, I just dont see what is holding a US mainline carrier having a go, the market is there, I really am sure of that!
RTG!
PS - I know AIr Transat had a triangular via Exeter at one point, but that doesnt really count!
I'd love to know how many NCL pax a week transit through CDG, AMS or LHR to cross the pond. Would there perhaps be a market even for a 757 on a triangular routing with somewhere like Bristol, Aberdeen or Cardiff?
I know there were rumours of Jet2 and Globespan having a go a few years ago. I think even American considered it, I just dont see what is holding a US mainline carrier having a go, the market is there, I really am sure of that!
RTG!
PS - I know AIr Transat had a triangular via Exeter at one point, but that doesnt really count!
Join Date: Oct 2006
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NYC route
I love all this, will they, wont they NYC talk
. Everyone working for NIAL who has just had the team brief from the senior management team already know the answer to the question your all asking .
Regarding EK 777. So close, so close.
Things could be a lot worse.
I love all this, will they, wont they NYC talk
. Everyone working for NIAL who has just had the team brief from the senior management team already know the answer to the question your all asking . Regarding EK 777. So close, so close.
Things could be a lot worse.