NEWCASTLE - 8
The FedEx flight has been operated by Air Contractors for years (Wikipedia is wrong... 
).
The Regional Air Connectivity Fund is a national fund available to airports with less than 5m pax - £17.5m available this year (and not for each airport
)
).The Regional Air Connectivity Fund is a national fund available to airports with less than 5m pax - £17.5m available this year (and not for each airport
)
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 772
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Easyjet is to axe its service between Newcastle and London Gatwick.
The budget airline, which offers 11 flights each way every week, said the decision followed a review.
It said: "The route will cease to operate from 27 March because passenger demand has not been at a viable level to maintain it."
Newcastle Airport said it was disappointed with the decision, but had secured a deal with Flybe for a London Stansted service.
Easyjet said: "We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
"We continue to serve the North East with 16 other exciting destinations across Europe, from Malta to Geneva to Rhodes."
Graham Mason, from Newcastle Airport, said that landing fees at Gatwick, together with air passenger duty, had had an impact on regional services.
He said: "Actually demand from the North East was strong, but it wasn't so strong the other way.
"We haven't just sat back, but have secured a deal with Flybe for a Stansted service starting in March, and will be looking at other possibilities."
The budget airline, which offers 11 flights each way every week, said the decision followed a review.
It said: "The route will cease to operate from 27 March because passenger demand has not been at a viable level to maintain it."
Newcastle Airport said it was disappointed with the decision, but had secured a deal with Flybe for a London Stansted service.
Easyjet said: "We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
"We continue to serve the North East with 16 other exciting destinations across Europe, from Malta to Geneva to Rhodes."
Graham Mason, from Newcastle Airport, said that landing fees at Gatwick, together with air passenger duty, had had an impact on regional services.
He said: "Actually demand from the North East was strong, but it wasn't so strong the other way.
"We haven't just sat back, but have secured a deal with Flybe for a Stansted service starting in March, and will be looking at other possibilities."
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 772
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Odd - also heard it on the Radio Newcastle news
Also -
Newcastle Airport voted best in UK (From The Northern Echo)
NCL does seem to be quite good at winning this sort of thing - this is an interesting comment from the article:
Also -
Newcastle Airport voted best in UK (From The Northern Echo)
NCL does seem to be quite good at winning this sort of thing - this is an interesting comment from the article:
The aviation industry has also been delighted with the performance of Newcastle Airport. Last year the airport was named the best base for customer service by easyJet, the best for on time performance by Thomas Cook, and the top performing base for 2014 by Jet2.
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Gateshead, UK
Age: 25
Posts: 1,168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Easyjet are making money, just not enough money to sustain NCL when they can make more money from Gatters utilising the NCL aircraft. Shame, but business :'(
If that quote is true its very interesting!
If that quote is true its very interesting!
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Gateshead, UK
Age: 25
Posts: 1,168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It is actually their smallest base if I'm not mistaken, it was a few years ago. That probably helps with customer service although NCL does get quite a lot of customer service awards among others.
I'm confused by Jet2's though, that one strikes me as most surprising as it would seem that would lead to some slightly more substantial expansion, unless it means best performing in terms of highest LF's in which case it's in their best interests to take it slow and steady.
When do the 2014 year end caa stats come out?
I'm confused by Jet2's though, that one strikes me as most surprising as it would seem that would lead to some slightly more substantial expansion, unless it means best performing in terms of highest LF's in which case it's in their best interests to take it slow and steady.
When do the 2014 year end caa stats come out?
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Miles from where I want to be.
Age: 39
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm pretty sure easy have similar small bases in NCE, TLS, OPO and SEN. I don't see why smaller bases are so problematic. I'd hazard a guess and say at least ten of Ryanair's are two aircraft bases and they don't seem to struggle.
Thing is with LGW the peak times are slot restrained with some first wave flights not departing until 0800-0900. This must have some impact on the efficiency of the based units at LGW if they're firced to sit on the ground for longer than needed.
What's the source of the quote EK77WNCL?
Thing is with LGW the peak times are slot restrained with some first wave flights not departing until 0800-0900. This must have some impact on the efficiency of the based units at LGW if they're firced to sit on the ground for longer than needed.
What's the source of the quote EK77WNCL?
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: On the flightpath
Age: 61
Posts: 355
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There has been some advertising here in North East England for the United New York Newark route, but I have been scouring the interweb for any signs of advertising in the USA for the route. Not found anything yet. If the route is to be a success, we don't just need North Easterners to fly on it; we need Americans to use NCL as their UK gateway of preference. But if they don't know about it, we're scuppered.
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Gateshead, UK
Age: 25
Posts: 1,168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
INeedTheFull90, reply #6091
I understand why EZY are ending the route, as you pointed out they are valuable slots; more money elsewhere; impact on efficiency etc. It's just a shame when it is a profitable route and when growth is so large. Just have to hope BE does well to STN...
If NCL ever regains it's flybe base, NCL-LCY could seem like a good shout with flybe's new lower fares.
EDIT: ConstantFlyer, I agree, this is an extract from what I posted on my aviation related page on Facebook on Wednesday:
"Good news, in that Newcastle will be eligible for the route development fund as all airports under 5 million passengers are eligible. Total of £56 million over 3 years, £17.5 million available this year. The airport has to make a submission but I see no reason why they won't since they lobbied for it to be increased to 5 million. Perhaps some of this money may go to supporting United, but according to a recent press release they are "very excited" about the Newcastle route and so far it is selling well (http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/...t-wait-8478411). I think they have the right idea, getting American's to the North East is arguably more important to long term success than the other way round. We all know Geordies want to head off to the States but the North East is less known across America (unfortunately - because they love castles and countryside and our beaches, hadrians wall, and Geordies themselves! So it stands to reason they'd probably like Newcastle and the North East as a place!). Even still, it would also be really nice to see some new routes from Newcastle as well so my suggestion is to inundate the airport and let them know what routes you want to see! They can afford them now! What's your wishlist?"
I understand why EZY are ending the route, as you pointed out they are valuable slots; more money elsewhere; impact on efficiency etc. It's just a shame when it is a profitable route and when growth is so large. Just have to hope BE does well to STN...
If NCL ever regains it's flybe base, NCL-LCY could seem like a good shout with flybe's new lower fares.
EDIT: ConstantFlyer, I agree, this is an extract from what I posted on my aviation related page on Facebook on Wednesday:
"Good news, in that Newcastle will be eligible for the route development fund as all airports under 5 million passengers are eligible. Total of £56 million over 3 years, £17.5 million available this year. The airport has to make a submission but I see no reason why they won't since they lobbied for it to be increased to 5 million. Perhaps some of this money may go to supporting United, but according to a recent press release they are "very excited" about the Newcastle route and so far it is selling well (http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/...t-wait-8478411). I think they have the right idea, getting American's to the North East is arguably more important to long term success than the other way round. We all know Geordies want to head off to the States but the North East is less known across America (unfortunately - because they love castles and countryside and our beaches, hadrians wall, and Geordies themselves! So it stands to reason they'd probably like Newcastle and the North East as a place!). Even still, it would also be really nice to see some new routes from Newcastle as well so my suggestion is to inundate the airport and let them know what routes you want to see! They can afford them now! What's your wishlist?"
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Miles from where I want to be.
Age: 39
Posts: 220
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ConstantFlyer - where have you been looking for advertising stateside? Are you in the USA now? And what kind of ads are you meaning?
EK777W - are you saying the LGWNCL route is not sustainable or the NCL base?
EK777W - are you saying the LGWNCL route is not sustainable or the NCL base?
Join Date: May 2007
Location: davenport IA
Age: 69
Posts: 410
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
route development fund
eck77wncl wrote
"Good news, in that Newcastle will be eligible for the route development fund as all airports under 5 million passengers are eligible. Total of £56 million over 3 years, £17.5 million available this year. The airport has to make a submission but I see no reason why they won't since they lobbied for it to be increased to 5 million. Perhaps some of this money may go to supporting United, but according to a recent press release they are "very excited" about the Newcastle route and so far it is selling well
the way i read this what you have written is that all the 56 million is for ncl. if you read it correct then the development fund is shared out between all uk airports. got my douts all will be used b4 the fund is closed.
"Good news, in that Newcastle will be eligible for the route development fund as all airports under 5 million passengers are eligible. Total of £56 million over 3 years, £17.5 million available this year. The airport has to make a submission but I see no reason why they won't since they lobbied for it to be increased to 5 million. Perhaps some of this money may go to supporting United, but according to a recent press release they are "very excited" about the Newcastle route and so far it is selling well
the way i read this what you have written is that all the 56 million is for ncl. if you read it correct then the development fund is shared out between all uk airports. got my douts all will be used b4 the fund is closed.
Join Date: May 2013
Location: Gateshead, UK
Age: 25
Posts: 1,168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Right I'm really confused now... It's 56 million over 3 years for each airport under 5mil pax... That doesn't seem like an awful lot, if we include Carlisle, that's 26 airports under 5 million and therefore £673,076 each for the first year and just over £1.48 million shared over the next two... To me that doesn't seem like a lot of money for the likes of NCL, EMA, LPL, LBA, LCY etc. It would be a more significant investment for CAX, NQY, HUY, NWI, MME and the like.
I'm not saying not to go for it but it doesn't seem as worth it as £17.5 mil
INeedTheFull90, of course the NCL base is sustainable, certainly! If anything I'm agreeing with you that NCL-LGW is less sustainable than other possible peak slot timed flights from LGW. I.e sustainable from the NCL end of things, but not the LGW side.
I'm not saying not to go for it but it doesn't seem as worth it as £17.5 mil
INeedTheFull90, of course the NCL base is sustainable, certainly! If anything I'm agreeing with you that NCL-LGW is less sustainable than other possible peak slot timed flights from LGW. I.e sustainable from the NCL end of things, but not the LGW side.
It's a £56m total fund that airlines serving any airports under 5 million pax per year can bid for - the first tranche is for £17.5m. They won't just get it, but will need to put forward a bid showing "net economic benefits for the region", so bucket and spade routes won't get it.
Bear in mind this is tax payers money being used to subsidise (largely) private businesses to generate an economic benefit at a time of recession and a massive budget deficit - the real world is going to come as such a shock...
Bear in mind this is tax payers money being used to subsidise (largely) private businesses to generate an economic benefit at a time of recession and a massive budget deficit - the real world is going to come as such a shock...