EasyJet - 4
Some will recall that in March 2011, Easyjet closed the Stansted-Newcastle route after many years of existence.
I note that Easyjet still run a Luton-Paris CDG route, albeit with a few minor reductions since December 2009.
With the vast capacity, frequency and speed that comes from Eurostar trains and the (relative) city centre location of St Pancras and Gare du Nord, along with the ease of getting from the Luton area to St Pancras and the likely high charges at CDG, I'm somewhat puzzled as to how Easyjet make money on this route. London-Glasgow / Edinburgh by contrast takes well over 4 hours by train, compared to just 2h20 for London-Paris. Furthermore, unlike BA / Air France, there is no connecting long haul traffic worth subsidising
I know these are 2 bases, so this will help the profitability figures, but it still seems to be an anomaly for all the talk about deploying staff and aircraft to gain the maximum return on capital.
Can someone explain how this route manages to keep going ?
I note that Easyjet still run a Luton-Paris CDG route, albeit with a few minor reductions since December 2009.
With the vast capacity, frequency and speed that comes from Eurostar trains and the (relative) city centre location of St Pancras and Gare du Nord, along with the ease of getting from the Luton area to St Pancras and the likely high charges at CDG, I'm somewhat puzzled as to how Easyjet make money on this route. London-Glasgow / Edinburgh by contrast takes well over 4 hours by train, compared to just 2h20 for London-Paris. Furthermore, unlike BA / Air France, there is no connecting long haul traffic worth subsidising
I know these are 2 bases, so this will help the profitability figures, but it still seems to be an anomaly for all the talk about deploying staff and aircraft to gain the maximum return on capital.
Can someone explain how this route manages to keep going ?
Last edited by davidjohnson6; 3rd Jun 2012 at 17:45.

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Trains from Newcastle to Kings Cross are often much cheaper than a flight (off peak anyway) and it's a much smaller market. LTN's catchment area (even discounting London itself) is quite large and Eurostar is at least £59 return, often much more. So EZY can stay fairly competitive and still make money I suppose

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davidjohnson6
I think its fair to say that sheer movement of people between London and Paris is immense when compared to London to Newcastle.
Moreover, London Paris was traditionally the busiest International route inside Europe until we got channel Tunnel. Considering competitive pricing anybody living reasonably close to Luton, can conveniently fly to Paris with Easyjet. For the local catchment it could prove just as handy going by train.
Also considering the level of tourists in the market London/Paris, there is fairly good pool of people available.
Considering also the amount of flights withdrawn since Eurostar opened it goes to show the amount of demand was there previously for eg bmi withdrew 8 daily flights from LHR.
If I recall Go introduced STN NCL...
EI-BUD
I think its fair to say that sheer movement of people between London and Paris is immense when compared to London to Newcastle.
Moreover, London Paris was traditionally the busiest International route inside Europe until we got channel Tunnel. Considering competitive pricing anybody living reasonably close to Luton, can conveniently fly to Paris with Easyjet. For the local catchment it could prove just as handy going by train.
Also considering the level of tourists in the market London/Paris, there is fairly good pool of people available.
Considering also the amount of flights withdrawn since Eurostar opened it goes to show the amount of demand was there previously for eg bmi withdrew 8 daily flights from LHR.
If I recall Go introduced STN NCL...
EI-BUD

Paxing All Over The World
EasyJet set to close Madrid base - News & Advice - Travel - The Independent
Press Association report
Low-fare airline easyJet is proposing to close its Madrid base from winter 2012/13 but will continue to fly to the Spanish city from other bases. The budget carrier said it was reviewing options for its eight Madrid-based aircraft and 310 crew.

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Re MAD base closure!
A very sad day for all involved. Some very good people at the base and it will be a shame of they are unable to stay in the company!
I really didn't see this one coming and I don't think many other did either, least of all those at MAD.
Best of luck to all those concerned.
I really didn't see this one coming and I don't think many other did either, least of all those at MAD.
Best of luck to all those concerned.

If Easyjet closes its Madrid base, presumably this means Easyjet will no longer have any bases in Spain, while Ryanair has about 11 bases in Spain (even if some of them are pretty small) and Vueling has 6
Yes, Spain is going through a tough time economically. Yes, profitability and return on capital is more important than being macho with the most planes flying the longest routes. But this still indicates to me that Easyjet is signalling it's giving up on the core Spanish market (i.e. people living in Spain) and ceding the territory to Ryanair and Vueling.
Yes, Spain is going through a tough time economically. Yes, profitability and return on capital is more important than being macho with the most planes flying the longest routes. But this still indicates to me that Easyjet is signalling it's giving up on the core Spanish market (i.e. people living in Spain) and ceding the territory to Ryanair and Vueling.


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EasyJet - 4
Can we have those aircraft back at DSA then
oh n maybe give HUY a try ! . Only this time workable destinations and times !. On a totally side note I caught the back end of 'Airline' today on one of the sky channels I hadn't seen it before n it seemed recent . Leo looks way older now . Have they started making it again ?


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Sad day for the 310 staff or so at MAD, i wish them all the best in finding future employment within the Spanish economy which currently is not too great.
Well, the question is what to do with these 6 aircraft ? Do they expand current bases or create a new one or two ?
BHX as you say has been rumoured. SEN is more than likely up there as well. I would like to see a few aircraft at CWL if im honest. That place is dying for a UK based low-cost carrier that had brand recognition in the UK. Vueling haven't been doing too badly there, but they have had to build up their entire brand and customer identity from scratch. Something that EZY would have no problem in doing as they are UK renowned in the UK.
Well, the question is what to do with these 6 aircraft ? Do they expand current bases or create a new one or two ?
BHX as you say has been rumoured. SEN is more than likely up there as well. I would like to see a few aircraft at CWL if im honest. That place is dying for a UK based low-cost carrier that had brand recognition in the UK. Vueling haven't been doing too badly there, but they have had to build up their entire brand and customer identity from scratch. Something that EZY would have no problem in doing as they are UK renowned in the UK.

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It is 50 miles away. Far enough to run the two. Other airports are much closer together and both still go hand-in-hand.
Put into context, LPL and MAN are around 30 miles or so apart, BHX and EMA are around 40 miles or so apart. Both co-exist, although not all EZY bases you get the point
Put into context, LPL and MAN are around 30 miles or so apart, BHX and EMA are around 40 miles or so apart. Both co-exist, although not all EZY bases you get the point
Last edited by AirGuru; 21st Jun 2012 at 08:57.

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Quoted by Travelmole, one of the reasons given by Easyjet for closing the base at Madrid and reducing capacity was the rise in airport charges there.
"EasyJet said charges at Madrid had more than doubled in two years and would be subject to further above inflation rises in the coming years."
"EasyJet said charges at Madrid had more than doubled in two years and would be subject to further above inflation rises in the coming years."

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Hopefully not too many routes will be axed from Madrid. The following could still be served by the other bases:
Basel, Berlin, Bristol, Edinburgh, Geneva, Lisbon, Liverpool, London Gatwick, London Luton, Lyon, Manchester, Milan Malpensa, Paris CDG, Rome and Toulouse.
Routes which will probably be axed. Quite a lot of competition!
Amsterdam (IB/I2, UX, KL)
Bilbao (IB, FR, UX from October)
Bordeaux (YW)
Copenhagen (IB/SK)
Heraklion (YW)
Dubrovnik
Ibiza (IB/I2/YW, UX, FR, VY)
La Coruna (YW)
Mahon (IB/I2/YW, UX, FR, VY)
Naples (I2)
Olbia (YW)
Venice (IB)
Basel, Berlin, Bristol, Edinburgh, Geneva, Lisbon, Liverpool, London Gatwick, London Luton, Lyon, Manchester, Milan Malpensa, Paris CDG, Rome and Toulouse.
Routes which will probably be axed. Quite a lot of competition!
Amsterdam (IB/I2, UX, KL)
Bilbao (IB, FR, UX from October)
Bordeaux (YW)
Copenhagen (IB/SK)
Heraklion (YW)
Dubrovnik
Ibiza (IB/I2/YW, UX, FR, VY)
La Coruna (YW)
Mahon (IB/I2/YW, UX, FR, VY)
Naples (I2)
Olbia (YW)
Venice (IB)

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I stand to be corrected if needs be, but I was told this morning that all MAD routes are zeroed out from September, but that it does not mean all MAD routes are to be canned.
Sounds like some schedule jiggling might be being looked into. I guess things will become more clear over the next few days, but my feeling from this morning's chat is that MAN is not necessarily dropped for good.
Watch this space...
Sounds like some schedule jiggling might be being looked into. I guess things will become more clear over the next few days, but my feeling from this morning's chat is that MAN is not necessarily dropped for good.
Watch this space...

