EasyJet - 4
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What about SEN,with the lose of the belfast flight we have a gap for another destination, also anychance of a 5 based aircraft?
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Easyjet will operate LGW-JER 3x daily from 30 March 2014, but not LGW-GCI because of runway restrictions.
channelonline.tv - News, Weather & Information for the Channel Islands - EasyJet launches Jersey Gatwick service
channelonline.tv - News, Weather & Information for the Channel Islands - EasyJet launches Jersey Gatwick service
Join Date: Sep 2012
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EasyJet growth at Stansted?
I emailed Ms McCall of EasyJet yesterday regarding their network at Stansted, since it has seem some significant capacity cuts in recent years. I wanted to get to the bottom of what they are actually doing and what this "growth framework agreement" actually means.
I firstly made it clear I was not unhappy about capacity cuts as such, but instead at how they had completely axed such core routes like ALC, BCN and FAO and cut capacity by a massive 40% in two years by saying it was completely inexplicable to remove so much capacity so rapidly, regardless of what their reasoning is.
I told them also that regardless of current yields, I think they are losing potential customers (both future and historic customers) by moving traffic away from a major airport like Stansted to a smaller, more local airport like Southend. This is because I don't believe it widens their catchment area or gives greater coverage of the UK market as a whole, but in fact quite the opposite (undoubtedly it gives a greater coverage of the London and local markets, but certainly not the UK in general and the regions further outside the capital).
I highlighted that whilst significant reduction at Stansted may not be a problem now because of the current financial climate, it may damage future growth opportunities and customer loyalty, especially in the more distance catchment area that Stansted covers (Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Norfolk, Suffolk as well as parts of north/east London and parts of Essex more locally).
I also said that I was very disappointed that they had continued to downsize despite potential new opportunities and services the new owners MAG could offer to both EZY and their customers.
I even mentioned that a simple Google search for one of the axed Stansted routes eg. "EasyJet Stansted Alicante" shows a number of pages and forums expressing disappointment and inconvenience caused amongst people across a large expanse in the UK, and that it may harm EasyJet's image and custom in these areas if decline at Stansted continues.
I emphasised the geographical expanse and quantity of people who it actually disadvantages and said it is almost a right kick in the teeth to some loyal customers with a rapidly deteriorating choice and service available.
Earlier I got a response on Ms McCall's behalf, and this is what it said:
"Thank you for your e-mail to Carolyn. Unfortunately, Carolyn is very busy, however I can confirm that she has seen this and has asked me to respond on her behalf.
I would like to inform you that easyJet signed a long term growth framework deal with the Manchester Airports Group that own Stansted Airport in June 2013. The deal is worth an estimated GBP1.5 billion and we are planning to increase our capacity from 2.8 million passengers per annum to potentially 6 million within the next five years. This will consequently increase the number of aircraft operated from the current eight, as we recognise the potential of the airport and the region.
No decision and changes that have been implemented are made lightly, without considering the impact on our customers that build the foundation of our business. Customer Service and experience build our business model and we are always looking at ways to further increase our customer satisfaction. We pride ourselves on the level of service we offer, so naturally I was disappointed to read your feedback and comments.
Please be advised that the Scheduling Department are aware of this and the matter is being discussed internally. Our flight schedules are due to be released in September. You may follow this in order to find out more about new routes that we will be implementing.
I wish you a pleasant day."
It was not quite the response I was expecting as it was actually more encouraging than I expected. It seems to suggest that the growth framework agreement is perhaps more concrete than some of us thought it was.
It talks what looks more definitely about the number of passengers growing and consequently more than eight aircraft as they see potential in the region, and also interestingly that the matter is being discussed internally, which is a massive step in the right direction from when I last emailed them several months ago.
The response I got then which was before the growth deal was announced in June, just said that Stansted had seen increasing landing charges, further weakening EasyJet's yields and told me that they recognised that their response was "not what I was actively seeking for."
I still think 2014 is ambitious but it certainly looks a lot more interesting for 2015 and beyond.
I firstly made it clear I was not unhappy about capacity cuts as such, but instead at how they had completely axed such core routes like ALC, BCN and FAO and cut capacity by a massive 40% in two years by saying it was completely inexplicable to remove so much capacity so rapidly, regardless of what their reasoning is.
I told them also that regardless of current yields, I think they are losing potential customers (both future and historic customers) by moving traffic away from a major airport like Stansted to a smaller, more local airport like Southend. This is because I don't believe it widens their catchment area or gives greater coverage of the UK market as a whole, but in fact quite the opposite (undoubtedly it gives a greater coverage of the London and local markets, but certainly not the UK in general and the regions further outside the capital).
I highlighted that whilst significant reduction at Stansted may not be a problem now because of the current financial climate, it may damage future growth opportunities and customer loyalty, especially in the more distance catchment area that Stansted covers (Cambridgeshire, Northamptonshire, Norfolk, Suffolk as well as parts of north/east London and parts of Essex more locally).
I also said that I was very disappointed that they had continued to downsize despite potential new opportunities and services the new owners MAG could offer to both EZY and their customers.
I even mentioned that a simple Google search for one of the axed Stansted routes eg. "EasyJet Stansted Alicante" shows a number of pages and forums expressing disappointment and inconvenience caused amongst people across a large expanse in the UK, and that it may harm EasyJet's image and custom in these areas if decline at Stansted continues.
I emphasised the geographical expanse and quantity of people who it actually disadvantages and said it is almost a right kick in the teeth to some loyal customers with a rapidly deteriorating choice and service available.
Earlier I got a response on Ms McCall's behalf, and this is what it said:
"Thank you for your e-mail to Carolyn. Unfortunately, Carolyn is very busy, however I can confirm that she has seen this and has asked me to respond on her behalf.
I would like to inform you that easyJet signed a long term growth framework deal with the Manchester Airports Group that own Stansted Airport in June 2013. The deal is worth an estimated GBP1.5 billion and we are planning to increase our capacity from 2.8 million passengers per annum to potentially 6 million within the next five years. This will consequently increase the number of aircraft operated from the current eight, as we recognise the potential of the airport and the region.
No decision and changes that have been implemented are made lightly, without considering the impact on our customers that build the foundation of our business. Customer Service and experience build our business model and we are always looking at ways to further increase our customer satisfaction. We pride ourselves on the level of service we offer, so naturally I was disappointed to read your feedback and comments.
Please be advised that the Scheduling Department are aware of this and the matter is being discussed internally. Our flight schedules are due to be released in September. You may follow this in order to find out more about new routes that we will be implementing.
I wish you a pleasant day."
It was not quite the response I was expecting as it was actually more encouraging than I expected. It seems to suggest that the growth framework agreement is perhaps more concrete than some of us thought it was.
It talks what looks more definitely about the number of passengers growing and consequently more than eight aircraft as they see potential in the region, and also interestingly that the matter is being discussed internally, which is a massive step in the right direction from when I last emailed them several months ago.
The response I got then which was before the growth deal was announced in June, just said that Stansted had seen increasing landing charges, further weakening EasyJet's yields and told me that they recognised that their response was "not what I was actively seeking for."
I still think 2014 is ambitious but it certainly looks a lot more interesting for 2015 and beyond.
Last edited by FRatSTN; 28th Aug 2013 at 17:41.
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FRatSTN -
You do seem to have a bit of a downer on Southend. So -Easyjet have moved a few (3????) routes to exclusively operate from Southend instead of Stansted. I read a post recently - I think it was on SKYTRAX Airport Reviews - bemoaning the fact that the author now had to travel to SEN instead of STN to travel to Alicante (if I remember the destination correctly).. Well I would like to bemoan the fact that I have to travel to STN for certain routes when there is a perfectly good Easyjet base at SEN!! Trust me - getting the X30 bus from Southend at 0300 or 0400hrs is not cheap, convenient, or enjoyable!! Nor do I like the cavernous Stansted when I arrive there. Buy - hey - live and let live!!!!
I would imagine that SEN is always going to be a fairly small player in the overall scheme of Londons airports but - please - let us look forward to its expansion to full potential. I travel far more on EZY since they started operating from SEN and am very grateful to both EZY and SEN for the great opportunities provided by this expansion. The size and ambience of London Southend offers a much more pleasant travel experience than some of the other options. I am off to Amsterdam next week from SEN and am very happy to have this option. I did my time travelling to STN and -to be honest - I did not like it!!
Now - if Greater Anglia / Abellio could finally play ball with some extended early / late trains then that really would be the icing on the cake.
You do seem to have a bit of a downer on Southend. So -Easyjet have moved a few (3????) routes to exclusively operate from Southend instead of Stansted. I read a post recently - I think it was on SKYTRAX Airport Reviews - bemoaning the fact that the author now had to travel to SEN instead of STN to travel to Alicante (if I remember the destination correctly).. Well I would like to bemoan the fact that I have to travel to STN for certain routes when there is a perfectly good Easyjet base at SEN!! Trust me - getting the X30 bus from Southend at 0300 or 0400hrs is not cheap, convenient, or enjoyable!! Nor do I like the cavernous Stansted when I arrive there. Buy - hey - live and let live!!!!
I would imagine that SEN is always going to be a fairly small player in the overall scheme of Londons airports but - please - let us look forward to its expansion to full potential. I travel far more on EZY since they started operating from SEN and am very grateful to both EZY and SEN for the great opportunities provided by this expansion. The size and ambience of London Southend offers a much more pleasant travel experience than some of the other options. I am off to Amsterdam next week from SEN and am very happy to have this option. I did my time travelling to STN and -to be honest - I did not like it!!
Now - if Greater Anglia / Abellio could finally play ball with some extended early / late trains then that really would be the icing on the cake.
Join Date: Sep 2012
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Yawn!
You are one person who strangely enough lives locally so of course are going to prefer SEN.
You even complain about having to travel to Stansted within Essex!
Think about all of those who would have to travel past a major and better connected airport like Stansted right down to Southend because we no longer have the choice to use Stansted!
The truth is, very few people will. I have nothing against Southend, but it covers only a much more local catchment area.
EasyJet may well fill planes ok at SEN, but the people in them will be generally a lot more local, hence EasyJet has reduced it's catchment area as it seeks a way to increase yields.
And by the way, Fuerteventura, Madeira and Tallinn also no longer available from Stansted and massively less choice of flights to Malaga, Palma, and even city routes like Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Munich, amongst others!
You are one person who strangely enough lives locally so of course are going to prefer SEN.
You even complain about having to travel to Stansted within Essex!
Think about all of those who would have to travel past a major and better connected airport like Stansted right down to Southend because we no longer have the choice to use Stansted!
The truth is, very few people will. I have nothing against Southend, but it covers only a much more local catchment area.
EasyJet may well fill planes ok at SEN, but the people in them will be generally a lot more local, hence EasyJet has reduced it's catchment area as it seeks a way to increase yields.
And by the way, Fuerteventura, Madeira and Tallinn also no longer available from Stansted and massively less choice of flights to Malaga, Palma, and even city routes like Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Munich, amongst others!
Last edited by FRatSTN; 28th Aug 2013 at 19:20.
fatmed - who do you imagine would 'jump' into STN?
Why didn't EZY just fly to, for example, BCN from both SEN and STN and let the market decide which is the most popular route
Why didn't EZY just fly to, for example, BCN from both SEN and STN and let the market decide which is the most popular route
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If EZY pull routes from LTN where would that make the nearest considerable airport serving Yorks, E.Mids & W. Mids?
We are surrounded by Regional airports but non served by EZY.
We are surrounded by Regional airports but non served by EZY.
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If EZY pull routes from LTN where would that make the nearest considerable
airport serving Yorks, E.Mids & W. Mids?
airport serving Yorks, E.Mids & W. Mids?
Indeed, MAN has always been one of the (if not the) primary airport for much Yorkshire. Many folk in South Yorkshire particularly would never dream of using LBA. Despite some congestion at peak times, MAN is a very easy airport to get to by road together with good rail links.
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BHX are crying out for a EZY base and probably came close to getting one until the FlyBe slots at LGW were bought be EZY.
Hope I am wrong and BHX will still get EZY SOON.
Hope I am wrong and BHX will still get EZY SOON.
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surely if there were this huge potential from stn that ezy has thrown away then another airline would have jumped straight in?
Ryanair may have cut back as well (although nowhere near as much as EZY has) but they now serve Barcelona and Tallinn and have more flights to Alicante, Faro and Fuerteventura since EZY dropped those routes, but admittedly still not sufficient enough to cover EZY's withdrawal.
And Thomas Cook have added another aircraft and new holidays, where EZY's cutting back may have made it more attractive for them? Especially as Thomas Cook said this:
"We believe that this area of the country is currently underserved with respect of airport departures to holiday destinations and that demand exists to make our partnership with the airport a continued success."
Last edited by FRatSTN; 29th Aug 2013 at 20:27.
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Surely if FlyBe share holders are happy with the sell off at LGW, they would also look towards a mass sell off to EZY at BHX?? Thats my hope.
On another note: I would love to see EZY back at EMA, but thatll never happen: FlyBe are not doing a great job of time keeping at EMA with commuter flights. For example yesterday they cancelled the mid afternoon Glasgow to EMA flight, and then the evening flight was delayed by an hour. Much the same this lunchtime too.
On another note: I would love to see EZY back at EMA, but thatll never happen: FlyBe are not doing a great job of time keeping at EMA with commuter flights. For example yesterday they cancelled the mid afternoon Glasgow to EMA flight, and then the evening flight was delayed by an hour. Much the same this lunchtime too.
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Surely if FlyBe share holders are happy with the sell off at LGW, they would also look towards a mass sell off to EZY at BHX?? Thats my hope.
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Most of Flybe ex BHX are domestic or low volume France with a few major
European Cities. If you look at Manchester there is virtually no overlap
except Belfast and even they are different airports
Chaps
European Cities. If you look at Manchester there is virtually no overlap
except Belfast and even they are different airports
Chaps
Last edited by chaps2011; 31st Aug 2013 at 16:17.