EasyJet - 4

[Mr A Tis]

Shed made the point much better than myself. The SE are "spoilt" for choice with cross channel access. The only Loco flight to Ostend was indeed by RYR from Stansted.
I did the flight from MAN to Ostend in a Laker 1-11 in 45 minutes back in 1975.
I've been through Charleroi & I'd rather connect to Belgium /Europe via Ostend.
It's a rotation that could be squeezed into a schedule & probably relatively cheaply too.

[racedo]

I've been through Charleroi & I'd rather connect to Belgium /Europe via Ostend.
It's a rotation that could be squeezed into a schedule & probably relatively cheaply too.

I see little if any likelihood of anybody doing it.

You need to sell 140 seats per flight e/w to make it interesting.

Some flights are nice in theory but just not practical.

[Shed-on-a-Pole]

Just Not Practical?

Maybe, but Bruges has established short-break appeal well in excess of several destinations which do consistently fill 140+ seats for EZY and RYR. The well-known attractions of Bruges itself, and the historical interest in the nearby [Ypres/Iepers] WW1 battlefields (particularly in this important anniversary year) drive a steady market. Of course, 2014-2018 will see a sequence of important WW1 Centenaries which should prompt additional tourist interest. Ghent and the coastal resorts near Ostend are also attractive options for visitors, if less well known.

Given that RYR/EZY have successfully generated tourism booms to some quite surprising citybreak destinations, there is no reason why the area surrounding an established favourite such as Bruges cannot perform at least as well.

[WHBM]

Originally Posted by davidjohnson6

Ryanair tried Ostend about 10 years ago.
From MAN + EDI, Ryanair already fly to Charleroi. Would Ostend be significantly easier to reach from Brussels in comparison ?

Eurostar has scooped up much of the Belgian provincial demand by an arrangement with the Belgian railways that a Eurostar ticket from London to Brussels also allows free connections to/from anywhere else in Belgium. It's a small country and most places have frequent trains taking only an hour, or little more, from Brussels main station. I understand it's quite widely used.

Because this has taken so much of the potential demand, especially from the Belgian end, it really impacts the likely air service demand at other Belgian points.

[james170969]

Yes, but to travel by train from Edinburgh or Manchester to Ostend involves two train changes and a change of stations as there are no Eurostar services north of London. I travelled from Irvine to Ostend by train a couple of years ago. The journey took about 15 hours start to finish. Even the journey from Charleroi Airport took several hours with most of my time spent waiting on my next connection. I would definately fly into Ostend given the chance and probably go there more frequently if the journey was much less arduous. However, I don't know how sucessful a low cost point to point service would be.

[johnnychips]

The fare from anywhere in the UK by Eurostar to Brussels is, in fact, less than the fare to 'Any Belgian Station', but only by a few pounds.

Since Eurostar has moved to St Pancras, it is much more attractive to potential northern fliers, as it taps the market from the East Midlands and Sheffield (trains arrive the same station); Leeds and Newcastle (5 mins walk from Kings X); and Birmingham and the North-West (10 mins tube from Euston).

It also arrives an Brussels South station, which, though not ideal, is a great deal more central than Zaventem. It is supposed to be a pig to get on the bus from Charleroi to Brussels, and the more civilised alternative by taking a local bus and a train takes a while.

Oostende airport is not in the centre of Oostende, so that's another bus ride.

My favorite airport in Europe, Antwerpen, is too near to Zaventem to attract enough flights except for London City.

So it's Eurostar to Belgium - and it's not that bad at all!

[james170969]

I would use Eurostar again but having to get four trains from where I live to Ostend plus a change of station in London is a bit much. There should be trains from other cities in the UK to Paris and Brussels. The world does not begin and end in London. The Eurostar fares are very attractive though. Regarding Ostend airport. I have flown in there twice from Stansted some years ago. Yes it is not in the town centre but it is only a few minutes by bus or taxi. I would love to be able to fly to Ostend again but, as I said, I don't know how sucessful a low cost point to point service would be.

[Ian Brooks]

There were going to be from Manchester and Leeds and infact the first 2 sets of carriages were at Manchester but had major problems with signalling and was
cancelled, I even had a tour round the maintenance centre and went on board
one of the trains.

Ian

[Shed-on-a-Pole]

Putting Ostend aside for a moment, the idea of considering Eurostar for a journey from Manchester to Brussels is a complete non-starter except for trainspotters and those terrified of flying. A minimum of three different trains required (including a hideous cross-London tube transfer) even for a city centre to city centre journey. And high rail fares. Alternatively, convenient airline schedules from MAN to BRU or CRL with a local connection. Given those options, Eurostar never enters my thinking.

For Ostend, travel from my home would require a minimum of FIVE different trains including the hideous tube transfer. And many arduous hours of travel. This is exactly why the case for Ostend services from the North and Scotland stand up to scrutiny in a way that London flights do not.

BTW, Ostend is actually one of the closest airports to its city centre that I can think of within Europe. The local bus journey to the rail station is shorter than inter-terminal bus shuttle transfers at some European airports. Connections to the coastal resorts are available via the nearby 'De Lijn' coastal tramway; quick connections to nearby cities including Bruges and Ghent are offered from the co-located bus/rail/tram interchange in Central Ostend (a couple of miles or so from the airport terminal).

[pabely]

A minimum of three different trains required (including a hideous cross-London tube transfer) even for a city centre to city centre journey.

Trip Advisor says Euston to St Pancras Int is 10mins walking with luggage, that drops the 'hideous' london tube
You will be suprised how many do this.
With trains almost every hour from manchester and every two hours from london to brussels this gives good flexability.

[IB4138]

Euston to St Pancras Int is 10mins walking with luggage, that drops the 'hideous' london tube

Both are not an answer for the old or infirm especially with luggage.

A taxi at £6 is my preferred option.

[davidjohnson6]

While I admit my guilt in being part of this, could I suggest we move discussion of Belgium and the Eurostar to a new thread and minimise drift on the Easyjet thread ?

[Charlie Roy]

While I admit my guilt in being part of this, could I suggest we move discussion of Belgium and the Eurostar to a new thread and minimise drift on the Easyjet thread ?

Maybe the Ryanair thread, since Ryanair are currently in negotiations (again) with Ostend-Bruges International airport. Although Easyjet's A319's would probably be better suited, Ryanair has the advantage of a superior marketing engine.

[EK77WNCL]

I am aware of the reliability of Wikipedia, however, is it true that easyjet (and ryanair) will be beginning service to Algiers from London Gatwick and Paris Charles De Gaulle (and London Stansted).

It states that both routes will begin on 2nd June (and STN on the 16th). Hoping it's true as I need a trip over there and flights are very expensive.

[_IRL_Flyer]

I am aware of the reliability of Wikipedia, however, is it true that easyjet (and ryanair) will be beginning service to Algiers from London Gatwick and Paris Charles De Gaulle (and London Stansted).

It states that both routes will begin on 2nd June (and STN on the 16th). Hoping it's true as I need a trip over there and flights are very expensive.

EK77WNCL, EZY aren't starting STN-CDG but they are starting LGW-CDG.

Air Algerie are restarting flights from Gatwick to Algiers. FR won't be doing that route. They don't fly there at the moment. If they did start flights to Algiers I would say they would do STN-Algiers rather than LGW.

[FRatSTN]

I think its the wording of EK77WNCL's post. It confused me a bit too.

I think they mean EZY starting Algiers to Gatwick and Paris on June 2nd and also FR starting Algiers to Stansted on the 16th. That makes more sense.

Either way I don't believe any of it is true.

[rutankrd]

I am aware of the reliability of Wikipedia, however, is it true that easyjet (and ryanair) will be beginning service to Algiers from London Gatwick and Paris Charles De Gaulle (and London Stansted).

It states that both routes will begin on 2nd June (and STN on the 16th). Hoping it's true as I need a trip over there and flights are very expensive.

I am sure you can get to Paris pretty cheaply and from their look at Aigle Azure return Paris- Algiers can be had for around £145.00 including taxes.

[racedo]

I think they mean EZY starting Algiers to Gatwick and Paris on June 2nd and also FR starting Algiers to Stansted on the 16th. That makes more sense.

Either way I don't believe any of it is true.

My belief on a routes existence is only 100% after first flight. Even suggested routes for 6 months hence when everybody says no my belief is only when date passes that its not going to happen.

As we all have seen new routes come out of nowhere and often disappear there as well. Believe the impossible.

[EK77WNCL]

LGW is much cheaper than CDG from NCL, or at least it will be when EZY picks the route up. At the time we wish to go Paris is pretty much isolated from NCL unless you re-mortgage your house for an AF/BA/KL ticket, and then you may as well pay the little bit more for a connection to ALG with the joy of a LHR-LGW transfer etc. EI to CDG may be a viable alternative. Anyway I digress.

I do hope they do begin flying to Algeria, it's been a long time coming and I know that the two of them, Ryanair especially are desperate to break into North Africa much more.

Is it true about Air Algerie restarting LGW flights? I couldn't find it on their website, although LHR wasn't there either.

We shall have to see what happens, although with their eagerness to start it would not at all surprise me if both of them start within 2 weeks of each other and the routes seem to make sense too.

[mikkie4]

EZY/SEN

EZY have confirmed that they will be using their A320 again next winter on the LONDON SOUTHEND -TENERIFE route...pax numbers must be good this year with just 2 flights per week, could do with a GRAN CANARIA flight,i live in hope,its only an extra 10 mins flying time