DONCASTER SHEFFIELD
Join Date: May 2007
Location: LEEDS
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SWBKCB. Yes you are quite correct extra demand is stimulated just with a new route starting from an airport (such as EI to DUB) and the associated publicity etc. People who were not even considering using an air service are inspired to use it. The propensity to fly from a region goes up very very slightly with a better offering of service. Only a very small percentage amount though and this bubble of demand from the overall catchment area (before the new service was offered) settles back down to the basic underlying demand for that route from the larger catchment area. In other words simply starting a route does not guarantee enough extra demand to make that route viable in the medium or long term. This is in part why so many routes are starting and then stopping a few years later (within Yorkshire) and is exactly what the public does not want - an unreliable service.
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Doncaster
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Catchment is a red herring. DSA's 'catchment' infringes on EMA, LBA and probably a bit of MAN too. Pax have a level of priorities based on proximity, flights and price. The link road has put even Leeds city centre no more than 50 minutes from DSA. What that means is that now instead of DSA being number three or not even on the list of priorities if a Leeds pax can't get where they want from LBA they will look at DSA as a viable alternative. I was speaking to someone the other week in Leeds 12 who was bemoaning the fact that they'd had to fly to Berlin from MAN. I expect that a fair few pax on DSA flights will be those who are much relieved that they no longer have to brave the car parks at Tintwhistle or on the M62.
Last edited by Teevee; 1st Apr 2016 at 13:48.
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Doncaster
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I live 5 minutes from DSA, but until recently had to travel to catch a flight to Dub. As I generally need an evening flight back, I can't use the Regional Aer Lingus flight. But no way am I going to Leeds and all the hell of that remote location. Manchester far better a choice.
Every DSA Dub flight bar the very beginning seems nicely loaded.
Although I hope DSA get their act together. Free wifi appears to have run away (other than 30 minutes). Since Flybe security takes longer - there appears to be a fasttrack option - although not sure how you get access unless your staff...
Every DSA Dub flight bar the very beginning seems nicely loaded.
Although I hope DSA get their act together. Free wifi appears to have run away (other than 30 minutes). Since Flybe security takes longer - there appears to be a fasttrack option - although not sure how you get access unless your staff...
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Doncaster
Age: 63
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I'm just amazed at how many flights Wizz run to eastern European destinations. Yes, there are certainly many immigrants from those areas, and I expect most flight passengers are returning VFR, rather than new immigrants. I'm just surprised that Ryanair and Easyjet haven't tried to get these markets by expanding to such destinations (perhaps they have?) from Leeds or East Midlands, as many passengers I've spoken to are from a much wider catchment than South Yorkshire.
I do remember when the route from DSA to Vilnius was introduced a few years back, to much incredulity. Now it's commonplace. I had to look up Lublin as I'd never heard of it.
Obviously, I hope Flybe do well, and I hope to be going to Berlin soon, but as a cautionary note - and this is purely anecdotal - when Ryanair and Thomson, later Easyjet, introduced routes, a lot of people I knew used them as a one-off novelty chance for a holiday or long weekend, and didn't repeat this. Flybe's medium-sized craft are perhaps more suited than 737s or A319s.
Finally, it would help if clear directions were given at the bus stop how to get to Sheffield, in many languages. You could get a bus to Doncaster then get a train, but if not in a rush could get a day bus ticket on First for £5 and take the X78 from Doncaster to Sheffield.
I do remember when the route from DSA to Vilnius was introduced a few years back, to much incredulity. Now it's commonplace. I had to look up Lublin as I'd never heard of it.
Obviously, I hope Flybe do well, and I hope to be going to Berlin soon, but as a cautionary note - and this is purely anecdotal - when Ryanair and Thomson, later Easyjet, introduced routes, a lot of people I knew used them as a one-off novelty chance for a holiday or long weekend, and didn't repeat this. Flybe's medium-sized craft are perhaps more suited than 737s or A319s.
Finally, it would help if clear directions were given at the bus stop how to get to Sheffield, in many languages. You could get a bus to Doncaster then get a train, but if not in a rush could get a day bus ticket on First for £5 and take the X78 from Doncaster to Sheffield.
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: sheffield
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...which would take around 90 mins from Donny
A bus to Sheffield is part of the airport's masterplan and will presumably be on the cards if growth continues. Direct buses from Sheffield serve all corners of S Yorks, but still not the airport (though strangely there is a direct bus to DSA from Barnsley).
If a nonstop bus isn't seen as viable, a bus from Sheffield via the Parkway / A 631 / M18 stopping at Whiston, Wickersley and Rossington would also serve the local population and still only take around 45 mins. If it weren't for the massive savings that local authorities have been forced to make, I'm sure a bus service would have already been introduced.
Currently the options are a 40 pound taxi ride or a 25 minute bus journey to Doncaster followed by a 25 minute (at best) train journey to Sheffield. Way over an hour with connection times factored in. At the very least, through tickets should be sold at the airport and clear directions should be given.
Hopefully a better public transport connection to Sheffield will be high on DSA's agenda
A bus to Sheffield is part of the airport's masterplan and will presumably be on the cards if growth continues. Direct buses from Sheffield serve all corners of S Yorks, but still not the airport (though strangely there is a direct bus to DSA from Barnsley).
If a nonstop bus isn't seen as viable, a bus from Sheffield via the Parkway / A 631 / M18 stopping at Whiston, Wickersley and Rossington would also serve the local population and still only take around 45 mins. If it weren't for the massive savings that local authorities have been forced to make, I'm sure a bus service would have already been introduced.
Currently the options are a 40 pound taxi ride or a 25 minute bus journey to Doncaster followed by a 25 minute (at best) train journey to Sheffield. Way over an hour with connection times factored in. At the very least, through tickets should be sold at the airport and clear directions should be given.
Hopefully a better public transport connection to Sheffield will be high on DSA's agenda
which would take around 90 mins from Donny
or 81mins to 107 mins from LBA to Sheffield Centre (from wymetro.com), so a direct bus would be a major advantage, providing the route exists from DSA
or 81mins to 107 mins from LBA to Sheffield Centre (from wymetro.com), so a direct bus would be a major advantage, providing the route exists from DSA
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Yorkshire
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I'm sure public transport is not high priority for DSA management. Maybe for workers and spotters, but the bulk of people passing through DSA (and the other regional airports) use cars or taxis. Public transport will serve the minority rather than the majority. If you've had the torture of using the Trans Pennine Express to MAN, you will appreciate that the masses offload in the City leaving small numbers to disembark at MAN - an airport handing 20x as many passengers as DSA.
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: sheffield
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If you live in Sheffield and use public transport, it's still easier to get to MAN - direct 75 min train with no need to change. I agree that most people drive, use a taxi or get dropped off at DSA, but this is due in part to the poor public transport options.
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: UK
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Isn't it Flybe intention to get rid of the ERJ-190's next year?
If so - they probably only see this base as a temporary 1 yea promotional exercise which provides much needed investor satisfaction and probably covers a lot of the operating costs because of the incentive.
If so - they probably only see this base as a temporary 1 yea promotional exercise which provides much needed investor satisfaction and probably covers a lot of the operating costs because of the incentive.
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Leeds/Birmingham
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I don't know if they plan to get rid of them next year but I know they have wanted to off-load the E195s as soon as possible, but making deals with Cardiff and Doncaster means that the deals are covering the costs so the airline doesn't have to worry about them costing the airline anything. I suppose it depends how long those deals last for...? once the deals end, they will get rid of the aircraft. I suspect its then up to the airport/airline to broker deal to see if the routes can be retained with other aircraft.
This is a big test for DSA in my mind, but also a great opportunity for DSA to prove/show what markets exists in what has been an under served/untested south Yorkshire market for years!
This is a big test for DSA in my mind, but also a great opportunity for DSA to prove/show what markets exists in what has been an under served/untested south Yorkshire market for years!
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: London
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It's a 10 year agreement with both CWL and DSA. The airline is no longer seeking to get rid of the E190s as they have now found gainful employment for them.
Let's get behind the services and the base will grow ...
Let's get behind the services and the base will grow ...
Join Date: Jun 2007
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There's a fair bit of conjecture and guesswork going on here. Firstly the deals done with the various airports are a 5 year deal for EXT/NWI, a ten year deal with CWL and the DSA deal is an undisclosed term. The CWL deal is a base deal and not an aircraft specific deal.
As for the E195 costings, nwoody2001, I don't know how you can say the E195 costs Flybe nothing, this simply is not true. There are routes that are being funded by PSO (NQY-LGW) but this is a route and not an airport specific deal. By way of airports offering subsidies like no landing or passenger fees etc will in no way even begin to cover the astronomical costs of leasing the E195. The ONLY reason Flybe have these aircraft and are flying them to mitigate astronomical losses on them is because there was no way in a million years they were going to be offloaded; nobody wants E195s and the delivery figures over 11 years proves it. The longest lease left on the newest of the 195s is about 3½ years, once this is up you could probably bet your right arm that they will be leaving the business.
As for the E195 costings, nwoody2001, I don't know how you can say the E195 costs Flybe nothing, this simply is not true. There are routes that are being funded by PSO (NQY-LGW) but this is a route and not an airport specific deal. By way of airports offering subsidies like no landing or passenger fees etc will in no way even begin to cover the astronomical costs of leasing the E195. The ONLY reason Flybe have these aircraft and are flying them to mitigate astronomical losses on them is because there was no way in a million years they were going to be offloaded; nobody wants E195s and the delivery figures over 11 years proves it. The longest lease left on the newest of the 195s is about 3½ years, once this is up you could probably bet your right arm that they will be leaving the business.
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: sheffield
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It's disappointing if some loads are only about 25% but I expected this, and some will of course be higher.
New routes take time to gain in popularity, and I am guessing they have factored this in. They don't need to fly with virtually full planes to make the routes viable and the break even figure will be different for each route.
New routes take time to gain in popularity, and I am guessing they have factored this in. They don't need to fly with virtually full planes to make the routes viable and the break even figure will be different for each route.
