LIVERPOOL-3

[FRatSTN]

They have changed slightly recently but there is still big gaps and Riga is now not a destination, creating some gaps so maybe. East Midlands also has gaps and I hope the Greek routes will go up to 2x weekly, perhaps Liverpool will get the same. Another re-jigging of schedules may solve the gaps or if unlucky, we lose some flights quite late on, just like we did last year at EMA and LPL.

[EZY7117LPL]

LPL should be having an increase in flights for summer 2013. I don't think (I hope not!) that there will be a decrease because the gaps are where an aircraft has been out, come back and will then be sitting idle for a few hours! Not like Ryanair!

[FRatSTN]

No but like I say, further timetable changes may correct that. You are typically looking for either a 25 minute or 50 minute turn around time although there is some slight exceptions. I would expect maybe a change with the Dublin route where that offen has 2 flights within 10 or 15 minutes of each other! It may include 1 or 2 new routes although Liverpool has already had announced capacity increases for 2013 a few months back so we will see.

[Suzeman]

At least Easy's loads are good - or too good in this case....

easyJet passengers forced into whip-round to pay people to leave overweight plane | Mail Online

[Tableview]

With an early morning departure out of LPL I decided at the last minute to stay over at the airport and booked the Holiday Inn Express. It was a pleasant surprise, although basic, it is a very modern building, a reasonable sized room, smallish comfortable double bed (might have been a bit small for two people), full sized shower with good pressure, TV, tea/coffee facilities. Above all it was quiet. Check in/out quick and painless, and it was £45 booked on the HI site.

It has a small bar/dining area but no food after about 10.

The only drawback is that it's a bit too far to walk to the airport specially with a suitcase, it's probably about a mile, but the reception have an agreement with the local taxis and will book and you get a fixed rate of £2.50.

Possibly next time for a few pounds more (advance booking non refundable rate) I might stay at the Hampton Inn which is right across from the terminal.

[paully]

Try the Premier Inn, further down the road. If you book early enough you can get rooms for £29 or even less. Lovely place to stay with late bar and just over 10mins walk to the terminal building.

[EZY7117LPL]

Still some gaps in the Ryanair schedule - definetely room for 3 early departures a week to a destination(s).

On another note - What do people think the chances of seeing Jet2, Monarch, Thomson etc... at LPL in the near future?

[Mr Mac]

Liverpool has just had change of senior manager from Vancouver who has moved onto another of their airports in eastern med. So new man at the helm, so you will have to see what he can do. Jet 2 was strongly rumoured as a possible last year but turned away very late in the game, and I beleive there has been discussions with Norwegian but nothing settled yet. As for others charter etc do not know.

[EZY7117LPL]

I know, hopefully he will be much better and we can get a few more airlines and flights in! Plus based aircraft!!!

Norwegian have already announced copenhagen from LPL, unless you mean there are further discussions into more services, based aircraft etc....?????

[Mr Mac]

Discussions were ongoing on other routes last I heard with Norwegian, but guess they will try route first to see what demand is like before offering others. There was a "fishing expedition" to BA on the back of the return of BA to LBA with local MP,s etc involved but Willy did not bite !. Jet 2 rumour still around, and maybe they will look again late summer for next year. Monarch have had mutterings about not being quite so happy at Manchester but can not see them moving given investment they have in MAN. LPL routes which their managment would like would be non EU, or Cannaries, as spend in Duty Free is higher on these destinations, and to be honest thats where all airports make their money if not a large hub.

[EZY7117LPL]

Interesting, maybe norwegian could open a base sometime in the future?

Jet2 and/or Monarch would be perfect for LPL as there are so many unserved/underserved destinations! Plus the lack of any all inclusive holidays (except easyJet Holidays where the holiday part is very much a secondary thing).

A hub link is really needed and hopefully we will see the return of one soon, wether it be BA, KLM, Air France, Iberia, Lufthansa, Aer Lingus etc...

I think that with a new man at the helm, we could see some good and exciting news this year, more based aircraft and services are definetely needed!

[Suzeman]

Read elsewhere that EZY are about to announce 2 x week LPL-CPH (Mon and Fri) in direct competition to Norwegian and will also increase their MAN-CPH services.

No sign on the EZY website though

[EZY7117LPL]

I hope not!

I doubt it though unless they are to increase the number of based aircraft at LPL as CPH isn't a base and the LPL schedule is complete, EZY don't usually operate W patterns either.

[EKCH2730]

Suzeman - I find it unlikely that EZY will open LPL-CPH and I have not heard anything about this here in CPH.

I believe that the EZY response to the new Norwegian CPH-LPL service is the increased capacity on the MAN-CPH route - from May going 9 flights a week instead of 7, with new flights Monday and Friday (same days you have heard they should be operating LPL-CPH).

[Brakes to Park]

EZY7117LPL

You are misguided. EZY operate plenty of W patterns. LPL-GVA-BOH-GVA-LPL and LPL-GVA-LBA-GVA-LPL to name but two and there are plenty of others.

[FRatSTN]

It doesn't make sense to me why DY are doing LPL-CPH when the rest of their operations to OSL, ARN and SVG go from MAN. I can see the DY CPH service moving to MAN in the future or maybe the shift of the 3 DY routes from MAN to LPL. Just speculation, but with their good options for connecting services, it seems a little odd to split operations between the 2 airports for any length of time.

[LAX_LHR]

It doesn't make sense to me why DY are doing LPL-CPH when the rest of their operations to OSL, ARN and SVG go from MAN.

The story I was told both by a poster on here and someone I know at LGW. This os all just rumour so don't shoot the messenger.

Norwegian wanted to start CPH-MAN, but, it already has a lot of competition (21 weekly flights from easyjet and SAS at the time of announcing, now 23 weekly overall).

They wanted to give the route a chance to grow against the competition (the extra easyjet flights are proof the competition is fierce), and with CPH airport offering a new route fund, LPL was the obvious choice for this.
The route fund is only available to operators who start a brand new route from CPH, so MAN would not have been covered as it is already served, but LPL was covered as it was not served from CPH.

I cannot remember the exact date the fund runs out for CPH-LPL, but it is widely expected that the route will join its MAN counterparts at this time.

However, to throw a curve-ball in the mix, the new LPL airport CEO has apparently held talks with Norwegian to try and coax the MAN flights over to LPL. However as Norwegian are an airline that keeps its cards very close to its chest, all of the above is speculation and its just a case of wait an see what happens. They may even decide to keep split ops, no-one really knows.

[Mr Mac]

LAX-LHR
That is the same tale I heard, but discussions with Norwegian are still live in that they are waiting to see what passenger take up they get on the route, and how Man / LPL compare for operating costs for them. As you say the Norwegians do "play their cards close to their chest" but do like a drink or two .

[FRatSTN]

Looks like the Wizz Air route from Liverpool to Vilnius will cease 07/04/13, flights are no longer bookable from this date. Flights are still available from Doncaster.

[Cleared For A Coffee]

More good news!