LUTON -8
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runway08 -
Or - perhaps - they are actually being very sensible and choosing specific routes with actual business potential. Let us hope that - realistically - they are around for a very long time indeed.
The aviation world does not - after all - rotate around a single airport in Bedfordshire.
Or - perhaps - they are actually being very sensible and choosing specific routes with actual business potential. Let us hope that - realistically - they are around for a very long time indeed.
The aviation world does not - after all - rotate around a single airport in Bedfordshire.
Last edited by EssexMan61; 28th Jan 2014 at 17:04.
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I never implied that flybes existence depended on their few little nothing routes they had operated into Luton.
Nothing they do screams at me longevity, More Multiple Personality disorder.
wallp we have been asking the same question for months haven't we and even longer when you throw in the Irish routes that were doing well, Logical routes like flights to Pakistan and maybe a connection or 2 to Scandinavia since there is nobody on the routes. If they are viable someone will come along eventually, With the risks airlines take on completely nonsensical routes.. Ones that apparently "clearly have demand" should be a no brainer.
At least Elal is having good fun.
Nothing they do screams at me longevity, More Multiple Personality disorder.
wallp we have been asking the same question for months haven't we and even longer when you throw in the Irish routes that were doing well, Logical routes like flights to Pakistan and maybe a connection or 2 to Scandinavia since there is nobody on the routes. If they are viable someone will come along eventually, With the risks airlines take on completely nonsensical routes.. Ones that apparently "clearly have demand" should be a no brainer.
At least Elal is having good fun.
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The aviation world does not - after all - rotate around a single airport in Bedfordshire.
For the LTN regulars on the forum, I think we were all taken a back when FlyBE announced they were dropping Luton after flying from the airport for well over 10 years... Especially as the airline sold all their Gatwick slots to easyjet, and we thought a few of the routes might switch to Luton as it was the only other London airport they were flying from at the time.
Also the airline submitted to the Guernsey government a request to fly from there to Luton, a few month's back, making the announcment of dropping Luton even more surprising.
Two or three years back the airline was flying twice daily to the IOM and daily to Jersey, so the future was look bright.
I only passed comment in an earlier thread today, that I was surprised to see a new route between Newquay and Southend, as I thought they were dumping flights to any London airport and by them announcing this route is seems the likely hood of FlyBE flying from the airport again in the near future seems unlikely.
I wish Southend luck with the route and hope FlyBE works for them and can gain additional routes. I'm not on here to wind up people or here to start a stupid SOU v LTN war!
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I could be wrong but am pretty sure the reason Flybe are doing Newquay & Dundee from London is that they're receiving subsidy funding.
Gilles I agree with you totally & hope that someone sees the opportunity in routes like Jersey, Guernsey & Isle of Man from Luton & gives them a go soon.
Gilles I agree with you totally & hope that someone sees the opportunity in routes like Jersey, Guernsey & Isle of Man from Luton & gives them a go soon.
Last edited by wallp; 28th Jan 2014 at 19:35.
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runway08 / wallp / giles davies -
Points taken and accepted - apologies for gatecrashing.
I am just glad to see any new Flybe routes (especially if they involve Southend).
Cheers and thanks.
Points taken and accepted - apologies for gatecrashing.
I am just glad to see any new Flybe routes (especially if they involve Southend).
Cheers and thanks.
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Flybe are an airline trying to find an overall capacity that can make money long-term, so I guess AENA are not looking to subsidise their operation?
IOM and Jersey are small niche routes, I guess Galway and Waterford are as well ?
Out of the 4, the Irish routes have no London competition.
IOM and Jersey are small niche routes, I guess Galway and Waterford are as well ?
Out of the 4, the Irish routes have no London competition.
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I think Galway airport has now closed so there won't be anyone returning there again. Waterford is a different matter but it's hard to see who might pick up the route?
Are Jersey & Isle of Man really that niche? They've been successful from Luton in the past so why not again?
Are Jersey & Isle of Man really that niche? They've been successful from Luton in the past so why not again?
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I wouldnt call them niche routes, I would say it would work better for a niche carrier though. Focused on regional prop routes, Rather then the likes of EZY with an Airbus.
As we have gone over those airlines are few and far between at the moment, The thing is if anyone was interested you think they would get going soon enough. You want to be selling your spring and summer tickets now dont you? Get yourself embedded for the leaner winter months that follow.
As we have gone over those airlines are few and far between at the moment, The thing is if anyone was interested you think they would get going soon enough. You want to be selling your spring and summer tickets now dont you? Get yourself embedded for the leaner winter months that follow.
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I'm very surprised that no one has, at the very least, taken up the Jersey route. It's done very well over the years & should surely be sustainable on a seasonal summer basis as a minimum.
Perhaps things have moved on & Jersey isn't the destination it once was?
Perhaps things have moved on & Jersey isn't the destination it once was?
wallp - perhaps BA and Easyjet have added so much capacity to Gatwick-Jersey along with Blue Islands at City, Aurigny at Stansted and Easyjet at Southend that it's doubtful there is room for a 5th airline between London and Jersey...
Of course mustn't forget Flybe and Jet2 are competing on East Midlands-Jersey, further reducing the potential for Luton-Jersey...
Of course mustn't forget Flybe and Jet2 are competing on East Midlands-Jersey, further reducing the potential for Luton-Jersey...
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Question: thinking back to the 1970s/80s/90s did Luton ever have a solid high frequency (daily+) Jersey operation?
I remember British Midland had weekend ops back in the 1980s/90s but I don't recall (but am probably wrong!) anyone ever really having what you might call a solid regular/daily Luton-Jersey (unlike pretty much all the other London airports which have at one time or another all had such).
Is the answer to the question of why there is no LTN-JER as simple as that it never really has been a particularly strong market ex-LTN?
I remember British Midland had weekend ops back in the 1980s/90s but I don't recall (but am probably wrong!) anyone ever really having what you might call a solid regular/daily Luton-Jersey (unlike pretty much all the other London airports which have at one time or another all had such).
Is the answer to the question of why there is no LTN-JER as simple as that it never really has been a particularly strong market ex-LTN?
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British Midland was always summer only, weekend only. I don't think the route could sustain a daily operation but perhaps 3 or 4 times a week?
Or maybe davidjohnson6 is right and there simply isn't room for a Luton service anymore given the extent of operations from other airports though I still think it could be made to work.
Or maybe davidjohnson6 is right and there simply isn't room for a Luton service anymore given the extent of operations from other airports though I still think it could be made to work.
Last edited by wallp; 29th Jan 2014 at 21:22.
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We don't know what the operational fees and charges that were levied at FlyBe by the airport and handling agents.
It is well documented that Gatwick has high charges for smaller aircraft maybe Luton has a similar policy for aircraft that want to use the terminal. One Wizz flight probably contains more passengers than a combined daily operation of Flybe even if they operated to the IOM, Jersey and Newquay.
Luton will become an all jet operation using nothing smaller than mid sized aircraft. Maybe that is how the airport likes it.
Times move on but it is worth noting that both the IOM and Jersey were the oldest scheduled routes out of Luton.
It is well documented that Gatwick has high charges for smaller aircraft maybe Luton has a similar policy for aircraft that want to use the terminal. One Wizz flight probably contains more passengers than a combined daily operation of Flybe even if they operated to the IOM, Jersey and Newquay.
Luton will become an all jet operation using nothing smaller than mid sized aircraft. Maybe that is how the airport likes it.
Times move on but it is worth noting that both the IOM and Jersey were the oldest scheduled routes out of Luton.
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easyJet have killed competition on the London to IOM and Jersey routes. Fares were low, I wonder if they will remain so cheap?
So few European airlines after de-regulation, just like in the USA!
So few European airlines after de-regulation, just like in the USA!
I also believe Jersey is not as popular as it once was. Although the price of flights can be cheap, and there is no VAT on the island, it is not a cheap place to stay.
Having been several times in recent years (because I like the place) it is probably cheaper to go some where like Spain.
Jersey has occasionally been daily over the years, certainly in 1998 Jersey European (as it was then) did Jersey daily via Guernsey with a Friendship. I think British Midland went daily in the early 70s.
Having been several times in recent years (because I like the place) it is probably cheaper to go some where like Spain.
Jersey has occasionally been daily over the years, certainly in 1998 Jersey European (as it was then) did Jersey daily via Guernsey with a Friendship. I think British Midland went daily in the early 70s.
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British Midland used to do daily flights in the 1960s with Argonauts and later Viscounts. By the 1970s it was mostly weekend services but I think a mid-week flight on a Wednesday.
In the early 2000s Jersey European (Flybe) operated daily services to Jersey using BA146s. I remember it well flying in June 2001 on a 146 on a Wednesday and was practically full returning on the Sunday which was also well patronised. The outbound flight is remembered with affection as it was the last time I obtained a jump seat ride - then came 9/11!
In the early 2000s Jersey European (Flybe) operated daily services to Jersey using BA146s. I remember it well flying in June 2001 on a 146 on a Wednesday and was practically full returning on the Sunday which was also well patronised. The outbound flight is remembered with affection as it was the last time I obtained a jump seat ride - then came 9/11!