No interest in the Scillies?
Thread Starter
No interest in the Scillies?
With the end of the helicopter service to the Scillies I find it surprising that nobody seems to be looking into taking up the slack on the service. Skybus now have another aircraft but, let's face it, they have the monopoly and carte blanche to charge what they like.
Bearing in mind that visitor numbers to the islands are a lot less now than when BIH were operating, and there are still lots of people who would like to go there, can anyone out there give any practical reasons why nobody seems interested?
Just curious.
Bearing in mind that visitor numbers to the islands are a lot less now than when BIH were operating, and there are still lots of people who would like to go there, can anyone out there give any practical reasons why nobody seems interested?
Just curious.
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2000 natives + 100,000 tourists a year
an average of 2000 ish visitors per week = 300 per day
not enough to keep more than a couple of small aircraft busy TBH
and there is not enough in the way of large hotels and accommodation take a lot more than the current numbers IIRC
an average of 2000 ish visitors per week = 300 per day
not enough to keep more than a couple of small aircraft busy TBH
and there is not enough in the way of large hotels and accommodation take a lot more than the current numbers IIRC
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Well with Penzance and Plymouth closed, and with Lands End being a Skybus monopoly that only, realistically, leaves Newquay for ISC operations with a BN2 or DHC6 operating such a route.
EXT might also be a consideration but with little if any refueling facility at ISC EXT becomes a restricted load long haul operation whilst Skybus, from Lands End, will have the shortest route and fuel burn to put out of business any competitor from further afield.
EXT might also be a consideration but with little if any refueling facility at ISC EXT becomes a restricted load long haul operation whilst Skybus, from Lands End, will have the shortest route and fuel burn to put out of business any competitor from further afield.
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Following the closure of the helicopter service from Penzance Skybus operate return services from St Mary's to Exeter up to 5 times daily during the summer.
I know, I worked for the previous ISC DHC6 operator, round trip PLH-ISC-PLH was OK but EXT was simply too far and needed to be ''W'' patterned with NQY.
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Personally I think that one of the problems with Skybus operations to ISC is the lack of connectivity and protection for customers.
Where can you book MAN-ISC for example ?
Perhaps a codeshare with BE could be a good idea here and route passengers via NQY & EXT.
Having to book two tickets with little or no protection in the event of irrops is not ideal to most travelers, especially considering the fog issues known to cause issues to Skybus.
cs
Where can you book MAN-ISC for example ?
Perhaps a codeshare with BE could be a good idea here and route passengers via NQY & EXT.
Having to book two tickets with little or no protection in the event of irrops is not ideal to most travelers, especially considering the fog issues known to cause issues to Skybus.
cs
dash 7's
what happened to the nice dash 7?
used to go into Plymouth OK -
st Marys should not be an issue and also can use farther away
are these a/c still around? 50 seats good economics
used to handle Brymons at LHR they were very nice
used to go into Plymouth OK -
st Marys should not be an issue and also can use farther away
are these a/c still around? 50 seats good economics
used to handle Brymons at LHR they were very nice
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BE
CS - I think the BE codeshare idea has some credibility as this would offer a variety of through connections - a NQY-ISC service code shared with BE could offer daily through ticketed connections to BHX, LGW and MAN and if timed right with their seasonal services to NCL and EDI? Even better have BE operate it themselves although the only Twotters in their colours are operated by Loganair. ISC operations would require major changes to schedules and a crew base at NQY, all costing a considerable amount.
Can the SF3/Saab 2000 aircraft use ISC? These surely would have the fuel range to go beyond NQY and perhaps in the future allow seasonal flights from ISC to/from BRS, BHX, SOU, MAN?
Can the SF3/Saab 2000 aircraft use ISC? These surely would have the fuel range to go beyond NQY and perhaps in the future allow seasonal flights from ISC to/from BRS, BHX, SOU, MAN?
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GayFriendly,
Not even the Do228 can use ISC, limited to BN2 or DHC6 or Helicopter operations.
rog747,
ISC doesn't have the appropriate fire cover to handle scheduled DHC7 operations ... besides trying to round up 50 punters in the same place at the same time would present it's own problems.
Not even the Do228 can use ISC, limited to BN2 or DHC6 or Helicopter operations.
rog747,
ISC doesn't have the appropriate fire cover to handle scheduled DHC7 operations ... besides trying to round up 50 punters in the same place at the same time would present it's own problems.
Brunel to Concorde
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Can the SF3/Saab 2000 aircraft use ISC? These surely would have the fuel range to go beyond NQY and perhaps in the future allow seasonal flights from ISC to/from BRS, BHX, SOU, MAN?
Skybus Axe Flights From Bristol And Southampton | Scilly Today
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Looking the UK CAA numbers, there has be a clear change in number of passengers flown and which airport on the mainland they fly to/from since Penzance went off line. The total number of passengers by air to the Isles of Scilly in 2007 was 178,931 and last year (2013) it had decreased with 50% to 89,170 passengers. At Land's End/St Just the number of passengers has increase from 29,005 passengers in 2007 to 42,626 passengers last year (2013). Land's End's market share was 48% of all air passengers to Isles of Scilly in 2013 compared with only having 16% of the passengers in 2007. Even with two airfields merging to one, St Marys has seen a drop of 45,191 yearly passengers from 2007 to 2013. In 2007 65% of the passengers flew to/from the Isle of Scilly from Penzance (115,998 passengres) and I found it as a surprise that the majority of the passengers at St Marys flew with helicopter (53%) at that time.
The drop in passengers don't seem to stop at the 2013 levels. The first quarter of 2014 show a further 20% drop to/from St Marys.
The drop in passengers don't seem to stop at the 2013 levels. The first quarter of 2014 show a further 20% drop to/from St Marys.
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The caa numbers are accurate but don't tell the true story I'm afraid.
LEQ has been closed most of the first quarter of 2014 and the 2013 figures suffered similar fate from what I understand. The result being that NQY will see a larger proportion of the IOS traffic than it should as when LEQ is closed the flights are re-routed and ground transport laid on at the expense of skybus.
The route also suffers badly with fog at IOS as well as LEQ which also restricts flights and will have an effect on numbers. Just this last week flights were cancelled and passengers transferred onto the boat due fog at st Mary's.
Whatever the future holds for the route I suspect someone needs to implement code sharing or interlining and the ability to book through tickets. Perhaps Loganair could base some aircraft at NQY and operate flights under the flybe brand which would allow such bookings to be made ? And attract passengers from wider afield.
cs
LEQ has been closed most of the first quarter of 2014 and the 2013 figures suffered similar fate from what I understand. The result being that NQY will see a larger proportion of the IOS traffic than it should as when LEQ is closed the flights are re-routed and ground transport laid on at the expense of skybus.
The route also suffers badly with fog at IOS as well as LEQ which also restricts flights and will have an effect on numbers. Just this last week flights were cancelled and passengers transferred onto the boat due fog at st Mary's.
Whatever the future holds for the route I suspect someone needs to implement code sharing or interlining and the ability to book through tickets. Perhaps Loganair could base some aircraft at NQY and operate flights under the flybe brand which would allow such bookings to be made ? And attract passengers from wider afield.
cs
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doesn't fix the problem that accommodation on the SI is limited and unlikely to grow significantly - the locals would go mad if someone suggested a 200 room hotel for example
it's a very small niche market and you tend to pay more in those situations
it's a very small niche market and you tend to pay more in those situations
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Sadly that niche market isn't quite what it seems.
For example, nhs actually fund (subsidise) people to fly to the mainland for appointments in Truro, and return them, they fly staff too and from st Mary's for clinics, they charter aircraft to bring over anyone who might need a chartered aircraft due too mobility etc.
Yes during summer the route relies on tourists to maintain flights but year round the need is there for the route as without it routine healthcare isn't possible.
cs
For example, nhs actually fund (subsidise) people to fly to the mainland for appointments in Truro, and return them, they fly staff too and from st Mary's for clinics, they charter aircraft to bring over anyone who might need a chartered aircraft due too mobility etc.
Yes during summer the route relies on tourists to maintain flights but year round the need is there for the route as without it routine healthcare isn't possible.
cs
Brymon did have a go at a Dash 7 proving flight into ISC when they were looking to phase out their final Twin Otter (which ironically is still in service with Skybus today). They did it once, and it scared the Bejesus out of everyone and the idea was quickly dropped.
Just out of interest, why can't the 228 operate ISC? There is no element of airfield licensing or fire cover regulatory problem to prevent it, and the performance looks as though it should be adequate on paper, even taking into account the fact that a "balanced" field length doesn't really apply at St Mary's.
Just out of interest, why can't the 228 operate ISC? There is no element of airfield licensing or fire cover regulatory problem to prevent it, and the performance looks as though it should be adequate on paper, even taking into account the fact that a "balanced" field length doesn't really apply at St Mary's.
Dash 7
i thought it could stop on a sixpence - is st Marys still to short for a
full a/c to land?
and is ISC grass or paved - pardon my lack of knowledge - am dashing to falmouth
i thought it could stop on a sixpence - is st Marys still to short for a
full a/c to land?
and is ISC grass or paved - pardon my lack of knowledge - am dashing to falmouth
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ISC has circa one and a half paved runways these days.
Yes, the DHC7 has a similar runway performance to the DHC6 but as I recall Brymon put the DHC7 in to ISC soon after taking delivery as a publicity stunt rather than putting it in there with a view to replacing DHC6 operations on the route(s).
Yes, the DHC7 has a similar runway performance to the DHC6 but as I recall Brymon put the DHC7 in to ISC soon after taking delivery as a publicity stunt rather than putting it in there with a view to replacing DHC6 operations on the route(s).
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The main problem with LEQ is the weather, having spent quite a period over the last few years the weather can change in minutes from being
10k visibility calm and sunny to 500m in 100ft cloud base with a 30kt wind which is going to mean a diversion to NQY.
Love the place though
Ian
10k visibility calm and sunny to 500m in 100ft cloud base with a 30kt wind which is going to mean a diversion to NQY.
Love the place though
Ian
