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CAA stats for August = 203951 (down 9.3%) on same month last year. French routes continue to lose large numbers due to reduced capacity and Palma has just dropped off a cliff (-44%). As MARKEYD suggests, FlyLolo at 47 av passengers for the month doesn't bode well for an expanded schedule next summer and you have to wonder how they will fill routes to Tivat, Pristina etc. Just highlights even greater the need for airport expansion asap and a LCC as things are stagnating!
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Firstly, i think we all need to be serious for a minute, as was expected from the start, the LoLo model just doesn't seem to be working, it isn't likely to improve/expand either let's be honest.
Secondly, as good as it all sounds, the new masterplan is exactly that, a plan, nothing is going to happen overnight, we are realistically talking 24 months minimum before we see anything, if at all.
Finally, to attract a LCC there has to be demand for the routes, as stated above if bread and butter routes like Palma are dropping, who's likely to be interested??
Secondly, as good as it all sounds, the new masterplan is exactly that, a plan, nothing is going to happen overnight, we are realistically talking 24 months minimum before we see anything, if at all.
Finally, to attract a LCC there has to be demand for the routes, as stated above if bread and butter routes like Palma are dropping, who's likely to be interested??
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Firstly, i think we all need to be serious for a minute, as was expected from the start, the LoLo model just doesn't seem to be working, it isn't likely to improve/expand either let's be honest.
Secondly, as good as it all sounds, the new masterplan is exactly that, a plan, nothing is going to happen overnight, we are realistically talking 24 months minimum before we see anything, if at all.
Finally, to attract a LCC there has to be demand for the routes, as stated above if bread and butter routes like Palma are dropping, who's likely to be interested??
Secondly, as good as it all sounds, the new masterplan is exactly that, a plan, nothing is going to happen overnight, we are realistically talking 24 months minimum before we see anything, if at all.
Finally, to attract a LCC there has to be demand for the routes, as stated above if bread and butter routes like Palma are dropping, who's likely to be interested??
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But surely the figures for the Palma flights are down due to the loss of the scheduled flights by Volotea!
Perhaps the airports catchment are has got rather tired of Palma and are searching alternative destinations that are not currently flown from SOU and is where a LOCO comes into play to offer a variation of routes to the airport.
The current sun routes from Southampton to Alicante, Faro, Ibiza, Mahon, Malaga, Palma are great but once you've been to all them on numerous occasions it gets rather tedious.
Now if a wider selection of destinations to Europe i.e. Business links with major cities and a wider selection of Mediterranean sun routes were offered from SOU with a well known airline such as BACF or Easyjet it would give the airport more awareness and the routes on offer and this will only help the current destinations thrive.
If the plans within the new Master Plan actually do go ahead and the airport can attract the likes of BACF and EasyJet amongst others I can see the airport having a very bright future, the future may well be ORANGE :-)
Perhaps the airports catchment are has got rather tired of Palma and are searching alternative destinations that are not currently flown from SOU and is where a LOCO comes into play to offer a variation of routes to the airport.
The current sun routes from Southampton to Alicante, Faro, Ibiza, Mahon, Malaga, Palma are great but once you've been to all them on numerous occasions it gets rather tedious.
Now if a wider selection of destinations to Europe i.e. Business links with major cities and a wider selection of Mediterranean sun routes were offered from SOU with a well known airline such as BACF or Easyjet it would give the airport more awareness and the routes on offer and this will only help the current destinations thrive.
If the plans within the new Master Plan actually do go ahead and the airport can attract the likes of BACF and EasyJet amongst others I can see the airport having a very bright future, the future may well be ORANGE :-)
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Perhaps someone like Adfly will have more info on the number of pax per flight in August, but from what I've been told the numbers on each flight are very good, high 90% LF on each of the sun routes. The drop in numbers is due to less flights, not the same number of flights with less people on them. Another factor will be Volotea being all 717 this summer compared to a mix of (mostly) A319 and 717 last summer, that's 50 seats per rotation lost straight away.
The drop in numbers is due to less flights, not the same number of flights with less people on them. Another factor will be Volotea being all 717 this summer compared to a mix of (mostly) A319 and 717 last summer, that's 50 seats per rotation lost straight away.
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Why fewer flights I'm not sure although do know that the Tue BE flight was changed in July to operate Skiathos for FlyLolo instead (wrong decision i believe). With regards to Volotea using the 717 instead of 319, this is simple and airfield performance limited the 319 with some flights having baggage taken off, no such problems with the 717!
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Could it be that an LCC is providing the seats to Flylolo next summer? And this LCC has not yet released their own flights for sale? It could be easyJet or Jet2 from the look of the destination list.
Either that or they are utilising the Stobart Air ERJ-195 that is being grounded at Southend.
Either that or they are utilising the Stobart Air ERJ-195 that is being grounded at Southend.
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The destination list is a bizarre set of places and one I think they would have serious trouble selling
Southampton airport have still not even mentioned the programme for next summer
TUS air is still the favourite using a FK 70 , with 80 seats and has no runway / weight penalties , just need the clearance or ok from the authorities in Europe I believe
Sorry typo error , bit dramatic Sharklet
Southampton airport have still not even mentioned the programme for next summer
TUS air is still the favourite using a FK 70 , with 80 seats and has no runway / weight penalties , just need the clearance or ok from the authorities in Europe I believe
Sorry typo error , bit dramatic Sharklet
Last edited by MARKEYD; 27th Sep 2018 at 10:03.
Why fewer flights I'm not sure although do know that the Tue BE flight was changed in July to operate Skiathos for FlyLolo instead (wrong decision i believe). With regards to Volotea using the 717 instead of 319, this is simple and airfield performance limited the 319 with some flights having baggage taken off, no such problems with the 717!
You cannot fill up a 150-156 seat A319 (with the derated engines) out of SOU to even a shortish route such as Palma because of WAT payload limits.
The 717 with 125 seats I do not know if there have been any WAT limits from SOU ? does anyone know? -
But Volotea are getting rid of their 717's in the near future
The 180 seater EZY A320 from SEN to TFS is limited to 170 seats, and to ACE 175
The charter flight to JSI whilst rather lovely, for those who actually knew about it, and used it, was no doubt a financial disaster.
Flights such as this operating without a chunk of seats being sold each week of the series to a tour operator like Sunvil or even TUI is madness>
This flight would have been a very nice alternative in the market to LGW.
The train connection to SOU from London and the suburbs area is rather very good.
I used it from W.Dorset and it was superb.
As for next year's charter programme and expansion I intend to visit one of the open days to learn some more....
Last edited by rog747; 28th Sep 2018 at 07:44.
A Fokker 70, or the 717 is a right fit from SOU to operate 'near' Med destinations in the 2hr 30mins bracket.
Above 2h 30 mins they run out of steam...
the 717 come in 2 versions - a basic model and a HGW a/c with 2000m range (but max 105 seats and may be limited from SOU at HGW)
But both these aircraft types are 'old' and that means maintenance (and high costs) especially running a small fleet.
Volotea are eventually retiring their 717.
Tus Air is Cypriot based, and with Brexit looming we have no idea what may lay ahead with the CAA allowing such carriers to operate from the UK if Brexit occurs.
If Tus Air were to operate from SOU for FlyLolo then this would mean a SOU base for them given the large flying programme planned.
Frankly I cannot see Tus Air having the grunt to be able to do this, nor place the costs of this within the contract prices.
Nothing adds up here....
Above 2h 30 mins they run out of steam...
the 717 come in 2 versions - a basic model and a HGW a/c with 2000m range (but max 105 seats and may be limited from SOU at HGW)
But both these aircraft types are 'old' and that means maintenance (and high costs) especially running a small fleet.
Volotea are eventually retiring their 717.
Tus Air is Cypriot based, and with Brexit looming we have no idea what may lay ahead with the CAA allowing such carriers to operate from the UK if Brexit occurs.
If Tus Air were to operate from SOU for FlyLolo then this would mean a SOU base for them given the large flying programme planned.
Frankly I cannot see Tus Air having the grunt to be able to do this, nor place the costs of this within the contract prices.
Nothing adds up here....
Last edited by rog747; 28th Sep 2018 at 08:30.
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This thread makes me laugh. You have one chap saying SOU needs a broader selection of destinations because the same ones get tedious. You get a broad choice of routes with Lolo that break from the most common beach destinations, to which another poster says are odd choices that won’t sell!
I actually dont don’t think they’re odd choices, aside from Tirana they are all established destinations that attract a more affluent clientele. Tivat for example has very few flights from the U.K., but that area of Montenegro is very trendy.
Tirana has other factors that might make it a shrewd choice.
I actually dont don’t think they’re odd choices, aside from Tirana they are all established destinations that attract a more affluent clientele. Tivat for example has very few flights from the U.K., but that area of Montenegro is very trendy.
Tirana has other factors that might make it a shrewd choice.
This thread makes me laugh. You have one chap saying SOU needs a broader selection of destinations because the same ones get tedious. You get a broad choice of routes with Lolo that break from the most common beach destinations, to which another poster says are odd choices that won’t sell!
I actually dont don’t think they’re odd choices, aside from Tirana they are all established destinations that attract a more affluent clientele. Tivat for example has very few flights from the U.K., but that area of Montenegro is very trendy.
Tirana has other factors that might make it a shrewd choice.
I actually dont don’t think they’re odd choices, aside from Tirana they are all established destinations that attract a more affluent clientele. Tivat for example has very few flights from the U.K., but that area of Montenegro is very trendy.
Tirana has other factors that might make it a shrewd choice.
With respect, JSI has proven with less than 400 seats sold in the season series that unless you market correctly, you will not sell any destination well.
Agree, there is an affluent market out there in a wide catchment area but one has to make it known to tap into it.
This is what they (Flylolo) have planned from SOU just for Greece S19
Flights To:
Corfu - Clients are both mass and upmarket (sell to Paxos too)
Kefalonia mass and upmarket
Skiathos fairly upmarket, some mass market (sell to upmarket Skopelos and Alonissos)
Kos mass market (but could be sold to upmarket Kalymnos Leros and Symi)
Kalamata quite specialist and upmarket (Peloponnese)
Thessaloniki specialist
That is some programme that Bath Travel/Palmair would have been proud of - or even dreamed of!
As for former Yugoslavia I wonder why they offer Dubrovnik and Tivat (both are specialist and upmarket)
likewise both Murcia and Almeria (expat and villa owners + golf, upmarkets)
As both airport pairs are almost next door to each other.
Burgas Bulgaria - Hmm really? No...
This programme would be very big to offer for a new operator even out of LGW, but to chance it from SOU (with not even an airline at the moment) is going to be something to watch closely.