Southampton-2

[01475]

And indeed, rather than what the airport does, what is the general economic environment doing? Actually, there's a lot of problems brewing for airlines... and that's with oil prices low!

[rog747]

air Europa with a 738 is not much good at SOU too - runway too short

[MARKEYD]

Was talking about Aer Europa using the EMB 195 , better suited if they were interested in launching from SOU

[RW20]

SWBKCB

Unless there is airside development at Southampton,and we are talking Taxiways,Runway extension,and vital :expanded stands,then Southampton future looks very uncertain.Its abundantly clear the management team needs a major shake up ,it's a great shame,but the potential is there,but it's not being currently exploited.

[SWBKCB]

Let's assume for the sake of argument that Volotea aren't coming back in their own right, which of these points have had an impact?

[rog747]

Originally Posted by MARKEYD

Was talking about Aer Europa using the EMB 195 , better suited if they were interested in launching from SOU

ah thanks - cannot keep up with the airlines going small planes lol

[gkmeech]

Originally Posted by Plane.Silly

Might be a silly question, but am i correct in assuming the takeoff run required for an A320 is too long for SOU runway? Also guessing there's nowhere it can be extended to?

This assumption is incorrect. I flew to Majorca in the Iberworld A320 on a couple of occasions

[Wycombe]

I flew to Majorca in the Iberworld A320 on a couple of occasions

A Spanair one used to operate to TFS also, but tech-stopped somewhere in mainland Spain going south IIRC.

[Groundloop]

Come on EasyJet you have five A319s leaving the fleet this year so keep them and base them at SOU as the airport needs you

then Southampton future looks very uncertain.

Is any of this true? Surely SOU is doing all right at the moment - ie not operating at a loss? Why should they spend a fortune on improvements which may not lead to much? Lots of complaints about SOU management but they must at least have a vague idea of what they are doing. Ducks for cover!

[IB4138]

A Spanair one used to operate to TFS also, but tech-stopped somewhere in mainland Spain going south IIRC.

Flight was opperated for Airtours I think and tech stop was in Nantes (France).

[stewyb]

Originally Posted by Groundloop

[/I][/B]



Is any of this true? Surely SOU is doing all right at the moment - ie not operating at a loss? Why should they spend a fortune on improvements which may not lead to much? Lots of complaints about SOU management but they must at least have a vague idea of what they are doing. Ducks for cover!

Agree to a point and for what its worth, the following I believe could happen in the near term. Runway resurfacing due next year and will be done along with northern taxiway added, runway starter strip to the north will not happen immediately and may/may not be carried out some time in the future. Stands 1-5 will be realigned to accommodate A320 size before S18 as don't think a big job. Easyjet will take up the slack on Volotea's withdrawal and operate 2/3 per week from its summer seasonal base in PMI and to also test the water for future routes. I'm probably way off the mark but quite feasible that the above could happen!

[canberra97]

It could happen and hopefully some of what you describe may happen if only half of it happened it would be a major improvement, I share your optimism:-)

[Plane.Silly]

This assumption is incorrect. I flew to Majorca in the Iberworld A320 on a couple of occasions

So technically, this means EZY with their A320's could still operate from SOU. Particularly if they're only on short sectors (2 1/2hr tops) they could just go full throttle and not worry on fuel burn?

If this be the case, what's stopping EZY? besides the useless management

[Jerry123]

Maybe they just don't want to operate from SOU. They might not see a business case for it. SOU would probably be better off trying to attract BACF.

[EK77WNCL]

The A319 has immense takeoff performance, and could probably operate quite reliably out of Southampton to at least the south of Spain, Portugal, Italy and Greece, if not the Canaries and Cyprus.

I believe the A320neo also has rather impressive takeoff performance, but not quite to the same standard. If EZY ever get the Cseries... SOU (and a lot of other minor bases/operations) could be onto a real winner

I wish EZY and SOU the best and hope it turns into something good, SOU is one of my favourite UK airport. It was just, hands down, a lovely experience from start to finish

[SWBKCB]

they could just go full throttle and not worry on fuel burn?

You might want to consider the "L" in LCC!

If this be the case, what's stopping EZY? besides the useless management

Apart from the physical constraints already mentioned, how about their largest base 80 miles up the road?

[stewyb]

I don't think the odd additional route ex SOU i.e. Palma, Nice, Krakow, is going to concern EZY/Gatwick too much!

[Harry Wayfarers]

Palma, Nice and Krakow would take less than one airframe to operate so what would be the point?

[stewyb]

Can't the aircraft come from other EZY bases in to SOU, for example the summer base in PMI that already operates in to 11 of Easyjet uk airports?

[Harry Wayfarers]

And from Nice and Krakow?