Flybe-9
Join Date: Dec 2011
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Virgin's main base is Heathrow where slots are unavailable unless you spend huge quantities of money. Bmi found out 10 years ago that flying anything under about 150 seats doesn't work when slots cost so much. Dash 8s on a large scale just won't work at LHR
That leaves just Manchester which has plenty of people but a fraction of the corporate cash, and is much more focussed on leisure routes (ie business travel for big cash is much rarer). Lots of PR fluff but I'm struggling to see a profitable business plan in this. Anyone able to enlighten me ?
That leaves just Manchester which has plenty of people but a fraction of the corporate cash, and is much more focussed on leisure routes (ie business travel for big cash is much rarer). Lots of PR fluff but I'm struggling to see a profitable business plan in this. Anyone able to enlighten me ?
Getting the largest and most dominant regional airline in the country for peanuts and inheriting a much lower cost base in the process to build your feed from sounds like a good move to me.
Join Date: Mar 2013
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Slot pairs at AMS or CDG do not sell for $75m a time like they do at LHR.
Join Date: Mar 2003
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I would not read too much into the "Connect" part. BA Connect did no feed BA at LHR or LGW, despite the Connect part in its name.
And how will they get slots at LHR? You cannot just give them a call and they will hand you dozens of slots on a silverplate, even if you are Scrooge McDuck. And we are not talkig about "slots" for an additional daily flight or so, but about slots that are suitable for running a proper hub and spoke operation feeding VS longhaul flights.
And how will they get slots at LHR? You cannot just give them a call and they will hand you dozens of slots on a silverplate, even if you are Scrooge McDuck. And we are not talkig about "slots" for an additional daily flight or so, but about slots that are suitable for running a proper hub and spoke operation feeding VS longhaul flights.
Join Date: Aug 2014
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I saw Eastern tweeting to say something along the lines of this being good news so one would assume they’ve been consulted and things will continue for them as normal
Join Date: Apr 1999
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This evenings update doesn't add much to what has been released already apart from a clear indication of "downsizing" - no hint as to how big that might be. Also I'm now convinced this will be a relatively slow transition so no major fireworks immediately.
Join Date: Jun 2010
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Agreed. 'Connect Airways' is the name of the holding company on the initial buyout so unless they had a comprehensive business plan from day one (and the length of time it's taken to roll the brand out suggests they had no such thing) it's just a name.
Join Date: Nov 2006
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You do realise slots are not going to be available for a long time? They are only making around 3 a week at the moment, and it will take a while for that to be increased significantly. There is already a sizable backlog with orders about to flood in. Amazing how long its taken airlines to realise that the only clean sheet design narrow-body jet for decades might actually be the way to go 
Of course Rivet Joint, that was my point. I never expected any investment/ order but reading on this forum it was seen as a hot option... despite the current Swiss set back I think 220 is a super plane and well do great.
Join Date: May 2011
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From this morning's news:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-50066255
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-50066255
Join Date: Mar 2003
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"At its heart, Virgin Connect will be passionately focused on becoming Europe's most loved and successful regional airline".
"As Flybe, we have been connecting passengers across the UK and Europe for 40 years...Virgin Connect will continue our work as Europe’s Largest Regional Airline."
"We will differentiate ourselves in the regional market upon rebranding next year."
"We will remain true to our heritage and reason for being, which is offering essential regional connectivity to local communities."
"We’ll be saying goodbye to purple and hello to red...whilst continuing to connect the regions & our passengers to what matters most."
Btw, the Virgin Connect brand already exists for a Virigin broadband operator in Russia. So I guess flights to Russia will be out of question....
Join Date: Mar 2006
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EXTLCY
Surprised it hasn’t come up - is there anything beyond the anodyne “suspended in Jan” message around EXTLCY Monday rotation? Seems an odd one to pull if you’re not taking the route out altogether - Mondays and Thursday/Friday must surely be the tent poles for load and yield...
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Join Date: Dec 2003
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From the picture they used a drone to capture that image. Would Exeter Airport have welcomed that so they could get a photo in front of a hangar or similar infrastructure?
Join Date: Apr 2019
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I think the management need to be a little more enthused about their new airline.
Flybe (even as they stand today) provide so many connections around (and outside) of the UK that nobody else does, and that people rely on, that I can't see an overnight/wholesale change to feeding VS/Delta etc. long-haul only.
Join Date: Apr 2008
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We are already seeing a 'slimmed down' airline with regards to route network/inventory and this will probably be slashed even further when S20 is released. As discussed previous, I really cannot see how the new business will make money from their long haul bases (MAN/LHR) as the majority of regional traffic doesn't feed in to these hubs. Could understand if BHX was also a VS hub but instead looks like this deal has been done in readiness for runway 3 at LHR and greater slot allocations!
