Flybe-9
I flew quite a few times on Ryanair when they had the STN-NQY route twice daily offered at good times of the time - always almost full or very busy 737-800
also flew on EZY too from SEN and back and loads were very good A319
Sadly they both gave it up - since then its been a pass the parcel=musical chairs on the LON routes......and still is it seems....
Also as a post suggested using the train from Cornwall - Fine if you have more than half a day to spend travelling - very nice views with nice new trains but your are looking at 5-6 hours journey time at the least, with only Exeter having very fast trains at 2 hours to London.
There is the sleeper train from PNZ and PLY to London which has a Govt sub.
also flew on EZY too from SEN and back and loads were very good A319
Sadly they both gave it up - since then its been a pass the parcel=musical chairs on the LON routes......and still is it seems....
Also as a post suggested using the train from Cornwall - Fine if you have more than half a day to spend travelling - very nice views with nice new trains but your are looking at 5-6 hours journey time at the least, with only Exeter having very fast trains at 2 hours to London.
There is the sleeper train from PNZ and PLY to London which has a Govt sub.

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The Viscount had charisma charm beautifully tuned Darts and passengers who weren’t afraid to place their luggage where its MENT to go and that’s not in the cabin !
Air travel was still a pleasure and flying for many had a sense of adventure through the seventies .
By the way the London - RAF ST Mawgan route was maintained by the even more esoteric Herald both BMA and Byrmon for many years.
Air travel was still a pleasure and flying for many had a sense of adventure through the seventies .
By the way the London - RAF ST Mawgan route was maintained by the even more esoteric Herald both BMA and Byrmon for many years.
Last edited by Rutan16; 19th Jan 2020 at 10:06.

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Also as a post suggested using the train from Cornwall - Fine if you have more than half a day to spend travelling - very nice views with nice new trains but your are looking at 5-6 hours journey time at the least, with only Exeter having very fast trains at 2 hours to London.
There is the sleeper train from PNZ and PLY to London which has a Govt sub.
There is the sleeper train from PNZ and PLY to London which has a Govt sub.
It’s still find it curious that MAN can support year-round, multiple daily commercial service to NQY while London apparently cannot? Maybe aircraft type really does play in. No one based at Gatwick/Heathrow has anything smaller than a 150 seat jet. The flyBe Q400s based at Manchester and other regional airports might be more suitable. Perhaps flyBe does add more to the UK connectivity story than they are given credit for. The likes of BA, easyJet and Ryanair would struggle to offer the same level of frequency on short routes.

Back in the late 70's and 80's LHR-NQY was flown twice a day by a Brymon 50 seat Herald or Dash 7 at intelligent times (early morning up to LHR, with an evening return back) and was usually always good loads or often full.
A third lunchtime flight was added via PLH or EXT that saw some decent loads but was a quieter service.
Not sure if Brymon had a Govt subsidy or not for this?
Move on almost 40 years and we are still faffing around deliberating over when and where to operate this viable route.
BMI Baby did the MAN-NQY route with a 737 and I think they did quite well?
A third lunchtime flight was added via PLH or EXT that saw some decent loads but was a quieter service.
Not sure if Brymon had a Govt subsidy or not for this?
Move on almost 40 years and we are still faffing around deliberating over when and where to operate this viable route.
BMI Baby did the MAN-NQY route with a 737 and I think they did quite well?

Back in the late 70's and 80's LHR-NQY was flown twice a day by a Brymon 50 seat Herald or Dash 7
Bu that was before the A30 was dualed west of Exeter - travel times by car (on a good day) must an hour or so less now
Bu that was before the A30 was dualed west of Exeter - travel times by car (on a good day) must an hour or so less now

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In amongst all this London discussion it seems to have been missed that Flybe have announced a new 6x weekly service from Newquay to Amsterdam, which may address some of the connectivity issues with the move away from Heathrow.

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I did miss that. It should do well, Especially as it is likely to have a VS code and connect well to the AF/KL joint venture.

I would have thought the MAN and LGW Flybe (aka Virgin Connect - when it happens) services from NQY will now bode with interlining onward to Virgin Atlantic's main line services + the AMS connection works nicely with both Delta and KLM.

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I entirely agree that the train is a days travelling, the reality is that Cornwall is relatively remote from major conurbations - all part of the attraction, of course!
It’s still find it curious that MAN can support year-round, multiple daily commercial service to NQY while London apparently cannot? Maybe aircraft type really does play in. No one based at Gatwick/Heathrow has anything smaller than a 150 seat jet. The flyBe Q400s based at Manchester and other regional airports might be more suitable. Perhaps flyBe does add more to the UK connectivity story than they are given credit for. The likes of BA, easyJet and Ryanair would struggle to offer the same level of frequency on short routes.
It’s still find it curious that MAN can support year-round, multiple daily commercial service to NQY while London apparently cannot? Maybe aircraft type really does play in. No one based at Gatwick/Heathrow has anything smaller than a 150 seat jet. The flyBe Q400s based at Manchester and other regional airports might be more suitable. Perhaps flyBe does add more to the UK connectivity story than they are given credit for. The likes of BA, easyJet and Ryanair would struggle to offer the same level of frequency on short routes.
I think the PSO is to guarantee the route, BA will only commit to summer only, Ryanair pulled out.... With a guaranteed income on a London route then an airline can use it to try other services....

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I really do not understand this
The government didn’t step in to assist Flybe for them to launch a London-Disseldorf route which is already very well served.
I thought it was the UK regions we needed help with!
The government didn’t step in to assist Flybe for them to launch a London-Disseldorf route which is already very well served.
I thought it was the UK regions we needed help with!

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Just let hope Flybe will stay alive.

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Easy to say whilst living in a large city or otherwise prosperous/well-connected area. Perhaps more sympathy for PSOs if living in a more remote/cut-off community where travel may be a necessity eg hospital appointment, college

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Scilly Isles, Hebrides etc, lifeline services.
Derry, Newquay, Dundee
Then we come to third level domestic like Southampton to Aberdeen.
Where do you draw the line?

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So at a point of crisis where the government intervenes to save this ailing enterprise, they are going to launch a Heathrow Dusseldorf route, at least this is what's been mentioned. Financial suicide. Why on earth would they join a route operated by two strong players who have huge frequent flier programs, high frequencies and jet aircraft?
Flybe will not have frequency and therefore not be able to cater for business traffic. Hence, it's a leisure route and Heathrow is expensive for that. Maybe it's a test for VS connections.
What a big mess ..
This route doesn't seem to be bookable yet ..
Flybe will not have frequency and therefore not be able to cater for business traffic. Hence, it's a leisure route and Heathrow is expensive for that. Maybe it's a test for VS connections.
What a big mess ..
This route doesn't seem to be bookable yet ..
Last edited by EI-BUD; 21st Jan 2020 at 05:14.
