Flybe-9

[PDXCWL45]

Originally Posted by DC3 Dave

Because one of the stated aims of the acquisition is to increase passenger numbers at SEN.

and they have achieved that through fr and Ezy.

[brian_dromey]

The GCI flights are interesting. Thats another 'new domestic' route for LHR, on one hand it suggests that there is demand to/from LHR to places like Leeds, Inverness, Newquay and Guernsey. I imagine Heathrow will be pleased with these destinations as it adds to their argument that only Heathrow should be the UK hub.

Given the timings, utilisation is pretty poor, though and I don't think connections are great either? 15:45 is a bit late for the majority of US departures and 17:20 means spending most of the day at LHR if you are coming from the east coast. I image these timings might be adjusted over time, as part of the larger VS/DL/AF/KL pool, to give a quicker turnaround, if nothing else.

[PDXCWL45]

Originally Posted by brian_dromey

The GCI flights are interesting. Thats another 'new domestic' route for LHR, on one hand it suggests that there is demand to/from LHR to places like Leeds, Inverness, Newquay and Guernsey. I imagine Heathrow will be pleased with these destinations as it adds to their argument that only Heathrow should be the UK hub.

Given the timings, utilisation is pretty poor, though and I don't think connections are great either? 15:45 is a bit late for the majority of US departures and 17:20 means spending most of the day at LHR if you are coming from the east coast. I image these timings might be adjusted over time, as part of the larger VS/DL/AF/KL pool, to give a quicker turnaround, if nothing else.

Or it's a paid slot sitter?

[mullac30]

Originally Posted by PDXCWL45

Or it's a paid slot sitter?

That's what they said about BA's LHR-INV, but seems to be more than that now its operating at 16 weekly this summer.

[brian_dromey]

Originally Posted by mullac30

That's what they said about BA's LHR-INV, but seems to be more than that now its operating at 16 weekly this summer.

and LBA-LHR. Although frequency there has been reduced. The mantra has been “there’s no money in domestic flights” for so long, it’s difficult to adjust. To believe that you have to ignore the numerous connections to AMS, DUB and CDG from almost every regional airport in the UK. EI, AF and KL mix O&D and connecting passengers to full planes. Just as BA should. To play devils advocate, rail is more often a viable alternative for travel to London, there’s no security or check-in times to worry about, but a swim in the North Sea can be chilly!

As LHR’s marketing message changes to aid the delivery of R3, it’s extraordonary how slots can be found for what we’re previously “unviable” flights, “wasted slots” and “too small, too noisy, turboprops”.

[DC3 Dave]

Originally Posted by PDXCWL45

and they have achieved that through fr and Ezy.

One of the stated aims (of the Flybe acquisition) is to increase passenger numbers at SEN. That was in statements from the both the Stobart Group and Connect. The FR announcement came many months before.

[virginblue]

Is the GCI-LHR route getting a subsidy from the States (despite Aurigny ownership)? If not, I find it difficult to understand why an airline would start GCI-LHR before JER-LHR. As some will remember, the LHR route has been an issue for Guernsey for decades. The now famous litigation concerning the lawfulness of slot trading had its starting point with Air UK axing the LHR-GCI and selling the slots, leading to demands that slots should also be owned by an airport or state authority and not only an airline in order to be able to protect vital air services.

[cobopete]

States of Guernsey are providing FlyBE with a subsidy to operate the service.

[virginblue]

Thanks. As suspected

[kcockayne]

Originally Posted by cobopete

States of Guernsey are providing FlyBE with a subsidy to operate the service.

So, they are writing off AUR’s annual losses in order to keep the Gatwick services operating & subsiding a service by BEE to Heathrow, which competes with the Gatwick service . Interesting !

[BFS watcher]

Flybe sale

3 minutes 40 seconds in is a piece with the Chairman proposed by the Tinkler bid

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p071jrpr

[flybeboy]

Flybe deal done,

Flybe say the sale is complet sold to connect group. So virgin colours for flybe. Now lets see if they keep exeter hq, maintance or let stobart do it. Good news

[PDXCWL45]

Here's the link to the tweet.
https://twitter.com/flybe/status/1098676330659569665

[fjencl]

Flybe completes sale to Virgin-led consortium after dramatic last-minute challenger bid led by Mesa airlines | City A.M.

[TartinTon]

You can be sure that the commercial operation will be moving to Dublin...no way that someone with the ego of Warwick Brady will allow anything else. Hopefully they'll clear out several layers of managerial waste at Flybe that have been allowed to grow over the past 3-4 years

[PDXCWL45]

Originally Posted by TartinTon

You can be sure that the commercial operation will be moving to Dublin...no way that someone with the ego of Warwick Brady will allow anything else. Hopefully they'll clear out several layers of managerial waste at Flybe that have been allowed to grow over the past 3-4 years

I don't see how they can with Brexit coming up. Flybe is a UK airline so i'd have thought it would have to be run from the UK but i guess only time will tell.

[Reversethrustset]

Why would it need to be run from the UK? Dyson is a UK company and its moving it's HQ to Singapore.

[The96er]

Originally Posted by Reversethrustset

Why would it need to be run from the UK? Dyson is a UK company and its moving it's HQ to Singapore.

The rules for airline ownership are different to those of vacuum cleaner manufacturers.

[ib26uk]

Daft question alert

Could Connect Airways become like IAG?..............

Buying up airlines to become a major airline group.........

I`m a regular flybe customer so I`m pleased that they now have a future

[Cazza_fly]

Originally Posted by ib26uk

Daft question alert

Could Connect Airways become like IAG?..............

Buying up airlines to become a major airline group.........

I`m a regular flybe customer so I`m pleased that they now have a future

It wouldn't be a bad plan and there's no reason why Flybe shouldn't continue operating under the flybe name and brand, whilst still having closer ties to Virgin Atlantic and its "Connect Airways" group owners.