Derry/Londonderry 2
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 536
Likes: 3
From: Derry
LDY has had a Glasgow flight since 1979. It was the original route from the airport and for a long time the only route. It seems inconceivable that it would no longer serve Glasgow.
Could Loganair be tempted back? Could BMI Regional operate it with their aircraft based at LDY which sits idle most of the day? Will the promise of a route development fund, now delayed due to the Stormont collapse, discourage rather than encourage operators if they sit back and wait until the route development fund goes ahead.
In the past LDY has served MAN (40K pax p.a.), BRS (35K), EMA (60K), BHX (60K), DUB (20K), LPL (50K), STN (with Ryanair 150K) and now GLA (70K). Is there not enough meat there to attract a suitable operator? The other two airports go from strength to strength.
Could Loganair be tempted back? Could BMI Regional operate it with their aircraft based at LDY which sits idle most of the day? Will the promise of a route development fund, now delayed due to the Stormont collapse, discourage rather than encourage operators if they sit back and wait until the route development fund goes ahead.
In the past LDY has served MAN (40K pax p.a.), BRS (35K), EMA (60K), BHX (60K), DUB (20K), LPL (50K), STN (with Ryanair 150K) and now GLA (70K). Is there not enough meat there to attract a suitable operator? The other two airports go from strength to strength.
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 158
Likes: 0
From: Scotland
Seemly FR asked if passengers would mind flying into EDI and they said yes but I wonder if they asked if you minded going to EDI at a higher cost! Anyway the LDY flight as my experience is always full at the weekend moving Rangers & Celtic fans around. Most stadiums are in the West, fans busses obviously leave Glasgow to the other games. Fans also want to be in Glasgow City Centre before and after the game. This will really affect these customers. The Old Firm fans will be the reason why the route works as i’m sure FR don’t sell £9.99 fares that weekend.
Also majority of people in Donegal with connections to Scotland are Glasgow & the West. This will make this route an expensive proposition in that you either get the bus to Buchanan Str and from there to your final destination at an added cost or relatives have to travel to EDI at a higher cost rather than GLA. I really don’t know who would come in as SAAB 340 or 2000 will be rather small, but maybe Loganair or it’s sister BMI may give it a go or Aer Lingus/Stobart Air?
Also majority of people in Donegal with connections to Scotland are Glasgow & the West. This will make this route an expensive proposition in that you either get the bus to Buchanan Str and from there to your final destination at an added cost or relatives have to travel to EDI at a higher cost rather than GLA. I really don’t know who would come in as SAAB 340 or 2000 will be rather small, but maybe Loganair or it’s sister BMI may give it a go or Aer Lingus/Stobart Air?
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 506
Likes: 0
From: Londonderry
SAAB 2000s are very nice aircraft from my own experience, just as good as the E145s. I think that the geographical location change will hurt the route but it's still going to a large Scottish city. All we need is the locals to start supporting Hearts and Hibs and we will be grand. One thing to take out of this is it wasn't one of the ones that were scrapped.
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,672
Likes: 11
From: Antrim
And then when the route fails guess which NI airport it will be transferred to..... thus giving FR coverage for London, the North West and Scotland, and beyond which I can't see a lot of other options for domestic.
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 120
Likes: 0
From: Londonderry
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 536
Likes: 3
From: Derry
I did wonder whether Ryanair moving to EDI could be a blessing in disguise.....
https://www.derrynow.com/news/breaki...ober/210646://
https://www.derrynow.com/news/breaki...ober/210646://
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 226
Likes: 0
From: Winterfell
I did wonder whether Ryanair moving to EDI could be a blessing in disguise.....
https://www.derrynow.com/news/breaki...ober/210646://
https://www.derrynow.com/news/breaki...ober/210646://
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 349
Likes: 0
From: United Kingdom
This announcement is excellent news for business travellers. Loganair's service, though only x5 weekly, allows business travellers to depart on Monday and return on Friday evening, something that Ryanair's schedule did not enable. I would be surprised if the route did not increase to x7 or x9 weekly in the near future as there is ample demand.
The announcement is also good news for the airport, and places it in a much stronger position. Just 12 months ago, Ryanair was the sole scheduled operator. From October the airport will be served by three airlines (for the first time since 2008), operating four domestic routes (for the first time since 2014).
The airport no longer has to rely exclusively on Ryanair, giving management more flexibility in charging fees etc. Also, the fact that both Airline Investments Limited (AIL) airlines will be serving the airport gives airport management the unique opportunity to expand the number of destinations served from the airport. bmi Regional's STN route is performing extremely well, with a load factor 20% higher than the airline's average. There is real potential for LDY management to secure new domestic routes and even a link to DUB. Only time will tell if LDY management seize this opportunity, or if they continue on their current trajectory of being lazy. Crunch time is coming, and unless LDY management can attract more routes and more passengers, inevitably the airport will be closed.
The announcement is also good news for the airport, and places it in a much stronger position. Just 12 months ago, Ryanair was the sole scheduled operator. From October the airport will be served by three airlines (for the first time since 2008), operating four domestic routes (for the first time since 2014).
The airport no longer has to rely exclusively on Ryanair, giving management more flexibility in charging fees etc. Also, the fact that both Airline Investments Limited (AIL) airlines will be serving the airport gives airport management the unique opportunity to expand the number of destinations served from the airport. bmi Regional's STN route is performing extremely well, with a load factor 20% higher than the airline's average. There is real potential for LDY management to secure new domestic routes and even a link to DUB. Only time will tell if LDY management seize this opportunity, or if they continue on their current trajectory of being lazy. Crunch time is coming, and unless LDY management can attract more routes and more passengers, inevitably the airport will be closed.
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 536
Likes: 3
From: Derry
A news article from 2015 about the formation of Airline Investments Limited (AIL):
New regional airline group created - BBC News
New regional airline group created - BBC News
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 780
Likes: 78
From: Outer London
Genuine question. Do you guys in Derry think a twice daily Saab to GLA along with your twice daily ERJ to STN would be a better outcome for the area than the existing handful of flights with FR? Substituting pax numbers for improved connectivity and business appeal?
