Derry/Londonderry 2

[jamessh]

I think it is something that could be done. Not by me or realistically anyone on this forum but it is an under served market and for all markets under served business opportunities arise. Does anyone know how the holidays are getting on load wise? If they have spare seats why don't they sell tickets for the flight without the holiday package? I just hope someone brings back Faro, it always had good loads.

James,

[chuboy]

Originally Posted by jamessh

Thanks for the information I thought a low yield airline like Stobart would put two parked ATR 42's to good use. They are in good shape after all... Anyone know what aircraft are inactive?

EI-CBK and EI-EHH.

I didn't fly them personally but I'm not sure it's fair to say they are in good shape! 30 years of 6-8 sectors a day (if that's not good use I don't know what is), there was never a lot of life left in the old faithfuls. Towards the end they were really showing their age and definitely had their fair share of tech issues.

They're both parked up in Maastricht now.

[A320.b744]

Originally Posted by jamessh

I just hope someone brings back Faro, it always had good loads.

Ryanair operated LDY-FAO with an average load factor of 71% 2010-16, with it ranging from as high as 78% in 2013 to as low as 67% in 2010. Those aren't great loads on a route to one of Europe's most popular holiday destinations, and doesn't bode well for Ryanair making a return. A peak summer charter with TUI could possibly work however.

[BFSGK]

Regarding the proposed closure of the airport, there is one crucial point that hasn't yet been made.

The only people who benefit from LDY without having to pay for the luxury of having a local airport are travellers living in ROI. However, it should be up to the Irish government to provide transport links for their citizens. It should not be the duty of the people of NI as a whole (by paying for the STN PSO through taxes), and in particular the people living in Derry council (who have to pay for the airport itself through their rates).

Here is what users of the airport have to pay;

Living in Derry council: flights, airport, PSO
Living across the rest of NI: flights, PSO
Living in ROI: flights

And here's what people who don't use the airport have to pay

Living in Derry council: airport, PSO
Living across the rest of NI: PSO
Living in ROI: ----


LDY should be good value for money for local people, but that simply isn't the case. Privatising the airport would help reduce the total cost for those living within Derry council, and honestly if the airport can't find an airline willing to operate to London without being handed shed loads of money, it's simply not worth it. Improving the road and rail links between Derry and BFS is the only way that will provide long term economic growth for the region, as well as a proactive approach from the council to promote tourism to the area.

[AerRyan]

You expect to turn around and ask the Irish government for money, and for them to go "ah ya here's a bag of cash for ye to waste"

Perhaps we should start charging the nordies for the use of Dublin Airport? We know some many of ye love using it

[jamessh]

BFSGK

I completely agree. I think privatization is the way to go. The airport has been handed buckets of money in the last two years with another 7.8 million still stuck in the works. I think Derry has potential to be a great little regional airport and after a few years of steady expansion even support a few rotations a week of light European routes Amsterdam and Paris etc. The problem is regional airlines are scared of of the two certain profit routes (Liverpool and Glasgow) by Ryanair who pay next to nothing per flight. I think if the airport had a major restructure effort and got rid of Ryanair you would find airlines like Loganair and Eastern or even Flybe move in and start some routes. CODA needs to stop relying on PSO routes and Ryanair's business and start to appeal to airlines who are very specialized in growth of airports like Derry.

The airline and council needs to get a grip and sort out keeping the airport operational and get bloody Ryanair out once and for all

Can anyone add anything?

James,

[owenc]

I was just going to say, why does the ROI government not pay some money towards it considering the number of Donegal people who use it?

Tbh, i'd be willing to close the airport, if we were guaranteed dualing the WHOLE way to Belfast and from Coleraine to Belfast.

We need the railway lines Dualled too.

[owenc]

Originally Posted by AerRyan

You expect to turn around and ask the Irish government for money, and for them to go "ah ya here's a bag of cash for ye to waste"

Perhaps we should start charging the nordies for the use of Dublin Airport? We know some many of ye love using it

Dublin airport isn't subsidized on a thread.

[AerRyan]

It's not, but the capital for all the projects aren't excusively DAA funded.

In essence, it's a ridiculous proposition.

[Una Due Tfc]

Originally Posted by owenc

I was just going to say, why does the ROI government not pay some money towards it considering the number of Donegal people who use it?.

I suspect they’d just go CFN-DUB-XXX instead if you tried, and then the airport figures would look even worse.

[A320.b744]

The most cost effective and ultimately the only long term solution for the region would be to invest heavily in the region's rail and road links. If travel times to BFS were reduced, then there would be a lot less need for LDY in the first place.

The main issue is that the money that could fund such investment projects is currently being spent on keeping LDY open. The question is do we close LDY and then invest in the road/rail network using the money made available, or do we wait until alternative funding is found for infrastructure, and only close the airport once the new roads are open?

The first option would be the most efficient and the quickest to implement, but would the local community accept short-term pain for long-term gain?

[owenc]

You will not get journey times down much quicker than 20 minutes.

I take the new dual carriageway through Ballymoney and it still takes 60 minutes.

Speed limits would need be increased to 80mph and roads dualled right the way to Belfast airport.

None of these things will happen in Northern Ireland because the local government is not interested in improving transport.

[Amelia Earhart]

Let's get real, the airport loses £2 million per year, the A6 and A5 need £2 billion of investment, ergo it would be 1000 years before any "savings" from closing LDY could pay for the roads.

[SealinkBF]

Tonight's departure to Stansted is delayed, no hold baggage can be carried so a whole rigmarole underway.
Luggage will be sent over on Wednesday evenings flight.

A shame. PSO Services like this deserve better.

[Fly757X]

Found this when trawling through the webs today: Marcon lands fit-out contract at City of Derry Airport - The Irish News

[owenc]

I rarely fly to Stansted from Derry, looks like i’m not missing out on much.

[buzz_hornet]

Originally Posted by SealinkBF

Tonight's departure to Stansted is delayed, no hold baggage can be carried so a whole rigmarole underway.
Luggage will be sent over on Wednesday evenings flight.

A shame. PSO Services like this deserve better.

Problem with the hold?

[SealinkBF]

Originally Posted by buzz_hornet

Problem with the hold?

The fire extinguisher is not working.

[Fly757X]

CAA stats for April 2018:

LDY movements:

543 (2018)

363 (2017)

Increase of 66%

Passenger numbers:

14,988 (2018) = 42% Increase

Passengers per route:

- GLASGOW = 6,954 = -8%
- LIVERPOOL = 3,916 = +30%
- LONDON (STN) = 4,415

Seems like a good improvement but this was the "Dark Month" when Ryanair pulled STN and BMI were yet to start.

Any news of the Balkan Holidays Charter for next year that was announced in here a while ago. Londonderry was appearing as a departure airport for a while but has since been taken off. Just sheer laziness from the BH team?

[speedbirdATC]

I see LDY - GLA is reduced to 3 x weekly for September and October, with the Tuesday and Sarurday rotations both gone. Is the FR GLA base downsizing early before closing or low demand on these days?
LDY - EDI still showing 5 x weekly from its start date though.