Unserved European destinations from London

[davidjohnson6]

London through 6 airports is connected with nonstop flights to a huge number of destinations. However each year airlines somehow come up with unserved routes and either open new routes or resume previously unserved routes. This is not about airport pairs (eg flown from Gatwick but not Luton) - I'm thinking of city pairs, namely towns/cities in Europe (or close to Europe) that do not have nonstop flights to any of the 6 airports that are normally considered to be London-focussed (LHR, LGW, STN, LTN, LCY, SEN)

I've chosen London simply because its aviation market is so much larger than anywhere else in the UK and tends to see new routes to see cities well before anywhere else in the UK


In 2019, I can think of:
Brest, Carlisle (maybe !), Rijeka, Rodez, Turku, Vigo - resumption
Calvi - former charter only, now scheduled
Eilat, Istanbul, Murcia - new airport built, old airport closing/closed

I realise that the B word looms large (please don't turn this into a political discussion) but what destinations currently unserved from London might be under consideration for the next 12 to 18 months ?
I can think of maybe Akureryri, Brac, Graz, Karpathos, Lugano, Odessa or the new Scandinavian Mountains airport, but these are all a bit of a guess.

Please note - this is not a "What routes would make you happy" question - I'm thinking of routes for which a genuine business case exists, one can identify a plausible airline for the route, potential demand is credible, and an airline has a good chance of profitability - expect to be challenged if you are playing a metaphorical "blindfolded pin the tail on the donkey" !

[N707ZS]

How about Durham Tees Valley to London, one to get you going. In the local DTVA media the locals think its in need.

[darren1]

How about Osijek, Tuzla, Banja Luka, Mostar, Sarajevo and Nis?

[toledoashley]

Either Leipzig or Dresden (FR are cancelling Leipzig this summer).

[rog747]

Originally Posted by N707ZS

How about Durham Tees Valley to London, one to get you going. In the local DTVA media the locals think its in need.

Sigh
At BMA we did LHR-MME 5 x daily back in the day

Full DC-9's on both morning and both evening dep's
Hot breakfast and Hot dinner

[Expressflight]

Originally Posted by N707ZS

How about Durham Tees Valley to London, one to get you going. In the local DTVA media the locals think its in need.

I suppose with Middlesbrough to London by train taking 3hrs15min, which requires a change at Darlington, it might have some marginal appeal.

[SilverCityKid]

Yesterday I was looking for direct flights from Manchester to Corsica (capital Ajaccio) and according to Skyscanner there are no direct flights from the UK to Corsica. Is this really true, do you really have to fly to Paris and change airports or alternatively transfer at some other point in France ?

[rog747]

Originally Posted by SilverCityKid

Yesterday I was looking for direct flights from Manchester to Corsica (capital Ajaccio) and according to Skyscanner there are no direct flights from the UK to Corsica. Is this really true, do you really have to fly to Paris and change airports or alternatively transfer at some other point in France ?

Air Corsica opening up 4 routes from STN if that helps (ex MAN)

[DC3 Dave]

Cardiff. Yes, I know there's a motorway and fast frequent train service, but that applies to a number of UK cities.

[toledoashley]

SilverCityKid - there is a Manchester to Calvi flight, which is a flybe charter on behalf of Corsican Places which you can buy flight only.

[SilverCityKid]

Thak you Toledo !

[jensdad]

Are there any direct flights to Skopje? I think BA used to do it from Gatwick but no longer.

[darren1]

Originally Posted by jensdad

Are there any direct flights to Skopje? I think BA used to do it from Gatwick but no longer.

Yes, Wizz have been operating for the last 10 years.

[sixchannel]

Originally Posted by Expressflight

I suppose with Middlesbrough to London by train taking 3hrs15min, which requires a change at Darlington, it might have some marginal appeal.

Appeal -- nil
Check in 2 hours
Flight - 1 hour? + any peak hour stacking merry go round.
Getting out of LHR - 15 - 30 mins
Tube to centre London (extra cost) - 40 mins
So, more than 4 hrs total and loads of hassle.
Unless you were connecting at LHR its a non-runner.

[tigertanaka]

Originally Posted by sixchannel

Appeal -- nil
Check in 2 hours
Flight - 1 hour? + any peak hour stacking merry go round.
Getting out of LHR - 15 - 30 mins
Tube to centre London (extra cost) - 40 mins
So, more than 4 hrs total and loads of hassle.
Unless you were connecting at LHR its a non-runner.

I think this is a very negative view of the situation:

In my 70 odd flights from MME, I dont think I have ever arrived at the airport more than 45 minutes before departure.
A domestic flight arriving at T5 or T2 takes 5 minutes from leaving the plane to the arrivals area
Heathrow Express is 15 minutes to Paddington

MME to LHR would probably work fine but does need a mixture of O&D and connecting feed (just need to find $60m for a couple of slot pairs), I’m not convinced another airport such as LCY or LGW would stack up.

[compton3bravo]

Two airport's inSpain - Salamanca and Vitoria-Gasteiz the capital of the Basque region but has Santander and Bilbao fairly close.

[AirportPlanner1]

Yerevan is perhaps the last/only unserved capital city (that has an airport). I think BMIR/BMI went there in the past. FR are reportedly in talks but that wouldn’t necessarily be from UK, possibly it’s too far for single crew.

[840]

I'm always a bit surprised that there is no service from London to the Faeroe Islands. They have flights in summer to Edinburgh and a hub connection in Paris, but considering London is their nearest major city, it seems like an opportunity.

[Wycombe]

but considering London is their nearest major city

Nearest geographically maybe, but Copenhagen is of course the mother-Capital City for the Faroes. Multiple daily flights there from Vagar.

[BA318]

Originally Posted by 840

I'm always a bit surprised that there is no service from London to the Faeroe Islands. They have flights in summer to Edinburgh and a hub connection in Paris, but considering London is their nearest major city, it seems like an opportunity.

Atlantic Airways previously operated to STN but dropped it a few years back. I think they also flew to ABZ at some point.