Southampton-3
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I don’t see why it is the responsibility of the airport to advertise new routes if the airlines don’t think it is needed. Airlines launch new routes all the time without the public being told but passengers still manage to find them.
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I'm sure I read an article a few years ago, albeit based on Ryanair, in that they feel they hardly ever have to promote a new route now. Just their own brand and size is enough to drive attention. For the life of me I can't seem to find it now.
I do wonder what the airport's overall PR strategy is? Certainly wouldn't harm having a bit more.
Airline wise, Jet2 are always on my local radio advertising for Bristol. Anyone from the Southampton area old enough to still listen to local radio hear anything from easyjet?
I do wonder what the airport's overall PR strategy is? Certainly wouldn't harm having a bit more.
Airline wise, Jet2 are always on my local radio advertising for Bristol. Anyone from the Southampton area old enough to still listen to local radio hear anything from easyjet?
As per usual I have settled the argument a few posts ago and we still have people talking about marketing like it’s make or break. I can only assume you are Russian bot accounts or never book flights as if you did you would know people just use flight comparison sites like sky scanner to find the cheapest way to get to their desired location. The next section of people will have a preferred airline and will simply go direct to their website and fly them regardless. Then there are the few who are wealthy enough to not care. In all cases no amount of marketing for flights that are more expensive is going to have much of an effect. If SOU has cheap flights then people will start flying from there. This really simple stuff.
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How have you managed to contradict yourself in the same post? You start by reiterating my point that marketing isn’t that important and then go on to talk about radio advertising being of use.
As per usual I have settled the argument a few posts ago and we still have people talking about marketing like it’s make or break. I can only assume you are Russian bot accounts or never book flights as if you did you would know people just use flight comparison sites like sky scanner to find the cheapest way to get to their desired location. The next section of people will have a preferred airline and will simply go direct to their website and fly them regardless. Then there are the few who are wealthy enough to not care. In all cases no amount of marketing for flights that are more expensive is going to have much of an effect. If SOU has cheap flights then people will start flying from there. This really simple stuff.
As per usual I have settled the argument a few posts ago and we still have people talking about marketing like it’s make or break. I can only assume you are Russian bot accounts or never book flights as if you did you would know people just use flight comparison sites like sky scanner to find the cheapest way to get to their desired location. The next section of people will have a preferred airline and will simply go direct to their website and fly them regardless. Then there are the few who are wealthy enough to not care. In all cases no amount of marketing for flights that are more expensive is going to have much of an effect. If SOU has cheap flights then people will start flying from there. This really simple stuff.
I'm not sure I've contradicted myself. I've simply stated what I've read and observed. It's perfectly plausible low cost airlines generate interest in routes simply by operating from somewhere and a bit of further PR from the airport can go nicely in hand with that. They're not mutually exclusive.
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I'm not too surprised if I'm honest. All the trips I have booked recently have been with easyJet.
Whilst I would want to remain loyal to Loganair, as they have operated the route(s) during challenging times, they are operating an aircraft where the overheads are just too high. The lack on competition previously has meant that they can charge quite a lot of money, especially when near the flight and only sell you Fly Flex + for £340 one way. Combine this with somewhat poor reliability and you can see why people are jumping ship (or plane as it were).
Whilst I would want to remain loyal to Loganair, as they have operated the route(s) during challenging times, they are operating an aircraft where the overheads are just too high. The lack on competition previously has meant that they can charge quite a lot of money, especially when near the flight and only sell you Fly Flex + for £340 one way. Combine this with somewhat poor reliability and you can see why people are jumping ship (or plane as it were).
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I completely agree, except the problem with Southampton is that so many of the potential users of the new services have no idea that SOU provides such services. At airports such as Bristol, Birmingham and even Bournemouth, people expect to be able to fly a range of holiday destinations and European cities as a matter of course, but there are still far too many people locally who still think - 'oh yes, Eastleigh Airport, that's the place where you can get a plane to the Channel Islands'.
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Another charming post from the forum's sweetheart, full of festive cheer as ever.
I'm not sure I've contradicted myself. I've simply stated what I've read and observed. It's perfectly plausible low cost airlines generate interest in routes simply by operating from somewhere and a bit of further PR from the airport can go nicely in hand with that. They're not mutually exclusive.
I'm not sure I've contradicted myself. I've simply stated what I've read and observed. It's perfectly plausible low cost airlines generate interest in routes simply by operating from somewhere and a bit of further PR from the airport can go nicely in hand with that. They're not mutually exclusive.
Its clear Southampton airport need to up their game on promoting the easy access,routes,and passenger ease the airport can offer
To survive and flourish this has to be there priority
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Just remember Rivet joint has a blinkered look on SOU developments,unless you agree with him,your view is not acceptable!
Its clear Southampton airport need to up their game on promoting the easy access,routes,and passenger ease the airport can offer
To survive and flourish this has to be there priority
Its clear Southampton airport need to up their game on promoting the easy access,routes,and passenger ease the airport can offer
To survive and flourish this has to be there priority
Last edited by SouthernAlliance; 15th Dec 2023 at 16:54.
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Used both new Easyjet services to BFS and GLA several times and both were near full on all flights, so they obviously don't need to advertise. Also used the Loganair service yesterday from Glasgow with the Easyjet flight operating soon after it and the Loganair flight was nearly full too.
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The airports PR team are now advertising BA ski flights to Bergerac in the Dordogne of all places. Geography is obviously not one of their strong points!
Last edited by SKOJB; 16th Dec 2023 at 10:49.
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I very rarely, if ever comment, on this thread as it is always comes across as divisive and at times acrimonious. However, as concerns publicity both the airlines and the airport
seem to be very active on the online social media companies I frequent. Both business and leisure customers seem to be correctly targeted.
seem to be very active on the online social media companies I frequent. Both business and leisure customers seem to be correctly targeted.
but I see that both the GLA and BFS are only operating as bi-weekly flight days until the start of next Summer's season when they (sort of) go daily but with various dribs and drabs of some days with no flights.
I have no hesitation to add that IMO, Manchester would also see a good uptake, if EZY UK had the capacity at MAN to fit it in.
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It is still survival, and if it wasn’t for investors to see potential and keep chipping in to keep the place going, the airport would have been closed already.
SOU has been one of the UK airports with the slowest recovery post covid, the proof of runway extension needed for survival is more than proved.
Now is just hoping for Easyjet to keep good loads and from next year start expanding their routes or other airlines become interested too.
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1 million pax doesn’t make it profitable, the airport needs to turn 1.3 to 1.5 million to break even…let alone recover all the millions lost through the last 3 years.
It is still survival, and if it wasn’t for investors to see potential and keep chipping in to keep the place going, the airport would have been closed already.
SOU has been one of the UK airports with the slowest recovery post covid, the proof of runway extension needed for survival is more than proved.
Now is just hoping for Easyjet to keep good loads and from next year start expanding their routes or other airlines become interested too.
It is still survival, and if it wasn’t for investors to see potential and keep chipping in to keep the place going, the airport would have been closed already.
SOU has been one of the UK airports with the slowest recovery post covid, the proof of runway extension needed for survival is more than proved.
Now is just hoping for Easyjet to keep good loads and from next year start expanding their routes or other airlines become interested too.
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1 million pax doesn’t make it profitable, the airport needs to turn 1.3 to 1.5 million to break even…let alone recover all the millions lost through the last 3 years.
It is still survival, and if it wasn’t for investors to see potential and keep chipping in to keep the place going, the airport would have been closed already.
SOU has been one of the UK airports with the slowest recovery post covid, the proof of runway extension needed for survival is more than proved.
Now is just hoping for Easyjet to keep good loads and from next year start expanding their routes or other airlines become interested too.
It is still survival, and if it wasn’t for investors to see potential and keep chipping in to keep the place going, the airport would have been closed already.
SOU has been one of the UK airports with the slowest recovery post covid, the proof of runway extension needed for survival is more than proved.
Now is just hoping for Easyjet to keep good loads and from next year start expanding their routes or other airlines become interested too.
Last edited by SKOJB; 18th Dec 2023 at 08:32.
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1 million pax doesn’t make it profitable, the airport needs to turn 1.3 to 1.5 million to break even…let alone recover all the millions lost through the last 3 years.
It is still survival, and if it wasn’t for investors to see potential and keep chipping in to keep the place going, the airport would have been closed already.
It is still survival, and if it wasn’t for investors to see potential and keep chipping in to keep the place going, the airport would have been closed already.
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1 million pax doesn’t make it profitable, the airport needs to turn 1.3 to 1.5 million to break even…let alone recover all the millions lost through the last 3 years.
It is still survival, and if it wasn’t for investors to see potential and keep chipping in to keep the place going, the airport would have been closed already.
SOU has been one of the UK airports with the slowest recovery post covid, the proof of runway extension needed for survival is more than proved.
Now is just hoping for Easyjet to keep good loads and from next year start expanding their routes or other airlines become interested too.
It is still survival, and if it wasn’t for investors to see potential and keep chipping in to keep the place going, the airport would have been closed already.
SOU has been one of the UK airports with the slowest recovery post covid, the proof of runway extension needed for survival is more than proved.
Now is just hoping for Easyjet to keep good loads and from next year start expanding their routes or other airlines become interested too.
Also, SOU has been one of the better airports at getting its routes back and from a diverse bunch of carriers. It’s currently got 8 different carriers which I think most regional airports would be jealous of. The reason SOUs passenger numbers haven’t recovered as fast is because LM fly tiny little business jets which can only take 50 passengers at a time and tickets are a lot. That’s not SOUs fault and is why they are keen to move on to EZY. LM do 4 flights a day to GLA/EDI which is only 200 seats each way. No where near enough to satisfy demand or indeed boost SOUs passenger numbers back to where they should be.
Also, there is no flybe type operation that bridges the gap between a too expensive LM and a low cost operator which there was when SOU was at its height. Again, not SOUs fault. When EZY can grow at SOU they will and we will be back at the 2m annual passenger mark.
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The airport is over 100 hectares of land right next to a large city, a motorway and rail network. I imagine this would make it a prime site for one of the many fulfilment centres that seem to be springing up all over the country. From a financial point of view wouldn't it make more sense for AGS to sell Southampton and keep their more profitable airports operating?
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[QUOTE=Rivet Joint
Also, there is no flybe type operation that bridges the gap between a too expensive LM and a low cost operator which there was when SOU was at its height. Again, not SOUs fault. When EZY can grow at SOU they will and we will be back at the 2m annual passenger mark.[/QUOTE]
Here’s a question for you. Why do you think no one has tried a Flybe type operation?
A/ because airline executives are stupid and can’t see what a golden opportunity this is?
B/ because Dash 8 - 400s are so popular that there aren’t any available?
C because the Flybe business model lost a shed load of money (twice)?
Also, there is no flybe type operation that bridges the gap between a too expensive LM and a low cost operator which there was when SOU was at its height. Again, not SOUs fault. When EZY can grow at SOU they will and we will be back at the 2m annual passenger mark.[/QUOTE]
Here’s a question for you. Why do you think no one has tried a Flybe type operation?
A/ because airline executives are stupid and can’t see what a golden opportunity this is?
B/ because Dash 8 - 400s are so popular that there aren’t any available?
C because the Flybe business model lost a shed load of money (twice)?
Last edited by willy wombat; 18th Dec 2023 at 10:41. Reason: Typo