Edinburgh-4
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ATL to be daily when it restarts, rather than the initially-announced five-weekly
https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230121-dlns23
https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/230121-dlns23
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As an interested outsider (I've only ever used EDI as a passenger) do those in the know on this thread honestly think there's enough demand to fill up to 9 flights a day across the pond? I know EDI and Scotland is a big draw for North Americans but it's a thousand + of seats a day to fill?
Just interested in your thoughts and of course I hope for all concerned S23 TATL from EDI proves a rip roaring success!
Just interested in your thoughts and of course I hope for all concerned S23 TATL from EDI proves a rip roaring success!
Join Date: Oct 2004
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As an interested outsider (I've only ever used EDI as a passenger) do those in the know on this thread honestly think there's enough demand to fill up to 9 flights a day across the pond? I know EDI and Scotland is a big draw for North Americans but it's a thousand + of seats a day to fill?
Just interested in your thoughts and of course I hope for all concerned S23 TATL from EDI proves a rip roaring success!
Just interested in your thoughts and of course I hope for all concerned S23 TATL from EDI proves a rip roaring success!
It has happened before, not necessarily at EDI. Hopefully the airlines have got their sums right in the current somewhat unstable economic climate.
I was about to pose the same question. The strength of the Dollar vs GBP means there hasn't been a better time to visit for years, but this does mean we're in a bit of a bubble. I suspect it will right-size rather than burst, the economy is in a better place than when Scotland lost NWA and United in the space of three months back in the 90s or BA and Laker in the space of a month in the 80s. See also Pan Am in 1973. I think there's room for Delta, United and maybe American but probably at a medium term reduced frequency. Basically, enjoy summer 23 and take loads of photos 
Join Date: May 2002
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Delta will have a better idea than anyone what the demand is. They operated two flights a day (Boston and New York) in 2022, so they'll know the market well, and clearly feel there's a demand for another flight. Flights to new destinations open up new markets - there might well be a lot of people in Atlanta who decided they didnt want to travel to Scotland as it meant connecting. Now they can do it non-stop. Also opens up much more convenient connection opportunities to Florida and Central America/Mexico.
Let's not forget that the US flights were averaging around 95% load factors all summer, and there was no sign of any price dumping, so there certainly seems to be plenty of demand. I think they will do just fine.
Let's not forget that the US flights were averaging around 95% load factors all summer, and there was no sign of any price dumping, so there certainly seems to be plenty of demand. I think they will do just fine.
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The airlines will have done their homework I’m sure. DL, presumably is going daily on the ATL route to meet demand. The route has been on sale for approx three months so they’ll know how things are looking. DL routes to JFK and BOS performed really strongly in 2022. BOS increasing to daily and starting earlier in 2023 in a more premium heavy 763 is a good indication of demand, particularly in Biz Class. All the UA routes are well established and will do just fine. I’m less convinced that VS will hang around at EDI. They are planning to use a high density 351 which seats 400+ pax and are re-starting much later than S22. If the current seat maps is anything to go by, so far, they still have lots of seats to fill.
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why didn’t self-same inbound US travellers not choose to use the ATL service last couple of times it was tried?
As for outbound UK travellers, in the current climate, I can’t see a sudden new expanded cohort willing to travel to US -so for that quota (if connecting over hubs) will just dilute I suspect this year.
The ‘homework’ may just be where can the put aircraft when other routes get dropped or reduced as its a shorter summer season to top up.
Agree VS will be very interesting to watch, wonder if they’ve resubmitted their homework after attempting Barbados. WestJet Calgary another interesting to see how that ‘fares’.
Were there not gate delays and main hall issues with crowding and seating S22 which affects overall experience. Presume no new premium Lounge facilities planned?
As for outbound UK travellers, in the current climate, I can’t see a sudden new expanded cohort willing to travel to US -so for that quota (if connecting over hubs) will just dilute I suspect this year.
The ‘homework’ may just be where can the put aircraft when other routes get dropped or reduced as its a shorter summer season to top up.
Agree VS will be very interesting to watch, wonder if they’ve resubmitted their homework after attempting Barbados. WestJet Calgary another interesting to see how that ‘fares’.
Were there not gate delays and main hall issues with crowding and seating S22 which affects overall experience. Presume no new premium Lounge facilities planned?
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Given the success of the US routes from EDI recently, I'm surprised AA hasn't re-entered to help bolster the OneWorld presence to/from JFK/PHL. Hopefully next year or the year after on the A321XLR.
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The airlines will have done their homework I’m sure. DL, presumably is going daily on the ATL route to meet demand. The route has been on sale for approx three months so they’ll know how things are looking. DL routes to JFK and BOS performed really strongly in 2022. BOS increasing to daily and starting earlier in 2023 in a more premium heavy 763 is a good indication of demand, particularly in Biz Class. All the UA routes are well established and will do just fine. I’m less convinced that VS will hang around at EDI. They are planning to use a high density 351 which seats 400+ pax and are re-starting much later than S22. If the current seat maps is anything to go by, so far, they still have lots of seats to fill.
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Given that the VS traffic is presumably mainly UK originating, as opposed to the rest of the TA traffic at EDI which is predominantly North American originating, I actually think VS may have made a mistake moving from GLA to EDI. There again, maybe they got an offer they couldn’t refuse.
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Given that the VS traffic is presumably mainly UK originating, as opposed to the rest of the TA traffic at EDI which is predominantly North American originating, I actually think VS may have made a mistake moving from GLA to EDI. There again, maybe they got an offer they couldn’t refuse.
Within a 2 hour drive of MCO is Jacksonville (1 million Pop) Miami (6 Million) Tampa (400k).
Just at the weekend in a cafe in Edinburgh I spoke with two well to do Spanish woman from Cartenga in South of Spain, I asked how they got here, Ryanair from Alicante (1h15m drive)
There are large catchment areas now for direct flights, and what we would view "bucket and spade" flights do often have a hugely mixed clientele.
Just as everyone who flies to Edinburgh, Edi isn't their final destination as the Glasgow city centre bus to Edi apt can testify too.
Within a 2 hour drive of MCO is Jacksonville (1 million Pop) Miami (6 Million) Tampa (400k).
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UA978/979 IAD presently listed in the slot database as a 767-400. That won't do much for stand occupancy, if the previous amount of unplanned stand occupancy with broken 764s at EDI is anything to go by.
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Back on the subject of capacity to North America, one of the managers at Edinburgh has been posting on social media regarding Delta increasing capacity to Edinburgh. He mentions that there are 100,000 departures lost to hub airports each year, so plenty of capacity to soak up. Obviously a lot of that is probably price sensitive and choosing to avoid more expensive direct flights, but there is clearly lots of unserved demand in the market.
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I don't get it. Delta and others are flying to US airports which are hubs. Atlanta is a hub - and a very big one at that. If Edinburgh is the same as any other destination, a majority of the passengers flying to Atlanta will be getting on a connecting flight to somewhere else. From Edinburgh's perspective, a passenger going DL EDI-ATL-Nashville as opposed to BA EDI-LHR-Nashville and being served either way.
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I don't get it. Delta and others are flying to US airports which are hubs. Atlanta is a hub - and a very big one at that. If Edinburgh is the same as any other destination, a majority of the passengers flying to Atlanta will be getting on a connecting flight to somewhere else. From Edinburgh's perspective, a passenger going DL EDI-ATL-Nashville as opposed to BA EDI-LHR-Nashville and being served either way.
