Eastern Airways-3
Join Date: Feb 2021
Location: North of Dorking
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Todays Gib Chronicle reporting that Eastern are stopping their Gibraltar services from early next month to and from Birmingham and Southampton..No suprises really...Officially they are ceasing them for the winter and say they intend to return from March next year....We`ll see..
Join Date: Feb 2021
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Eastern have now confirmed that the Southampton - Gib route has been cancelled completely due to low passenger numbers. They still intend, at the moment, to return to the Birmingham Gib route next year.
Join Date: Feb 2021
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I suspect Eastern jumped on this bandwagon when Gib was declared one of the only Green Destinations, hoping that it might gain some traction..It didnt unsuprisingly. Its still and always will remain a niche destination. That said we are heading down there next May in order to access Estepona area with Ezy...Fingers crossed..
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: South
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With pretty much zero marketing yes. Not sure many people locally even knew the route was being served. Same goes for the French routes they intend to serve. Can’t expect footfall if you don’t tell anyone about it.
Join Date: Jun 2011
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Some routes from GIB do well, especially MAN, LGW and BRS, though indeed most people who use the airport use it to cross the border into Spain (including myself) to serve the west of the Costa Del Sol, so I usually see it as more of a market for that rather than Gib itself. Did think Southampton was an odd but welcoming choice but if Birmingham stays it might do OK with a bit more marketing.
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Very true and back in the day Monarch were the` De Facto national airline of Gibraltar` almost, but they did advertising. Eastern on the other hand have never been so and all too often pulling off routes, quickly, when the returns arn`t good or competition arrives. They have a mis match of fleet the bulk of which seem to be elderly J41....With the right outfit/fleet/pricing and advertising there is no reason why BHX should`nt do very well on this route in the future. I`m sure the demand is there. Just hope it happens.
Monarch had the advantage of operating 150+ seat aircraft and was heavily focussed on leisure flying between the UK and the Iberian peninsula
Eastern fly smaller aircraft to Gibraltar, are business focussed, with zero historic presence between the UK and Spain
I understand that 9 months ago, Eastern flying to Gibraltar was a good idea when everywhere else was closed and everybody was working at home. Those market conditions have now stopped.
If routes from SOU and BHX to Gibraltar are to work, it will need to be on a 150+ seat aircraft operated by an airline with a brand widely recognised by leisure travellers
Eastern fly smaller aircraft to Gibraltar, are business focussed, with zero historic presence between the UK and Spain
I understand that 9 months ago, Eastern flying to Gibraltar was a good idea when everywhere else was closed and everybody was working at home. Those market conditions have now stopped.
If routes from SOU and BHX to Gibraltar are to work, it will need to be on a 150+ seat aircraft operated by an airline with a brand widely recognised by leisure travellers