Planet Air (new LBA low-cost)
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Planet Air (new LBA low-cost)
Another low-cost airline at LBA seems to be in the making, according to this lbia.co.uk news 
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This looks more like a "loco flights" type operation that was seen last year at MAN, NCL, BHX and LGW, rather than a low-cost carrier. The key element of the press release being:
No low-cost carrier uses their aircraft for one flight per day (8 flights per week).
All the flights will co-incide with the principal change-over days for villa / apartment holidays.
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the aircraft will be doing nothing but sitting on the ground gathering dust....just like loco flights (even the press bumf sounds the same..leather seats, top holiday destinations etc) and more recently Air Scotland...I cant see this really taking off
the airline willbe flying 2 MD82 from Finnair.....thats the rumours..the airline is due to start Easter 03 and operates under a Flightline AOC
the airline willbe flying 2 MD82 from Finnair.....thats the rumours..the airline is due to start Easter 03 and operates under a Flightline AOC
Last edited by richardhall99; 2nd Jan 2003 at 12:20.
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As I understand it the aircraft is scheduled to fly twice daily from LBA between Thu - Sun and will do sub-contract work elsewhere Mon - Wed. A second aircraft will act as standby.
Richardhall99 should be careful to aviod writting off the venture on the day its is launched. This idea has been in the planning for some considerable time, Philip Firth is an experienced and respected member of the travel trade and it would seem that they have secured an impressive number of distribution outlets for ticket sales:
"Planet Air has already teamed up with Leeds Co-op Travel who will handle flight sales at each of its 18 offices in the airport catchment area, as well as through their Call Centre..... Additionally nearly 300 independent Travel Agents in the region will be selling seats on Planet Air flights, as well as the top twenty flight-only retailers. From February passengers will also be able to book direct over the Internet.
With this distribution network, to sell 60k seats to the current market of 700k pax using MAN, should'nt be a tall order.
682
Richardhall99 should be careful to aviod writting off the venture on the day its is launched. This idea has been in the planning for some considerable time, Philip Firth is an experienced and respected member of the travel trade and it would seem that they have secured an impressive number of distribution outlets for ticket sales:
"Planet Air has already teamed up with Leeds Co-op Travel who will handle flight sales at each of its 18 offices in the airport catchment area, as well as through their Call Centre..... Additionally nearly 300 independent Travel Agents in the region will be selling seats on Planet Air flights, as well as the top twenty flight-only retailers. From February passengers will also be able to book direct over the Internet.
With this distribution network, to sell 60k seats to the current market of 700k pax using MAN, should'nt be a tall order.
682
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This is indeed good news for LBA but perhahps not for Jet2. The routes mentioned in their press relase include Malaga which is a Jet2 destination! Jet2 are already in competition with KLM on the LBA-AMS albeit not on Low Cost. But here we have a head on competitor on the Malaga. I sincerely hope there is enough pax for both operators, but given the fact that LBA bleeds 700K to MAN on these 4 routes alone, maybe there is! Best of luck to all involved in both operations!
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According to the CAA, pax numbers in 2001 on some of these routes were:
MALAGA
MAN 692,720
LPL 219,039
LBA 49,550
ALICANTE
MAN 728,394
LPL 31,692
LBA 79,109
Kind of explains why Jet2 & Planet Air think they can make a go of it at LBA and why Easjyet have just kicked off a LPL-ALC service. In fact, considering that Planet Air are only doing 1 x weekly on LBA-ALC, I wouldn't be surprised to see Jet2 come onto the route as well looking at these numbers
682
MALAGA
MAN 692,720
LPL 219,039
LBA 49,550
ALICANTE
MAN 728,394
LPL 31,692
LBA 79,109
Kind of explains why Jet2 & Planet Air think they can make a go of it at LBA and why Easjyet have just kicked off a LPL-ALC service. In fact, considering that Planet Air are only doing 1 x weekly on LBA-ALC, I wouldn't be surprised to see Jet2 come onto the route as well looking at these numbers
682
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In fact, considering that Planet Air are only doing 1 x weekly on LBA-ALC, I wouldn't be surprised to see Jet2 come onto the route as well looking at these numbers
....and indeed they have. Announcement this morning that they will fly 4 x weekly, from April, their 7th destination from LBA.
....and indeed they have. Announcement this morning that they will fly 4 x weekly, from April, their 7th destination from LBA.
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Hang on
Flies Thur to Sun, twice a day. Bet that will be slot 1 and 2 because of the cowhide seats. Available for (ACMI?) work the rest of the week. The other bomber is on standby for who? Last I heard, and forgive a Scheduled Ops guy, 1 x DC10 or L1101 shared between the MAN and LTN big players on a first come first served basis. Are Finnair paying these guys to take two? Even on care and maint, £ by the hour, how the hell can it justify two airframes. Could it poss be work for four days secured, slot 1 and 2, with 7/7 slot 3 availabilty, and another bird to the open market............................Sorry, Planet Air back up aircraft, fares under £50 to start, that would be like Eazy or Ryan having 20-30 spares in the hangar just in case.
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Not the topic I know, but as it was stated above, I will make comment.
Locoflights passengers ex NCL are carried by Air Scandic, on the leased Finnair B757-200. This is an integral part of the weekly flying programme with AGP operating Saturday AM, and TFS Friday AM.
Cheers,
starship
Locoflights passengers ex NCL are carried by Air Scandic, on the leased Finnair B757-200. This is an integral part of the weekly flying programme with AGP operating Saturday AM, and TFS Friday AM.
Cheers,
starship
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Starship,
Actually SCY don't/didn't fly the TFS rotation from Newcastle, that flight was (will be) operated by a non-based Excel Airways 737.
Locoflights was setup by Club Travel to sell their excess seats (that arn't needed for package holidays). To me, this seems like a similar set up to what Planet Air will be.
Actually SCY don't/didn't fly the TFS rotation from Newcastle, that flight was (will be) operated by a non-based Excel Airways 737.
Locoflights was setup by Club Travel to sell their excess seats (that arn't needed for package holidays). To me, this seems like a similar set up to what Planet Air will be.
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John, actually you are correct - I was mistaken on the TFS. SCY do operate a TFS, however the contractor is Libra. It is the AGP which is partly Loco - there was a possibility of the TFS being this also when I was working on the contract.
Cheers,
starship
Cheers,
starship
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planet air
Planet Air is a seat only tour operator with an ATOL shortly to be issued by the CAA. Flightline will provide the aircraft I understand on a normal fixed cost all inclusive price. Seems like Philip Firth and his brother are setting up a Northern Avro. They hopefully will do well. I heard that Philip had been seen eying up some cows last week. Black and white seats will be no good. Get the blue dye out.
Please can you all try and support those business men that risk their money to keep the rest of us plebs in work and not knock them. If you want put your money where your mouth is and take some risks give me a mail.
The world does not owe us a living
Please can you all try and support those business men that risk their money to keep the rest of us plebs in work and not knock them. If you want put your money where your mouth is and take some risks give me a mail.
The world does not owe us a living
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girt big un
well said.
I know Philip slightly through the industry and believe he will have done his homework very well.
Their risk is hopefully our gain and may they thrive and expand.
NBF9
well said.
I know Philip slightly through the industry and believe he will have done his homework very well.
Their risk is hopefully our gain and may they thrive and expand.
NBF9
