More direct flights from Scotland??
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More direct flights from Scotland??
There's been a lot of speculation over the last few months about new routes from Scotland. The Scottish business community, politicians and press all seem agreed that more routes are necessary to boost the local economy (as well as the local suntans).
To date the great amounts of talk have produced few results. It will be interesting to see how smaller/newer operators fare - such as Air Scotland (routes to be announced), LowFareJet (Prestwick-Hannover), FlyGlobespan (PIK & EDI to various sunny places).
But it would be nice to see the more established players
expanding additional commitments. For example a Ryanair flight to somewhere like Rome would be a guaranteed winner, Easyjet to Zurich from (most likely) EDI would be a good business route and also a hit with the skiers, and anyone flying to anywhere warm would be onto a winner with the sunbed addicts of Central Scotland!
Added to that there's been the abortive Buzz incursion to Prestwick and rumours of bmibaby setting up a Scottish base.
So, my question is - what's the current industry gossip? Any new routes in the offing?
Also, does anyone have stats on the number of Scots transiting LTN and STA en route to other destinations (not officially supported by the point-to-point operators but a well known occurence). I personally have done the Easyjet GLA - LTN - NCE route and I know of others who've done similar with Ryanair to get to Italy. Surely this must provide an indicator as to pent up demand?
All contributions very welcome!
To date the great amounts of talk have produced few results. It will be interesting to see how smaller/newer operators fare - such as Air Scotland (routes to be announced), LowFareJet (Prestwick-Hannover), FlyGlobespan (PIK & EDI to various sunny places).
But it would be nice to see the more established players
expanding additional commitments. For example a Ryanair flight to somewhere like Rome would be a guaranteed winner, Easyjet to Zurich from (most likely) EDI would be a good business route and also a hit with the skiers, and anyone flying to anywhere warm would be onto a winner with the sunbed addicts of Central Scotland!
Added to that there's been the abortive Buzz incursion to Prestwick and rumours of bmibaby setting up a Scottish base.
So, my question is - what's the current industry gossip? Any new routes in the offing?
Also, does anyone have stats on the number of Scots transiting LTN and STA en route to other destinations (not officially supported by the point-to-point operators but a well known occurence). I personally have done the Easyjet GLA - LTN - NCE route and I know of others who've done similar with Ryanair to get to Italy. Surely this must provide an indicator as to pent up demand?
All contributions very welcome!
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sparkymarky,
A few points for you:-
1. lowfarejet are not operating and never have.
2. flyglobespan will operate Prestwick - Rome twice weekly from April 2003 so there's no need for Ryanair to operate this route and it's too long a sector for them anyway based on their current thinking.
3. flyglobespan will operate PIK - NCE twice weekly from April 2003 so you can get there without visiting LTN!
A few points for you:-
1. lowfarejet are not operating and never have.
2. flyglobespan will operate Prestwick - Rome twice weekly from April 2003 so there's no need for Ryanair to operate this route and it's too long a sector for them anyway based on their current thinking.
3. flyglobespan will operate PIK - NCE twice weekly from April 2003 so you can get there without visiting LTN!
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GroupCaptain, thanks for the input.
I hope the flyglobespan services are a success, though twice a week might not be too useful for business travellers.
What is it in Ryanair's current thinking that dictates Scotland - Italy is too long a sector?
My understanding is the lowfarejet service was scheduled to start recently but has been postponed til around March? Is it still a possible goer or has it been cancelled completely? Would be a useful one for the squaddies - though by then they might all be in sunnier climes!
Another thought that occured since my first posting is that if Easyjet do take up the Deutsche BA option, they might want to join a few dots into Germany. Edinburgh - Frankfurt would presumably be of interest to the financial community?
Also, do Air Berlin have any more expansion plans for the UK?
Thanks again for the comments.
I hope the flyglobespan services are a success, though twice a week might not be too useful for business travellers.
What is it in Ryanair's current thinking that dictates Scotland - Italy is too long a sector?
My understanding is the lowfarejet service was scheduled to start recently but has been postponed til around March? Is it still a possible goer or has it been cancelled completely? Would be a useful one for the squaddies - though by then they might all be in sunnier climes!
Another thought that occured since my first posting is that if Easyjet do take up the Deutsche BA option, they might want to join a few dots into Germany. Edinburgh - Frankfurt would presumably be of interest to the financial community?
Also, do Air Berlin have any more expansion plans for the UK?
Thanks again for the comments.
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would have thought that EDI would rather keep Lufthansa on the EDIFRA route as it also offers more options for world-wide connections. Doubt easy could even get slots in FRA though, and with so may unserved places they could pick those off first.
any thoughts or news of bmi possibly expanding in EDI as they already offer quite a few services from the airport (Brussels, Copenhagen, MAN, Leeds, LHR, Stornoway)?
Can't see BA doing anything due their expansion in MAN, and flybe going into SOU...
also see that Swiss are axing their EDIZRH route, although this was only a weekend flight. Surely they would have operated the route with a decent daily schedule had they thought the worth was there.
any thoughts or news of bmi possibly expanding in EDI as they already offer quite a few services from the airport (Brussels, Copenhagen, MAN, Leeds, LHR, Stornoway)?
Can't see BA doing anything due their expansion in MAN, and flybe going into SOU...
also see that Swiss are axing their EDIZRH route, although this was only a weekend flight. Surely they would have operated the route with a decent daily schedule had they thought the worth was there.
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crazy idea, fair point on the EDI-FRA route, though a bit of competition is never a bad thing.
With regard to Zurich, haven't Swissair stopped trading now? Or do you mean another Swiss company? (Apologies if I'm being stupid here!) Certainly when I looked for EDI-ZRH routes, all the fares were offered via London or Amsterdam.
I'd have thought this was a good all year route for financial people and certainly a good winter route for skiers?
With regard to Zurich, haven't Swissair stopped trading now? Or do you mean another Swiss company? (Apologies if I'm being stupid here!) Certainly when I looked for EDI-ZRH routes, all the fares were offered via London or Amsterdam.
I'd have thought this was a good all year route for financial people and certainly a good winter route for skiers?
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sparkymarky:
In keeping with most low cost operators, Ryanair would like to fly all aircraft 8 sectors per day; Scotland - Italy makes this a bit challenging even mixing in short sectors on the same line.
lowfarejet - see their website and decide for yourself - they have not changed it for weeks - www.lowfarejet.com
In keeping with most low cost operators, Ryanair would like to fly all aircraft 8 sectors per day; Scotland - Italy makes this a bit challenging even mixing in short sectors on the same line.
lowfarejet - see their website and decide for yourself - they have not changed it for weeks - www.lowfarejet.com
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Tut, tut, you guys are sleeping. Todays Evening Times beat you to the punch on this one 
Also rumours of a new Prestwick to Stockholm(Skavsta) Ryanair route.
A MAJOR German low-cost carrier is to introduce a new service from Edinburgh to Cologne.
The move by Germanwings, the country's biggest budget airline will open up cheap connections for tourists through Cologne to cities in central and eastern Europe such as Vienna, Istanbul, Berlin, Prague, Venice and Milan.
The route will also compete for business travellers to Germany with Ryanair's flights from Prestwick to Frankfurt.
Also rumours of a new Prestwick to Stockholm(Skavsta) Ryanair route.
A MAJOR German low-cost carrier is to introduce a new service from Edinburgh to Cologne.
The move by Germanwings, the country's biggest budget airline will open up cheap connections for tourists through Cologne to cities in central and eastern Europe such as Vienna, Istanbul, Berlin, Prague, Venice and Milan.
The route will also compete for business travellers to Germany with Ryanair's flights from Prestwick to Frankfurt.
