Well it ain't coming to EMA this winter. Sometimes plans change last minute, look at BOH base, it was DSA untill the night before.

fr-

In fairness, Jamie2k9 said that there were rumours of BHX being dropped for EMA at least one month ago, if not longer ago. That may be were Carn seen the rumour, and as FR- said, FR have a habit of changing their minds last minute. Probably explains why Carns contact at LDY didn't say BE were taking the BHX route. (Which in my mind has more potential pax than EDI). Glad I can use the route when I go back to Derry for Xmas!

Sorry Northern, wer are you getting the BE are taking the BHX route????

I can also assure that FR were dropping BHX for EMA but must've made a last minute change. Probably for the better as loads are continually improving on BHX.

I didn't get that BE were taking the BHX route... I said:

And I agree it was probably a last minute change of mind by FR, so glad we have the route confirmed for another season at least!

I puck it up wrong Northern, sorry.

I'm glad BHX is staying, i couldnt see how they were gonna make EMA as popular in such a short space of time. I wonder will FR ever give us one Winter sun route, i think FAO would be popular as the only other competition the route would have is EZY from BFS.

Yeah, if it pans out BHX is staying, I too will be pleased.

Any updates on the new BE routes? I assume you've not heard anything new?

Cheers in advance for any info.

Have jus heard the same as stated earlier about EDI and possible LGW if slots are gained. Hope the BE announcement is iminent

Thanks Carn. Patience is now the key (again!).

I think LDY can definitely support a winter sun route and FAO looks like a good option. Personally, (and not considering whether it could actually be viable) I'd love to see BGY operating over winter. At least 1 weekly, or it may require 2 weekly for those who go away for less than a week.

I hope the negotiations at LGW turn out favourable! Wonder will it be twice daily!? Or an E195 daily... some variety for the spotters out there!

flyBe already have slots in LGW available to them this winter - which were used for the LBA-LGW operation last winter, so the question is more whether they think the market demand is sufficient and whether or not they can agree a deal rather than any problem in obtaining LGW slots

...although finding slots for continuation into Summer 2012 could be a bit more tricky!

LDY - BHX now bookable Sun, Mon, Wed, Fri
afternoon flight SUN
early evening Mon, Wed, Fri

I noticed the Airport is now on Face-book you can follow it on the main page of the airport website.

What aircraft is Flybe using for MAN-LDY? Guessing at the Q400?

Yeah the Dash 8 at present.

Just tried booking a late August holiday from Derry with Thomson who fly out on a Tuesday, seem's to be booked out which is good news for LDY as a summer holiday departure airport.

Got this message

"Sorry!
There are no seats left on flights to Majorca from City of Derry between Tue 16 Aug 11 and Tue 30 Aug 11."

By default system then offers me flights from Belfast.

I'm not surprised that the flights are fully booked as each year Thomson seem to have great load factors. What does surprise me is why they don't either increase frequency or add a new distination like AGP?

Just sprung to mind, Carn, during your conversation with your contact, did you happen to ask about the double daily STN flights?

Globetrotter, do you know roughly the times of these slots and what aircraft was used on that route? Slot security for winter at least is better than no possible slots at all! Could get the LDY routes proverbial foot in the door! :ok:

Evening Northern,

The press release from the launch of the LBA-LGW route is below.

Flights News: Flybe to launch new flights between Leeds Bradford and Gatwick

An LBA based Q400. I'd imagine if they are serious about adding to MAN with 2xdaily LGW and 4/5xweekly EDI, LDY could have a based Q400 too. Only time will tell.

A pair of asides:

I travelled through LDY today, making use of the morning/evening STN. All went very well, and it was obvious from the number of suits that there are quite a few business users on this route. Could BE tap into this apparent demand?

Also, a quick calculation this morning whilst waiting for the outbound, showed that there over 2500 seats available into/out of LDY on a Monday. I assume the number is similar for Fridays. I await with interest the CAA stats later this week.

Thanks CU for finding that article!

LBA's loss will hopefully be our gain, and what would hint at our wee airport getting a based aircraft is those slots, the evening ones are so close together as it was operated by a LBA aircraft, but lets not get too excited! INV has a based E195 just for LGW, and a Q400 for the other routes which could come in time to LDY.

Personally I feel that there really is a market for a double daily STN route on weekdays and possibly even a double daily to LGW. If BE is the only airline to actually act on this, it would provide real flexibility for travellers which business' love! The figures should be great this month, and I can't wait to find out what they are! Looking forward to more good news at the end of the month too (fingers crossed)!

Have they started reconfiguring the security area yet? When im using the MAN service in August, I'll see if I can take a photo in the cabin to show patronage! Cheers again CU! :)

June provisional stats are as follows:

Pax: 38055 +21.6%

Routes (total/change/pax per flight/LF(where known)):

Stansted: 11868/+34%/175/92%

Birmingham: 4718/+16%/139/73%

Liverpool: 6301/+17%/126/67%

Manchester: 1558/-/37/48%

Prestwick: 5869/+46%/113/60%

Faro: 2796/+26%/155/82%

Palma: 1449/-4%/181/96%

Reus: 1384/-8%/173/-

Dublin: 779/-49% last coughs before death.


One would imagine that with Alicante restarting and Faro going to 3xweek, July should see LDY back above 40,000 pax.