RHagrid-- go back from whence you came ........................... it was the airport that allegedly said no to easyjet and also who says its gonna be a dash that does the frankfurt!!! we do have other aircraft!!!!!!!!!!!!! of course you never ever see or hear of another airlines aircraft go tech do you!!!!!! obviously have your head in the sand!!!!!!

Of course it was the airport that said no. Last time I checked BB owned EXT and FlyBe were just the customers. However EZY would open a nice amount of routes from EXT in time and a certain babyblue airline would be most upset. Given the fact that SOU are now BEE's largest base, EXT probably fear a backlash (Ryanair style!) that they will relocate there. So I guess what i am saying in EXT management have thier hands tied.

Heya,

I also feel EXT have their hands tied in this, flyBE are happy at the moment because they have the low-cost monopoly at Exeter. If easyJet were to arrive it would upset the balance and flyBE would be up in arms, and would probably stop any expansion or cut down on routes altogether e.g Bristol.

Not to mention current apron constraints would also place restrictions on other airlines coming in at the moment, especially if FCA want to base another aircraft here in '09.

I would like to see some more competition down in Exeter but the management have to be very careful not to upset the balance with flyBE and end up losing out.

Alex

RHagrid - Ha, its people like you who do make me laugh so! Completely cuddled up in their own little fairyland without any idea of reality............

The FRA probably would be operated by the D8-400 but whats the problem with that? Far more comfortable onboard than the ATRs which I believe operate to the UK on similar services (Lufthansa) Or at least they have in the past!

I do not think BE would leave Exeter if another airline joined them on the apron at EXT...afterall they have invested alot of money into EXT and I simply cannot believe that they would up and leave just because of a little bit of competition. They compete with EZY out of LGW and have excellent load factors so why should EXT be any different?

Also can I ask how you know BE will defo operate a FRA service from EXT next year? Where is your source??

ADC2604 - Atleast your answers are more reliable than your airline! :}

I heard rumours of a possible easyJet service from Exeter but a STN-GVA-EXT-GVA-STN would have been a wonderful addition to ther Exeter flying programme. Considering BE only over a 1x weekly service (Granted, this may change for the next winter season) it would be a massive boost for this south west airport. I wonder if the airports current capacity was a deciding factor in this.

Lets get some more competition in Exeter and break the flybe monopoly though hey? Until then, Bristol here i come.

EXT has a very difficult task in attracting new operators.
Obviously, as the largest customer, Flybe is gonna have some clout and will justifiably hold its ground to protect its business however this is at direct odds to the airport who need more traffic to grow theirs.
They need to attract airlines that will offer additional services to Flybe but that will not damage the existing services as Flybe is their 'bread + butter' daily source of income. Any GVA service by EZY will be flown by their Swiss division as it is in Bournemouth, however I would imagine that within a couple years you may see additional destinations such as Grenoble or some sun routes creeping in.
I think Flybe may need to accept that the days of having airports to themselves is coming to an end. You only have to look at BHX with WW, BHD with FR, and EMA,BRS,LTN,STN,LPL where FR + EZY offer services to see that things are beginning to get tight. At the moment all is well as the economy is bouyant, however if there is a downturn around the corner we could see one huge bloodbath as airlines more actively compete against one another for passengers.
Flybe will be able to survive out of Exeter. The Q400 operating to places such as GLA/EDI compliments the EZY operation out of BRS and does not actively compete with it due to capacities. It is likely that any heavy interest shown by EZY at EXT will only result in them damagin the Flybe operation whilst removing traffic from similar destinations offered by themselves ex BRS.

Master Plan!! My arse.
 

So Mr RDA/Balfour Beattie Where exactly is this airport master plan promised for September??? Lost the fag packet i suspect!!! So much for the moral of the staff , let alone the what the passengers think!! Should that have read Sept 08?? Promises promises!!!:ugh:

Flights to London from EXT announcement shortly?
 

Must be in talks with VLM, do you think?

Oh I am pleased - about time.

VLM, AF/CityJet are my guesses - not sure on the third though...........possibly FR to Stansted - I heard a long long time ago about FR scrapping their NQY service in favour to EXT however not sure how this would work with FR having a base at BRS

The next few months will be very interesting.

I know that it would probably be into LCY seens as its the same owners, but maybe Air Southwest might consider EXT as an alternate to PLH/BRS? Most likely into LGW though.

Probably end up being Flybe though. :ugh:

I would be surprised if it were BE because they have already confirmed no interest in this route.

Possibly be ASW but then again last time I conversed with them they too had no interest in such route.

Well time will tell.

Didn't BE pull out of LCY previously when they replaced the Q300's with the newer Q400's?

Would be very unlikely to be them.

Money definately on either VLM or Cityjet with one of the Scotairways Dorniers

The news article suggests that the airport is in talks with 2 or 3 airlines for a number of routes not just LCY.....where would these routes be I wonder......so much potential such little apron space

did exeter airport recently attend the routes conference in stockholm but flybe did not attend? what new routes will exeter get within the next couple of years??
also, what has happened to the publication of the airport masterplan???

EXT I understand did, BE did not.

I guess EXT want BRU, German routes but can't think where else would work bearing in mind BRS up the road have a wide variety of destinations.

I thought BRU was already confirmed? To start in Mar '08? Read that in the local paper a while ago, when the Eurostar moved to St Pancras. Local business leaders were now worried that it would now add a considerable amount of time to get to Brussels, as before you could get a train direct to Waterloo, and connect to Eurostar. And apparantly, alot of peope fron the South West did this quite frequently.

Well nothing had been announced......they wanted it but to date they havn't said that it would defo be operated.

Big article in the E+E today about FCA wanting to use the Dreamliner from Exeter on long haul - amazing if it does.

I just wish those people opposed to the airport would pi*s off and move away - why the hell move to a city where there is a flightpath over it if they don't like the noise :ugh:

Also FRA off the cards for BE - can't get slots or something

Well lets see if their new summer schedule brings any new routes.