Stolport - Well having slept on it I do vaguely remember an airline being planned that didn't actually happen or may have operated for a few weeks but I still do not see how that related to SHH. I had discussions with SHH to fund another airline around that time, they didn't go ahead, so have my doubts there would have been any connection at all.

I am sure there is someone out there will have far greater knowledge and memory than I.

A little birdy recently was heard to sing "there are big plans for Newquay!"

Only speculation, but I can see Flybe maybe doing a W pattern through NQY. An example could be (once BMI Baby pulls out of MAN) an EXT-MAN-NQY-MAN-EXT. Or perhaps a EXT-ALC-NQY-ALC-EXT on the E-Jet.

Just a thought!

Couldn't BE just extend one of the Q400 flights to EXT to/from NQY and feed its EXT flights that way with NQY pax? That is if they can schedule the departure of flights from EXT to places like MAN, GLA, EDI, LBA and BHD for more or less the same time (most of them seem to be at 2 pm'ish). As Flybe offers connections, it would not be that complicated to implement, I guess. Times for NQY would not be terribly convenient as far as early morning and late evening departures are concerned, but still better than nothing.

I think that people prefer direct flights, which is why I think a "W" pattern would be the best bet. After all it's between 1 to 1.5 hours drive to EXT from NQY, probably less than checking in at NQY and then transferring in EXT!

virginblue,

And FlyBE would be making the same mistake as ASW and others before them.

The passengers in Cornwall want direct flights, they were anti to routing via PLH and they'll be equally as anti to routing via EXT.

And we don't all live in Newquay. It takes me 40 minutes to drive to Newquay and an hour to an hour and a half to drive to EXT so once on the A30 I might as well keep going. The further east you live the less likely it is.

Not even Newquay Airport lives in Newquay :)

Flybe wouldn't necessarily need to operate any one-stop flights or any W-patterns to build a decent schedule at NQY.

There are aircraft/crew bases at lots of airports (INV, ABZ, EDI, GLA, NCL, BHD, MAN, IOM, BHX, LGW, JER, GCI, SOU & EXT) which may have enough slack in the schedule to allow a NQY flight to be fitted in. Obviously, not all of those bases could support a NQY flight, but some might.

It may be possible to have flights from EDI, GLA, MAN, BHD and NCL.

Given that MAN-FRA and BHX-FRA are being suspended this month there is obviously some slack in the system.

If conventional wisdom is that only combined PLH/NQY flights could fill a Brymon / ASW 50 seater to some extent, I fail to see how all these destinations could realistically be served with a 78 seater Q400 from NQY. I contrast, the 15 odd people wanting to travel from NQY to LBA, GLA, BHD and MAN could easily fill a Q400 feeding a mini EXT hub.

As for "people want direct flights", will they stay at home if there are none and the only alternative is to drive to EXT or take a one-stop from NQY? Fact is that Flybe now has now competition, i.e. travellers have no choice.

virgin,

Exactly the point ... these destinations cannot be successfully served by 78 seater aircraft .... believe it or not but these aeroplane wizz kids manufacture 18 seater, 30 something seater, any idea what the '42' in 'ATR42' signifies? ... and so on.

When it comes to aviation, and with all due respect, Cornwall is a village, it is not a City Centre!

The public always has a choice ... National Express ... Railway ... EXT ... BRS ... BHX ... and ... 'London'.

I for one don't think for a minute that Flybe will launch routes from all of their bases to NQY. However, I don't think it is beyond the realms of possibility that a MAN service will appear next summer to mop up after BMI Baby's departure from the route.

Flybe already have a summer route from EDI so maybe similar routes could be viable from GLA, BHD and NCL. Personally though, I think Flybe are more likely to just "force" the old ASW pax to travel to EXT and board the existing flights.

Time will tell...

well ill get hassle from the normal sources but i think that over the next year to 2 we could well see.

BA- LCY-NQY-LCY E170
U2- MAN-NQY-MAN
EI- DUB-NQY-DUB (EI Regional)
EI- ORK-NQY-ORK (EI Regional)
BE- I think will operate Manchester which with the connection options will allow it to indirectly serve ABZ, BFS, BRU, DUS, GLA, CDG etc etc etc.

Also worth keeping in mind is that BE now have a BA codeshare on the LGW service which will allow bookings via ba.com to route onto the BA network both long and short, however at present not on domestic or Jersey.

There is also scope for an increase in German routes, again this is my opinion ! the current DUS route has operated all season so far on the 735 instead of part CRJ and part 735. I think next year we could see an increase in flights or longer season

cs

I can also see LCY coming back, perhaps an operator that currently flies in from Europe and wants to add an extra sector? No disagreement from me Simon, some of thees routes may well co me back into being but much more suitable to smaller units. I mentioned three airlines I would speak to and you have hit one of them.

Why would BA CityFlyer fly to NQY from LCY when they can fly to XYZ destination on the continent and make more money from it?

Genuinely curious.

A LCY quick route filler to NQY would be a lot quicker and cheaper with some income than setting up a new continental route, so i guess thats a potential reason- it was good enough for a LGW 734.

And just how many Cornwall locals wish to travel to/from the City of London, not Greater London, on a daily basis and just how many City of London business personnel wish to travel to/from Cornwall on a daily basis?

Flybe's investor presentations show that the Flybe fleet will contract by 2 aircraft this year - I guess the aircraft used to FRA

See slide 14 http://www.flybe.com/corporate/inves...11-results.pdf

Phileas Fogg - a better question would be to ask how many residents/businessmen of City of London and surrounding area would make use of a link to NQY from LCY for a leisure break. Afterall, Ibiza and Palma are hardly aimed at bankers off to do a deal and the same goes for Cityjet routes to Brive etc. Its a more possible route than you might imagine.

Tommy,

I myself was born within greater London and I've lived on 3 seperate occasions in Essex. NEVER would I travel to LCY, on one train, off another train, perhaps the tube, and then the DLR humping bags/suitcases all the way and all for an overpriced flight from an airport I don't even want to be at!!!

I'm not suggesting such a route is impossible BUT there are only so many people that want to travel from/to the SW each day, NQY already has a LGW service, if a LCY service also operated then one route would poach passengers from the other route probably resulting in the failure of both routes which I summise goes some way to ASW's failure ..... they tried to develop too many SW routes with some route(s) poaching passengers from other route(s) resulting in less than optimum, across the board, load factors.

I see it a lot in these regional airport threads, NQY airport is struggling, it will never earn it's way, and all of a sudden people are getting carried away with routes here, there and everywhere.

BA from LGW used to leave with under 20 passengers some days on a B737 in peak summer, also LCY lost money for Air Southwest, the local operator. To be honest, CFE could make WAY more money elsewhere than a marginal niche route to Cornwall viable during the school holidays alone. Domestic flying is dying in the UK not expanding.

LCY leisure routes are niche into France or pricey holiday destinations with CFE. To be utterly honest, why fly when the train makes more sense from LCY?

easyJet can sell more on board products on a longer flight than a quicky to Cornwall and back so the aircraft would more likely be better served elsewhere. DUB is a possibility with Aer Arann I agree but more than likely a lunchtime single daily return.