Flybe from Norwich
 

I noticed on the Flybe website that they have moved forward the dates that they will start operating from Norwich to Jersey and Belfast City.

Anyone have an inside track on just how good the initial demand has been for these routes and what the potential is for Flybe at Norwich ?

Press release on Flybe.com

"Due to popularity of summer routes, flights to Belfast now start
10th February"

Flybe., Europe’s third largest low-cost airline, is announcing changes to its summer schedule 2005 following excellent sales out of its Norwich base to Belfast City and Jersey.

In November, Flybe. announced a series of new routes out of Norwich, establishing itself as the first major low-cost airline to make Norwich International Airport a base for its operations. Early indications highlight that East Anglia is taking advantage of the arrival of Flybe. with excellent initial sales on the new summer routes.

In order to satisfy the demand for the new routes, Flybe. will be making some changes to the original schedule to accommodate the large numbers wishing to travel to both Belfast City and Jersey. Flights to Northern Ireland will now be available daily from 10th February for as little as £25 one way. Furthermore, flights out of Norwich to Jersey are now scheduled to run four times a week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday) starting on 7th May with prices from £39.

Flybe. will also operate a daily service out of Norwich to Edinburgh from 27th March 2005 and to Glasgow from 16th June 2005. Prices for both routes start from £25.

Mike Rutter, Sales and Marketing Director, flybe., comments: ‘We are delighted that sales out of Norwich are proving so popular as East Anglia is such a key region for us. The success of our Norwich routes proves that there is a genuine demand for flights out of the regional airports and we aim to continue offering a choice of routes to travellers in the regions, easing both domestic and international travel

flybe. new routes
 

flybe. new EXT and NWI routes

flybe are launching the following new routes:

Exeter to:

Chambery
Geneva
Murcia

Norwich to:

Aberdeen
Alicante
Chambery
Dublin
Geneva
Malaga

Regards

Mike

Good news for NWI & EXT :ok:

Obviously the ABZ route interests me in particular.

Suppose it was rumoured for a while,but T3 v BD v BE !!

Survival of the fittest !

T3 or BD show no signs of leaving the route.

That will probably signal the end of the Air Wales CWL-NWI-DUB route surely?

NWI still entertains me immensely as a regional airport: after years of very little activity (and the odd day charter to Lapland) suddenly there is an explosion of scheduled routes, and we see three operators one of the so-called 'Norwich to Knock' (ie nowhere to nowhere) routes and two on Norwich to Dublin. I'm afraid I don't fancy Air Wales' chances if this winter route continues into the next season.

I always understood that the ABZ route carried a lot of contract passengers from the oil companies (presumably some of whom connect with Bristow helicopter shuttles from the airport to the North Sea rigs)... is this the case, or are they individual bookings who might be swayed?

I would avoid expressing such rash expectations of BD... I expect timings will be critical - that's how Eastern saw off BMI on NWI-MAN (after just a couple of weeks, if I remember).

Surprised not to see BHD increased - I reckon with some pushing it might support AM/PM rotations.

The online timetable is not yet updated, but from NWI the times are as follows:

NWI 0700 - ABZ 0815 (Mon-Sat)
ABZ 0840 - NWI 0955 (Mon-Sat)
NWI 1800 - ABZ 1915 (Sun-Fri)
ABZ 1940 - NWI 2055 (Sun-Fri)

ALC 1145 - NWI 1330 (Mon, Wed, Fri)
NWI 1425 - ALC 1810 (Mon, Wed, Fri)

CMF 1220 - NWI 1315 (Sat)
NWI 1445 - CMF 1735 (Sat)

NWI 1035 - DUB 1155 (Daily)
DUB 1220 - NWI 1340 (Daily)

GVA 1335 - NWI 1420 (Sat)
NWI 1635 - GVA 1920 (Sat)

AGP 1230 - NWI 1425 (Sun)
NWI 1605 - AGP 2000 (Sun)

ABZ timings suggest a serious attempt to unstick BD and T3 and presumably mean at least one a/c now based in NWI. Looking at today's flights, the extra evening BE flight to ABZ will give NWI a near hourly connection - dep. at 1710 (T3) 1800 (BE) 1900 (BD) 2020 (T3) !

Lots of W routes for the winter sun destinations means we'll be seeing the 146s dropping by too. Happy days.

*j*

Did the talks with EMA for a possible route to BHD fall through, or am I just talking nonsense?

from previous:

NWI 0700 - ABZ 0815 (Mon-Sat)
ABZ 0840 - NWI 0955 (Mon-Sat)
NWI 1035 - DUB 1155 (Daily)
DUB 1220 - NWI 1340 (Daily)
/
NWI 1800 - ABZ 1915 (Sun-Fri)
ABZ 1940 - NWI 2055 (Sun-Fri)

looks to me like there is a nice gap in the early afternoon for something extra...any bets?

1. LPL
2. MAN
3. BRS
4. CDG (bit too long a route, I'd have thought, though)

Looks like NWI will be a new base for FlyBE. Supposed to be 3 a/c going there.

JBOTR:

I wasn't aware T3 had a 2020hrs dept to ABZ...our last flight is the BD one.

Unless there are more plans afoot... ;)

Have heard that as well as the 'old cold 3' (GVA, SZG and CMF) we'll be operating SOU and BHX to Berne in Switzerland this winter too!

:ok:

That must have been a bug in the system then - typical daily departures were lifted from your new website's live departures page... :)

Incidentally, Groningen appears there from time to time: are they T3 charters?

*j*

*J*

Must check out that BAA website !

Yes,T3 occasionally do a GRQ charter t/f ABZ,there was one actually earlier in the week,although you couldn't describe them as regular.Presume as & when Shell needs them,as I believe it is for them.

As for BD's GRQ scheduled service,it seems to be doing well.Was one of the international routes to record the highest %ages for growth at ABZ for June 2005 vs June 2004.

Indeed, serious competition on the early and late NWI/ABZ rotations, these flights carry almost full loads on T3 and BMI (Saab 2000 and EMB135 respectively),
If, as I suspect, the landing slots during peak hours at ABZ are significantly more expensive than at other times, the "low cost" fares will only be available a long way in advance.
T3 already operate two further NWI/ABZ services during the day, and these tend to be patronised by passengers who are able to book some time in advance and get the cheaper, restricted, air fare, perhaps that is where T3 may have the advantage on this route.

The NWI/DUB rotation is an ominous sign for Air Wales, The very fact that Flybe will operate a daily return service is significant, however, neither will offer a day return service, so it remains to be seen as to who wins.

Flybe to MAN is another distinct possibility, but again, I don't know how much it costs to land at MAN at peak times - which T3 do 3 times a day, and the service is very cost effective.

T3 also operate NWI/GRQ once/twice a week on behalf of Shell, but the route is also available to anyone who wants to travel on it.

James - you've obviously been looking in the wrong place, for the last few years it's been as busy as hell with new schedules and 'bums to the sun' flights.
God knows where we're going to put all this extra stuff!:confused:

Expect (sooner or later) flybe from Liverpool to:

Norwich
Aberdeen
Inverness
Southend
Chambery
Grenoble

Rumour has it that Flybe have plans for further expansion at BHD but these have had to be put on hold until the passenger number restriction has been lifted - would expect to see some continental destinations eventually (other than Chambery & Salzburg which are already served on a seasonal basis).

When Flybe increased their BRS presence a couple of years ago (no base but five daily summer routes) it was confidently stated by the local press and hinted at by Flybe that within a couple of years there would be at least fifteen routes out of the airport (ie by now).

Hasn't happened although perhaps the reason might be the incredible success of most of their routes out of EXT which I suspect has surprised many. It has me although I'm not an aviation professional.

For example CAA provisional stats for May show an average load on the ALC (5 rotations per week) of 135, for AGP (4 a week) 132, for FAO ((3 a week) 119 and for PMI ( 2 a week) 105. These routes are of course operated by the temporarily-leased B 733s.

The Embraer 195 won't carry as many as the average for the first two destinations and would be tight for the FAO. A nice little problem for Flybe to contemplate. Doubtless the AGP and ALC would go daily in the summer on a smaller a/c.

Newcastle

i take it there is nothing new from NCL

No, we are deprived.

It appears that the winter programme is being released in dribs and drabs as Sat only Birmingham Saltburg and Geneva have appeared.

Centre ciities

How are EZE holding out on Newcastle to Southampton now that Flybe are doing two a day against them?