I find it quite interesting that Easyjet haven't covered any of the BACon routes; CDG twice daily would seem understandable if AMS can also justify a twice daily. And virtually no excursions into Germany - what of DUS, MUC, FRA? I would have expected a loco like Easyjet to go in for the kill if they thought the competition was weakened?

Maybe they're expecting Flybe to take up all the existing BACon routes? Maybe they're expecting them to get split up between other operators? Maybe they looked at BACon's loadings, and decided it wasn't good business? (Although I remain shocked that Bordeaux can justify a daily visit by an Airbus, but BACon can't fill an Emby to Munich).

Or maybe they're just biding their time and waiting for the right moment to swoop.;)

A further press release was issued by Flybe today in which they outlined the UK bases that will see expansion next year.

BRS was again conspicuous by its absence (I realise it is not currently a Flybe base but is if BACon is taken into account).

A number of new routes were announced alongside the press release including three new ones from EXT (Rennes, Avignon and Nice, although none will operate more than 3 x weekly) so, as expected, Flybe appears to have overcome its lack of enthusiasm for the preferred bidder of that airport.

Presumably Flybe thinks it can mop up BRS catchment customers through its routes from EXT, SOU and BHX, and there is even a suggestion on one board that CWL might be included.

This seems like a high risk strategy as the BRS catchment is significant (with a high ratio of business pax) and Flybe may find itself losing customers to other airlines that will almost certainly fill some of the gaps.

We should know whether BRS is to feature anywhere apart from Jersey when the final routes for summer 07 are announced early next year, but at this stage it looks highly unlikely that it will.

Hurrah! That's worth about 12 working days a year to me - not to be sniffed at.

Cheers,

Rich.

flybe
 

Hi MV

High Risk or self preservation?

It can't be a co-incidence that Easy & Ryanair have bases at BRS, EMA, Liverpool, Stansted & Luton and Flybe don't!

They may feel confident to take on the likes of Baby, Jet2 etc but in
the main they don't go too close to Ryanair or Easy.

Having said that they would have Milan, Frankfurt and Dusseldorf
(Zurich excluded) to themselves and should be able to make them work.

Perhaps not so Glasgow, EDI and to a lesser extent Paris.

I can't see Bristol going too long without some of these routes and as
mentioned on other threads Easy have about 6 craft unallocated.

I still reckon FR will be looking closely at Bristol (for Hahn, Bergamo etc)

Not even BHX is free from the flybe axe with AGP, ALC, MJV, FAO
and PGF chopped from last summer unless they are released later.

Interesting days ahead for most airports.

Pete

Pete

I know we speculate from the point of view of passengers and enthusiasts, but I keep coming back to the people whose jobs are on the line and all the uncertainty must be soul destroying for them.

easyJet have certainly built up an impressive base at BRS but there are those who muse that this might be because there is no other competition there from one of the bigger players such as FR or Jet2 (wouldn't expect baby because they are just across the river).

In other words, easy may not be too keen to share its nest with a rival it might be wary of. There is some evidence to support this theory in such places as NCL and LPL where easy expansion has been fairly limited once the likes of FR and LS set up home at those airports alongside the Orange company.

Flybe is of course a different sort of low cost airline in that it uses smaller aircraft than the traditional model.

BRS will have three FR routes come February (Dublin, Gerona and Shannon) and it may be that any additions from Ryanair will operate in this way, ie by aircraft from other bases.

I think a lot of people's preferred choice to replace some of the German routes (assuming Flybe walk away from BACon's routes) would be LH (some would prefer this to BE fullstop), but that might be hoping for too much. Who knows?

These are interesting days but perhaps only those of us not involved at the coal face are able to view them with equanimity.

Aer Arann
 

Aer Arann have announced a Bristol-Nantes service from 19th May, operating on Tuesdays and Saturdays. The flights will be operated by a Cork based aircraft on a W pattern.

Flybe/BACON
 

MV

Agreed, I have a distant family member who was until recently employed at BA mainline (office) at BHX (still mainline but elsewhere) and I am sure that she and those who remain would not not use the word "interesting" to describe the current situation and it was certainly not my intention to trivialise the matter.

It does seem that the situation at BHX is bleak for some as flybe is
handled by Swissport, which could leave a lot on the BA BHX ground
handling out in the cold. As for Bristol I understand the situation
is not much (if at all) better and like most I hope if flybe does not take on the flights somebody else does and quickly.

Pete

On the EXT thread it is mentioned someone believes that EZY have been measuring up check-in space down there!
Is it me or does everyone else thing this bloke has completely lost the plot? :}

I missed this one, so what is the major major THom expansion, i see the possible Luxor route next winter, any one got any new info this or other rumuored Thom expansion

CJ I have just checked the [post and if you had bothered to check the whole post you will notice that BAforever was talking about CWL. Or, atleast thats what I think?

Morning Smile,

Well all i can say is that its been a hard day, and i did not twig that it was the planemans alter ego BA Forever as we had not heard from him for a while and i thought i had missed something juicy. i shall now take myself out the back and give myself a damn good thrasing for my gross stupidity !!!! yours embarrasingly c.j.

First STAR Alliance flights to Bristol International!

SAS to opearate BRSARN for peak Summer 07.

2 flights per week scheduled Monday and Friday with B737/MD80.

:} I sounded a bit harsh aswell though, hard day too! I dont think that TOM will be having any expansion at BRS any time soon, (but who needs them with FCA:p )!!!

(Also cant find news anywhere an SAS coming to BRS?)


Smile!!!:)

Woo. I can finally start making a dent in my *A miles from my local airport. I'll be off to Stockholm for the weekend then with the wifelet. Perfect. I wonder if the Cabot lounge will be honouring *G cards?

(It's not appearing on SAS, Bristol Airport or GDS yet...)

Smile!!!

yes, too true, they have never been the same since the lady came off the tail!!!. still there is no where to park any way, all 28-30 stands full,better off at Cwl- plenty of empty stands over there ! They had their chance and made their choice. OH GOD, i hope i haven,t kicked off the Brs vs Cwl again.

As for A BRISTOLIANS post, if it is who we all believe it to be here,then you can take it to the bank

oh by the way, good to see you have taken your ANTI ANGRY pills today:ok:

SAS and BRS. you see,told you,you could take it to the bank, hes not on here very often but when he is;- listen!!!

twice weekly stockholm announced officially this morning.

now lets have some more

SAS. They always turn up when work is being done on the runway! Do you old farts out there remember the last time? I think we had 3 MD-80s down at one point. Rumours then were they loved BRS and were thinking about using it. Ok 15? years Later!

Navigator Programme
 

I got my letter this week saying that the Navigator is to be wound up and replaced by Travel Awards.

Nav was a great programme; I used to value the benefit of a 10% discount on AirportCarz and getting a lounge pass for each 5th flight. Maybe those benefits were just too good....

Travel Rewards doesn't seem to be based on flights/usage of the airport? Unless I've misunderstood something, you don't have to register flights made so we'll all get the same offers regardless of flying patterns. I'm also not sure how you join the future?

FLYBE
 

CWL BHD twice daily from May07. Additional routes to follow early in the New Year