They have cut the planned programme for this winter. Several routes have had flights cut that were previously available to book.

Yes there are new routes since last winter... Hamburg, Sofia, Timisoara to name a few although some Italian routes were cut previously due to the new travel tax there, so not sure exactly how it compares to last winter.

But the point is that they will now operate a reduced schedule to that previously planned for this winter, so not disastrous by any means.

And in terms of parked aircraft, there were far fewer last winter compared to previous years.

They cut frequencies on leisure routes every winter compared to summer across their network and they also further cut frequencies on low days in deepest winter compared to peak winter leaving numerous airframes temporarily parked up. Winter cut backs reduced significantly at STN following the volume based deal with MAG but now they seem to be reverting to their old ways and blaming it, rightly or wrongly but very conveniently, on Brexit.

There fixed that for you, no need to argue anymore

I see what's happening... How predictable! :rolleyes:

yep when it comes to Ryanair it's same old leopard and same old spots.

The RYR cuts seem at odds with massive expansion up North ?

Wasn't the expansion recently mentioned for BHX, LBA and NCL for summer 2017 with schedules now on the RYR web site? Not sure what's happening at those airports for winter 16/17 but certainly MAN has got new Ryanair routes to Germany for this coming winter.

It will be interesting to see what Summer 2017 looks like for the MAG airports when schedules are loaded.

Now there are articles in several newspapers about this, for example:

https://www.theguardian.com/business...ansted-airport

Ryanair to cut back on UK flights in favour of EU routes after Brexit vote | Business News | News | The Independent

Did Ryanair operate Stansted-Comiso last winter and were they planning to fly it in the coming winter ?
No flights seem to show beyon 01 Nov 2016

Comiso did operate last winter yes. It's part of an earlier announcement where several routes in Italy will be cut / cancelled this winter due to the new tax imposed in Italy. Alghero, Parma and Pescara also will not operate from STN this winter.

Montenegro Airlines
 

Must of missed this one but Montenegro Airlines are currently doing a weekly Stansted to Tivat on Monday mornings until 5th September.

Still going 4x weekly from Gatwick but not sure if this was perhaps a sort of quiet toe in water in response to easyJet.

I would guess that they couldn't get slot at Gatwick for this extra (5th) rotation, especially if it is a short season flight it would be well down the pecking order for slots. This is going to be happening more and more unless the market starts to contract again.

Hearing rumblings of a Jet2 base ...

Likewise... question is more "when" than "if"

Correct, more than likely for S17.

Jet2
 

If these rumours are true it'll be a game changer for Jet2 entering the SE market and offer an alternative to FR/EZY. :ok:

Does anybody know how full STN is for based overnight stands inc remotes?
Given that Jet2 couldn't get into LGW or LTN simply because they are at capacity I wonder if they could have considered SEN as an alternative.
We will have to wait and see how many are based, guess they will be will sun routes only but you never know.
BHX now STN interesting!

Would have thought SEN was a no go due to aircraft size

Both FR and EZY base fewer aircraft at STN overnight now than in the past.

FR now fly far more overseas based aircraft into STN and EZY have reduced their network significantly over the years (just 7 aircraft now - was 14/15 at one time).

The only time they may have to do more remote parking is when TCX/MT have their extra aircraft over the summer holidays.

Jet2
 

Not forgetting that SEN's opening hours aren't exactly flexible for late arrivals.

Be interesting how many aircraft they'll base and where they'll operate to. Can't think of any major gaps in STN's current offering, this is of course if/when it happens.

The B738 cannot operate efficiently from SEN so that would rule them out I should imagine.

I see Air Asia are returning to Europe with Barcelona as their first destination, starting in October. I wonder if London is under consideration, and whether STN may benefit?

I think LGW will get that one myself but would be good to see them back at STN.

New Abellio Greater Anglia Franchise
 

Only considered SEN as half the Jet2 fleet is 737-300 series.

In terms of Jet2 routes it would be nice to see some completion on popular destinations from STN.

Jet2 current fly regularly to Barcelona and Reus from just about all of their current uk airports and the option to fly there with a carrier other than Ryanair should bring some much needed route competition. Luton/Gatwick/Heathrow all have multiple carries to BCN

Any route competition with Ryanair will be good for the passenger but Ryanair has very deep pockets to see off that competition so I can't see Jet2 taking them on.

whitelighter - I couldn't agree more.

If you look at maybe ALC, FAO, LPA, REU... bar maybe 1 or 2x flights a week, FR is the only carrier. MAH is still only served by TOM and MT to date, HER only by TOM (though FR do go to CHQ).

Even some of the smaller regional airports like BHX, EMA, LBA and NCL have at least 3 or 4 carriers on most of these routes, and as for MAN... There's undoubtedly room for another carrier at STN and LS seem the least phased by competition from FR.

The popular sun destinations ie Mainland Spain, Balearics, Canaries and Portugal would be a given I'm sure. Would be nice to see them have a go at some of the city routes too, though perhaps would be a much braver move?

Jet2 flying to the Med and Canaries from STN would certainly be a good development for the customer, Ryanair are overdue a bit of competition.

Jet2 are not stupid, they won't go up against Ryanair in it's own back yard on routes where they don't have a starting allocation of "protected" traffic courtesy of Jet2 holidays.

They also have little brand awareness in London so I can't see them being positioned to compete in the London-Barcelona market for a while unless, again, they can deliver a strong city breaks programme through Jet 2 holidays.

I think the competition they bring to the market will be as much with Thomas Cook and Thomson as with Ryanair. Overall therefore I think they will be a good fit for Stansted.

Ryanair to add 2x weekly Stansted - Agadir from November.

They will also now continue with Pescara 5x weekly over the winter and may also reopen Alghero from as early as November should an agreement be made regarding their Alghero base.

And before anyone mentions the previously announced Brexit cuts... there are still a number of reductions with GOT, GLA and EDI now seeing some quite significant frequency reductions over the winter.

Has this been mentioned previously?


NEW ROUTE: British Airways has announced a new route from London Stansted to the French Alps. The twice-weekly service to Chambery will start in December

So much for the Ryanair bullsh!t about cutting back on UK expansion.:=

I think you are bring a bit harsh there LTNman. Practically all the new routes will be operated by non-UK based aircraft and there will be a considerable reduction scheduled for Stansted. if you read the statement it said that UK based expansion would not happen and be replaced by expansion in continental Europe.

BA Cityflyer
 

Can the E190 make it to say Tenerife? Winter sun routes like the canaries could be a winner especially with a Club Europe cabin. Some pretty rich folk in Essex and Herts who would pick this over Ryanair.

pamann, I think they can just about but the question is would the rich folk want to be tied down for a week? A lot of the rich Essex folk I know would rather go to the Carribbean, Thailand etc in winter anyway, especially if they've got that long away from the office

Would have thought so as it doesnt have the weight restriction problem that it would have from LCY due runway length

But you could also argue: who wants to go to Berlin Sunday back Friday?

Yes there's a market for shorter breaks. But people still clearly go away to the canaries for a week.

Thomson and Thomas Cook have also opened up the longhaul leisure market and the flights are selling very well. Who would have thought this would be the case just five years ago.

The market is in evolution and Stansted isn't doing too bad from it.

Sunday to Friday in Berlin might not be too popular, but Friday to Sunday in London is quite attractive. Regardless, I'm not sure that BA are making a serious effort to serve the STN-Berlin market - it's more a glorified ferry to get the aircraft in place for the sunshine flights.

I don't disagree that many want to go to the Canaries for a week, I'm questioning whether it's a market for the well heeled. There are also practical considerations - a round trip to the Canaries takes a while and the aircraft is needed back at LCY on the Sunday too early.

But those E190's have a whole day Saturday that could make it work. There's some untapped rich pickings in terms of routes that could be served weekly in the summer months too, such as Sicily/Sardinia/Italy in general. Greece JTR/JMK which similarly operate ex LCY also.

Anyhow, only my thoughts.

Any more rumbles from the Jet2 rumours? It doesn't seem to be discussed on the Jet2 thread, so where exactly are these 'rumours' coming from?

In winter 2015/2016, did Ryanair operate between Stansted and Ponta Delgada in the Azores ?
It's not available for winter 2016/2017, weekly frequency is low and fares on the route are not particularly high. I'm wondering if this route depends on marketing support that may end soon and is at risk of not returning for summer 2017.