Tel Aviv would be new, but it's from Manchester not NCL.

oops- I thought I only spotted AMS when I first looked!! Early morning!

OLT EXPRESS
 

It looks like farewell to that unprouncable destination in Poland, another thread advises that OLT have filed for bankruptcy.

Where are the new routes? Other airports are overtaking Newcastle in terms of Passenger volumes and percentage growth. Shouldn't efforts be made now to attract a volume service from, for example Norwegian Air Shuttle considering their rapid expansion, or SAS to re-establish former Braathens routes to Oslo, Stavanger & Bergen. Also potential routes to Copenhagen & Stockholm. Other european services to Berlin, Frankfurt, Zurich & Milan. A regular direct service to New York seems to be fading, although interlining via Dublin (pre US Clearance with Aer Lingus) or Reykjavik (Icelandair) would benefit our region, with possible inward tourism incentrives. I know this is an ongoing topic of controversy but the Airport needs to grow, at least to maintain our position versus EMA, LPL, LBA etc.. but hopefully also to establish the region and city as a premier destination location and maximise the potential of services to and from our region.

Is there any particular reason why the Newcastle area should warrant enhanced services to Scandinavia, in the way that Aberdeen has for the oil industry; and I suppose Middlesbrough and Humberside have to Amsterdam?

johnnychips

Yes, lots of historic and trade links to Scandinavia. Newcastle has close links with Norway, especially Bergen, the citizens of which send Newcastle a Christmas tree each year. The King of Norway visited recently. Sweden and Norway and Denmark all have honorary consuls in the city who are involved in economic development and fostering trade links. A local trade delegation was recently in Sweden, and the Swedish consul is chairman of 'International Newcastle', which builds community and cultural as well as trade ties.

However, over the years these close connections have failed to sufficiently support as many air links as the city and surrounding areas would have liked. The strong Pound is currently also inhibiting inward traffic and the weak Euro is encouraging outward passengers to head to the Eurozone instead.

Of the potential airlines, Norwegian is expanding rapidly on routes from Scandinavia. However, they already serve Edinburgh and Manchester. SAS is in the mist of a cost-cutting programme. Wideroe seems to be doing OK, though is part of the SAS group. Ryanair will do what it wants. Flybe's only routes between the UK and Norway are from Newcastle and from Kirkwall & Shetland, both into Bergen. Jet2 offered Newcastle-Bergen for a while too, but no longer. Eastern continue to do Stavanger alongside Wideroe.

The Newcastle-Copenhagen route was popular with business travellers, but the demise of Cimber and SAS's position make it unlikely it will return soon, I fear. A service of some sort to Sweden would be good, particularly Southern Sweden, which is most closely linked to the city and surrounding area in terms of trade and business.

Note the phrase 'former Braathens routes' - BA tried Oslo and Copenhagen - SAS and Cimber tried CPH also. RYR have also tried Norway.

EZY have tried SXF and RYR Milan (well, BGY so might not count...). Decent links to hubs such as LHR, AMS, CDG, DXB (certainly compared to EMA, LPL, LBA) probably count against us when airlines are looking at other european business based destinations.

Been tried by EI previously and would be up against a double daily RYR.

Demand to fill a 757??

Also, don't forget the current economic situation and a relatively small hinterland - MME might be declining but EDI and LBA are expanding either side.

LH DUS
 

Noted Graham

It seems odd that the morning flight has been dropped rather than reverting back to a midday single flight.

Summer 2013 shows the twice daily service restored.

Kuwait Flight KU4104
 

Departure board showing a Tuesday 31st August departure to Kuwait. Flight no. KU4104. Any ideas what this flight is?

I think you mean 31st July. Kuwait is normally a money (notes) run

Emergency landing
 

We had an Emergency landing at newcastle today. RAF jet hit by lightening with wing damage. Clicky link below

Emergancy landing At Newcastle airport - Lightening damage - YouTube

The Kuwait flight is back on the usual A300, after using the A343 last time.

There's a question about a NCL - PSA flight on the Jet2 thread, if anyone knows the answer.

Jet 2 2013
 

Is Jet 2 basing more aircraft next summer?? Just on a wednesday morning 7 aircraft is required for flights to, Palma, Alicante, Crete, Faro, Paphos, Malaga and Pisa??

Cheers

Sorry Guys Crete is on a tuesday............still only 6 aircraft:ugh:

You are not wrong ...you have missed out Rhodes 0900

Jet2
 

Rumours been going around for weeks now that jet2 plan for next summer is 8 based aircraft. This also depends on if they can get there hands on some second hand 737-800!!!

Also rumours of a 4th based aircraft from TOM!!

Id expect we will see more routes added by end of year

AerLingus Regional/Aer Arann would be the vehicle to make this work. A320 too big, but ATR would do the trick. Similar to BRS DUB. I wouldnt be at all surprised if this is added when the new ATR's arrive in the fleet. A reasonable frequency coupled with T2 @DUB and US PreClearance should be a winning formula.

EI-BUD

Seems to be incident at Newcastle (Jet2 problem - see Jet2 Thread) Now Thomas Cook flight 6023ex TFS is in holding pattern over Coast - East of Newcastle Airport

Its gone all quiet in here recently...

Anyway, selected July provisional stats:

Gatwick -15%
Heathrow -3%
Belfast City -13%
Belfast Int +11%
Birmingham -56%
Bristol +5%
Brussels -14%
Paris CDG +13%
Dusseldorf +1%
Cork +12%
Dublin +2%
Amsterdam +6%
Bergen +50%
Stavanger +32%
Prague +50%
Krakow +38%
Dubai -11%

Airport 4.33m pax for the rolling 12 months, down by 1.2%

Dubai not looking good. Is the GLA 2nd flight pulling pax away ? Presumably the 777 is still on course despite this ?