Yes based on what was on sale 69.64% but not based on what was actually scheduled. NCL still gets a lot of 3 class aircraft operating. Would/could it not make sense for them to sell first from NCL? Any seats they do sell are extra revenue and load factors are pushed up, although F pax probably expect a lounge.

A 2 class 77W is scheduled daily, 3 class a/c may have been operated a lot but this doesn't bring the load factor up as EK sell it as a 428 seater 2-class a/c every day and a load factor of 69.64% is what they in particular will look at; it's still a relatively good figure, just not 77.4.

With regards to selling First Class, I would imagine this would need more crew, better meals with lots of choice (EK's F menu seems to be huge) along with other benefits which and if only say 1 or 2 passengers a day book it then it probably isn't worth it.

They would also need the clientele that can actually afford to pay for it as well. Unfortunately NCL and the NE is still pretty much the poorest area in the UK. But, near enough 70% loads year round is not too bad (though not great as VV points out).

Growth will continue though so it's not all doom and gloom.

FWIW, CDG seems to be doing extremely well, as well as AMS. Still plenty of room for growth on CPH, BRU and DUS though.

Regarding BRU, I think BM must be confident with it to be going 3 daily, they probably get quite a lot of last minute bookings paying the higher last minute fares, probably in their equivalent "business class" too. Just making an educated guess based on BRU's clientele, one lives across the road.

And regarding EK selling F, do they need more crew? I thought it kind of boiled down to "an amount" crew for "an amount" of seats, whether they are filled or not. But I suppose it's for the levels of service in First

The ratio of crew/passenger varies between classes and between airlines.

Investigations would suggest for example in First on the A380 Emirates have 4 crew for 14 seats

But there is a minimum of one cabin crew per fifty seats.

360/50 = 7.2
427/50 = 8.54

I don't know why but I'm convinced EK have somewhere in the range of 12-13 FA's onboard... I'll have to count next time I'm on but they have more than 8/9. They may well need more crew for First class but when I flew in F (by accident) on NCL-DXB (A332) there were 2/3 spare crew up front not doing much.

the 50:1 ratio is a legal minimum linked to the ability to evacuate the aircraft, not the level of customer service - clearly if you offering more than basic all economy you'll need more.

I can say that you are way off with your O&D numbers for the CPH route - for 2014 the transfer rate at the CPH end was 52% (48% O&D). However the arrival flight at CPH has a lower transfer rate compared to the departure flight due to the late arrival into CPH at 22.00. The late arrival however still makes it possible to transfer to destinations like ARN, OSL, BLL, AAL, PLQ, POZ, GDN.

One further thought on the EK route. Apart from the pax load factor I understand its the good cargo loads they get that make this operation well worthwhile.

The cargo on NCL-DXB has blown everyone away by all/most accounts, and has made it's own market based around the flights, particularly NE-Oz.

EKCH2730, thank you very much for correcting me, I've never understood the 22:00 arrival but I suppose it still works for businessmen, just means they spend a night, do a day of work and fly back the next evening. Where did you get the transfer information from? Is there any way of finding the specific numbers of passengers flying to specific destinations? But I appreciate now that I neglected to look at EU connections I was focusing on long haul. CPH is definitely valuable for the connections you mention due to NCL's lack of service to them.

United Airlines boss can't wait for Newcastle to New York flight to begin - Chronicle Live

The expected publicity stuff, but it does say:

Chancellor's warning.
 

Notes from a local rag

Chancellor's warning over future of Newcastle Airport (From The Northern Echo)

Aer Lingus
 

It would appear that for Winter 15 DUB is going to 1 daily, with the evening flight being dropped.

If it affects Newcastle what hope will DTV have?
I see DTV MP Phil Wilson is mentioned, but the chancellor won't reply to the Labour party letters from way back in November, so he can't do anything as usual! As much use as a chocolate fire guard. :ugh:
Chancellor's warning over future of Newcastle Airport (From The Northern Echo)

Updates
 

Good news about the news coming from United and our New York route.
Let's hope we get some more news later this year of the route returning for longer period

Aer Lingus. Sad to see the evening flight gone but maybe it will go on sale later in the year. If pax are using the service for onwards connections do we need the evening flight ? Can pax go west using the morning flight only?

Maybe Ryanair may go twice daily certain days??

Flybe may start Dublin?


I know this is a long way off but if United are happy and making money do you think we could get another destination in the USA?

What's the chances of us getting a weekly charter service to places like Las Vegas?

This summers Aer Lingus flights showed just 1 x daily for a period before it was subsequently amended to 2x daily, so I don't think we should read too much into it at this stage.

I'd say NIL & unnecessary! Many reasons :- Costs, & would involve a fuel stop, so why not simply fly United through EWR ?
As a holiday destination, would there be the demand for more or less full "Y"?, & again if there was, then presumably even more likely the operator could block book United...
Then one could simply book one of the currently available options from MAN access by road or rail.:E

Hahahahaha, this is going to be the next thing now us spotters have finally got New York ;) all I'll say is, UA do well at MAN and EDI, and have IAD and ORD respectively, among other US airlines. But no... Not yet is what I'd say.

Although I do think I have an amazing idea, to stop NCL (and others) losing out if we give Scotland more (which we will), one of the following should happen, in order of preference:
1. Cut APD to all airports with under 20,000,000 PPA (just clinches top spot, simply due to the complete and utter selfishness that it would help NCL win a bit over MAN)
2. Cut APD alltogether!!!
3. Cut APD to every airport outside the home counties... I quite like that one too.

So it's official, APD is being devolved tOo Scotland. This could mean that NCL will lose out to EDI and GLA. Of course, the airlines may not pass on any savings to the customer, and thus nothing will change.

Thoughts?