While in general that is true, Jet 2 have started MAN-Prague this summer, are making LBA-FCO year round and increasing MAN-BUD/FCO frequencies. So expansion of 'city' routes is always possible

At first glance Flybe would be the natural choice of airline to take up the STN route but they could end up competing with themselves on NCL - GTW. The other operator that springs to mind is Ryanair with its STN base.

NCL-STN, surely the logical guess would be Air Berlin?

Eastern used to operate to Stansted from Manchester and also London City from Newcastle.

What do you think?

I purposely left T3 out because I wasn't sure of the business/leisure traffic mix...but if its mainly business it could work...minimum of 2 x daily...Saab or one their (new)...135's

Would be very surprised if T3 entertain STN, I used to fly their LCY route on business and it was hugely expensive (£350+ return). STN is typically used for either connections to cheap flights elsewhere or as a cheaper means of getting to London. Now working with EZY prices at around £50 return with the £30 on top for the Stansted express that just about competes with the LHR and LGW offerings.

So, if T3 come in with their £100+ offering to STN I cant see it being viable in the long term. Especially when you have cheaper means of getting to the same place from other carriers. If FR don't step in then it may be a total loss?

NCL - STN - While I cant comment on either of the other 2 airlines mentioned I can confirm that FR is not one of the airlines in discussion with the airport, at present anyway. I think its well recognised by the industry that FR aircraft are too large for this potential market. I believe that the airlines looking at this route are aiming for the business community north of London and not the low cost market. This is an area that is poorly served by rail for those hoping to travel down in the morning and get back in the evening, rail at present means travelling into London and back out.

I also understand that an extremely strong possibilty of a connection to Frankfurt at the end of next year when Frankfurt expansion creates additional slots. I do know discussions are quite advanced on this one so here is hoping.

You can get to Stansted by rail without having to go via London. Air Berlin to Stansted is a non-starter as they have cut back at the airport including dropping all the feeder flights from Glasgow and Belfast.

apaul - yes you can but depending on how you hit your connections it can take much longer than going in and out of London

Apart from T3 the only other airline I can come up with would be BMI Regional (Lufthansa) which would link in with the operation of a FRA route.

FRA has got to be in conjunction with Lufthy, possibly operated by BMI regional, afterall aircraft is possibly just the right size for regional to hub route, but STN?? If AB aren't interested, FR has too much capacity and BE would jeopardise LGW who could it be?


ncleflights
wonder if the powers that be are in discussion about anything else?

Without going through London which way are you suggesting getting to STN by train? Its a poor routing and very expensive.

how about flybe to southend?

Getting from Newcastle to Stansted by rail changing at Peterborough and avoiding London takes 4hrs plus or minus 15 mins depending on the connection. So if you are going to Stansted to fly on from there the plane is much quicker. But if you were wanting to do a journey from the centre of Newcastle to Cambridge there's little or no time to be saved by flying via Stansted. As for price there are plenty of cheap rail seats on the East Coast at present. If you book far enough in advance you can get from Newcastle to Stansted for £16 single, and there are a lot of options for around £60 return. By contrast cheap seats on the Cross Country rail service are like gold dust. So it doesn't surprise me that Easyjet seem happier with the route to Bristol than to Stansted.

Easyjet
 

ncleflights

You mentioned formal notificaion from Easyjet to Newcastle Airport re a 3 aircraft base from Oct 2011. Does this mean also for summer 2011 ?.

Danish Air Transport
 

Noticed this flight today on departures board

DTR494 14:00 AMSTERDAM


it is Danish Air Transport ATR-72 OY-RUB


Does anybody know what it was doing here?

Charter flight to Mexico
 

P&O are offering a cruise with a flight starting ex Newcastle to Acapulco, Dec 2010. I assume this is requires a tech stop in the US. Any knowledge of previous flights on this route with airline & aircraft type used.:ok: