easy seating
 

with the a 320 doing the long routes, can see a few medical problems coming here. 28 inch pitch not good.

Well the charters have been operating long flights at minimal legroom for years and hasn't caused any problems on the type of routes EASYJET will fly these aircraft on. Seat pitch of 28" is widely regarded by A and B as safe and is deemed safe and legal by the authorities. In fact some TATL charters by Finnair have been operated by 28" pitched cabins.

As mentioned a small proportion will be 28", most will be the same as British Airways A320's at 29" or 30". For those who need or prefer extra legroom seats they can be purchased. Some seats on the current fleet are 28" and I've never been made aware of any health issues caused by that.

As with all things you have a choice. If the product or offering of one airline doesn't fit your demands and needs fly another airline.

Which is exactly what I do! Nevertheless I disagree that 28" is safe. Have you any idea how many people develop blood clots from flying in cramped conditions? It generally won't be felt on the flight itself, unless it's a long sector. Even then most people are not aware that they have developed the problem until a day or two later. This problem will never be identified as an in-flight medical issue and is therefore arguably conveniently ignored by both the airlines and the aviation authorities. Something being "legal" mockingjay does not necessarily qualify it as good.

I never said it was good but just because something isn't good does not it make it "ridiculous, unsafe and unhealthy" Hotel Tango.

Airlines have the right to configure aircraft however suits them so long as it meets regulatory requirements and is approved by the OEM.

A lack of of an inch or two of legroom is the least of your worries. Morons gathering their personal items will kill you long before a couple of inches less of legroom will.

mockingjay, There comes a time in any debate where the parties involved just have to agree to disagree. I note your opinion but at the same time remain resolute in mine.

IAW a CAP (which number escapes me), there are stricter rules for legroom on UK registered aircraft, typically resulting in an extra row of seats needing to be removed from aircraft being transferred operator from other EU countries, so unless easyJet plan on registering a number of their aircraft abroad, these fears are unfounded.

Where are they moving the toilet to in order to accomodate the extra seats, outside?!

It's a redesign of the rear of the aircraft interior:

A320 Space-Flex

Don't get the bit about the flapping toilet doors at the rear?!

A very clever use of the space. I get how it works but I don't understand the pivoting door. How does it is secure and lock closed?

easyJet using Titan A320 this summer at EDI
 

A few weeks ago while booking my regular EDI-STN-EDI flights an obscure 18:00 STN-EDI was showing on the booking system. It only seemed to be operating on 21st May. As it is far better than the normal 16:10 or 21:40 STN-EDI flights I booked it.

On Wednesday I received an email saying my flight was being operated by a 186 seat Titan A320. Having looked at the EZY flight tracker it appeared to only be operating STN-EDI with no obvious return flight or another follow-on.

At the gate I could see that it was fully booked with at least 3 pax on standby. Normally STN-EDI is a A319 so the far more sociable flight time must have proved attractive.

The aircraft is Titan liveried but the crew were wearing what looked like a hybrid Titan/EasyJet uniform with easyJet name badges. Even the LCD display for the cabin crew was easyJet branded. The seats are all leather and seemed more comfortable than easyJets. I was in row 1 and got chatting to the CC. They said the flight was a positioning flight to EDI as the aircraft was to be based at EDI for the summer. Whether this means an A319 has gone elsewhere on the network or EZY are adding an additional aircraft to minimise any delays is unknown.

The Titan A320 is an additional based aircraft at EDI providing extra capacity until the end of July.

The Titan A320 will be in EDI for 8 weeks, then move to FCO to provide extra capacity for 7 weeks and then finally to LGW for 6 weeks. A Titan B757 will also be operating over the peak summer months to provide extra capacity in LGW.

In what way is it providing "extra capacity"? Replacing an EDI based A319 or as a completely additional aircraft allowing them to add extra schedules on certain routes?

I've since received another 3 emails saying my flight is being operated by Titan. All the flights on the same reference are EDI-STN or STN-EDI.

It's an additional based aircraft as said, meaning 8 a/c at EDI. Frequency increases on the majority of Euro city routes.

MAN-DME cancelled from 10th September
SXF-MAD cancelled from 23rd October
FCO-LIN not bookable from 25th October


Flights from CIA to ORY and BRS will be moved to FCO from 1st June.

Will easyJet announce any new route for WS15/16?

It's nearly mid-June and any new route has been announced yet. All bases are already fully scheduled? Can't believe that...

easyJet to cancel CMN-LYS & CMN-CDG routes at the beginning of November. Seems quite dramatic the Winter Season while no new routes are being added to the map.

New base BCN


Increase in bases at Venice, Naples and Milan. Rome FCO down
source easyjet website

Bit surprised about the retreat from FCO to be honest.

FCO retreat explains why Milan/Rome is being dropped.

Heavy competition in Rome maybe, alongside the ability to maintain quite a few routes using aircraft from other bases?

Another example of one's gain (or 3 in this case) at another's expense.

FCO has 8 aircraft. VCE and MXP will get 3 each and NAP will get 1, so I make that 1 less aircraft in Italy next year? So surely no growth for Italy at all, if anything a reduction!

To think how its always been about primary airports for EZY and they've now closed bases at both MAD and FCO. Wouldn't be surprised if they eventually cut back in SXF now FR are up against them.

How can they say what a strong competitor they are when most of the time they just shy away from it and closing relatively large bases at such key airports?

I think at some point they're going to have to stand up to the others a bit more or they could find themselves in a dangerous place a few years down the line.

FRatSTN: EZY have said they will move the 8 a/c based at FCO to:

3 moved to MXP
1 moved to NAP
4 moved to VCE

Which equals 8 a/c. I don't see that as a 1 a/c reduction!!

Fair enough I thought VCE was 3. Nonetheless my point remains.

You say "most of the time" they shy away from a strong competitor, based on a sample of......*two*

How about LGW? Did they flee the mighty BA? Or is it the case the markets they are stepping back from are in countries where the economy is perhaps, um, how to put this, under-performing? Ryanair can make money where no one else can as they have a the lowest cost base of the locos. It's a surprise to me too but we haven't seen the books and like Ryanair, the numbers likely show the assets can be deployed elsewhere more profitably.

Can you really put the competition of BA in the same basket as Vueling and Ryanair.

Suspect Vueling is the driving force of the shift in capacity some major city pairs both are head to head on and where they are moving aircraft have near zero Vueling presence for now

There was us thinking you had...

easyJet do not typically stay in the market where intense competition exists unless the competitor is less strong, i.e. it will go up against higher cost OR weaker competitors. Examples include putting it up to Flybe or Aer Lingus, however, where Norwegian, Ryanair or Vueling (and Wizz I guess, but no big cross over), they will bow out rather than make small or no returns. An unwavering interest in shareholder return. And to date the company is performing strongly and returning good profits, so clearly some merit in its approach.


easyJet is a prudent operator and do not waste time losing money in markets that long term will not be profitable or secure.
Nonetheless, as the saturation of the market by the lower cost operators continues a pace easyJet may find this competition more prevalent, hence, they need to continue to focus on areas that are more fruitful, I.e. hitting the legacy carriers and focusing on hub airports etc.


EI-BUD

Jamie 2k9 I don't think you can accuse easyJet of running away from Vueling when they have announced a new base at Barcelona which is Vueling's main hub when I last checked !

Yet closing FCO to move aircraft to MXP, VCE and NAP goes entirely against that.

It seems now they just make changes depending on current yields and market conditions with I think a lack in longer-term consideration. FCO was also one of EZY's fastest growing airports this year so that wasn't particularly sustainable.

With FR's changing strategy and the likes of VY, W6, DY and 4U all having become major players in Europe, EZY can't avoid them forever. There will come a point they will crumble if this act carries on because it's only going to make them weaker against the strongest competitors.

I also can't see any value in the point they make about FCO having poor customer satisfaction. They're still going to fly to the airport. I'd say that's nothing more than a swizz to try and make it look as if they are putting their customer needs first when in actual fact that has little if any bearing in this at all!

FratSTN, when was the last time you flew through FCO ? The place is currently a nightmare, the terminal fire has not helped, airlines are being required to reduce their flights by up to 40% flying through FCO on some days because the airport infrastructure can't cope. Some flights are cancelled in advance at the request of airport authorities and some operate through Ciampino. Delays are commonplace due to lack of stands and congestion made worse by the fire and Yields are low due to lots of domestic competition. Customers sometimes have to check in at one terminal, get bussed to another terminal for passport checks and security and then head off to the aircraft. I think it's a sensible option that's been announced although of course it's not nice for crews and the ground teams who have their home and livelihood there.

There was a fire at Terminal 3 at FCO some months ago and many passangers have to go through Terminal 2 now which is not the best solution. Also there are a lot of delays at FCO due to construction workings at the terminals and runway closure. My EZY flight was delayed by 2 hours (as aircraft has to wait before take-off as just one runway was open for take-off) and back half an hour (due to heavy traffic).

Reliability at FCO is not the best at the moment. Maybe once constructions are done EZY will come back?

Increasing competition from VY, FR, DY and W6 is also a good point. EZY should be the market leader at MXP, VCE and NAP. Fair enough to look at those points. Sicily is left out a bit, maybe CTA and PMO will join the EZY bases?

Airport facilities at FCO have been limited by the fire, no idea when terminal 3 will be fully reopened. Lots of terminal changes and diversions to other airports. Even BA have had to cancel two flights a day from LHR. Seems a sensible move on Easyjet's part.

Which Easyjet routes from FCO are likely to be axed?

I guess all flights from FCO to non-EZY bases like MUC, PRG, VIE, CPH and all the leisure routes to Greek and Spain.

FR announced some years back they would increase their base at FCO to over 10 planes. Right now they also just got 2 based planes at FCO with operating a lot of flights from other bases to FCO.

I'm guessing post Carolyn's statement about the Barcelona move (I.e. We are not going to be #1 or #2 at BCN), suggests that putting a base there will allow for cist effective early morning business timings ex BCN...? given the very competitive landscape there, I can't see a lot of new routes starting by easyJet..

Lyon 4 new routes
 

Year round:

Amsterdam - 4 weekly
Naples - 2 weekly

Winter Seasonal:

Belfast International - 1 weekly (Sat)
London Southend - 1 weekly (Sat)

Where did you hear this? Not on sale yet?

New Lyon routes
 

Thanks for the link! :)