Links Air (UK)
 

Looks like their operating a scheduled service in Italy under the name of LevrieroFly, interesting choice. Flights are between Salerno and Palermo with a few rotations to Split in Croatia. Links Air started operating for them today according to their flight schedule
Levriero FLY

I know they've currently got an aircraft operating for Blue Islands in the Channel Islands and they've been working for Manx2 for a while, so they must have expanded the fleet to start this operation. Wish them well with it

On the airports of destinations, no mention of the flights. And no arrival or departure is known... So they didn't start today..

As mentioned in the Doncaster thread, Links Air are starting routes from Doncaster to Belfast and the Isle of Man in their own name in April. Unlike operations so far they will be scheduled as Links Air rather than charters operating for another company.

In the last 12 months:
Minoan at Oxford - all routes closed
Brighton City at Shoreham - all flying suspended
Airline-that-must-not-be-named at Cambridge - 2 routes closed and remaining 2 routes heavily reduced

Anyone have knowledge of Links Air and whether they can make their attempt work ?

Think they do a lot of charter work for citywing

I was through BHD on Sunday and a boarding announcement for Citywing said the flight was operated by Links air.

I know Links Air operate flights as charter carrier for Citywing.
The point is they are now setting up a scheduled operation in their own name at Doncaster.

In the last 12 months 3 small companies have set up regional bases at airports in the UK - at Oxford, Cambridge and Brighton. All 3 have been absolute disasters commercially. In late 2012, OLT Express opened a couple of regional routes at Southend - also a big commercial flop.

Does anyone have an opinion as to whether Links Air can make scheduled flights within the British Isles using a base at Doncaster work ? I'm particularly interested to hear from those with good first hand commercial knowledge of Doncaster, Links Air or flying 19 seaters. I'm not looking for comments based purely on Links Air's wikipedia page !

Links Air (UK)
 

They flew the Oxford Edinburgh route for the scam that was Varsity Express a few years ago. Think they were out of pocket on that deal

I note that the Links Air website still doesn't accept credit/debit cards for payment - this was meant to go live on Monday 24 February. When I phoned their office last week, the person who answered explained they were working on fixing the payment card issue. At the moment, all bookings are filed under the "save for payment later" option, with 2 weeks to pay.

If flights are due to start in 31 days and the airline is unable to take revenue from website bookings, I'm beginning to lose confidence here .... anyone else know anything about this ?

Previous route operation by BE suggests there is a market for Belfast, but I'm not convinced there is such demand for IOM (all the Doncaster tax exciles have their own planes to get there :O ) if it's routes in that direction then I'm sure Glasgow would get better loads from DSA a destination that many Doncaster business travellers currently journey to EMA or LBA to make.

Isn't the problem for UK mainland from Doncaster the connectivity on offer from Doncaster train station? I'd also be inclined to question how many Doncaster business travellers exist, surely this operation are attempting to gear themselves towards the Sheffield passenger.

Yes but only for the East, still 4.5hrs to GLA at best by rail.

You may be very surprised at the number of business commuters living around Doncaster (because of the rail link) using the train daily to the City, but also taking weekly journeys north of the Border. For Edinburgh that's fine but For Glasgow it's either a night out or a flight from EMA or LBA to get a job done in a day. It's more than frustrating for it to take over an hour to get to and from either with current traffic volumes on the M1 & M62

In real terms the number of air passengers in the Doncaster area is very small. Sheffield is another matter, but things are complicated due to increased accessibility to other forms of transport and better connected airports.

sheffield is where it's at for sure, and of course when the new link road (which is now really actually being built with real diggers and everything opens) then Sheffield city centre will be less than 25/30 mins away …

A quick scout of other forums and the general internet seems that people have tried to book with Linksair and are not able to do so because of this issue with them not being able to take payments. It's very easy for a company to set up an card payment facility, unless they are not credit worthy.

Afraid to say I can see this being a complete non starter. What kind of company launches a website with a schedule of flights no one can book? I'd be very surprised if the flights operate at all.

Must agree with you Timmy (that makes a change)!

The Flybe route was very hit-and-miss with some people reporting full flights and others saying there were only six people on board. Perhaps it was too optimistic as attempting as a business route, and with due respect, Belfast is not a premier leisure destination. Still it's all on the yields etc.

I should imagine yields will be poor if they can't figure out how to charge their customers.. ;)

"Afraid to say I can see this being a complete non starter. What kind of company launches a website with a schedule of flights no one can book? I'd be very surprised if the flights operate at all".

For a company that has been operating since 2009 it seems to of done ok up to now.

Good luck to all involved, onward and upward.

A bit more scouring Twitter, forums etc, seems they are advising to customers to call back in a few weeks to book. Chances of these services ever starting are pretty much zero.

Reminds me of the other airline who tried to begin similiar services to Amsterdam. Same thing happened with them.

I'm booked (and confirmed) on a flight from Doncaster to IOM next month, so I hope it's all going ahead!
Rather a convenient airport for me, much more handy than Manchester (which I currently use every week), and I would have thought quite a few from the South Yorkshire /Humberside area will find it a useful route.

Website is now *finally* able to take payment over the web for bookings from credit cards.
16 days to go from 26 March til the first scheduled flight under Links Air's own commercial responsibility...

3 days to go to first scheduled flight (DSA-BHD) on 11 April with a 19-seat aircraft
First scheduled flight has 9 seats available at entry level fare, while return leg on same day has 8 seats available at entry level fare. Airline website cannot handle bookings for more than 9 passengers.
Granted there may be a last minute business-oriented rush for seats and there is always the possibility of overbooking, but I am somewhat concerned as to the long term commercial viability here...

Why be concerned for gawds sake?

Of all the no hopers I've known of in aviation over the years not a single one of them has concerned me. They might have been the subject of some light hearted banter over a pint or few but, surely, mature folk have more important matters to concern themselves with!

I think it would be a massive concern for DSA if these flights were to fail because they cannot fill a 19 seat plane. It would prove that business routes are not viable from the airport.

I'd say the poor bookings are partly down to the website problems and complete lack of marketing.

As it seems pantomime season has come early, the response is "Oh no it wouldn't!"

It would prove that that operator on that route isn't viable - end of.

Give them a chance they have not even started yet!!

Disabled Brother-In-Law
 

My disabled Brother-in-law who walks poorly with a walking stick is considering using Linksair in mid july to visit me, via DSA-BHD, in mid July. Having read the last two pages in this thread and cross referring it in my head to other airlines/non airlines (merely ticket sellers) and various other things worthy of consideration, I have to ask myself, and the (mostly) honourable and knowledgeable members of PPrune, is this actually an airline, with an AOC? is it likely, given past history, that it will still be operating this route in mid July and is this a suitable aircraft for people with my Brother-in-law's mobility problems?

Links Air have been operating for years and they even fly for that 'none airline' based on a certain island in the Irish Sea. I would trust Links Air, they are experienced and recently advertised for crews on here a few months back so they must see some future in this venture.

ACW342 - their website displays their AOC on the front page and there is detailed advice on the level of mobility a passenger requires (and why) and what to do with a wheelchair in the FAQs

I travelled with Links Air today, Doncaster-IOM. Nothing to complain about, all went well.
The third passenger on this route (ever!) was wheelchair-bound and seemed to have no trouble.

Glad it went well. How was the load factor?

FFS Timmy the route is 2 days old, I seem to remember when easyJet started they only had a handful on the first flights, someone really should have told them to give it up as well, I mean look what a disaster that turned out to be.

Jeez ...

Oh dear oh dear... Poorly informed yet again i presume ?

That is not the reason whatsoever. Please bare in mind when posting such things on this website that there are people on here that actually know the facts / figures and the truth. If the "source" of the negativity that you often post on this thread is really from an airport employee, perhaps it's time they go and find a new career elsewhere as they either really dont have a clue on how to correctly interpret information they may have access to or they really do have a grudge against their employer.

I agree that is not the reason of the cancellations. I work at BHd nd confirm that passengers were booked on both sectors

Timmy, stop being such a ballbuster - the reason is stated on the Airports Facebook page. Once again it proves you wrong.

Rather than lie why not just keep your nose out?

Guys. Facts and nothing else please. When ANYONE makes a comment that provokes worries in the minds of the workers - YOU - can cause serious problems.


Facts only.


PPP

Well the pilot was quite chipper and cheerful on the radio during this morning's flights. So that's a good thing!

What was the reason for the evening cancellation? Disregard - found it on another thread.

Facebook blocked here - I wish airports would use their own websites for such info.

El Bunto - hear hear!! I refuse to give personal details to the devils website - if there is anyone in a management position at DSA (and lots of other websites) please realise there are an awful lot of early middle aged people that refuse to use Facebook - and guess what - a lot of us have a lot of disposable income. By letting the 'youth' run your IT dept and concentrating on FB means you are missing out.

And not just people choosing not to use FB - my corporate IT department blocks access to all Social Media sites, and we're not the only ones.

LNQ200 / 201 on schedule in and out of Belfast this morning. Glad things are back on track.