Future
 

Ok the recent decision by BE to open a base at BOH (albeit with our crews) may be a kick in the teeth I personally see it as suicidal from their point of view.


I have long believed that BE needs SOU more than SOU needs it. With a change of owner and hopefully therefore a future free from being a LHR outpost perhaps this is the motivation SOU needs to wake up and start making the most of its strengths? Investment in new bigger stands and an approach to EZY would be hugely successful in my opinion. SOU has an extremely fertile catchment with money to burn to get to second homes or to visit new places. EZY could make this happen whilst also keep the business crowd happy. Anyone else agree this is win win?

For sure. They operate from SEN which has a similar runway length. BE have run there course at the airport

BE does not need SOU. SOU has lost them mega bucks due to their rediculous charges. They have already said to SOU "Drop your charges or we pull out" what's to say this isn't the beginning of that

Rivet Joint - Your constant bashing of BOH on here is getting a little tiring, yes there is of course a notable element of risk starting a base 30 miles from one of BE's largest (been overtaken by BHX in the last year or so) bases where they essentially have a monopoly. However equally I'd have some confidence in Flybe's current management, which a lot of previous experience coming from Easyjet, not exactly an airline known for cocking things up on a regular basis.

As for the whole 'no one wants to fly from BOH they should just make it a housing estate' that is frankly rubbish, because despite a smaller catchment and significantly worse transport links than SOU it has still managed to attract ~650,000 pax per year, not to mention the notable number of non passenger business's operating from the airport (i.e. cobham, paintshop, scrappers, based light aircraft etc). It also has a far more useful runway length, and can handle more than 2 A320 sized aircraft at any one time!

As for previous failed ventures most have fallen into two categories, unknown/not established operator or an inappropriate frequency/aircraft type (i.e. BE's middle of the day MAN, SI 3x week to JER vs 3x day up the road, FR using 738's to PIK etc).

With a bit of luck both airports will benefit from this move, with BOH being able to broaden their routes beyond the bog standard bucket and spade ones and SOU getting a kick up the rear to reduce charges/improve the airfield/not be so reliant on Flybe.

GCILover: I totally agree. It does smack of BE teaching SOU a lesson like they were clearly doing last time they operated a few routes from BOH. This time the base is more substantial however and I can only see one long term loser and that's BE. Saying that I fully expect the BOH venture to not last long just like last time. SOU is soon to get new owners (well sort of) and lets hope without LHR being a stable mate they will start to invest airside to facilitate some much needed competition.

adfly: I'll admit I had a lot of faith in the new management who appeared to be going back to basics and consolidating nicely on what they know works. More codesharing is also a wise move. Yu can't tell me however that opening a base at the likes of STN and BOH is not going against this course of action however?

I admit my housing plan might be a bit over the top (at least for now) however with the Irish lot charging a few euros and a bag of crisps for a flight to Greece 650,000 is not all that surprising. I think its well established that FR are not fully committed to BOH and it does beg the question why? I don't want to go back to poundland again but if they can't make money in a town centre then no one can. Non passenger business is kind of a non point to me, Manston, Blackpool etc all had this yet closed. Granted it has a longer runway but so does Doncaster.

You have to ask why BI chose to ditch BOH to fly the same routes as BE at SOU?

I do not see how this will benefit either airport. Granted you are right SOU needs a kick up the rear but BOH has no business serving domestic routes and as previously mentioned if FR can't make it work then BE have no chance. Time will tell though.

why is the Flybe mobile website only showing flights on its network on sale till April 2015?

Can we now conclude that routes from Southampton to Brest, Clermont-Ferrand and La Rochelle will not be flown for summer 2015 ?

re: Brest, Clermont-Ferrand and La Rochelle
 

The remainder of the Southampton summer schedule, including "sunshine routes" will be announced in the next week, the date according to the airlines Facebook page is Saturday 15th

Not necessarily, BE can get onto thinner routes than FR because of its use of smaller aircraft.

Rivet Joint is so in denial it's laughable. Can'the/she ever be happy that another airport has had a significant success in attracting another airline thereby securing peoples jobs and livelyhoods at that airport?

So what if it's not a 'proper' base?

fliteFone wrote an excellent piece on how Flybe flying from BOH AND SOU could be of benefit to both.

We all know that people are making the journey past BOH to SOU to get on a Flybe flight. So it only makes sense for Flybe to meet the customers needs. Isn't that what business is all about?

Totally agreed pottwiddler.

Flybe are in a tricky spot at SOU not able to base any more aircraft than are currently there. Look at the schedules from BOH - they are complementary. If SOU has a good catchment, then facilitating additional services in terms of GROWTH from the South coast should be no issue!

Romanians vote in their country's presidential election... in PORTSMOUTH | Daily Mail Online

If I was Southampton Airport, I'd be emailing this article to Wizz Air first thing Monday morning.

Why can't Flybe base anymore aircraft there. When I worked there they had 10 nightstoppers. 3 x 195 and 7 x dash 8. SOU has 14 stands so plenty of room for more

Can a 737 make it to Romania from SOU with its runway?

I'm not sure either but probably has four other aircraft parked there! SOU can't be seen to be exclusively Flybe. ;)

wizz air
 

wizz air do not operate b737. they operate the a320.

Probably thinking of Blue Air with B737s

Ian

Apologies, early Monday Morning and I've not had my coffee, I'll ask the question again.

Can an A320 operate from SOU to Romania?

potwiddler

Not with an economic passenger load.

Flybe October 2014
 

Flybe saw significant growth on some key routes from Southampton:

Dublin up 54% on last October
Amsterdam up 31% on last October
Manchester up 35% on last October
Jersey up 15% on last October (was any of this growth due to Blue Islands?)

Makes sense that they are now considering the routes above from BOH as obviously the market (South Coast) can take it/needs it.

Those are impressively big numbers and great news for SOU, any reason why?