Stobart Air
 

This week it became official that AerArann Regional would be renamed Stobart Air to reflect its ownership but also its move to operations outside of Ireland.

A prominent Irish Sunday Business newspaper reported last week that AerArann would enter into its second franchise operation following the existing and it must be said fruitful arrangement with AerLingus. The article said that it would be a British existing airline brand. Munster was called out as a likely destination from SEN, with other German destinations on the cards.

Be good to open a discussion on who the likely British airline.

I'd see the following airlines as being potentials;
1 - BA; big brand in the London market , experience in franchise ops both current and past. Could do a lot for the brand that is Southend Airport. Would BA want it? Another London hub? If it didn't conflict with LCY, maybe ? Turboprops not an issue either I'd imagine as much past ops in the London area by franchise partners i.e. Cityflyer Express ex LGW and LTN. Maybe the brand is too London centric but it has the marketing machine needed?

2 - Flybe; despite its challenges perhaps it is the one. Experience in Loganair and could bring synergies being an ATR operator on the Nordic region ? But with BE essentially pulling it's London operation next week ex LGW, this could put BE down the list??? The marketing approach may not be great outside UK by flybe and this will be crucial for Stobart Air

3 - Etihad Regional; a bit of a long shot and ties into the question what sort if product does Stobart Air want to provide on its new routes? Etihad viewed as a premium product. Many destinations on the continent (take your pick), and strong marketing activity? Not quite sure how this brand fits for what SEN seems to stand for low cost? Connections via European routes to Abu Dhabi and beyond could be offered, and the linkage between EI and EY could point to the brand being a contender.

4 - bmi; a well known branding for London area, but not convinced that as a partner brand bmi as we now know it has the strength of track record or performance to rely on it and of course marketing that would be needed. For these reasons, doubtful in my opinion. However, a strategy of selecting common points for their respective operations on an equal footing could yield mutual benefits.

5 - Virgin; been known to pop up at different points, LTN to DUB anyone, Or the Virgin Atlantic Cityjet, Athens from LGW. Not much left in any if the many examples that one could give. Marketing no overlap might rule them out.

Can't think of any other serious contenders. BA is my 1st preference though can't see BA being overly interested and then the cost of OneWorld affiliation. Etihad may well surprise us!!

All points of view welcome. I realise much speculation took place on here recently but that was before it was clear whether a franchise arrangement would take place or not ...

EI - BUD

A bad move IMHO.
'Stobart Air' sounds like a freight operation.
People will associate it with the highly unglamorous business of trucking stuff around Britain's motorways.
Images of fat bellied truckers eating a fry up are hard to dissociate with the name.

If they survive as an independent I can't see the name staying.

Having said that Aer Arann was a bit odd for an airline flying out of Southend, not so odd when they were flying between the Arann Isles and Carnmore.

Willie Walsh explicity stated he wanted out of all franchise operations, much to the surprise long time partner Loganair. I suspect Keith Williams won't be too keen on going against that policy as Willie is still his boss. The only franchises that remain are non UK based, SunAir in Denmark (why?) and Comair in South Africa.

I think BE sounds like the best contender
Another turbo prop operation as the ATR is very similar to the Dash with regards to operating cost, capacity etc
Something tells me they had an arrangement with BE quite some years back when the Q400s when just coming in
They would probs get a good deal with prices from SEN and would put them back into the London market but with significantly lower costs
they know demand on EDI and BFS where good for EZY the only problem was the A319 was too big, so a prop could be perfect size
They already use operate ATR for flybe Nordic so are very aware of the aircraft

My odds are on BE

My reading of the announcement was that Stobart Air is a corporate name, not a consumer brand. So images of truckers can stay with the lorry fleet.
SA will operate on behalf of an existing airline (if British, that should rule out Etihad Regional) using their branding.

Unless EZY are about to surprise everyone, my money would be on FlyBe.

Just wondering if Aer Lingus or cityjet could be contenders, if they are considered British. Cityjet already operate regional aircraft out of LCY though they are cutting back flights there. Aer Lingus already operate out of southend with there "regional" division. But could we see Aer Lingus operate mainland european flights at themselves?

Remember, if Aer lingus regional are operating flights on behalf of another airline, all profits or losses will go to air Lingus/stobart air.

I note Munster-Osnabruck has been mentioned. Cityjet have struggled to attract loads while using an F50 to London City - the route closes next week. Neither Munster nor Osnabruck are particularly large and Dusseldorf and Dortmund already have good London service.

Could someone explain how Stobart Air under whatever franchise might make FMO to an airport in SE England work ?

The article specifically stated that a second franchise arrangement would be announced for the Stobart Air operations for flights ex SEN and UK to Europe. So not Aer Lingus Regional branding for these services.

I'd agree that Darwin not British but I put it on the radar as it had a base in Cambridge and rumours mentioned of them operating to STN ...

Based on the feedback sounds like BE territory, though I cannot see EI being keen on any support of the Flybe brand given their previous encounters with the prospect of Flybe Ireland setting up etc. Re the Ryanair deal.

Cityjet brand would strike me as not being well known, and for those markets that it is known, would Cityjet want competition on its routes to other London airports?

This theoretical operation would presumably have considerably lower seat costs. Lower fares should help stimulate demand.

8674planes
 

'Just wondering if Aer Lingus or cityjet could be contenders, if they are considered British'.

I'd consider them Irish seeing as they are from Ireland.

davidjohnson6 - FMO has had a constant route to London for many, many years, and there is a strong UK connection from the army days. It has mostly been operated by props, with the exception of an AB 737 for a while. There certainly is demand - LCY was the wrong fit though and Cityjet aren't cheap. So while FMO-LON is viable, the question to be answered is whether SEN appropriately addresses the accessibility issue for the UK-originating market that was lacking with LCY. Having said that, SEN is probably the only realistic option left as there is no one with the right equipment at LTN/STN. FR fly to FMO but my opinion would be the 738 is too big from LON

stobart
 

One good thing in stobarts favour will be the painting on the aircrafts, the ones that are already green will not need paint jobs as stobart colour is mainly green.
perhaps the colour on the aircrafts made them rename the airline.

I'm pleased that Arann / Stobart are expanding beyond a single contract but I'm not convinced on FlyBE.

The Loganair franchise works because it prevents Flybe having to complicate the fleet with 30-seaters and dealing with the oddities of the internal Irish market.

However Stobart will be operating ATRs and the '72 is only marginally cheaper to operate than the Q400. Add on Stobart's profit margin and I don't see how it would be anyway advantageous to Flybe over just operating Q400s on the route.

What oddities are you referring to?

Wonder if Stobart will name the aircraft in the same way as the trucks.

El Bunto;

I'm not sure that I follow. These are routes that Stobart Air would operate, it is not as if BE are selecting them to operate the routes instead of BE. It would be advantageous to BE as they would get franchise fee/ % of ticket sales. Assuming of course that it is BE we are talking about.

They happen to have different core fleets, though BE do have ATR outside of the UK.

EI-BUD

Is this y be are having staff meetings on tuesday and all the talk of rebranding?

All will be revealed tomorrow

FLYBE GROUP PLC
('Flybe' or 'the Group')

Franchise agreement with Stobart Air serving new routes into London Southend Airport

Flybe announces that it has reached agreement with Stobart Air, a Stobart Group business, for a five year franchising agreement at London Southend Airport.

Under this new agreement, Stobart Air (formerly Aer Arann) will operate new routes from London Southend Airport in partnership with Flybe. Flybe has proven experience as a franchisor, most notably with Loganair who have 17 aircraft operating in Flybe colours.

The franchise operation will commence on 5th June with two 72 seat ATR aircraft in Flybe livery. Tickets go on sale via Flybe.com on 3rd April to a mix of destinations in Benelux and Northern Europe.

It is estimated that passenger numbers on the six routes will increase to approximately 200,000 per annum in 2015.

The franchise agreement has been structured to accommodate additional aircraft and routes if required.

Saad Hammad, Chief Executive Officer of Flybe, said:

"We are delighted to be extending the Flybe brand further into the South-East. Today's news is also further evidence of our commitment to providing true regional connectivity across the UK and we look forward to unveiling a major programme of new base and route development over the coming months."

Andrew Tinkler, Chief Executive of Stobart Group, said:

"This agreement represents an exciting expansion of our relationship with Flybe. London Southend Airport is an ideal access point for Flybe customers travelling to and from London and the South East and we look forward to welcoming them."

ENDS

So any guesses what the destinations are?