Max range is about 1100 nm but I think that was based on 70 passengers. It'll probably struggle with a full load and reserves but if it could do it it would be at an even slower speed than normal.

That's right, Chesty, I think it can do ALC and PMI fairly easily though. We've done the odd PMI from Exeter before and it was ok with a little bit to think about with drift down over the Pyrenees. I think they used to do a PMI charter from the IOM in the past with not much trouble and the dash certainly did ALC from SOU this year. Maybe that's the way they want to do it, I don't know. I think it's going to struggle with FAO though, that's a little too far. Of course what they could do is run through SOU from MAN, has anyone checked the schedules?

Kockayne, just to answer you from the BOH thread, I never ever chastised anyone for saying they thought the base wouldn't work, I was merely trying to say that we should leave it to the management to make the decisions because you (& me included) are clearly no experts in how to run an airline. Sure we've got our ideas, but they won't have just gone into it with their eyes closed and the base clearly worked because numbers were very good, but they have their reasons why they didn't want to continue operating there. Whatever they were doing they did it right because we made a very healthy profit in the half year results, we might not like what they do, or their practices but it clearly worked and is working, the challenge will be to sustain it into the medium term.

Deano

Your comments are sensible & factual & I agree that the Management are doing something right - hence the improved profit performance. But, my comments were made because I felt that I could see what they were up to at BOH & I did not like what I thought I saw. What I saw was what turned out to be the case ie either they had not researched the potential routes properly, & would very soon close the base down (bad management); or, the whole event was staged to get some concessions out of Southampton; which appears to have happened (good management, at least from the selfish point of view of the airline -which, I agree, has to make a profit).
But, in the process, BEE have messed around not only BOH, but also those people upon whom they rely upon to make that profit; ie the passengers. Bad management, I think.
However, things are looking up & I hope that continues. But, just one question. The loads were reasonably good out of BOH, & the airline made an overall profit. Could they not have continued the Bournemoth operations ?

Maybe the profit would have been £25m if not for Bournemouth? No airline tends to cancel routes/bases where they are making money.

Looking at the current schedule for summer 2016 from SOU, they require 8 night stopping aircraft. On a Sunday only 2 of these are due to depart before 10:30. Surely this gives scope to put plenty of extra flights on to utilize these aircraft more efficiently.

Just been looking at the timetable of Flybe's website. I searched all destinations from LCY airport and noticed that there is a flight from LCY to NQY listed. However there is no return NQY-LCY flight. Does anyone know if BE are about to announce this as a new route. The flight is shown as:

BE1386 LCY 17:05 NQY 18:30 x6 (15JUL16-04SEP16)

Flybe Timetable

Surprised to find a FlyBE DH8D parked at Belfast International. Appears to be G-ECOJ.

Flybe Twitter just states that it diverted there due to a "technical problem" and that passengers were being bussed to Birmingham ( that'd be a good trick ).

Perhaps BE are checking out the ramp at BFS to assess their options, in case the rumoured sequel "Ryanair - The Return" is about to be released - at BHD..?!

Or perhaps it diverted in due to a flap problem because it needed a longer runway. I know which option I'm going for ;)

Look at this link BAladdy Flybe Timetable

Both sectors of the route are there. This has definitely been added in the last few days.

It's in the timetable but not bookable as it stands.

They must have updated been updating the schedule when I originally went in as the NQY-LCY wasn't showing at all. Interesting choice of route from BE

Why so interesting ?
Lots of downtime between sectors at NQY. Perhaps time for an aircraft swap to allow birds to cycle through Apple at NQY ? Who have recently been looking for a Q engineer full time. ?

pus this is actually an old route, having most recently been operated by air southwest until the airline experienced problems and subsequently closed down. The figures on the route will be available to anyone who wants them. Personally I'm more surprised that BA didn't add the route as a summer seasonal on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday


cs

I'm very much with Cornishsimon on this one, I think LCY-NQY is an opportunity that has been missed for a long time. It would do well I feel all season, maybe even all year, at the type of frequency Simon has stated.

Yes you are right the figures are there to be seen. I looked for August 2009, CAA passenger data for the route and now I know why no other airline has tried linking LCY with NQY since then.

Air Southwest offered a double daily link between the South west and London. This made the route popular with business passengers who wanted to go out and back on business in a day and they were willing to pay a higher price for the ticket to for this privilege. They also operated the aircraft PLH-NQY-LCY making it that bit easier to fill the seats on there smaller DH8-300.

The 6 x weekly evening service will be easy to fill on a Friday and Sunday. However they will struggle during the rest of the week. I really think adding the LCY- NQY will in the long run have a direct impact on BE's daily STN service and possibly the yields on there LGW service. I wouldn't be surprised at all if they cut the frequency on the STN or even the service all together before it is due to finish in September.

They are unlikely to operate more than once daily because that could cause complications for the PSO funding for the Gatwick service.

Air Southwest closed LCY pretty sharpish as they found they were hurting their existing LGW operation and the wider market wasn't supporting both. However an off peak summer LCY there and back may well be worth a punt.

LCY-NQY
 

Looks like someone at flybe towers is following this thread as this route has now vanished from the schedules !!


cs

Latest ex-Republic DH8D G-PRPD arrived in Exeter last night (26th) around 21:30 as flight BEE400.

BBC South announcing last night that BEE will commence MUC and LYS from SOU (as a result of successful Regional Air Funding application, I assume), didn't say when, but looks like double-daily on weekdays (1 day 7) for both.