Maybe they're giving their pilots a month off in November

This will be their way of taking the spotlight off their current crewing problems. Cancel a lot of domestic and other flights, blame it on brexit and start a war of words over that instead.

The FR BFS LGW flights for S18 are on sale at the website. They have the slots all year/ so what are they going to use them for thia winter? They can't just not use even? Seems bizarre ..

EZY have released full summer schedule
No new routes but some domestic flights appear to have increased. Looked at week in July and BHX, EDI and GLA appear to have a few extra weekly flights compared to July 17

Pretty rotten for the airport. They are not alone, STN - GLA/EDI cancelled.

Maybe an opportunity for EZY to put on a few extra flights from LGW to EDI, BFS and GLA

When FR pull the operation for the winter will the slots at LGW not be reallocated, or is it the case that FR will use them for other routes?

I wouldn't start digging foundations for the hotel just yet!

FR Cancellations
 

Has anyone actually received direct, emailed confirmation that their flights have been cancelled?

I have a booking which is showing cancelled (when I try to open it) via the Manage Booking function of the Ryanair site, but no email confirming same.

Ryanair are a total shambles presently. They had been slowly climbing off the bottom of my "do not fly unless no other alternative" list. They have now gone back to rock bottom and will be avoided at all costs unless I have no other alternative.

Edit: I have received my cancellation email and requested my refund. Also had to pay a considerable amount more money to get to London with EZY.

In the past when they have cancelled a route they removed the closest season before doing the rest later.

It makes no sense to cancel in winter and return in summer. It's either gone for good or there has been some major IT mess.

As confirmed elsewhere, BFS/LGW, STN/EDI and STN/GLA are all discontinued.

Also big cuts in Poland, Bulgaria and Sicily.

LGW Slots
 

If it's dropped the LGW slots will revert back to IAG (BA specifically) if they are not used by another operator.

Not sure if Easyjet could use them, since they are already on the route for competition reasons.

I was just about to ask exactly that question.
Personally I'd quite like the option of 'proper' connections to BA flights at LGW..... although given the choice I'd prefer flying from BFS rather than BHD ... ;-)

Still no email from FR, also still can't do the refund online.

EDIT: Got the email, and have also been able to do the cancellation request online.

EDIT #2: Also got an £80 voucher :)

So clearly now there is a huge gap in the market as this was the busiest domestic route in the whole of the UK
So I don't think NI will miss out... there is a few potential options
Flybe which is now in a better position take them up and return the route to BHD
BA comes in and offers the route
EZY increases the aircraft size and take on 1 or 2 extra slots (however they have a monopoly then on price)
Norwegian comes in.... allow connections to their long haul operations... which I believe would be a perfect solution for them, I do think if this did happen it would end their long haul operations from Belfast

What about EI?

Since EI has moved most of its BHD operation to DUB I can't see them now coming back up

According to the news, it is only for the winter.

I'd agree but would be more likely than BA operating it. Also it's being stressed the cancellation of 34 routes for 4 months is exactly that. In reality they could well be cutting losses by doing this as well, all these cancellations and compensation payouts are costly and reduces any budget for fighting price wars with easyJet, who have really held their own so well against them.

It would be difficult for any airline to jump in and organise flights, aircraft, staff etc within a short four week period bearing in mind that FR will be back in the summer of 18.


Personally I can only see the current operators increasing flight schedules. Maybe BA will go back to 6 daily flights and EZY could add an additional two daily flights

Does this mean BFS is losing an aircraft for the winter now ?