SOU's issue is not the runway length (assuming they build larger apron stands)....

It's the curfew.

No LCC can be based there unless they change the time that last flights can come back to base. Current curfew would mean very low utilisation or constant disruption and flights being diverted to BOH.

Any easyJet style operation could only be supported by W-flying.

Indeed, which we saw this summer with the Skiathos charter going into BOH due late inbound and ATC - not much fun for pax who have had a long day having checked out of their Greece accommodation by noon (10 am UK time) and they then find themselves waiting for coaches back to SOU at midnight in BOH but had booked the convenience of flying from their local SOU airport!

EZY at BOH is about to enter its 14th season. Started in 2005 I believe.

FF

Rumour is that BA Cityflyer & Flybe are close to announcing a full merger. I really hope not as it would damage BA Cityflyers stability in my opinion.

That would be a turn up for the books!

Puzzling to hear this rumour - BACF has just trimmed its out stations and ditched most or many of its newish summer sun flights out of BRS STN and BHX

They have ditched BRS and BHX, but I think this was more to do with ensuring the operational resilience of the core LCY ops, and reducing operational complexity and resultant costs.

I think a BA-branded op would go down very well at SOU, provided prices keep the user-base on-side. Doubtless it would be a much trimmed-down/core routes only offer, but the ability to sell flights through BA.com could lead to an upside in terms of viable ops to more European capitals/centres of commerce? And provide a shot-in-the-arm to the sun routes also?

'' ensuring the operational resilience of the core LCY ops, and reducing operational complexity and resultant costs.''

Umm isn't that good and prudent business practice?

So why would now BA CF suddenly want to buy the messy picture that is Flybe> ?

The idea of BA Cityflyer taking over the complete Flybe network, even with some trimming, is I think a non-starter. However, if they were to just concentrate on the very core routes from just two or three existing Flybe bases, it could just about make commercial sense, and would integrate with the existing Cityflyer network. For example, from SOU the profitable and frequent routes to Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, with perhaps Belfast and Amsterdam could easily be served by a mixture of two or three SOU based aircraft, with additional out and back sectors being undertaken by aircraft and crews from the existing Edinburgh and Manchester bases. The two or three SOU based aircraft could also operate a few 'sun route' or ski-route rotations in the appropriate seasons, and the BA brand would certainly strike the right chord with the relatively affluent catchment area. But I guess they could do that anyway, without buying Flybe!

Without being a pedant surely it's IAG that will be buying Flybe and incorporating it into BACF rather than BACF acquiring Flybe?

Yes, it is, and that was my point. Think you've misunderstood me. Complexity = cost in most businesses.

Ok fine, soooo why would BA CF then be remotely interested in buying all or bits of BE as you scribe in your post? I'm bit puzzled or I am being bit thick old chap lol

I didn't say anything about who buys who - others have suggested a merger may be on the cards.

I merely picked-up on that to suggest, as others now have, that he BA brand could go down well with the wealthy catchment of SOU, and some of BEE's other larger bases.

Noticed that Murcia has appeared in the destination section on Wikipedia from the new international airport for next year , operated from 19 th June by Flybe on behalf of Lolo flights

Latest news regarding Fly lolo and the flights they are operating next year is that it is all still going ahead

The company hope to finalise a new deal before christmas with an Austrian company / airline and they are now using an EMB 190 aircraft from Southampton operating a full schedule in the peak summer months