HiSky Moldova further delays KIV/Chisinau-STN until 2.10.20...still scheduled 3pw.

Original start date 10.4.20.

Appears Loganair & as per the LDY page with a quick check of the website continue to operate to STN through Summer `21 with an actual increase to 3 per day over two days with the addition of a mid-afternoon service.

From Routes...

Pegasus now scheduling Ankara-STN 3 PW commencing 1.11.20 A320.

On the debit side SAS will not now fly CPH-STN service this Winter.

I noticed that too :( Do we know if it's a permanent withdrawal, or will it be reinstated in time for Summer 21? SAS were always a nice alternative to FR on the CPH route, not to mention the fact that it offered great opportunities to connect long haul elsewhere.

As far as I can tell, SAS are planning to fly 2x weekly between Stansted and Lulea in the far north of Sweden over the coming winter. It looks to be ski/snow-centric rather than Santa-based. If however STN-CPH is being dropped, I'm wondering if the Lulea route will still operate

As far as CPH is concerned merely stated "Schedule on/after 28 Mar21 for Summer 2021 season not available.

Dusseldorf to be dropped
 

Ryanair is to drop it's short lived STN-DUS service in late October, coinciding with the closure of the Lauda/FR DUS base. Shame, as DUS had been absent for a long time from Stansted following the collapse of Air Berlin and the withdrawal of Eurowings shortly after. I wonder if another carrier will step in and take over the route?

Flew this route last week and it was only about half full. Returned by EZY to LGW and that was nearly full. But I think DUS fees are too high for FR in the current situation

MAG Group

August Pax

STN – 901,749 down 68.5%

MAN – 677,284 down 79.7%

EMA – 128,065 down 78.9%


12m pax end 31.08.20

STN – 15,103,532 down 46.8%

MAN – 14,831,610 down 49.4%

EMA – 2,087,699 down 56.5%


Cargo

EMA – 34,532 up 18.5%

STN – 21,972 up 24.3%

MAN – 3,614 down 62.4%

Emirates now March 28th 2021 .... if you’re an optimist .

With this Government errrr NO.

Pegasus has cancelled its proposed 3 x weekly service to Ankara for W20/1.

The proposal was a reschedule from Spring/Summer`20.

Air India
 

Air India recently removed reservation for STN-ATQ however reservation is now open again from September 21 instead of April, glad to see they don’t plan on leaving Stansted.

Trite though it may be, Sept 2021 is a long way off with plenty of scope for plans to change...

Intent dear boy intent...

Climatically from September/October onward is the best time to visit.
Obviously cannot happen this year then.
Probable pressure from the Punjabis diaspora for a return of service to their own state.
It was very much welcomed on the original commencement back in the day.

Oradea Route Addition
 

Ryanair adding a new destination in the winter. Twice weekly to Oradea in eastern Romania near to the Hungarian border.
Flights will operate Tuesdays and Saturdays commencing 5th December. Bookings are available and on sale all the way to October 2021.
A nice little addition I think in regards to the current situation.

Does anyone know if JetBlue are still considering STN for their London service. I know there was something in the news last week that they had obtained LHR slots but this was ruled out by one of the bosses in an interview yesterday. JetBlue seem to be Stansted’s only hope of getting any transatlantic route, especially now.

Its wide open. If they aren’t getting into LHR there will be no shortage of LGW slots now. It really depends if they favour one or the other or if the best ‘deal’ would swing it. That said the US itself is looking iffy certainly until after the election is resolved and I’d have thought JetBlue would be looking at cash preservation rather than risky and costly new ventures. It would certainly be a brave time to start such an endeavour

I was thinking about this as well. The withdrawal of VS and retraction of BA at LGW could indeed tempt JetBlue to set up operations there as apposed to STN. As others have mentioned, there is now no longer a shortage of slots at LGW (or STN), and I suspect the final choice will be driven down to who can offer the airline the best deal/discounts out of GIP and MAG. No doubt MAG will be wary of Air India wanting to jump ship to LGW for similar reasons.

There is for anybody who wants to operate post this winter in the way things currently stand, unless incumbent airlines are willing to lease them out. Even that may not be an attractive proposition to some carriers.

There's little doubting LHR is the clear front-runner when it comes to any kind of long-haul, except maybe the traditional Carribean, Mexico, Florida leisure market, but even that's somewhat being proven wrong. It's often puzzled me why there is such a focus on LGW for long-haul when LHR is not an option, and why STN has been unable to take it's fair share of the overspill.

Unless there is a code-share or alliance partnership (Qatar with BA/IAG for example) which, at least before the pandemic, exists at LGW. Otherwise I see no real strategic value of LGW over STN for alot of the long-haul business, where the determining factor ought to be a matter of cost and local demographic. Prestigiousness probably has a part to play, but that is fundamentally misunderstood.

The fact EK have cancelled 2 of 3 daily A380's to LGW and plan to retain a daily B777 to STN into next summer though is somewhat of positive where STN is concerned, though I suspect the cargo element is a factor there.

With business traffic having fallen off a cliff, there is more of an emphasis on leisure and VFR traffic, along with an abundance of slots at Heathrow;.

That's a well written post but this is the key point many people trip up on. The expectation that divvying up spoils in business is "fair". That's not even a consideration. JetBlue's ability to compete post COVID may be further constrained by BA/AA being in survival mode being an even more vicious competitor.

Wizz Air UK
 

Given that Wizz Air (UK) are the only airline that seem to be in expansion mode, I wonder what are the chances of MAG attracting them to STN? The CEO is quoted as saying he would like to see a 20 a/c base at LGW, but is currently unable to do so, owing to slot restrictions. However, should they be unable to acquire further slots there (no doubt BA will be keeping a close watch on this), does the next best option for UK growth come through STN? They have all but maxed out their base at LTN, and have expressed desire to grow beyond Luton, hence the entry into DSA and LGW. IIRC, Wizz Air did originally serve STN back in 2007/8, but pulled out after FR started serving the STN-KTW route. The airport has since undergone a lot of change following MAG's takeover, so I wonder if they would be tempted to give STN another go, especially with the recent closure of EZY's base?

Wondering if BHX is on the radar as an option to adding capacity. Certainly seem to be increasing services from there with Wizz Mainline

Anyhow what was not predicted ... Oslo base announced today initially 35 weekly domestic services p w doubling by December.

EL AL seems to have pulled the plug on its Stansted programme for 2021

Newmarket Holidays look to have cancelled their Dec 2020 day trips from across the UK to visit Santa in Pajala in the far north of Sweden

I wonder whether the Xmas Transun/Canterbury charters to Enontekiö, or the SAS 2x scheduled weekly to Luleå (Dec to March) will still go ahead. Enontekiö Santa day trips might still be allowed quarantine free (Finland has given an exception for charter trips under 72 hours) but I imagine passenger demand might be weak

Surely Santa of all people must be covid immune. As long as he stays safe and doesn't need to self isolate by the big day.

He'll be in a high risk group, being both old and overweight.

MAG Stats September 2020
 

September Pax

Stansted = 663,890 down 74.6%

Manchester = 630,943 down 78.6%

East Midlands = 104,544 down 81.0%

September Cargo

East Midlands = 40,645 up 31.5%

Stansted = 24,175 up 22.4%

Manchester = 3,677 down 59.1%

Pax 12m ending 30.09.20

Stansted = 13,156,636 down 53.5%

Manchester = 12,514,809 down 57.5%

East Midlands = 1,642,009 down 65.8%

Turkish Airlines
 

Just noticed that Turkish Airlines Mainline sent a Boeing 737-800 (TC-JZN) to operate today's STN-SAW service. Does anyone know if this is a one off or have TK now started serving STN on a permanent basis?

Arrived yesterday morning on the normal AnadoluJet service & may have night stopped (reason unknown).
But yes a/c flown in full Turkish Airlines livery.
Relatively "new" airframe for THY operated previously by NAX/Norwegian.

Apologies for not being about air transport but National Express seem to have cut short their coach service to London Liverpool Street - it now terminates at Stratford Westfield instead, running with gaps of either 30 or 60 mins between services, depending on time of day
They also still run a coach to London Victoria via Northwest / West London but this now runs with gaps of either 1 hour or 2 hours between services, depending on time of day
The other coach services from Stansted to London were all cut in the spring

National Express did recommence regional/National services to Stansted. (LHR, Ipswich, Birmingham) but have cut these again as of last week.

TUI Winter 2021/22
 

A long way off, but new routes to Sharm El Sheikh and Boa Vista, Cape Verde from November 2021.

Palma Mallorca also available from late March 2022, as opposed to starting in May for Summer 21.

Cape Verde was planned for this winter too, though going to Sal Airport, but that was canned a while ago.

Tui Summer 21
 

Tui also appear to be using British Airways (City Flyer) to Malaga for Summer 21. A smart move as I believe this to be using the BA scheduled service on the Saturday, opening up a new destination for Tui from the airport.

It does however look like only Gran Canaria in the Canary Islands is featured for the summer months. Tenerife will make a twice weekly return for winter 21/22.

Front of Terminal drop off charge increases by £2 to £7 from Nov2...Revenue raising due Covid impact.

Absolutely outrageous! Free drop off this winter would have been more appropriate.

Does anyone believe the change will reduce as (God willing) an answer to Covid is found and demand grows?

Free Drop is available in the Blue Car Park. A small walk from the terminal. You can have 30 mins free.
If MAG can increase some charges to help them recover and not make staff redundant then why not.