Kuwait at Manchester
 

Reported elsewhere that KU have pushed back the start of Manchester until mid-2019 when the new KWI airport is finished.

They are also to start ORD and LAX from KWI.

VLM has applied for slots to Ostend and Antwerp from May. I’d rather they didn’t, but, such is life.

Also when the new T2 should be ready. Decent timing in that regard, I wonder if that could catalyse others to do the same...

Hi, why not?

I personal would rather see a LCC on this route as VLM isn't that cheap.
Antwerp and Ostend have a different type of pax, business vs leisure.
Leisure pax would rather use coaches, cars and trains to visit Brughes if a ticket is too expensive.

Many thanks for the info provided.

Hi LAX_LHR, thanks for the heads up but why the reticence about new services? Surely a good thing if the routes are not served already?

You beat me to the same question DomyDon

Because of the history of VLM. It seems to have stopped and started so many times, that I don’t really give much hope for this new venture either. It’s registered in Slovenia but continuing its Belgan focus. I said exactly the same on the BHX thread at their new route (before it got deleted thanks to a certain poster), but, how many times must one try and fail to before they get the fact a route just isn’t viable?

The definition of Insanity - to keep doing the same things but to expect a different outcome.

Thanks for expanding LAX_LHR.

LAX_LHR

It did seem to do reasonably a few years ago when it left MAN at 1930, its USP being that it was the last flight to Belgium of the day. Then it changed its departure time and/or Ryanair introduced its later Charleroi service.

That's good - do you know which terminal?

I think MAN misses a trick at the moment with its retail and dining offering in the terminals (particularly airside). It could be so much more, and hopefully the new T2 will deliver this.

Some of you will know that Bruges / Brugge is one of those near continent tourist hotspots that the Brits tend to love. If you live in the SE of England - easy - jump on a ferry to Zeebrugge, If you live in our part of Britain...it's quicker to go somewhere a lot further away. This part of Belgium is remarkably difficult to get to considering its relative proximity.

Last time I went it was a fight to BRU and a train from the airport station - a good old journey and not exactly cheap either. Ostend is so much closer but I agree with the above - VLM probably do not have the business model for success on this route.
Easyjet and RYR? Probably too much plane.
FlyBe? maybe their kind of route but still not convinced.
Anyway good luck to it.
ANR - VLM have failed on this in the past - nothing to suggest history won't repeat itself.

OT, but you can jump on an overnight ferry from Hull. The Channel Tunnel finished off ferries from Dover/Ramsgate/Felixstowe to Oostende/Zeebrugge.

Ryanair appear to be ready to announce a BFS/MAN service from the start if the summer timetable (25th March). Should be once daily with a BFS based aircraft. Timings are subject to confirmation.

Ryanair/BFS
 

Back to aircraft

Fascinating Ryanair taking on easyjet on Belfast Int but has this been in the offing for a while as I notice easyjet seem to be offering fewer BFS flights from mid-April in 2018 compared to 2017.

I just checked a sample month (May 18) and I make it around 132 sectors whereas the CAA 2017 punctuality stats show 160 sectors from easyjet.

I assume these "missing" frequencies will be added back in when the Manchester schedule is finalised or did they had an inkling that FR are coming to the party. Ryanair of course will take it from 132 to 194 sectors in May so a healthy increase come what may.

May 2017 was 22464 pax up 15% average 140 per flight so pretty strong to be dropping rotations but of course I have no idea of yield on this route.

Excellent post Pete. I would imagine a daily FR service would complement the existing EZY especially in the summer months were no afternoon flight is available. Plus an extra Saturday flight. However, I wonder what impact, if any, it will have on FRs LPL to LDY service.

Think it might impact BE on BHD-MAN more.

Easyjet now recruiting more cabin crew for MAN. One step closer to that elusive expansion.

Or due to natural wastage/people leaving, promotion and transferring to other bases. Not saying EZY aren't going to expand at MAN but there are numerous other reasons why they might be recruiting.

Nothing has been confirmed so far. I guess we may find out today