Most definitely the use of a fuel hungry ERJ on such a short route was the cause of this, honestly wouldn't surprise me if eastern turn up with a J41 and take it on.

Me neither - especially with aforementioned train journey changes, the through Manchester-Norwich service is stopping and all journeys will require a change of trains in Nottingham. A J41 would make far more sense on this route, I think this could be the first of colds caught by LM due to the poor economics of using the ERJ on such short hops.

I used the BE service on a regular basis 2006-2007 for work, much quicker and easier than the train, admittedly helped by the fact that at the time I lived near Norwich Airport and my work was based in Wilmslow. Flights were always busy (to be fair I used the popular Sunday evening or Mon morning out, Fri evening back flights) and fares were IIRC very reasonable, Finance certainly never complained when I put my expenses in!

I've used the route since the Eastern Airways days on it, its never been that busy a service but handy to have. I have to say of late i've taken the train more, a combination of times don't suit me, fares too expensive compared to rail and ease of travelling from a local railway station. Battling through Manchester T3 in the morning, and being stuck on the M56 to get to the airport in the first place, is quite stressful too.

And the train journey is going to be split soon to aid efficiency....

Thats true bad move for connectivity, although its an hour quicker Norwich-London-Runcorn, than picking up the direct train at Liverpool South Parkway would you believe ! Plus no food / drink available on a 5 hour train trip .

Yes, and add on NWI -EXT to the mix as well, recently vacated by Flybe, and you could have good aircraft utilisation. Although that said you might need something bigger than a J41 on the route as the monthly pax figures on this sector, according to CAA, was in the region of 2100 to 2500 per month this past year.

According to Jethro’s fleet listings, Loganair are adding 2 ATR72-600’s (G-FBXA/B) in January, both aircraft are about 4 years olds and formally operated by BE on behalf of SAS

That's more like it! Aside from the government Twotters, are these the youngest a/c they've ever acquired ?

According to Planespotters, they are being leased from Flybe!

Is this perhaps to cover some work on behalf of Flybe (Connect Airways) ?

Not at all, the 146s, J41s and original ATP fleet were all factory fresh, as were a few of the SD360s?

Weren't the original Islanders/Trislanders new as well?

Indeed, and come to think of it, so was the original Twin Otter fleet.

I wonder where they are going to be based and on what routes they will be operating them on.

Many thanks

East Midlands
 

Are we adding East Midlands to Brussels and Inverness to the list?

I assume East Mids was a base and is this also closing based on whether the above is accurate.

Pete

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....20dd1d0cec.jpg
Looking good. All window shades down, is the the first for just cargo?

This is a cargo variant, the first pax ATR is due next month, and will likely be either G-LMRA or one of the G-FBX* frames.
G-LMRA was recently spotted in full livery in Toulouse: