Ultimately the airline is responsible. They select their handling agents and it isn’t always the case. Some carriers such as BA made active choices to leave bags behind when they had delays. Plus it is the airline’s reputation on the line.

Yes. This thread is degenerating at its usual rapid pace. Pathetic

Something definitely not right - just been checking flights from BHX on random dates in Aug and Sept to EDI, GLA, ABZ and BHD, all fares set at £168 or higher one way.....they're seemingly trying to deter people from booking. I'm guessing a major schedule change / restructuring is on the cards?

Bean, whether you think the thread is pathetic or not, you believe that high fares = high loads and the fares on all of these routes yet to be launched are so high because flights are filling up so fast. I’m not sure what planet you’re on, but I don’t think it’s the same one as the rest of us. You may see that as a good thing if all of the other posters are pathetic dribblers as you seem to suggest, but I’ll just leave it there !

Thank you for your highly complimentary comments. Of course you are right and i shall treat you in future with the respect you deserve, particularly in regards to your prefaces to your comments begiinnin "m hearing" which never come to fruition. Great get out cause on your part. But, i'll just leave it there

The only post I can see in recent history which started “I’ve heard” was about Flybe leasing in an Embraer and an ATR - and that’s exactly what is happening, so I need no “get-out” from what I said, thanks.

This is all deflecting attention from the basic point here. Fares on the new Flybe routes have gone up to very high levels. It looks very much like some major change is afoot. I’d prefer to get back to that point instead of deliberately being headed off down blind alleys to shut down debate.

Back to topic....
It may be the case that the reason domestic fares are so high is a combination of higher costs and rail disruption driving demand.

It would be strange for large numbers of people to panic buy air tickets for all dates in August on the possibility of rail strikes whose dates have not yet been announced. If this were the case, routes like Leeds-Heathrow would also see high fares (which they are not !)

I agree - from the one's I've looked at, up to the end of July there is the normal variable pattern of fares (e.g. Friday/Sunday high, Tues/Weds low) and then all fares are set at a single high level irrespective of the date

Looks like Heathrow - Leeds is getting some reductions/changes in the summer. Just had some 'itinerary change' emails and only 1 daily showing.

Interesting points. I just had a look at BHX-BHD for Friday at £227. Yes, I know its a prime time. Although it only had 18 seats pre-booked so I thought that price is a bit steep. All a bit back of a fag packet i know. Maybe just trying to bring more revenue in. I can only imagine the operating costs versus maybe low pax figures and then compensatory claims for cx flights etc.

well done. Sincerely,
Well thought out sensible comment

Is that sarcasm? Once daily is no use to anyone, so that's one LHR route about to be binned before the end of one season.

Leeds-Heathrow is a bit of a special case of a route... and I would suggest a 1x daily is actually useful. It cannot possibly compete against the train from central Leeds to central London but, if it operates *reliably* (and yes, I have seen all the delay/cancel data), it can be useful for those flying between Yorkshire and north America as a self-connect

Maybe this explains it. Up to 30% of slots at individual can be handed back temporarily without penalty.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/g...ort-slots-rule

now we just need an explanation for the bizarre pricing on 5-6 other routes…

very few people are going to be self connecting on Flybe at LHR especially in the current environment.

Given what is likely to be a summer of discontent on the railways, you would have thought a reliable LBA-LHR would do well in the circumstances.

yeah but strikes are likely to affect LHR as well

Leaving aside, just for a moment, the chip that you among others have on their shoulders relating to Flybe it seems to me there is a fairly simple, if unpalatable reason for route cancellations, if indeed that is what is going on, which does appear likely.

Flybe are trying to operate a route network with too few airframes, which has already resulted in sub chartering to enable them to operate an acceptable level of service on the routes they are running now. Looking at Jethros Fleet List which I appreciate is not "official, but normally pretty accurate, Flybe ought to be taking delivery of three additional Dash 8s, none of which appear to be arriving any time soon at BHX. All the routes that "SeanM" has highlighted are yet to start, so it looks very much as though they have information internally as to the likely timescales for the eventual delivery of these three, and subsequent units and decided that, financially and from a customer service standpoint, delaying the start of these routes is infinitely preferable to throwing money into chartering yet more aircraft in, which is surely not budgeted for.

If this scenario was correct then its hardly a good omen, but better than killing the business with either extra costs, or tarnishing (some might say further tarnishing) the airline's reputation.

I am sure all will become clear in the new few days, possibly weeks.

I have no chip on my shoulder regarding Flybe. It’s a valid topic for debate if an airline suddenly raises its base fare from £30 to £160.

There seems to be an idea that we can only discuss Flybe if it is praise for the carrier. There is also a group who feel the need to accuse anyone not full of praise for Flybe of either having a chip on their shoulder, some kind of competing interest or worse. It’s perfectly valid to disagree with their plans or how they do things and this is a valid forum for discussing that. It’d be a lot more civil if people just made their points rather than trying to construe a background or ulterior motive for each person’s view.

Don’t like a point? Ignore it or make your argument back without the need to play the man.

Flybe are in a tricky spot. Chartering more in costs money. Cancelling costs reputation however just raising the fare isn’t going to solve that issue. Either these flights are going to be cancelled and they should get on with it or they plan to operate (perhaps with charters if needed) but then are likely to be poorly loaded - especially when competing carriers are offering similarly timed flights for £30-50.