Low cost invading Brussels??

[Wings737]

Just heard that Transavia is waiting his AOC to start operating from Brussels!

Finally!! A low cost company jumps into the Belgian market that has been left open since the collapse of Sabena.

I will never understand why EasyJet or another low cost never tried to establish a proper base in the empty Brussels airport!

See you in the sky.

Wiiiiings

[RVR800]

Maybe the costs of operating from that location do not
sit well with those types of airline

[anguspm]

And what have VEX been up to these years? Not to mention the Irish mob just down the road.....

[Wings737]

I would say virgin has only been converted in the low cost profile in the last two years, and not so long ago were they struggling to survive until they finally found an agreement to 'kind of merge" with SNBA.

Virgin (11 Aircraft), believe me they wouldn't last four long if a real major low cost arrived in BRU (nor would SNBA)...

operating cost are they too high in Brussels? maybe but the airport privatisation is on the way and I think Transavia has been very smart to request his AOC.

And the Irish mob is indeed down the road... far down the road ;-)

The future will tell.

Cheers

Wiiiings

[fat'n'grey]

Well, I don't know about true LoCos operating from EBBR. However, shuttling to/from EGLL/EGKK and EBBR on Birdseed and SN Brussels for Euro 90:00 inc taxes, free booze and a "snackette" with all the security of travelling full fare on scheduled airlines (tho' Birdseed does seem to cancel two flights a day ex EGLL - and always my flight :* ) seems pretty LoCo to me!

Though if it wasn't for the likes of RYR and EZY I'm sure the cost would be higher. Thank you for that!

[Avman]

I travel to BHX quite a bit. Only about a year ago I could do it off peak (which suited me) with SN from BRU for about 130 euros all in, which was a fair price. The minimum now is 181 euros and the car park fees have shot up too. Fortunately, GermanWings have started from CGN. Cheaper fares and cheaper parking. Recently booked a GWI flight to Brum for a total of 36 euros. CGN/DUS/BRU are all about the same distance from South Limbabwe, but CGN offers the cheapest parking option.

[fat'n'grey]

Birdseed are 3 euros cheaper :p

[springbok449]

Cost of operating into BRU no doubt was a major factor in LOCO airlines not setting...

Must be almost on par with ZRH as far as costs go...

[Avman]

fat'n'grey

I hope that's 3 euros cheaper than the SN fare and not the GWI fare :eek:

[Oshkosh George]

I don't quite know what you mean by AOC for Brussels. Surely they already have an AOC issued in Holland. No other EU airline has to apply for an AOC for EACH country they fly to. ANY EU airline can fly from and to ANY EU airport with no licences or permissions to fly the route,they can just do it.

Or am I missing something?

[Bokkenrijder]

So Wings737, do you think that this might cause an exodus of ex-Sabena EZY pilots from ORY? :eek:

I know Transavia were looking for contract pilots through an Irish agency not too long ago. I suppose that that would be a good way to avoid those sky high Belgian employment taxes by working with contract agencies.

[Wings737]

==Oshkosh George==

Well doesn't make much sense for me neither but this is the info like I found it on another web site:

"Transavia has requested an AOC out of BRU "

Don't know exactly what it means, I am not a specialist.



==Bokkenrijder==

It will all depend on the conditions of employement, but I am sure that some people will be looking forward to go back "home".



See you @ FL390

Wiiings

[Bokkenrijder]

Maybe Maastricht will be another possibility for an EZY base?

I heard lot´s of rumours that Dortmund is not performing very well, and that EZY are looking for more routes out of Maastricht.

A 100 km circle around Maastricht reaches far into Germany, Belgium and The Netherlands and the potential customers are more varied/wealthy, compared to the mostly blue collar population surrounding Dortmund.

It would not suprise me to see the DTM operation shifted to Maastricht in the future.

Only problem in Maastricht is the very powerfull left wing anti-noise lobbyists.