The Guvnor
26th Nov 2001, 19:09
From de Havilland AirWatch (www.airwatch.co.uk)
Mixed fortunes since September 11th for carriers serving UK regionals
Mon, 26 Nov 01 - 14:22
AirWatch Newswire
AirWatch today reveals that the fortunes of carriers serving the UK's regional airports since September 11th has been by no means uniform, despite abysmal luck across much of the sector.Although the news has been monopolised by revenue losses, delays and route reductions, a number of airlines have told AirWatch that they have returned to normal trade, are suffering little by way of late departures and in some cases have even increased their profits.
A spokeswoman for KLM-UK - which flies to 15 of Britain's regionals - said that although 2,500 jobs were cut in Amsterdam, this has not been the case in the UK. Currently, 72 per cent of seats are being filled, and this is about normal for the season. Evidently, it is 'business as usual.'KLM-UK has managed to prevent increased delays too. Whilst security regulations are being rigidly enforced, customers are being asked to make allowances by checking in as much as an hour and a half before their flights.
Charter carrier Air 2000's spokesperson Sandra Pitcher tells a similar story. 'People are well aware of the new measures that are necessary, and because they would rather be safe they are not too worried about delays. 'Furthermore, delays that are being experienced have apparently tended to be 'minor, and shortening with time.'
Ryanair has had a similar experience, since in the immediate aftermath of the New York tragedy cabin baggage was banned completely. Now, however, small articles are being allowed on board and passengers are being very accommodating. The most notable aspect of Ryanair's experience has been its traffic figures: notably against the sector's trend. In the first week following 11th September, numbers were around 30 per cent down, followed by a 10 per cent deficit on a year before the next week. Following that fortnight, Ryanair spokesperson Nick Hobbes told us that passenger numbers increased remarkably in response to an aggressive marketing campaign that highlighted the carrier's cheap prices. Numbers are about back to normal now, and rather than scrapping routes, Ryanair is expanding.
Rashana Sweidan at British Midland told us though that BMI cannot report such unqualified success. Traffic out of its UK airports has dropped by around 10 to 20 per cent on all BMI routes, although the numbers are improving. BMI is apparently taking heart from the fact that there is far less of a fear of flying short hall and domestic routes than making long haul and particularly trans-Atlantic journeys. Consequently, the airline has been able to go ahead with the launch of new routes to Brussels from Leeds and Manchester, whilst scrapping none. In terms of the new security arrangements, Ms Sweidan admits that they have been causing an elongation of time spent at airports. But whilst there are admittedly lots of delays, they are shortening and decreasing in number.
According to spokesperson Paul Greis, Luxair has been similarly minimally affected by increased delays. The added queuing times, up from 2 minutes to 5-10 minutes, are not seen by many passengers as a high price to pay for their safety. Luxair has had fewer clients flying to London, although the drop is only small, and consequently no routes have been axed.
Braathens, the Norwegian carrier facing a buy up by SAS, has fared less well. Spokesperson Anna-Grete Ellingsen told AirWatch that the crisis has forced the airline currently serving Gatwick, Newcastle and Aberdeen to suspend its Oslo-London route from the beginning of January, although Bergen-London will continue. It seems that this cutback cannot be attributed merely to the New York terrorist attacks, however. 'Braathens has seen a decrease in passenger numbers from the late summer onwards, and we may have had to scrap Oslo-London anyway,' said Ms Ellingsen.
According to Alison Chambers, speaking to AirWatch on behalf of British European, the newly repackaged low-cost carrier that serves 20 British regional airports, its aircraft 'are actually more punctual as there are fewer aircraft out there!' 92 per cent of British European now arrive within 15 minute of their scheduled times. In terms of routes, the airline has scrapped its London City-Aberdeen service, but this was apparently because the sector was not making enough money before 11th September anyway. Rather than having to axe routes, Ms Chambers emphasises that the carrier has actually added Belfast, Paris and Brussels services. On the leisure side, bookings are currently down just 5 per cent on their normal levels, whilst business flights are carrying their regular numbers.
Mixed fortunes since September 11th for carriers serving UK regionals
Mon, 26 Nov 01 - 14:22
AirWatch Newswire
AirWatch today reveals that the fortunes of carriers serving the UK's regional airports since September 11th has been by no means uniform, despite abysmal luck across much of the sector.Although the news has been monopolised by revenue losses, delays and route reductions, a number of airlines have told AirWatch that they have returned to normal trade, are suffering little by way of late departures and in some cases have even increased their profits.
A spokeswoman for KLM-UK - which flies to 15 of Britain's regionals - said that although 2,500 jobs were cut in Amsterdam, this has not been the case in the UK. Currently, 72 per cent of seats are being filled, and this is about normal for the season. Evidently, it is 'business as usual.'KLM-UK has managed to prevent increased delays too. Whilst security regulations are being rigidly enforced, customers are being asked to make allowances by checking in as much as an hour and a half before their flights.
Charter carrier Air 2000's spokesperson Sandra Pitcher tells a similar story. 'People are well aware of the new measures that are necessary, and because they would rather be safe they are not too worried about delays. 'Furthermore, delays that are being experienced have apparently tended to be 'minor, and shortening with time.'
Ryanair has had a similar experience, since in the immediate aftermath of the New York tragedy cabin baggage was banned completely. Now, however, small articles are being allowed on board and passengers are being very accommodating. The most notable aspect of Ryanair's experience has been its traffic figures: notably against the sector's trend. In the first week following 11th September, numbers were around 30 per cent down, followed by a 10 per cent deficit on a year before the next week. Following that fortnight, Ryanair spokesperson Nick Hobbes told us that passenger numbers increased remarkably in response to an aggressive marketing campaign that highlighted the carrier's cheap prices. Numbers are about back to normal now, and rather than scrapping routes, Ryanair is expanding.
Rashana Sweidan at British Midland told us though that BMI cannot report such unqualified success. Traffic out of its UK airports has dropped by around 10 to 20 per cent on all BMI routes, although the numbers are improving. BMI is apparently taking heart from the fact that there is far less of a fear of flying short hall and domestic routes than making long haul and particularly trans-Atlantic journeys. Consequently, the airline has been able to go ahead with the launch of new routes to Brussels from Leeds and Manchester, whilst scrapping none. In terms of the new security arrangements, Ms Sweidan admits that they have been causing an elongation of time spent at airports. But whilst there are admittedly lots of delays, they are shortening and decreasing in number.
According to spokesperson Paul Greis, Luxair has been similarly minimally affected by increased delays. The added queuing times, up from 2 minutes to 5-10 minutes, are not seen by many passengers as a high price to pay for their safety. Luxair has had fewer clients flying to London, although the drop is only small, and consequently no routes have been axed.
Braathens, the Norwegian carrier facing a buy up by SAS, has fared less well. Spokesperson Anna-Grete Ellingsen told AirWatch that the crisis has forced the airline currently serving Gatwick, Newcastle and Aberdeen to suspend its Oslo-London route from the beginning of January, although Bergen-London will continue. It seems that this cutback cannot be attributed merely to the New York terrorist attacks, however. 'Braathens has seen a decrease in passenger numbers from the late summer onwards, and we may have had to scrap Oslo-London anyway,' said Ms Ellingsen.
According to Alison Chambers, speaking to AirWatch on behalf of British European, the newly repackaged low-cost carrier that serves 20 British regional airports, its aircraft 'are actually more punctual as there are fewer aircraft out there!' 92 per cent of British European now arrive within 15 minute of their scheduled times. In terms of routes, the airline has scrapped its London City-Aberdeen service, but this was apparently because the sector was not making enough money before 11th September anyway. Rather than having to axe routes, Ms Chambers emphasises that the carrier has actually added Belfast, Paris and Brussels services. On the leisure side, bookings are currently down just 5 per cent on their normal levels, whilst business flights are carrying their regular numbers.