Newcastle-9

[nighthawk117]

Some changes to Dublin...

Ryanair has dropped the early evening Dublin at 1845 on Sundays effective from S18.

Aer Lingus continuing with into S18 at 1 per day at 1045 and 1220 Sundays.

Dropping the Sunday flight seems bizarre in my opinion, quite busy the majority of times with people commuting back to DUB or NCL for the week ahead.

On the other hand, I do hope Ryanair are continuing their investment at NCL, with maybe 1 or 2 new routes hopefully.

Very bizarre indeed. That flight was ideal for weekend breaks. Dropping the morning flight would have made more sense.

[HH6702]

Let's hope they have just taken it off line temp

[Beatts]

http://www.travelweekly.co.uk/articles/292993/newcastle-airport-set-for-busiest-year-in-a-decade

Good news indeed!

[fjencl]

Darwin Airline grounded, AOC suspended

Are they still operating for Eastern Airways on the NCL - CWL - NCL - ABZ - NCL route?

[SWBKCB]

No - left about 6 weeks ago?

[DanAir89]

Which aircraft was a special visitor to Newcastle Airport on this day 45 years ago? - Chronicle Live (http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/history/aircraft-special-visitor-newcastle-airport-13995061)

[Beatts]

Jet2 Rumour is that there are at least 2 new routes still to be announced for next summer 2018 from each base. Could be good.

[Jamesair]

New flight confirmed by Thomas Cook.....Enfidha 1 weekly from 1st May 18 with A321

[GrahamK]

That was announced ages ago?

[Jamesair]

I thought I had read that before...but apparently just been officially filed along with all their other new routes for S18

[HH6702]

Could Jet2 be adding NBE also

[Falcon900LX]

'New Jet routes' will almost certainly be the return of Bodrum and Antalya. Where else could it be they've got the UK holiday market by the balls.

[GrahamK]

Bodrum has already been announced. As has SKY.

What's the random ASL charter from BOD for today? Rugby related perhaps?

[SWBKCB]

Yes - Falcons vs Bordeaux-Begles in the European Challenge Cup

[Beatts]

Couple of people mentioning about the possibility of GIB but this could just be for the more southern bases.

[HH6702]

Jet2 to add Bulgaria??
Popular and they don't serve there yet from any airport

[GrahamK]

October stats:

Heathrow -2%
Aberdeen -8%
Befast Int +7%
Bristol - Flat
Cardiff -4%
Southampton +14%

Brussels +40%
Paris CDG +4%
Berlin 3184
Dusseldorf +13%
Dublin +5%
Amsterdam +2%
Barcelona -35%
Madrid 2911
Palma 38945 +47%
Gdansk 2531
Warsaw 2847
Wroclaw 3000
Dubai +3%

[VentureGo]

BA 903 FRA to LHR is diverting into Newcastle this evening G-BNWA Boeing 767-336ER
Just Landed at NCL at 17.55

Didn't think there was such a problem at LHR, although two BA shuttles from NCL to LhR were cancelled this afternoon - Seems a bit much to divert 767 en route from Frankfurt to LHR to pick up "stranded" domestic shuttle passengers - Any other reason?

[LiamNCL]

Heathrow is a nightmare apparently due to a broken de-icer i have a friend thats been sat on the LHR-KEF A320 since half 12 and it still hasnt gone. Arriving aircraft are sat on taxiways so i imagine there is shortage of spaces as a NCL-LHR shuttle turned round halfway and came back. Also been a KEF-LHR divert into NCL

[HH6702]

All good for the airport in the charges and pax handled etc
Shame only BA

[SWBKCB]

Seems a bit much to divert 767 en route from Frankfurt to LHR to pick up "stranded" domestic shuttle passengers

Ah, bless! :ok:

[GrahamK]

Helsinki flight inbound

[SWBKCB]

Shame only BA

Why - do other airlines get charged more?

[LiamNCL]

ATH inbound

[LGS6753]

Looks like a BA ATH-LHR A320 is next in the queue.

[HH6702]

Not sure.
Would be an opportunity for NCL to show off airport and facilities to other airlines

[SWBKCB]

Would be an opportunity for NCL to show off airport and facilities to other airlines

unlikely to be many senior managers onboard on a dirty December Sunday night :ok:

[Ph1l1pncl]

We may get some American flights diverts in the morning if Heathrow still remains bad, fog is forecast down at Heathrow during the night.

It also appears that BA are dropping Newcastle down to 5 flights a day except Monday and Thursday when it's still 6 a day and Saturday which is 4 a day to fund their expansion in the short haul leisure flights. I think the current reduction in numbers is due to the addition of Club on domestics which blocks of a middle seat, but I hope that numbers don't ontinue to fall and BA cut more from NCL like they have done with BHD and LBA.

[Plane.Silly]

It also appears that BA are dropping Newcastle down to 5 flights a day except Monday and Thursday when it's still 6 a day and Saturday which is 4 a day to fund their expansion in the short haul leisure flights. I think the current reduction in numbers is due to the addition of Club on domestics which blocks of a middle seat, but I hope that numbers don't ontinue to fall and BA cut more from NCL like they have done with BHD and LBA.

Timings aside, wouldn't it be worth for BA to cut a few of these services (say to 4pd and 2/3 on weekends) and put a larger aircraft in to compensate. They retain the volume while also freeing up LHR slots which maybe more beneficial. I think that would have been more appropriate than trimming the programme at LBA which was doing pretty well.

[P330]

Is there a movements site for Newcastle equivalent to the DTV movements site? Would be quite interesting to read with all the diverts last night.

[HH6702]

EasyJet new routes on sale today


Ncl = nothing new yet

[Plane.Silly]

Potentially announced in January, not over yet

[Jamesair]

November stats now on airport website.

Movements... 3732 (4333 Nov.16)

Total pax .....305,444 (296,167)

[SWBKCB]

CAA stats for November - some domestic details missing, particularly BRS and BFS

Airport 2017 2016 % change
HEATHROW 42,792 42,456 0.79
AMSTERDAM 28,611 28,140 1.67
ALICANTE 23,815 22,545 5.63
TENERIFE 21,436 20,074 6.78
DUBLIN 19,937 22,297 -10.58
DUBAI 18,922 17,346 9.09
MALAGA 14,697 13,437 9.38
ARRECIFE 12,923 9,984 29.44
PARIS (CDG) 11,537 11,627 -0.77
SOUTHAMPTON 10,181 9,751 4.42
BARCELONA 4,865 6,197 -21.49
FUERTEVENTURA 4,667 4,067 14.75
FARO 4,280 4,568 -6.30
PAPHOS 4,180 3,935 6.23
LAS PALMAS 4,140 5,671 -27.00
BERLIN (SCHONEFELD) 3,635 2,677 35.79
EXETER 3,228 2,884 11.93
WROCLAW 2,726 2,112 29.07
MADRID 2,614 0 0.00
DUSSELDORF 2,548 3,248 -21.55
KRAKOW 2,496 2,368 5.41
WARSAW 2,447 2,262 8.18
MALTA 2,385 2,288 4.24
BRUSSELS 2,331 1,727 34.97
PRAGUE 2,134 2,236 -4.56
GENEVA 1,729 1,835 -5.78
HURGHADA 1,584 0 0.00
CARDIFF WALES 1,350 1,301 3.77
FUNCHAL 1,148 492 133.33
NEW YORK (NEWARK) 1,102 887 24.24
ABERDEEN 1,002 1,027 -2.43
PALMA DE MALLORCA 973 188 417.55
CORK 853 1,117 -23.63
STAVANGER 833 582 43.13

[Jamesair]

Belfast Int......21,207 up 2%
Bristol.............14,767 up 2%

a couple of other interesting figures

Isle of Man.....588
Belfast City.....580

[N707ZS]

Movements... 3732 (4333 Nov.16)

Any idea what made up the 600 difference between movements, light aircraft, military?

[Jamesair]

some of it would be down to the total absence of mail flights this year.

[Beatts]

The easyjet Neo should be making its way up here soon on some of the EZY rotations.

"easyJet will continue to showcase the Neo aircraft. Having already exhibited the aircraft in Amsterdam, the airline will also visit London Gatwick, Glasgow, Belfast, Newcastle, Bristol, Manchester and Liverpool"

[GrahamK]

So a few changes for KLM/AF next summer.

AMS reduces to 4 flights a day,, 3 x 737 1 x EMB190. CDG remains 3 x daily with 2 flights operated by Hop and the late afternoon service by Cityjet again on the RJ85

[Jamesair]

That will be two important routes with reduced frequencies in 2018....Amsterdam and Dublin, plus Southampton which reduces from 4 to 3 daily in 2018

[HH6702]

Just shows that there is too many seats compared to the demand needed

[Beatts]

These new routes just poped up on the Tui thread.

Newcastle – Dubrovnik eff 03MAY18 1 weekly 737-800
Newcastle – Thessaloniki 03MAY18 – 11OCT18 1 weekly 737-800

[NCL-TRC]

Just shows that there is too many seats compared to the demand needed

I disagree, during summer months those KLM flights especially are very often full. As are the Aer Lingus flights, the 8am flight was always full of connecting passengers onto transatlantic departures. The airport seems to be hemorrhaging scheduled flights at the minute with the loss of SAS, the EI reduction and now KLM reducing frequency. The only carrier that seems to be going from strength to strength is Ryanair.

[Jamesair]

Another thread mentions that the KLM reductions, which also affect MME reducing from 3 to 2 daily are down to slot issues at Schipol Airport

[SWBKCB]

The airport seems to be hemorrhaging scheduled flights at the minute with the loss of SAS, the EI reduction and now KLM reducing frequency.

CPH has come and gone over the years, similiarly there has been seasonal (?) capacity fluctuations on DUB and AMS.

[HH6702]

So it is due to demand and profits. More profits can be made on other routes than to NCL

[s_insania]

Can anybody explain why BA have 2 lunchtime flights to Heathrow, one leaves 1205 and the other at 1215. It seems 2 aircraft overnight at the moment, one leaves on the first flight out with the other operating one of the lunchtime flights.

What is the need for this? Is it simply slot holding at LHR? I can’t imagine both flights being full within 10 minutes of each other?

[LiamNCL]

Been 2 overnights for a few weeks it was even a few 3 overnights a couple weeks ago must be down to LHR slots surely ?

[NCL-TRC]

It’s keeping slots open for long haul flights that currently aren’t operating. As is the use it of lose it way LHR slots operate.

[rpmac]

Seems strange and Leeds cannot get a overnighter !

[LiamNCL]

A319 & A321 last night

[toon22]

Timing of the second night-stopper will be governed as much by the crew hours as LHR slots. They need 12 hours rest after a 2100 arrival before they report for a 1200 flight.

[Ph1l1pncl]

It’s slot sitting for the cancelled Doha rotations due to the 787 issues the Doha 777 aircraft has been reallocated to 787 Routes. It’s due to finish In the middle of January as the Doha route returns. BA have never nightstopped in Leeds so they wouldn’t add a nightsopper as they won’t have a hotel contract for the crew, at Newcastle the crew can be accommodated at the current crew hotel.

[canberra97]

I don't think that not having a hotel contract at Leeds is the real reason for British Airways not nightstopping at Leeds that situation could very easily be overcome if British Airways ever decided to overnight as any decent local hotel would be after that business.

When you quote that 'British Airways have never night stopped at Leeds they surely did when they had a base at the airport in the 1970's with a nightstopper from LHR.

[GAXLN]

Think you will find there was a BA crew base there until March ‘80 when the route ceased being operated by BA and was taken over by British Midland so therefore no London based crew nightstopping.

[EK77WNCL]

Can anyone confirm that Jet2 will be phasing out the 737 300 from NCL, S18? And thus reverting to an all 737 800 base?

Classics are getting rarer by the day and if they're to be gone from NCL in the next few months I'll definitely consider trying to get a cheap ride on them

[TSR2]

I'll definitely consider trying to get a cheap ride on them


Good heavens, whatever for.

[Ph1l1pncl]

canberra97

I meant since they re started the Leeds flights they have never nightstopped on those services. BA could well retime the flights which could require a night stopping service and a crew hotel contract. But, this is known months in advance, the extra Newcastle rotataion was very last minute due to the 787 issues and BA are not going to sauce a contract and go through an RFP process for an extra flight for 6 weeks, that wouldn’t make any financial sense.

[LiamNCL]

Can anyone confirm that Jet2 will be phasing out the 737 300 from NCL, S18? And thus reverting to an all 737 800 base?

Classics are getting rarer by the day and if they're to be gone from NCL in the next few months I'll definitely consider trying to get a cheap ride on them

No they are scheduled in this summer

[HH6702]

SKG will be on the 300's

[Plane.Silly]

I don't think all of them will go, but at 32+ years, all the careful use and regular maintenance can't make them viable forever. Their first lot of deliveries of new 738's were for expansion (16 i believe), these next ones, will be used for phasing out/expansion.

Unless they announce a fresh order, i don't believe they'll disappear completely

[VentureGo]

December 2017 stats now on airport website.

Movements... 2976 (3772 Dec. '16)

Total pax .....302,976 (305,842 Dec. '16)

https://www.newcastleairport.com/passengerstatistics

Shows a decline in the trend which had built up throughout the year.

Wonder if these figures from NIA's website are accurate, and if so, why the change from upward trend increasing year on year by month?

[GrahamK]

Less Dublin, no Gdansk?

[SWBKCB]

So how do these stats work - 506 mail/freight movements looks "odd", so must include all flights that carry any mail or freight (or just be plain wrong). Are these flights then excluded from the international/domestic scheduled figures??

[VentureGo]

Be interesting to see CAA figures when out for breakdown by routes.

[chris1001]

Dissapointing to see the decline in scheduled routes but to me, the airport markets itself primarily to locals so basically they are subconsciously putting the scheduled carriers off and potentially half their market (inbound pax). Let me explain...

Just look at the airports strapline - ‘YOUR AIRPORT’ which basically communicates that they are serving geordies on their bucket and spade package tours! Unbelievable to me as they are not marketing to half their market which surely must be inbound passengers, whether tourists or business. Whilst I fully understand that we are a regional airport and most passengers are Geordie tourists, surely the airport have to have bigger ambition to attract the international carriers and inbound passengers.

By now, we should be able to sustain Lufthansa to MUC and FRA and a daily service to Milan. Forget about Jet2 on these routes - I will explain why later.

Edinburgh sets a great example of how to brand as an international gateway. Their strapline alone says it all - ‘Where Scotland Meets the World’. Not saying a new strap-line will solve all the problems but it’s the basics of marketing and no I am not a marketeer - just a local businessman who wants to see the airport prosper instead of re-announcing the same old routes. Only yesterday Antalya was announced in the Chronicle!

It’s a bit like comparing Jet 2 with EasyJet or indeed Ryanair. Whilst Jet2 have to be commended for their growth and success, their whole branding is quite cheesy and, dare I say, amateur, targeting family bucket and spade tourists from the UK. This works well for them but no comparison to Easyjet who market themselves as a more sophisticated offering to both inbound and outbound markets, like the flag carriers. Newcastle needs a more sophisticated marketing proposal to open itself up to inbound passengers from overseas. It’s staring at them in the face!

On another note, it took over two hours from landing to leaving the terminal on my last EK arrival on a quiet winters day. Departing on the 6pm to GVA a few weeks ago, I was also surprised to see nearly every airside shop and restaurant was closed before 5pm. Surely as part of the lease, they should be made to stay open till say 30 minutes before the last departure? Again, this doesnt exactly set the best example of an international airport that is going places.

[ash666]

On another note, it took over two hours from landing to leaving the terminal on my last EK arrival on a quiet winters day. Departing on the 6pm to GVA a few weeks ago, I was also surprised to see nearly every airside shop and restaurant was closed before 5pm. Surely as part of the lease, they should be made to stay open till say 30 minutes before the last departure? Again, this doesnt exactly set the best example of an international airport that is going places.

I got in last night on the 9.30pm AF flight and noticed the hall was deserted and hard luck on anyone who had a problem with missing luggage.

[Jamesair]

A valid point about marketing the airport , although they do say that the campaign will be seen in southern Scotland, Cumbria and down to Yorkshire.

I was surprised that in an article about a further campaign jointly with Visit Britain (which is what they should be doing) to attract German tourists to visit the North East and see the Great Exhibition of the North etc, they are targeting the Berlin route with no mention of the six times weekly Dusseldorf service, which I would have thought was an essential ingredient for any inbound German campaign.

[SWBKCB]

https://www.newcastleairport.com/article/490/visitbritain-partnership

VisitBritain, Newcastle Airport and NewcastleGateshead Initiative have announced a partnership to promote the North East of England to overseas visitors.

[DanAir89]

In connection with marketing I can’t decide if the problems being experienced by the train companies from the North East to London are helpful to the Airport and should be exploited or not.

It’s well published that Virgin/Stagecoach are pulling out of the east coast franchise 2 years early. They used to advertise it as much more convenient than flying. GNER previously went bust while running the line.

Can’t the airport attract another operator to a London airport (STN or LGW) to
or are they too busy on the sun routes mentioned above or can no one make any money taking people from the NE to the capital????

[EK77WNCL]

EZY/BA to LGW
FR/EZY to STN
W6 to LTN
CJ/BE to LCY

Any of them would be onto a winner in my opinion but... It's not down to my opinion

[A320.b744]

easyJet tried and failed LGW for 12 months (2014-2015), and it is unlikely that they'd try again. British Airways have been cutting back their domestic operations from LGW for years (NCL was axed in 2007), instead focusing on leisure routes. Both Jet2 (2007-2008) and Flybe (2008-2014) operated the route, but neither are likely to recommence operations.

STN has also been tried and failed. GoFly/easyJet operated the route 2001-2010, and then Flybe gave it a go 2015-2016. Ryanair would be the only viable candidate, and even they are unlikely to commence operations given their disinterest in their UK domestic network.

Wizzair do not fly any UK domestic routes, and it would be very unlikely for them to begin now, especially to an airport not already served by the airline. easyJet are also unlikely to commence LTN flights, given they've tried and failed flights to both Stansted and Gatwick.

LCY was operated by Eastern Airways for a short while in 2006, but has since been untouched. Cityjet would be an unlikely candidate, given that they only operate one route (LCY-DUB), and are focusing on their leasing and franchising business instead. Flybe are also unlikely to operate the route, given that neither London City nor Newcastle are aircraft bases. The fact that the route would require an early morning departure to London means that a W pattern would also be unfeasible.

[ash666]

East Coast trains were running at a profit when they got kicked out.

[inOban]

Frequency, frequency, frequency. There's no way an occasional flight could compete with a train every thirty minutes.

[Plane.Silly]

3 hrs on a train vs 1hr flight time, but when you consider the waiting around, plus still needing to get from the airport, the train wins hands down (hard to say being on an aviation forum)

[tigertanaka]

Unlike a lot of the rail network, the East Coast Mainline is a very profitable route. The problem is that successive companies have bid too much for the rights to run the line and find they can't make enough money to pay what they have committed to the government.

[Skipness One Echo]

And remember location, location, location, a lot of the business traffic is not only going to London but the whole M4 corridor which is why so many businesses have offices near Heathrow, Slough, Reading etc. Gatwick does not have the same high density of businesses in the locality coupled with the fact that the long haul carriers do not promote connectivity in the way BA used to at LGW, although Norwegian were trying to but are now moving focus away from short haul. Hence that leaves point to point only so in general terms, lower volumes and weaker yields against LHR so it struggles somewhat.

[HH6702]

TUI adds

AYT new Wednesday route for summer 2018

[tigertanaka]

In 2014, 51% of those on NCL-LHR were connecting passengers although it may be a bit lower now as in those days there were 100,000 a year on the LGW route as well.

https://www.routesonline.com/news/29/breaking-news/245411/trivia-british-airways-domestic-transfer-traffic/ (https://www.routesonline.com/news/29/breaking-news/245411/trivia-british-airways-domestic-transfer-traffic/)

[NCL-TRC]

I’d heard that BA wanted to use some of the MON LGW slots to potentially expand domestic flights from Gatwick. It’s probably our best and only chance for another shot at Gatwick flights.

[canberra97]

Where did you here that from?

I personally find that very unlikely and hard to believe, if BA were to have used any of the former Monarch slots to expand domestic operations from LGW I could have seen Manchester resumed but even that scenario I don't see happening.

One domestic route that I could see returning if BA were to resume service from LGW to BHD.

[SWBKCB]

Less Dublin, no Gdansk?... and CPH

AMSTERDAM 28,611 28,140 1.67
ALICANTE 23,815 22,545 5.63
TENERIFE 21,436 20,074 6.78
DUBLIN 19,937 22,297 -10.58
DUBAI 18,922 17,346 9.09
MALAGA 14,697 13,437 9.38
ARRECIFE 12,923 9,984 29.44
PARIS 11,537 11,627 -0.77
BARCELONA 4,865 6,197 -21.49
FUERTEVENTURA 4,667 4,067 14.75
FARO 4,280 4,568 -6.30
PAPHOS 4,180 3,935 6.23
LAS PALMAS 4,140 5,671 -27.00
BERLIN 3,635 2,677 35.79
WROCLAW 2,726 2,112 29.07
MADRID 2,614 0 0.00
DUSSELDORF 2,548 3,248 -21.55
KRAKOW 2,496 2,368 5.41
WARSAW 2,447 2,262 8.18
MALTA 2,385 2,288 4.24
BRUSSELS 2,331 1,727 34.97
PRAGUE 2,134 2,236 -4.56
GENEVA 1,729 1,835 -5.78
HURGHADA 1,584 0 0.00
FUNCHAL 1,148 492 133.33
NEW YORK (NEWARK) 1,102 887 24.24
PALMA DE MALLORCA 973 188 417.55
CORK 853 1,117 -23.63
STAVANGER 833 582 43.13
BRIDGETOWN 592 1,150 -48.52
LARNACA 492 0 0.00
VIENNA 361 292 23.63
CANCUN 299 0 0.00
STOCKHOLM (BROMMA) 30 0 0.00
HAMBURG 0 169 -100.00
GDANSK 0 2,074 -100.00
COPENHAGEN 0 2,103 -100.00

HEATHROW 42,792 42,456 0.79
BELFAST 21,316 20,950 1.75
BRISTOL 14,863 14,604 1.77
SOUTHAMPTON 10,181 9,751 4.4
EXETER 3,228 2,884 11.93
CARDIFF WALES 1,350 1,301 3.77
ABERDEEN 1,002 1,027 -2.43
BELFAST CITY 580 0 0.00

[jensdad]

Originally posted by EK77WNCL: CJ/BE to LCY


Originally posted by A320.744: Cityjet would be an unlikely candidate, given that they only operate one route (LCY-DUB),


'CJ' are BA City Flyer, A320 :)

[NorthEasterner]

Ryanair Gdansk/Faro is seasonal at the moment due to the recent failures within the airline. I'm hoping these 2 are continued for winter after Summer 18 - at least for the GDN.

[SWBKCB]

WINDSOR LOCKS -- Low-cost carrier Norwegian Air will stop its weekly flights between Bradley International Airport and Edinburgh, Scotland, citing delays in a Scottish tax break the airline expected.

Hopefully NIA have picked this up as evidence of the potentially distorting effect of graduated APD within the UK

[Heathrow Harry]

I doubt it makes any difference tbh

[SWBKCB]

I doubt it's the reason the service has been dropped, but never let the facts get in the way of a good argument... :ok:

[EK77WNCL]

The guys up at NCL are vehemently against devolved APD to Scotland, and rightly so. It would be a huge blow. and not just because of the families opting to take the drive to EDI to keep a wad in their back pockets, but when airlines like EZY inevitably give up the ghost on NCL because it's more profitable to move their 3 A/C up the A1.

EDI and GLA will be rolling in it. MAN probably won't be that bothered because they have critical mass. It'll be us that lose out the most. LBA and MME might feel it... Although MME might be small/business oriented enough to just about get away with it. Devolution will probably scupper Stobart's ambitions at CAX though.

R.e. the London routes, things are different now. EZY offers connections at LGW, FR would offer bargain fares to STN to get the ball rolling, as well as connections when they get round to rolling them out.

My argument for LCY is that 20/30 minute check in could feasibly be offered at both ends. So if we presume there are big wigs living in Jesmond, they could leave home at 06:15 for a 07:00 flight to LCY, arrive shortly before 8am, and be sitting in their office in the City well before 9am, having had time to stop for a Starbucks and a quick skim of the Financial Times. Meanwhile their colleagues are still stewing on the Underground, having stood for 3 hours in the draughty vestibule of the Monday morning peak train to Kings Cross...

Doesn't sound too bad to me ;) plus I like planes.

[Falcon900LX]

Pax figure for 2017 seems to be (from the info I can find) 5,379,751. Did alright this year!

[Falcon900LX]

EK77WNCL

Sounds like a heavily niche market..

[GrahamK]

Jet2 have expanded the NYC flights even further, up to 8 flights in Oct/Nov/Dec 2018

[EK77WNCL]

Second only to MAN, by 1 flight. Very good to see October half term flights still running, as well as New Years Eve making a return.

29/10 - 02/11, 757
01/11 - 06/11, 757
12/11 - 16/11, 757
26/11 - 30/11, 757
06/12 - 10/12, 757
10/12 - 14/12, 757
14/12 - 18/12, 757
29/12 - 03/01, 757

Also worth noting the following are also on sale, which appear to be scheduled on 737 800's as well

Berlin - 07/12
Copenhagen - 30/11
Munich - 30/11
Vienna - 23/11 + 07/11 (doubled up from 2017)

Promising to see LS making a success out of these charters

[Falcon900LX]

Good to see growth. LS seem to be the only one interested in NCL atm. TCX were supposed to have 3x based 321's this summer, however it will be 2x 321 and 1x 320 again...

[EK77WNCL]

I hadn't realised they'd backed off on 3 A321's. Disappointing

Even Jet2 have lost the interest they used to have in NCL

[Plane.Silly]

I don't think they've lost interest, more a case of focusing more attention and resources on their newest bases. Was bad enough when they dropped the B752 to B738 (46 seats per sector lost there)

Its a shame NCL has been generally neglected in favour of others. hopefully 2019/2020 will be the year(s) they get their long overdue increase

[SWBKCB]

Perhaps the people of the North East should show these airlines some love (i.e. get their credit cards out)

[LiamNCL]

Dissapointing that with the influx of A321s they chose not to replace the leased A320 here opting instead to add a 3rd A321 to Bristol.

[EK77WNCL]

I believe it is also the fault of the airlines, in part, for directing resources elsewhere. When it comes to NCL they all seem to jump on the same bucket and spade routes, which really does little good for anyone.

Ryanair appear to be having positive results by going against the grain and offering Warsaw, Gdansk, Wroclaw and Madrid. EasyJet appear to be doing well to Berlin, Jet2's charters do well, but (except Ryanair, of late) they're all very slow to commit long term. i.e I'm sure NCL-VIE could e a success with Jet2. Budapest, Munich, Milan, Venice, Hamburg, Lisbon, Athens with EZY/FR/EW/W6

[GrahamK]

Or perhaps it's due to the airports limited catchment area?

[jensdad]

Small catchment area, half of which is in the sea and another third of which is inhabited by sheep.
A relatively 'poor' (by the UK's perverted definition of that word) human population.
It would be very nice indeed to have new routes every week, and we should be grateful when we do get them, but we really should stop whingeing when we don't. Compare NCL's international services to those at Brest or Rostock. We are very lucky indeed.
*edited to add that we have virtually no inbound tourism either, despite the Newcastlegateshead Initiative's self-justifying claims to the contrary*

[SWBKCB]

Dead right :ok:

Look at a map and you'll see the problem. A limited and relatively poor market.

[marko1]

Thomas cook website showing a a320 and two a321s from brs as well

[EK77WNCL]

I completely understand that, however, most of the routes that I mention have been served before, quite successfully.

You may argue that a;ll of these destinations can be reached via Amsterdam, Paris, London etc. But surely for our deprived area, we would be served much better with £50-100 flights from EZY/FR rather than £200+ with the legacies

Not to mention that we're still about 1,000,000 pax behind where NCL/MME both were in 2006/7, so demand does still exist!

[jensdad]

Some would argue that an airfield in a 'deprived area' is a mud strip with a twice monthly aid flight on an IL76, but you make a fair point about the routes no longer served. I am surprised that LGW has never found its way back to the departure boards, but again, looking at the bigger picture, we're doing more than OK.


I admire your youthful enthusiasm, EK77. Us old codgers and codgesses might occasionally pull you up with some of our world-weariness, but keep it up :)

[A320.b744]

I believe it is also the fault of the airlines, in part, for directing resources elsewhere. When it comes to NCL they all seem to jump on the same bucket and spade routes, which really does little good for anyone.

Ryanair appear to be having positive results by going against the grain and offering Warsaw, Gdansk, Wroclaw and Madrid. EasyJet appear to be doing well to Berlin, Jet2's charters do well, but (except Ryanair, of late) they're all very slow to commit long term. i.e I'm sure NCL-VIE could e a success with Jet2. Budapest, Munich, Milan, Venice, Hamburg, Lisbon, Athens with EZY/FR/EW/W6

I completely understand that, however, most of the routes that I mention have been served before, quite successfully.

You may argue that a;ll of these destinations can be reached via Amsterdam, Paris, London etc. But surely for our deprived area, we would be served much better with £50-100 flights from EZY/FR rather than £200+ with the legacies

Not to mention that we're still about 1,000,000 pax behind where NCL/MME both were in 2006/7, so demand does still exist!


NCL is doing rather well when you compare it to similar airports with similar catchment areas. An example would be to compare with Belfast's two airports BFS & BHD.

Hub Links;
NCL: Air France (CDG), bmi Regional (BRU), British Airways (LHR), Emirates (DXB), Eurowings (DUS), KLM (AMS)
BFS: none
BHD: British Airways (LHR), KLM (AMS), Icelandair (KEF)

That gives NCL passengers the choice of x1 OneWorld, x2 SkyTeam, x2 Star Alliance, x1 Unaligned. On the other hand, BFS doesn't have any hub connections, and BHD only have x1 OneWorld, x1 SkyTeam, x1 Unaligned

Long Haul Services;
NCL: Emirates (DXB), TUI (SFB)
BFS: Norwegian (PVD, SWF), Virgin Atlantic (MCO)
BHD: none

NCL have a Middle Eastern connection, whereas BFS have LCC operations to the US East Coast.

European Destinations by Airline;
easyJet: BFS (19), NCL (13)
Jet2: BFS (25), NCL (35)
Ryanair: BFS (13), NCL (12)
Thomas Cook: BFS (8), NCL (24)
TUI: BFS (12), NCL (31)
Wizz Air: BFS (1), NCL (0)

Despite adding 8 destinations for 2018, Jet2 still have a much smaller base at BFS than NCL, and both Thomas Cook & TUI have a huge number of destinations on offer from NCL compared to BFS.

Out of the 8 destinations you mentioned, only Milan is operated from BFS, EMA & LPL, all airports of similar size and catchment as NCL, and only Budapest, Hamburg and Venice are operated from two of the three airports.

Yes, you may think that all of these routes would work, and some of them may do so, but NCL is no further behind other similar airports in their European links, and in some cases is over performing in the number of European routes offered.

[LiamNCL]

Thomas cook website showing a a320 and two a321s from brs as well

Which departures at BRS are showing as a A320 ?

[Plane.Silly]

Despite adding 8 destinations for 2018, Jet2 still have a much smaller base at BFS than NCL, and both Thomas Cook & TUI have a huge number of destinations on offer from NCL compared to BFS.

It's not all about the number of destinations, but also the frequency/capacity of them. Using LS as the example, BFS 3x 733, 1x 738, vs NCL 3x 733, 4x738. If they had the same frequency, then on the basis NCL has 75% extra capacity, it should be offering 75% more destinations than BFS (44 if you were wondering). But since it's only 35, it means the frequency is improved, and overall a better offering that works that bit more flexibly with customers plans.

[marko1]

Which departures at BRS are showing as a A320 ?

Preveza , Tenerife paphos Zante on sat gerona etc

[LiamNCL]

You are correct those were A321 last time i looked.

[HH6702]

Maybe since MON went the plans have changed slightly and to put the bigger aircraft at Manchester, Gatwick and BHX ETC

[VentureGo]

New Campaign for Newcastle Airport running until March 2018:

"That's why I fly from Newcastle"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxyTHGp666w&feature=youtu.be

Airport Launches Brand New Campaign:

https://www.newcastleairport.com/article/493/airport-launches-brand-new-campaign

Northern England is Great campaign aimed at United's New York route could be re-made to attract global visitors to the region:

https://www.newcastlegateshead.com/englands-north/coast-and-countryside

Maybe the "Your Airport" sub tag line should be replaced with something that also attracts in bound visitors too? - Example: Start your Discovery/Adventure Here could serve both purposes whether it mean start your holiday y flying from Newcastle, or start your Holiday/Adventure/Discovery of our region when you land at Newcastle!

or "Newcastle Airport - City, Coast & Country" - I'm sure Marketing people can come up with something snappy on this theme.

"Your Airport" is too narrow in aiming at local population for outbound travel. - Thoughts!

[HH6702]

United coming back ?

[SWBKCB]

One size doesn't fit all - this campaign is specifically aimed at expanding the local customer base. Initiatives such as the work with VisitBritain etc on the Great Exhibition of the North are aimed at inbound traffic

[SWBKCB]

Maybe since MON went the plans have changed slightly and to put the bigger aircraft at Manchester, Gatwick and BHX ETC

Plenty of reasons for changing the aircraft type - maybe sales didn't match expectations??

On a more positive note, Super Breaks are doing a couple of Iceland and Montenegro flights next winter. :ok:

[GrahamK]

And TCX are increasing TFS flights

[SWBKCB]

Next Winter? Plenty of scope - the 321 didn't move last weekend.

[LiamNCL]

Its got some weekends off before it returns to TFS/SAT ACE/SUN early Feb

[VentureGo]

Air France AF1058 is being operated this morning by Air Explore 737-800 OM-JEX branded as TUI - ETA 10.44

AF1158 this afternoon's flight is cancelled, and so is tomorrow's early departure which would have been operated by this aircraft.

[SWBKCB]

No - all white.

[nclops]

Tomorrows AF1158/1159 also going to operated by Air Explore.

[LiamNCL]

First visit from a A320 NEO G-UZHC operating the GVA-NCL-GVA

[GrahamK]

Eurowings to DUS will now be Q400 operated all summer. Seems the route has been right sized as I think the 319/320 was a bit too big

[Callum Paterson]

GLA is currently closed due to snow. EK DXB-GLA appears to be diverting to NCL.So there could be two Emirates 777s on the deck in Newcastle very soon, if that sort of thing interests anyone.

[NCL-TRC]

Probably the right size aircraft for the route, CRJ would probably be more comfortable if they still had them. Hopefully they’ll account for the longer flight times, the Q400s we’ve been having at present are still on jet time tables and I don’t think I’ve seen one on time yet.

[Jamesair]

re Dusseldorf....using CAA pax figures and number of flights during each month each flight would have carried the following average number of pax.
...July...96
...Aug...86
...Sept...86
...Oct...69
...Nov...49

with a max capacity for the Q400 at 86, the case for double daily could be made (which, of course offers business men the choice of a day return trip)

[southside bobby]

NCL Chief Commercial Officer off to run LPL/JLA wef March.

[Plane.Silly]

Ex CEO joins LBA, now CCO joins LPL.
Clearly these guys know something?

[N707ZS]

I see the Leeds forum has been removed.

[SWBKCB]

Everybody wants a piece of the NCL magic :ok:

[HH6702]

I wouldn't read too much into these people leaving.
They have all done well over the last few years.
They have brought united and Ryanair to Ncl.
Fair enough we have lost united.

Maybe it is the right time for these jobs to be covered by someone new with a few fresh ideas on how to move things forward.

Maybe a look at how long haul can be delivered from NCL.
Sounds like they hoping to have links again so maybe a look at a LCC going forward?

Maybe get the tour operators together to share flights to ncl places so not the risk of a single operator.

Weekly flights or twice weekly to new Caribbean routes etc.

Could be an interesting couple of years and maybe a new focus on city breaks with Ryanair and jet2

[tigertanaka]

re Dusseldorf....using CAA pax figures and number of flights during each month each flight would have carried the following average number of pax.
...July...96
...Aug...86
...Sept...86
...Oct...69
...Nov...49

with a max capacity for the Q400 at 86, the case for double daily could be made (which, of course offers business men the choice of a day return trip)

I would use NCL-DUS more often for some of my European trips. The afternoon flight out is OK to connect on for an evening arrival but it is impossible to use for a return flight unless you are actually visiting DUS and even then you haven't really got time to do any work before the 11:00 CET departure.

[SWBKCB]

Ex CEO joins LBA, now CCO joins LPL.
Clearly these guys know something?

David "Davey" Laws left NCL almost two years ago before joining LBA last year (and funnily enough he replaced another former NIA CEO - least said...)

John Irving arrived as Finance director in early 2015 with no aviation background (ex NUFC amongst others)

[Jamesair]

Any rumours about new route announcements from RYR or EZY for summer 18?.

[Falcon900LX]

Had word through today that BE would operating a seasonal SZG in the summer.

[NCL-TRC]

On behalf of TUI, twice on a Saturday with a Dash.

[HH6702]

Thomson (TUI)

not on airport website timetable yet but FREEBIRD is operating a dalaman flight saturday mornings for the summer

edit

AYT on a wednesday night is also shown as operating as FHY for TUI holidays

[SWBKCB]

December stats

HEATHROW 41,622 41,664 -0.10
AMSTERDAM 26,810 30,136 -11.00
BELFAST INTERNATIONAL 22,593 21,195 6.60
DUBAI 21,626 21,034 2.81
TENERIFE 20,972 20,664 1.49
DUBLIN 19,939 22,169 -10.06
BRISTOL 15,010 14,395 4.27
PARIS 12,339 13,286 -7.13
MALAGA 10,361 12,257 -15.47
GENEVA 6,403 5,793 10.53
BERLIN 4,706 4,309 9.21
BARCELONA 4,341 6,241 -30.44
FUERTEVENTURA 4,108 3,653 12.46
LAS PALMAS 3,731 5,913 -36.90
EXETER 3,640 3,250 12.00
DUSSELDORF 3,498 4,540 -22.95
KRAKOW 2,809 2,604 7.87
WROCLAW 2,730 2,672 2.17
PRAGUE 2,714 2,813 -3.52
WARSAW 2,625 2,700 -2.78
KITTILA 2,616 3,009 -13.06
MALTA 2,598 2,219 17.08
MADRID 2,456 0 0.00
FARO 2,365 2,144 10.31
ROVANIEMI 1,672 1,258 32.91
NEW YORK (NEWARK) 1,538 1,111 38.43
BRUSSELS 1,536 1,356 13.27
HURGHADA 1,468 0 0.00
PAPHOS 1,243 1,147 8.37
FUNCHAL 993 393 152.67
CORK 808 1,006 -19.68
CARDIFF WALES 776 878 -11.62
STAVANGER 749 679 10.31
IVALO 712 1,035 -31.21
ABERDEEN 643 688 -6.54
TURIN 487 326 49.39
BRIDGETOWN 458 482 -4.98
INNSBRUCK 429 224 91.52
ENONTEKIO 376 378 -0.53
COPENHAGEN 296 2,098 -85.89
MUNICH 287 289 -0.69
BORDEAUX 262 0 0.00
FRANKFURT MAIN 211 0 0.00
SALZBURG 179 324 -44.75
EDINBURGH 151 0 0.00
LEEDS BRADFORD 150 0 0.00
SOFIA 148 92 60.87
GRENOBLE 147 160 -8.13
KEFLAVIK 142 0 0.00
ATHENS 126 0 0.00
HELSINKI 112 0 0.00
LIVERPOOL 81 0 0.00
FARNBOROUGH 80 40 100.00
GATWICK 69 41 68.29
BIRMINGHAM 29 64 -54.69
HUMBERSIDE 13 0 0.00
DUBAI (WORLD CENTRAL) 0 291 -100.00
DURHAM TEES VALLEY 0 31 -100.00
EAST MIDLANDS 0 96 -100.00
GDANSK 0 2,437 -100.00
HAMBURG 0 161 -100.00
ISLE OF MAN 0 341 -100.00
LILLE 0 39 -100.00
LYON 0 39 -100.00
MAASTRICHT 0 55 -100.00

[CabinCrewe]

I wouldnt thank you for a Salzburg flight on a Dash8. Its noisy enough on a short domestic trip and rubbish overheads.

[LiamNCL]

Easyjets NEO Roadshow has arrived at Newcastle as A20N G-UZHB has swapped over at GVA as the based A320 for a few days.

[GrahamK]

Looks like Ryanair reducing NCL-DUB to 10 x weekyl for W18/19. Double daily Mon, Fri and Sun only.
Alicante, Malaga, Tenerife, Lanzarote, Warsaw and Wroclaw all remain the same.

No Faro, Girona, Madrid or Gdansk bookable after October (so far)

[nonfrequentflyer_NCL]

With EZY updating their fleet will we see any of these out of NCL this summer? Love to think I'd get on the new jets out to the Balearics.

[highwideandugly]

Newcastle suffering from Carlisle and DTV Dublin competition?

Maybe the powers that be might go out and actually look for new business..Aer Lingus anyone!!

[SWBKCB]

Where can I book? :ok:

[fjencl]

I can't find any booking engine with DTV - DUB - DTV flights on or CAX - DUB - CAX. Can you help out please.

[Jamesair]

DTV is a rumour and Cax planned to start in June but no carrier announced yet

[SWBKCB]

Can't see RYR's plans being swayed by either.

Maybe the powers that be might go out and actually look for new business..Aer Lingus anyone!

Is that the same Aer Lingus that fly to Dublin and Cork from NCL?

[Skyflier]

CAX is Glasgow south or Manchester north depending on your perspective!

[LiamNCL]

With EZY updating their fleet will we see any of these out of NCL this summer? Love to think I'd get on the new jets out to the Balearics.

With only 4 in the fleet this last week will probably be the only time you will see the NEO based for a while.

[HH6702]

When is the easyJet press report about it at ncl is that tomorrow?

[nonfrequentflyer_NCL]

:ok:

Thank you, Liam.

[HH6702]

Thomas Cook summer 2019 on sale tomorrow
More regional flying so let's see what's new hopefully not just extra flights on current routes

[HH6702]

TCX Summer 2019 (may-oct)

Will keep editing once i find things so far the following

1 x weekly flight to Paphos

[Beatts]

If your looking for something to brighten up your day then please head over to the Emirates forum, I cant quite believe some of the things that are being said about the divert to Newcastle :'):ugh:

[EK77WNCL]

Even as a self confessed EK and NCL fanboy I find it rather humiliating :ugh:

[LFT]

Even as a self confessed EK and NCL fanboy I find it rather humiliating :ugh:


How are the yields at NCL, anyone think they'll move the NCL daily to GLA for the oft mooted 3rd daily flight from there?

[LiamNCL]

How are the yields at NCL, anyone think they'll move the NCL daily to GLA for the oft mooted 3rd daily flight from there?

Not a chance

EK35/6 would of vanished a long time ago if it didnt make Emirates a healthy return

[SWBKCB]

January 2018

I see DXB is up again...

Airport Jan 2018 Jan 2017 percent
1. HEATHROW ** 40,225 36,206 +11.10
2. AMSTERDAM ** 26,273 27,033 -2.81
3. DUBAI ** 21,524 21,109 +1.97
4. TENERIFE ** 21,437 20,232 +5.96
5. BELFAST INTER ** 19,156 18,496 +3.57
6. DUBLIN ** 18,835 20,922 -9.98
7. ALICANTE ** 18,322 17,873 +2.51
8. BRISTOL ** 13,565 14,039 -3.38
9. MALAGA ** 12,848 13,184 -2.55
10. PARIS (CDG) ** 10,465 11,351 -7.81
ARRECIFE ** 10,193 9,252 10.17
GENEVA ** 9,325 8,887 4.93
SOUTHAMPTON ** 8,775 8,515 3.05
FUERTEVENTURA ** 5,241 3,252 61.16
LAS PALMAS ** 4,392 6,351 -30.85
BARCELONA ** 3,212 4,163 -22.84
WARSAW ** 2,660 2,630 1.14
MADRID ** 2,649 0 0.00
FARO ** 2,547 2,488 2.37
EXETER ** 2,340 2,145 9.09
BERLIN (SCHONEFELD) ** 2,288 2,822 -18.92
WROCLAW ** 2,232 2,639 -15.42
DUSSELDORF ** 2,066 2,616 -21.02
HURGHADA ** 1,932 0 0.00
BRUSSELS ** 1,904 1,494 27.44
PAPHOS ** 1,700 1,226 38.66
ABERDEEN ** 1,637 1,333 22.81
MALTA ** 1,421 1,345 5.65
SALZBURG ** 1,331 1,338 -0.52
TURIN ** 1,297 1,592 -18.53
CARDIFF WALES ** 1,292 922 40.13
FUNCHAL ** 1,235 1,084 13.93
INNSBRUCK ** 1,225 1,242 -1.37
SOFIA ** 1,088 1,004 8.37
BRIDGETOWN ** 871 295 195.25
GRENOBLE ** 846 807 4.83
CORK ** 659 839 -21.45
STAVANGER ** 615 534 15.17
ISLE OF MAN ** 553 215 157.21
PRAGUE ** 476 424 12.26
KRAKOW ** 468 666 -29.73
MONTEGO BAY ** 297 0 0.00
AKUREYRI ** 182 0 0.00
MANCHESTER ** 96 80 20.00
ENONTEKIO ** 82 0 0.00
LUTON ** 45 0 0.00
BIRMINGHAM ** 0 163 -100.00
LIVERPOOL ** 0 84 -100.00
OXFORD ** 0 80 -100.00
STANSTED ** 0 90 -100.00
COPENHAGEN ** 0 1,579 -100.00
KIRUNA ** 0 83 -100.00
GDANSK ** 0 2,565 -100.00
DUBAI (WORLD CENTRAL) ** 0 577 -100.00
NEW YORK (NEWARK) ** 0 216 -100.00
Totals 281,822 278,082

[skyhawk1]

HiflyA340 doing AGP today for TUI. What’s all that for. Anyone know.

[GrahamK]

First 340-500 to Geordieland?

[LiamNCL]

First 340-500 to Geordieland?

I think it was thats all 3 versions been in now a very rare aircaft up here.

[EK77WNCL]

Correction, all 4 versions now.

French AF -200
Kuwaiti -300
Hifly -500
Virgin Atlantic -600

Nice to see CS-TFX finally make it into NCL. Only a few years late, she was meant to be coming in from Brussels about 5 years ago.

[LiamNCL]

Correction, all 4 versions now.

French AF -200
Kuwaiti -300
Hifly -500
Virgin Atlantic -600

Nice to see CS-TFX finally make it into NCL. Only a few years late, she was meant to be coming in from Brussels about 5 years ago.

Forgot the -200 series :E

[BAladdy]

BE have released W18/19 schedule through until mid JAN19. Below are details of the changes made, with frequency comparisons compared to W17/18

Belfast City - Frequency increased to 11 x weekly from 29OCT18. Flights currently operate 6 x weekly. Flights continue to be operate by a T3 J41.

BE7664 NCL 09:00 BHD 10:05 J41 5
BE7653 NCL 09:40 BHD 10:45 J41 x567
BE7664 NCL 15:15 BHD 16:20 J41 x567
BE7671 NCL 16:15 BHD 17:20 J41 7
BE7655 NCL 18:00 BHD 19:05 J41 5

**BE7653/BE7655 - Routing ABZ-NCL-BHD**

BE7663 BHD 11:15 NCL 12:20 J41 x567
BE7663 BHD 11:35 NCL 12:40 J41 5
BE7656 BHD 16:50 NCL 17:55 J41 x567
BE7665 BHD 19:35 NCL 20:40 J41 5
BE7672 BHD 20:15 NCL 21:20 J41 7

**BE7656 - Routing BHD-NCL-ABZ**

Isle of Man - Will operate 6 x weekly from 29OCT18. One flight will operate direct MON-FRI and via BHD on a SUN using a T3 J41. Flights currently op 5 x weekly via BHD.

BE7675 NCL 07:15 IOM 08:10 J41 5
BE7675 NCL 09:45 IOM 10:40 J41 x567

BE7676 IOM 12:50 NCL 13:45 J41 5
BE7676 IOM 15:20 NCL 16:15 J41 x567

Southampton - Frequency will be reduced to 17 x weekly (3 x daily MON-THU, 2 x daily FRI/SUN and 1 x daily SAT). Flights currently operate 18 x weekly. Lunchtime frequency will be dropped on FRI.

Further changes are likely before the start of W18/19 season

[Jamesair]

January and February 2018 stats available on the airport website.

Jan pax.... 284,016 (280,200 Jan. 17)
Feb pax.... 290,520 (287,609 Feb 17)

The upward trend continues in January a good rise in Domestic pax (slight fall in International. In February a rise in both Domestic and International pax.

[Ph1l1pncl]

Newcastle to Venice is this weeks Anna.aero Skyscanner Unserved Route of the Week! It appears that some airlines have actually launched routes after these posts, so hopefully Newcastle to Venice will be one of these success stories. Preferably with Easyjet or Jet2 A’s the airlines to operate the route.

[SWBKCB]

Newcastle to Venice is this weeks Anna.aero Skyscanner Unserved Route of the Week! It appears that some airlines have actually launched routes after these posts, so hopefully Newcastle to Venice will be one of these success stories. Preferably with Easyjet or Jet2 A’s the airlines to operate the route.

haven't EZY or Jet2 operated it in the past?

[HH6702]

Jet2 did

I was thinking it maybe a route for Ryanair to have a go at

[LiamNCL]

Jet2 did

I was thinking it maybe a route for Ryanair to have a go at

Ryanair arent based at Venice or Newcastle so would have to be Jet2 or Easyjet.

[A320.b744]

Ryanair arent based at Venice or Newcastle so would have to be Jet2 or Easyjet.

Ryanair has a relatively large base at Treviso Airport, which they market as 'Venice - Treviso'.

[canberra97]

Although Ryanair do operate into Venice Marco Polo Airport from Barcelona and Bristol.

[Plane.Silly]

Jet2 operated the route from 2012-2014. Probably dropped it to make better money on other routes.

Skip forward to now though, and they have their 'city break' product. My moneys on Jet2 to bring it back for S19 (too late for S18 now)

[EK77WNCL]

If we ever get the 8th based Jet2 frame, which has been about 3 years in the making, I would hope that we would see routes like Budapest, Pula and Venice come back online. Perhaps the addition of Kefalonia and Kos to the Jet2 holidays portfolio, they are glaring omissions.
I don't think 2/3 weekly Paris/Amsterdam flights would go amiss either, but I think as a budget offering against AF/KL... EZY/FR would have the competitive edge on pricing and schedule. Just as I feel EZY would be best suited to VCE (as opposed to LS - VCE or FR - TSF) and FR or W6 best suited to Budapest, based on the demographic of the routes.
Conversely, I feel Jet2 would be best suited to Vienna with their city break packages.

This isn't to say that any other combination wouldn't work. But some operators are definitely better suited to operating a route successfully

[LiamNCL]

Would be nice of TUI to add Iceland to the winter destinations like they do even at EMA.

[EK77WNCL]

I would think we might see it eventually, being rolled out slowly. Originally MAN/LGW, introduced from EMA last winter and BRS is the lucky subject this coming season.

Logically, it would follow that Newcastle would be up there with Birmingham, Glasgow and Luton as the next contenders

[jensdad]

I'm prepared to be proved wrong, but I think it's either now or never for KEF from NCL. There's a finite market for short trips to Iceland, and I feel it'll get to a stage, sooner rather than later, where everyone who wants to go has been and it'll settle back down to GLA/EDI, MAN and LON. If the Icelandic tourist people could convince people that a three night stay in Reykjavik, a Golden Circle tour and a dip in the Blue Lagoon doesn't mean you have 'done Iceland' they might get more life out of the UK market, but out of the dozens of people I know who have been to Iceland, only three have been more than 50 miles from Reykjavik.

[EK77WNCL]

I am inclined to agree, the bubble will burst at some point (With any luck anyway, I desperately hope it will settle down, the place will be completely overrun with tourists and ruin a lot of the charm)

It could go either way, grow like Dublin, Rome, Venice etc. as a short haul, short break destination from the UK/US.. But I suspect that the climate, economy and (I assume) relative lack of entertainment/cultural opportunities when compared to the likes of other major EU cities might preclude them from reaching this level of regular sustained tourism.

I think it'll be boom and bust, and level out. If we haven't missed the boat already, the next 2/3 years is critical. I see our options narrowing somewhat. If Ryanair were to enter the market, however. I see things panning out differently.

I do find it interesting that the charter back in January was to Akureyri...

[jensdad]

I'm totally with you in the hope that it calms down soon. I feel a bit hypocritical saying that as I enjoyed a fantastic holiday there in 2010 but, in my humble opinion, a nation with a smaller population than Newcastle just can't support current levels of visitors without permanent damage to its culture and identity.
Anyway, I'm getting into more complex matters here... back to Newcastle :)

[EK77WNCL]

Iceland is high up there on my list to visit, but I've been put off waiting for a direct flight from NCL. If there isn't one in the next few years, I'll have to troop up to EDI, down to MAN or through one of the hubs. I hope the country isn't overrun. As you say, I doubt they can support it. Looking at the new US/Canada routes starting this year into KEF, I'm not holding out much hope to be honest. I think there's still a few years growth in it yet

[SWBKCB]

CAA stats for 2017

apt ty_t_pax ly_t_pax pc_change
HEATHROW * 491,597 499,479 -1.58
ALICANTE * 379,433 340,357 11.48
AMSTERDAM * 367,002 363,690 0.91
PALMA DE MALLORCA * 325,697 257,176 26.64
DUBLIN * 264,398 232,538 13.70
MALAGA * 263,658 238,845 10.39
BELFAST INTERNATIONAL * 259,775 250,418 3.74
TENERIFE * 248,007 215,583 15.04
DUBAI * 237,856 231,047 2.95
FARO * 172,240 121,000 42.35
BRISTOL * 169,962 164,595 3.26
ARRECIFE * 157,788 113,133 39.47
PARIS (CDG) * 148,184 148,784 -0.40
SOUTHAMPTON * 130,256 117,767 10.60
IBIZA * 82,950 79,462 4.39
BARCELONA * 77,244 98,753 -21.78
DALAMAN * 76,095 78,001 -2.44
LAS PALMAS * 69,424 62,178 11.65
REUS * 62,137 60,539 2.64
PAPHOS * 57,906 50,092 15.60
FUERTEVENTURA * 57,459 44,708 28.52
GENEVA * 56,850 68,226 -16.67
LARNACA * 48,546 45,600 6.46
CORFU * 48,267 45,743 5.52
RHODES * 48,219 45,663 5.60
MAHON * 47,815 42,546 12.38
DUSSELDORF * 46,103 41,630 10.74
EXETER * 42,731 39,713 7.60
MALTA * 42,565 35,239 20.79
ZAKINTHOS * 42,118 42,227 -0.26
BERLIN (SCHONEFELD) * 40,848 6,986 484.71
GIRONA * 38,848 10,067 285.89
ANTALYA * 36,629 31,607 15.89
BURGAS * 36,628 28,222 29.79
HERAKLION * 35,088 31,987 9.69
WROCLAW * 32,931 5,022 555.73
WARSAW * 32,105 4,962 547.02
GDANSK * 27,182 4,697 478.71
KRAKOW * 27,171 27,196 -0.09
MADRID * 26,088 95 27361.05
PRAGUE * 25,451 26,194 -2.84
BRUSSELS * 24,038 19,431 23.71
CANCUN * 23,876 24,326 -1.85
JERSEY * 23,804 23,674 0.55
SANFORD * 23,073 17,435 32.34
NICE * 23,071 21,387 7.87
NAPLES * 18,290 18,405 -0.62
KOS * 18,243 17,835 2.29
ROME (FIUMICINO) * 16,951 17,744 -4.47
MURCIA SAN JAVIER * 16,772 19,355 -13.35
FUNCHAL * 15,929 19,579 -18.64
VERONA * 13,893 14,255 -2.54
CARDIFF WALES * 13,855 13,664 1.40
COPENHAGEN * 13,590 22,371 -39.25
DUBROVNIK * 13,452 19,590 -31.33
KEFALLINIA * 12,523 13,087 -4.31
ALMERIA * 12,383 0 0.00
CORK * 12,195 16,400 -25.64
HURGHADA * 11,796 0 0.00
ABERDEEN * 11,410 8,925 27.84
PISA * 10,476 10,159 3.12
STAVANGER * 10,004 6,587 51.87
SKIATHOS * 8,857 7,846 12.89
THIRA (SANTORINI) * 8,704 8,036 8.31
SALZBURG * 7,887 8,903 -11.41
SPLIT * 6,688 6,699 -0.16
INNSBRUCK * 4,537 4,506 0.69
GRENOBLE * 3,852 160 2307.50
BELFAST CITY * 3,633 9,911 -63.34
TURIN * 3,571 3,252 9.81
ISLE OF MAN * 3,463 4,191 -17.37
NEW YORK (NEWARK) * 3,303 20,497 -83.89
SOFIA * 3,125 2,598 20.28
BRIDGETOWN * 2,728 2,816 -3.13
KITTILA * 2,616 3,009 -13.06
NEWQUAY * 2,038 1,922 6.00
ROVANIEMI * 1,672 1,258 32.91
TARBES-LOURDES INTERNATIONAL * 1,023 1,102 -7.17
DUBAI (WORLD CENTRAL) * 865 291 197.25
IVALO * 712 1,035 -31.21
BERGEN * 514 427 20.37
ENONTEKIO * 376 378 -0.53
VIENNA * 361 515 -29.90
FRANKFURT MAIN * 302 0 0.00
LIVERPOOL (JOHN LENNON) * 298 406 -26.60
TROMSOE * 288 280 2.86
MUNICH * 287 289 -0.69
BORDEAUX * 262 0 0.00
BOURNEMOUTH * 241 327 -26.30
GATWICK * 232 349 -33.52
MANCHESTER * 232 391 -40.66
BIRMINGHAM * 191 3,612 -94.71
VENICE * 184 656 -71.95
PERPIGNAN * 179 185 -3.24
ROME (CIAMPINO) * 179 0 0.00
VILNIUS * 179 0 0.00
NORWICH * 170 255 -33.33
LEEDS BRADFORD * 168 21 700.00
KEFLAVIK * 142 106 33.96
KIRUNA * 130 310 -58.06
ATHENS * 126 0 0.00
Unknown * 119 69 72.46
EAST MIDLANDS INTERNATIONAL * 119 549 -78.32
HELSINKI * 112 0 0.00
BILLUND * 93 95 -2.11
BRAUNSCHWEIG * 92 0 0.00
EDINBURGH * 82 129 -36.43
FARNBOROUGH * 80 92 -13.04
OXFORD (KIDLINGTON) * 80 0 0.00
GLASGOW * 76 0 0.00
HUMBERSIDE * 54 103 -47.57
STOCKHOLM (ARLANDA) * 53 14 278.57
DURHAM TEES VALLEY * 41 85 -51.76
STOCKHOLM (BROMMA) * 30 0 0.00
ANTWERP * 0 88 -100.00
LIEGE * 0 6 -100.00
BRIVE-LA-GAILLARDE * 0 80 -100.00
CHAMBERY * 0 3,767 -100.00
LILLE * 0 39 -100.00
LYON * 0 39 -100.00
TOULOUSE (BLAGNAC) * 0 148 -100.00
FRIEDRICHSHAFEN * 0 36 -100.00
HAMBURG * 0 330 -100.00
STUTTGART * 0 104 -100.00
GENOA * 0 674 -100.00
MAASTRICHT * 0 55 -100.00
BODRUM (MILAS) * 0 17,251 -100.00
BEIRUT * 0 178 -100.00
HALIFAX INT * 0 39 -100.00
MONTEGO BAY * 0 2,275 -100.00
LUTON * 0 379 -100.00
SOUTHEND * 0 85 -100.00
STANSTED * 0 1,790 -100.00
BIGGIN HILL * 0 40 -100.00
Total * 5,296,221 4,801,054

[VentureGo]

Interesting figures. - I would say quite a few routes are governed by Capacity rather than Demand and therefore more capacity on some routes e.g. LHR, AMS, CDG, GVA, BCN IOM,NYC (any), MCO, DXB and all Scandinavian e.g. CPH, OSL, BGN, SVG - All have potential for growth, and if exploited could grow Newcastle way past record 2007 pax. volumes. Potential I would see Conservatively as 7-8m pax. p.a. - Then at this level, NCL would attract further Direct long range services.

Makes me wonder if NCL have an optimum Marketing team in place.

N.E.C.A. (NEXUS + County Durham & Northumberland) could also promote better (comfortable express) transport links to Newcastle Airport via public transport (Local Trains, All Bus Operators (GNE, ANE, SNE, and METRO) with extended Nexus zonal ticketing. - Currently outside Tyne&Wear - taxis are cheaper!

OK - NCL may never rival Manchester as regional hub but I'm sure, with a professional approach NCL could come close to doubling current custom.

[Jamesair]

With Lufthansa closing its Dusseldorf base on the 28th October 2018, I wonder what effect this will have on the Eurowings Dusseldorf service. Is there much interline traffic or is it mainly point to point?

[ash666]

It sounds like NCL, among others, are still using that God-awful phrase, "for operational reasons" for when passengers are kept waiting for several hours.
Why doesn't the government ban the use of that phrase?

It only makes the passengers feel like they are being fobbed off and treated like 5th class citizens and they feel annoyed and irritated.

Airports will be amazed at how accepting pax will be if they give honest reasons for delays like the is terrible weather at the other airport and the incoming flight can't get here.

Is there some reason why they brush passengers aside so insultingly?

[SWBKCB]

Is there some reason why they brush passengers aside so insultingly?

Quite often it can be because you just don't know - delays can be very fluid situations, and Murphy's law is quite often in full swing. I've worked flights (in the dim and distant past) where the departure/arrival time of a flight has changed every five minutes for different reasons.

And if the airport doesn't know, it's because the airline (or their agent!) hasn't told them.

re DUS - is it not just changing from a LH to an EWG base, so not much impact?

[ash666]

Quite often it can be because you just don't know - delays can be very fluid situations, and Murphy's law is quite often in full swing. I've worked flights (in the dim and distant past) where the departure/arrival time of a flight has changed every five minutes for different reasons.

And if the airport doesn't know, it's because the airline (or their agent!) hasn't told them.

re DUS - is it not just changing from a LH to an EWG base, so not much impact?

But they will know the basic reason, ie bad weather elsewhere and don't know when it will improve, and passengers will accept this and know it is out of the airport's/airline's control.

[HH6702]

Isn't long haul flights at DUS just transferring to EUROWINGS so no change really just all low cost

[NorthEasterner]

Regarding 'Operational Reasons' excuse, airlines don't contact right away with reason that's causing the delay. They simply relay a message saying such and such flight is delayed until XX time. At a later stage the airline will inform the ground handling agent with the reason for the delay such as crewing etc. This will be passed onto the passengers using internal communication such as tannoy or face to face. Airports will rarely list the reason of every delay or cancellation. There is no need to publicize the reason on airport website etc because those who do need to know such as passengers will be informed where appropriate. Another thing is that operational reasons covers a wide range of scenarios such as knock on delays in aircraft schedule, crewing, aircraft changes. Passengers may find this complex to understand and therefore easier to just say operational reasons.

[ash666]

Regarding 'Operational Reasons' excuse, airlines don't contact right away with reason that's causing the delay. They simply relay a message saying such and such flight is delayed until XX time. At a later stage the airline will inform the ground handling agent with the reason for the delay such as crewing etc. This will be passed onto the passengers using internal communication such as tannoy or face to face. Airports will rarely list the reason of every delay or cancellation. There is no need to publicize the reason on airport website etc because those who do need to know such as passengers will be informed where appropriate. Another thing is that operational reasons covers a wide range of scenarios such as knock on delays in aircraft schedule, crewing, aircraft changes. Passengers may find this complex to understand and therefore easier to just say operational reasons.

I'm afraid that is just another excuse for passengers being treated like 5th class creatures.

[bigjim99]

Well I genuinely wouldn't be surprised if the kids at Swissport NCL didn't have a clue what was causing delays....and even if they did, half of them wouldn't care to pass it onto pax. Probably one of the most frustrating turn arounds in the UK which has only got worse with the demise of Menzies.

[Ph1l1pncl]

Well I genuinely wouldn't be surprised if the kids at Swissport NCL didn't have a clue what was causing delays....and even if they did, half of them wouldn't care to pass it onto pax. Probably one of the most frustrating turn arounds in the UK which has only got worse with the demise of Menzies.

In what way is it frustrating having a turnaround in Newcastle?

After Aviator left the UK market I did think another handling agent would move into Newcastle. DNATA as a potential, they could handle Emirates and a few others, it’s never good having a monopoly as it leads to poor service, and now airlines in Newcastle have to either put up with poorer service, accept higher charges or leave the airport or self handle as they don’t have anyone else to go too. Jet2 seem to be self handling under the wing in more airports now. Definitely, Leeds, Manchester, East Midlands, Birmingham and Stansted, potentially Glasgow too. So, maybe they will go in house for Newcastle next.

[SWBKCB]

I'm afraid that is just another excuse for passengers being treated like 5th class creatures.

Airlines and pax get what they pay for.

[ash666]

Airlines and pax get what they pay for.

I never realised we pay so little......

[SWBKCB]

Compare current airfares with those over the years and you'll soon realise how little you are paying. Handling agent firms have never been well paid and have now been almost squeezed out of existence.

[Hipennine]

Son was booked NCL - INN via LHR on Sunday. Friday night got email to say NCL-LHR leg cancelled (no reason given) (nb we know why). After much arguing with customer services who initially offered a flight in 2 weeks time, was rebooked on Sturday flight, but via LHR- LGW, with transfer at own cost.
After much delay and disruption on Saturday morning, he finally got on the national express coach at LHR. While talking to him on phone before thecoach departed, there was a a comprehensive announcement from the driver including details of current traffic en-route, delay potential, etc. Son's comment was "well that's far more info in 2 minutes than I've had from BA and NCL in the last 24" - says it all really- you get what you pay for, and coach travel is generally cheaper than flying.

[ash666]

Some friends flying from NCL on a Sunday a couple of weeks ago were actually put on the plane before being told they had hours to wait.

[SWBKCB]

than I've had from BA and NCL in the last 24

BA cancel a flight and NCL get the blame?

Some friends flying from NCL on a Sunday a couple of weeks ago were actually put on the plane before being told they had hours to wait.

Delays are fluid - there may not have been a delay when they got on, alternatively there may have been an ATC or weather delay but there was a possibility of an earlier departure. In that case it is better to have PAX on the plane ready to go than wandering around the building or "popping home cause we've got a couple of hours to kill". Probably not an issue at NCL but can also happen so that the a/c can be moved to free up a stand for an inbound flight.

[Hipennine]

[QUOTE=SWBKCB;10091382]BA cancel a flight and NCL get the blame?

Well there was no communication in the airport regarding the delays on saturday morning, including for eg the reason why the inbound was late at the gate was because the earlier LHR flight was still on the stand waiting for de-icing.

[jensdad]

Sorry to add to the litany of woe, but a £7 'admin charge' to be reunited with your lost property? Really? And while I'm whingeing, for this hefty sum they only work 9 til 12 and 1 til 3. Would an airport information desk - with a lost property cupboard in back - not be a nice idea? Like they had in the good old days?

[ash666]

Sorry to add to the litany of woe, but a £7 'admin charge' to be reunited with your lost property? Really? And while I'm whingeing, for this hefty sum they only work 9 til 12 and 1 til 3. Would an airport information desk - with a lost property cupboard in back - not be a nice idea? Like they had in the good old days?

What???

Surely that is illegal.
When you pay your fare +/- extra for your baggage surely the contract is for them to get it back to you at the other end without further payment.

If they do that to me I will take it to court.

[canberra97]

And can you you imagine that 'lost property cupboard' you refer to like 'in the good old days' as you fondly call it dealing with all the mobile phones, iPads, chargers, jewellery, rucksacks, etc in today's travelling environment, I don't think that cupboard you talk could cover all that, it's not like the 'good old days' with fewer passengers and the lost property dealing with the odd overcoat, spectacle case or umbrella, get a reality check and look at the bigger picture as it's 2018 not 1958!

The only thing I do agree with in your comments are the ridiculous opening times of the British Airways lost property department but do you realise how many items they have to deal with annually hence the administrative charge which is fair enough, it happened to myself on one occasion I was just pleased that they had found my phone and everything else was totally irrelevant in a way that's very similar to your post!

[jensdad]

Hi Ash666, it was a pair of gloves that fell out of my pocket at some stage during my trip through the airport, rather than checked luggage. It was my own stupid fault, I should have been more careful, but if I dropped my gloves in Eldon Square I wouldn't need to pay £7 to get them back. Not sure why an airport should be different.


Hi Canb97, They do still have a lost-property office, but it's only open 5 hours a day, 5 days a week, when most people are at work. And an airport the size of Newcastle should definitely have a reception/information desk imho. I seem to remember SOU has one? Not sure, I could be wrong there. And if they did have an info desk they could combine the two. Airports being airports, they'd probably still charge an extortionate amount though :)

[ash666]

Hi Ash666, it was a pair of gloves that fell out of my pocket at some stage during my trip through the airport, rather than checked luggage. It was my own stupid fault, I should have been more careful, but if I dropped my gloves in Eldon Square I wouldn't need to pay £7 to get them back. Not sure why an airport should be different.


Hi Canb97, They do still have a lost-property office, but it's only open 5 hours a day, 5 days a week, when most people are at work. And an airport the size of Newcastle should definitely have a reception/information desk imho. I seem to remember SOU has one? Not sure, I could be wrong there. And if they did have an info desk they could combine the two. Airports being airports, they'd probably still charge an extortionate amount though :)

Ok, I will retract my statement.

I left a coat on the Eurostar a couple of years ago and that cost a fortune to get back.

I remember a friend losing his wallet on the Emirates flight and the staff in Dubai took a while to look for it but they did and didn't charge a penny.

[canberra97]

They didn't charge him a penny but probably emptied his wallet before they kindly returned it to him free of charge :-)

[ash666]

They didn't charge him a penny but probably emptied his wallet before they kindly returned it to him free of charge :-)


Time to get credit card alerts! (unless they pick pocket your phone as well...)

[canberra97]

Time to get credit card alerts! (unless they pick pocket your phone as well...)

It was obviously a humorous comment as I'm sure your aware of!

[ash666]

It was obviously a humorous comment as I'm sure your aware of!

Absolutely, the Emirates staff played a blinder.
I would love to use them but I tried it once and hated having my flight split right in the middle.

[highwideandugly]

Careful boys!

[Ph1l1pncl]

Heathrow Airport charges up to £20 pound to reclaim your lost items. Manchester and Edinburgh airports charge lost property fees, I think it’s just standard practice now unfortunately

[Flyit Pointit Sortit]

Just my tuppence worth. As a Captain, I often find that Passsengers have been given little, no or even wrong information when a flight is delayed. I have been told that I am a liar when explaining the reason for the delay because the company website states something different to the real situation. Often this is due to the fact that situations are fluid, that the initial reason for the delay leads to a further delay. For example if an unruly passenger results in a missed slot that causes a further 2 hour delay, what is the ultimate reason for the delay, disruptive passenger or ATC. Often it is because the information from one part of the airline bypasses another and "mis-information" is given out. This is not done through malice, but purely human error.

A " operational reason" explanation allows me to go into more detail, once the passengers have been entrusted into my care, or even when I have gone to speak to them in the terminal on occasions.

I appreciate how frustrating it is when you are not told information but hopefully once you are onboard, you should get more information.

[ash666]

I think people relax a bit when they are actually onboard and on their way.
At least accurate info at the airport would allow them to gauge the likely delay.

[SWBKCB]

Sorry to add to the litany of woe, but a £7 'admin charge' to be reunited with your lost property?

The public wants low fares, which means the airlines pay the airports less, which leads to airports charges like this and the equally unpopular drop off charges.

It's no different to paying for choosing your seat or for food and drink on the flight.

[10 DME ARC]

SWBKCB - Totally right! Airports these days get very little payment from airlines for either passenger or aircraft landing in this 'low cost' world! Airports are left to make money from the through put of passenger the airlines bring too them! In fact I know of airline/airport deals where the airport pays the airline per pax!!

[ash666]

There was a documentary a year or 2 ago on Frankfurt and the shops, restaurants etc brought in a lot more money than the airline operations.

Though why pax feel the sudden urge to buy a £400 suitcase or a Rolex watch at the start of their journey I've no idea, especially given the exorbitant prices at airports.
Are pax so stupid as to believe that just because they are in a "duty-free" zone then things will be a bargain?

I remember going into Dixons at NCL a while ago and they wanted £120 for something when the high street price was £60.

[SWBKCB]

Used to work with a woman who would say "My holidays not started until I've bought a new handbag"!

Airport's dream customer :ok:

Same reason every available bit of space is turned into a shop, bar or restaurant.

[brownale342]

Well I genuinely wouldn't be surprised if the kids at Swissport NCL didn't have a clue what was causing delays....and even if they did, half of them wouldn't care to pass it onto pax. Probably one of the most frustrating turn arounds in the UK which has only got worse with the demise of Menzies.

Please do elaborate how it is one of the most frustrating turnarounds in the UK?

By 'kids at Swissport' are you for serious? I know a few Swissport staff who dedicate themselves to their roles including Check-In, ramp and operations. Work all hours God sends them for minimal pay and to get your flight off out on time with minimal delay as possible. Some of the staff have worked since Servisair days who are highly experienced. Not Swissport staffs fault when they haven't been informed as to why your flight is delayed which 9 out of 10 of the time is usually down to your airline.

[LiamNCL]

Its the feel good factor everyone who spends knows its not any cheaper but the fact they have money makes it irrelevant.

[Jamesair]

Easyjet have added a second flight to Palma on Mondays making 8 per week.

[GrahamK]

TUI adding extra flights to Cancun for Summer 19

[HH6702]

Wonder what else we get from them hoping for a few new routes

[DanAir89]

Wonder what else we get from them hoping for a few new routes

Think you’ll be disappointed (I am!) Palma, corfu and Naples extra flights per Sunderland Echo.

What happened to the days when NCL was top of the list to try new things such as SHH, new Greek islands...

[HH6702]

So does make Naples 3x weekly
CFU 2x weekly and Palma nearly daily?

Surely everyone isn't making money on PMI how many flights per day now

[GrahamK]

So does make Naples 3x weekly
CFU 2x weekly and Palma nearly daily?

Surely everyone isn't making money on PMI how many flights per day now
If that's where Geordies want to go

[DanAir89]

If that's where Geordies want to go

Or where TUI’s marketing department want them to go. Despite selecting NCL as departure point you’re only ever one click away from being directed to DSA (who have a new aircraft and lots of new routes...) on their website.

We’re aledgedly v poor up here so historically lapped up cheap holidays to Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia etc - thought they would feature from
NCL as they are now regaining popularity from other places in the country.

I think there’s a conspiracy to direct geordies to Benidorm et al for ever!

[HH6702]

Let's hope Jet2 take the lead again and show TUI and TCX that there is more than Benidorm!!

[N707ZS]

We know Geordies love Benidorm! Amazed there hasn't been a family on the TV series! There's just Lesley.

[canberra97]

I can assure you that Leslie is more than enough and even he/she is hard to understand :-)

[DanAir89]

Come to think about it there’s alway a high proportion of cross dressers on the Spanish flights, you’ve stumbled on something there! And for anyone old enough Lesley was previously a “hard brickie” called Denis in auf veidersen pet with some “great” footage filmed at ncl in the 80’s and on an Orion 737.

I’ll get my coat...

[LiamNCL]

We are so poor our fares / holidays are usually some the most expensive but still aircraft leave full in the summer :} TUI have become one of the most boring airlines at NCL.

[jensdad]

I guess TUI must know what they're doing. If there were planeloads of Geordies wanting to go to Naxos or La Palma, they would provide a plane for them! The public here in the North East are quite conservative (note the small 'c'!). I still reckon we do well for a relatively small city in a relatively poor (by UK standards of that word) region. Did I read somewhere we're the smallest city in Emirates' European network?

[HH6702]

Interesting if true that we are the smallest city in Europe for EK and the route continues to growing... hitting 21k a month now..

Just shows there really is more than Benidorm for us !!

[southside bobby]

Thailand !!

[ash666]

Thailand !!

I know one or 2 airlines do 2 flights a week from NCL, ie Saturday and Wednesday so is it impossible to get flights to Thailand etc once a week?
It would be good as a hub for onward flights to Oz, China, Japan etc if needed.

We know the distance is no problem.

[HH6702]

Thailand would be good for weekly flights but our only hope for flights would be TUI
They seem to only like SFB, CUN I'm sure other flights to the Caribbean would work also weekly

[HH6702]

*** JET2 summer 2019 ***

Now on sale let's work out the increases for the first week in August example

ALC - 12 weekly flights
PMI - 12 flights

[EK77WNCL]

****e all for the remainder of the decade then? While TUI launch their biggest summer ever, Jet2 throw aircraft at their big shiny new southern bases and Ryanair can’t seem to remember when they thought we looked promising. Do not fret, you can do a day return to Magaluf with easyJet on a Monday! And still can’t get to Bristol before 8pm midweek...

Aside from that begrudged little rant, if CUN is expanding (twice weekly I assume? Hopefully with 10/11 nights available) that’s obviously a positive. LS and TUI have been a little more “out there” using us as one of the initials for Halkidiki.

I wasn’t expecting anything, so not that disappointed. I assume the TUI short haul increases are coming through frequency reductions on other routes? Or will they be w-patterns or third party carriers?

A few more years of consolidation, grow into our new Ryanair routes, and let’s see what the 2020’s bring. We might start catching up with EDI/GLA/BRS/BFS/BHX/STN/MAN

[HH6702]

In fairness the big 3 are now fighting for market share in which has been lost in the midlands by monarch.
Still have to wait to see what TUI plans are on April 5 we may get a 4th aircraft part week?
Jet2 will hopefully add KOS and maybe a few others

[EK77WNCL]

CUN x2 weekly is very positive in my opinion... I think we might be able to safely extrapolate from that, that SFB could go x2 weekly for S20 and looking further ahead a seasonal based, or part based 787 might not be that out of the question with one or two of Montego Bay, Punta Cana, Puerto Vallarta and Phuket all seeming like viable options out of NCL. Punta Cana having previously been served and Montego Bay being a simple extension of the existing cruise charters.

In the event of further short haul expansion, I'd like to think that Agadir/Marrakech, Hurghada, Pula, Santorini, Bodrum, Mykonos, Sal/Boa Vista and Reykjavik would all be at least considered

See what the future brings, if the flights are going full and the airlines and airport are happy, I'm happy. I just hope things don't go the way they have in the past

[HH6702]

Greece was well covered back in Excel airways /Kosmar holidays days
Shame no one took over the routes

[ash666]

The Pula flights were always busy back in the day and I don't see why that should change.

[EK77WNCL]

Most of this is down to the complete unwillingness of the Newcastle catchment to travel anywhere other than your Spanish staples. The likes of Portugal and Greece seemingly rather pioneering destinations.

Obviously this isn't 100% true, but you can't argue with up to 6 daily flights to Alicante and Palma and a lack of many more "out there" destinations

Would it kill the North East contingent to go to Pula instead of Benidorm? Cape Verde instead of Tenerife? Mykonos instead of Zante?

On the other hand... Many people's insistence on travelling to Turkey, Egypt and Tunisia against Foreign Office advice and the Facebook posts of "this is disgraceful, it's my holiday, I should be able to choose where I think is safe enough" is beggar's belief! Try Morocco, Cape Verde or a nice Greek Island instead!

Almost makes it believable that the Geordie travelling public are going to Egypt, Turkey and Tunisia for the rich culture and diversity of those destinations... And not just a cheap all inclusive and a beach :rolleyes:

[ash666]

Sadly, the above is all true.
Travel where you like from NCL as long as it's a Spanish beach.
Not a criticism of the airport or the airlines, more the local travelling population.

[N707ZS]

Almost makes it believable that the Geordie travelling public are going to Egypt, Turkey and Tunisia for the rich culture and diversity of those destinations... And not just a cheap all inclusive and a beach I am sure if you could re-create these places in a big shed and charge the same prices or a bit less, make artificial sun and they would go. Once went to a Nerja Spain hotel for a stop over on rout to Portugal from Almeria and found a Scouser who hadn't left the hotel in ten years of going there for a fortnight every year!

[ash666]

Doesn't surprise me. I've asked many men where they are going for their holidays only for them to say they don't know as the wife booked it.

Your shed would need to have lots of beer as they can't get quite enough down themselves at 5am at the airport.

And a TV showing non-stop football, especially for the men as they have no other topic of conversation other than football (which is why I never talk to Brits abroad, only foreigners who can talk about all sorts).

[Travel Agent]

Cancun will be increased to 3 weekly from Glasgow and Newcastle according to the release they sent out to travel agents yesterday.

NEW ROUTES - NBE on Fridays

INCREASED FREQUENCY

PALMA (Sun), CORFU (Thu)

[EK77WNCL]

Travel Agent... You should have seen the little dance I just did if x3 weekly is true..

EDIT: The state of the North East travelling public as whole, unfortunately, is rather upsetting. And to the detriment of NCL. Sounds harsh, but stereotypes exist for a reason. I was lucky, apart from the inevitable staple trips to the Costa Del Sol, my family could be considered rather adventurous. Case in point, my mam just came back from 5 nights in Dubai, cheaper than Tenerife booked 2 weeks in advance.

Interesting to think that student population in Newcastle could be rather important in supporting routes like Krakow, Prague, Berlin and Ryanair's Polish routes

[jensdad]

With respect to all posters, there are some strange comments being made here. I myself like to go a little bit off the beaten track, but if your average punter wants to go and chill out in Majorca for a fortnight a year, who are we to criticise?

[jensdad]

btw, I've just checked all of Emirates' European destinations (too much time on my hands, I know :) ) and we are actually the third smallest city behind Venice and Geneva. If those two are the only ones that are punching above their weight more than we are then, like I keep saying, we aren't doing too bad.

[ash666]

With respect to all posters, there are some strange comments being made here. I myself like to go a little bit off the beaten track, but if your average punter wants to go and chill out in Majorca for a fortnight a year, who are we to criticise?

We aren't completely criticising them, just saying that is the local air travelling population and why we won't get more adventurous routes as the pax just aren't there to support them.

[geordiejet]

Travel Agent... You should have seen the little dance I just did if x3 weekly is true..

EDIT: The state of the North East travelling public as whole, unfortunately, is rather upsetting. And to the detriment of NCL. Sounds harsh, but stereotypes exist for a reason. I was lucky, apart from the inevitable staple trips to the Costa Del Sol, my family could be considered rather adventurous. Case in point, my mam just came back from 5 nights in Dubai, cheaper than Tenerife booked 2 weeks in advance.

Interesting to think that student population in Newcastle could be rather important in supporting routes like Krakow, Prague, Berlin and Ryanair's Polish routes

Having looked at your post history and the exotic places you’ve managed to visit already for someone of your vintage I’d hazard a guess and say your family’s financial situation is not representative of your average NCL resident and rather than ‘stereotypes’ of say it’s simply a matter of access to funds and that most people’s access to a holiday fund is somewhat different to yours. Your average north easterner gets one shot at their annual holiday and they need to make sure they like it so who can blame them for wanting to stick with the Costas or PMI? They don’t have a long haul trip later in the year to look forward to not can they just write it off and go away again during the next half term.

Break.
Break.

It seems like PMI/ALC/AGP are the only places served from NCL this year going by the amount of whinging going on. A quick look shows around 50 other destinations available. I did chuckle when someone was calling for a Thai hub link to connect to Asia and Australia etc. Isn’t that what EK are for?

People need to take a look at themselves and realise that NCL actually does quite well for the size and state of the demographic and people need to realise that the lovely middle class destinations de jour may simply not work at NCL.

A reminder that airline/tour operator’s sole responsibility is to generate shareholder return and simply throw darts at a destination dartboard just so to increase the route count of a small regional airport that already punches above its weight.

[Travel Agent]

Extract from TUI press release:

We’ve made some changes to the flying to include more regional airports. The first longhaul flight from Doncaster makes its way to Sanford as of summer ’19 as well as weekly flying introduced to Cancun from Bristol & Glasgow – this means we have more 10/11 night durations than ever before. This will take up to 7 days a week flying from both Manchester and Gatwick to Cancun, plus 3 times a week from Glasgow and Newcastle.

[ash666]

Extract from TUI press release:

We’ve made some changes to the flying to include more regional airports. The first longhaul flight from Doncaster makes its way to Sanford as of summer ’19 as well as weekly flying introduced to Cancun from Bristol & Glasgow – this means we have more 10/11 night durations than ever before. This will take up to 7 days a week flying from both Manchester and Gatwick to Cancun, plus 3 times a week from Glasgow and Newcastle.
---------------

"Cancún, a Mexican city on the Yucatán Peninsula bordering the Caribbean Sea, is known for its beaches, numerous resorts and nightlife. It’s composed of 2 distinct areas: the more traditional downtown area, El Centro, and Zona Hotelera, a long, beachfront strip of high-rise hotels, nightclubs, shops and restaurants. Cancun is also a famed destination for students during universities’ spring break period".

May as well be Benidorm.