Inverness - 2

[mullac30]

Since the last thread was locked, I decided to start off a new one!

[mullac30]

In recent news, Courtyard by Marriott will be opening Inverness' first airport hotel, with construction to start soon!

[mullac30]

Earlier today the airport's official Instagram posted a picture of an Ryanair 737-800 with the caption of "Plane spotting....". Does anyone know if a FR 738 came into INV today?

Perhaps this could be teasing an announcement of FR at INV, the lack of APD would certainly attract them! Then again it could just be a picture from FRs days of flying to EMA a decade ago - but the photo looks far too recent for that, and a reverse image search came up with no results.

Thoughts?
Source

[tartan 201]

Earlier today the airport's official Instagram posted a picture of an Ryanair 737-800 with the caption of "Plane spotting....". Does anyone know if a FR 738 came into INV today?

Perhaps this could be teasing an announcement of FR at INV, the lack of APD would certainly attract them! Then again it could just be a picture from FRs days of flying to EMA a decade ago - but the photo looks far too recent for that, and a reverse image search came up with no results.

Thoughts?
Source (https://www.instagram.com/p/BoB-D2pg9-8/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link)
I understand that an FR FAO>PIK flight diverted to INV on Wednesday of this week due to storm Ali. The post could just be a picture of that aircraft.

[OltonPete]

I understand that an FR FAO>PIK flight diverted to INV on Wednesday of this week due to storm Ali. The post could just be a picture of that aircraft.

Ryanair EI-FRZ FR652 FAO-PIK Wednesday 19/9/18 diverted from PIK to INV landing around 14.35 and departed to PIK around 17.45 per FR24.

Pete

[BAladdy]

BA are increasing the number of flights to LHR from the start of the Summer 2019 schedule (31MAR19). The article states the frequency is increasing to 16 x weekly.

https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2018/11/08/british-airways-to-increase-heathrow-inverness-service/

BA1468 LHR 08:55 INV 10:35 319 7
BA1468 LHR 09:20 INV 11:00 319 6
BA1470 LHR 16:30 INV 18:10 319 x367
BA1470 LHR 17:15 INV 18:55 319 6
BA1470 LHR 17:35 INV 19:15 319 7
BA1470 LHR 18:40 INV 20:20 319 3
BA1466 LHR 20:20 INV 22:00 319 D

BA1467 INV 07:05 LHR 08:35 319 D
BA1469 INV 11:25 LHR 13:00 319 7
BA1469 INV 12:05 LHR 13:40 319 6
BA1471 INV 19:05 LHR 20:35 319 x367
BA1471 INV 19:40 LHR 21:05 319 6
BA1471 INV 20:15 LHR 21:40 319 7
BA1471 INV 21:10 LHR 22:35 319 3

[mullac30]

Wow! Triple daily in the weekends and 16 weekly overall! Was expecting an upgrade but not on this scale! I wonder if BA will bulid a lounge in INV since the operation is quite large now, or will the aspire lounge will suffice? This looks like the announcement that will push INV past 1 million pax in 2019.

[scr1]

KLC are also going to have a night stopper next summer again and 3 on a Saturday to AMS going to be very busy

[LTNman]

I used Inverness twice last month and thought it was a superb clean and tidy airport and was a credit to Scotland.

[mullac30]

I can't believe how short sighted HIAL were when the original terminal was built considering that it will be running at well over double the original design capacity of 400k pax (and has been for the last 2 years in fact). Will there be any more terminal expansions in the next year?

[LGWAlan]

KLC are also going to have a night stopper next summer again and 3 on a Saturday to AMS going to be very busy

1 *KL 922 7 INV AMS 0630 0905 0 07JUL19 07JUL19 E75 1:35
2 *KL 922 X7 INV AMS 0630 0905 0 01JUL19 06JUL19 E90 1:35
3 *KL 922 1 INV AMS 0635 0910 0 08JUL19 08JUL19 E90 1:35
4 KL 924 6 INV AMS 1055 1330 0 06JUL19 06JUL19 73W 1:35
5 *KL 928 X67 INV AMS 1325 1600 0 01JUL19 05JUL19 E75 1:35
6 *KL 926 7 INV AMS 1550 1825 0 07JUL19 01SEP19 E90 1:35
7 *KL 926 16 INV AMS 1715 1950 0 06JUL19 31AUG19 E90 1:35

and
1 KL 923 6 AMS INV 0930 1010 0 06JUL19 31AUG19 73W 1:40
2 *KL 927 X67 AMS INV 1200 1240 0 01APR19 05JUL19 E75 1:40
3 *KL 925 7 AMS INV 1425 1505 0 07JUL19 07JUL19 E90 1:40
4 *KL 925 16 AMS INV 1605 1645 0 06JUL19 31AUG19 E90 1:40
5 *KL 931 6 AMS INV 2135 2215 0 06JUL19 31AUG19 E75 1:40
6 *KL 931 X6 AMS INV 2135 2215 0 01JUL19 01SEP19 E90 1:40

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Well remember when BA ran down the succesful Dan Air INV-LHR service they inherited after Dan Dare built it up from BA’s pre Landor restrucure, when it was dropped around the same time as PIK long haul. BA later bumped it off to Gatters and British Regional on G-GNTZ then G-OINV. This is really useful for connecting the Highlands beyond London and driving inward investment, great news! Who handles BA at INV?

[mullac30]

Well remember when BA ran down the succesful Dan Air INV-LHR service they inherited after Dan Dare built it up from BA’s pre Landor restrucure, when it was dropped around the same time as PIK long haul. BA later bumped it off to Gatters and British Regional on G-GNTZ then G-OINV. This is really useful for connecting the Highlands beyond London and driving inward investment, great news! Who handles BA at INV?
Dalcross Handling, same as everyone at INV I think.

[Asturias56]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-47040581

A hotel is being constructed on a site next to Inverness Airport using modules manufactured at a factory in Poland.

The 130-bedroom Courtyard by Marriott will be the Highlands airport's first hotel. It is being developed at the Inverness Airport Business Park (IABP) by Molo Hotels and will be operated by RBH.
The hotel, which will have meetings and fitness facilities, a bar and bistro, is due to open later this year. Graeme Bell, manager at Inverness Airport, said he believed the hotel would be a "real asset" to the airport and wider region. He added: "Inverness Airport continues to grow and is playing an ever increasing role in improving connectivity in the Highlands."

The modules are being manufactured in the port city of Gdansk.

[SealinkBF]

Thanks for the link! But I see the BBC was six months behind Pilot Prune with the hotel news!

[mullac30]

Thanks for the link! But I see the BBC was six months behind Pilot Prune with the hotel news!
To be fair to them the only reason that I knew that the hotel was being opened by them was because the planning permission had renderings of the building with Marriot logos, it was not actually explicitly mentioned anywhere.

[snowman 1]

what a shame the modules could not be manufactured in the uk.https://www.pprune.org/images/icons/icon8.gif

[snowman 1]

what a shame the modules could not have been made in the uk.

[Asturias56]

Not a hope - the UK just isn't competitive at this sort of thing

Only 10% of the population is in manufacturing these days - maybe less and it only in building Mini's, RR engines and similar that you are competitive

Same over most of Europe and the USA -

[LTNman]

They used the same construction method for the hotel they just opened at Luton Airport. Took around a year to complete. Google Courtyard by Marriott Luton Airport to see what we ended up with.

[MARKEYD]

Fly lolo are operating to Palma in October, 2 flights are scheduled in using Albastar B 738

[LGWAlan]

Believe that one when it lands!

[rog747]

Maybe Lolo has bought some seats in for F/O sales?

INV says -
just announced three new autumn flights from Inverness to Mallorca with tour operator JetsGo.
The return flights will fly direct from the Highland capital to Palma on the Balearic sunshine island on October 12th, 19th and 26th. A selection of flight only and package deals are available.
Package holidays are available now from £399 per person over the October break

[LTNman]

Compared to this part of Scotland Mallorca would seem like a tropical paradise in October but the reality is that Mallorca will be out of season and somewhat on the cool side for us southerners.

[mullac30]

Has anyone heard any news of the new train station since it was awarded planning permission last year?

[FFHKG]

LTN man
Check your facts before suggesting things can be chilly anywhere outside of the South East
.... London high forecast tomorrow 12C, Inverness forecast high tomorrow 12C

[Richard Taylor]

The Highlands often does actually get the warmest temps in summer. I think they hit 30 degs a few times last summer.

[tophat27dt]

Any gossip up there concerning Loganair to operate Inverness to London-Southend ?

[LTNman]

Doubt they could complete with easyjet and their fare structure to LTN and LGW as Loganair is not a low cost airline.

[scr1]

not heard anything

[compton3bravo]

Majorca is not out of season in October LTNman I can assure you. I hav been there in early November and the weather's very pleasant thank you. There are plenty of places to see etc other than sitting on a beach. It is a very beautiful island away from some of the renowned beach resorts.

[rpmac]

I would agree having lived there for several years. October is one of the nicest months and the tourist trade is still going moderately strong. November sees things winding down a bit and the weather generally is still lovely. December though, it does change cold wet on many occasions, even snow!

[Asturias56]

A lot of the tourist trade switches off end October and you can get cold windy rainy days been t October is normally cool for Spain
in but beautiful

[4eyed anorak]

KLM increases Inverness flights from July 2019By Jim LiuPosted 8 April 2019 07:00Share this article

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KLM Royal Dutch Airlines in the second quarter of 2019 is increasing service on Amsterdam – Inverness route, where the airline scheduled 3rd daily rotation from 08JUL19, excluding Saturdays.

The following schedule is effective for the week of 12AUG19 only.

KL923 AMS0930 – 1010INV 73W 6
KL923 AMS1045 – 1125INV 73W x67
KL925 AMS1425 – 1505INV E90 7
KL925 AMS1555 – 1635INV E90 5
KL925 AMS1605 – 1645INV E90 x57
KL931 AMS2135 – 2215INV E90 x6
KL931 AMS2135 – 2215INV E75 6

KL922 INV0625 – 0900AMS E90 x57
KL922 INV0625 – 0900AMS E75 7
KL924 INV1055 – 1330AMS 73W 6
KL924 INV1210 – 1445AMS 73W x67
KL926 INV1550 – 1825AMS E90 7
KL926 INV1715 – 1950AMS E90 x7
Regards 4ea

[virginblue]

Who would have thought...

[Red Four]

The "Glorious Twelfth" I guess.

[mullac30]

Seems like this will be the year where INV breaks the 1 million pax barrier. With the way things are going at ABZ it seems somewhat possible in the long-term future that INV could overtake ABZ in terms of yearly pax.

[BAladdy]

According to news on the routesonline website, Corendon Dutch Airlines on 08APR19 added a weekly scheduled charter service from INV to AMS. The article states that the flights are being operated by a Boeing 737-800

CND4570 AMS0940 – 1010INV 738 1
CND4578 INV1130 – 1400AMS 738 1

https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/283990/corendon-dutch-adds-inverness-service-from-april-2019/

[mullac30]

According to news on the routesonline website, Corendon Dutch Airlines on 08APR19 added a weekly scheduled charter service from INV to AMS. The article states that the flights are being operated by a Boeing 737-800

CND4570 AMS0940 – 1010INV 738 1
CND4578 INV1130 – 1400AMS 738 1

https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/283990/corendon-dutch-adds-inverness-service-from-april-2019/
They have nothing to do with KL, according to their booking system. I wonder why there's a charter when whoever needs it could just book some seats on the existing KL route?

[PDXCWL45]

They have nothing to do with KL, according to their booking system. I wonder why there's a charter when whoever needs it could just book some seats on the existing KL route?
maybe because the tour operators have negotiated a better deal with Corendon. Also KL will want to keep the seats to feed it's AMS hub.

[scr1]

It was just a one of ad-hoc charter a couple of weeks ago

[mullac30]

No, Corredon has already visited INV three times in the last few weeks, including earlier this afternoon in fact. FR24 (https://www.flightradar24.com/data/airports/inv/routes) shows it as scheduled this day next week also.
Routes Online also reports this:
https://www.routesonline.com/news/38/airlineroute/283990/corendon-dutch-adds-inverness-service-from-april-2019/

[scr1]

No it did not if you look at flightradar properly you will see that it says it is unknown.. I was their from 0400 this morning and it did not come in(were I work in ops), same as last week.

[NickBarnes]

Just looking at booking flight with Loganair and I notice that East Midlands has appeared 1x daily except Saturday.

[mullac30]

Saturday is the day they do the Bergen run in the summer so it must be using some of the spare time the ERJ has.


Aircraft seems to be EMA based, operating EMA-INV daily and EMA-BRU twice daily.
https://www.loganair.co.uk/new-routes-east-midlands/

[mullac30]

INV-MAN is to be increased to 4 daily on weekdays from 26/10/2019, with the extra flight being operated as a tag-on from SYY on the Saab 340.

[scr1]

Closed all day Thursday due to ATC strike

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-48348965

[Billyboeing]

From the BBC News website this morning:-

The 'tax haven' status of Inverness Airport has been challenged by rival operators.
Passengers flying to and from the Highland Capital have been exempt from paying APD since 1994.
Scotland wide plans to abolish APD were dropped in May and now Aberdeen Airport is calling for greater
parity with its Inverness rival.
Highland and Islands Airports Ltd said the exemption "must remain in place to protect remote and rural communities"

[VickersVicount]

yeah the fun of that tax break should be over now. Stimulated some demand (?lasting) but not fair on others eg ABZ if they cant commit to removing it at all airports.

[BAladdy]

INV-MAN is to be increased to 4 daily on weekdays from 26/10/2019, with the extra flight being operated as a tag-on from SYY on the Saab 340.
Flights still shown as 3 x Daily on weekdays for Winter schedule.

[Asturias56]

"Highland and Islands Airports Ltd said the exemption "must remain in place to protect remote and rural communities"

Fair enough but surely not tourists and businessmen flying to London???

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Fair enough but surely not tourists and businessmen flying to London?
You are advocating making it more expensive for inbound tourism, so a quick search of visiting Europe, London and elsewhere no longer involves INV as it's a sin against the environment to not take enormous tax off the public. So how many guest houses, hotels, pubs, restaurants, bars and attractions take a hit? What does that do to local employment?
I am baffled at the lack of understanding of just how disconnected a location can become without a reliable and frequent connection into a hub airport. INV gets a LHR connection after years of trying, it becomes a success and the next stage is "how do we undermine this cos it;'s no fair"?
Good Lord people! if you want Chinese tourists to come and spend the money, , if you want genuine inward investment, you have to be properly competitive, something my old homeland just doesn't get at so many levels of public life.

As the oil industry winds down, Aberdeen may become more and more in need of similar treatment, the trick is to help ABZ rather than hammering INV. APD is nothing more than just another tax as the spending power of any large org can become insatiable, private and public alike.

[fjencl]

https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/news/air-traffic-controllers-reject-hial-pay-offer-179799/?fbclid=IwAR0db3-zwRC4Sjmb36EVVTK5uqTFVsr-FBeBa7LHwgQ_Zpg7fyqDeNpVmk4

[Asturias56]

Is there any independent research on the affects of APD?

And if you think it's an onerous tax some of the greens are starting to talk about taxing aviation fuel at the same rates as vehicle fuel.....................

[inOban]

But that would replace APD. There is an international treaty which makes both aviation fuel and commercial marine fuel tax free, which is a subsidy to international as opposed to domestic trade.

[BAladdy]

BA once again planning to operate 16 x weekly for S20. Schedule slightly different to last year with BA1470/BA1471 retimed to offer better connection opportunities.

BA1468 LHR 08:55 INV 10:35 319 67 (tel:35 319 67)
BA1470 LHR 13:20 INV 15:00 319 x45
BA1470 LHR 13:25 INV 15:05 319 45 (tel:05 319 45)
BA1466 LHR 18:50 INV 20:30 319 x67
BA1466 LHR 19:15 INV 20:55 319 67 (tel:55 319 67)

BA1467 INV 07:00 LHR 08:35 319 D
BA1469 INV 11:15 LHR 12:50 319 6
BA1469 INV 11:20 LHR 12:55 319 7
BA1471 INV 15:55 LHR 17:15 319 D

[fjencl]

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/coronavirus-scotland-highlands-islands-airports-21757629

[fjencl]

BA halts Inverness-Heathrow flights

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-54871936

[Speedbird148]

Anyone know the story behind the Qatar A320 parked at INV?

[tartan 201]

In addition to that, there's been two Qatar Amiri flights in to Edinburgh in the last few days (A340 and A330). All three movements could be related to this: https://www.arabianbusiness.com/qatari-royal-family-said-have-bought-10m-scottish-estate-618419.html

[ELondonPax]

"Anyone know the story behind the Qatar A320 parked at INV"
They're no stranger to INV, seen every year The Qatari royals own a sporting estate at Inverinate near Kyle of Lochalsh, for which INV is the nearest airport. As noted above, they are believed to own other estates in the Highlands too.

[jaml]

Not quite, its Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the ruler of UAE, that owns the Inverinate Estate (one of the largest in Scotland). The Qatari's do own a mansion on the private island of Eilean Aigas just west of Inverness which maybe explains the Qatar plane being in INV. When the Sheikh is in town it is usually pretty obvious due to a pristine G5 and a couple of Dubai 737's parked on the north apron (for his support staff). Given the political tensions between Qatar and UAE I doubt there is much interaction between the two families, even when in Scotland.