Newcastle-10

[Asturias56]

TK would surely eat significantly into EK transfer numbers (and maybe further erode BA) Can’t see it generating huge amounts extra new inbound or point to point.
Does TK offer relevant new eastbound transfer destinations for an NCL travelling public… Kabul, Tehran anyone?

A lot of people are going to Istanbul for short breaks these days

Plus from a business point of view - they link into all sorts of places you can't easily get to from the main UK and European airports

[davidjohnson6]

TK would surely eat significantly into EK transfer numbers (and maybe further erode BA) Can’t see it generating huge amounts extra new inbound or point to point.
Does TK offer relevant new eastbound transfer destinations for an NCL travelling public… Kabul, Tehran anyone?
People from Afghanistan and Iran living in the UK are more numous than one might initially guess. They tend to keep a low profile because their countries are not popular amongst many born in the UK... but they also want to travel to see family
Similiar story for many other groups of people born in or with strong ties to other countries in Asia and Africa... again keep a low profile but they most definitely exist in the UK

[Jamesair1]

I can't imagine many Afghans wanting to visit their relatives....they might never get out again. Iranians do visit relatives back home. Istanbul is a popular tourist destination itself (also with cruises starting and ending there)..there are also many Turks living in the UK who would use the service to visit relatives back home.

[Asturias56]

I know some people who use Turkish for flights into the Sub-continent on business - they say it s a much pleasanter experience than going direct or via the Gulf

[Jamesair1]

TURKISH AIRLINES......NCL is now in the booking engine but no start date available yet.

[GAXLN]

But then so is BRS and GLA

[Jamesair1]

Does anyone know if the new Flybe flights are attracting many pax?

[VickersVicount]

IIstanbul is a popular tourist destination itself (also with cruises starting and ending there)..there are also many Turks living in the UK who would use the service to visit relatives back home.
Enough to fill a daily year round 738 and have zero impact on EK?

[SWBKCB]

Enough to fill a daily year round 738 and have zero impact on EK?

Why just EK, they would be competing with BA, KL, LH and AF as well. And this is exactly the same arguement when EK came in, how they would undermine the other hub operators. They are all big boys, sure they can stand a bit of competititon

[GrahamK]

A lot of negativity from the usual suspects.

[SWBKCB]

A lot of negativity from the usual suspects.

Yes - not bad going for a route that hasn't even been announced yet... :ok:

[Jamesair1]

I'm sure Turkish will consider all of these points before they make a final decision. I did read that NCL was on their priority list of points to be served.

[HH6702]

TURKISH AIRLINES......NCL is now in the booking engine but no start date available yet.


it’s been there for months now

[tigertanaka]

I would be staggered if this turned out to be true but The Northern Echo are suggesting that Saudair could be launching from Newcastle...

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23120543.speculation-saudia-airlines-announce-newcastle-airport-flights/

[SWBKCB]

Shirt sponsorship more likely. The Echo should stick to cutting and pasting press releases.

If launched, the flight would be the first new major long-haul route from Newcastle since Emirates (https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/topics/emirates-airline/) started flying to Dubai in 2007.

Presumably United was a minor long-haul route?

[highwideandugly]

Think they diverted to Teesside on way in…good start!

[LiamNCL]

FLY SAUDIA all around electronic boards at various points of the Newcastle Chelsea game this evening so just a sponsorship promotion.
https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x1111/20221112_201838_9a959a6ec96dbe03d46e2c05589fd69dafb3d009.jpg

[HH6702]

makes you think are we about to get some flights.
not many people will travel to Manchester or London just to fly Saudi when we have daily Emirates flights.

think we could see 3x weekly flights maybe ?
A321’s

[jensdad]

makes you think are we about to get some flights.
not many people will travel to Manchester or London just to fly Saudi when we have daily Emirates flights.

think we could see 3x weekly flights maybe ?
A321’s
I'd be amazed (and a bit embarrassed as a Geordie to see the way Tyneside is sucking up to the Saudis, but that's for Jet Blast). The match was on national and international TV - the Saudia ads aren't there for the folks in the Leazes End.

[ATNotts]

The idea that Saudia would decide to offer scheduled service to NCL ahead of EDI or GLA is almost laughable, but it would be a real coup were it to come to pass.

[LiamNCL]

The idea that Saudia would decide to offer scheduled service to NCL ahead of EDI or GLA is almost laughable, but it would be a real coup were it to come to pass.

Not when NUFC will essentially the biggest supported football club in Saudi Arabia if the demand from Saudi to visit Newcastle is there then it will be well before GLA and EDI.

I personally think this is just a partnership of the club and wont result in any scheduled services but like i say the bigger and more successful the club becomes there will be demand from Saudi Arabia's end.

[ATNotts]

Not when NUFC will essentially the biggest supported football club in Saudi Arabia if the demand from Saudi to visit Newcastle is there then it will be well before GLA and EDI.

I personally think this is just a partnership of the club and wont result in any scheduled services but like i say the bigger and more successful the club becomes there will be demand from Saudi Arabia's end.
It would take more than a few well healed footie fans to make a viable scheduled service, especially when on a small scale map Newcastle looks to be just up the road from Manchester.

[Asturias56]

Well Liverpool are a major Garuda link - I've even flown on a Red's badged Airbus from Bali to Jakarta - but they don't turn up at John Lennon.

It's making the Football Club a world name and associating THAT with Saudia - nothing to do with Woolsington.

[SWBKCB]

Does anyone know if the new Flybe flights are attracting many pax?

First Sunday flight cancelled....

And just to round off the Saudi footie fans meanderings, Turkish Airlines flies to seven destinations in Saudi Arabia...

[Jamesair1]

Maybe any Saudi demand for travel to NCL could be met via Turkish Airlines (Istanbul) should that service be launched.
Previous poster just beat me to it.!!!

[Wallsendmag]

I'd be amazed (and a bit embarrassed as a Geordie to see the way Tyneside is sucking up to the Saudis, but that's for Jet Blast). The match was on national and international TV - the Saudia ads aren't there for the folks in the Leazes End.
Don't be so sue , I spotted it from the Leazes end.

[HH6702]

A Friday and Sunday flight would work quite well I think

[GrahamK]

A Friday and Sunday flight would work quite well I thinkNo it wouldn't.

[ATNotts]

I would be staggered if this turned out to be true but The Northern Echo are suggesting that Saudair could be launching from Newcastle...

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23120543.speculation-saudia-airlines-announce-newcastle-airport-flights/

How a story in a local paper with photo aside the by-line suggesting the "journalist" is very young and inexperienced and has simply put "two and two together" and made a number somewhat different from four. The story will have got "The Chronicle" a few extra clicks, but has also managed to gain traction through this supposedly better informed thread.

As #GrahamK suggests there is no reason to assume that a Fri/Sun twice weekly service from JED, RUH or anywhere else in the Kingdom is going to be viable, there simply won't be enough Saudi season ticket holders for NUFC fans with the money or inclination to travel, and without wishing to stereotype Newcastle as a city, there aren't going to be that many Saudi young men and women likely to visiting the city on a weekend break for a bender!!

This story needs putting to bed!

[nighthawk117]

Nothing is impossible when an airline is state owned.

First of all, lets not forget that Saudi also offer onward connections, so it's not just the NCL-Saudi market at stake here. A nice cheaper alternative to Emirates. Saudi Arabia are making a big push at the moment to open up to tourism, and expanding the airline for connections is a part of that. Secondly, lets not underestimate the wealth of the average Saudi Arabian. There are more than enough wealthy Saudis to fill a Fri/Sun rotation to come and watch Newcastle play - especially on an A319/A320 if the latter has the range to do so.

Although it might just be a new promo as part of the Manchester route to advertise how close it is to Newcastle and boost sales on that route.

Like everything else, we'll just need to wait and see.

[HH6702]

how many Saudi’s are living in the north east.

the airline does have A321XR’s on order.

I must admit I don’t think it will happen but never say never.

15 years ago we said the same about EK and look where they are now!

[Asturias56]

"nd without wishing to stereotype Newcastle as a city, there aren't going to be that many Saudi young men and women likely to visiting the city on a weekend break for a bender!!"

whilst many Saudis are very religious an awful lot of them like hitting the flesh pots - all those bars and casinos in London, Paris, S Spain etc

They aren't well liked in the Mid East as they are seen as hypocrites who lecture every one else then disappear to Cairo, Beirut or wherever for a good time away from home, Most Saudi young men would think they'd died and gone to heaven in the Bigg Market at the weekend

[SWBKCB]

Jet Blast awaits...

[Jamesair1]

TUI....SUMMER 23.
Latest changes noted to the timetable:
FARO cancelled
GIRONA cancelled
ANTALYA increased from 3 to 4 weekly
BOURGAS falls from 3 to 2 weekly
LARNACA falls from 3 to 2 weekly

[LiamNCL]

TUI....SUMMER 23.
Latest changes noted to the timetable:
FARO cancelled
GIRONA cancelled
ANTALYA increased from 3 to 4 weekly
BOURGAS falls from 3 to 2 weekly
LARNACA falls from 3 to 2 weekly

Larnaca was only 2x weekly this year

[Harold77]

how many Saudi’s are living in the north east.

The real question to ask is how many Saudi investments there are in the North East. Quite a bit.

[highwideandugly]

Saudi investments? Apart from the football team, I’m struggling to find any?

The thing is..no one knows.

Dubai is the prime place for connectivity.Doha trying to compete..and Saudi Arabia a late new comer.
Money is no object to any of these guys…so watch this space!

Oh..and don’t forget Turkyie !



Me thinks it’s all just a promotional, sponsorship thing..which of course..in itself is a pretty big deal!

[mmeteesside]

Saudi investments? Apart from the football team, I’m struggling to find any?

The thing is..no one knows.

Dubai is the prime place for connectivity.Doha trying to compete..and Saudi Arabia a late new comer.
Money is no object to any of these guys…so watch this space!

Oh..and don’t forget Turkyie !



Me thinks it’s all just a promotional, sponsorship thing..which of course..in itself is a pretty big deal!

SABiC have quite a few plants in the North East…

[jensdad]

Don't be so sue , I spotted it from the Leazes end.
I'm sure you did, but they aren't paying the amount of money they're paying just to reach the people in the stadium. There'll have been at least as many Chelsea fans watching as there were Saudi United fans.

[UnderASouthernSky]

I'm sure you did, but they aren't paying the amount of money they're paying just to reach the people in the stadium. There'll have been at least as many Chelsea fans watching as there were Saudi United fans.

Pretty sure I've seen it demonstrated previously that PL matches have different adverts shown on the pitchside boards, depending on where the game is being watched worldwide. So the NCL-CHE game might have Saudia showing on the boards in the stadium and in some territories, but other global audiences might see another logo projected onto the boards instead, depending on what the sponsors request and agree on.

[HH6702]

TUI....SUMMER 23.
Latest changes noted to the timetable:
FARO cancelled
GIRONA cancelled
ANTALYA increased from 3 to 4 weekly
BOURGAS falls from 3 to 2 weekly
LARNACA falls from 3 to 2 weekly

some big changes there.
hopefully might see some increases yet or something new

see Ryanair are still to put Faro and Girona on sale for summer 2023

maybe they are increasing flights and tui decided not to go head to head.

[Jamesair1]

Other Ryanair flights still not showing on the Summer 23 schedule are....Chania, Cork, Paphos and Zadar

[JKKne]

some big changes there.
hopefully might see some increases yet or something new

see Ryanair are still to put Faro and Girona on sale for summer 2023

maybe they are increasing flights and tui decided not to go head to head.

Ive a brother in Girona and used TUI a lot and the flight was barely three quarters full. Think them and jet2 was too much for a low demand resort area

[Beatts]

Newcastle United has partnered with Saudi Arabia's national carrier, SAUDIA, as the club prepares for a warm weather training camp in Riyadh this December.

The team will travel to and from Riyadh on board a SAUDIA chartered flight as part of the partnership

[Jamesair1]

EASTERN AIRWAYS

ABERDEEN Summer 23 timetable shows an increase in flights...2 daily Mon - Thurs, 1 Fri and Sun.....no flights on Saturday

[Jamesair1]

LOGANAIR

SUMMER 23 timetable shows

SOUTHAMPTON....13 WKLY
STAVANGER...........6 WKLY
EXETER..................5 WKLY
BERGEN................2 WKLY
NEWQUAY..............2 WKLY

[AircraftOperations]

Newcastle United has partnered with Saudi Arabia's national carrier, SAUDIA, as the club prepares for a warm weather training camp in Riyadh this December.

The team will travel to and from Riyadh on board a SAUDIA chartered flight as part of the partnership

How will Geordies get on with a dry airline???

[willy wombat]

And a dry country!

[Sotonsean]

And a dry country!

Things are slowly but gradually changing in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia is planning to break with it's total ban on alcohol by offering alcoholic drinks at a new resort to open in 2023. The resort will serve wine, cocktails and champagne but no beer.

​​​​​​It would mark the first time that alcohol is permitted for sale in the Islamic kingdom.

The resort is located on the island of Sindalah and is part of the Red Sea megacity Neom.

This mega project is a bid by Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman to diversify the Gulf state's oil-dependent economy.

Search online for Neom and you will also see that a huge airport has recently been built on the island of Sindalah to serve the resort.

But in typing that, it in no way implies that there will be a connection from NCL to Saudi Arabia which I think that most agree is a complete pipe dream. Plus with no beer available for sale at the resort it will obviously have no interest to your average Geordie.

​​​​​​

​​​​​

[SWBKCB]

Time to get a grip - this is a sponsorship arrangement where Saudia are flying NUFC on a mid season training trip.

[Jamesair1]

As they did last year.

[Jamesair1]

RYANAIR have now loaded CHANIA into the system at 1 weekly for Summer 23 from 24th April, ZADAR 1 weekly from 7th June. FARO 1 weekly from 7th June

[JonnyH]

Flybe cancelled today. Poor loads like other airports?

[Diff Tail Shim]

Flybe cancelled today. Poor loads like other airports?
Only one regional is working.

[NorthEasterner]

Flybe cancelled today. Poor loads like other airports?

Healthy loads on LHR to what I’ve heard… consistently 30-50 pax.

[Diff Tail Shim]

Healthy loads on LHR to what I’ve heard… consistently 30-50 pax.
WHen I am on duty next week, I.can count the loads accurately on a day to day bases for the week. I will be accurate as I do see the Dash.

[ash666]

Healthy loads on LHR to what I’ve heard… consistently 30-50 pax.

But if I want to buy a single economy ticket for tomorrow they still charge £404.

[SWBKCB]

But if I want to buy a single economy ticket for tomorrow they still charge £404.

Flybe don't operate to LHR from NCL on Saturday. It's £57-99 for this afternoons flight.

The £404 single for tomorrow (Saturday) is on British Airways.

[Asturias56]

" don't know why anyone uses them at those prices, unless it is all businessmen on expenses."

Exactly

[ash666]

" don't know why anyone uses them at those prices, unless it is all businessmen on expenses."

Exactly

So we have the choice of a silly priced airline or an unreliable one to get to our capital city.

[Asturias56]

Most people use the train - its faster centre to centre and a lot less standing inline

[ash666]

Me as well.
I'm off long haul next week.
I live a 20 minute drive from NCL.
I'm flying from Heathrow.....

[SWBKCB]

So we have the choice of a silly priced airline or an unreliable one to get to our capital city.

Silly price is for short notice. And if you want to get a train to London from Newcastle this Saturday there are more flights with seats than trains. No trains with seats between 06.00 and 11.58.

Most people use the train - its faster centre to centre and a lot less standing inline

​​​​​​​and potentially a lot more standing on the train...

[ash666]

Silly price is for short notice. And if you want to get a train to London from Newcastle this Saturday there are more flights with seats than trains. No trains with seats between 06.00 and 11.58.



and potentially a lot more standing on the train...
​​​​​​​I've never seen that.

[Asturias56]

On the train I don't have to stand around, go through security, stand around, board, arrive and then stand around waiting for luggage etc teh seats are better and you can upgrade to First using SEAT FROG for as little as £10 somedays

LHR-EDi is just about equal, LHR-ABZ definitely favours the plane but within England unless you are connecting at LHR the train wins every time IMHO

[SWBKCB]

On the train I don't have to stand around, go through security, stand around, board, arrive and then stand around waiting for luggage etc teh seats are better and you can upgrade to First using SEAT FROG for as little as £10 somedays

And some days you're standing for half the journey, there's nowwhere to but your luggage, and your seat is covered in...

[highwideandugly]

Checked in on line…30 mins to airport..arrived airport 45 mins before departure.Dropped off (£4)
No issues at all through security..
Left on time arrived Heathrow 10 mins early! 45 mins flying time..
Connected on schedule for a long haul..

Total time from leaving home to arrive at connecting departing gate was..just under 2.25. (1 hour delay on departing flight sadly 🙁)

Ok I was lucky? But still..if you are connecting..through terminal 5 ..no real complaints.
Plus I realise the costs..but an interline ticket..no brainier really!

[highwideandugly]

Tried to edit that strange total time line..no idea what it means!


Flying onward..no comparison..and you do get a seat!

[ash666]

Sometimes it's not the fault of NCL for losing passengers.
I'm flying from LHR as I've had it with connections.
With my last 3 trips, 2 of them involved running as fast as possible through connecting airports and hoping there were no bolshy staff at the x-rays which are becoming more and more common to catch a connection, and the 3rd, at AMS, had a cancelled flight due to weather so can't complain about that, but the KLM staff at AMS said I would have to wait 9 hours for the next flight as the midday flight was fully booked.
When I complained and made a fuss a seat miraculously appeared. No-one like being lied to.
So now 1 long flight which can be as late as it wants with no problems attached.

[highwideandugly]

A lot(most) airlines will hold or delay departures if a number of passengers(baggage) are delayed due to late connecting?

British Rail..doesn’t do that? 🤪

[ash666]

A lot(most) airlines will hold or delay departures if a number of passengers(baggage) are delayed due to late connecting?

British Rail..doesn’t do that? 🤪

No real need when the next train will be 30 minutes later and nothing to pay if it's a late connection.

[BA318]

Healthy loads on LHR to what I’ve heard… consistently 30-50 pax.

If this is true Flybe will paying a lot in compensation given they’ve cancelled quite a few of the flights from NCL now just a week in.

[highwideandugly]

ash….true…if not on on strike..maybe you should start a non airport/airline positive thread ?…bit like Timmy at Doncaster😀!

Newcastle to Heathrow..at least double time required humping bags…good luck to that!

[ash666]

Worth it for reliability.

[Harold77]

Silly price is for short notice. And if you want to get a train to London from Newcastle this Saturday there are more flights with seats than trains. No trains with seats between 06.00 and 11.58.

It works out at about two thirds of the train can be reserved, a third of the train left unreserved for walk ups. Over the last few years this might have changed towards four fifths. So still seats available but on a first come first served basis.

[jensdad]

So we have the choice of a silly priced airline or an unreliable one to get to our capital city.
Can we at least try and keep things in proportion?
If you roll up the day before a flight to almost anywhere, you are going to be paying well above the fare most punters pay. I flew to Hamburg and back last May with BA. Four sectors for £153 return I think it was.
Having said that, point taken on flybe. They aren't covering themselves in glory.

[ash666]

I have never understood that pricing structure. Do people actually buy those £400 tickets?
I would have thought selling off any remaining seats as cheaply as possible would be better. Better to get something than nothing.

[JonnyH]

I have never understood that pricing structure. Do people actually buy those £400 tickets?
I would have thought selling off any remaining seats as cheaply as possible would be better. Better to get something than nothing.

Airlines have various “booking classes” and as more seats sell and the lower fare classes sell out, prices increase. This is all part of their business model and it does work. If the flight is half full, they might release lower fares in lower booking classes to attract further bookings. But if the flight is almost full, with 6 seats for example, then why would they do this? If they had 6 seats left at £400 a pop they’d only have to sell 1 to make as much money as 4 seats at £100. And it’s highly likely, someone will need a seat at short notice especially on routes like BA where business travellers are frequently using the route.

The above model isn’t a one size fits all as low cost carriers and leisure carriers don’t always adopt the same approach. Use Jet2 for example in peak periods, such as the school holidays, and their prices will usually start pretty high and then 6 weeks before they’ll progressively lower the fares for any seats available. In leisure and low cost carriers markets, you’re far more likely to book in advance and the need for a last minute trip is less likely meaning the fares would probably go unsold so better to attract a small
minority into a late deal.

Sorry anyways, I didn’t intend for it to be or sound like a lecture! But the top and bottom of it is that different strategies both work and it’s dependent on the market and type of carriers.

[ash666]

Thanks for that JonnyH, appreciated.

[Asturias56]

Yeah - when the Boss says you have to be in X tomorrow then cost cutting goes out the window. I can remember a case where we flew a member of staff to Amsterdam with a paper hole punch one evening - some weird US/Canadian folders HAD to be submitted at 08:30 next morning and the risks of not finding the right punch at that time in Amsterdam was just too risky - they then spent half the night stuffing papers into folders but it was an 8 figure contract .............. just got them on the last flight

[Wallsendmag]

A lot(most) airlines will hold or delay departures if a number of passengers(baggage) are delayed due to late connecting?

British Rail..doesn’t do that? 🤪
British Rail haven't done much at all since 1996

[Wallsendmag]

It works out at about two thirds of the train can be reserved, a third of the train left unreserved for walk ups. Over the last few years this might have changed towards four fifths. So still seats available but on a first come first served basis.
That's not even close to the truth, half of coach C is unreserved which equates to about 35-40 seats

[Asturias56]

but a lot of seats marked as "reserved" aren't filled on some departures - probably people with flexible tickets changing the minds - so you an sit in them until someone asks you to move

[ash666]

I was told, pre-covid, from someone working in the buffet coach that the coach next to it could not be booked.
No idea if that is still the case but it would be useful to know.

But we are getting away from NCL.

[SWBKCB]

but a lot of seats marked as "reserved" aren't filled on some departures - probably people with flexible tickets changing the minds - so you an sit in them until someone asks you to move

or you end up standing for 2 hours - either way, lovely way to travel.

[Wallsendmag]

I was told, pre-covid, from someone working in the buffet coach that the coach next to it could not be booked.
No idea if that is still the case but it would be useful to know.

But we are getting away from NCL.
That was true with the MkIV stock but not the Azumas, I work very closely with our reservations team ;-)

[ash666]

That was true with the MkIV stock but not the Azumas, I work very closely with our reservations team ;-)
Thanks.

Please get them to give us useable wifi!

[Wallsendmag]

Thanks.

Please get them to give us useable wifi!
If only.

[JonnyH]

Another day another Flybe cancellation.

[ash666]

Another day another Flybe cancellation.

Does the airport itself have any clout in this respect?
ie, "You are giving us a bad reputation, either run your flights or stop them completely".

[BA318]

Another day another Flybe cancellation.

It's working out at a 23% cancellation rate on the NCL-LHR route so far.

[happydolphins]

Iberia Express don't even fly out of BCN so would consider that unlikely. Most likely one for Ryanair I'd say.

[SWBKCB]

Iberia Express don't even fly out of BCN so would consider that unlikely. Most likely one for Ryanair I'd say.

Ryanair currently operate NCL-BCN

[N123JB]

It's working out at a 23% cancellation rate on the NCL-LHR route so far.

Keep an eye on what happens with tomorrow’s flight, from what I’ve heard the outbound leg will be near empty. Todays isn’t much better either.

[JonnyH]

Keep an eye on what happens with tomorrow’s flight, from what I’ve heard the outbound leg will be near empty. Todays isn’t much better either.

You can usually tell by their fares as they sell from low to high and don’t usually reduce them.

Today’s probably isn’t that bad without being anywhere near full but tomorrow looks completely empty on the outbound.

However, judging by the price of the inbounds for today and tomorrow (£171.99) and the seat map, it’s pretty full.

[Diff Tail Shim]

Keep an eye on what happens with tomorrow’s flight, from what I’ve heard the outbound leg will be near empty. Todays isn’t much better either.
You are correct on today.

[HH6702]

Athens to start in June with A3 2x weekly

thanks to Sean1997 on twitter

[CabinCrewe]

Athens to start in June with A3 2x weekly
Interesting. Slightly leftfield. Wonder how well it will do… 0500 arrival… nice

[HH6702]

Interesting. Slightly leftfield. Wonder how well it will do… 0500 arrival… nice

Athens was last served around 20 years ago with Kosmar Holidays and Excel Airways
times were the same then and it did ok

[SWBKCB]

Think Aegean have done similar timings when they've started at EDI and MAN. Is getting the early morning ferries to the islands still a thing??

[davidjohnson6]

Think Aegean have done similar timings when they've started at EDI and MAN. Is getting the early morning ferries to the islands still a thing??
I would be thinking more about getting the early morning flights to the islands, rather than the ferry. Aegean/Olympic and SkyExpress have a large wave to the islands departing ATH about 7 am or 8 am
Worth noting that Aegean have a flight departing Heathrow at 22:15, arriving Athens 03:50 - it departs daily, even in January and February.

[inOban]

In the summer their edi service arrives in edinburgh in the late evening and flies back overnight - it's the last scheduled departure.

[Diff Tail Shim]

You can usually tell by their fares as they sell from low to high and don’t usually reduce them.

Today’s probably isn’t that bad without being anywhere near full but tomorrow looks completely empty on the outbound.

However, judging by the price of the inbounds for today and tomorrow (£171.99) and the seat map, it’s pretty full.
5 people got off the LHR to NCL today.

[OltonPete]

I would be thinking more about getting the early morning flights to the islands, rather than the ferry. Aegean/Olympic and SkyExpress have a large wave to the islands departing ATH about 7 am or 8 am
Worth noting that Aegean have a flight departing Heathrow at 22:15, arriving Athens 03:50 - it departs daily, even in January and February.

I certainly used the BHX service when it operated with onward connection early morning to Rhodes. Lets say I won't be doing it again after getting a a right ear-bashing from the rest of the family as the outbound was just horrible. Departed BHX around 22:45 and arrived around 4am local time and I fell into the trap of going for the cheapest option to save around £250 and opted for the 7.30am connection rather than 6am one and what a mistake. Everything was closed until 6am yet some flights were departing at that time and there were hardly any seats with loads of people lying on the floor. This was then followed by a connection onto a Dash 8 :eek:.

Even the return didn't work out as I opted for the 10am departure from Rhodes to give us time to nip into Athens on the way back before the return to BHX but two of the party were unwell and all decided to abandon the trip leaving around 7 hours airside but we did get a break as non-schengen we were in a quiet spacious part of departures and it was actually quite calming and the better half was able to lay across three seats to rest her back that had gone that morning.

Hopefully the arrivals aspect has improved for those early morning departures from Athens.

This time around Aegean have given BHX a mid-morning departure which is lovely outbound but an early start coming home if you are on one of the islands.

Pete

[VLCfkight]

Aegian operated Valencia to Athens 2/3 times per week this summer with a 02.00 departure from VLC, to connect with the onward lights to the Islands I assume.

[RA85684]

Aegean is great news, just need Turkish to get their flights on sale now and that’s a decent chunk of market sewn up!

Based on the rumours I’d expect to see a x4/5 weekly NCL-IST A32x/737 announcement to commence between March-October 2023. Fingers crossed.

Aegean flight times are actually decent for connections, holidays and short city breaks. The fares are also bloody good. 55EUR each way, you’d only get better with Ryanair. Connections available as well, timed great for them and pretty standard for the market. Late out of the UK, early into ATH is normal.


As for Flybe, flew NCL-LHR 21/11. 22 pax onboard. Not bad all things considered.
Departed bang on time, landed early, aircraft have had a spit and polish legroom and onboard service better than BA I felt. Tea, coffee, juice, water and biscuits or savoury snacks. Lovely friendly crew. Paid £58 for the mid-range fare, was £39.99 for the cheapo.

Would I fly them again - yes probably. Would I trust them to get me there if my schedule was tight - probably not.

BA will continue getting my regular business until at least the end of W22/23 in March. Come S23 let’s see if Flybe pull a bit of credibility out of the bag (and see if the route survives). If so, I’ll book again and not just for the novelty factor.

For the people - I hope they don’t Cock up this time. But I won’t hold my breath

[Asturias56]

" Late out of the UK, early into ATH is normal"

I have never seen a 22:25 departure and an 03:15 arrival as anything other than hell on earth - and what a way to start a holiday! I'd need a separate holiday to get over it

[ash666]

" Late out of the UK, early into ATH is normal"

I have never seen a 22:25 departure and an 03:15 arrival as anything other than hell on earth - and what a way to start a holiday! I'd need a separate holiday to get over it

I am with you there, especially if you are staying in a hotel with a 3pm check-in.

[SWBKCB]

I am with you there, especially if you are staying in a hotel with a 3pm check-in.

Hopefully the route isn't dependent on your patronage for its success. As has been mentioned above, that doesn't seem to be the market they are aiming at. This is a strategy that Aegean have employed successfully at other UK airports, so hopefully it will be a success.

There's also a reply to the airports post on FB that there had been extensive campaigning from the local Greek community for an ATH route.

[Jamesair1]

At least AEGEAN are giving plenty of time for prospective passengers to find out about the route (start date 16th June 23) unlike our friends at FLYBE who gave would-be travellers 1 weeks notice of the commencement of service.

RYANAIR have now published timings and days of operation on the Paphos route for summer 23, leaving CORK as the only route with no dates or timings after Mar 23.

[N707ZS]

Any chance of anymore none bucket and spade routes from Ryanair like Riga.

[sunshine79]

Back around 1997/98 there was a flight on a Friday night/Saturday morning at 0130 ish to Athens, with a majority of pax going to Aegina and other islands with tour operators such as Goldensun and Kosmar. I believe the flight was always very busy and popular. The A3 flight times are great for onwards connections to a whole heap of flights and ferries. It also means you would get to your final destination in the morning and not paying for a whole day of accommodation, getting there late evening, which seems to be the case with a majority of Greek flights from NCL.

[Asturias56]

Interesting - The Tyneside Greek Community FaceBook page has 1000 members - I can't see that making much of a difference to economics

[Asturias56]

"unlike our friends at FLYBE who gave would-be travellers 1 weeks notice of the commencement of service."

and probably they cancelled it 24 hours before departure :(

[SWBKCB]

Interesting - The Tyneside Greek Community FaceBook page has 1000 members - I can't see that making much of a difference to economics

Ah, these youngsters - if it's not on social media, it doesn't exist! :ok:

[N707ZS]

Athens has some good prices but only runs for a short summer season. Could do with earlier start and run over to October.

[JonnyH]

Boring and repetitive again, I know, but hearing that the BE flights today will again be cancelled although not confirmed.

Seriously, what is the point? They’ve lost all credibility now and might as well pull the route.

[SWBKCB]

Boring and repetitive again, I know, but hearing that the BE flights today will again be cancelled although not confirmed.

Seriously, what is the point? They’ve lost all credibility now and might as well pull the route.

Yes - showing on the airport website as cancelled. Four out of the last eight LHR cancelled

[inOban]

These routes grow. AIR the Aegean Edinburgh service used to be twice-weekly summer only, it's now AYR and will be thrice weekly next summer.

[BA318]

Another day with all Flybe NCL flights cancelled. It’s operating with about a 25% cancel rate now.

[milhouse999]

Anyone know why the Emirates declared an emergency on approach today?
https://aviationsourcenews.com/airline/emirates-boeing-777-declares-emergency-inbound-for-newcastle/

[SWBKCB]

Anyone know why the Emirates declared an emergency on approach today?
https://aviationsourcenews.com/airline/emirates-boeing-777-declares-emergency-inbound-for-newcastle/

Sick passenger

[BA318]

Yes - showing on the airport website as cancelled. Four out of the last eight LHR cancelled

And again today BHD-NCL-LHR-NCL-BHD all cancelled…

[jensdad]

And again today BHD-NCL-LHR-NCL-BHD all cancelled…

Abysmal, embarrassing. Very, very sad. I'm running out of adjectives...

[Jamesair1]

Flybe NCL - LHR - NCL reported elsewhere as having 21 total Pax, whereas NCL- BHD - NCL carried 120 Pax yesterday.

[GrahamK]

Couple of interesting movements.
First visit of a 767-400 late last night with the Bahrain Royal Flight A9C-HMH operating in from STN and out to Bahrain.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Saudi 787-9 HZ-ARD currently inbound to pick up the Newcastle team​​​​​​​

[N707ZS]

Presume the first one has come peasant shooting.

[Richard Taylor]

Presume the first one has come peasant shooting.
Some might say the Geordie peasants might need shooting... :oh:

[Jamesair1]

Any thoughts on why CORK is the only route with Ryanair that is not showing days of operation beyond March 23

[GrahamK]

Any thoughts on why CORK is the only route with Ryanair that is not showing days of operation beyond March 23Winter only route perhaps?

[GrahamK]

Couple of Ryanair changes for s23, Menorca no longer on sale but Alicante increased to 9 x weekly with double flights on Mondays and Thursdays. Would expect further changes

[Jamesair1]

More Ryanair change for S23...DUBLIN increased to 15 weekly with 3 daily flights on Wednesdays and FARO cut from 4 to 3 weekly

[AVGEEK7812]

More Ryanair change for S23...DUBLIN increased to 15 weekly with 3 daily flights on Wednesdays and FARO cut from 4 to 3 weekly

Apologies if mentioned before NCL also looks be getting a based 8200 MAX as well. The early Tues morning SNN flight is operated by a NCL based 8200

[RA85684]

Quite surprised at the reduction to FAO but perhaps 4 weekly was just a little too much and pushing the price point down a little too far. I'm still surprised not to see more to Malaga. Personally would rather sh*t in my hands and clap than suffer Benidorm but Alicante keeps paying the bills for all 3 of our major operators so... Whatever gets the punters through the door I suppose.

Very odd that Wednesday gets 3 flights to DUB. Sounds a bit random and slot sitter-y to me, rather than commercially driven. Monday, Friday or Sunday I would have understood. Still, a flight is a flight.

Menorca seemed to do rather poorly for FR this summer so it isn't a surprise it's been pulled although slightly disappointing. I'd have thought they'd just reduce to x2 weekly and push the prices a little to see if that drove better yields. They know what they're doing.

As for Cork, I do hope to see it come back along with Shannon for S23. It would be nice to have and maintain 5 irish destinations available from NCL.

Now then... Madrid? Budapest? Berlin? Venice? Brussels? Hamburg?

[Jamesair1]

Shannon is at 3 weekly for summer 23...in fact the route commences on the 26th Mar. 23.

AVGEEK7812....do you mean increasing the base from 2 to 3 a/c?

[AVGEEK7812]

Shannon is at 3 weekly for summer 23...in fact the route commences on the 26th Mar. 23.

AVGEEK7812....do you mean increasing the base from 2 to 3 a/c?

Sorry meant one of the 738 seems to be upgrading to a MAX. two SNN flights are by SNN a/c and crew and the other seems to be a MAX and NCL crew so it seems NCL will have at least 1 MAX based next year.

[Jamesair1]

more changes.....RYANAIR....CHANIA and ZADAR both up from 1 to 2 weekly for S23....AER LINGUS....daily for S23

[RA85684]

Encouraging...

Either Paddies love the toon recently or Geordies love paying 7 euros a pint!

Either way, nice to see. My shamrock flight in October, NCL-DUB was rammed.

[Jamesair1]

JET 2 timetable now showing BERGEN operating 25th and 29th April 2024...part of the City Breaks programme..
2 flts only.



CORK......the airport website has answered the question.....it has been replaced by SHANNON for S23

[sunshine79]

NCL are taking some STN diversions as their runway is closed due to the heavy snow down there

[GAXLN]

NCL are taking some STN diversions as their runway is closed due to the heavy snow down there

Four 737-800’s I think plus a Lauda A320 - all still on the ground at NCL at this time

[GrahamK]

Might just be me but the Ryanair based aircraft aren't utilised very much over the winter season. Seems 1 aircraft Mon-Wed then 2 Thurs-Sun. Surprised Ryanair would do that

[skyhawk1]

What’s up with todays EK flight?

[JonnyH]

A lot of focus, including from me, has been on Flybe but credit where it’s due they seem to have turned a corner the last couple of weeks.

It seems that Loganair have taken their place, however, and they’ve had some nightmare tech issues this week including today resulting in delays and flight cancellations. I thought personally they usually had a relief/spare aircraft but looks like they must be having similar issues as this isn’t just limited to NCL. Hopefully resolved soon.

[SWBKCB]

Might just be me but the Ryanair based aircraft aren't utilised very much over the winter season. Seems 1 aircraft Mon-Wed then 2 Thurs-Sun. Surprised Ryanair would do that

Isn't this normal? RYR have parked a/c up in the past over winter. Only 3 Jet2 departures yesterday

What’s up with todays EK flight?

Believe it was down to crew illness.

[ash666]

A lot of focus, including from me, has been on Flybe but credit where it’s due they seem to have turned a corner the last couple of weeks.

It seems that Loganair have taken their place, however, and they’ve had some nightmare tech issues this week including today resulting in delays and flight cancellations. I thought personally they usually had a relief/spare aircraft but looks like they must be having similar issues as this isn’t just limited to NCL. Hopefully resolved soon.

I had a look at 2 random flights from NCL and both planes were 15 years old so tech issues to be expected and they need to have contingency plans for this.

[chaps1954]

15 years is nothing in years of an aircraft many Ryanair, Easy are same age

[Asturias56]

If you saw the announcement about the big Boeing purchase this week by United they are replacing a bunch of aircraft that AVERAGE 20-27 years old

[ash666]

If you saw the announcement about the big Boeing purchase this week by United they are replacing a bunch of aircraft that AVERAGE 20-27 years old

Which is why they are replacing them.
How old was the United 757 that spent more time on the ground than in the air?

[Chesty Morgan]

15 years is nothing in years of an aircraft many Ryanair, Easy are same age
Exactly. Notwithstanding the fact that many parts and engines will have been chaged then are 15 year old aeroplanes really 15 years old...maybe just the makers plate!

[Asturias56]

"Which is why they are replacing them"

But they've run them a lot longer than the 15 years you mentioned

[Diff Tail Shim]

A lot of focus, including from me, has been on Flybe but credit where it’s due they seem to have turned a corner the last couple of weeks.

It seems that Loganair have taken their place, however, and they’ve had some nightmare tech issues this week including today resulting in delays and flight cancellations. I thought personally they usually had a relief/spare aircraft but looks like they must be having similar issues as this isn’t just limited to NCL. Hopefully resolved soon.
Winter weather causes carnage with elderly aircraft. There are no new regional aircraft in the 30/70 seat class. Bar ATRs and they are not the greatest of machines.

[Saabdriver1]

This week at NCL:

FZFG at NCL Tue
Handlers de-icing rig broke Wed
Aircraft tech Wed nt with cold weather issues

Couldn’t get usual replacement aircraft in from ABZ due mass disruption, snow and ice causing havoc with crew and maintenance schedule. Also one 145 late back from C check just on its way home now and an ATR late back from C Check home earlier today, both over a week late.

Just about getting back on track now. Not a good week to be flying.

[Asturias56]

the run up to Christmas is never a good time to go flying

[toon22]

Paris. Are Air France cutting their Newcastle frequencies? From first April, the night –.stop aircraft appears to have been removed and replaced with a single A319 flight in the late morning. A far cry from the 3-times daily service operated last summer.

[Jamesair1]

No....there is an overall increase of 2 flights a week...early season it rises to 15 weekly then drops back to 14 per week. flights per day vary between 1 2 and 3 daily. Gradually recovering to the 3 daily level.

[toon22]

…… that’s not showing on the AF website.

[SWBKCB]

Just looked at the week starting 1 April it varies from 1 to 3 - strangely (to me anyway) it's Monday and Friday with just one flight. (Mix of mainline and Hop!)

[GrahamK]

No nightstoppers on Sun/Mon and Fri/Sat IIRC. With a 3rd flight on Tues/Thurs?

[Jamesair1]

April is 1x M, 3 x Tu, 2 x W, 3x Th, 1 x F, 2 x Sa and 3 x Su....giving 15 flights an increase of 2 overall.


changing tack ....I wonder how long before Lufthansa goes double daily on FRA?

[toon22]

that will teach me not just to check Mondays and Fridays 🙂

[Jamesair1]

Some October Pax figures.
PARIS................14,095
DUSSELDORF......2120
FRANKFURT.........3798
DUBLIN..............19,829
MILAN................. 2679
ROME..................2984
AMSTERDAM....26,635
STAVANGER..........839
DUBAI...............15,139

MELBOURNE.......3019
CANCUN...............4187

DUBROVIK..........2960
LARNACA............5941
CORFU................3307
CHANIA...............2470
HERAKLION.........5806
KOS.....................5687
RHODES..............6565
FARO................16,438
ALICANTE.........26,635
IBIZA.................13,054
MAHON...............8206
MALAGA...........16,644
PALMA.............30,685
REUS..................5100
ARRECIFE........13,412
FUERTEVENTURA......7170
LAS PALMAS......9806
TENERIFE........23,987
ANTALYA.........12,364
DALAMAN.......12,255
RIGA.................2541
GDANSK...........3671
KRAKOW..........7204
PAPHOS.........10,383

ABERDEEN........767
BELFAST ......16,884
BRISTOL........11,560
EXETER............1247
HEATHROW...29,279
NEWQUAY.........401
SOUTHAMPTON....

[Jamesair1]

TOON 22
No worries....it's all a bit of entertainment on a feezing cold day.
Look at my last post....when I typed the pax numbers they were all in a straight line....look how they've come out.....I am sober as well.

[RA85684]

Very odd, really. Pretty much across the board, Monday and Friday are the days of the week with highest demand. Perhaps there's a liaison with KLM that we aren't seeing or the schedule isn't fully complete yet. We have to presume they know their market though. There are, however 2 CDG-NCL flights on Mondays and Fridays. AF mainline night stoppers.

As for LH double daily FRA, lets hope soon. I would like to see Aegean and Lufthansa support eachother and build *A loyalty in the North East. Turkish would be a nice addition to that as well.

[HH6702]

Be good to see FRA going twice daily

[HH6702]

MME looses based 145 NCL gains it

Aberdeen 2 x daily
Oslo via Aberdeen 6 x weekly

information from seanM1997 on twitter

[Jamesair1]

......
And don't forget SOUTHAMPTON increases to 3 daily.

[Diff Tail Shim]

Best news I have heard for ages.

[GrahamK]

BA decreasing frequency to LHR to 4 daily next summer.
Wonder if Loganair would have made this move if T3 hadn't just upped frequency to ABZ...

[VickersVicount]

Bet that Loganair timetable bears no resemblance in 6 months. Talk about shifting deckchairs.

[GrahamK]

Bet that Loganair timetable bears no resemblance in 6 months. Talk about shifting deckchairs.
The doommongers appear 😀. Probably correct though, as I suspect T3 will relocate to MME

[JonnyH]

This week at NCL:

FZFG at NCL Tue
Handlers de-icing rig broke Wed
Aircraft tech Wed nt with cold weather issues

Couldn’t get usual replacement aircraft in from ABZ due mass disruption, snow and ice causing havoc with crew and maintenance schedule. Also one 145 late back from C check just on its way home now and an ATR late back from C Check home earlier today, both over a week late.

Just about getting back on track now. Not a good week to be flying.

I think SAJN needs scrapped. A colleague has flew with Loganair 3 times in the last week and has had 2 cancellations and a delay. It’s gone tech for the fourth time in a week, unbelievable really.

[Diff Tail Shim]

I think SAJN needs scrapped. A colleague has flew with Loganair 3 times in the last week and has had 2 cancellations and a delay. It’s gone tech for the fourth time in a week, unbelievable really.
Is it still there? Have they fixed it?

[fl dutchman]

BA decreasing frequency to LHR to 4 daily next summer.
Wonder if Loganair would have made this move if T3 hadn't just upped frequency to ABZ...

from what I can see it’s 4 daily Sat and Sun. And 5 or 6 daily on weekdays.

[N707ZS]

Piece from a local rag.
Pilot mistook the A1 for Newcastle Airport's runway | The Northern Echo (https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/news/23212388.pilot-mistook-a1-newcastle-airports-runway/)

[Jamesair1]

and here's me thinking there are only bad drivers on the roads...........how many points did that get him? MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR everyone

[Diff Tail Shim]

https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/drunken-ryanair-passenger-who-disruptive-25901913

Wonder if my mate saw it.

[Jamesair1]

I note that FLYBE...... BHD flights yesterday and today cancelled.

[JonnyH]

I note that FLYBE...... BHD flights yesterday and today cancelled.

Tech issues, again, I believe. They’ve done well for the last few weeks though.

Any ideas why G-JZHK diverted to Manchester tonight? No weather issues or anything!

[HH6702]

Tech issues, again, I believe. They’ve done well for the last few weeks though.

Any ideas why G-JZHK diverted to Manchester tonight? No weather issues or anything!


something about the lights not working correctly on the aircraft

[The Flying Stool]

Regarding G-JZHK diversion- it suffered an instrument failure which precluded it flying in icing conditions. It's raining in Newcastle (airframe icing conditions) and gin clear in Manchester. I was on it.

[Jamesair1]

Did they find you a seat on EZY or ????

[Jamesair1]

Off topic......what are the CAA number crunchers up to? the monthly stats haven't got beyond October so far.

[highwideandugly]

Correct me if wrong .but only updating every 2 months I hear? Cost saving?

[Harold77]

Off topic......what are the CAA number crunchers up to? the monthly stats haven't got beyond October so far.

New system, so they still come out monthly, but figures are two months behind the month. So October came out end of December. November will come out end of January.

[Jamesair1]

Thanks for the info......I suppose that is called an 'IMPROVEMENT' to the stats service.

[JonnyH]

Loganair must be paying out some serious compensation the last 6 weeks from NCL.

[jensdad]

Taking advantage of a lull in proceedings to ask a possibly strange question that occurred to me the other day...
Going through my aircraft photos, I noticed that every airport of any size (I'm excluding places like Stronsay and Alderney here) has a block paving surface on the ramp. The only exceptions I can find are Reykjavik (the domestic airport, not Keflavik), Vagar in the Faroe Islands, El Hierro in the Canary Islands - none of which handle large jets of the size of some that frequent NCL - and possibly Luxembourg, although it was raining when I was there so it's hard to say for certain.
Basically, why does Newcastle have a tarmac ramp?

Idle hypothesis here: Something to do with the possibility of subsidence or shifting ground? The Canaries and Iceland are volcanic (not sure about the Faroes?). Tyneside and Luxembourg are both riddled with mine workings, iron in Luxembourg and coal on Tyneside.
I'm probably wrong here, but any ideas / inside info?

[Jamesair1]

CORENDON increased DALAMAN flights to 2 weekly Wed/Sat for Summer 23 from planned 1 wkly (Sat)

[Jamesair1]

Selection of pax figures for november 22

paris..................7905
dusseldorf..........1651
frankfurt..............3266
cork....................2394
dublin...............17,111
milan..................2332
rome...................2537
amsterdam.......20,398
barcelona............2863
stavanger..............702
prague................2586
riga....................1857
gdansk...............2416
krakow................5762
wroclaw...............2324
dubai...............12,800

paphos.......1343
faro............6021
funchal.......1233
alicante....14,609
malaga.......8049
palma......... 596
arrecife.....12,376
fuerteventura....6510
las palmas..7721
tenerife....22,878
antalya.......3821
dalaman..... 579
hurghada...1402

aberdeen...............764
belfast city...........766
belfast int.........14,771
bristol..................7541
exeter....................861
heathrow..........40,488
southampton......3680

[Diff Tail Shim]

Selection of pax figures for november 23

paris..................7905
dusseldorf..........1651
frankfurt..............3266
cork....................2394
dublin...............17,111
milan..................2332
rome...................2537
amsterdam.......20,398
barcelona............2863
stavanger..............702
prague................2586
riga....................1857
gdansk...............2416
krakow................5762
wroclaw...............2324
dubai...............12,800

paphos.......1343
faro............6021
funchal.......1233
alicante....14,609
malaga.......8049
palma......... 596
arrecife.....12,376
fuerteventura....6510
las palmas..7721
tenerife....22,878
antalya.......3821
dalaman..... 579
hurghada...1402

aberdeen...............764
belfast city...........766
belfast int.........14,771
bristol..................7541
exeter....................861
heathrow..........40,488
southampton......3680
Amazing you can guess the accuracy of pax numbers 10 months in the future.

[Jamesair1]

oops....well spotted......just one of my amazing talents!!!

[HH6702]

Dubai seems low for November?

[OltonPete]

Dubai seems low for November?

Correct, based on the expected aircraft just 71% load factor but there were quite a few three class versions (354/360 seats) so more like 77% load factor.

November is not one of the busier months for Dubai looking at the UK figures but that could also be said for the figures pre-Covid.

Pete

[SWBKCB]

Correct, based on the expected aircraft just 71% load factor but there were quite a few three class versions (354/360 seats) so more like 77% load factor.

November is not one of the busier months for Dubai looking at the UK figures but that could also be said for the figures pre-Covid.

Pete

If you are using load factor as a measure of route performance, is it relevant that they substituted lower capacity a/c on occasions?

Maybe more relevant is that 158t of cargo was carried, 50% more than any other month of the year.

[P330]

Trying to think whether the world cup should have increased Dubai traffic in November or whether it would have subdued it?

[tictack67]

Trying to think whether the world cup should have increased Dubai traffic in November or whether it would have subdued it?

I'm not sure why it would have increased traffic.

EK don't fly from Dubai to Doha, and they don't codeshare with QR on that route, so a separate ticket would have been needed DXB-DOH £944 return cheapest for one hour flight. many probably travelled 90mins up the road and Caught direct Qatar

[HH6702]

50% increase in cargo is great.
let’s hope this continues.

with Teesside setting up a freight centre I wonder if this will effect Ncl in the years ahead

[SWBKCB]

with Teesside setting up a freight centre I wonder if this will effect Ncl in the years ahead

Virtually all NCL's cargo is carried in the belly of the EK 777 or on the FedEx 737. There is very little ad hoc work. The 'just in time' charters for Nissan on biz jets and small turbo props are so small that they don't trouble the scorers down at the CAA.

[highwideandugly]

For some reason it appears the powers that be decided passengers were the only way at Newcastle.

It appears very little, if any investment has been put into freight or ancillary work..hangers , paint , maintenance.

This is despite a freight base market of Pharmaceuticals,Del la Rue ,Nissan etc. combined with an aviation void in the area , meanwhile, Teesside scraped along, just surviving.

Teesside now appear to have found a market and despite minimal freight so far, it appears that the future could be brighter due to the pro active Mayor and airport management?

[SWBKCB]

For some reason it appears the powers that be decided passengers were the only way at Newcastle. It appears very little, if any investment has been put into freight or ancillary work..hangers , paint , maintenance.

Apart from developing the freight village (at a guess I would say 3 times larger than MME's hangar?), Apron G for mail/freight flights, and the academy. Newcastle doesn't have a lot of spare space for big hangars, the site is a lot smaller than MME

This is despite a freight base market of Pharmaceuticals,Del la Rue ,Nissan etc.

Del la rue is away, and the others won't sustain freight only services. Nissan 'just in time' charters tend to be spilt between NCL/MME depending on origin/operator

Have a look at a map - the urban areas in the northeast are small and surrounded by fields and moorland...

[GrahamK]

De La Rue are still there I think, was a Kuwaiti C17 on its usual visit the other say.

[Beatts]

For some reason it appears the powers that be decided passengers were the only way at Newcastle.

It appears very little, if any investment has been put into freight or ancillary work..hangers , paint , maintenance.

This is despite a freight base market of Pharmaceuticals,Del la Rue ,Nissan etc. combined with an aviation void in the area , meanwhile, Teesside scraped along, just surviving.

Teesside now appear to have found a market and despite minimal freight so far, it appears that the future could be brighter due to the pro active Mayor and airport management?

The airport are looking to grow this service, recently announcing a new Cargo Business Development Manager who previously worked with the Emirates skycargo team at Newcastle.

[Jamesair1]

FLYBE have gone into Administration.......no more flights..very sad state of affairs for all concerned..

I wonder if anyone will pick up NCL - BHD....if it was making any money.

[The Flying Stool]

If anyone picks up NCL-BHD, Emerald Airways would be a good bet. The problem is they only have three aircraft on their UK AOC at present to operate from Belfast City. It may come at some point though. It has always been a popular route in the past, running simultaneously with Aldergrove flights.

[Jamesair1]

Blue Islands flying in the Southampton football team tomorrow evening....arr 1835

[highwideandugly]

Anyone know what’s happening to the Easy Jet Bristol route..doesn’t seem to be operating much at all?

Thought it did quite well?

[marko1]

Anyone know what’s happening to the Easy Jet Bristol route..doesn’t seem to be operating much at all?

Thought it did quite well?


seems as so easyjet seems to be slowly reducing it to oblivion doesn’t it ? It’s always popular - for a large swathe of the summer there won’t be a Saturday service at all - far cry from 3-4 daily

[SWBKCB]

Slack time of the year - seems to be 2 a day over summer, 1 on Tuesday, 3 on Friday when there is no Saturday

[tigertanaka]

My understanding was that Easyjet use short distance routes such as BFS-NCL and BRS-NCL as filler when they would otherwise have aircraft on the ground. Loads can be really strong but yields are often not great but they keep the planes in the air, generating revenue.

[VickersVicount]

Further BA LHR rotation reductions… (though some on most domestic routes)

[Diff Tail Shim]

FLYBE have gone into Administration.......no more flights..very sad state of affairs for all concerned..

I wonder if anyone will pick up NCL - BHD....if it was making any money.
Doubt it, Why they went bust. Happy as it makes the security of my job safer.

[Jamesair1]

Probably right...Belfast is well served.... A few operators have had a go on the route over time.......there was even a rumour a few years ago that Ryanair were considering competing with EZY on the BFS route.

[Jamesair1]

AER LINGUS.....daily to BHD from 28th April

source....aer lingus

Dep,. BHD 1540 arr NCL 1650. Dep NCL 1720 arr BHD 1830 M - F & Su
Dep...BHD 1120 arr NCL 1230..Dep NCL 1305 arr BHD 1415 Sa

[ash666]

Was BA1324 this morning a Dreamliner?

[ld0595]

Was BA1324 this morning a Dreamliner?

FR24 shows it as an A320 G-EUUP.

[ash666]

FR24 shows it as an A320 G-EUUP.

I was outside when it was flying in and it looked bigger and slower, a bit like the EK 777 but too early for that, so I looked at FR on my phone and it said a 9 year old 787 Dreamliner.
I had a look on my PC later which had it down as an A320 G-EUUP.

[LiamNCL]

Dreamliner was G-TUIB LGW-NCL to operate to BGI

[ash666]

Dreamliner was G-TUIB LGW-NCL to operate to BGI

A-ha!
Thanks

[HH6702]

well that’s a surprise I didn’t think they would pick up the city route.

well done let’s hope people use it

[JonnyH]

well that’s a surprise I didn’t think they would pick up the city route.

well done let’s hope people use it

People were using it albeit loads weren’t brilliant, they were consistently between 40-50% and growing which isn’t bad going head to head with EZY on their well known route to BFS. It was Flybe operating routes with less than 15 people on some routes, consistently, which was crippling them along with their late cancellations and tech issues.

EI have 8 less seats, off the top of my head, so with that in mind and a little more trust in the brand, they’ll be making a little if they can push it to 65-70% loads rather than the aircraft sitting on the ground empty.

[Jamesair1]

One additional flight to Palma in April 23 by Jet2

[GrahamK]

Speaking of extra cargo flights, West Atlantic seem.to be operating a few flights to Stockholm using a 737-400F. Car parts related?

[Jamesair1]

Some selected Stats from the CAA December 22 reports.

Total PAX for the year ended 31st Dec 22 is 4,127,000 making NCL the 11th largest airport in the UK (behind Belfast Intl. and ahead of Liverpool)

PARIS.........................8116
DUSSELDORf.............2162
FRANKFURT...............3557
DUBLIN....................16,299
CORK....................... 1894
MILAN........................2820
AMSTERDAM..........19,859
BARCELONA.............2743
STAVANGER.............. 585
PRAGUE...................3042
RIGA..........................2337
GDANSK...................2615
KRAKOW..................6251
WROCLAW...............2141
GENEVA...................2698
DUBAI....................18,625

ALICANTE.............. 11,198
MALAGA....................7261
ARRECIFE...............12,498
FUERTEVENTURA......5899
LAS PALMAS.............8191
TENERIFE...............22,440
FARO.......................4590
ANTALYA...................1684
HURGHADA...............2020
BARBADOS................295

VIENNA....................1761
BUDAPEST..............1175
ROVANIEMI..............2414

ABERDEEN.............755
BELFAST CITY........1678*
BELFAST INT.......14,077
BRISTOL................9491
EXETER.................1262
HEATHROW.........35,796
SOUTHAMPTON.....3254

* Shows the demand, even when operated by FLYBE with cancellations....explains why Aer Lingus snapped it up so quickly.

[highwideandugly]

Bit on local news about ATC shortages and CAA ..asking questions…about closures to airspace?

Not good for the regions number 1 airport?

[SWBKCB]

No closures currently NOTAM'd.

Sure it wasn't Teesside - no ATC 18.00-21.00 this evening?

[highwideandugly]

Teesside ? Ben probably kept that out of the news!

[HH6702]

Tui

looks like Orlando is increasing to 2x weekly from May 2023 and will continue throughout Summer 2024

[Jamesair1]

JET 2

Two pieces of news from Jet 2, one is that NCL is to become a self handling base and ROME will have two extra flights on the 2nd and 5th May, 2024 to cover Rugby matches.

[HH6702]

New routes

a well known guy on twitter has stated some UK airports will gain new routes next week let’s hope NCL is in the list of them.

good news about Jet2
let’s hope there is more

[GrahamK]

Eurowings to DUS dropped between May and Sptember by the looks of it.

[HH6702]

Eurowings to DUS dropped between May and Sptember by the looks of it.


sad news but heard it’s due to staffing hopefully it’s back later in the year

[Jamesair1]

One of NCL's oldest routes....used to operate as NCL - AMS - DUS back in the dark ages.....always been a popular destination.

Nice to see Corenden back tomorrow with an ANTALYA via Birmingham flight.

[SWBKCB]

sad news but heard it’s due to staffing hopefully it’s back later in the year

Staffing issues don't seem to have affected the new DUS-OSL route announced this week

[Jamesair1]

As at this morning, Eurowings NCL - DUS 4 x weekly are still bookable on their website throughout the summer.

[VickersVicount]

Staffing issues don't seem to have affected the new DUS-OSL route announced this week
Amongst many others…..
https://www.aeroroutes.com/eng/221212-ewns23?rq=eurowings

[VickersVicount]

One of NCL's oldest routes....used to operate as NCL - AMS - DUS back in the dark ages.....always been a popular destination.

Nice to see Corenden back tomorrow with an ANTALYA via Birmingham flight.
I wouldn't thank you for that routing (albeit early season)
Who does low-cost double drops?!

[HH6702]

Maybe the pax will move over to FRA ?

DUS a route that could move over to FR ?

[Jamesair1]

Maybe LH will introduce Munich ( which they did have planned pre FRA)

[GAXLN]

Maybe LH will introduce Munich ( which they did have planned pre FRA)

It was more than planned, it did operate for a few short weeks before Covid made its impact felt.

[fl dutchman]

Still bookable up to OCT 23.
Has there been an announcement re stopping this route ?

[GrahamK]

It was missing the other day when I looked but seems to have been reinstated. Even the LH website only had prices of £600 each way

[Jamesair1]

Good news indeed.....not good to lose business routes out of the mix.

[Asturias56]

DUS has always been an odd one - few other second tier UK airports ever offered it - any idea why it was so popular from NCL?

[HH6702]

DUS has always been an odd one - few other second tier UK airports ever offered it - any idea why it was so popular from NCL?


I’m going to take a guess at the links to the army bases near by.

[TheLambtonWorm]

DUS has always been an odd one - few other second tier UK airports ever offered it - any idea why it was so popular from NCL?

I've used this route quite a few times over the years. The Dorf is brilliant for a weekend on the lash and is also a magnet for German stag & hen do's. Its also a great base if you want to watch German football with quite a few teams from Bundesliga to 3. Liga within 1-2 hours train journey. Add to that that most Bundesliga tickets include free transport on the day of the game which makes going to games more attractive. Strangely, there's quite a few Germans use this route too. Seems to be a mixture of families and people on buisiness although there used to be a few Germans studying at Sunderland Uni too. Not sure if that's still the case.

[ash666]

How is LH doing at NCL?
It has been thoroughly trashed in the March edition of Which? Travel, close to bottom for short haul and bottom for long haul.

[Asturias56]

https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/airports/article/uk-airports/best-and-worst-uk-airports-amiss8P8bbwx

Jan 23 says it s 6th best

Manchester comes bottom of the pile

[ash666]

This month.
https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune.org-vbulletin/2000x685/lh_collage_5a43eddedebcf490a7e201b2fc8f4625e9c1a835.jpg

[Asturias56]

ah - you're talking about AIRLINES- I though you were talking about Airports................ :ok: