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Post by expressflight on Feb 21, 2014 14:16:46 GMT
While it seems fairly certain that the last new ATR72-600 to be delivered will fly for this "new" operation, that doesn't rule out an ATR42 doing likewise. Indeed a single aircraft operation would hardly seem to merit setting up a separate entity other than perhaps in the very initial stages. Should one of the first routes operate double-daily, such as EDI, that would leave very limited scope for much of an additional network.
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Post by jjc212 on Feb 21, 2014 14:36:48 GMT
I would like to think your right expressflight, the use of an ATR42 in addition to the new ATR72 would definatly make sense because as you rightly say, it would seem to be a lot of effort to go to in order to set up a seperate entitiy for one aircraft. Unless, of course it will be flying under the aer lingus regional brand...
This "new" operation could definatly be useful in opening up some new routes from Southend - I think that a double-daily operation to a business destination such as EDI is definatly a pre-requisite of successs as I am sure these customers will more than likely be the core target audience of the operation as an ATR is not the aircraft of choice for any type of Low Cost Carrier operation (Im thinking this operation could be more like BMI regional in style). A mix of city break and low-freq leisure desitnations in the middle of the day should make up the rest of the flying program quite well I would imagine. Perhaps three or four new destinations from the start will be possible if the new airline adopts this kind of model.
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Post by devonian on Feb 21, 2014 22:23:36 GMT
Was this Aer Arann news the surprise you referred to earlier, Expressflight? Or is there some other possibility in the pipeline...?
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Post by expressflight on Feb 23, 2014 14:17:16 GMT
It is certainly the news that I had hoped would come through, although it had been suggested several times in the past so wasn't really a surprise. I don't know of any other things in the pipeline but something from Flybe at some stage shouldn't be ruled out perhaps.
Of course, we don't even have the bare bones of what RE intend to do yet other than it looking certain they plan a SEN base in the near future. Will this result in a serious route network straight away or a more gradual growth for this new operation? Hopefully we'll soon learn more including which livery the aircraft will carry.
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Post by airportman on Feb 23, 2014 14:59:31 GMT
Aer Arann & Flybe could be one of the same explanation will become obvious at a later date
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Post by senchris on Feb 23, 2014 15:16:41 GMT
You mean Aer Arann could operate wearing Flybe titles? I was wondering the same thing although that would certainly be an interesting approach given the much publicised downsizing of Flybe themselves and the accompanying negative press. Either way I guess we shouldn't have long to wait...
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Post by expressflight on Feb 23, 2014 16:25:16 GMT
That's an interesting suggestion but I'm trying to see how it would benefit Flybe when they could simply establish a base at SEN and do exactly the same thing in their own right.
The Aer Lingus Regional franchise rationale was surely that Aer Lingus didn't have aircraft of a size that could exploit potential thinner routes to DUB (basically) from the UK regions. Particularly important was the potential to provide feed to Aer Lingus' transatlantic route network, which seems to have worked well. Loganair becoming a franchise carrier of the Flybe brand also had the fleet size differential advantage, plus their being well established in a geographical territory where Flybe was weak. Again this seems to have been successful. None of this would seem to apply to a Flybe/Aer Arann link up so where does Flybe gain any advantage from such a deal?
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Post by EGMCfollower on Feb 23, 2014 16:38:27 GMT
I can't see it being Flybe. It would probably be better if it wasn't, and as expressflight says they could open up their own base at SEN without the need for Aer Arann if they wanted to. I thought the partner was supposed to be a legacy carrier (I didn't think Flybe was one of those(?)) such as Air France, BA, Lufthansa etc.?
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Post by planeboy on Feb 24, 2014 7:34:29 GMT
Why should this constellation make no sense? If Aer Arann takes the economical risk backed by Stobard Group which is also the owner of Southend airport, FlyBE could easily step in without a high risk. So it´s a win-win situation for all involved parties. Aer Arann has an additional distribution partner, Southend Airport has a new brand operating and FlyBE can open new routes without high risk. So this looks well organised. However, this constellation hasn´t build on FlyBE it can also work with BA.
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Post by expressflight on Feb 24, 2014 8:21:37 GMT
I can see there would be commercial advantages for Aer Arann (RE) through the use of the Flybe reservations system and their brand profile etc., but where is the advantage to Flybe? There is no feed into their existing network nor any aircraft size efficiency advantages compared to their own fleet. What do you mean by "Flybe could easily step in ........"? They couldn't take over the routes if they were successful because RE would be the incumbent operator and if they were not successful and RE pulled them why would Flybe want to run them in their own right?
I'm not saying it's an impossible scenario but I just don't see any logic in it for Flybe.
As far as BA is concerned the same objections as above apply and I cannot see why a RE franchise operation would interest them.
Hopefully all will be revealed before too long.
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Post by aurigny72 on Feb 25, 2014 17:01:21 GMT
Aer Arann & Flybe could be one of the same explanation will become obvious at a later date Could you please elaborate on your post airportman
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Post by EGMCfollower on Feb 25, 2014 17:56:34 GMT
Have to say reading recent info on the Flybe forums (e.g. the PPrune forum) they do have similar aspirations to Aer Arann. Flybe are hoping to start expanding again, but this time more carefully (38 new routes in 20 years - or something like that!) with new bases in the future. I also read somewhere about them joining forces with other carriers to help aid this expansion (although I thought Aer Arann would want a larger well known brand [?] ). On pprune there is also talk about Flybe Nordic and their ATR operations vs. the Dash 8s. Who knows what the livery of EI-FCY will be! Surely it is built by now, but still in the ATR hangars at Toulouse. I have been searching for pictures, but there are none yet. Link: www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/10651532/Flybe-raises-150m-to-fund-rebirth.html
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Post by expressflight on Feb 26, 2014 8:28:49 GMT
As far as I know the last ATR72-600 to be delivered will arrive in UK all white and will have the appropriate livery applied on arrival.
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Post by EGMCfollower on Feb 26, 2014 10:35:50 GMT
A job for Air Livery then. Good news that its not Flybe!
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Post by expressflight on Feb 27, 2014 15:18:05 GMT
Aer Arann are now recruiting cabin crew, as well as ATR Captains, for the new SEN base so perhaps an announcement will not be far off.
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