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Flybe
Mar 2, 2015 16:02:35 GMT
Post by EGMCfollower on Mar 2, 2015 16:02:35 GMT
Surely if SEN/Stobart knew that Flybe were going to drop the route they wouldn't have stopped flying it under their franchise agreement with the ATR72-500, and instead put it back to the healthier 2/3x daily that it once was? Surely Flybe cannot dictate which routes are flown under the franchise agreement since the commercial risk is in Stobart's hands?
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Flybe
Mar 2, 2015 17:06:47 GMT
Post by aurigny72 on Mar 2, 2015 17:06:47 GMT
Well as far as i know Stobart handed over the Dublin route to Flybe in its own right, it is no longer a franchise agreement, Flybe have a codeshare with Aer Lingus only, so if they want to stop the SEN-DUB route they can.
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Flybe
Mar 2, 2015 20:47:07 GMT
Post by EGMCfollower on Mar 2, 2015 20:47:07 GMT
I'm just saying that Stobart could fly it under the franchise agreement once again if Flybe do drop it, and they could be doing more to protect the route since it appeared to be doing well (5,000-6,000 per month at 3x daily).
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Flybe
Mar 2, 2015 22:54:53 GMT
Post by aurigny72 on Mar 2, 2015 22:54:53 GMT
Well yes if they have a aircraft available, plus the fact that with Flybe now flying 4 weekday flights a day from LCY-DUB in direct competion with BACF and Cityjet there is so much capacity on that route, would it now be viable for 2-3 flights a day from SEN as well. Flybe has made a real mockery of SEN/Stobart, they didnt really want the SEN-DUB route, they just wanted to get rid of the competion at SEN so they could concentrate on their new LCY-DUB service, also just to rub it in they transfer the NQY route to STN and start extra routes from there as well. Stobart probarly thought we were going to get these new services,thats why they gave them the Dublin route i presume, what a complete charade this has turned out to be, especially if we do lose the Dublin route completely and that is looking very likely.
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Flybe
Mar 3, 2015 9:24:39 GMT
Post by expressflight on Mar 3, 2015 9:24:39 GMT
There seems to be no reason why Stobart could not again operate the SEN-DUB route under the Aer Lingus Regional brand. Indeed, they should have some additional capacity this summer because EI-REL should be available after its current heavy maintenance work and they must have anticipated operating this aircraft on the SEN to Europe routes this summer before they were drastically cut back. Whether they will deploy the aircraft elsewhere on the Aer Lingus Regional network in preference to recommencing SEN-DUB is another matter and, regrettably, I suspect that will be the case. Perhaps the 3 x daily DUB-SEN didn't produce sufficient yield to suggest it could become profitable within a reasonable time, but that will never be known outside of the airline.
I wonder just how much Stobart were caught unawares that Flybe might not be able to operate DUB-SEN this summer after all. The lack of a suitable Flybe aircraft slot was certainly highlighted on PPRuNe some time ago and perhaps they missed that. It's certainly true that Flybe can easily drop the route and transfer all the booked pax onto DUB-LCY services. It might just be coincidence of course but cynics might take the view that Flybe had a different agenda to that which Stobar Air assumed was the case when they negotiated the franchise agreement last Spring.
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Flybe
Mar 3, 2015 20:05:41 GMT
Post by devonian on Mar 3, 2015 20:05:41 GMT
Well, I don't think I'm a cynic but I do suspect that flyBE were aiming to scr*w SEN. I don't know why they have such a downer on the place. Their fleet is ideally suited to SEN and with some decent destinations I'm sure they would thrive. Stobart Air have been rather naive, I fear.
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Flybe
Mar 3, 2015 23:00:43 GMT
Post by Thames Gateway on Mar 3, 2015 23:00:43 GMT
Agree with the comments/points raised. With single ticket prices of £15.41 from LCY-DUB in the summer, we can see exactly what sort 'fight to the death' is occurring between the operators on that route. Southend would seem to be the predictable collateral damage in this battle, at least until it becomes unbearably unsustainable at LCY for one of the operators on the route. Can't book anything now from SEN on the Aer Lingus site - the option of one=stop transatlantic travel would appear to have ended from Southend at this stage, as with Flybe no option to do so.
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Flybe
Mar 20, 2015 18:01:02 GMT
Post by wetlanding on Mar 20, 2015 18:01:02 GMT
What are FlyBe up to just read on another forum they are pulling LCY-DUB from 31st May as well as SEN from 27th March, surely the route cant be that bad does anyone have the Pax details.
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Flybe
Mar 20, 2015 19:35:01 GMT
Post by Humberside on Mar 20, 2015 19:35:01 GMT
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Flybe
Mar 20, 2015 21:17:44 GMT
Post by Thames Gateway on Mar 20, 2015 21:17:44 GMT
WL - Your guess is as good as anyone's. I hate to be a 'doom-monger', but reminds me greatly of the demise of the long established Dan Air in the early nineties. As I see it, in the long run, BA will be the one to gain whatever happens with the LCY-DUB route, or indeed with Flybe at some stage. I really do hope that Flybe make it though (and don't get bought for £1 by BA!); more independent airlines is a good thing for the UK industry.
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Flybe
Apr 1, 2015 7:55:02 GMT
Post by Thames Gateway on Apr 1, 2015 7:55:02 GMT
Heard that the 4 Dublin flights on 3rd are Saab 2000 operated, presumably Eastern Airways operated. As Eastern do have steep approach capability for City, maybe they did not have the crews available?
In other news Flybe Nordic 60% stake now completed sale to Finnair.
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Flybe
Apr 1, 2015 8:18:03 GMT
Post by expressflight on Apr 1, 2015 8:18:03 GMT
Thanks for that information TG. As you suggest, lack of LCY capability on the part of the S2000 crews is probably the reason for the transfer of the flights to SEN.
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Flybe
Apr 1, 2015 19:03:50 GMT
Post by tagron on Apr 1, 2015 19:03:50 GMT
It is tempting to suggest that Flybe are cheap skating on their passengers by flying them in a smaller aircraft from a cheaper airport than the one of their choice. That might be my view, rightly or wrongly, if I were one of those passengers.
But from what I am hearing Flybe may be seriously short of crews to fly their own aircraft and consequently are relying increasingly on subchartered aircraft. It seems that they laid off so many crews as part of their downsizing programme that since the policy U-turn occurred last year they have been left with insufficient crews to cover the new services. Although they are recruiting I am told that as fast as the new crews are trained others are leaving in equal numbers.
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Flybe
Apr 3, 2015 9:50:35 GMT
Post by Thames Gateway on Apr 3, 2015 9:50:35 GMT
Seems that Dash 8s being used on the Dublin's today after all. Maybe the switch was due to the later opening at LCY due public holiday?
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Flybe
Apr 3, 2015 10:24:43 GMT
Post by tagron on Apr 3, 2015 10:24:43 GMT
Yet as it now turns out the S20 has been operating all the DUB-LCY rotations this week, i.e.Mon-Thurs with the exception of the evening Weds & Thurs. The Loganair aircraft, not Eastern.
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