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Post by Humberside on May 6, 2011 9:20:25 GMT
Should be some JOIN news at next week's RoutesEurope event being held 8th-10th May (Sun-Tue) twitter.com/#!/TheHUBRoutes/status/66162062807674880
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Post by jon on May 7, 2011 19:26:08 GMT
just looked at join airlines website, seems someone has been playing and let cat out of the bag. www.joinairlines.com/wordpress/operations-and-fleetlooking at the proposed route picture currently up, Amsterdam, Gronningen , Bonn, Caen and Manchester, with connections further afield. Initially leasing from Dutch company Denim Air. Also listing GLM as a possible partner.
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Post by Humberside on May 7, 2011 22:19:21 GMT
If it wasn't for the fact they are making an announcement at an industry event and that their plans are obviously fairly well advanced I would frankly be a bit dubious. Seems a very ambitious plan for a start up. Multiple fleet types, multiple different partners, Multiple hubs/bases. A very complicated operation to manage. And who would sign up to use the Join brand when at this stage it is unproven? If it fails it could take the likes of GLM down with it
Will have to see if the announcement at Routes Europe inspires a bit more confidence
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Post by expressflight on May 8, 2011 7:19:57 GMT
I know a great deal about JOIN and, although not involved financially, have had long discussions and meetings with the founder of the project over the past 10 months. I became involved when last year CFR asked me to help them establish a scheduled service to London and we commissioned a feasibility study by the consultancy behind JOIN. Since then I've been kept updated on JOIN's progress and although other airlines are also in the frame for CFR-SEN, JOIN is still keen to operate it.
Since the route network is now in the public domain I can reveal that they had hoped to commence SEN-CGN this month, twice daily, operated by the Denim Air F100. Finance for this came very close to completion but perhaps the sudden oil price rise has delayed the investors' final agreement. It would have been nice if that route had started wouldn't it?
jonw - there's no "cat out of the bag" situation. The JOIN website information was planned for release to coincide with the Routes conference starting today in Cagliari.
Humberside - the start-up plan wasn't actually very ambitious with SEN-CGN using the F100, followed a little later by CFR-SEN using an F50 aircraft based at CFR and one other route from SEN in between it returning to CFR. So just three routes initially focused on SEN with gradual growth from that basis. I cannot say too much on your comment about who would sign up, other than that this does not seem to have been a problem to date.
As to whether the project will come to fruition, who knows but the people behind it are very experienced aviation professionals who have thought it through very thoroughly. The reasoning behind making their plans public is that Routes offers the opportunity of seeking a wider investment market.
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Post by devonian on May 8, 2011 8:58:45 GMT
This sounds a very interesting project. My heart is running away with enthusiasm at the thought that SEN would become a proper airport again, but my head worries that this isn't quite the time for such a development - better to wait until the station and the terminal are opened, so next spring probably. On the other hand Stobart will need some scores on the doors if the Aer Arann schedules are showing low load factors.
Also, the F100 is a noisy little beast compared to an A319 or E175 and to have that operating whilst there are still some doubts (hopefully very small) about the runway extension might not help local opinion.
By the way, I notice that Adam Jones, an airport supporter, won a seat in Thursday's elections......
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Post by Humberside on May 8, 2011 9:34:56 GMT
Humberside - the start-up plan wasn't actually very ambitious with SEN-CGN using the F100, followed a little later by CFR-SEN using an F50 aircraft based at CFR and one other route from SEN in between it returning to CFR. So just three routes initially focused on SEN with gradual growth from that basis. That does indeed seem more sensible short term. Perhaps the issue then is publishing longer term plans at such an early stage. 'Catch 22' since they need investors, but a look on their website certainly doesn't imply the small start up you describe
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Post by expressflight on May 8, 2011 10:16:51 GMT
But it is in fact easier to get serious investors interested in a substantial project than it is in a relatively modest one. They need to be convinced that it could achieve a certain 'critical mass' with the potential to offer a substantial return on their investment. Smaller projects tend to keep people in jobs rather than achieving that in my experience.
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Post by expressflight on Jun 17, 2011 11:36:08 GMT
Just a brief update on JOIN.
Good progress is apparently being made and it is hoped that routes may be commenced by autumn this year. The Easyjet announcement has been very welcome news as it puts SEN firmly on the map in the eyes of investors, as well as providing potential onward connections from SEN.
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Post by leejackson1645 on Oct 12, 2011 18:45:47 GMT
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Post by roche on Oct 12, 2011 22:22:30 GMT
Good spot - let's hope they do manage get something up and running in November, even if it's only one route. It's interesting that the map on the Join homepage now shows routes between Southend, Manchester and I think it looks like Plymouth? I thought Plymouth was closing at the end of the year? The map of the route network on the 'Operations and Fleet' page has not been updated.
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Post by expressflight on Oct 13, 2011 5:54:25 GMT
I shouldn't get too excited just yet everyone.
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Post by movementman on Oct 13, 2011 8:00:12 GMT
I agree !!!!
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Post by expressflight on Aug 31, 2012 7:40:36 GMT
I thought I would bump this up the list ready for a possible announcement very soon regarding their initial activities. I'm promised some hard information very shortly so perhaps something is at last going to happen......
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Post by devonian on Aug 31, 2012 8:47:48 GMT
That would be excellent news, especially as there may be some substance to the OLT Express services to Germany as well.
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Post by expressflight on Aug 31, 2012 10:13:11 GMT
It really is starting to sound encouraging regarding JOIN at last.
As far as OLT Express Germany is concerned it is happening on SCN and hopefully a DRS announcement to follow soon. No doubt SEN will make an announcement shortly.
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