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Post by elmfield on Sept 10, 2010 13:14:26 GMT
An announcement widely predicted even by those "not in the know". The model was not in line with easyJets normal operations and despite talk from DSA about other negotiations it can only be seen as a blow to the sub-region.
Evidence presented to Doncaster Council when the airport was being planned showed there wasn't a shortage of capacity within the larger region; that freight traffic would be difficult to build up and that regular scheduled airlines would not easily be attracted to the airport.
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Post by pug on Sept 10, 2010 15:31:27 GMT
People keep quoting load factors, and how the routes were so successful... AMS was poor, BCN and PRG looked better, yet none had average loads of 90% during the summer.
I was of the opinion that generally, low cost airlines like to see 90% loads during the summer and 70% during the winter?
Also load factors are not a sign of a routes viability, yields have a more important part to play, and as i have been told, they are not good enough to warrant expansion.
I can see a return of FR on the Gerona route, but PMI and FAO are already served by TOM, and who would serve AMS and PRG?
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Post by Humberside on Sept 10, 2010 15:34:40 GMT
I could see FR doing an 'ALC style operation to Faro and Malaga. 3xWeek Summer Only or something similar
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Post by pug on Sept 10, 2010 15:44:47 GMT
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Post by elmfield on Sept 10, 2010 15:49:19 GMT
I know its a long time ago but the 3x daily service, by KLM from SCA to AMS, was successful and said to be one of the best they had operated. Even with HUY not being a million miles away a service aimed at the business traveller was very well used and I suppose proved that with the right sort of aircraft and having good timings a service would be well used. I wonder?
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Post by pug on Sept 10, 2010 15:58:28 GMT
SZD was in the centre of Sheffield next to the M1 though. DSA is less conveniant for the business traveller in South Yorkshire, as its much further from the main conurbation. Regular trains to Manchester see to that. Looks like DUB is to be pulled too, another business route with low loads.
Peel said that SZD wasnt viable because the market favoured low-cost airlines over traditional 'legacy' carriers. They have proved thus far that the theory was flawed. I have no doubt that their marketing department talk to KLM, whether they would take the risk or not remains to be seen. I dont think they'd do it at the expense of HUY. If they did and it affected yields at HUY they would only pull it anyway.
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Post by elmfield on Sept 10, 2010 16:16:30 GMT
Being just 10 minutes from the centre of the City and with an airport designed, specifically, to handle the BAe 146 and similar types, over short distances within the UK and Europe, was the sole reason it was built. Peel confused the issue by, firstly blaming 9/11 and then, following their experience at LPL, the rise of the lo-co carriers whose fleets needed a longer runway. The intention, following an agreement with Sheffield Council was, clearly, for closure and redevelopment. This, of course, fitted in nicely with their plans to redevelop Finningley which from the first was expecting, against expert opinion, to be a success with both legacy, charter, lo-co, freight and business users.
Events, thus far, show, seemingly, how wrong was their stated business plans although some still believe its actually going very much to plan! Unfortunately, the real losers are the business communities of Rotherham, Sheffield and District who, like myself the other week, had to make a yomp down the M1 and then a "pleasant" drive back home, across the Pennines, from MAN. after a tiring day.
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Post by pug on Sept 10, 2010 16:32:46 GMT
Peel will have made quite a packet from the aquisition of SZD alone, i just think at the moment this rubs salt in the wounds of those skeptical ones among us.
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Post by pug on Sept 10, 2010 17:57:13 GMT
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Post by elmfield on Sept 11, 2010 13:03:51 GMT
An interesting range of opinions. I think its well known that many ordinary Sheffielders couldn't have cared a d**n about SCA on account of its inability to handle "bucket and spade" flights. Sadly, the local Chamber of Commerce,which for years had fought hard to get Sheffield on the air-map, was strangely muted about closure..but , in their defence,they had been promised an operational heliport at SCA and "better services" from DSA. These "better service" still have, after 5 years, to materialise and the heliport is solely for the use of the police and air ambulance. The business community is little better off than it was in 1997. The matter of the sale of the land is much, much more interesting. The operators were given 42 acres to build a Business Park which, it was intended, would provide sufficient income to"maintain an operating subsidy of £850,000". This was "ignored" after 31st July 2001...a significant date. The remaining 120 acres, known as "poundland" by some, is currently the subject of a planning application...the original having expired. It has been estimated that Peel , even after absorbing the cost of building the airport and accepting their claimed financial losses, managed to obtain the land at a very, very substantial discount...and this excludes the income gained from letting the units and the sale of others. The sale of the Carcraft property alone was sufficient to cover the cost of building the Airport! Source of info...The Land Registry
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Post by pug on Sept 15, 2010 12:21:31 GMT
Some of us have taken a keen interest in this from the first ideas of Finningley becoming an airport in the late 90's.
DSA was always going to struggle to match up to its competitors, and some were saying this until we were blue in the face. The building of the airport was nothing but political.
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Post by elmfield on Sept 15, 2010 12:57:58 GMT
Even expert opinion, in the form of consultants reports to DMBC made quite clear many of the likely problems which DSA would face. Job creation and a long runway appeared to swing the opinions of too many, who were easily led.
In the case of Sheffield and Rotherham Councils their agreement* to drop all opposition to the opening of Finningley and to encourage the support of other Government Agencies was a key factor in the agreement,by Peel, to acquire SCA. As a sop, it was agreed that Finningley, if and when built, would incorporate Sheffield in its name.
Compensation of some £500,000 which was intended to fund a direct link Sheffield/DSA was never forthcoming so, one wonders, how serious were they in even trying to attract Sheffield's custom? I could go on.
*Source: Minutes of the Airport Joint Liaison Committee obtained under the Freedom of Information Act of 2000.
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Post by pug on Oct 7, 2010 11:03:12 GMT
Looks like EZY are to assess demand from LBA with their latest move to try a winter GVA route from LBA from December. I think that alone speaks volumes unfortunately.
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Post by pug on Jan 4, 2011 17:19:54 GMT
Today was the last day of scheduled flights with EZY at DSA. Last flight departed to AMS i believe.
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Post by john2408 on Jan 4, 2011 19:53:46 GMT
Yes, You are right pug, only 3 flights showing tomorrow, all A/D within 1hr 20mins.
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