Flybe to Malaga

[bmedboy]

It has appeared on the flybe. route map. Looks good! Now only to join a few more of the dots!! Not sure flybe. will announce it. Did they announce Southampton-Verona?

Regards

Mike

[pug]

Announcement expected on radio humberside later this morning... Sounds like they might ake big news of it as the dj on at 9ish said tune in to find out about 'a new service coming to one of the local airports'....

[springy]

the md was on humberside about 7.50am this morning he said it was one of the routes they wanted

[Humberside]

Press release (same on both Flybe and airport websites)
www.flybe.com/news/1001/06_1.htm

Leading regional airline launches first ever scheduled service to Malaga from Humberside Airport

Flybe, the UK’s number one domestic airline, has today announced a brand new weekly summer service from Humberside Airport to Malaga for 2010 with seats now on sale from £44.99 one-way including taxes and charges for travel effective 29th May to 11th September.

The new Saturday route, operated in partnership with Humberside Airport, will be the first ever scheduled service to Malaga from the region. It will be operated by one of the airline’s state-of-the-art 118-seat Embraer 195 jet aircraft featuring comfortable 2 x 2 seating configuration and expands Flybe’s presence at the airport from where it began operating its successful Jersey route last year.

Mike Rutter, Flybe’s Chief Commercial Officer, comments: “We’re delighted to be adding this brand new service to Spain from Humberside and to increasing our presence at the airport and remain committed to expanding our services out of the region.”

Tony Lavan, Director, Humberside Airport said: “Today's announcement is great news for the airport and a great start to the new year. Flybe’s new scheduled service follows the introduction of Jersey last year which was extremely well received. It is great to see the airline extending its commitment with the launch of a weekly flight to Malaga and I am sure that the new addition to the schedule will prove popular with passengers.”

Adds Mr Rutter: “Flybe prides itself on ensuring that travellers have the widest possible choice of affordable, quality flights to attractive business and leisure destinations. With people already planning next year’s holidays and wanting their budgets to go as far as possible, it’s advisable to book early to take advantage of the lowest possible fares.”

From reading that it does seem the airport travel agency are behind the new service, and I wonder if they are going to act as more of a tour operator in the future? And while I don't expect major BE expansion, it would seem they are open to considering future HUY expansion

SOU-Verona got announced in a larger press release about summer routes last month, the same one which confirmed HUY-JER

[pug]

It would seem that the route is a genuine attempt at low cost seat only routes.. Only Humberside Travel will be arranging package holidays and no tour operator is on board. Tony Lavan didnt sound too excited in the interview, he seemed more interested in getting diverts from other airports!

I did notice he said its one of the routes in their wish list as has been mentioned so i wouldnt rule them out talking to other operators with a view to 2011.

Personaly, without reading into it too much, he gave very little away about growth (though he wasnt realy asked unfortunately) and it would seem to me that they are playing their cards close to their chests there with expansion.

I would hope that Jet2 do come next year, with perhaps more emphasis on the year round medium haul routes. I would also hope that this service does well as i believe they are testing the water for more. Would be great if BE could double up on AGP and offer 2 x weekly to ALC, PMI and FAO too as well as getting Jet2 on board...

Willl have to wait and see on that i suppose.

[huytiger]

I spoke to Humberside Airport Travel this afternoon. They confimed they are NOT expecting any more additional flights this summer from HUY.

[pug]

Its too late for anything significant this year. Its a step in the right direction though.

[Humberside]

This summer should be roughly the same as last summer, give or take a few % either way. Which after the past few years, stability is very welcome

[pug]

I agree, the BE offering may seem insignificant but even minimal growth is good at this time. It also shows that the airport wish to move towards scheduled Spain routes! I would hope that some form of expansion should happen during the winter too as many people were annoted at TCX for pulling their canaries routes...

I have a feeling S2011 may have good things in store...

[lbaspotter]

This new scheduled service to Malaga by flybe.com is great news for the airport and the whole local region.

I wonder now if the airport travel company will now look to build on this and work with flybe.com and maybe other airlines (eg Jet2, Air Europa and so on) to launch maybe new low cost services to Alicante, Majorca and faro for summer 2011.

As these three destinations are the type of routes which are the most likley to work well from HUY and the local region is calling out for this type of duel partnership, where the airport travel company sells holidays and the airline partner sells seat only.

[Humberside]

It certainly seems the airport travel agent is taking a leading role in this new flights, and I too hope they will consider doing more of that in the future. If the airport travel agent will take on some of the risk then it reduces the risk to the airline and should hopefully make HUY operations more attractive for LoCo's

The only slight concern I have is if they start 'treading on the toes' of either local travel agents or independent tour operators. The latter have little interest in mainland Spain so that should be fine

On a different matter, Im diaspointed that the press and media, both locally and the specialist travel press, don't really have seem to have reported the news. I did see a short piece in the local edition of the Yorkshire Post yesterday, but a google news search shows the local Hull/Grimsby/Scunthorpe papers haven't reported it, and I haven't seen it on the BBC Look North lunchtime news. Neither have the likes of the Travel Trade Gazette or Travel Mole reported on it, despite a piece on Travel Mole this week about an increase on DSA-JER. Both Flybe and the airport issued a press release so it's not like the press/media haven't been informed about it

[pug]

Thisishull and thisisgrimsby have reported it, along with humberbusiness......

I dont believe Humberside airport travel are the main thing behind this, just that they want to make it work and are getting behind it with exclusive rights to package sales... I do think the other destinations would work just remains to be seen if they get taken on.

[Humberside]

Flybe sent out an email about the route today, including the 'throwaway' line "flights are selling fast".

For what it's worth here are the current single fares HUY-Malaga. Ignoring the final flight of the season, only 3 weeks are the lowest fare

29th May - £71.49
5th June - £71.49
12th June - £41.49
19th June - £56.49
26th June - £56.49
3rd July - £56.49
10th July - £41.49
17th July - £56.49
24th July - £91.49
31st July - £91.49
7th Aug - £71.49
14th Aug - £91.49
21st Aug - £56.49
28th Aug - £41.49
4th Sept - £41.49
11th Sept - £6.29

[Humberside]

Update 14th Feb

29th May - £91.49 - £20 increase
5th June - £91.49 - £20 increase
12th June - £56.49 - £15 increase
19th June - £71.49 - £15 increase
26th June - £56.49
3rd July - £56.49
10th July - £56.49 - £15 increase
17th July - £56.49
24th July - £91.49
31st July - £111.49 - £20 increase
7th Aug - £71.49
14th Aug - £56.49 - £35 decrease
21st Aug - £71.49 - £15 increase
28th Aug - £56.49 - £15 increase
4th Sept - £41.49
11th Sept - £6.49 - 20p increase

[Humberside]

Update 13th March

29th May - £131.49 - £40 increase
5th June - £71.49 - £20 decrease
12th June - £56.49
19th June - £56.49 - £15 decrease
26th June - £41.49 - £15 decrease
3rd July - £56.49
10th July - £41.49 - £15 decrease
17th July - £71.49 - £15 increase
24th July - £111.49 - £20 increase
31st July - £111.49
7th Aug - £71.49
14th Aug - £71.49 - £15 increase
21st Aug - £71.49
28th Aug - £41.49 - £15 decrease
4th Sept - £41.49
11th Sept - £6.49