Translated from http://www.luchtvaartnieuws.nl/news/?ID=37592
Possibly new scheduled flight between Groningen and London
GRONINGEN – Groningen’s Eelde airport might get its London service back. Entrepreneur André van Amerongen is working hard to start his new airline Groninger Luchtvaart Maatschappij (GLM). This was reported this morning in the newspaper “Dagblad van het Noorden“. At GLM’s website it says they want to start this spring.The plan is for a daily connection with London. Ryanair flew the route in 2003 and 2004. VLM started flying the route in 2006, but terminated the service in 2008.
The plans for GLM where announced thursday afternoon by airport chairman Jos Hillen at his new-year speach. The airport has been in discussion with Van Amerongen for over half a year.
The website does not reveal much yet. It does not say which London airport will be served. However, they say the airport is close to the city with a underground link, so I would assume London City. No start date is mentioned, neither which type of plane will be used. They also say you can “decide in the morning to go shopping, and be home in the evening” which would imply (at least) a twice daily schedule.
The website is Dutch only.
http://www.flyglm.nl
By: cloud_9 - 9th January 2011 at 20:09
Cloud 9
You really don’t like SEN do you?
You’d better get used to SEN being a popular London airport for European regional carriers because it’s going to happen.
Incorrect, I have nothing against SEN whatsoever, in fact I welcome any new development as I am a big supporter of the use of regional/local airports…all I am saying is that I struggle to see how this particular proposal can/will work, based on the fact that two very well established airlines have already tried the same route, albeit from different “London” airports, and both have ended up discontinuing it.
Like rdc1000 says, SEN will need to carve out it’s own niche.
Total journey time GRQ to central London will be quicker via SEN than any other London airport.
How…?
A flight from GRQ to LCY, compared to flying into SEN, isnt going to be that much longer is it? And as I pointed out in my previous post, the travel time into the Captial by train is 53mins from SEN, compared to 20mins from LCY…!
As for my source I cannot tell you that I’m afraid, but I thought everyone would like to know.
Ok, I/we will all just have to wait for the offical press release…but I suspect that will only be available in Dutch too, just like the website!:D:diablo:
By: tenthije - 9th January 2011 at 18:07
Or of course the Airport’s new station adjacent to the new terminal.
Did not know about that station. I just looked at Google Maps and did not see it. Probably not updated yet. Interesting. I would imagine that Southend would be a cheaper airport to fly to/from then LCY which is already well established.
By: rdc1000 - 9th January 2011 at 17:59
That means that at best you need a bus/taxi to a train station (Rochford? Prittlewell? Southend Central?) and from there to London.
Or of course the Airport’s new station adjacent to the new terminal.
Personally though I do think Expressflight may be over-estimating the capabilities of SEN to attract services. It is a different offer to LCY and will need to carve out it’s own niche.
By: tenthije - 9th January 2011 at 16:35
Total journey time GRQ to central London will be quicker via SEN than any other London airport.
The website mentions a quick travel by tube from to London. Now admittedly, it’s been a while since I lived in London, but Southend has no undergound link. The proposed Cross-rail and the DLR extensions don’t go to Southend either, so even longer term no direct connection will be available.
That means that at best you need a bus/taxi to a train station (Rochford? Prittlewell? Southend Central?) and from there to London. No way will that be quicker then GRQ-LCY even if you include baggage reclaim and the usually vacant passport control desks.
Will be interesting to see what happens. I can’t say I’ve got any inside information.
As for demand, I think there might be enough. The area of Groningen is sitting on a large field of natural gas. This route might be of interest to Shell.
By: Expressflight - 9th January 2011 at 13:47
Cloud 9
You really don’t like SEN do you?
Total journey time GRQ to central London will be quicker via SEN than any other London airport. You’d better get used to SEN being a popular London airport for European regional carriers because it’s going to happen.
As for my source I cannot tell you that I’m afraid, but I thought everyone would like to know.
Edit: The Dutch newspapers are now starting to report on the new GLM service from GRQ to SEN and one of them shows a Saab 340 mocked up in VLM colours. Another quotes a GLM spokesman as saying that “Southend was chosen because of its shorter flight time and lower cost (than alternative London airports)”. The rail link to Liverpool Street is also given prominence in the reports.
By: cloud_9 - 9th January 2011 at 11:38
What/who is your source for confirming it will be SEN…?
Flying into SEN would involve a minimum 53min train journey into London, which is a longer journey compared to what passengers that flew with Ryanair had to endure if they flew into STN and make use of the Stansted Express train service.
Also, SEN will hardly be attractive to any potential business customers, especially when LCY offers a very easy connection onto the Docklands Light Railway (DLR) and just a 20min journey into the Capital…?
Might it work if they were to operate their flight/s via AMS, just like what VLM used to do on their LCY route?
If not LCY, then maybe LGW might be worth considering now that it has new owners, and would only involve a 30min train journey into London via the Gatwick Express…?
By: Expressflight - 9th January 2011 at 11:13
…… and SEN will indeed be the London destination.
By: Expressflight - 9th January 2011 at 08:14
I can’t see the economics working at LCY, even if suitable slots could be obtained.
SEN is a different matter.
By: cloud_9 - 8th January 2011 at 12:37
I must confess I do not know all that much about Groningen itself, but whilst there might be potential from Groningen to London, I do wonder if there is enough demand to fulfill the London to Groningen sector, which maybe why other airlines have terminated the service in the past?
Also, I think that Mr van Amerongen should have GLM’s website translated into English to help those that don’t speak/understand Dutch and to see if it attracts any interest over here, especially if he wants to get started by spring?
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January 7, 2011 at 12:33 pm