According to Flybe’s website, it has announced several new routes from its base in Jersey.
Taken from Flybe.com (2/12/08):
Flybe, Europe’s largest and most successful regional airline, today announces its summer schedule for 2009 which sees the carrier offering travellers access to 181 routes for Summer 09, including the introduction of brand new routes from Jersey as well as increased frequency on key services across the UK. The announcement follows the first batch of summer sun routes and precedes more new routes to be revealed later this week.
Key National facts:
• 181 routes operating for Summer 09, including the 28 routes operated by Loganair, Flybe’s franchise partner.
• New routes to Jersey from Inverness, Dundee and Manston in Kent
• Increased frequency from Birmingham, Doncaster/Sheffield, Cardiff, Exeter and Newcastle.The summer schedule is available for booking today at http://www.flybe.com for travel between 29th March and 7th September 2009.
Not surprised by this announcement really as Flybe have clearly been carefully planning and prepared themselves well for the tough times ahead.
One route that did catch my eye though was Jersey to Kent International (Manston)…does anyone know if this is just going to be a seasonal service during the summer months like the one from Southend or is it going to be a permanent route?
I assume that they will operate a Dash8 Q400 on this particular route?
Either way, its good to see a reputable airline taking an interest in MSE as an airport to serve, as I have always thought that the airport has at least some potential to be a regional airport for the South-East. Its such a shame that EUJet did not last long enough to enable them to prove the market/demand for flights.
I wonder if they [Flybe] will consider offering any other routes/services out of Kent International (Manston), but I suppose this kind of decision will be based on whether the initial Jersey route proves to be popular or not?
By: carl727uk - 9th January 2009 at 15:06
Good on Flybe for at least giving Kent International another go. There’s definately a good catchment area for MSE to exploit. You’re probably right about them using it as a tester route to see if expansion is viable.
Expecting an annoucement regarding Gatwick operations this week as it has been reported that slots have been asked for at a few European destinations – Dusseldorf was mentioned on PPRUNE, however that seems a wild outside possibility given the slot restraints there.
Not all positive though as PPRUNE rumours (sorry for these) say that the Norwich base is to close at the end of the current winter season.
It is good Flybe are taking an interest in Manston, as its still quite a trot from East Kent to Gatwick. There used to be flights from Lydd (also in Kent) to Jersey years back with Dan Air.
By: B77W - 5th January 2009 at 21:24
This is great news of EGCN, hopefully it’ll be a brighter year for them in 2009.
By: tomfellows - 5th January 2009 at 19:25
Still awaiting the news of the second phase of the Gatwick expansion. Perhaps this has been slightly delayed due to Aer Lingus’ decision to open a base?
By: carl727uk - 5th January 2009 at 13:19
Thanks Dean
I have actually have just booked to fly to Norwich next week, what I did notice was the service was not operating daily as it would normally. Ive seen this before with Flybe when they were ending a lot of their Liverpool routes, just before they finished !!
By: Deano - 4th January 2009 at 16:03
Carl
As far as I am aware the MAN-NWI route is staying and being operated by a MAN aircraft.
I’ll find out for you
Dean
By: carl727uk - 4th January 2009 at 12:17
oh dear could mean a long train journey for me !!! Wonder if anyone else will pick up MAN-NWI route, cuts about 5 or 6 hours of the rail option. Having said that I cant really think who would do it in the UK ? Maybe Eastern Airways, they were pushed off the route by Flybe.
Flybe do seem to move in to airports then move out again after a fairly short stint, they did the same at LPL. i flew on several routes with them from there to EXT, SOU (a number of times) and down from Edinburgh, all pretty well supported. They even use to use 146s on LPL-SOU, very busy flight. All these routes have gone, although they are back again with LPL-IOM.
By: Deano - 4th January 2009 at 00:28
NWI will indeed be closed from the end of Winter 08/09
By: carl727uk - 4th January 2009 at 00:14
Good on Flybe for at least giving Kent International another go. There’s definately a good catchment area for MSE to exploit. You’re probably right about them using it as a tester route to see if expansion is viable.
Expecting an annoucement regarding Gatwick operations this week as it has been reported that slots have been asked for at a few European destinations – Dusseldorf was mentioned on PPRUNE, however that seems a wild outside possibility given the slot restraints there.
Not all positive though as PPRUNE rumours (sorry for these) say that the Norwich base is to close at the end of the current winter season.
I wondered about NWI, they seem to have fell out with them. i use MAN=NWI from time to time had trouble finding it on their web site recently
By: N.P.Vibert - 2nd January 2009 at 11:28
Summer routes to Jersey
The Saturday only routes that Flybe will operate to Jersey will be by Q400 aircraft.
Nearly all the EMB145 aircraft have departed the Flybe stable.
A number of these Saturday only flights were charters for the Jersey Travel Service, from reading into all this, Flybe have done some deal to operate the routes which VLM was operating for Jersey travel Service last year.
I think you will find they will be part charter (block bookings by the travel agent) and Flybe will have a number of seats to sell as well.
By: Arabella-Cox - 2nd January 2009 at 10:52
I would think they would use a Dash 8 to Kent, it’s the smallest aircraft they have.
ERJ 145 is smaller than a Q400. :diablo:
However, it would be a Q400 as thats the main aircraft in their fleet and also what they are receiving on order at the moment.
By: NCLManiac - 2nd January 2009 at 10:37
Dash 8’s
I would think they would use a Dash 8 to Kent, it’s the smallest aircraft they have. The problem is, they operate from (I think it’s…) Southend nearby to Jersey, I wonder if that route will last.
By: gatwickjosh - 5th December 2008 at 08:16
Good news for the airports indeed, MSE and DSA!
Tom, ive read those too, they have apparently applied for slots here there and everywhere, such as 4 daily Dusseldorf, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Amsterdam! Should be interesting to here what there plans for the place are!
Josh
By: tomfellows - 5th December 2008 at 03:26
Good on Flybe for at least giving Kent International another go. There’s definately a good catchment area for MSE to exploit. You’re probably right about them using it as a tester route to see if expansion is viable.
Expecting an annoucement regarding Gatwick operations this week as it has been reported that slots have been asked for at a few European destinations – Dusseldorf was mentioned on PPRUNE, however that seems a wild outside possibility given the slot restraints there.
Not all positive though as PPRUNE rumours (sorry for these) say that the Norwich base is to close at the end of the current winter season.
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December 4, 2008 at 2:13 am