Now its official i can start to comment on it!
EMERALD AIRWAYS RETURNS TO ISLAND
08 January 2004
EMERALD Airways looks set to take to the skies between the Isle of Man and Liverpool once again.
The company’s chief executive Mick O’Brien confirmed the route would probably be resurrected towards the end of March.
Emerald will join EuroManx on the route and its arrival will coincide with British Airways’ withdrawal.
There hasn’t been an Emerald passenger aircraft flying to or from the Island since the company pulled out in 1999, leaving only its freight service, after operating for passenger services for three years.
This week, he said the company hoped to start flying to Liverpool on March 28 with its own low-cost fares. He said three ATP aircraft would operate, each one with a 64-passenger capacity.
It could mean up to 20 new jobs, said Mr O’Brien, but they would be Liverpool-based staff. He did not, however, rule out the possibility of more jobs in the Island, where Emerald already deals with the handling for it’s own freight service, Aer Arran and FlyKeen.
‘We have been talking to the airport management and government for a while and seemingly we have a position where we have a green light,’ said Mr O’Brien.
He added it would be subject to the Civil Aviation Authority granting a licence, but Mr O’Brien said he didn’t envisage a problem because when Emerald pulled out of the route it suspended its licence instead of cancelling it.
Mr O’Brien said talks were ongoing with government and that was another consideration.
It is understood the talks are linked to the capacity contribution grant, set up by government last year to encourage lower air fares and higher capacity seating. The grant was given to the Birmingham and Dublin routes last year.
Transport Minister John Shimmin said: ‘We have been in discussions with Emerald Airways and continue to have dialogue with existing and possible future operators.
‘The capacity contribution grant is being considered for potential expansion however negotiations are still going on within the Treasury and those airlines affected.’
Mr O’Brien said more information about fares and frequency would be released later this month.
He said there would probably be five flights a day and added: ‘It will be a low-cost, web-based reservation system.’
By: EGNM - 12th January 2004 at 14:48
Yea, as i said i aint the bean counter – more will be revelaed at some point in the close future!
By: Mark L - 12th January 2004 at 11:30
Ah, £30 each way is slightly more realistic there I think! They were offering the £59 ones in a deal recently, every lunchtime flight was guarenteed at £59. Currently going at £69 now though.
By: EGNM - 11th January 2004 at 23:35
i was meaning under £30 e/w, prob around £25. Was just how i was looking at it. To be honest i never saw the BA flights at £59 return??
ATP = @64 seats?
ATR-42 = @42 seats?
Similar operating costs on such a short leg (less than 30mins). Roughly a 3rd more seats than the Euromanx so fares could be undercut by 1/3rd? Pure speculation on my count may I add…
By: Mark L - 11th January 2004 at 23:03
£30 return! Your gonna need something bigger than an ATP for that!
By: EGNM - 11th January 2004 at 14:29
Suggestions and rumours are floating about left right and centre mate – can’t/wont comment until things come out in the open!
We have still got a couple the GPO flights :-
IOM-LPL-EDI-LPL-IOM
BOH-EMA-BOH
NCL-BRS / BRS-LPL (2 a/c)
By: Moondance - 11th January 2004 at 14:19
There’s a thread on pprune suggesting that Emerald may declare a redundancy on 748 & Shed fleets, due to the loss of GPO mail contracts to Channel Express – unsettling times for the employees?
By: EGNM - 11th January 2004 at 14:13
not announced yet mate – i would hazard a guess at least half of that
By: Mark L - 10th January 2004 at 19:38
How much are the fares going to be starting at? I think the lowest BA ones were £59?
By: EAL_KING - 10th January 2004 at 18:16
here is the website
http://www.iomonline.co.im/ViewArticle2.aspx?SectionID=870&ArticleID=720651
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January 10, 2004 at 5:51 pm