Continental to launch new service to Edinburgh!

The only direct service to Europe BA run from EDI is to CDG, 3 times daily with the ERJ. Duo are setting up a base there later this year however, Oslo, Milan, and somewhere else I think.

Originally posted by Duesseldwarf
Can anyone explain to me why PIK had to be used for all transatlantic traffic to/from Scotland. I remember the ruling being removed, allowing airlines to operate into GLA but I don’t know why the ruling was there in the first place. Ren? Bhoy? Anyone?

Cheers!
Dean.

Yea, it’s a similar case to that of Shannon, really nothing more than a protection racket for an airport with a long runway and good all year round weather.

Originally posted by Saab 2000
Ah right I see, maybe Scotland should have its own trans-Atlantic airline although it does seem pretty well covered for services to North America with American carriers in general.

BA’s European network from Scotland does seem substancial though, doesn’t it?

BA has a European network from Scotland?

I don’t think they have any direct services to mainland Europe from Glasgow, they have one or two that go via Manchester/Birmingham to CDG, MAD, ZRH and FRA, but I don’t think they much more direct from Embra, either. (in fact, the only nonstop scheduled flight from Glasgow to mainland Europe is easyjet to Amsterdam!!!)

As for Transatlantic Services ex-Scotland, the CO flight(s) to EWR are the only scheduled year round service(s). The other routes (AC GLA-YYZ and AA GLA-ORD) are Summer only, which, as far as I make it, is hardly ‘well covered’.

As regards Dusseldwarf’s query re PIK departures, I really don’t know… The answer is proabably shrouded back in the mists of time, although, if I had to hazard a guess, I’d say it probably dates back to the same era as all Transatlantic flights from Ireland having to stop at Shannon to refuel…

Can anyone explain to me why PIK had to be used for all transatlantic traffic to/from Scotland. I remember the ruling being removed, allowing airlines to operate into GLA but I don’t know why the ruling was there in the first place. Ren? Bhoy? Anyone?

Cheers!
Dean.

Ah right I see, maybe Scotland should have its own trans-Atlantic airline although it does seem pretty well covered for services to North America with American carriers in general.

BA’s European network from Scotland does seem substancial though, doesn’t it?

Yes these offers do come along every so often, generally, or at least when I’m pricing flights, you will more or less add the cost of the LHR transfer to the cost of the transatlantic flight.

I’m not sure of the conditions on the offer, but BA are advertising “free” connections from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Newcastle, and Aberdeen to Heathrow with certain long haul flights.
Also CO operate the 757 from BHX to EWR.

Originally posted by Saab 2000
But that is the same with any European country really. Just look at France with Air France’s main hub at CDG. Is it profitable for an airline to operate two or more miniture hubs nowadays?

Yes that’s true, what I was alluding to was the fact the (UK) Scottish travellers to the USA from Glasgow have no option but to give their money to a “foreign” airline. I’d have thought BA would be trying harder to tap that market. Unfortunately it normally costs more to fly BA via LHR than it does to go from GLA to the US on a US carrier.

Continental have now confirmed that the GLA/EDI services to Newark will both be operated by ETOPS 752’s all year round. The 764 will not return for the summer season unless there is a case of “exceptional demand”

This is a blow to cargo ops at GLA which were able to utilise the larger hold of the 764 for direct GLA-USA cargo movements.

The final CO 764 movement from GLA is expected to be late October, although there are also rumours of a 763 operating over the winter until the EDI route comes online in June 2004. 🙁

But that is the same with any European country really. Just look at France with Air France’s main hub at CDG. Is it profitable for an airline to operate two or more miniture hubs nowadays?

BA’s transatlantic hub is and always will be Heathrow. They are happy to bring the UK travelling public through this congested centre and then feed them onto to the regions.

It says a lot about BA as the “national” airline that the only transatlantic options from Scotland are operated by north american carriers (holiday charters excepted). I expect this also applies to most UK regional airports. Flying to the US with BA normally means adding on the cost of a shuttle flight to LHR for those of us who may wish to choose “British” when off to America.

To be honest it’s generally more cost effective and convenient to fly Continental, AA, Air Canada etc or even Aer Lingus (via DUB) from Scotland than BA to the USA.

Er…. Did I mention KLM via AMS ? That’s usually better value as well. Also Icelandair from GLA. :rolleyes:

12 Years ago, when BA first started flying to JFK from GLA it was a Tristar, although, as BA phased them out, it became a 757 route (I think it had an enroute stop at BOS, too, at one stage), however, when CO started the EWR flight, BA pulled out of transatlantic ops ex-GLA altogether. 🙁

Continental also operate the 757 between LGW and CLE.

I think a 757 from EDI and a 757 from GLA makes better sense than one 767 from GLA. The passenger gets more convenience and options, and both airports remain served on the route.

As an aircraft fan, of course we want to see 764s running from our local airports, but airlines run for the benefit of passengers not us I’m afraid. If GLA gets downgraded to a 757 as a result of this, I would suggest thats a good thing because the main point is:

Both GLA and EDI would have a direct link to EWR which is better than just one airport.

Great for Edinburgh with the new Continental route but alas I have my fears. AA have already reduced their service to GLA this year to just 13 weeks . Does any one want to hazard a guess on how many of their passengers end up in Edinburgh and how economical it would be for them taking the direct route. Also the same could apply to Continentals GLA route ( how many passengers) . I do beleive that some where along the line GLA services will take a hit as a result of this.

Regards
AW

It was Air 2000 that really challenged Prestwick’s Trans Atlantic status by offering “direct” flights from GLA to the USA in the early 90’s.

The “direct” flights of course had to touch down at Prestwick briefly before leaving again. As soon as this ruling was thrown out, Northwest moved it’s operation to Glasgow. BA, Air Canada, United American and others followed suit either moving from PIK or starting afresh at Glasgow.

Of the bunch only Continental have a year round service now. BA and United pulled out altogether. Air Canada only do summer as does AA.

I am glad to see that Edinburgh is getting more international services. I agree with Renfrew that Edinburgh is definitely being favoured at the moment but I will say that for many years Edinburgh was in Glasgows shadow. I consider Turnhouse as my spiritual home having spent what seems like half my life spotting there (I even worked as a concrete labourer when they built the runway there in 75/76) and I always felt that BAA always used to spend the bare minimum on it (EG lack of a full length parallel taxiway). I also feel that one solution is for both airports to break away from BAA and operate independently. Still its a far cry from the days when all transatlantic flights had to arrive and depart from Prestwick for the whole of Scotland. I remember permission being granted for Two Pan Am 707s being given permission to fly to Edinburgh but having to transit through Prestwick

Originally posted by steve rowell
I didn’t know airlines used the 757 across the Atlantic

Continental do in winter season from GLA, I think Air 2000 used to as well to Florida?

Not bad, yet another flight added to the ever growing atlantic crossing. By the way just confirming, bmi already fly to Chicago and Washington D.C. dont they?

I didn’t know airlines used the 757 across the Atlantic