Ryanair opens base at LBA

there goes the neighbourhood.

You know the drift – in the USA, the mantra always used to be “Another full Southwest flight, another deserted trailer park” whereas in the UK it should be “Another full Ryanair flight, another deserted council estate” 😀

Andy

Who operated that?

1L.

Here’s your answer. They used Islanders on the route.

Air Furness, they ran for about 3 years, but packed in during the 3 month strike at the shipyard in the summer of 1988, due to a lot of workers not taking holidays.
the fare to Manchester from Barrow was £13 one way.

From what my colleagues tell me (ex MAN staff) the service had done well to the point it had to be suspended.

Air Furness, they ran for about 3 years, but packed in during the 3 month strike at the shipyard in the summer of 1988, due to a lot of workers not taking holidays. The also did mail work from the IOM and had one mishap when a pilot forgot to switch fule supplies and was forced to land on Southport beach, they didn’t make the high tide line, and the plane was flooded later.
the fare to Manchester from Barrow was £13 one way.
i use Walney now about once a month for return flights to Filton on the BAE Kingair aircraft.

When the direct service operated to Manchester it was a Barrow – Manchester service.

Who operated that?

1L.

About 7 years ago Ryannair had a peak at Walney Airport (near Barrow-in-furness), not sure what that would have been branded as? perhaps Lancaster/Barrow airport.

In fairness Walney has always been referred to as Barrow. When the direct service operated to Manchester it was a Barrow – Manchester service.

Still waiting to see what comes of Carlisle Airport, i have heard of big freight expansion by Eddie Stobart, but not sure what passenger services are planned.

Well, now that development has been approved, Stobart Group has agreed to acquire the Airport from Stobart Air Holdings. This will allow the development of the site as an HQ and haulage facility for the freight company. However, the plans will not allow widescale use as a freight airport as the runway will still not be long enough for anything significant.

The revised development plans make more sense and involve a refurbishment of the current terminal/facilities rather than a wholly new terminal.

However, when you read the development plans put forward by the Airport for the planning application, it suggests that have received some very poor advise in relation to the aviation side of the site, though in truth I don’t think this really matters as it was never about that, the development of the Airport is purely an add-on to the fact it was a the best site for the Stobart Group HQ!!!! The original terms of the lease fot he land, when the Airport was sold by Carlisle City Council, required that the site be retained for aviation use, and so the airport refurb is not much more than that.

like the bit about it being Manchester-Leeds/Bradford, as Manchester is as close to Leeds as Girona is to Barcalona. About 7 years ago Ryannair had a peak at Walney Airport (near Barrow-in-furness), not sure what that would have been branded as? perhaps Lancaster/Barrow airport.
Still waiting to see what comes of Carlisle Airport, i have heard of big freight expansion by Eddie Stobart, but not sure what passenger services are planned.

Jet2 launches a direct attack at Ryanair, although they dont say Ryanair’s name
http://www.jet2.com/News.aspx?id=642

Good for LBA and that is it.

Several things wrong. First of all where did MOL get his “1000” jobs. Did he accidently forget what a cheap scape he is? Wanted the media to massage his already massive big head and HUGE ego. 1000 jobs more like around 300. There is no check in staff (cause he decided you can’t use them and to increase profits you now pay to check in online), and probably be only ONE check in desk to drop the bags off (not that many people will).

2ndly, 1000 jobs for 2 a/c. Yeah and pigs might fly. 2 a/c won’t require 1000 staff. He will contract the dispatch (i would imagine anyway) out to the current holder at LBA, which wont create any extra jobs or maybe just a few 10 lets say. Gate staff will be provided by the agent.

Around 5 check in people (well drop off baggage people), and 5 on the ticket desks to deal with the passenger’s who complain (i would imagine every single one of them). 20 to 40 pilots for the 2 a/c (because DUB, ALC and BCN-100 miles east will be operated by there crew and i think some route will operate on a W pattern with LBA flights in the pattern so DUB-LBA-FAO-LBA-DUB for example) and around 60 to 100 cabin crew.

My maths 10 (agent not FYR) + 30 (average pilots) + 80 (cabin crew)= 120. Not a thousand i think MOL forgot to knock a 0 off.

What annoys me is, why didn’t he negotiate a deal with MME. They are crying out loud of a Schedule LCC and him building a Base up there would get my absolute applause, good on the man put an Airport on the map. The east Yorkshire folk would use FR service from MME then travel over to LBA to use LS, which would effect LS but not that bad. No he decides to come to LBA and totally retract back at MME (how many services does that airport have). It would be nice to see a MME (FR) vs LBA (LS) battle but now we are going to have it in one airport between David and Goliath.

I think Ryanair and Michael O’Leary would have done their homework, and have their reasons for choosing MME over LBA, and I think one of the biggest would be the catchment area that LBA has compared to MME.

The only flights that are done by non based a/c are the Girona, Alicante (Both as before), and the Pisa. The rest (Including the Dublin) are been done by LBA based a/c. Interestingly, despite all the press releases saying there are going to be 2 based a/c, certain times look like they need 3 a/c. Monday morning for example, has DUB at 0615, FAO at 0655 and MJV at 0630.

Good for LBA and that is it.

What annoys me is, why didn’t he negotiate a deal with MME. They are crying out loud of a Schedule LCC and him building a Base up there would get my absolute applause, good on the man put an Airport on the map. The east Yorkshire folk would use FR service from MME then travel over to LBA to use LS, which would effect LS but not that bad. No he decides to come to LBA and totally retract back at MME (how many services does that airport have). It would be nice to see a MME (FR) vs LBA (LS) battle but now we are going to have it in one airport between David and Goliath.

MME, despite being a Peel Airport, do not seem keen to do suitable deals at the moment, hence the effect on bmibaby. I suspect, all things considered, including the strength of the LBA market vs the MME market, then this would, assuming the Airport deal was right, be a no brainer for FR or any airline.

Good for LBA and that is it.

Several things wrong. First of all where did MOL get his “1000” jobs. Did he accidently forget what a cheap scape he is? Wanted the media to massage his already massive big head and HUGE ego. 1000 jobs more like around 300. There is no check in staff (cause he decided you can’t use them and to increase profits you now pay to check in online), and probably be only ONE check in desk to drop the bags off (not that many people will).

2ndly, 1000 jobs for 2 a/c. Yeah and pigs might fly. 2 a/c won’t require 1000 staff. He will contract the dispatch (i would imagine anyway) out to the current holder at LBA, which wont create any extra jobs or maybe just a few 10 lets say. Gate staff will be provided by the agent.

Around 5 check in people (well drop off baggage people), and 5 on the ticket desks to deal with the passenger’s who complain (i would imagine every single one of them). 20 to 40 pilots for the 2 a/c (because DUB, ALC and BCN-100 miles east will be operated by there crew and i think some route will operate on a W pattern with LBA flights in the pattern so DUB-LBA-FAO-LBA-DUB for example) and around 60 to 100 cabin crew.

My maths 10 (agent not FYR) + 30 (average pilots) + 80 (cabin crew)= 120. Not a thousand i think MOL forgot to knock a 0 off.

What annoys me is, why didn’t he negotiate a deal with MME. They are crying out loud of a Schedule LCC and him building a Base up there would get my absolute applause, good on the man put an Airport on the map. The east Yorkshire folk would use FR service from MME then travel over to LBA to use LS, which would effect LS but not that bad. No he decides to come to LBA and totally retract back at MME (how many services does that airport have). It would be nice to see a MME (FR) vs LBA (LS) battle but now we are going to have it in one airport between David and Goliath.

Perhaps, I just hope that Jet2 will be able to survive the kick. I don’t believe Jet2 are doing all that great. Now they got the added direct competition of an aggresive, well run airline that is sitting on a pile of money.

on what evidence do you base your statement on ??

i will for 1 pick whichever has the cheapest flight on the day
neil

It probably isn’t going to affect Jet2 as much as some people think.

I think you are right Paul.

1L.

True, Jet2 has been posting some fantastic profits of late given the current climate. Personally I will still choose to fly Jet2 over Ryanair and I am sure a lot of others will agree!

We’ll agree to disagree, I would pick Ryanair!

I guess it depends whether the LBA market is loyal to it’s local airline, or to the cheaper of the two on the day they book.

Yes, but also consider this… Ryanair are only basing 2 aircraft, which means they can’t operate 12 routes daily and are hardly in a position to wipe Jet2 from the face of the airport like they did with Aer Arran. Also a lot of traffic on Jet2’s routes comes through Jet2 Holidays, so those passengers will be flying Jet2 anyway.

It probably isn’t going to affect Jet2 as much as some people think.

Paul

I will still choose to fly Jet2 over Ryanair and I am sure a lot of others will agree!

I guess it depends whether the LBA market is loyal to it’s local airline, or to the cheaper of the two on the day they book.

1L.

From what I’m lead to believe they’re not doing all that bad!

Paul

True, Jet2 has been posting some fantastic profits of late given the current climate. Personally I will still choose to fly Jet2 over Ryanair and I am sure a lot of others will agree!

I don’t believe Jet2 are doing all that great.

From what I’m lead to believe they’re not doing all that bad!

Paul

Fantastic news, will give Jet2 a much needed kick up the rear! 🙂

Perhaps, I just hope that Jet2 will be able to survive the kick. I don’t believe Jet2 are doing all that great. Now they got the added direct competition of an aggresive, well run airline that is sitting on a pile of money.

Fantastic news, will give Jet2 a much needed kick up the rear! 🙂

Soon, you will be charges for entering the airport, charged for leaving it, charged for using the toilets and charges for asking where they are.
Oh… and charged for the toilet roll and water used to flush said toilet and wash your hands.
To say nothing what charges lay in store for you when you want to check in and board your flight.

Ryanair is in town.

I was jesting in my last post, as I am in this one.