trb10 From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2004, 178 posts, RR: 0 Posted (2 years 4 months 1 week 5 days 2 hours ago) and read 2653 times:
A sad day as ASW have announced from the end of this month the route from the Southwest to Gatwick will cease as they say it's not viable. Will Flybe perhaps start the route from Ext? http://www.airsouthwest.com/news/shownews.php?ne_id=296
seansasLCY From Hong Kong, joined Mar 2007, 717 posts, RR: 0 Reply 1, posted (2 years 4 months 1 week 5 days 1 hour ago) and read 2579 times:
Another shot at LCY perhaps?
I've used this route many times and it is often a lot busier than the Flybe flights and usually the ticket is more expensive. Its a real shame to see this route go as we need more connections to Cornwall not fewer.
PlymSpotter From Spain, joined Jun 2004, 11122 posts, RR: 63 Reply 3, posted (2 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 23 hours ago) and read 2380 times:
Unfortunately it's been known that this was coming for a while now. Still a major blow to the Plymouth economy, and no doubt BE will soon inflate the fares on the NQY route to a more than profitable level. They've run their flights at a significant loss since they began, with this being the desired affect.
UAL777UK From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2005, 3355 posts, RR: 1 Reply 4, posted (2 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 2274 times:
Very sad indeed. If only certain people had the foresight years ago to relocate PLY airport so that jets could be accomodated. It would have bolstered tourism and business economy. Stupid in my view.
skipness1E From United Kingdom, joined Aug 2007, 2374 posts, RR: 0 Reply 5, posted (2 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 22 hours ago) and read 2213 times:
In fairness since the Eastern takeover, there's been a fair old price hike at Air Southwest so they can't be too surprised if people chose to fly on a cheaper, faster option, on a bigger and more modern aircraft to Newquay. Loyalty and local roots aren't going to save you if you get beaten in the market.
trb10 From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2004, 178 posts, RR: 0 Reply 6, posted (2 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 21 hours ago) and read 2183 times:
It's obvious Flybe will ramp their prices up now they have no competition. Their cheapest return without baggage is currently £65.98 What's the betting that's soon £80+?
PlymSpotter From Spain, joined Jun 2004, 11122 posts, RR: 63 Reply 7, posted (2 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 20 hours ago) and read 2093 times:
Quoting trb10 (Reply 6):
It's obvious Flybe will ramp their prices up now they have no competition. Their cheapest return without baggage is currently £65.98 What's the betting that's soon £80+?
That's already an increase on the fare I was quoted a few weeks ago. I wouldn't be surprised if the BE flights don't hang around as a year round service either; without the price war which made flights more affordable, a large percentage of the current travelling public would use alternative options. Now that there is no competition BE will either inflate pricing to a profitable level or use the aircraft for more lucrative routes - a one aircraft base at NQY is hardly ideal from a cost or utilisation perspective, and they have already tried and failed to offer other year round routes from the airport.
eljonno From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2008, 148 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (2 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 1762 times:
I have used Air Southwest on this route many times over the last few years, since I have been at university in Falmouth. They are a great little airline: always (jn my experience) punctual, with very friendly staff on the ground and in the air. I am going to book one last flight home to honour the exceptional service I have had from them over the years.
What are their plans for fleet utilisation now they have closed their biggest route then? Losing three flights a day is going to leave a big gap in their schedules I should imagine...
PlymSpotter From Spain, joined Jun 2004, 11122 posts, RR: 63 Reply 9, posted (2 years 4 months 1 week 4 days 3 hours ago) and read 1758 times:
Quoting eljonno (Reply 8): What are their plans for fleet utilisation now they have closed their biggest route then? Losing three flights a day is going to leave a big gap in their schedules I should imagine...
More charter work and more of the Dashes operating for Eastern on their routes to Scotland.
PlymSpotter From Spain, joined Jun 2004, 11122 posts, RR: 63 Reply 11, posted (2 years 4 months 1 week 4 days ago) and read 1612 times:
Quoting Giancavia (Reply 10): Couldnt they run the route into LUTON, Much cheaper.. close to London.. atleast keeps Plymouth connected.
A good 50% of the business and leisure passengers using the service care about onward connections, which Gatwick is useful for, whilst the opportunities at Luton are minimal. If the entry into GDS had been made prior to the demise of their LCY route then I believe we would be seeing it surviving in place of LGW, which I actually thought was the eventual idea of it being launched. Most of the through ticketing options involve onward flights with KLM, for which LCY would have been the perfect transfer point with it's multiple frequent flights, whilst BRS is less desirable with fewer options and road transfer between LGW and LHR makes it rather pointless.
Personally I think there are two other connections which the city should be aiming for instead of trying to cling onto a London link: DUB with Aer Lingus Regional on the ATR 72-500, and CDG with Airlinair for Air France on the ATR 42-500. Both can use the airport and both would bring the benefits of connecting 500,000+ people in the airport's direct catchment area with international destinations worldwide. If London is to be retained, then I think it would be best served by either BA Cityflyer or CityJet in order to maximise onward connections, although the former would I think require a runway extension.
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