Another major blow for Waterford! Aer Lingus to stop flights to UK from Jan 2013!

reni10

According to Liz Reddy no more flights from Waterford to the UK with Aer Lingus:
https://twitter.com/LilyReddy/status/265407631668178945

So only 1 service to Birmingham with Flybe left!

Thats probably it then, airport closes shortly after Jan 2013 as I dont see how it can keep running with just one route?

Waterford is a total mess with more and more essential services leaving every other week...

Statement direct from Aer Arann/Lingus now:
http://www.aerarann.com/rssReader/NewsReader_2012.aspx#05112012110824

lassykk

I really hope Flybe/anyone step in and take on the London route at a minimum.

This is an unbelievably good service for travelling to London.

road_high

Very dissapointing news. Then again I've never used the airport. Ironicly with the motorway to Dublin and it's choice/value of routes it is hard for a small airport like Waterford to compete I think.

Dunmoreroader

keep thinking that way and you'll be driving to Dublin for everything pretty soon coz there'll be sweet f.a. left in the southeast soon.

Speak Now

Dreadful news, always found the flights well worth the few extra quid for the convenience

road_high

Dunmoreroader wrote: »

keep thinking that way and you'll be driving to Dublin for everything pretty soon coz there'll be sweet f.a. left in the southeast soon.

Not pretty soon, already do mate. If the business wasn't there can hardly expect a private co to keep the service going, sadly.
They did the same in Galway last year. It's a cut throat game.

.Henry Sellers.

That's crazy with just one route left next year,wonder what will go next?

wellboytoo

Stobarts ownership of Southend spelled the death knell for Aer Arann out of Waterford, they had 5000 pax a month mainly on Luton, but pushed all resources into Southend, which is great if you are going to central London but a disaster if you are going anywhere else,ie Oxford or west London.
A new carrier if and hopefully Graham will pull one off, will follow the passengers and not another agenda, and will have planes that don't go tech every second day!
A lot of pain now for a short time but long term it maybe for the better.

rude awakening

.Henry Sellers. wrote: »

That's crazy with just one route left next year,wonder what will go next?

The Wateford Dublin rail line will be next.
We wont be able to get in or out of the City

reni10

If Flybe dont step in then I doubt any other airline will so that will basically be the end of Waterford airport.

Would there be a private flight business idea in this that would be prepared to do a once a day flight from Waterford at 7am into London City Airport and then returning at 7pm for about €150 return with about 30 seats meaning if they fill it they would get about €5k per day?

Now all they need to do is close the M9 and Waterford is back in 1982.

b0ardsUser

Disappointed by this as I frequently use this service, but it's privately run and they're obviously not getting enough of a profit to justify keeping it there. Whenever I was on the route both to and from the UK it's always been full.

Aerohead

Guys you are living in cuckaoo land if you think another airline will come in and take up the routes, there is no airline out there at present, Galway tried everthing they could to get other airlines in when Aer Arann pulled the plug there with no luck. Stobarts involvement in Aer Arann has in my opinion caused a lot of this , I read recently that Aer Arann flights from Kerry to Dublin are operating with just a handful of passengers on board guess Kerry will be the next one for the axe.

reni10

How is Kerry Airport still even operating?

Surely Waterford would be busier then Kerry?

comeraghs

Kerry get heaps of grants from the government! Waterford doesn't.

reni10

comeraghs wrote: »

Kerry get heaps of grants from the government! Waterford doesn't.

Why would they receive grants?

Surely it should work on a demand basis what a stupid country this really is...

comeraghs

Waterford isn't regarded as far enough from Dublin.

Neworder79

reni10 wrote: »

How is Kerry Airport still even operating?

Surely Waterford would be busier then Kerry?

No, Waterford catered for less than 90,000 passengers in recent years, Kerry closer to 400,000:

Kerry has a jet capable runway and services...
Kerry has Ryanair 737 routes (Alicante, Faro, Frankfurt-Hahn, London-Luton, London-Stansted)
Kerry has a world renowned tourism product and marketing.
It's far enough from Dublin, and the alternatives modes slow enough to make flying viable, therefore Aer Arann get PSO funding to operate the route along with Donegal (EU rules set distance and limits).

Kerry get heaps of grants from the government! Waterford doesn't.

Not true, both Kerry and Waterford can claim operational subsidy when they make losses from the Governments OPEX fund.
Kerry does have Dublin PSO, but most of that goes to the airline, and in recent years Waterfords OPEX funding has been higher than Kerry as Kerry can pay it's way with higher passenger numbers, Waterford doesn't generate enough income to cover operation.

Surely it should work on a demand basis what a stupid country this really is...

If demand was there Waterford would have grown, though Aer Arann strategy hasn't helped their case. Kerry is filling 200 seater jets while Waterford services struggled to fill 72 seater cheaper Turboprops. As you can see from some of the posts above even locals aren't using it. I think there are many reasons:

- Dublin and Cork have far larger offering and now easily accessible.
- It's location isn't that helpful for north/west Munster towns, little difference in driving from Kilkenny/Carlow
- Historical lack of routes, frequency, perception of delays in poor weather on small aircraft
- Decline in the local economy, very little new investment in region to support business travel
- Runway limits business to a few small carriers, market is driven by the major Airline brands and route/fare competition

I'm not trying to be down on he airport, really hope they get a reliable carrier like FlyBE in and restore a double daily London service which should be the bedrock of any schedule. But It's too simplistic to blame this on the Gubberment when the airport would be closed without the operating funds it's getting.

comeraghs

http://www.flybe.com/#

please consider FLYBE from Waterford when booking flights to the UK. Hopefully they might replace AerLingus to London.

jonnyfingers

Really disappointed by this news. The Waterford route was the only thing that made my weekend trips home handy. Now I'll have to fly to Cork or Dublin and somehow get from there to Waterford. Not worth for a quick trip home.

Sinall

I also come home for weekends a couple of times a month and am really disappointed to hear this news. Fingers crossed someone else takes the route over!

Jambo

I'm really shocked and dismayed at this news - both on a personal and a business level - my business relies heavily on the current services to Southend and Manchester from Waterford, using Dublin or Cork now will mean a lot less productivity , more wasted time and added expense.

Whatever were the selling points were that the IDA and Enterprise Ireland were using for Waterford I am sure this decision has now knocked a few points off our attractivness and put us even further down the list for attracting inward investment into the region

RobitTV

I Honestly cannot believe this has happened im quite upset and disappointed to be honest.

Aer lingus as usual thinking of themselves, they couldn't come up with other plans obviously.

Well that's Waterford hopes of expansion and really hopes of keeping itself alive over to a extent.

For a region of a population of over 500,000 people its hard to believe we will have no routes into one of the worlds largest cities that is important for Work and business also.

Plus the route into the UK's 2nd largest city, Manchester.

Aer lingus have let the Region down and im annoyed they couldn't of bothered to come up with any ideas on how to attract more customers and business.

Aer lingus at the end of the day its your fault! - Prices that would make your eyes fall out for a start, No wonder less and less started flying with you from Waterford.

Im totally sad for the Airport itself its had way to much bad news since its starting's 30 years ago

decies

John Deasy coming up on WLR about same.

seven_eleven

extend the fuppin runway and give us ryanair!

RobitTV

Please please please! Flybe i beg of you! Save waterford airport!

kensutz

RobitTV wrote: »

Plus the route into the UK's 2nd largest city, Manchester.

Birmingham!

Jambo

decies wrote: »

John Deasy coming up on WLR about same.

He is still about ? I thought he suffered the same fate a the missing postman !

CardBordWindow

seven_eleven wrote: »

extend the fuppin runway and give us ryanair!

Are they not doing that at the moment??

Trotter

One thing after another. We'll no doubt get a visit from the minister who'll tell us things are tough and that'll be that. There'll be a few good photo opportunities no doubt...

kensutz

No doubt they'll be all smiles too while posing for photos. All politicians sicken me.

seven_eleven

CardBordWindow wrote: »

Are they not doing that at the moment??

Last I heard of that was about 4 years ago.

Psychedelic

CardBordWindow wrote: »

Are they not doing that at the moment??

No, and this is one thing the Government actually has the power to do, if they provided the funding for the runway extension. It would create jobs in construction phase, and attract new airlines & routes which would in turn create and support new jobs.

Dum_Dum

Aer Lingus Regional turn out to be not very regional.

wellboytoo

Dum_Dum wrote: »

Aer Lingus Regional turn out to be not very regional.

In fairness to Aer Lingus this is an Aer Aran decision which is controlled by a bunch of truckers .whose only interest is getting Southend airport numbers up.the southeast have voted with their feet and resisted going to Southend in numbers that went to Luton.

dukedalton

RobitTV wrote: »

I Honestly cannot believe this has happened im quite upset and disappointed to be honest.

Aer lingus as usual thinking of themselves, they couldn't come up with other plans obviously.

Aer lingus have let the Region down and im annoyed they couldn't of bothered to come up with any ideas on how to attract more customers and business.

Aer lingus at the end of the day its your fault! - Prices that would make your eyes fall out for a start, No wonder less and less started flying with you from Waterford.

I have to laugh at posts like this.

Aer Lingus is a private company. It exists to make money. They're not flying out of the goodness of their heart. Clearly, it wasn't making money on this service, so it pulled it. I'm sure if they flew loss-making routes and ended up bankrupt they would get very little sympathy from anyone.

I disagree with your assertion that "it couldn't be bothered to come up with any ideas on how to attract customers and business"- that is it's business. There clearly isn't a market for its service.

I sympathize with people affected by the loss of the service, but you can't blame the company for pulling a loss-making service.

wellboytoo

dukedalton wrote: »

I have to laugh at posts like this.

Aer Lingus is a private company. It exists to make money. They're not flying out of the goodness of their heart. Clearly, it wasn't making money on this service, so it pulled it. I'm sure if they flew loss-making routes and ended up bankrupt they would get very little sympathy from anyone.

I disagree with your assertion that "it couldn't be bothered to come up with any ideas on how to attract customers and business"- that is it's business. There clearly isn't a market for its service.

I sympathize with people affected by the loss of the service, but you can't blame the company for pulling a loss-making service.

One more time it was loss making cos Aer Aran fcucked it up.they tried to send people where they did not want to go

Jamie2k9

The routes were doing well its just RE have sold the aircraft no dought to pay for there 6 new ATR72-600 which will be based at ORK and DUB. This had nothing to do with Aer Lingus so stop going out about them. This was always coming since they moved the route proftiable route to SEN.

The Wateford Dublin rail line will be next.

Off topic but there will be major inprovments to services to Dublin by late Jan, a slight reduction on off peak servicess but nothing major. Expect anything up 15 minutes dropped of the current journeys.

RobitTV

dukedalton wrote: »

I have to laugh at posts like this.

Aer Lingus is a private company. It exists to make money. They're not flying out of the goodness of their heart. Clearly, it wasn't making money on this service, so it pulled it. I'm sure if they flew loss-making routes and ended up bankrupt they would get very little sympathy from anyone.

I disagree with your assertion that "it couldn't be bothered to come up with any ideas on how to attract customers and business"- that is it's business. There clearly isn't a market for its service.

I sympathize with people affected by the loss of the service, but you can't blame the company for pulling a loss-making service.

Well maybe if Aer arann didn't mess it up none of this would of happened in the first place and then Aer lingus came along and didn't make the situation improve.

The Routes they had were non-profitable since the start, I mean what's the point of Southend it was clear it wasn't as profitable compared to Luton, Luton was the money maker here, they made a bad choice cutting the Luton route.

Yes it's a business but who going to fly with them with the prices they had to offer?

Jamie2k9

Aer lingus came along and didn't make the situation improve

Aer Lingus increased passengers on all 3 routes this summer compared to summer 2011.

dukedalton

RobitTV wrote: »

Yes it's a business but who going to fly with them with the prices they had to offer?

9.5 million did in 2011

I'm not being facetious about this, but the airlines have actuarial minds greater than myself and
and I daresay anyone else on here. I find it hard to believe they would walk away (and no other airline take up the route) if there was a way to run it profitably.

RobitTV

dukedalton wrote: »

9.5 million did in 2011

Yes but Aer lingus regional for some reason don't seem to be cheap and that is reflected in the 23% drop in passengers at Waterford in 2011

Look at the prices from Waterford and compare with Ryanair from cork or Dublin, many people wouldn't pay The prices at aer lingus regional.

RobitTV

dukedalton wrote: »

9.5 million did in 2011

I'm not being facetious about this, but the airlines have actuarial minds greater than myself and
and I daresay anyone else on here. I find it hard to believe they would walk away (and no other airline take up the route) if there was a way to run it profitably.

I just hope Flybe may help out and fly to London again Atleast

dukedalton

RobitTV wrote: »

Yes but Aer lingus regional for some reason don't seem to be cheap and that is reflected in the 23% drop in passengers at Waterford in 2011

Look at the prices from Waterford and compare with Ryanair from cork or Dublin, many people wouldn't pay The prices at aer lingus regional.

Well none of us here can definitively give the reasons for that, but I'd guess it's that the demand was weak. Surely if there was a profit to be made Ryanair would be showing some interest?

RobitTV

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

Aer Lingus increased passengers on all 3 routes this summer compared to summer 2011.

Well in 2011 there was a significant drop of 23% in passenger numbers, which is quite disappointing.

RobitTV

dukedalton wrote: »

Well none of us here can definitively give the reasons for that, but I'd guess it's that the demand was weak. Surely if there was a profit to be made Ryanair would be showing some interest?

Ryanair would Never come here at the moment, Michael o Leary himself said he hates regional airports and wants them gone.

Also the other reason is Ryanair don't have the correct aircraft to land at Waterford, 737's cannot land at Waterford in the current runaway length.

washman3

We often get Martin Cullen apologists on the Waterford forum. Maybe they can give him a ring at his mansion in sunny Florida and see if he can get it fixhed.:D

RobitTV

washman3 wrote: »

We often get Martin Cullen apologists on the Waterford forum. Maybe they can give him a ring at his mansion in sunny Florida and see if he can get it fixhed.:D

Oh yeah he's the man for the job, our hero.

Jamie2k9

Well in 2011 there was a significant drop of 23% in passenger numbers, which is quite disappointing.

I know that but if you look at the UK CAA stats you will see Aer Lingus have increases monthly passengers over 2011 levels since they started.

SweetCaliber

I thought Aer Lingus were doing good business at Waterford Airport.

However, such a shame, another business closes down.

Perhaps if the government copped on and funded the Airport maybe just maybe it could be rebuilt.

Such a disgrace. I'm sure those who frequently fly from Waterford will miss it. I'll sure miss the planes flying over my house

RobitTV

Jamie2k9 wrote: »

I know that but if you look at the UK CAA stats you will see Aer Lingus have increases monthly passengers over 2011 levels since they started.

Well if that's the case then Aer lingus have a lot of explaining to do, if numbers were increasing then what was their reason for pulling out completely?

With the prices they were charging surely it would of been next to impossible not to make some money.

Jamie2k9

Well if that's the case then Aer lingus have a lot of explaining to do, if numbers were increasing then what was their reason for pulling out completely?

This has nothing to do with Aer Lingus. This is Aer Aranns decision, Aer Lingus only receive a small fee for every seat sold and Aer Arann gets the rest. The routes were proforming well its Aer Arann have sold the aircraft based there and I think one other aircraft. Aer Lingus have very little say in operations its all Aer Arann. Aer Aranns press relase is full of excuses and you could ask any RE employee and they will say its nothing to do with the bad proforming routes. As I said 6 new aircraft have to be paied for.

Rumour has it that EI suggested to RE to return the 2 daily LTN and drop SEN to 3/4 weekly.

Aer Lingus only sell tickets and not much else.

One thing I would say if this happened in the west TD would be up in arms about it but down here nobody cares.