Aer Lingus Regional

Van.Bosch

How do people think the flybe deal will impact growth at Aer Lingus Regional? Is it a case that Stobart air go to EI with capacity and say "do you have any demand" or do EI approach Stobart?

Either way what type of expansion would you expect to see. The UK regionals are apparently doing very well, will be see more routes/frequencies here or will we see them stretch further afield to places like Eindhoven, Bruges or Antwerp to feed EI to the US?

Jack1985

Van.Bosch wrote: »

How do people think the flybe deal will impact growth at Aer Lingus Regional? Is it a case that Stobart air go to EI with capacity and say "do you have any demand" or do EI approach Stobart?

Either way what type of expansion would you expect to see. The UK regionals are apparently doing very well, will be see more routes/frequencies here or will we see them stretch further afield to places like Eindhoven, Bruges or Antwerp to feed EI to the US?

The brands RE is operating for Aer Lingus/Flybe will very much have in say in what routes are operated, however not in the frequency of flights on those routes with the exception of EI's DUB-BHX/MAN routes. I don't see the new Flybe deal inhibiting growth, rather ensuring there's probably going to be more of it, because RE has a lot more potential now to grow. As you point out the new UK regional's are doing very well, and this can only further enhance RE's prospects as a major EU regional.

For Aer Lingus Regional I see more expansion from DUB/ORK, from SEN under the Flybe brand I think the routes you point out have potential, although maybe Eindhoven would be a bit dodgy for a new entrant considering FR operate thrice daily between EIN and Stansted. Routes under Aer Lingus Regional targeting FR routes between DUB-EMA/LBA shouldn't be ruled out either, I could see a few more summer flights from DUB to smaller French regional airports too, the Rennes route does very well for example - Could see Brest, La Rochelle or even Lorient doing well. Also it's possible with RE's base of routes now, the possible addition of smaller jets for business routes example Basel or Luxemburg could do well for EI with connections.

LXFlyer

Well the first change is taking place in October.

Aer Lingus Regional are dropping Dublin-Southend and Flybe are taking it over.

Interestingly it will be flown twice daily, in the morning using a Southampton based Flybe aircraft, and in the afternoon/evening by Stobart Air.

Growler!!!

Jack1985 wrote: »

the possible addition of smaller jets for business routes example Basel or Luxemburg could do well for EI with connections.

Don't mention the war. EI pilots were unhappy initially when the old RE got the franchise. Many senior F/Os close to command thought if EI got turbo props or regional jets that they would get an early command.

Expansion of the Stobartair fleet is most likely on the cards, a recent pic retweeted by ATR of stobartairs management team at Farnborough indicates talks are afoot.

Dub and ORK have potential for further expansion, SNN also but strong competition is expected with ryanair starting a Man flight from SNN.

SNN saving grace for Stobartair could be the transatlantic flights with many transfers from the 757s in and outbound.

Jack1985

Growler!!! wrote: »

Don't mention the war. EI pilots were unhappy initially when the old RE got the franchise. Many senior F/Os close to command thought if EI got turbo props or regional jets that they would get an early command.

Expansion of the Stobartair fleet is most likely on the cards, a recent pic retweeted by ATR of stobartairs management team at Farnborough indicates talks are afoot.

Dub and ORK have potential for further expansion, SNN also but strong competition is expected with ryanair starting a Man flight from SNN.

SNN saving grace for Stobartair could be the transatlantic flights with many transfers from the 757s in and outbound.

Even if they they evaluated buying some regional jet's there doesn't seem to be a much better option other than the Bombardier CSeries, the Embraer E-Jets don't seem to be doing Flybe any favours these days. There's still lots of scope for growth at home though, personally if they could bring back a ORK-DUB route It would save me so much hassle - Even FR's day return before it was axed was perfect for being in DUB prior to 9.

Growler!!!

146's were looked at in 2008 and engineering staff interviewed but then the dreaded credit crunch killed that off. Flybe released many of their emb crews and are concentrating on the dashes, to the benefit of BA cityflyer.

The new ryanair man route from Shannon has many parallels with the ORK - dub route. I can see both trying to ramp up frequencies, Stobart will back down, Ryan's back down and then no flight to man and the customers losing out.

MuffinsDa

Jack1985 wrote: »

Embraer E-Jets don't seem to be doing Flybe any favours these days

Elaborate?

Flybe is not doing well in general these days but I don't think it has anything to do with "eejits"! They are generally a widely used and successful aircraft, no? Look at BA, Lufthansa, KLM, Air Canada...

Growler!!!

MuffinsDa wrote: »

Elaborate?

Flybe is not doing well in general these days but I don't think it has anything to do with "eejits"! They are generally a widely used and successful aircraft, no? Look at BA, Lufthansa, KLM, Air Canada...

The E jets are not causing Flybes problems per se but they are compounding them. The other operators you mention operate diverse mixed fleets. Compared to large jets the E jet is more economical, however Flybe are finding it more expensive to operate compared to their Dash 8s.

Late last year Flybe announced they were letting a large number of staff go. Approx 120 of these were pilots, all this to curb expenditure. They also brought in cost saving schemes which included mandatory single engine taxi and limiting IAS in the cruise to 215 knots to save fuel on the Dash fleet.

Growler!!!

Found this comparison before in regard to Dash vs ATR.

Dash gets places faster but with an increased fuel burn.