Waterford Airport.

notharrypotter · 26-11-2014 11:35am

Personally I have no interest in duty-free facilities, so that bit makes no difference to me. In fact, it annoys me that in most airports, you are dumped out of security straight into a drink-and-fags supermarket!

dublin/parking

From reading these items pay for a lot of the airports bills.
Hence you get a "cheap" ticket to fly.

fricatus · 26-11-2014 12:23pm

notharrypotter wrote: »

From reading these items pay for a lot of the airports bills.
Hence you get a "cheap" ticket to fly.

Does anyone know the situation regarding duty-free facilities at WAT? I don't recall ever seeing these.

I guess they must pay a lot of bills - why else would airports waste valuable real estate on them? In that case, is there some reason why there wouldn't be such a shop?

notharrypotter · 26-11-2014 12:37pm

"Duty Free" is only for passengers leaving the EU.
Everything else is marketed as being cheaper than town.
Open to correction on the latter.

fricatus · 26-11-2014 12:47pm

notharrypotter wrote: »

"Duty Free" is only for passengers leaving the EU.
Everything else is marketed as being cheaper than town.
Open to correction on the latter.

You're right of course. I think we were all just using the term in its loosest sense!

Meathlass · 26-11-2014 12:48pm

notharrypotter wrote: »

"Duty Free" is only for passengers leaving the EU.
Everything else is marketed as being cheaper than town.
Open to correction on the latter.

Yes, sorry, I used 'Duty Free' as synonymous with shopping airside.

Definitely cheaper for make up in my experience, there can be huge savings on cosmetics and perfumes. I saved €13 buying foundation last week over high street prices. Alcohol seems to have a smaller savings margin. Don't know for cigarettes.

JCX BXC · 01-12-2014 2:30am

Still no Manchester service. Looks like its gone

b757 · 01-12-2014 2:31am

Carnacalla wrote: »

Still no Manchester service. Looks like its gone

Flybe summer schedule hasn't been released yet. There is still a possibility.

looksee · 01-12-2014 9:32am

One of the reasons I like Waterford airport is because it is 'less frills'. Check-in and the cafe and security and the departure lounge are all within 20 paces of each other. You can be off the plane and in your car in less than 5 minutes. While I appreciate the necessity in bigger airports, I like the absence of 'being processed' and the whole relaxed experience. I have done the Waterford/Birmingham/Leicester trip numerous times and it really is the easiest bit of travelling. (:eek: I remember the days when Kilkenny/Leicester took 24 hours by bus and ferry!

)

JCX BXC · 10-12-2014 2:00am

b757 wrote: »

Flybe summer schedule hasn't been released yet. There is still a possibility.

Yet that possibility has gone very slim. Knock-Manchester isn't bookable next summer so that leaves a hint that they may yet be announced.

Waterford-Birmingham is still 4x weekly next year, but that is quite low. Hopefully Waterford may find a london route some-time soon though.

dzilla · 10-12-2014 6:16pm

Funding Announcement
http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/regional-airports-get-additional-2m-in-funding-654135.html

JCX BXC · 10-12-2014 6:19pm

dzilla wrote: »

Funding Announcement
http://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/regional-airports-get-additional-2m-in-funding-654135.html

Waterford will need a lot more than a flight 4 times a week to become self sufficient.

b757 · 10-12-2014 6:24pm

Carnacalla wrote: »

Waterford will need a lot more than a flight 4 times a week to become self sufficient.

By the looks of it today they might not even have a flight 4x per week.

Possibility of BHX being dropped by BE.

Plane Fan · 10-12-2014 6:28pm

Apparently WAT to BHX is being suspended from March 2015

tankbarry · 11-12-2014 2:00pm

It is true

dzilla · 11-12-2014 3:27pm

:mad::mad::mad::(

man98 · 11-12-2014 6:36pm

dzilla wrote: »

:mad::mad::mad::(

I feel your pain man. Now let's hope there's good reason for FlyBe pulling the plug.

larrymiller · 11-12-2014 6:38pm

So where can you fly to from Waterford?

dzilla · 11-12-2014 6:53pm

man98 wrote: »

I feel your pain man. Now let's hope there's good reason for FlyBe pulling the plug.

Disgusted I was genuinely expecting good news in recent weeks

dzilla · 11-12-2014 6:54pm

larrymiller wrote: »

So where can you fly to from Waterford?

Birmungham at the moment

JCX BXC · 11-12-2014 7:05pm

larrymiller wrote: »

So where can you fly to from Waterford?

And as of april, it looks like nowhere.

air2000 · 11-12-2014 7:24pm

Although Birmingham was performing well Flybe are focusing on high yeld business routes by increasing their frequency.

This means routes like Waterford and Knock are dropped.

Not great timing with the lead up to Christmas but at least it operates for another few months.

man98 · 11-12-2014 7:34pm

air2000 wrote: »

Although Birmingham was performing well Flybe are focusing on high yeld business routes by increasing their frequency.

This means routes like Waterford and Knock are dropped.

Not great timing with the lead up to Christmas but at least it operates for another few months.

High yield? 88% Load Factors to Manchester, 92% in Birmingham. I may be reading too far into it, but something's up. Upgrading to an ERJ, then dropping it altogether? I think there's a problems between Waterford Airport and FlyBe, or simply problems have arisen on timetabling. For an airline like FlyBe all profit is money for them, which they've been short of recently.
In related news does anyone want to help me raise the money for leasing a Cello Aviation RJ85? Guaranteed returns!

JCX BXC · 11-12-2014 7:36pm

man98 wrote: »

High yield? 88% Load Factors to Manchester, 92% in Birmingham. I may be reading too far into it, but something's up. Upgrading to an ERJ, then dropping it altogether? I think there's a problems between Waterford Airport and FlyBe, or simply problems have arisen on timetabling. For an airline like FlyBe all profit is money for them, which they've been short of recently.

88% and 92% for when? They may have that at a peak season but in april I doubt they achieve that high loads.

(Nice heading by the way)

man98 · 11-12-2014 7:50pm

The average for August. Similar loads throughout the summer. Birmingham performed well throughout the summer.

air2000 · 11-12-2014 8:11pm

Carnacalla wrote: »

88% and 92% for when? They may have that at a peak season but in april I doubt they achieve that high loads.

(Nice heading by the way)

Load factor and yield are two different things. Load factor is bums on seats - yeild is € per passenger per air mile. Waterford is high load factor low yield. Flybe are looking for routes with high yield.

Waterford was never really upgrade to ERJ. Although the type was in res it was capped to 78 seats. With the limited number of ERJs Waterford was never getting one.

wellboytoo · 12-12-2014 10:08am

Ironic when the runway extension planning was granted and due on the first week of January.

http://lp.waterfordcoco.ie/lp41/default.aspx?mapname=Planning%20Enquiry%20System

Dum_Dum · 12-12-2014 12:46pm

So Ryanair haters - how's the champagne airport doing in the lemonade town? What about all these boutique routes to St Tropez, London City and the Faberge Egg factory?

15 years of mass aviation passed Waterford by. Now it's too late, the thing has gone down the toilet and the momentum is elsewhere.

JCX BXC · 12-12-2014 12:48pm

Dum_Dum wrote: »

So Ryanair haters - how's the champagne airport doing in the lemonade town? What about all these boutique routes to St Tropez, London City and the Faberge Egg factory?

15 years of mass aviation passed Waterford by. Now it's too late, the thing has gone down the toilet and the momentum is elsewhere.

Ryanair cannot operate from Waterford. The 737-800 needs more runway.

Dum_Dum · 12-12-2014 1:00pm

Carnacalla wrote: »

Ryanair cannot operate from Waterford. The 737-800 needs more runway.

Exactly. And the proposed extension still falls short.

tankbarry · 12-12-2014 2:13pm

Is nobody about the loss of jobs that will happen if no airline is in there people need to remember staff out there are on short time for 2 years now.

dzilla · 12-12-2014 2:35pm

Dum_Dum wrote: »

So Ryanair haters - how's the champagne airport doing in the lemonade town? What about all these boutique routes to St Tropez, London City and the Faberge Egg factory?

15 years of mass aviation passed Waterford by. Now it's too late, the thing has gone down the toilet and the momentum is elsewhere.

Very insightful.

man98 · 12-12-2014 8:00pm

Ryanair don't need Waterford really. IF the runway was extended to about 6,000 feet/ 1,900 metres Ryanair could handle daily, maybe 2 daily flights to Stansted. Extend it to 7,500 feet/ 2,300 metres? Still doesn't mean they'd add sun routes - what Waterford needs - and it'd basically be an investment black hole. Basing an airport off Ryanair isn't a safe bet. Look at Teeside (struggling), Blackpool (shut), Cardiff (shadow of the past) and Prestwick (sold to the Scottish government for Â£1). All these airports based expansion in the last 10 years off Ryanair and look at them. Waterford's best sticking to its current plan of finding steady partners, even easyJet, and starting there.

JCX BXC · 12-12-2014 8:12pm

man98 wrote: »

Ryanair don't need Waterford really. IF the runway was extended to about 6,000 feet/ 1,900 metres Ryanair could handle daily, maybe 2 daily flights to Stansted. Extend it to 7,500 feet/ 2,300 metres? Still doesn't mean they'd add sun routes - what Waterford needs - and it'd basically be an investment black hole. Basing an airport off Ryanair isn't a safe bet. Look at Teeside (struggling), Blackpool (shut), Cardiff (shadow of the past) and Prestwick (sold to the Scottish government for Â£1). All these airports based expansion in the last 10 years off Ryanair and look at them. Waterford's best sticking to its current plan of finding steady partners, even easyJet, and starting there.

If you can give me one steady partner, I will accept your argument. Easy jet will not re-enter the Irish market anytime soon. Stobart won't wander out of cork/dub unless they are paid to do so and flybe, well..... Thats why we are talking about this.

IMO for Irish regional airports its Ryanair or no air. (Unless a PSO is in place)

man98 · 12-12-2014 9:47pm

Check the other Waterford Airport forum and you'll see my problem. The only possible airlines for the job are CityJet and Loganair. CityJet are short on aircraft, but are expanding into different airports (Cardiff, Cambridge) to see if it works out. They also have slots in a few feasible airports. Loganair have a Saab 340 which is becoming available on 1st February from the Donegal PSO. They have slots in Manchester and Stansted, however much of a long shot that is.

air2000 · 13-12-2014 12:03am

No point in doom and gloom yet. Loads for the next few weeks are good.

For some reason Waterford has always managed to stay afloat. Let's wait and see what January brings...

TheQuietFella · 14-12-2014 12:56pm

air2000 wrote: »

Let's wait and see what January brings...

That unfortunately is the problem & the mentality in this county.
Time waits for no man!

JCX BXC · 14-12-2014 1:37pm

man98 wrote: »

Check the other Waterford Airport forum and you'll see my problem. The only possible airlines for the job are CityJet and Loganair. CityJet are short on aircraft, but are expanding into different airports (Cardiff, Cambridge) to see if it works out. They also have slots in a few feasible airports. Loganair have a Saab 340 which is becoming available on 1st February from the Donegal PSO. They have slots in Manchester and Stansted, however much of a long shot that is.

I really doubt that city jet will enter the Waterford market, I don't see that happening. Loganair? Well how many people have heard of them? Unless people know the airline, they won't book with them, nor will they now where they operate etc.

man98 · 14-12-2014 2:17pm

Carnacalla wrote: »

I really doubt that city jet will enter the Waterford market, I don't see that happening. Loganair? Well how many people have heard of them? Unless people know the airline, they won't book with them, nor will they now where they operate etc.

Not many have heard of CityJet either. Very few had heard of FlyBe. If the airport and the airline put the money into the advertising (as seen with Aer Lingus Regional and FlyBe) then there should be no problem.

JCX BXC · 14-12-2014 2:24pm

man98 wrote: »

Not many have heard of CityJet either. Very few had heard of FlyBe. If the airport and the airline put the money into the advertising (as seen with Aer Lingus Regional and FlyBe) then there should be no problem.

I think your a little misguided there. Cityjet, thats granted because its a relatively new Airline with small operations out of Ireland, but they are 10x better known than Loganair.

But Flybe, that's relatively well known. A lot of people have heard of them, they are way better known than Loganair.

man98 · 14-12-2014 3:16pm

Carnacalla wrote: »

I think your a little misguided there. Cityjet, thats granted because its a relatively new Airline with small operations out of Ireland, but they are 10x better known than Loganair.

But Flybe, that's relatively well known. A lot of people have heard of them, they are way better known than Loganair.

I was talking about 2011 or so when they started properly flying into Ireland. Comparable to Eastern Airways in a way. No one in Luton had heard of Ryanair in 1986...

air2000 · 15-12-2014 9:10am

Cant see Cityjet either, after the Cambridge disaster im sure there not keen on expanding into regional routes.

I dont think the brand will make much of a difference. Its not the 1980s - the internet is the difference - when i fly somewhere i just check an airports website to see if they fly there and who flies it.

air2000 · 15-12-2014 9:14am

TheQuietFella wrote: »

That unfortunately is the problem & the mentality in this county.
Time waits for no man!

Lol - thats not what I mean, im sure the airport did not expect this. Us posting on the boards or being negative will change nothing.

Its us who should wait until January - Im sure the Airport will give a proper update in the new year. If nothing changes then Sligo MK2

tankbarry · 15-12-2014 10:45am

they can't properly inform staff so I'd say the people will have to wait to hear what's going on from Social Media just like the staff

Plane Fan · 15-12-2014 11:10am

Realistically if an airline is to take over (hopfully) we should more than likely know in January to allow time for bookings !
Does anybody else think that stobart air might ?

Fox Uniform · 15-12-2014 11:43am

tankbarry wrote: »

they can't properly inform staff so I'd say the people will have to wait to hear what's going on from Social Media just like the staff

Tank

90% of whats on social media is pure speculation!

Staff received an email on the situation before it became public and a staff briefing took place within 24 hours.

I take it your just took lazy to check your emails or attend the briefings

tankbarry · 15-12-2014 12:13pm

It was going around social media before staff were made aware of it and possibly even management. Sorry no wasn't too lazy to check email's I was on 1 of my week's off that the staff have been on for nearly 2 year's now so checking emails wasn't on a priority list of things to do. And as for attending briefing's I can't afford to drive in for a briefing we are also on reduced hours so no money available for petrol for me that's a pity but when you can't afford things there is nothing you can do.

man98 · 15-12-2014 2:10pm

Stobart can't/ won't come any time soon. The only British airport with a crew base is Southend, operating for FlyBe.

foxcoverteddy · 18-12-2014 10:41am

It would appear to be the end of the runway, unless of course someone has a bright idea to turn this situation round.
There are a lot of questions to be asked and answered, why isn't Waterford a success, both Cork and Dublin are a good drive away, so what has Waterford to offer the traveller? Apparently the terminal is dire but there again without planes it is going to be.
Has anyone been to Rosslare Harbour, last time I went it was dire, they took the train away from the terminal building, the pub and restaurant had closed, what a welcome, of course both Irish Ferries and Stena want the custom on board.
So why isn't the South East investing in the future? Why do we have to charge airlines for landing etc, encouragement is essential, the South East has so much to offer or has it been squandered by past generations.
In truth Waterford is not a shopping mecca, nor is wexford, would one bother to come as far as Kilkenny?
Do I see weekends in Paris or Amsterdam, no the South East needs more investment, someone with get up and go, we get the same old cronies moan moan, come on Waterford make yourself great, capital for the South East, make people want to come and visit, otherwise they will just pass through or by-pass the city.

air2000 · 18-12-2014 1:53pm

Why would you this this is the end? - you got info that we don't ?

man98 · 18-12-2014 1:56pm

It's not really about the terminal though. Rosslare Harbour is comparable, but shipping isn't as vicious as aviation. We've seen this with Germanwings moving from Knock to Shannon. It's just a case of no one being in the right place at the right time (except CelticRambler)

Waterford Airport.

Comments