BRU summer 2011: latest news, routes, airlines

[Boeing767copilot]

Iberia is launching two new air cargo routes this month, a twice-weekly service between Madrid and Brussels, while the second involves the extension of the freight-only route between Madrid and Gran Canaria to Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania, once a week.

The Madrid-Brussels cargo flights will operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays in leased B737-F freighters carrying up to 18,000 kg and 10 pallets. The flight comes under a commercial agreement between Iberia Cargo and Adelantex for the import of perishable goods, mainly fruits and vegetables, from Latin America, using Iberia's “Cool & Fast” infrastructure. Iberia Cargo expects to carry some 1,100 tonnes per year on this route between the capital cities of Spain and Belgium.

[sn26567]

Flybe will use its first E175s on flights from Manchester to Brussels, Hanover and Jersey from September 1.
Manchester – Brussels BE597/598 01SEP11 – 23OCT11 Day x67

Source: Airline Route

Background (from Routes online):

UK low-fare airline Flybe is expected to take delivery of its first Embraer 175s before the end of August and it appears that the aircraft will initially be used on the carrier’s flights from London Gatwick and Manchester and not Guernsey as originally planned. Shortly after the July 2010 order the airline revealed that it would “base an aircraft in Guernsey” so passengers on the island would “be the first to benefit” from the fleet investment. However, the airline’s latest schedule shows that the aircraft is planned to operate on four routes over the remainder of the Northern Summer, none of them touching Guernsey.

According to its latest GDS inventory, Flybe will place the E175 into service on its weekday Manchester – Brussels route from September 1 and on weekend rotations to Hanover and Jersey. Another aircraft will serve its domestic London Gatwick – Inverness route from September 4. These plans are obviously subject to change. According to sources at the airline the first E175 is due to arrive at its Exeter base at the end of next week, with two further aircraft due to follow before the end of the month.

Flybe placed a firm order for 35 175s at last year’s Farnborough Air Show to complement its Bombardier Dash 8Q-400 turboprops and larger E195s. The aircraft will be configured in an 88-seat single-class configuration. Speaking to The HUB at the time of the announcement Jim French, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Flybe said: “The E175 will give us significant added capacity and is particularly suited to the sector lengths prevalent in Europe that we are most interested in exploiting. In short, it perfectly fits the Flybe business model and we are delighted to be extending our long-running partnership with Embraer.”

[tolipanebas]

It definitely makes sense to replace the Q400 by E175 jets on the MAN-BRU route because BE are taking a serious beating on this business oriented route as SN is operating bigger, more comfortable planes which allows SN to combine both an aggressive pricing policy at the start of the demand curve with superior yields near its end.

Replacing the Q400 by the larger E175 will at least make it possible for BE to compete on a par. Remember they are already fighting an uphill battle against SN given they miss out on any feed on the route, so they definitely can do without revenues and comfort handicap like they faced until now.

Contrary to what some think, the Q400 is really not such a great plane on routes which see intense competition. Expect BE to pull the Q400s from many of their continental routes which face competition as they have learnt from first hand experience the Q400 is suitable for thin routes with no or very weak competition only. On routes which see higher demand and as soon as competitors show up with larger jets, the Q400 makes you loose market share. The fundamentals and dynamics of ticket sales are the same for everybody in this industry and BE is no exception really.

[regi]

It definitely makes sense to replace the Q400 by E175 jets on the MAN-BRU route because BE are taking a serious beating on this business oriented route as SN is operating bigger, more comfortable planes which allows SN to combine both an aggressive pricing policy at the start of the demand curve with superior yields near its end.

Replacing the Q400 by the larger E175 will at least make it possible for BE to compete on a par. Remember they are already fighting an uphill battle against SN given they miss out on any feed on the route, so they definitely can do without revenues and comfort handicap like they faced until now.

Contrary to what some think, the Q400 is really not such a great plane on routes which see intense competition. Expect BE to pull the Q400s from many of their continental routes which face competition as they have learnt from first hand experience the Q400 is suitable for thin routes with no or very weak competition only. On routes which see higher demand and as soon as competitors show up with larger jets, the Q400 makes you loose market share. The fundamentals and dynamics of ticket sales are the same for everybody in this industry and BE is no exception really.

Is this not exactly what I said about upgrading from TP to jets , taking Flybe as example?
I have another example, but than an airport: Mae Hong Song in Thailand. The first time I visited by plane was in a BEA146 ( 500 baht one way ) . Later on by ATR. Thai subcontracted the business to its low cost daughter Nokair ( with ATR). And later to SGA Airlines ( also called Nok Mini) by...Cessna Caravan How much smaller can it get? No problem maybe for 1 particular member because he loves TP. Big problem for passengers what comfort concerns. Oh yes, it costs now 1300 baht one way.
There is no alternative for flying because the road has not that much improved. The trip still demands a ride of 6 hours from Chiang Mai, losing an entire day.
I don't have the numbers available. But in the past there were several flights a day by bigger airplanes. Now it happens that the Cessna doesn't take off using fog as an excuse to hide that they couldn't fill even the 13 seats of the Cessna. Great.

The downgrading of the airplanes caused the collapse of the small and independant local tourist industry. ATR's are still used in case of large tour groups. But so many guides, guesthouses, have lost their clientele which consisted from backpackers or independant travellers.
Mae Hong Song was even served by B737.
If you read this in the view of SN, it is exactly the opposite story. If the managers give in to an "idea" to downgrade, we will sit in unpressurised TP planes within 10 years.
I still can not understand why somebody sticks to that idea of downgrading to TP's while the biggest Q400 user ( Flybe) upgrades to jets.