2015 Antwerp airport (ANR/EBAW) latest news

[AAI]

it's good news they offer a GVA ANR BHX now
but they have to offer a GVA ANR BHX WAT and ANR BHX WAT also!
as there are no alternatives!

[FLYAIR10]

Then they should get the GDSs to include better mention those connecting flights. I just looked at Amadeus: lots of possibilities with SN, AF, Kl, LX, LH and even 9W (on SN metal: I wonder how much they quote). And one with a company called Flexflight (W2) with the same schedule as VLM and Antwerrp Airport not even mentioned (it is just called "International").

The duration of the flights varies between 3h 20m (LX via ZRH) and 4h 15m (LH via FRA)

I'm not a specialist in these things,but indeed they should make sure their connecting flights become visible in the booking engines. Maybe they are still working on it.
For sure connections through main airports are plentiful,but it seems they are more expensive than the VLM rates. The LX one through ZRH with flight time 3hrs 20 is costing more than the double of the current VLM tariff (early october)

[koninckske]

Jetairfly seems to have created two gaps in the schedule on Monday and Saturday during the winter season 2015/16. On Monday airplane on ground in ANR from 1225 until 1705 and on Saturday from 1220 until 1650. This creates room for an extra flight/destination at about 1:20 block time. These gaps where not present when the winter season was launched.

What is Jetairfly planning? New destination?

[Flanker2]

Would the solution be in a new type of STOL aircraft?

The CS100 can operate at MTOW (ISA) out of ANR, much better and quieter than the E190, which itself seems to be doing its job covering large part of Europe out of ANR.
But I don't think that a 100+ seater is the solution (nor affordable). Only very popular destinations seem to yield good LF on the 100+ seaters and there JAF is already active.

JAF can make it work because they have a huge marketing/sales network that VG doesn't have.
But even like that I wonder whether JAF will expand at ANR or last at all.
Looking at Wikipedia, it looks like they're forced to shuffle a lot, they're probavbly trying to find routes that work:
Alicante, Barcelona, Berlin-Tegel, Málaga, Milan-Malpensa (ends 27 October 2015),[4][5]
Palma de Mallorca (ends 26 October 2015),[6][5] Rome-Fiumicino (begins 29 October 2015)[7]
Seasonal: Ibiza[8]

Actually contrary to what I said earlier, there is a way to develop mainline operations at ANR without a major runway extension. However, we're entering into the domain of advanced trade research/trade secrets and I don't think that it's realistic for a team that considered LGG as a real option.

[koninckske]

When VLM Airlines became independent last year they had to find a new market for them to survive.

They decided they wanted to have VLM branded flights again as they used to have in the past. VLM still has a very good reputation, a reputation Cityjet never had. This was a bad decision by Air France to rebrand VLM into Cityjet.

So VLM launched:
ANR to GVA: for sure there is potential for this route, just big competition with SN and EZY.
ANR to HAM and RTM to HAM: big shipping companies need travel options between there places of operation.
ANR to SOU (extension from HAM): was a surprise for me, but passengers numbers seem to grow
LGG operation: I guess big subsidy from the airport, was a mistake
WAT to LTN and BHX: seems very well supported by people from Waterford.
Now ANR to BHX three times a week... don't know, time will tell

I think they made some mistakes, but most important is whether they learn from the mistakes and how much money they have... Charter operations and wet leases still bring in money as well.

About Jetairfly routes (wrong topic here), numbers for August (facts, www.aena.es)

ANR to ALC 2556 PAX, 26 FLIGHTS: 98,31 PAX/FLIGHT
ANR to BCN 2528 PAX, 25 FLIGHTS: 101,12 PAX/FLIGHT
ANR to IBZ 1630 PAX, 18 FLIGHTS: 90,56 PAX/FLIGHT
ANR to AGP 1557 PAX, 16 FLIGHTS: 97,31 PAX/FLIGHT
ANR to PMI 1719PAX, 18 FLIGHTS: 95,50 PAX/FLIGHT
ANR to TXL NO INFO

So Spanish routes performing very well this summer. They might decide to increase flights next summer. ANR to MXP wasn't succesfull, so they launched IBZ and extra flight to ALC. Good decision. MXP now replaced by FCO. One unsuccesful route replaced by another destination, others being seasonal only. So I don't see them trying to find routes that work, they found them. They might decide to start seasonal Salzburg or Innsbruck... normal airline business. Some routes only work in summer, others in winter

I will fly from ANR to SOU with VLM this Thursday. For me this is better than flying from BRU to LHR. I will see how many passengers arrive from GVA and HAM in ANR and how man will join me to SOU. Will have a look myself how VLM are doing... Having joined the IATA BSP now is a first step, marketing to general public is another but will require a lot of money. Time will tell whether they made good decisions. For sure I will fly from ANR as much as possible with VLM, Jetairfly and other airlines should they start flights.

[Stij]

About Jetairfly routes (wrong topic here), numbers for August (facts, http://www.aena.es)

ANR to ALC 2556 PAX, 26 FLIGHTS: 98,31 PAX/FLIGHT
ANR to BCN 2528 PAX, 25 FLIGHTS: 101,12 PAX/FLIGHT
ANR to IBZ 1630 PAX, 18 FLIGHTS: 90,56 PAX/FLIGHT
ANR to AGP 1557 PAX, 16 FLIGHTS: 97,31 PAX/FLIGHT
ANR to PMI 1719PAX, 18 FLIGHTS: 95,50 PAX/FLIGHT
ANR to TXL NO INFO

An average loadfactor of 86%, not to bad...

Cheers,

Stij

[jan_olieslagers]

Not too(sic!) bad? To get back on topic at least slightly, I am afraid VLM can only dream of such figures. Saying so without the least bit of "Schadenfreude", at the contrary I hope for the very best for them.

[Stij]

I admit, no too bad was an understatement...

[Inquirer]

About Jetairfly routes (wrong topic here), numbers for August (facts, http://www.aena.es)

ANR to ALC 2556 PAX, 26 FLIGHTS: 98,31 PAX/FLIGHT
ANR to BCN 2528 PAX, 25 FLIGHTS: 101,12 PAX/FLIGHT
ANR to IBZ 1630 PAX, 18 FLIGHTS: 90,56 PAX/FLIGHT
ANR to AGP 1557 PAX, 16 FLIGHTS: 97,31 PAX/FLIGHT
ANR to PMI 1719PAX, 18 FLIGHTS: 95,50 PAX/FLIGHT
ANR to TXL NO INFO

So Spanish routes performing very well this summer. They might decide to increase flights next summer. ANR to MXP wasn't succesfull, so they launched IBZ and extra flight to ALC. Good decision. MXP now replaced by FCO. One unsuccesful route replaced by another destination, others being seasonal only. So I don't see them trying to find routes that work, they found them. They might decide to start seasonal Salzburg or Innsbruck... normal airline business. Some routes only work in summer, others in winter

The way I read it, they are successful on those type of destinations where they can sell package holidays.
People from Antwerp that go to say Benidorm, Marbeilla or the Costa Blanca and traditionally used to go via BRU are now offered convenient flights from Antwerp as regional alternative.
Where jetair aren't able to fill their plane with such tourists, things immediately get tougher, like Milan.
Not a very reassuring conclusion for VLM or in fact Antwerp airport if this is indeed a correct reading, as it means their own commercial potential is fairly limited and primarily relying on the sale force of a package holiday company.

[jan_olieslagers]

It has been stated more than once that there is little sense in developing ANR as "just another airport". Its only possible "raison d'être" is in filling the niche ( s ). Like putting itself forward as the prime business airport for Brussels - anyone playing that trump with a bit of flair and economic realism could easily outbid BRU-CRL-LGG-KTY-OST. And maybe operating a few high profile high yield business routes like LCY or perhaps perhaps Tel Aviv. The present successes on holiday package tours are nice to have, though.

The more ANR tries to be "just another airport" the more it will develop all the disadvantages of "all those airports" - free parking seems already to have been lost, and I fear very much that this is only a first step.

[AAI]

don't be so negative
ANR GVA gives a very good service
and with their new booking-system they will see an important traffic growth the next months

[airazurxtror]

I don't know if this has already been mentioned here, I read it in the last "Airliner World". Anyway, here it is :

"ExtraJet is the name of a new British carrier planning to launch scheduled services from Leeds Bradford to mainland Europe. The start-up said it is initially targeting the business community with double-daily links to Copenhagen and Antwerp, which are du to start early next year."

[DIBO]

Was mentioned here on page 5. Also: https://www.facebook.com/Extrajet

[DIBO]

The ANR - JAF bashing campaign, orchestrated by the 'greens' has started: "Tenfold increase of noise complaints." Even for flights after 23h, the airport's closing time...
15/09/2015 http://www.gva.be/cnt/dmf20150914_01867 ... liegtuigen
17/09/2015 http://www.gva.be/cnt/dmf20150917_01871 ... ven-deurne
Ref. the first article, the former mayor of Mortsel, is well known for the city's main road restructuring and its permanent trafficjam.

[sn26567]

Was mentioned here on page 5.

Wow! Some people have a bird's eye (or a good memory)!

[DIBO]

I must admit, it's hard to keep track now, with a new operator every 6 months. It used to be one every 5 years

[AAI]

Oh no,
it' s an airport in expansion
New BHX as from 05 oct
maybe a winterdestination in dec
and 3 new destinations april 2016 ( or maybe earlier )

[DIBO]

Airport opponents claim that the rwy was illegally extended by 7 meter: (dutch only) http://www.hln.be/hln/nl/957/Binnenland ... nger.dhtml

[KriVa]

The other side of that argument claims that the runway was originally measured incorrectly. While it was supposed to be 1510m long, it was only 1503m in length in reality. As such, the extensions would have been justified according to the agreement the airport had/has with Borsbeek.
As we say in Dutch: " een storm in een glas water." I doubt anymore will come from this, let alone any further articles in the news.

[Passenger]

The other side of that argument claims that the runway was originally measured incorrectly. While it was supposed to be 1510m long, it was only 1503m in length in reality. As such, the extensions would have been justified according to the agreement the airport had/has with Borsbeek.
As we say in Dutch: " een storm in een glas water." I doubt anymore will come from this, let alone any further articles in the news.

Indeed. So if anyone has the right to complain, it's the airlines: they were promised a 1.510m runway, but they only were offered a 1.503m one...

Funny though how the anti-airport lobbygroups are mobilizing about this theft of 7 metres.