Flybe (based at Exeter) and domestic air travel - ongoing discussion (merged topic)

[whole diary]

[Thatcham Crossing]

That BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) story is over a month old

The news of the Virgin, Stobart and Cyrus (US Venture Capitalist) take-over is indeed over a month old, but the deal has effectively been closed today https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-47329014

It's still subject to Shareholder approval, but effectively the above means that the assets and operation is now sold, and that the vote due on 4th March only relates to the shell of the Company that remains, for which they will receive 1p per share if they vote in favour.

I read elsewhere that a senior pilot, who spoke out publically about how the current CEO^▸ (Chief Executive Officer) and board have managed to ruin what was a viable business over the last 2 years, has been suspended.

[eightonedee]

I have used them a number of times from Southampton - a much more pleasant experience than Heathrow or Gatwick on those occasions when getting to Scotland for a short trip outweighed the pleasant experience of taking the train, and also to get to Amsterdam, Ireland, Spain and various obscure French provincial airports.

I have been surprised at how few people in the Thames Valley or Surrey seem unaware of their services - a bit like XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) or the Gatwick line. However in recent times I've noticed that they have cut quite a few of their route, especially some of their French routes (no more Beziers Cap D'agde), so I guess that they've struggled to make them pay. I hope the new owners keep a reasonable number of routes to Southampton going.

Over to the shareholders, then. Stobart already have a toe in the door, via William Tinkler (12.2% holding). He is on a number of Stobart's boards, and was previously MD of WA Holdings, former owners of Carlisle Airport.

Stobart and Tinkler have fallen out in a big way - allegations of falling well short of proper standards of coporate governance on his part, and he's recently lost a court case,  see https://www.standard.co.uk/business/stobart-group-claims-victory-in-high-court-battle-with-andrew-tinkler-a4068141.html-

[grahame]

(no more ... Cap D'agde)

'twas always a problem selling luggage space on that one ... 

Flying from Southampton is so much ... better ... than from one of the London airports but, yes, it's a well hidden surprise to many people I speak to.

[chuffed]

Flew with Easyjet back from Glasgow yesterday and landed 25 minutes EARLY.  Had used Flybe the day for a return trip Glasgow to Belfast.Worth noting that I was able to use my Concessionary bus pass on the A2 service which follows the old A1 route through Bedminster and turns left at the Redcliffe roundabout and leaves /departs at stop B1 outside Lewins Mead instead of the bus station. Much better than paying 8 pounds single on the A1.

[TaplowGreen]

I have used them a number of times from Southampton - a much more pleasant experience than Heathrow or Gatwick on those occasions when getting to Scotland for a short trip outweighed the pleasant experience of taking the train, and also to get to Amsterdam, Ireland, Spain and various obscure French provincial airports.

I have been surprised at how few people in the Thames Valley or Surrey seem unaware of their services - a bit like XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) or the Gatwick line. However in recent times I've noticed that they have cut quite a few of their route, especially some of their French routes (no more Beziers Cap D'agde), so I guess that they've struggled to make them pay. I hope the new owners keep a reasonable number of routes to Southampton going.

Over to the shareholders, then. Stobart already have a toe in the door, via William Tinkler (12.2% holding). He is on a number of Stobart's boards, and was previously MD of WA Holdings, former owners of Carlisle Airport.

Stobart and Tinkler have fallen out in a big way - allegations of falling well short of proper standards of coporate governance on his part, and he's recently lost a court case,  see https://www.standard.co.uk/business/stobart-group-claims-victory-in-high-court-battle-with-andrew-tinkler-a4068141.html-

I'd suggest that as most people in the Thames Valley are within striking distance of Heathrow, Southampton airport probably wouldn't be a practical option?

[Bob_Blakey]

Once Flybe rid themselves of the very expensive Embraer 195's, and thus the associated high leasing charges - something that is programmed for completion in April 2020 -  I suspect the company will return to a reasonable level of financial health, particularly if they are able to properly market the advantages of being a Virgin Atlantic feeder airline.

However apart from a wish to not see an Exeter-based company go to the wall, purely to the benefit of their employees, I have very little interest in this saga having ceased to be a Flybe customer about 8 years ago. This after they accrued 13 hours of delay on two of my flights (Exeter > Belfast 7 hrs, Exeter > Guernsey 6 hrs) and then refused to countenance any form of compensation. Both delays BTW^▸ (by the way) were due to unserviceable aircraft but that was apparently not their problem. Flymaybe indeed!

[eightonedee]

I'd suggest that as most people in the Thames Valley are within striking distance of Heathrow, Southampton airport probably wouldn't be a practical option?

TG - once you take into account-

1 - Much shorter check in/baggage recovery times
2 - Compact terminal with short distance to gates
3 - Station just the other side of the road to the terminal building
4 - Cheaper carparking much closer to the airport with short transfer times
5 - Ready access to M27, M3 one junction away, A34 not far further, which while busy is seldom anything like as bad as the M4 and M25 around Heathrow, and much closer to Reading/Newbury/Oxford than Gatwick, or by train via Basingstoke and Reading (direct XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) trains to Reading & Oxford)

It's all much more convenient - try it sometime if you are going to Scotland, Dublin or those airports in Europe it serves (that is if they are not conveniently on the rail network or time is important)!

[LiskeardRich]

Except for some Flybe staff who are now facing redundancies in order to streamline the business.

Some redundancies could be seen as better than all redundant, as the alternative being mooted was liquidation.

[TaplowGreen]

I'd suggest that as most people in the Thames Valley are within striking distance of Heathrow, Southampton airport probably wouldn't be a practical option?

TG - once you take into account-

1 - Much shorter check in/baggage recovery times
2 - Compact terminal with short distance to gates
3 - Station just the other side of the road to the terminal building
4 - Cheaper carparking much closer to the airport with short transfer times
5 - Ready access to M27, M3 one junction away, A34 not far further, which while busy is seldom anything like as bad as the M4 and M25 around Heathrow, and much closer to Reading/Newbury/Oxford than Gatwick, or by train via Basingstoke and Reading (direct XC^▸ (Cross Country Trains (franchise)) trains to Reading & Oxford)

It's all much more convenient - try it sometime if you are going to Scotland, Dublin or those airports in Europe it serves (that is if they are not conveniently on the rail network or time is important)!

I live 20 mins from Heathrow, no need for car parking. 1 hr 30 mins from Southampton, so it's no contest really.

[grahame]

I live 20 mins from Heathrow, no need for car parking. 1 hr 30 mins from Southampton, so it's no contest really.

We're back to fuzzy (or not so fuzzy) catchments.  Southampton journey times by train:
25 minutes to Basingstoke
45 minutes to Reading
40 minutes to Woking

From Melksham ... on the rare occasions I fly, I'll choose (roughly in order) Southampton, Gatwick, Bristol and Heathrow - based on where I'm flying / what's available and also on any major price differences. All, frankly, bloomin awkward for one reason or another; if I was a major flyer, I wouldn't be living here!

[Thatcham Crossing]

I live 20 mins from Heathrow, no need for car parking. 1 hr 30 mins from Southampton, so it's no contest really

At the location of my moniker, I'm almost equidistant between LHR and SOU.

For flights to destinations available from SOU that will always be my choice, for the reasons that eightondee mentions.

Over the last year, I've taken 7 day-return trips, to the likes of Guernsey (not available from LHR, until a new single-daily summer-season-only flight that was announced this week), Belfast City and Jersey (not available from LHR) and only experienced one delay.

At SOU it's quite possible (having checked in on-line) to arrive 45 mins (to allow time for security) before departure, and after arrival be in the car driving out of the airport 10 after stepping off the aircraft. Try that at LHR! 

[TaplowGreen]

I live 20 mins from Heathrow, no need for car parking. 1 hr 30 mins from Southampton, so it's no contest really

At the location of my moniker, I'm almost equidistant between LHR and SOU.

For flights to destinations available from SOU that will always be my choice, for the reasons that eightondee mentions.

Over the last year, I've taken 7 day-return trips, to the likes of Guernsey (not available from LHR, until a new single-daily summer-season-only flight that was announced this week), Belfast City and Jersey (not available from LHR) and only experienced one delay.

At SOU it's quite possible (having checked in on-line) to arrive 45 mins (to allow time for security) before departure, and after arrival be in the car driving out of the airport 10 after stepping off the aircraft. Try that at LHR! 

I fly regularly to Glasgow and Belfast on business, so Heathrow suits me, by proximity and and regularity of flights - the occasional trip to Guernsey is good for you from Southampton - I guess that illustrates the versatility of air travel from National and regional airports, taking into account all the factors involved.

[Bmblbzzz]

FlyGWR?

[Surrey 455]

Flying from Southampton is so much ... better ... than from one of the London airports but, yes, it's a well hidden surprise to many people I speak to.

I've seen this advert at Raynes Park station and I think also at Wimbledon recently. Looks like a joint SWR^» (South Western Railway - about) / Southampton airport / easyJet advert. I think it's been there sometime based upon the dates. I wonder how many in South West London will be seduced by the charms of Southampton Airport.

(Sorry about the quality, I didn't notice the fluorescent lights reflections at the time)

[RailCornwall]

Newquay - Heathrow flights (re)started today.

https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/news-and-advice/cornwall-newquay-airport-heathrow-flights-subsidised-flybe-planes-trains-a8847866.html