Exeter International Airport (EXT) - General Thread

[Jerry]

Interestingly, both the Welsh Government and its airport company formally objected to BRS's planning application, but EXT seems to have made no formal comment although it would undoubtedly benefit from a stagnated BRS as would CWL.

If i remember correctly they didn't put in evidence to the Welsh affairs committee either concerning APD either which is surprising as they could be considered rivals to CWL especially for Ryanair flights.

 

[737 400]

If i remember correctly they didn't put in evidence to the Welsh affairs committee either concerning APD either which is surprising as they could be considered rivals to CWL especially for Ryanair flights.

I guess the same could also be said for TUI short-haul flights.

 

[Matt kenshole]

Aer lingus have confirmed flights out of EXT- anyone know anything about who will take the Dublin, Paris and Amsterdam routes?

 

[737 400]

Aer lingus have confirmed flights out of EXT- anyone know anything about who will take the Dublin, Paris and Amsterdam routes?

Matt, just to clarify that Aer Lingus have only announced the Belfast to Exeter route.
At the moment no takers for Amsterdam, Dublin or Paris, but who knows....

 

[Matt kenshole]

Does anyone have and intel on whether any airlines are planning on taking up the dublin, Amsterdam and Paris routes? I really thought these would of been the first to be snapped up prior to Covid.

and does anyone know what the load factors have been like on the Logan air and Ryanair flights recently? Tia

 

[Jerry]

dublin, Amsterdam and Paris routes?

Considering other airlines are putting Dublin back until the winter and there are restrictions for the Netherlands and France i can't see any airline picking them up yet.

 

[Matt kenshole]

Be really interesting to see whether KLM will come in for the AMS route and maybe BA for London city? Patience is a killer lol!

 

[Aviador]

I would think KLM will be looking at EXT but whether they would commit to starting at this moment in time remains to be seen. I imagine it's unlikely.

 

[Jerry]

Be really interesting to see whether KLM will come in for the AMS route and maybe BA for London city? Patience is a killer lol!

I can't see BA touching LCY. KLM could be an option for AMS but maybe not until summer 2021? I suppose it depends on whether they got slots. They have recently launched new routes like Southampton and Poznan so Exeter could be a case of when not if maybe.

 

[Matt kenshole]

Who would be your best bet for a contender for LCY? NQY managed to net BA which is a surprise considering EXT had higher PAX numbers during Flybe days! I’m not too sure who there is to pick up the Paris route though...

 

[Jerry]

Who would be your best bet for a contender for LCY? NQY managed to net BA which is a surprise considering EXT had higher PAX numbers during Flybe days! I’m not too sure who there is to pick up the Paris route though...

Newquay is more remote and a PSO and i'd expect that behind the scenes there would've been lobbying for it to resumed. I would generally be surprised if LCY gets taken up by anyone.

 

[superking]

Cant see any airline wanting to fly the London route to any of the airports there. The train service is too good,cant see airlines going up against that,too risky for them.

 

[Jerry]

With the LCY route it was part of a W pattern with previously CDG from LCY and then AMS. So there was only 1 outbound and 1 inbound flight. Would it be attractive to an airline as double daily? Especially to LCY and not LHR.

 

[Silvercity]

Cant see any airline wanting to fly the London route to any of the airports there. The train service is too good,cant see airlines going up against that,too risky for them.

I was very surprised when Flybe lauched EXT-LCY with Exeter having two rail routes into London, all be it the Waterloo service being quite slow. The Paddington route is fast and stops at Reading too where you have the LHR coach link.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Does anyone have and intel on whether any airlines are planning on taking up the dublin, Amsterdam and Paris routes? I really thought these would of been the first to be snapped up prior to Covid.

and does anyone know what the load factors have been like on the Logan air and Ryanair flights recently? Tia

Dublin was probably the most likely prior to COVID and I would not be surprised if Aer Lingus Regional came on to that one. Amsterdam and Paris are perhaps less obvious in terms of who might be interested.

EXT's problem was that, Scilly Skybus apart and until Ryanair turned up, all the scheduled routes were operated by Flybe. As soon as they disappeared it was a question of finding a Flybe replacement (next to impossible) or hoping instead that a number of airlines would turn up (obviously a better bet for the airport if that happened because the airport would not be in thrall to one airline for the majority of its scheduled routes).

That's worked to a degree with Blue Islands, Loganair and Aer Lingus Regional (Belfast City). Would KLM Cityhopper operate to Amsterdam and also Air France to Paris? Almost certainly not both - AF/KLM don't operate to both Amsterdam and Paris at some UK airports considerably busier than EXT. I can't remember either KLM or AF ever operating at EXT in the past so, if that is the case, they would have no past history upon which to assess a likely market. Obviously doesn't rule them out altogether though. KLM or AF would be a big boost to EXT. Didn't expect Ryanair so never say never about anyone within reason.

As has been said by others, the COVID situation is making matters much less certain at present.

I was very surprised when Flybe lauched EXT-LCY with Exeter having two rail routes into London, all be it the Waterloo service being quite slow. The Paddington route is fast and stops at Reading too where you have the LHR coach link.

London City is good for business travellers but the rail link to Paddington via Reading is a much more flexible option for those wanting to visit London and a decent link to the country's busiest airport. With the fastest trains from St Davids to Paddington taking 2 hours 12-14 minutes ( St Davids to Reading under 1 hour 45 minutes) the Exeter region is well served by rail to the capital and (as Jerry points out) to Heathrow via the Reading coach link.

 

[Silvercity]

Many years ago Brymon operated from Gatwick to Exeter using a Twin Otter which I once had the pleasure of experiencing.

 

[737 400]

That's worked to a degree with Blue Islands, Loganair and Aer Lingus Regional (Belfast City). Would KLM Cityhopper operate to Amsterdam and also Air France to Paris? Almost certainly not both - AF/KLM don't operate to both Amsterdam and Paris at some UK airports considerably busier than EXT. I can't remember either KLM or AF ever operating at EXT in the past so, if that is the case, they would have no past history upon which to assess a likely market. Obviously doesn't rule them out altogether though. KLM or AF would be a big boost to EXT. Didn't expect Ryanair so never say never about anyone within reason.

Would KLM, AF or any other interested operator now have access to data for the former Flybe routes from EXT to Amsterdam and Paris?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Would KLM, AF or any other interested operator now have access to data for the former Flybe routes from EXT to Amsterdam and Paris?

I don't know whether the Flybe EXT-AMS and EXT-CDG were KLM/AF code shares. If they were KLM/AF might have access to passenger profiles etc. If not they would have to look at the raw passenger numbers published by the CAA.

 

[Matt kenshole]

I’m not so sure on the Paris route but I cannot see why KLM wouldent take the AMS route! It’s all abit rocky at present. Maybe we could have a shock in the new year like we did with Ryanair? Maybe wizz might pick up some routes. I have noticed TUI have dropped faro entirely.

 

[737 400]

I don't know whether the Flybe EXT-AMS and EXT-CDG were KLM/AF code shares. If they were KLM/AF might have access to passenger profiles etc. If not they would have to look at the raw passenger numbers published by the CAA.

That's a good point TheLocalYokel about the former Flybe code shares.
I guess time will tell.