Exeter International Airport (EXT) - General Thread

[TheLocalYokel]

Exeter-Norwich link to be restored

Flybe and its franchise partner announced today that a Loganair 31-seat Dornier 328 turbo-prop aircraft will be based at Norwich and will be used on a daily rotation between Norwich and Exeter from 25 March 2012.

The route was last flown by Flybe itself in 2010 but the equipment then used was too large for the route.

The Dornier should be a better fit.

This is welcome news for EXT that has lost 30% of its passenger numbers over the past four years.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Exeter International Airport

CAA stats November 2011

Exeter continues its four years of monthly falling passenger numbers.

38,009 passengers were handled, 9.1% fewer than in November 2010. Atms were up 3.4% which means the falling passenger numbers in November are more worrying.

Rolling 12-month total was 708,895, down 4.4% on a year ago.

The odd things is that, whereas many South Wales residents, politicans, business people etc complain bitterly about the under performance of their airport at Cardiff, the perception in Devon is that Exeter Airport is doing well, yet it has lost almost as many passengers in percentage terms over the past four years as Cardiff.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Exeter International Airport

Exeter-Toronto

Another forum is reporting (with a link though not to the airline or tour operator) that the 1 x weekly summer Exeter-Toronto Pearson service via Newcastle outbound for Canadian Affair will not operate in summer 2012.

The equipment was due to be an Air Transat A330 after several years of A310 service by the same airline.

It would be a great pity because EXT has had this route for the best part of 20 years but nearly always, perhaps always, operating via another UK or Irish airport. Surprisingly, given the small size of EXT in terms of operations, it's the only direct route to Canada from the south west of Britain.

A crumb of comfort is the fact that the route was originally going to be axed in summer 2011 but was reprieved. Maybe history will repeat itself. Currently, the route is still bookable on the tour operator's website.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Exeter International Airport

CAA Stats December 2011

39,453 people used the airport in the month, an increase of 4.3% on December 2010. Atms were up 9.5%.

Rolling 12-month total (ie the calendar year) was 709,848, down 3.6% on a year ago.

Even though the increase was mainly due to the snow of December 2010 and additional atms of December 2011 the rise is welcome at the airport after nearly four years of almost continual monthly percentage falls.

 

[Aviador]

Re: Exeter International Airport

Thomson's have said that one of their new 737-800 aircraft will be operating from Exeter this summer.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Exeter International Airport

It will replace an A 320.

Exeter was never a Thomson base in its own right. It had been a First Choice single aircraft base with a 320 but came into the Thomson fold when TOM subsumed FCA.

This will give each flight a slight increase in the number of passenger seats - 189, up from 180 I think.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Exeter International Airport

January 2012 - CAA stats

CAA stats show that in January 34,442 passengers were handled, up 2.5% on January 2011. Atms were up 6.8%.

Rolling 12-month figure was 710,167, down 3.5% on a year ago.

After four years of falling monthly passenger figures (with one or two very minor exceptions) that have seen annual passenger numbers drop by 30%, it looks as though Exeter might have reached the bottom of the fall.

January's figures alone don't bring this conclusion but the performance in recent months tend towards it.

The only slightly disquiting feature is that although passenger numbers were up 3.5%, atms were up 6.8%. As Exeter is almost entirely Flybe it's safe to say that this indicates a generally lower load factor across the network, though of course some routes would be up and others down.

 

[Aviador]

Re: Exeter International Airport

Mentioned else where in the forum, the Flybe route to Leeds Bradford airport is being suspended.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Exeter International Airport

Mentioned else where in the forum, the Flybe route to Leeds Bradford airport is being suspended.

Is this the case?

Flybe website is showing booking availability for the coming summer on EXT-LBA-EXT, 6 x weekly (no Saturdays). The timings suggest that the aircraft leaves Exeter, has a short turnaround at LBA, the returns to EXT.

I thought it was the onward leg to ABZ that's to be axed with passengers wanting to travel between Exeter and Aberdeen in future having to change aircraft at Manchester.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Exeter International Airport

February 2012 - CAA stats

A bit disappointing February figures after the small improvement in January.

In February 35,958 passengers were handled, down 3.7% on February 2011. Atms were up 4.3%.

Rolling 12-month figure is 708,677, down 3.7% on a year ago.

Given that there was an extra day this February (worth about 3.5% for passenger figures) and atms increased by 4.3% the passenger numbers are a surprise after January.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Exeter International Airport

[textarea]Work starts on Exeter Airport development

Work has begun on a multimillion-pound hotel and restaurant development at Exeter International Airport.

The site includes a 120-bed Hampton by Hilton hotel and an 85-seat restaurant, called Marco Pierre White Frankies New York Italian.

Contractor Denizen Contracts has started work on the development which is owned by Guernsey-based investment fund Blackstone and operated by Bristol-based Sanguine Hospitality.

Sanguine Hospitality managing director Nick Taplin said: "The start of work on site marks a major milestone in our ambitions for the site. "We are really excited about our plans for Exeter Airport as we bid to bring together two prestigious brands, Hampton by Hilton and Marco Pierre White’s Frankies, under one roof."[/textarea]

Full report at http://www.insidermedia.com/insider/sou ... velopment/

This is an impressive facility for an airport of Exeter's size.

They now just need to get some more passengers flying through the airport.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Exeter International Airport

March 2012 - CAA stats

CAA stats for March 2012 show 46,331 passengers used the airport in the month, up 4% on March 2011. Atms were up 0.7%. Rolling 12-month total was 710,354, down 3.2% on a year ago.

A decent performace after the past four years of misery and part of the small up and down performance of recent months which adds more weight to the notion that the bottom of the fall may have been reached.

 

[Aviador]

Re: Exeter International Airport

It's good to see the airport passenger figures are on the mend. This does of course suggest that the airports primary operator Flybe has taken the necessary steps to reverse the downward trend which is clearly good for all those concerned.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Exeter International Airport

CAA stats April 2012

52,766 passengers were handled in the month, a rise of 4% on April 2011 with atms up 14.8%. Rolling 12-month total was 712,127, down 3.4% on a year ago.

It's good to see the modest recovery in passenger numbers continue and an increase in atms of nearly 15% over the previous April which suggests confidence by Flybe.

Not so good is that the 15% more flights only produced 4% more passengers and as every additional flight would have been by Flybe, or nearly so anyway, it can be reckoned that loads across the board were down.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Exeter International Airport

May 2012

CAA stats for show that 71,958 passengers used the airport in the month, down 0.8% on May 2011. Atms were up 9.1%. Rolling 12-month total was 711,449 down 3.1% on a year ago.

It's good that EXT has reached the bottom of its 3-4 year passenger number plunge but its additional flights are not attracting the same increase in passengers.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Exeter International Airport

CAA stats for June 2012

75,901 passengers used EXT in June 2012, a reduction of 2.9% on June 2011. Atms were up 2.4%.

Rolling 12-month figure was 709,065, down 2.7% on a year ago.

Yet more evidence that EXT is rubbing along at possibly the bottom of its huge fall since 2007, something it's been doing for a few months now.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Exeter International Airport

[textarea]More Flights for 2013 - Exeter Airport

More choice, more variety and exclusive local departures from the UK’s largest holiday operator are on offer for the South West’s sun seekers next year.

In the summer of 2013 Thomson and First Choice will be introducing a new route from Exeter to Enfidha in Tunisia and holiday makers will also be able to travel to the existing destination of Dalaman in Turkey on a second weekly flight.

Matt Roach, managing director of Exeter Airport said: “Our passengers will be delighted that there is a new route to Tunisia and an additional weekly flight to Dalaman next summer. We have seen a big increase in demand for holidays to Turkey and the extra flights will also give more flexibility with the option of 7, 10, 11 and 14 night holidays available for the very first time from Exeter.

“As the airport of choice for the South West, we are pleased that the operator continues to grow and show commitment to Exeter Airport and to the region. The new services to Tunisia are on Sundays from 26 May until 29 September 2013 and the new Friday Dalaman departures from 24 May until 27 September 2013 will compliment (sic) the Monday mid May to the end of October flights.

“The move to introduce these routes is part of the holiday company’s strategy to ensure customers across the UK can fly from their local airport and stay at the best hotels in some of the most exciting destinations and the new service to Tunisia will bring the number of destination that Thomson and First Choice serve from Exeter up to seventeen.”

Paul Cooper, airport negotiations manager for Thomson and First Choice, said of the move: “Increasing our capacity and introducing these new routes at Exeter Airport demonstrates our continued commitment to the South West and we are confident these destinations will prove popular with our customers.

“Modernising our operations across the UK is a key part of our overall strategy and this move is definitely a step in the right direction towards creating an enhanced holiday experience.”[/textarea]

Airport press release so quoted in full. See link at
http://www.exeter-airport.co.uk/airport-news?item=609

Good news though there may be a sting in the tale in that other routes or frequencies might have been cut to make way for these.

EXT has one based B 738 which seems pretty well used in the summer so, unless an aircraft from another base 'on a W' fills in or another airline is used, it might well be Rob Peter to Pay Paul.

Exeter had a Tunisian route in summer for many years to Monastir. It was switched to Enfidha for summer 2011 but isn't operating this summer.

I can't remember if it was a TOM or FCA route so it might be a new one for them as is suggested in the press release.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Exeter International Airport

CAA Stats July 2012

76,948 passengers used EXT in the month, down 4.8% on July 2011. Atsms were down 0.4%.

Rolling 12-month total was 705,116, down 2.9% on a year ago.

Yet another month this year where the airport still rubs along on the bottom having halted its large fall in passenger numbers that occurred since 2007.

Slightly disappointing again is that passenger numbers are down more than the atms, suggesting slightly lower loads overall.

As EXT is mainly Flybe country (also the company HQ of course) the passenger numbers v rotations equation is not a surprise given the airline's well publicised difficulties matching flights with demand this year.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Exeter International Airport

[textarea]New routes for Summer 2013

Flybe has announced two brand new summer sun destinations to both Barcelona and Nice from Exeter in 2013.

A metre-wide freshly cooked paella helped set the scene for the launch of the new Barcelona route. Don Spourgan the proprietor of El Bocado in Exeter presented the dish to staff and said: “I’m very pleased that Flybe will be flying to Barcelona from Exeter. Each year, I send my chefs to Barcelona for inspiration and to ensure our food is as authentic as we can make it.”

Seats are available for booking now with fares from £49.99 to Nice and £59.99 to Barcelona and all other Spanish destinations, one way, including taxes and charges.

Matt Roach, Exeter Airport’s managing director said: “We are delighted with the announcement of the new routes to Nice and Barcelona for next summer. These are headline grabbing routes which we hope will really whet the appetite of travellers in the South West. Barcelona in particular has been a frequently requested route for some time and the new Flybe flights for next summer again underline the strength of the partnership between Exeter International Airport and Flybe”.

Simon Lilley, Flybe’s Director of Marketing comments: “With passengers able to enjoy the comfortable seating offered by our 118-seat Embraer 195 jet aircraft, this announcement further reinforces Flybe’s commitment to bringing convenient, affordable travel to the South West and reaffirms our position as Exeter’s number one airline. Flights are available for booking now and we’d urge travellers to book early so they don’t miss out on the lowest possible fares.”[/textarea]
http://www.exeter-airport.co.uk/airport-news?item=643

Good news on a couple of fronts:

It shows that Flybe, despite its well publicised financial ills of the past year and more, is willing to try new routes from a small airport, though Exeter is the company's headquarters.

New routes will boost the airport after over four years of continual falling passenger numbers - now just over 700,000 per annum down from just over one million per annum in 2007.

Nice isn't strictly a new route as Flybe operated it a few years ago from Exeter, then discarded it. Perhaps this is a small sign that the airline believes the market is about to take a turn for the better.

It's not clear either if these routes will replace others that are to be axed or reduced in frequency.

 

[Aviador]

Re: Exeter International Airport

What is apparent is Flybe appear to be replacing axed routes with summer only routes following a similar line as Jet2. Nice will almost certainly be summer only, Barcelona will struggle from Exeter during the winter months so I can't see that continuing into the winter. The airlines are having to adapt rapidly to keep up with ever changing market conditions.