Leeds Bradford: KLM Flight Status, Hub News & Discussion

[Jerry]

Whatever is affecting KLM Cityhopper/Eastern at LBA hopefully by September and October they'll have it all sorted out as that's when I'm flying with them LBA wise to Amsterdam in September and then returning from Stockholm in October. Both are avgeek & planespotting trips.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

I’m not sure but I don’t suppose that matters as it’s not mainline that’s suffering with the shortages as much. We also have to remember that AMS is artificially slot constrained, this is why there are the planned schedule reductions in June when they’re anticipating an increase in non scheduled traffic. They’ve obviously planned these cancellations in ahead of time to enable them to let the passengers know and rebook them on another flight.

It matters because we are competing with Manchester.

 

[pug]

It matters because we are competing with Manchester.

Think the majority of users of the KLM ex LBA are people who would prefer avoiding MAN. You might get the odd one or two who go to MAN instead if they’re concerned about reliability but people said this about HUY and the stats show otherwise.

 

[Finger66]

Looks like the KL flight cancellations at the end of this week are down to AMS capacity limitations. Very vague update that doesn't give any clearer indication than that.

Explains why a few airports are affected though

 

[pug]

Looks like the KL flight cancellations at the end of this week are down to AMS capacity limitations. Very vague update that doesn't give any clearer indication than that.

Explains why a few airports are affected though

Runway 09/27 is closing 10th May until end of September for repairs which can only affect the capacity.

Amsterdam Airport Schiphol to close Runway 09-27 (Buitenveldertbaan) for major upgrade from May to September 2025

Runway 09-27 (Buitenveldertbaan) at Amsterdam Schiphol will undergo large-scale maintenance from 10 May to 28 September 2025, during which it will be

www.aviation24.be

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Think the majority of users of the KLM ex LBA are people who would prefer avoiding MAN. You might get the odd one or two who go to MAN instead if they’re concerned about reliability but people said this about HUY and the stats show otherwise.

I dont like the idea of 'our' pax being transferred to Manchester from cancelled flights. It puts out the wrong kind of message.

 

[pug]

I dont like the idea of 'our' pax being transferred to Manchester from cancelled flights. It puts out the wrong kind of message.

That’s not what they’ll be doing. They usually offer a later flight and accommodation plays the ability to make another connection. They may be offering to transfer people to a Manchester flight if that’s what the passenger is requesting, but that would be up to the passenger concerned.

I think we’ve taken KLM for granted far too long now. For those thinking it’s a replaceable service maybe think again on that one, I can’t think of many other airports where interlining is as seamless and where the flight time to the hub is such that it feels like a short hop (particularly for HUY where it’s little as 20-30 minutes wheels up to touchdown!).

If passengers are transferring to MAN on occasion it means that people are booking LBA. The worse outcome would be people cancelling with KLM altogether and heading to LHR instead.

 

[Stagman]

Just a quick second doing a google search finds the answer to the cancellations this week.

Aalsmeerbaan Runway Closure 5th - 10th May leading to capacity reductions.

Amsterdam Schiphol closes Aalsmeerbaan for maintenance work

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport will close its Aalsmeerbaan runway from May 5 to 10 for annual scheduled maintenance. During this time, the affected runway will be closed for...

aviation.direct

 

[Jerry]

Think the majority of users of the KLM ex LBA are people who would prefer avoiding MAN. You might get the odd one or two who go to MAN instead if they’re concerned about reliability but people said this about HUY and the stats show otherwise.

People that will be flying from LeedsBradford over Manchester will be doing it more for the convenience. Manchester flights are pretty much always a lot cheaper from my experience.

 

[A400]

People that will be flying from LeedsBradford over Manchester will be doing it more for the convenience. Manchester flights are pretty much always a lot cheaper from my experience.

And we all know why that is as they have more competition on the route and more seats.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Just a quick second doing a google search finds the answer to the cancellations this week.

Aalsmeerbaan Runway Closure 5th - 10th May leading to capacity reductions.

Amsterdam Schiphol closes Aalsmeerbaan for maintenance work

Amsterdam Schiphol Airport will close its Aalsmeerbaan runway from May 5 to 10 for annual scheduled maintenance. During this time, the affected runway will be closed for...

aviation.direct

Buitebvelderbaan is also closed according to an earlier post.

I will be interested to see if the CityHopper UK routes continue to take the brunt of the cancellations or if they will be spread more evenly in the coming weeks.

That’s not what they’ll be doing. They usually offer a later flight and accommodation plays the ability to make another connection. They may be offering to transfer people to a Manchester flight if that’s what the passenger is requesting, but that would be up to the passenger concerned.

I think we’ve taken KLM for granted far too long now. For those thinking it’s a replaceable service maybe think again on that one, I can’t think of many other airports where interlining is as seamless and where the flight time to the hub is such that it feels like a short hop (particularly for HUY where it’s little as 20-30 minutes wheels up to touchdown!).

If passengers are transferring to MAN on occasion it means that people are booking LBA. The worse outcome would be people cancelling with KLM altogether and heading to LHR instead.

Thats all well and good but how can you redistribute 100+ pax over the remaining 2 flights a day?

 

[Stagman]

Buitebvelderbaan is also closed according to an earlier post.

Think it is just the one day that sees both of them closed at same time with them intersecting each other.

 

[pug]

Buitebvelderbaan is also closed according to an earlier post.

I will be interested to see if the CityHopper UK routes continue to take the brunt of the cancellations or if they will be spread more evenly in the coming weeks.


Thats all well and good but how can you redistribute 100+ pax over the remaining 2 flights a day?

There probably aren’t 100+ passengers and they’ll probably cancel and redistribute based on the number of people booked on. Not sure what the LF at LBA is exactly but I expect the flights aren’t going out 100% full every day.

It’s a business decision that we can’t argue with, just be assured that once again it’s not T3 doing the cancelling.

 

[Jerry]

And we all know why that is as they have more competition on the route and more seats.

Yes in total 40 weekly departures. With every aircraft type in the short haul fleet operating into it including the new A321neo. Only Heathrow sees more flights than Manchester. It gets 53 weekly departures.

 

[A400]

Then you’ve pretty much answered your own question as to why it’s cheaper there and pricier at LBA.

Perhaps KLM could do with some competition. Shame Jet2 dropped AMS use to be daily and a good service to use.

 

[Jerry]

Perhaps KLM could do with some competition. Shame Jet2 dropped AMS use to be daily and a good service to use.

It is a shame Jet2 dropped AMS maybe Easyjet would consider it but LBA-AMS isn't KLMs target market its people travelling onwards. So KLMs competitors at MAN are BA, Lufthansa, Finnair etc. They don't have that at LBA and whether they will in the future who knows. Jet2 or Easyjet would be tapping into a different market. And tbh i'm surprised Jet2 dropped AMS which i'd have thought would be a popular city break especially when they operate Paris.

 

[Finger66]

Noticed yesterday's late afternoon and today's mid morning rotations were both E170s. Let's hope pax are not having to be offloaded to facilitate smaller aircraft when we were supposed to have an all E190 service. Let's really hope T3 gets this all sorted sooner rather than later before irreperable damage is done!

 

[KARFA]

Noticed yesterday's late afternoon and today's mid morning rotations were both E170s. Let's hope pax are not having to be offloaded to facilitate smaller aircraft when we were supposed to have an all E190 service. Let's really hope T3 gets this all sorted sooner rather than later before irreperable damage is done!

T3 have been an operation basket case for years. i doubt very much they are able to do anything to change that anytime soon. tbh i am surprised they are still going at all.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

T3 have been an operation basket case for years. i doubt very much they are able to do anything to change that anytime soon. tbh i am surprised they are still going at all.

I noticed they are advertising for pilots again.

 

[pug]

T3 have been an operation basket case for years. i doubt very much they are able to do anything to change that anytime soon. tbh i am surprised they are still going at all.

They’ll keep going for as long as RL wants to keep it going.

There’s two things here, on the one hand they have a contract that could make it into a sustainable business, on the other hand RL is able to somehow generate work out of thin air. Hopefully at some point he’ll sell it again to someone who is capable of planning and not just smash and grab.