easyJet

[TheLocalYokel]

That works the same as it does now. You'll (presumably) be asked these questions on the screen when you submit the bag, and I'm sure people miss flights after checking in a bag at a staffed counter as well...

I've used the machines at Brussels airport. It's a bit weird/disconcerting the first time, but there are always friendly staff lurking in the background if one needs help. If it's faster I'm not sure, certainly didn't feel like it, but maybe the machines can be packed denser than the counters?

Broadly similar at Geneva a few years ago. The machine asked the questions that the check-in agent usually asks and the airline knows the number of hold bags from each passenger whether manually checked in by an agent or via a machine.

The questions are always a bit of a nonsense anyway because anyone with ill intent is unlikely to give an honest reply. I suppose that the questions do have a value in that they remind genuine passengers (as opposed to would-be terrorists) what they should have and should not have done when packing bags for the hold.

 

[Severn]

Also what about someone checking a bag in but not catching the flight? How do they ensure safety?

Because you scan your boarding pass when checking your bag in so they are then linked together. If you don't board the aircraft (having scanned your boarding pass at the gate), then they will offload any checked luggage that is linked to your boarding pass.

I happened to be in the terminal today helping a family member pass through the airport. They used the new EZY self scan process.... and it was by far the easiest check in process i've come across. Given it was during the middle of the day busy period, what was even more interesting was that there was no queue whatsoever. There was also plenty of staff on hand to assist at the self-serve stage and the bag-drop stage. It was all very slick and looked impressive, especially to those who weren't lucky enough to have have self-serve, therefore having to queue!.. (TOM/RYR).

On another note, security looked like a breeze today as well, with no waiting time at all. Needless to say my family member was very impressed with the whole experience, which is nice to hear given they very regularly travel through LHR T5.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

easyJet - saturation point at BRS?

I was reading a discussion about easyJet in another airport thread on F4A and was struck by a comment of a poster there when talking about easyJet's growth at various UK airports. The poster commented: "I would say that easyJet expanded quickly there (at BRS) early on and has not been far from reaching saturation point since."

Saturation point could mean the airline is reaching its limit in terms of routes/frequencies or it could refer to easyJet's dominance at BRS vis-a-vis other airlines.

In 2016 easyJet carried over 4.2 million passengers at BRS which was 55% of the airport's overall total of 7.6 million. For summer 2017 the airline has increased the number of available seats by 6.7% to over 4.86 million which means that in 2016 there must have been around 4.56 million available seats.

With 4.2 million of the 4.56 million seats occupied in 2016 the airline saw an overall load factor of just over 92%* at BRS across all routes throughout the year.
* about 0.5% higher than the airline's average across its network last year.

https://www.bristolairport.co.uk/ab...s-and-media-centre/2017/3/easyjet-record-2016

With a 92% overall load factor it might seem that the airline sees a market that can still grow substantially and we know that two more new routes were announced last week. I base this on the premise that easyJet has properly costed its operation to take advantage of the loads. BRS may have given it a deal but with the airport's profits rising every year - 2016 saw a £35.9 million pre-tax profit from turnover of £89.9 million - both parties would probably be happy.

What about saturation point in terms of other airlines? We've discussed before the question of airlines becoming too dominant at airports, particularly at smaller ones although BRS is moving out of the very small category with over 8 mppa confidently predicted for 2017.

Any further significant growth is likely to continue in the hands of low-cost airlines and the two main charter companies. Should the airport be looking to try to attract a third major low-cost carrier to provide competition to the incumbents, especially easyJet, or does it not matter too much if easyJet continues to dominate and perhaps even increases its dominance so long as it is providing routes and frequencies that people seem to want?

For the purpose of this discussion I've set aside the current undoubted over-crowding problems at BRS at certain times.

 

[Marko1]

I have alluded to this suggestion before by suggesting the airport should seek a third based low cost airline. I fear a change in approach from easyJet may just reverse or freeze growth from Bristol plus there are starting to produce some inconsistencies in their scheduling particularly reductions in Tenerife and Venice during the peak summer season. Secondly I don't think we can be totally confident with Ryanair to produce any meaningful growth in the future and who knows may just shut up shop what with brexit and apd devolution possible. I really believe that there is significant possibilities for easyJet particularly in south Eastern Europe but will they want to ? Plus are they planning to phase out the a319s in due course ?

 

[Jerry]

EasyJet are getting a new CEO now so his/her approach could be different especially now that the company is splitting up into UK and Europe. So they could launch new bases in the future in the UK and Europe but it is a case of wait and see.
I was surprised with Stockholm and Athens as I thought they were veering more towards sun holiday destinations. It could be now that there focus at BRS may well be on more city destinations. So cities like Oslo or Valencia or Zagreb could be possbible future destinations. Aircraft wise with the new A321s on order then routes like LPA or TFS or PMI could get seat increases using that aircraft rather than through increased frequencies.
If in the future a new carrier did turn up at BRS then EZYs response will be interesting.
As for Ryanair i have always been surprised that they haven't really gone after Easyjet at BRS whether through basing more aircraft or operating more frequencies from with non based aircraft on the really popular sun routes and many other city routes or by trying to take their passengers from the South Wales and Devon and Cornwall areas by operating large route networks at CWL, NQY and EXT and essentially trying to push EZY out of BRS or at least reduce the base. Maybe i'm just over estimating FR's aggressiveness as an airline?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Some interesting and valid points from Marko and Jerry in my opinion.

If easyJet continues to grow at a disproportionate rate to other airlines at BRS then the time won't be far away when it's handling 60% or higher of the airport's traffic. If there was then a big downturn in the industry BRS would have a lot to lose if easyJet downsized there. If another low-cost airline joined easyJet and Ryanair they would be serving many of the routes (especially those to the sun) already operated by existing airlines.

That might see a stagnation in growth or even a reduction in operations by one or more of easyJet, Ryanair, TUI and Thomas Cook as their passenger numbers and more importantly yield could be diluted.

Ryanair hasn't really grown at BRS for the past seven or eight years. Routes come and go but broadly the operation hasn't shifted much in size except in winter when last time there was a 25% increase in flights. Apart from the sun routes - ALC, AGP, PMI, IBZ, LPA, TFS, ACE, FAO - where they compete with easyJet (and with TOM and TCX) their BRS network is either ROI, other sun routes not flown by easyJet and easterrn/central Europe (former Eastern Bloc), although Cologne (starting this autumn) is a different game. They did begin to compete with easyJet on Krakow and Venice MP last year and this continues, and they also compete with Wizz Air to Warsaw, albeit to different airports. This summer there are 31 Ryanair routes.

Almost certainly the reason they haven't gone to EXT or NQY in a big way is that the catchments there are nowhere near as big as that at BRS, or as prosperous. The same applies to a lesser degree to CWL. easyJet has many routes at BRS that Ryanair would probably not be interested in serving. It almost seems a cosy relationship where neither airline wants to step on the other's toes except on routes that can stand competition. I'm not saying that is the case but it's easy to see that appearance.

A third low-cost airline would certainly disturb all that.

 

[kraktoa]

How many more routes or landing slots to go before BRS reaches saturation as an airport. Ie s there any calculation or legal requirement that says BRS cannot go beyond this number of flights per day.

Lets say for arguments sake. Every flight is taking off and landing empty. But will still follow the average turn around times for a LCA. This removes the 10 mppa limit considerations.

That leaves 2 considerations. Hrs and mns in a day and aircraft stands. So with these 2 considerations in mind, how many more slots can BRS dish out before they hit saturation.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

How many more routes or landing slots to go before BRS reaches saturation as an airport. Ie s there any calculation or legal requirement that says BRS cannot go beyond this number of flights per day.

Lets say for arguments sake. Every flight is taking off and landing empty. But will still follow the average turn around times for a LCA. This removes the 10 mppa limit considerations.

That leaves 2 considerations. Hrs and mns in a day and aircraft stands. So with these 2 considerations in mind, how many more slots can BRS dish out before they hit saturation.

I accept this but I did say in my post that invited this discussion that the undoubted overcrowding at certain times would be put on one side for the purpose of debating whether easyJet as an airline had reached saturation point, either in the number of routes/frequencies it could viably operate (ie for which there is a market) or as a disproportionate airline customer at BRS.

The overcrowding will be an issue whether easyJet or anyone else expands.

BRS is currently restricted to 10 mppa by its planning consents. There are restrictions on the number of night flights and apart from the practical limit of take-off and landings that the airport can accommodate in any given period, and space to park aircraft, I'm not aware of any overall cap on the number of movements.

 

[superking]

I'm wondering why the easy jet diverted to Cardiff today from Gatwick. it was ezy 8536 from fue It was a A320 reg no YL LCT.It was around mid day so I can only think brs was full.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I'm wondering why the easy jet diverted to Cardiff today from Gatwick. it was ezy 8536 from fue It was a A320 reg no YL LCT.It was around mid day so I can only think brs was full.

Numerous diversions from LGW this afternoon to such airports as BOH, LTN, STN, SEN, EMA, LHR, EXT, SOU, BHX, CWL, BRS. An aircraft burst a tyre on the runway according to reports.

BRS took an easyJet diversion to LGW from FAO and CWL also took a Monarch from Las Palmas as well as the easyJet Fuerteventura - all per FR24.

 

[Jerry]

An aircraft burst a tyre on the runway according to reports.

An Air Canada Rouge 767 on a flight to Toronto burst a tyre on takeoff and blocked the runway.
http://www.airlive.net/alert-someth...ndon-gatwick-a-lot-of-holding-and-no-takeoff/

 

[superking]

EasyJet will transfer 110 aircraft to the Austrian register. It will be known as EasyJet Europe,the base will be Vienna. The first aircraft reregistered is G EZPA an A320. THE new reg is OE IVA but one problem with this is already an aircraft flying round with this reg,so watch this space.

 

[kraktoa]

Prague and Barcelona departures cancelled today. Whats happening? I am in Lisbon and due back on wednesday. Is this a cause for concern or will they be back to normal by then.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Prague and Barcelona departures cancelled today. Whats happening? I am in Lisbon and due back on wednesday. Is this a cause for concern or will they be back to normal by then.

Seems to happen to easyJet every peak summer at BRS, and at other airports from what I read. Fingers crossed, this summer hasn't been as bad as some recent ones - so far - which is no consolation to those whose flight is cancelled. From memory past years have been worst at weekends so hopefully you'll be ok on Wednesday.

 

[kraktoa]

Seems to happen to easyJet every peak summer at BRS, and at other airports from what I read. Fingers crossed, this summer hasn't been as bad as some recent ones - so far - which is no consolation to those whose flight is cancelled. From memory past years have been worst at weekends so hopefully you'll be ok on Wednesday.

In the past few years the reasons were French ATC strikes in the summer. Have not heard of problems from french end. Weather too hasnt played a part. So wonder what it is this time.

 

[Jerry]

With Prague it looks like the aircraft that was supposed to operate it had a big delay doing BRS-MJV in the morning and then was delayed for Berlin as well and got back from there 19.55 so looks like they cancelled Prague because of that. The aircraft down for Barcelona though didn't have any delays and landed on time for the BCN departure. So god knows what happened with that.
Easyjet do have a reputation though for cancelling flights. They call Flybe flymaybe but EZY do seem to be much worse.

 

[Foxlimayankee]

The weather around Europe is causing a lot of lengthy slots lately, so could have influence on crew hours.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

In the past few years the reasons were French ATC strikes in the summer. Have not heard of problems from french end. Weather too hasnt played a part. So wonder what it is this time.

I agree that the French industrial action was a nightmare last summer and easyJet were the main victims at BRS - unsurprisingly given the size of their operation at the airport.

However, there were other reason last summer connected to the airline that accounted for many easyJet cancellations as the below quoted post from June last year points out. It's necessary to click on the Click to expand button to read the entire quoted post as the relevant bits are at the bottom.

again, I can explain! The Bordeaux diverted into La Rochelle with what I presume to be a pressurisation issue as it squawked 7700 (the emergency code) just over the north coast of France and descended to 10,000 from 34,000 and then flew to La Rochelle at 10,000 feet. Because of this diversion the crew are now out of hours and there are currently no spare crew to operate the Barcellona. Because of the crew being out of hours from the diversion easyJet have had to cancel the flight. Also of note due to there being no crew to operate it the EZY 6005 Faro should have departed at 0700 and departed 1148 due to there being no crew to operate it as they were all out of hours.

easyJet are having a bad summer this summer with regards to crewing. It is almost like they haven't got the manpower to operate the 13th aircraft effectively. It is shocking that they are running it like this. There seems to hardly be a day now where a flight is not cancelled. Yesterday (25th June 2016) 5 flights were cancelled!

If they are not careful easyJet are going to get a lot of bad press and loose a lot of customers over this summer.......

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Easyjet do have a reputation though for cancelling flights. They call Flybe flymaybe but EZY do seem to be much worse.

easyJet do cancel a lot of flights but they operate a far, far greater number than Flybe so percentage-wise they might be no worse or possibly better.

I used to be impressed with easyJet's ability to keep things going. Over a decade ago I was coming back from Inverness to Bristol when an indefinite delay appeared on the screens at INV. I feared the worst.

However, the INV airport people kept us fully abreast of things via the pa, doubtless briefed by easyJet, and we were told that the aircraft due to operate BRS-INV-BRS has gone tech in Pisa. We were told next that easyJet was sourcing another aircraft and still later we were told that the new aircraft had just taken off from Bristol.

easyJet's BRS base was then a B737 operation and the replacement aircraft was a 319 that had been flown from STN specially to operate BRS-INV-BRS in the absence of the broken down 737 in Pisa.

We arrived back in BRS only about three hours late.

It was the first time I flew on an easyJet 319, on any 319 for that matter.

 

[Jerry]

What may effect EZY is that they do fly from a lot of big and congested airports whereas Flybe do fly from a lot of smaller quieter airports. So that could be a factor. In the end all an airline like EZY or BE need is a slight delay and then everything is messed up.