Flybe quit Manston

Flybe has said it will not be flying from Manston International Airport in Kent after March. The airline said it would cease operations there at the end of the winter season. Flybe launched its Manston to Edinburgh service in May 2010. Flybe spokesman Niall Duffy said:

"We tried different routes and the numbers simply weren't there. It's impossible to sustain routes without the passengers.

Unfortunately for the Manston services it was just impossible to look at those passenger numbers and think that we could sustain the kind of difficulties we were facing.

It is fair to say that Manston is one of the airports with the smaller catchment areas in the United Kingdom, and you have Gatwick not too far away."

The airline said passengers booked on flights after March would be contacted by Flybe and offered a full refund or tickets on alternative flights.

BBC online 22nd Dec 2011

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Flybe is axing its services between Kent International Airport and Edinburgh. The shock move, which takes effect from the end of the winter season on March 25, has been blamed on the tough economic climate. The Edinburgh service was regarded as Manston's jewel in the crown.

The decision is a blow to Manston's reputation which also suffered when Flybe axed its Manchester service because of weak passenger demand. Senior Kent figures have been promoting expansion at Manston rather than back controversial proposals for a hub airport on or off the Kent coast.

kentonline 22nd Dec 2011

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Flybe will end its flights at Manston airport on March 25 and passengers who have already booked a flight on the summer schedule will either be fully refunded or booked onto a flight departing from another airport, the IoT Gazette reports. In a statement, Simon Lilley, Flybe's director of marketing said:

"It is with regret that Flybe can confirm it will cease its operations from Manston International Airport with effect from the end of the winter season on March 25, 2012. Flybe carefully reviews the viability of all our 200-plus routes on a regular basis looking not only at passenger numbers but also at external cost pressures. This is done not only to monitor where we can offer increased regularity on a given route but also where passenger numbers make a flight uneconomic.

Our ongoing commitment to Manston has been reliant on the success of the Edinburgh service that we launched in May 2010.  Despite extensive marketing of this route both in Scotland and throughout SE England, the challenging economic environment with which we are all faced has meant passenger numbers remain at unsustainable levels, and are insufficient to financially justify its continued operation.

All passengers who have booked flights online for next summer will be contacted by Flybe and offered a full refund or re-accommodated on alternate flights; and in the interim we look forward to welcoming on board those passengers who continue to book and use our Edinburgh service from now through to the end of March."

The decision comes after Flybe axed flights from Manston to Manchester due to lack of passenger demand.

Airport bosses have urged Thanet council to support Manston's plans for night flights, on the grounds that it needs greater flexibility to compete with other airports. Charles Buchanan, Chief Executive of Manston Airport, said:

"While obviously disappointed, we understand that the decision has been taken as part of Flybe's ongoing review of its 200 routes. Launched in May 2010, the service initially performed well. However, like many other internal UK routes it suffered from the economic downturn. Inbound and outbound passenger numbers, although initially good have unfortunately tailed off as household budgets and discretionary spend has tightened.

The decision by Flybe reinforces the need for the airport's proposals for limited and managed scheduled night-time flights to be agreed with Thanet District Council in order to compete with other national and regional airports. Without the ability to compete it will be very difficult to secure a commitment from other airlines to base aircraft at Manston and deliver a truly sustainable regional airport which will underpin the future health of the East Kent economy."

Commenting on the decision, Sandra Matthews-Marsh, Chief Executive at Visit Kent, said:

"This is disappointing news for East Kent in a very challenging economic climate for the travel and tourism industry."

Flybe also runs a service between Manston and Belfast – which will also end, said a company spokesman.

thisiskent 22nd Dec 2011

Q: What DOESN'T connect George Best, John Lennon and Robin Hood?

A: Flybe

George Best is Belfast's airport, John Lennon is Liverpool's and Robin Hood is Doncaster's. Flybe used to have scheduled flights connecting them, but that was before their share price fell through the floor after their recent profit warning.

In Charles Buchanan's position, I would be rather by worried by the second paragraph of Flybe's statement...

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The Flybe service from George Best Belfast City Airport to John Lennon Liverpool will be axed at the end of the month. The Belfast to Doncaster flight will also cease on 30 October. The airline operates three return flights daily from Belfast to Liverpool and one to Doncaster.

Shares in Flybe plunged by 36% on Wednesday after it said there had been a "significant slowdown in sales" across its UK domestic network. In May, the Exeter-based airline warned of the impact of the spending slowdown, as well as unveiling a £3 fuel surcharge for all flights which came into force last month. The airline told BBC Online:

"Flybe can confirm that with effect from 30 October 2011 it will cease operating services from George Best Belfast City Airport to Liverpool and Doncaster. Flybe carefully reviews the viability of all its 200 plus routes looking not only at passenger numbers but also at external cost pressures such as the extortionate Air Passenger Duty system being levied on the domestic aviation sector where its passengers pay twice as much tax as Europe-bound travellers.

This ongoing monitoring of our routes enables us to both increase regularity where demand exists, but also highlights when passenger numbers make a flight economically and environmentally harder to justify."

Flybe's other 16 direct services from Belfast which include flights to London, Gatwick, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and Southampton are not affected. The company has unveiled its second profits warning in five months. Shares fell 40% to 60p - a total fall of 80% on the flotation price of 295p in December 2010.

BBC Online 6th Oct 2011

Job losses at Manston Airport

Four jobs are to go at Manston Airport in a cost-cutting programme amid speculation that a new service to New York is poised for take-off. The airport, owned by New Zealand company Infratil, has been losing money on its operations and needed to cut costs to give it a more secure future.

Airport chiefs recently examined working patterns to see where cost savings could be made. This process and staff consultation has identified savings of more than £350,000 and the loss of four roles. Charles Buchanan, airport chief executive, said:

"As the airport strives to attract new business, it is important that the cost base is kept as low as possible and we reduce the airport's current operating losses. Increasing the attractiveness of the airport to potential new customers, both through low airport charges and flexible operating conditions, will be key to ensuring the business becomes a commercial success. As a result of the consultation the airport is now on a more sustainable footing for the future as we seek to grow the business."

The airport has attracted Flybe scheduled services to Edinburgh and Belfast but lost the Manchester service in April because of poor passenger numbers. Several holiday charter operations use the airport which earns substantial revenue from its freight operations.

Mr Buchanan has spoken to a number of airlines to try and attract more scheduled passenger services. A spokesman confirmed that talks have been held with representatives of a new airline that is considering introducing direct flights to New York.

kentonline 26th Jul 2011

Belfast route opens

New flights have started between Manston and Belfast's George Best airport. The first of the Flybe services arrived in Thanet at lunchtime on Thursday. Flights will run between Manston and Belfast three times a week on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. The route takes 90 minutes and will initially run for the summer, with plans to extend it if the service proves popular.

At the launch, which coincided with the first anniversary of flights between Manston and Edinburgh, airport chief executive Charles Buchanan said:

"The Belfast service underscores Manston's key importance as the gateway to the glorious south east. Passengers using the airport immediately realise how different it is to others, thanks to the ease of getting to and from Manston and the fact that you can board your aircraft just metres from where you park your car. It's air travel as it should be – convenient, comfortable and relaxed."

Mr Buchanan added that 25,000 passengers had used Manston's Edinburgh service in its first year, hailing it as a success. Flybe and Manston airport hope that 50,000 people will use the services to Edinburgh and Belfast in the next year. Flybe flights between Manchester and Manston were dropped this year after disappointing sales.

Mr Buchanan also took the opportunity to underline the economic benefits of the airport. The airport is on the brink of reapplying to Thanet council for changes to the current ban on flights at night. Mr Buchanan said:

"It is important to us as an airport to build up the right services for the community and the economy. Particularly in these times, when jobs are difficult to come by, the airport can have a positive economic impact on the area. We are going to see if we can grow the airport to our master plan in the next three to four years, which would bring £340 million a year to the local economy. We think that this is a prize worth having."

Thanet Times 3rd Jun 2011

Airport expansion could bring 3,500 jobs

New research for Manston airport owners Infratil shows that the airport could create 3,500 jobs in the local economy, but only if more flexibility is allowed for night flights. The study by aviation consultants York Aviation into the economic impact of Manston suggests it would contribute nearly £65 million a year to the local economy by 2018, if its masterplan development is realised.

The research indicates the airport would provide direct employment for 2,070 people and a further 1,035 jobs in the wider economy by 2018, on the basis of the masterplan. The findings reinforce the claims in the airport's masterplan and Infratil's vision of developing a South East regional airport that would offer scheduled passenger services, chartered flights and handling international freight.

The report was commissioned by Infratil after Thanet council asked for more information about the impact of night flying and the economic value of the airport. This came after the authority was asked to consider lifting the ban on aircraft using the airport after 11pm and before 7am. The results of the research were released this week as work continues on a new multimillion-pound radar system at the airport and a three-times-a-week passenger service, scheduled by Flybe, was launched to Belfast City.

Using data from the masterplan, the airport's customers and aviation industry, York Aviation concluded that the ability to handle some aircraft movements between 11pm and 7am would be necessary for Manston to attract a low-cost airline with planes based at the airport, as well as handle greater levels of freight from around the world. Charles Buchanan, chief executive of Manston airport, said:

"Our aspiration is to have aircraft actually based at the airport as this would significantly increase the number of routes we could serve and passengers arriving and departing from Manston. Persuading airlines to base planes at the airport would generate further local employment opportunities for cabin crew and additional airport jobs. Despite the present economic situation we remain confident that airlines will choose Manston and build upon our Flybe services and charter services. The research examined the viability of the airport's masterplan and concluded that the aspiration to become a sustainable South East regional airport could only be achieved by Manston ensuring it has a mix of passenger and freight services using the airport."

The masterplan shows the airport handling 2.2 million passengers and 167,000 tonnes of freight by 2018. This research shows that these levels are achievable, provided the management of the night-flying policy is implemented. Mr Buchanan added:

"We recognise that the issue of night flights is a high-profile one within the district and we are currently developing our detailed proposal and hope to be in a position to submit it shortly, and then for public consultation to begin."

York Aviation is in the process of finalising the second part of the research, which will assess the impact that the imposition of a stringent night movement policy would have on the airport's economic impact and commercial operation.

IoT Gazette 27th May 2011

Nothing to smile about

The economics of the marketplace are impartial and unforgiving, grimly scything down any business models that are weak, lame or faltering.

Plenty of people want to go to Manchester, and plenty of people want to come to East Kent. Evidently, not enough people want to travel between the two. So the Manchester route failed. Within a year, we'll find out how many people want to travel between East Kent and Belfast.

M'learned friends tell me that under current employment law, a 90 day consultation period is compulsory if more than 99 people might be made redundant. This rule is (pointlessly) applied even when there are no viable alternatives to redundancy to be consulting about. So if, for example, a factory was closing because it was going broke, the 90 day rule would apply despite the fact that the factory owner had nothing but redundancy to offer.

Airport owners Infratil told their shareholders a couple of weeks ago (on March 8th 2011) that they would be concentrating on the Australia/New Zealand energy and transport sectors, and were undecided about the fate of their European airport investments.

• Focus is on capital allocation, NZ energy markets and positioning of Greenstone Energy and TrustPower • Capital allocation priorities are under constant review • Portfolio rebalancing is not complete • Still monitoring public transport and European airport sectors • Origination activity is largely focused on energy and transport opportunities in Australia and NZ • Infratil’s priorities: energy and transport sectors in Australia and New Zealand - control or influential stakes in unlisted assets in sectors we understand well

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Job uncertainty at Manston Airport

Jobs could be lost at Kent International Airport after it launched a widescale review of all staff. Charles Buchanan, chief executive of Infratil, the company which owns Manston airport, said it was reviewing "working patterns and conditions of all staff". The consultation will last for at least 90 days. Mr Buchanan said:

"We have more than 100 employees at Manston, many of whom have been with us for years and joined when the airport was under different ownership. We are now in a situation where some of the working arrangements we have in place do not match the current activity of the business. This is something we must rectify to ensure the airport has a sustainable future and that we match our resources to the needs of our customers."

Mr Buchanan said Infratil was not planning to "identify significant redundancies". But he added:

"At this stage, I cannot guarantee that there won't be some job losses. We are also reviewing all our external contracts to consider which of these could be performed more effectively in-house, possibly creating new positions at the airport. As the consultation will last a minimum of three months it is impossible to say what the outcome will be."

The news comes just days after budget airline Flybe announced it was scrapping its Manston-Manchester route and replacing it with flights to Belfast. More than 28,000 people travelled through the airport in the 10 months to the end of January compared to just 4,200 a year before, as a result of the new scheduled services to Edinburgh and Manchester. However, the amount of freight handled by the airport fell to 1,800 tonnes in January, down by almost a third on the previous year.

The airport terminal building was recently refurbished and is capable of handling up to 700,000 passengers every year. Infratil recently announced that passenger numbers at another of its airports, Glasgow Prestwick, fell by 40% in January compared to the year before. The company has a strong presence in New Zealand, where it owns Wellington Airport and the NZ Bus operation.

Martin Jefferies kentonline 23rd Mar 2011

Manchester "unsustainable". Belfast "attractive"?

Flybe scraps Manchester service from Manston and launches Belfast flights

Regional airline Flybe is grounding its service between Manston and Manchester and replacing it with a new summer operation to Belfast.

The service to Northern Ireland will operate three times a week and begin on May 26. Flybe said its services between Kent International and Edinburgh were popular and would continue. However, it was suspending its Manchester service from April 4 because passenger numbers had made the flight "economically and environmentally hard to justify."

Despite this setback, the airline insisted it remained committed to developing its route network from Manston. Airport chief executive officer Charles Buchanan said:

"We are pleased that Flybe have reinforced their commitment to Manston with the announcement of a Belfast City service. Initially this will be three times a week, but will hopefully increase as demand grows and aircraft become available. Sadly, despite the best efforts of both the Manston Airport team and Flybe, the Manchester route has not proved sustainable; however we are confident that Belfast will attract more passengers."

Mike Rutter, Flybe's chief commercial officer said:

"We're delighted to be adding this new service between Belfast and Manston, providing passengers with a quick and direct route between South East England and Northern Ireland. Whilst the service to Manchester has unfortunately proved unsustainable, we've been delighted with the support shown by travellers to and from the region on the Manston-Edinburgh route and remain committed to developing our route network from Manston."

The Belfast service will operate on Tuesdays and Thursdays (departing from Manston at 13.45) and Sundays (12.50). Flights will depart from Belfast at 11.40 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and 10.45 on Sundays. One-way fares start at £29.99. The flight time will be 1h 40m.

by business editor Trevor Sturgess
kentonline  15th Mar 2011