Ryanair

[Aviador]

They do it every year around this time as it's winter.

And throughout the winter. I think it was TheLocalYokel who counted in the region of 16 updates during one past winter season.

 

[Jerry]

They do it every year around this time as it's winter.

Nope these are extra because of the pilot shortage.

 

[lbaspotter]

And throughout the winter. I think it was TheLocalYokel who counted in the region of 16 updates during one past winter season.

This time its more serious compared to previous years. Never known Ryanair to totally cancel 34 routes for the whole of the winter season. Especially high frequency routes like STN-EDI - STN-GLA and BFS-LGW. Flybe, Easyjet and British Airways will be wetting themselves laughing to much.
The pilots are having a major effect on Ryanair operations, and for once I totally agree with them this time around.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

And throughout the winter. I think it was TheLocalYokel who counted in the region of 16 updates during one past winter season.

That was in the days when Ryanair would publish several different versions of their summer timetable throughout the preceding winter. The final version would invariably be significantly different to the first ones with some destinations added, others axed, some timings changed and sometimes days of the week of operation changed.

This was in respect of their BRS network which I studied closely but in fairness this sort of thing hasn't happened for probably five or six years, although they still put in one or two relatively minor changes from the original published schedule, usually extra rotations in peak summer.

I agree with lbaspotter's comment in the previous post. An analyst on the BBC News Channel said this afternoon that this is likely to do 'reputational damage' to the airline (yes, I know but Ryanair did seem to have improved its public image over the past couple of years). The test will be how it and its share price recover. People have short memories and if Ryanair gets its act together in the next year or two this will probably be forgotten in the minds of the public at large. I wouldn't be booking with Ryanair at the moment though - they might cancel more flights throughout the winter yet.

 

[Jerry]

I think the problem for Ryanair now is that people will be reluctant to book with them because of the cancellations. Just seen a post on a ***Links to other Social Media platforms are not permitted***- page and someone was asking if CWLs service to TFS had been cancelled and several comments later and the person might end up booking to go somewhere else with another airline. He won't be the only one to do that. Peoples confidence in Ryanair actually getting them to where they want to go has been dented and that will effect them. Mind you if you aren't worried about that they'll have some bargains on sale!

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I think you're right that in the short term Ryanair might suffer from some people's reluctance to book. Give it a year or two though and assuming they are back firing on all cylinders many people won't resist the often attractive fares they offer.

 

[Foxlimayankee]

Ryanair will bounce back by extra cheap fares in a few weeks then all will be forgotten about. Despite what many people think of them they provide a service from A to B, you get what you pay for, you can chose what you pay for, and you generally get it all for a pretty good price! Remember not so long ago Thomas Cook, Monarch, Flybe were on the verge of collapse.....

 

[Jerry]

What year did Ryanair drop Dublin? 2011 or 2012?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

What year did Ryanair drop Dublin? 2011 or 2012?

2006 (I think it was in April that year) following a reported falling-out with the airport over charges. They had been operating the DUB from CWL for about five years when they pulled out.

 

[Jerry]

2006 (I think it was in April that year) following a reported falling-out with the airport over charges. They had been operating the DUB from CWL for about five years when they pulled out.

And they setup a base at BRS a year after. If CWL had given Ryanair what it wanted would they potentially based at CWL instead of BRS do you think? Or were they always looking at a BRS base?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

And they setup a base at BRS a year after. If CWL had given Ryanair what it wanted would they potentially based at CWL instead of BRS do you think? Or were they always looking at a BRS base?

There was a lot of talk around 2005 about a CWL FR base and it would not have surprised many people had it occurred. Although the FR DUB route from BRS (18 x weekly) was more frequent than the FR from CWL (9 x weekly) - BRS also had a daily Aer Lingus mainline A320 and a daily Air Southwest Dash 8-300, and CWL had a 6 x weekly Air Wales ATR42 - and BRS also had daily Shannon and Girona FR flights from other FR bases, it was thought by many that Ryanair would set up a base at CWL to try to take on easyJet across the river.

As an aside, in 2005 CWL handled 119,000 scheduled DUB passengers across its two airlines (108,000 in 2016) and BRS handled 289,000 across its three airlines (399,000 in 2016).

In 2004-2005 BRS was finalising its master plan (the one still in existence although it's about to go through an updating process) and part of the consultation involved road shows around the area. I went to one at Broadmead in Bristol and had a long chat with the then BRS CEO, Andrew Skipp. I never regarded it as a private conversation as it occurred in a building where other members of the public visiting the road show were circulating who were at liberty to eavesdrop on what we were saying and some did stand next to us and listened to parts of our conversation.

When I asked a direct question about whether BRS wanted a Ryanair base Andrew Skipp said they did not. He didn't feel that they would bring much to the BRS party. Whether this was a 'political' reply I was never sure but within a couple of years the base arrived. Andrew Skipp had either left or was on his way by the time the base started - it was widely felt he 'fell on his sword' following the runway resurfacing fiasco in winter 06/07 that eventually led to the complete closure of BRS for a day with many flights, especially easyJet, operating out of CWL for 24 hours.

So in answer to your question I believe that a CWL base was certainly not out of the question and had CWL and Ryanair not disagreed over charges and Ryanair had remained at the airport it might have come about. If CWL had an inkling that Ryanair was considering a base one might think they would have fallen over backwards to accommodate the airline given the boost to CWL's passenger throughout it would have brought. Perhaps the CWL ownership thought that they didn't particularly need Ryanair then at the airline's price as CWL was in the middle of its best ever period of growth. Had they possessed a crystal ball to show them what the next few years would bring CWL's owners would have been mad not to have done almost anything to get Ryanair on board.

 

[Jerry]

For some reason i had 2011 and 2012 in my head!
I've been having a ***Links to other Social Media platforms are not permitted***- conversation with someone about it and he believes if CWL had given Ryanair what it wanted the BRS base would be at CWL instead. Personally I think they would've opened up at BRS regardless but that CWL may have scuppered its own chances of a Ryanair base.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

For some reason i had 2011 and 2012 in my head!
I've been having a Social Media conversation with someone about it and he believes if CWL had given Ryanair what it wanted the BRS base would be at CWL instead. Personally I think they would've opened up at BRS regardless but that CWL may have scuppered its own chances of a Ryanair base.

As I said earlier, it's certainly possible, perhaps more than that, but we'll never know unless Ryanair tells us which they are not likely to do.

 

[andrewgreen]

There was a lot of talk around 2005 about a CWL FR base and it would not have surprised many people had it occurred. Although the FR DUB route from BRS (18 x weekly) was more frequent than the FR from CWL (9 x weekly) - BRS also had a daily Aer Lingus mainline A320 and a daily Air Southwest Dash 8-300, and CWL had a 6 x weekly Air Wales ATR42

Did Aer Lingus Use A.320s into Bristol ? i can remember BAC 1-11s followed by B.737s but dont remember any A.320s

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Yes they did. They did use a B737 in summer 2004 with a daily afternoon rotation against Ryanair and BA. It was year-round and by 2005 and 2006 had become a 320 (single daily afternoon rotation against Ryanair and Air Southwest). It then ceased. I was surprised at the time that it lasted so long - one daily rotation during early afternoon was not designed to attract a wide range of travelling types.

Above information taken from BRS timetables. Sorry to have gone off Ryanair CWL topic everyone.

 

[Jerry]

Ryanair flight from Poznan to Bristol diverted to Cardiff after declaring an emergency due to a flaps issue and diverted to Cardiff due to the longer runway.
https://www.aviationwales.com/ryanair-flight-diverts-cardiff-flap-issues/

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Ryanair flight from Poznan to Bristol diverted to Cardiff after declaring an emergency due to a flaps issue and diverted to Cardiff due to the longer runway.
https://www.aviationwales.com/ryanair-flight-diverts-cardiff-flap-issues/

That's interesting. Ryanair usually diverts to BHX from BRS when the weather is an issue. I wonder why it didn't this time. CWL 2,400 metres: BHX 3,000 metres.

 

[Jerry]

That's interesting. Ryanair usually diverts to BHX from BRS when the weather is an issue. I wonder why it didn't this time. CWL 2,400 metres: BHX 3,000 metres.

Pilots decision. He must have felt that even with the flap problems CWLs runway was more than enough.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Pilots decision. He must have felt that even with the flap problems CWLs runway was more than enough.

I wasn't really alluding to the command decision. I was wondering why when they normally go to BHX they went to CWL this time. Obviously if it was considered necessary to get the aircraft down as quickly as possible then that's the answer. If not my question remains.

 

[Jerry]

I wasn't really alluding to the command decision. I was wondering why when they normally go to BHX they went to CWL this time. Obviously if it was considered necessary to get the aircraft down as quickly as possible then that's the answer. If not my question remains.

If i remember correctly the last time CWL had some Ryanair diverts they were Eastern European flights as well. Away based crews i believe. Though I believe this was a based aircraft.
I do wonder if the reason they divert to BHX is because it's a base and Cardiff isn't so BHX is selected as the preferred divert airport while CWL is the emergency only one.