stuartmoss
Member
I emailed the airport two weeks ago to ask about getting to and from the airport into the centre of Carlisle using public transport and still haven’t had a reply. I wish this venture well, but they need to get their act together.
To be fair to them they do have a free minibus running from Carlisle station to meet the flights and have linked to the timetable from their homepage. I haven't flown from the airport yet but in surprised at the times, 90 minuets before departure leaving Carlise is just about ok but they seem to be leaving Carlise airport 15 minutes after the flight lands! I appreciate it's a small airport but still doesn't seem enough, wonder if they wait if there is a delay?I emailed the airport two weeks ago to ask about getting to and from the airport into the centre of Carlisle using public transport and still haven’t had a reply. I wish this venture well, but they need to get their act together.
It's a 7 seat taxi. First come first serve. Wish I had known about it before I pre booked a taxi for £17 which is the going rate.I have a flight booked out of Carlisle next month and was wondering if I was going have to pay for a taxi to the airport from the station so this is good news. I am thinking given it's a "minibus" if it has seats for all passengers on the plane? I think the Saab 340s out of Carlisle have about 34 seats? I'll show up early in any case.
I'd imagine that the aircraft have been deployed on more lucrative established routes following the collapse of Flybe. The Southampton to Scotland route for instance has loads of defence industry full fare flexible passengers.Services from Carlisle were withdrawn early in the health crisis.
Today, BBC Radio Cumbria report that Loganair has no plans to resume them "for the foreseeable future".
Carlisle Lake District Airport continues to feel the impact of the global pandemic, with aviation one of the sectors hardest hit. The understandable decision by many airlines to cease operations for several months has seen a significant reduction in operations and bases closed across the country.
This situation, which affects many regional airports across the UK, is of course deeply disappointing for all involved but as a result of this backdrop, Carlisle Lake District Airport is unable to resume passenger operations at this time.
We are committed to making Carlisle Lake District Airport a success and are currently working on our recovery plan to reopen the airport for General Aviation, Business Aviation and Military traffic, we will post further updates as this timeline becomes clear
Its really unfortunate for all involved but not surprising. Airlines are retreating all over the world and small niche operations like Carlisle will either thrive if demand is really robust or early casualties if not I suspectAnd from today's News and Star:
Carlisle has been dealt a major blow as the future of passenger air services hangs in the balance. Loganair, which operates flights from the city’s Lake District Airport, has announced it has no plans to resume flights. A spokesman for Loganair said: “We have no plans for the foreseeable future to restart flights from Carlisle airport.
Stobart Group also expects to make some roles redundant at the Carlisle airport
I'd imagine that the aircraft have been deployed on more lucrative established routes following the collapse of Flybe. The Southampton to Scotland route for instance has loads of defence industry full fare flexible passengers.
Sadly I knew it wouldn't last long, although the Corona Virus is officially the reason the flights have stopped I don't think that is the only reason.
When I flew to Belfast last summer the flight I took from Carlisle was completely full. However this doesn't prove profitability I guess.
Problem for the Belfast route would have been Loganair are competing with ferries to Belfast which is rather unique for an area of Great Britain. The ferry isn't much slower and when you take into account having to go through airport security. It's also more frequent, got a more generous baggage allowance and you can take your car.
The London route wasn't ideal as it went to Southend I presume because Stobart Group who own both airports offered a good deal with airport fees for the airline. But if you take into account the frequency of the flights, distance to the airport and airport security time it's much easier to take the train from Carlisle to London and factoring in security and travel to the airport it's probably quicker.
With many of the smaller airports there is an incentive to keep them open I know Norwich, Humberside and Teesside all survive on the KLM flights to Amsterdam which then at Schiphol there is connections to other cities, those three airports also survive because of the oil and gas industry with flights to Aberdeen which is guaranteed income for airlines and the energy industry needs those flights. East Midlands survives because of air freight using the advantage that the airport is the largest with no night time restrictions. Inverness, Wick, Dundee, Campbeltown and Anglesey receive a lot of subsidies to keep them open also Anglesey has the advantage of sharing the site with RAF Valley.
Carlisle didn't have any of these things meaning the airport struggled.
With respect to your post above, many small airports are struggling.Problem for the Belfast route would have been Loganair are competing with ferries to Belfast which is rather unique for an area of Great Britain. The ferry isn't much slower and when you take into account having to go through airport security. It's also more frequent, got a more generous baggage allowance and you can take your car.
The London route wasn't ideal as it went to Southend I presume because Stobart Group who own both airports offered a good deal with airport fees for the airline. But if you take into account the frequency of the flights, distance to the airport and airport security time it's much easier to take the train from Carlisle to London and factoring in security and travel to the airport it's probably quicker.
With many of the smaller airports there is an incentive to keep them open I know Norwich, Humberside and Teesside all survive on the KLM flights to Amsterdam which then at Schiphol there is connections to other cities, those three airports also survive because of the oil and gas industry with flights to Aberdeen which is guaranteed income for airlines and the energy industry needs those flights. East Midlands survives because of air freight using the advantage that the airport is the largest with no night time restrictions. Inverness, Wick, Dundee, Campbeltown and Anglesey receive a lot of subsidies to keep them open also Anglesey has the advantage of sharing the site with RAF Valley.
Carlisle didn't have any of these things meaning the airport struggled.
With respect to your post above, many small airports are struggling.
Wick has now closed for scheduled passenger services. KLM has withdrawn the Teesside to Amsterdam service. Eastern are not serving Cardiff as originally intended and the Cardiff to Ynys Mon service is suspended. There are currently very few services from Cardiff (compared to Bristol), with just a few holiday flights and a daily (formerly 3x daily) KLM service to Amsterdam.
With respect to your post above, many small airports are struggling.
Wick has now closed for scheduled passenger services. KLM has withdrawn the Teesside to Amsterdam service. Eastern are not serving Cardiff as originally intended and the Cardiff to Ynys Mon service is suspended. There are currently very few services from Cardiff (compared to Bristol), with just a few holiday flights and a daily (formerly 3x daily) KLM service to Amsterdam.
Of these, only Derry and Dundee retain scheduled services, partly with government support.Worse still, the struggle for small airports started a long time before Covid. Blackpool, Brighton (Shoreham), Cambridge, Dundee, Londonderry, Manston, Oxford, Plymouth & Sheffield City all have had problems that were or threatened to be terminal for either passenger flights or the airport itself (as did Coventry, but that was maybe different).
Worse still, the struggle for small airports started a long time before Covid. Blackpool, Brighton (Shoreham), Cambridge, Dundee, Gloucestershire, Londonderry, Manston, Oxford, Plymouth & Sheffield City all have had problems that were or threatened to be terminal for either passenger flights or the airport itself (as did Coventry, but that was maybe different).
Edit: Add Gloucestershire to list
I doubt if scheduled flights will resume at Wick. The Teesside to Amsterdam route is officially only "suspended" by KLM, but I doubt its resumption in the near future. The future of the "Ieuan Air" service, introduced at the behest of the former AM for Yyns Mon when he was FM, depends on whether the Welsh government wishes to resume subsidising it.Regarding Cardiff to Anglesey, Wick Airport and Tessisde to Amsterdam they will return once the pandemic is over. The Teesside to Amsterdam route was used by 119,000 passengers last year which is more than enough to make it viable.
With Carlisle Loganair recorded 8,000 passengers in total last year for all routes.
And Swansea.
And Swansea.
I doubt if scheduled flights will resume at Wick. The Teesside to Amsterdam route is officially only "suspended" by KLM, but I doubt its resumption in the near future. The future of the "Ieuan Air" service, introduced at the behest of the former AM for Yyns Mon when he was FM, depends on whether the Welsh government wishes to resume subsidising it.
Small airports in other countries have also lost most if not all scheduled services. Examples include Galway/Sligo/Waterford in Eire, Bern/Lugano in Switzerland, Lannion/Morlaix/St.Brieuc in Brittany, Avignon/St Etienne in SE France, etc.
I doubt if scheduled flights will resume at Wick. The Teesside to Amsterdam route is officially only "suspended" by KLM, but I doubt its resumption in the near future. The future of the "Ieuan Air" service, introduced at the behest of the former AM for Yyns Mon when he was FM, depends on whether the Welsh government wishes to resume subsidising it.
Small airports in other countries have also lost most if not all scheduled services. Examples include Galway/Sligo/Waterford in Eire, Bern/Lugano in Switzerland, Lannion/Morlaix/St.Brieuc in Brittany, Avignon/St Etienne in SE France, etc.
When did Brighton (Shoreham) last have scheduled passenger services. I can recall someone trying to set up a service to Paris in about 2013 but I don't think it ever actually launched. It was still a grass landing strip until 1981.Worse still, the struggle for small airports started a long time before Covid. Blackpool, Brighton (Shoreham), Cambridge, Dundee, Gloucestershire, Londonderry, Manston, Oxford, Plymouth & Sheffield City all have had problems that were or threatened to be terminal for either passenger flights or the airport itself (as did Coventry, but that was maybe different).
Edit: Add Gloucestershire to list