Cobalt Airlines

[Bhx_fifteen]

Just contacted Cobalt via Facebook and they confirmed that it is being dropped for Winter.

I asked if it will return next summer and they said "we hope so. It depends on what competition will do".

With Jet2 also operating the route next year it's not looking great.

 

[JF57]

Just contacted Cobalt via Social Media and they confirmed that it is being dropped for Winter.

I asked if it will return next summer and they said "we hope so. It depends on what competition will do".

With Jet2 also operating the route next year it's not looking great.

Monarch are showing 6 flights per week to Larnaca again like S17 so lots of competition.

 

[Ray Finkle]

It was another route that was starting to become rather overheated so I guess something had to give and Cobalt were always the weakest link.

Six airlines on the route was always going to be a big ask, if they don't return hopefully it will give room for Jet2 and Blue Air to flourish, along with the other three.

If they haven't given up on BHX completely then Paphos could be a much better option, especially with TCX dropping one of their two weekly flights for next year.

 

[58terminus]

It was another route that was starting to become rather overheated so I guess something had to give

I wonder how many times you have posted these words or similar in the last few years Ray?
It is sad when you think of the routes that are under or not served.Dare i mention Orlando.
I might upset a few people here but was the previous management to concerned with keeping the runway
busy now rather than looking long term? At what point do you say to an airline we are happy for you start
a route but we will not be giving you a deal as we have existing carrier's on the route we don't want to upset?
Probably never but it does seem to lead to feast or famine.

 

[JF57]

Cobalt starting flights to Gatwick and Frankfurt. No BHX showing S18 at moment

 

[Bhx_fifteen]

I messaged Cobalt:

Hi there,

I just wanted to email to say, I really hope that you bring back Birmingham-Larnaca for Summer 2018. I wanted to write this suggestion to strongly recommend that you continue the route.

I understand why you dropped the route for Winter 2017/2018, and this makes sense because your passenger load factors were very low during Summer 2017.

However, this is purely because the market has become very saturated.

Monarch were the only scheduled airline flying the route, and increased to 6 x weekly this summer. In addition Jet2 have arrived on the route, and Blue Air too.

It’s no surprise that Cobalt had low passengers on the route - little/no brand awareness in Birmingham (where most passengers travel from, rather than from Larnaca) and lots of competition.

However, the reason Cobalt should return next season is because:

• Cobalt are Cyprus’ new national airline, and it would be absurd for them not to serve the UK’s second largest city, especially as the UK is such a huge market.
• Cobalt have a USP being the only airline on the route (compared to Thomson, Thomas Cook, Monarch, Jet2 and Blue Air) that are beginning to offer connections. You are still in growth for this and once a transit hub is more established, passenger numbers will naturally pick up.
• Cobalt are introducing business class. On such a saturated route, there needs to be a business class offering, and no other airline but Cobalt offers this.

I really hope that from the above, you see why it’s so important to invest in Birmingham (much more advertising needed!) and don’t drop the route for next Summer. I believe you can build up the route and it can eventually return year-round.

Many thanks in advance for your help, please confirm that you have passed on my suggestions.

Kind regards.

The response I had was:

Hi,

Thanks so much for passing on your thoughts - I read them with great interest. You're right, our figures for summer 17 were not as good as we would have liked, and right again when you say that the route has a huge amount of competition. Birmingham is absolutely not a route we want to say goodbye to, like all our routes it is subject to rigorous analysis by people in my team.

We will certainly be looking long and hard at it as we develop the summer 2018 schedule over the next few weeks to see the optimum schedule, and I'll certainly ensure that your comments are taken into account. Thanks so much for taking the time to write to us.

Best wishes,

Tim.

I really appreciated the honesty in the response. I know for many you won't be too fussed about this bi-weekly flight - it's not a big loss for BHX if it goes, but being the largest and fastest growing Cypriot airline I'm personally really keen for them to stay.

Particularly as their reputation is picking up and they're advancing (business class, loyalty system coming soon etc). I fear that if they drop BHX they'll never return, even if/when they grow as a company due to poor previous numbers.

 

[Brum X]

I messaged Cobalt:

Hi there,

I just wanted to email to say, I really hope that you bring back Birmingham-Larnaca for Summer 2018. I wanted to write this suggestion to strongly recommend that you continue the route.

I understand why you dropped the route for Winter 2017/2018, and this makes sense because your passenger load factors were very low during Summer 2017.

However, this is purely because the market has become very saturated.

Monarch were the only scheduled airline flying the route, and increased to 6 x weekly this summer. In addition Jet2 have arrived on the route, and Blue Air too.

It’s no surprise that Cobalt had low passengers on the route - little/no brand awareness in Birmingham (where most passengers travel from, rather than from Larnaca) and lots of competition.

However, the reason Cobalt should return next season is because:

• Cobalt are Cyprus’ new national airline, and it would be absurd for them not to serve the UK’s second largest city, especially as the UK is such a huge market.
• Cobalt have a USP being the only airline on the route (compared to Thomson, Thomas Cook, Monarch, Jet2 and Blue Air) that are beginning to offer connections. You are still in growth for this and once a transit hub is more established, passenger numbers will naturally pick up.
• Cobalt are introducing business class. On such a saturated route, there needs to be a business class offering, and no other airline but Cobalt offers this.

I really hope that from the above, you see why it’s so important to invest in Birmingham (much more advertising needed!) and don’t drop the route for next Summer. I believe you can build up the route and it can eventually return year-round.

Many thanks in advance for your help, please confirm that you have passed on my suggestions.

Kind regards.

The response I had was:

Hi,

Thanks so much for passing on your thoughts - I read them with great interest. You're right, our figures for summer 17 were not as good as we would have liked, and right again when you say that the route has a huge amount of competition. Birmingham is absolutely not a route we want to say goodbye to, like all our routes it is subject to rigorous analysis by people in my team.

We will certainly be looking long and hard at it as we develop the summer 2018 schedule over the next few weeks to see the optimum schedule, and I'll certainly ensure that your comments are taken into account. Thanks so much for taking the time to write to us.

Best wishes,

Tim.

I really appreciated the honesty in the response. I know for many you won't be too fussed about this bi-weekly flight - it's not a big loss for BHX if it goes, but being the largest and fastest growing Cypriot airline I'm personally really keen for them to stay.

Particularly as their reputation is picking up and they're advancing (business class, loyalty system coming soon etc). I fear that if they drop BHX they'll never return, even if/when they grow as a company due to poor previous numbers.

Good work Bhx-Fifteen, i have a sneeky feeling your suggestions might work.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Thanks for your efforts.

Some excellent points made, lets hope that it gives them something to think about.

much more advertising needed!

For me this is key, they've been practically invisible this summer.

On any other occasion they may have gotten by but on Larnaca they are a newcomer on a route that has seen considerable expansion from several airlines with more to come next year.

I hope they have seen enough potential to give it another season.

 

[Ray Finkle]

With Monarch being such a large operator to Larnaca I wonder if Cobalt will now reconsider their position?

 

[Brum X]

Ive noticed Blue Air are still not available for S18 so if they were doubtful about commencing flights in S18, im sure either Cobalt or Blue will put Larnaca back on sale.

 

[Coathanger16]

Just contacted Cobalt via Social Media and they confirmed that it is being dropped for Winter.

I asked if it will return next summer and they said "we hope so. It depends on what competition will do".

With Jet2 also operating the route next year it's not looking great.

If this was their stance 6 weeks ago, then maybe with Monarch now gone, by summer 2018 they may be back...?

 

[JF57]

It looks as if Cobalt have run out of money and will be grounding flights. Not been flying to BHX for a while but still a shame.

 

[GliderPilot]

So they are also on the brink of going bust too?

 

[BHX492]

So they are also on the brink of going bust too?

Their gone ends midnight tonight

 

[Rob c DSA]

What a mess the European airline industry is in and it's probably going to get worse.

 

[GliderPilot]

What a brutal industry it is at the minute, again my thoughts are with all of those people out of a job tonight

 

[Ray Finkle]

The Airlines Financial Monitor link below has some interesting numbers.

https://www.iata.org/publications/e...Financial-Monitor-Sep-18.pdf#__prclt=U5tyvCy6

 

[BHX492]

They announced it

 

[Ray Finkle]

Very sad indeed for all of those now without employment 🙁

 

[Ianbutty]

The industry is going through a shake up. Very sad indeed and I share the concern for those who are now unemployed. We join organisations in the expectation that they will be well managed and we can enjoy a long career. Sadly for every one winner in a free market economy there are many losers.