Eastern Airways

[HPsauce]

This was always a dodgy one to take on, particularly as Loganair had moved in on it at the end of Flybe. I don't think the route warranted 2 carriers. Sad though, as Eastern may have developed more routes in time. Maybe they will ?. Newcastle perhaps??.

 

[JENNYJET]

One needs to decide what BHX is for, domestic, Euro routes or long haul or the lot. Keeping in mind the potential new landscape for air travel, maybe Flybe, Eastern or Logan were on weakening foundations, and scheduled long haul is more a luxury than necessity so leaving good old Alicante to keep BHX ticking over until Ryanair and Easy jet fold or consolidate. I was considering that there maybe a phased reduction of airports in UK for passenger use, keeping those with well established global connections whilst leaving domestic and shorthaul services to the growing High speed railways in UK and Europe.

I cannot see checking in and health or security checks being a joy with fractious humans all demanding to be seen now, at the same time as everyone else, with a "I was here first" or " I have been hours waiting" frame of thought which will only make air travel a chore and not a pleasure, all this before getting on the aircraft and the reverse procedures at destination.

A depressing outlook when I see images of dozens of serviceable aircraft lined up at Bournemouth and Glasgow perhaps destined for Kemble or St. Athan or Victorville.

 

[Coathanger16]

Covid-19 will end one of two ways:

1). A vaccine is found
2). A vaccine can't be found, Covid is here to stay just like the flu, herd immunity and we learn to live with it

Either way when this is over health checks won't be needed at airports.

 

[JENNYJET]

I would contend that Covid -19 is the new Smallpox, deadly and to be feared and I agree a vaccine may become the only protection that will give confidence to people.

Not wishing to contradict you in any way Coathanger and for years ahead, a document may need to be carried when in close proximity to others to say if one has been vaccinated or is immune. A new order of things and a change to life as we currently know it.

 

[Brum X]

I am not surprised though as I was a little sceptical the days after Flybe went bust that all these airlines suddenly had all the aircraft to operate all these new flights all over the UK, and with Loganair and the Pandemic it is hardly a big deal at this moment in time. Maybe another opportunity for Easyjet as they have just launched MAN to ABZ and BHX is further away than MAN ? 🤔

 

[rollo]

I am not surprised though as I was a little sceptical the days after Flybe went bust that all these airlines suddenly had all the aircraft to operate all these new flights all over the UK, and with Loganair and the Pandemic it is hardly a big deal at this moment in time. Maybe another opportunity for Easyjet as they have just launched MAN to ABZ and BHX is further away than MAN ? 🤔

Easyjet have got to be the way forward, whatever it takes that is along with Jet2 Mr Barton.

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there all, as I have said in my last posts, Birmingham Airport management have really got to get its act together after this is all over, otherwise airlines will start to think about pulling out of Birmingham Airport, if that happens, then Birmingham Airport will not be going forwards, but backwards, then every other airport in the UK, will then just over take Birmingham, leaving it trailing behind, like it's doing at present behind Edinburgh, Luton and Stansted... Andyc

 

[Coathanger16]

Not wishing to contradict you in any way Coathanger and for years ahead, a document may need to be carried when in close proximity to others to say if one has been vaccinated or is immune. A new order of things and a change to life as we currently know it.

Whilst the pandemic is ongoing yes, but as I said it will "end" in one of two ways.

If a vaccine is found, then yes you could probably expect to only be allowed to travel if you've had the vaccine - and governments would do their best to roll is out as quickly as possible.

How long do we wait for a vaccine though?

I've heard in the last week or so a few experts say a vaccine may never be found, that Covid-19 is here to stay, and it will just be a case of living with it - much like we do with the flu. Will any travel restrictions imposed now still be imposed in 12 months time if we're no closer to finding a vaccine? I'm happy to forego a summer holiday this year if it helps stop the spread of Covid. Not convinced I'd be happy to lose next years summer holiday as well.

If documentation is required to travel proving that you have had Covid and that you've recovered from it, and are therefore immune (another argument entirely *), how long will it be before people start going out and trying to deliberately catch Covid?

If a vaccine proves impossible to find, it may be the case that we go back to "normal" but governments across the world actually invest more in healthcare to provide the capacity for more people suffering from Covid.

What happens to countries that manage to eradicate the virus without a cure?

Greenland for instance had just 11 cases, all of which have recovered, out of a population of 57,000. The last new case was over a month ago, so it's likely there is no Covid in Greenland now. If a vaccine proves impossible to find, what happens to those 56,989 people in Greenland who never caught it?

Australia and New Zealand seem to be on course to eradicate the virus with no vaccine. Australia down to 590 active cases (vs a peak of 4935 active cases). New Zealand down to just 65 active cases (vs a peak of 929 active cases).

* this virus hasn't yet been around long enough for us to know whether having it and recovering provides immunity. Much like the seasonal flu, it may be that each year we get a different strain of Covid and therefore immunity lasts only until the next strain starts to spread.

 

[juliet-fox-9]

Eastern are operating a series of charters to the Isle of Man in 2021.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1303693855817109508

 

[Ray Finkle]

Welcome back Eastern Airways and Gibraltar, lets hope that it works out for them.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1357252189228531714

 

[nwoody2001]

also, looking at the timetable, it seems rumours of a base at GIB were wrong....

Looks like its a SOU based aircraft doing SOU-GIB-BHX-GIB-SOU on Mondays and Fridays.....

 

[Ray Finkle]

Every Mon and Fri on an E190.

BHX 14:25 GIB 18:20
GIB 11:40 BHX 13:35

 

[Ray Finkle]

EASTERN AIRWAYS RETURNS BIRMINGHAM TO GIBRALTAR AIR LINK

Eastern Airways is to serve the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar from Birmingham Airport starting from the 28th May, marking the return of Eastern Airways to the airport and the return of the route.

The airline will start by re-connecting the Midlands with the popular destination located on the Iberian Peninsula, twice weekly on a Monday and Friday. As the UK’s second largest city, Birmingham will be linked again to Gibraltar after a four year hiatus to provide connectivity for both the business and leisure markets. Southampton to Gibraltar has also been announced simultaneously.

The service will be operated on the airline’s Embraer 190 e-Jet fleet with fares starting from £74.99 one-way, including taxes and a 15kg hold baggage allowance as standard. Flights are now available to book at www.easternairways.com

Roger Hage, GM for Eastern Airways, said: “This marks a major development in the network Eastern Airways offer as our first regular scheduled service to the Mediterranean peninsula adjoining Spain. With a quality array of hotels, beaches, water-sports and heritage, this UK territory offers an exciting short-break destination aside from its role in UK business, notably financial services and maritime. With easy access to the south-coast of Spain also a benefit, working together with HM Government of Gibraltar has enabled this to be the first service to be announced, supporting UK regional airports and their role in direct European connectivity.”

Minister for Business, Tourism, Transport and the Port of Her Majesty’s Government of Gibraltar the Hon Vijay Daryanani MP said, “I stated recently that I would be able to announce the addition of another airline with services to Gibraltar and therefore it gives me great pleasure to make the announcement on Eastern Airways today. The airline will be operating services to Gibraltar from Southampton Airport and Birmingham Airport in the UK. The services to Southampton open up a new catchment area for Gibraltar and the resumption of services from Birmingham will be welcomed by many. In these challenging times, these new routes will create further opportunities for business and leisure traffic to Gibraltar. The news will no doubt be welcomed and embraced by the local business community and the tourism, retail and hospitality industries. The Government continues to work, planning for the brighter future that will come after this pandemic. Work to ensure that tourism recovers and flourishes after this pandemic does not stop. This Government is delivering air services for Gibraltar in an unprecedented manner and is committed to adding further routes and more carriers in due course.”

Tom Screen, Aviation Director for Birmingham Airport said: "It is great news that Eastern Airways is back at Birmingham offering customers the chance to fly direct to Gibraltar again, this route has been unserved from Birmingham since 2017. Gibraltar is a popular destination to our leisure customers, for a sunny getaway, but also an important business route providing access to this British territory. We believe this route will be a sign of things to come as they develop their network further.

“Both Birmingham Airport and Eastern Airways have a fully enhanced cleaning structure in place and can reassure customers that their safety if is of paramount importance.”

Eastern Airways’ services have been carefully reintroduced, aligned to changes in Covid-19 restrictions, with extensive cleaning measures on-board and throughout all aspects of the airport for the safety of all passengers.

EASTERN AIRWAYS RETURNS BIRMINGHAM TO GIBRALTAR AIR LINK

Eastern Airways is to serve the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar from Birmingham Airport starting from the 28th May, marking the return of Eastern Airways to the airport and the return of the route.

www.birminghamairport.co.uk

 

[HPsauce]

It should prove popular. It did well with Monarch previously.

 

[Ray Finkle]

We believe this route will be a sign of things to come as they develop their network further.

Plenty of Flybe routes there for the taking if there is more to come.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

Very good and I wish them well with this service. As many have said this should prove popular given the success Monarch had with Gibraltar. easyJet too have success and it's a real shame they've not capitalised on the opportunity that was left over from Monarch.

I hope this is the start of something new for eastern and a real turning point for them. A niche airline operating the routes ex ZB and BE which are no longer operated.

Always did wonder why Jet2 didn't take over GIB given the success of Monarch. The answer I come to everything I think about it is the fleet - 737-800's would struggle in Gibraltar.

 

[Nethercote2019]

Is this Eastern using the aircraft that they planned to use from MME to the med before Ryanair stepped in ?

 

[nwoody2001]

Is this Eastern using the aircraft that they planned to use from MME to the med before Ryanair stepped in ?

seems that way.... Eastern have 3x E190s and this is the first of them.... curious to know what they have planned the remaining 2 is unknown

 

[Coathanger16]

Always did wonder why Jet2 didn't take over GIB given the success of Monarch. The answer I come to everything I think about it is the fleet - 737-800's would struggle in Gibraltar.

I seem to recall the 737 often struggles with performance out of Jersey. Gibraltar has a similar runway length (70m longer), so with the longer flight, hence more fuel and therefore heavier, I doubt we'll see any 737's flying between the UK and Gibraltar.

Back in 2017, there were approx 340 departing passengers per week from BHX to Gibraltar, so I'd expect Eastern to get fairly good loads.

 

[Brum X]

Great to see GIB back on the departure boards, I wish them well. 👍