Flybe stalls plans to fly new jet to Guernsey
Monday 22nd August 2011, 2:30PM BST.
Guernsey-Gatwick was to have been the first route served by Flybe’s new Embraer 175s. But while the airline’s first 175 comes into service next month the island will have to wait for the runway project to be completed.
Guernsey-Gatwick was to have been the first route served by Flybe’s new Embraer 175s. But while the airline’s first 175 comes into service next month the island will have to wait for the runway project to be completed.
FEARS about the airport runway have led to Flybe pulling its new jets earmarked for Guernsey, the airline has confirmed.
However, the Embraer 175s might go to Jersey.
Flybe general manager of marketing development Ian Taylor said the airline had planned to use the jets on the Guernsey to Gatwick route, but it did not want to risk it.
‘It saddens us that we are unable to do so,’ he said.
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Stuff & nonsense! We’ve known for years that FlyBe could not use their jets into Guernsey until the runway is resurfaced – summit to do with stopping distances in the wet IIRC….
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No Flybe 175 for Guernsey is a blessing. Believe me, I know. I have lived near an ‘ progessively expanding’ airport for the past 12 years and it’s a nightmare!!
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Look at our carrot! Looks delicious doesn’t it? Here you go, here’s the carrot – NO! Hahahahaha, tricked you didn’t we? FlyBE knew the runway wouldn’t be suitable for their jets, it isn’t like it has deteriorated over the last couple of years. I dont’t think this decision has anything to do with the runway.
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If I recall all this “we’re bringing jets back to Guernsey” was around the time Blue Islands were trying to buy Aurigny which obviously had a lot of press coverage.
This was just a marketing exercise to get themselves in the paper.
A bit like Ryanair who make outrageous claims just to get media attention.
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Probably a runway issue but I’ll wager that economics have more to do with it.
The Embraer has only 10 more seats than the Q400 – which if thats not running full it would make no sense putting on a plane with more capacity.
The Embraer will have higher running costs too.
If the above is correct it does make one wonder why we are extending the runway…
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@Gilthead – afaik we are not ‘extending’ the runway – just shifting it west to comply with current over-run regulations – the issue with the Embraer is fully laden weight & braking distance in the wet – the current runway surface is not up to it – so FlyBe could fly the Embraer only part full – but (sensibly) have chosen not to…
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Guess the runway won’t be suitable for flymaybe’s pigs either! What a complete joke they are. Keep up the good work AURIGNY. the islands PREFERED airline.
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years ago the airlines had the choice of new buildings or new runway,they picked the buildings.
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Expat80
I think you would have found the Embraer 175 very quiet compared to the Aurigny and Blue Islands Trislanders that drone on for ages.
The airport has much less traffic than 12 years ago.
There’s not much to complain about these day’s!!
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EXPAT80
I bet the airport was there when you moved some 12 years ago …so stop moaning if you hated the sound of aeroplanes it’s your own fault for moving near an airport Durrrrrr!!
As the same goes to anyone else who lives by an airport ours was opened in 1939 and regular services since 1951…….. you have had plenty time to move.
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Stone De Croze
Good luck trying to find somewhere to house the entire high parishes of Guernsey.
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blokeinlondon
Not everyone is opposed or bothered by aircraft passing above.
scooters on full throttle doing 20 mph around town etc with noisy exhausts are far worse you can hear them a mile away just like the trislanders.
jets are up and away within a few minutes
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blokeinlondon
Not all the higher parish population is whinging -apparently only the ones who moved near to the airport when it had a higher level of traffic than today. Of course there will be others that aren’t happy, but they have learnt to just “deal with it”…
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WELL WELL NO SURPIRSE HERE THEN, WHATS THE BETS THEY HAVE A BETTER ROUTE TO RUN THEM ON RATHER THEN A 30MIN FLIGHT TO GATWICK……. WASTE OF SPACE SUPPORT THE YELLOW PLANES AND REDUCE THE TAX BURDEN !
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Milton
Unless Malcolm Hart was telling porky pies, the airlines were not consulted at all over the new terminal. They have been working around the deficiencies ever since.
FlyingScot
ICAO disagree with you. With an increased TODA (120m), it is a runway extension. It has been dressed up as “displacement” because the Rural Area Plan stipulates that an extension requires a planning enquiry. An enquiry would lead to proper examination of more suitable solutions with less environmental impact.
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The airport management put a weight restriction on the runway a couple of years ago which would have precluded operations with the larger and heavier Embraer 195 should flybe ever had any real plans to use it here. However, the runway in its current state is suitable for the smaller Embraer 175 and flybe are using the runway work simply as an excuse not to bring the aircraft here when in fact the truth of the matter is that such an aircraft would not be commercially viable on local routes. Last year’s flybe announcement that they would base their first new jet in Guernsey was just a publicity stunt in the hope it would boost bookings amidst the uncertainty created by the Blue Islands / Aurigny fiasco. They also said there would be up to eight Gatwick flights a day and that never happened either with flybe having reduced flights to five a day against Aurigny’s six. With flybe’s commitment to Guernsey fading and Blue Islands effectively re-inventing themselves as Jersey’s airline we should all be thankful the States own Aurigny and never let them sell it.
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Exactly, sensible, and GAC, and Gsy Boy.
Flybe can run a cheaper operation here by having only one type. Pilots are only allowed to fly one kind of commercial aircraft, so they have much greater flexibility than when they based two types here. I doubt they will be in a rush to change, they just don’t like to miss an opportunity to have a pop at Aurigny.
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Sensible, you are just that.
The decision in summer 2010 to tell Guernsey that they would be the first to get the 175 across the whole Flybe network was one made in a hurry – and one which the airline might well be coming to regret… had they not turned it round and blamed the airport.
The fact is that the runway is long enough and strong enough at the present time to support a 175, which is well within limits set by the States of Guernsey.
With regards to noise, the aircraft is not noticeably louder than the ATRs or Dash 8s – and has better climb performance. It is also much more powerful than the Trislander, which is very loud and has bad performance in comparison (which is, of course, an unfair one to make).
Ed
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why do people moan about airport noise move if you dont like it , i want to see guernsey move with the times like jersey with bigger aircraft so we dont pay twice to go further than the uk
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@ rocquaine
“Pilots are only allowed to fly one kind of commercial aircraft”
Not true I’m afraid.
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A large part of the travelling Jersey Islanders who are constantly ripped off by the credit debit baggage and hidden charges and cheap excuses of FLYBE really don’t bother to listen anymore to their diatribe.
It is fair to say we only use FLYBE because we have to, however given the chance if BA or BMIbaby are on the same route they are booked even if more expensive.
Why do the Guernsey and Jersey States put up with this shower?
Davey West
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ah yeah
Airport neighbours are not moaning about noise, they are registering their concern at increased noise. The airport should be finding ways to reduce noise levels under EU regulations.
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Captain Oveur.
OK, Pilots are generally, with very few exceptions, only allowed to fly one kind of commercial aircraft over 5700kg (a Trislander, is about 4600kg, I believe). Above this weight (i.e. just about all the other commercial aircraft operating in and out of Guernsey)they must have special dispensation from the CAA. Happy?
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Expat80
Why did you buy a house there then ? I have lived almost on the airport for 45+ years ( only a hedge and a chainlink fence seperates us from the airfield ) and have also lived for a short while in St Peter Port , Can tell you that the airport is most definatly the quieter option , a couple of minutes of noise is nothing compared to blaring music all night ,drunken violent behaviour.
Probably the worst offenders at the airport are the Trislanders taking off and that’s only for a few minutes at a time , presumably you never use the airport to get away from it all – I recommend a holiday for you !
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GAC/Gilthead,
The LDA (landing distance available)remains the same – to be classed as a true runway extension the LDA would be increased, it is a runway END safety area extension.
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at rocquaine
Happy? Er not really, and neither therefore are some of my old friends (and newer ones) who fly multiple types, all quite legally of course.
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Give me an example Captain Oveur
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ok for starters, A319 and A330. Global Express and B350. Challenger (can’t remember which one he’s on) and B350. 737 and B200. Dash 8 300 and B200. 757 and 767 (although I’m pretty sure that is a common type rating with differences training).
Now these aren’t based in or out of Guernsey but are operating under JAR/EU OPS so unless there is something in the Guernsey Air Navigation order specifically for the island which restricts multiple type ratings, in which case I stand to be corrected.
Flying multiple types does happen and is allowed. Now we could get into a discussion on the safety aspects of flying multiple types…………..
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@ Kevin
Though many planes require less to land then take off, by increasing the available length to take off (which is what this displacement is doing), this could have the potential to support larger aircraft traffic.
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@Kevin
Its kind of boring referring posters to the definition of a runway. but a runway definition includes takeoff distance.
If you are going to take this seiously I’ll post a link to the CAA document. Otherwise I will assume you work for PSD.
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