Will BA Ever Fly from Stansted Again?
Sep 1, 2012, 11:18 am
#1
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Will BA Ever Fly from Stansted Again?
BA used to run a few domestic flights exSTN.
It has 3 747-8Fs based there for cargo ops.
Today I was looking at flights and noticed London (Stansted) as one of the drop down menu options. I don't recall seeing this in recent times.
Just a glitch, or are we on to something here?
Surely, STN has a good catchment area, plenty of money in Essex and particularly for premium leisure routes there must be a market for flights other than on Ryanair?
Do you think this will ever happen, and if so, which routes?
[oops, posted in wrong forum, meant to be in BAEC]
It has 3 747-8Fs based there for cargo ops.
Today I was looking at flights and noticed London (Stansted) as one of the drop down menu options. I don't recall seeing this in recent times.
Just a glitch, or are we on to something here?
Surely, STN has a good catchment area, plenty of money in Essex and particularly for premium leisure routes there must be a market for flights other than on Ryanair?
Do you think this will ever happen, and if so, which routes?
[oops, posted in wrong forum, meant to be in BAEC]
Sep 1, 2012, 12:52 pm
#3
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Sep 1, 2012, 1:18 pm
#5
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There's a certain logic to the idea, but consider what sort of routes BA fly from their other UK airports: you get everything (domestic / SH / LH) from LHR; everything except LH business from LGW; and domestic only from other UK airports.
The question, then, is what sort of traffic STN would take on. Premium leisure is your suggestion, but surely not domestic? SH maybe, but then it would be competing with LGW and we aren't even 100% certain of the future of BA there. So we're left with LH leisure, and one would then wonder which routes would justify setting up ops at a brand new airport (they'd have to be pretty spectacular) which, even though it's on the other side of London, would still be competing with two other LON airports.
It's a possibility, but I think it would be limited only to LH routes that are usually very popular. Far better, although for different reasons, would be to improve the service at MAN to include international flights. Ideally the same would happen at BHX but there are many reasons why that isn't an option.
The question, then, is what sort of traffic STN would take on. Premium leisure is your suggestion, but surely not domestic? SH maybe, but then it would be competing with LGW and we aren't even 100% certain of the future of BA there. So we're left with LH leisure, and one would then wonder which routes would justify setting up ops at a brand new airport (they'd have to be pretty spectacular) which, even though it's on the other side of London, would still be competing with two other LON airports.
It's a possibility, but I think it would be limited only to LH routes that are usually very popular. Far better, although for different reasons, would be to improve the service at MAN to include international flights. Ideally the same would happen at BHX but there are many reasons why that isn't an option.
Sep 1, 2012, 1:21 pm
#6
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Last edited by Airprox; Sep 1, 2012 at 1:27 pm Reason: SPG
Sep 1, 2012, 1:55 pm
#7
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1 x DXB, 1 x LAS, 2 x TPA and 3 x MCO per day should just about cover it for long haul
Would keep most of them away from LHR/LGW. I thought about EWR/JFK but I think there are enough flights per day to dilute the effect.
Would keep most of them away from LHR/LGW. I thought about EWR/JFK but I think there are enough flights per day to dilute the effect.
Sep 1, 2012, 2:09 pm
#9
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I think it was added when Air Berlin joined oneworld. Their flights there don't carry BA numbers, and aren't bookable (even with connections elsewhere) on ba.com, but perhaps it was just a bulk add of all the AB destinations?
Maybe in Essex and a bit of north London, but let's face it, there isn't great demand for "premium leisure" travel from the rest of East Anglia, so I don't see any real potential. It's all just farmers, (who don't want to travel), and costa-del-cheap types (no profit there)
Maybe in Essex and a bit of north London, but let's face it, there isn't great demand for "premium leisure" travel from the rest of East Anglia, so I don't see any real potential. It's all just farmers, (who don't want to travel), and costa-del-cheap types (no profit there)
Sep 1, 2012, 2:14 pm
#10
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Also, not having to mix with stereotype flinging SW Londoners would be a huge bonus.....
Sep 1, 2012, 2:20 pm
#11
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Sep 1, 2012, 3:01 pm
#12
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Anything that keeps me from having to travel to LHR....hideous trip. Pre 9/11, I'd often fly from STN to AMS and thence to east coast USA. With short check in times and being only 20 minutes from the airport, the total travel time to JFK with KLM used to be less than the total trip LHR - JFK including the huge amount of time needing to be allowed for M25 possible foul ups.
Also, not having to mix with stereotype flinging SW Londoners would be a huge bonus.....
Also, not having to mix with stereotype flinging SW Londoners would be a huge bonus.....
Interesting side note on my adventure at STN - Maxjet used Ryanair check-in desks and they tagged my bag as 'heavy'. The same bag I take everywhere and it never tips the scales at more than 17.5 kgs - but on these scales it was quite a bit heavier. Check-in clerk said they ignored the weights as they knew they weren't 'true'.
Re your last point - some of my best friends are from Essex....(yes, really)
Sep 1, 2012, 3:19 pm
#13
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I just flew Air Berlin out of STN. Quite a pleasant experience except for the lack of lounge. Took about 2 hours off my usual haul to Heathrow.
I'd love to see BA go out of STN. I'm definitely going to do Air Berlin again.
I'd love to see BA go out of STN. I'm definitely going to do Air Berlin again.
Sep 2, 2012, 9:51 am
#14
Join Date: May 2005
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I hope not, it would make me even less likely to use BA if I had to fly to Stansted then take a coach to Heathrow. It's bad enough when it's a Gatwick / Heathrow transfer, Heathrow / Stansted (or Gatwick / Stansted) would be even worse.
Sep 2, 2012, 10:12 am
#15
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Personally we liked STN, during our brief period of flying MaxJet. Nice airport experience, and the MY Lounge was simply magnificent.
Unfortunately, for us, it was a total PITA to get there involving flights to LTN, o/n hotel, taxi to STN through the backwoods, etc.
Unfortunately, for us, it was a total PITA to get there involving flights to LTN, o/n hotel, taxi to STN through the backwoods, etc.