FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - What will be JOON's first [last] routes?
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Old Dec 2, 2017, 7:22 am
  #124  
hfly
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Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 15,325
Not so much, they did get rid of a few routes, reduce frequency on some others, but then increased frequency on some and started a few new routes. Also some of those axed routes/frequencies were new and or speculative (Freidrichaven) while some of the reductions were part of their shock and awe increases to drive other carriers away, such as MUC and BCN So its about even, or in fact slightly bigger than before. Yes, we all know of the issues that Turkey has had the last two years, these airline movements mostly proceeded these (i.e. DL announced that it was suspending the route in April of 2016, having already been on their winter break since October 1 or so 2015. Things only "really" got bad from the end of June). As far as the LCC effect, Atlas Global is no longer a LCC, they have taken the step of trying to be a real carrier with Business Class and the like. Pegasus does exist, but mostly from SAW. The issue(s) with LCC's is that they start to make less sense when flights go over 3-4 hours, which is why they have not been as big from western European airports to Turkey.

Costs are really not the defining factor in this. The planes cost the same, the fuel costs the same. The pilots (now) cost the same. Ground staff and F/A's cost less. Catering costs more (mainly because they have it and many others now do not).

Actually Nick, it was not "good money after bad" for these airlines, they WERE all profitable out of IST, quite frankly they were too lazy to do anything when TK became a serious competitor.
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