Good grief......

12-17-2002, 05:53 AM

British Airways has announced the end of six flights to UK regional destinations from Aberdeen Airport.
Two of the routes are being taken over by a Humberside-based firm as BA's CitiExpress operation reorganises its services.

In total, 21 routes will be withdrawn across the UK by the end of March.

David Evans, British Airways' general manager UK business, said the changes would allow the airline to "concentrate efforts on key markets".

The affected routes are:

Aberdeen-Belfast

Aberdeen-Bristol

Aberdeen to Cardiff

Aberdeen to Leeds-Bradford

Aberdeen-Newcastle

Aberdeen-Southampton

The services to Newcastle and Leeds-Bradford are being taken on by Eastern Airways, which already flies from Aberdeen to East Midlands, Humberside, Teeside, Norwich and Wick.

Eastern Airways has also signed a deal to take over CitiExpress's 12-strong fleet of 29-seat Jetstream 41 aircraft and its engineering hangar in Glasgow.

But as CitExpress contracts in Aberdeen, a new flight from Glasgow to London City airport will be launched in April 2003.

In April, BA announced the loss of 500 jobs over the following two years from CitiExpress, with Scotland bearing the brunt of the changes.
This included the closure of a reporting base in Aberdeen.

CitiExpress was created in March when BA combined two of its subsidiaries, British Regional Airlines and Brymon.

The Dutch airline, KLM, is also cutting flights from Aberdeen because of "disappointing" passenger numbers.

This Saturday will see the end of its Stavanger route which have only been running for a short time.

The airline admits that as a result its reviewing one of its services to Amsterdam. It currently run 4 a day, but says it would be reluctant to return to 3 flights,

Westjetter · 12-17-2002, 05:59 AM

Dude! That totally sucks!!! Will this affect your business at all?

12-17-2002, 07:35 PM

Hi Dave. This won't REALLY have any adverse affect on my business as I don't book a vast number of these flights. If anything, it may actually be seen as a GOOD thing to happen for the Travel Agents in Aberdeen.

British Airways is at the forefront of a commission cutting frezy that is sweeping the airline industry. We have seen United completely scrap commission payments to travel agents in America for domestic flights. American, Northwest, Continental etc. have all dropped commissions from 9% to just 4% over the last four or five years.

British Airways though pays a flat rate of £2.50 per sector for domestic bookings.

What this means is that if I were to book a passenger on a British Airways flight from Aberdeen to Manchester for £120.00 ad tax of £30.00, I would get just £5.00 commission. Pretty lame.

When Eastern Airways take over the route, they will pay pretty much double that for the same booking as they work on the 9% commission level.

As I say, it doesn't bother me much as I don't book these flights very often BUT there are many agents in the city who this will actually benefit. It's the passengers who will suffer.

9V-SVC · 12-18-2002, 11:35 AM

I heard that on news .I guess that is one of their ways of cutting cost .

R. Minor · 12-18-2002, 11:51 AM

Eddy,

I like the pic you posted. This would be a good one for Bader to make in 1:100...

12-17-2002, 05:53 AM	#1
Eddy Two Guest Posts: n/a	Good grief...... British Airways has announced the end of six flights to UK regional destinations from Aberdeen Airport. Two of the routes are being taken over by a Humberside-based firm as BA's CitiExpress operation reorganises its services. In total, 21 routes will be withdrawn across the UK by the end of March. David Evans, British Airways' general manager UK business, said the changes would allow the airline to "concentrate efforts on key markets". The affected routes are: Aberdeen-Belfast Aberdeen-Bristol Aberdeen to Cardiff Aberdeen to Leeds-Bradford Aberdeen-Newcastle Aberdeen-Southampton The services to Newcastle and Leeds-Bradford are being taken on by Eastern Airways, which already flies from Aberdeen to East Midlands, Humberside, Teeside, Norwich and Wick. Eastern Airways has also signed a deal to take over CitiExpress's 12-strong fleet of 29-seat Jetstream 41 aircraft and its engineering hangar in Glasgow. But as CitExpress contracts in Aberdeen, a new flight from Glasgow to London City airport will be launched in April 2003. In April, BA announced the loss of 500 jobs over the following two years from CitiExpress, with Scotland bearing the brunt of the changes. This included the closure of a reporting base in Aberdeen. CitiExpress was created in March when BA combined two of its subsidiaries, British Regional Airlines and Brymon. The Dutch airline, KLM, is also cutting flights from Aberdeen because of "disappointing" passenger numbers. This Saturday will see the end of its Stavanger route which have only been running for a short time. The airline admits that as a result its reviewing one of its services to Amsterdam. It currently run 4 a day, but says it would be reluctant to return to 3 flights,

12-18-2002, 11:35 AM	#4
9V-SVC AirBoeingBus Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: Singapore Posts: 4,587	I heard that on news .I guess that is one of their ways of cutting cost . __________________ My jetphotos.net photos Plane pictures.net photos Let's welcome Boeing newest product, the Boeing 7E7.

12-18-2002, 11:51 AM	#5
R. Minor Mr. Moderator Join Date: Aug 2000 Location: Orlando Age: 35 Posts: 4,426	Eddy, I like the pic you posted. This would be a good one for Bader to make in 1:100... __________________ Ron ~ MCO Fly Airbus Jets...

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12-17-2002, 05:59 AM	#2
Westjetter Registered User Join Date: Mar 2002 Age: 27 Posts: 2,650	Dude! That totally sucks!!! Will this affect your business at all?

12-17-2002, 07:35 PM	#3
Eddy Two Guest Posts: n/a	Hi Dave. This won't REALLY have any adverse affect on my business as I don't book a vast number of these flights. If anything, it may actually be seen as a GOOD thing to happen for the Travel Agents in Aberdeen. British Airways is at the forefront of a commission cutting frezy that is sweeping the airline industry. We have seen United completely scrap commission payments to travel agents in America for domestic flights. American, Northwest, Continental etc. have all dropped commissions from 9% to just 4% over the last four or five years. British Airways though pays a flat rate of £2.50 per sector for domestic bookings. What this means is that if I were to book a passenger on a British Airways flight from Aberdeen to Manchester for £120.00 ad tax of £30.00, I would get just £5.00 commission. Pretty lame. When Eastern Airways take over the route, they will pay pretty much double that for the same booking as they work on the 9% commission level. As I say, it doesn't bother me much as I don't book these flights very often BUT there are many agents in the city who this will actually benefit. It's the passengers who will suffer.