Easyjet to shut East Midlands base

JasonLVC

bagand96 wrote: »

You say greed has crippled the industry; perhaps that is true in terms of HM government taxes. However, the airport operators are struggling as much as the airlines.

The low cost boom has driven down landing fees and charges at airports over the last 10 years or so. That is one of the reasons that has allowed the cost of flying has fallen so much. Airport's income from landing fees and pax charges etc is lower now than its been for a long time - the market has demanded it.

However, the entire industry is now in a catch 22 almost. People aren't flying so much as they don't have as much spare cash. With the new breed of low fares, airline's margins are a lot tighter. To help with this they are turning to the airports for help. But the airports have been squeezed by the low cost airlines in the first place, and they too have much tighter margins. We're coming to a point where there's just no give in the system.

You also say that EMA is much better than LTN and STN, and then go on to say that it costs more to fly from. Perhaps there is a reason it costs more?

There used to be a saying "an aircraft is not making money on the ground". Incredibly, its may now be a case where the aircraft may loose less money sat on the ground than it will flying. Its going to be a quiet winter.

The airports (well, BAA owned ones) forgot what industry they were in and expanded into property, invested too heavily and are now lumped with billion pound debts. I'm not sure who own EMA but they are not BAA owned hence why it is a better experience to visit as BAA airports are like going to Meadowhall on a Saturday - so many shops and cafe and yet just one little security gate!.

I get your point about the airports being squeezed too much by airlines but then again, if the airports didn't have soooooo much debt they wouldn't be so desperate for cash. You know an airport is in trouble when it charges you to go through a security check-in as at Luton.

EasyJet are also reducing flights from Luton as well as the owners (a Spanish firm, also in debt) wants more landing fees - so something has got to give, the airline or the airport.

I can only guess EMA is deaer to fly from as they have higher landing fees and I dare say this annoucement is EasyJet throwing the dummy out - they were probably bluffing EMA on pulling out unless they got a deal and then along came Jet2 and blows Easyjet's bluff!.

Airports do have to make money but as we are begining to see in this recession - we all need each other and we all need to be reasonable about things. If you charge too much, the customer goes elsewhere - be it cars, a pint of milk or an airline negotiating landing fees.

melb

on ryanair's website they say they're doing a "rescue mission" for easyjet costomers. that's what I meant by them taking advantage for some publicity in my previous post.

MrSmartprice

EMA is quite a convenient airport for us, and preferable to Birmingham in many ways. My only gripes are that security can be a bit slow, and that once you leave security you seem to be in the middle of a department store. The layout is ridiculous.

The access to EMA is good, and you can drop off passengers at the terminal without having to pay. I think Ryanair may pick up Easyjet's business there, which is probably a good thing as Easyjet don't seem to be competitive these days!

jec_60

melb wrote: »

on ryanair's website they say they're doing a "rescue mission" for easyjet costomers. that's what I meant by them taking advantage for some publicity in my previous post.

Thanks melb:T
have checked their website and I have till sept 15th to get a re-book with ryanair for a £35 each way flight.:beer:

trets77

Crap !! i have 5 Easy Jet flights booked from East Midlands in March/April .

i have not recieved any email .


very worried now !!!

PAUL7331

trets77 wrote: »

Crap !! i have 5 Easy Jet flights booked from East Midlands in March/April .

i have not recieved any email .


very worried now !!!

Weird as im wanting to book may09 next year and easy jet are still taking bookings!!! Hopefully they wont take my booking and then cancel the flight?

migajos

I wouldn't book that flights if I were You... The news about easyJet's withdrawal is like 100% sure. bmibaby has recently taken some easyJets slots at Nottingham Airport and announced 8 new services. Some of them doubble easyJet ones.

PAUL7331

migajos wrote: »

I wouldn't book that flights if I were You... The news about easyJet's withdrawal is like 100% sure. bmibaby has recently taken some easyJets slots at Nottingham Airport and announced 8 new services. Some of them doubble easyJet ones.

But what if I booked with EASY JET HOLIDAYS? it has hotel and flight at a decent price... Would they refund me if it went balls up???

PolishBigSpender

migajos wrote: »

I wouldn't book that flights if I were You... The news about easyJet's withdrawal is like 100% sure. bmibaby has recently taken some easyJets slots at Nottingham Airport and announced 8 new services. Some of them doubble easyJet ones.

Wrong. They're currently undergoing a consultation period, which sounds like a final chance for EMA to offer an improved deal or lose Easyjet at the base. If EMA do offer a fantastic deal, then Easyjet will stay - it's as simple as that.

dmg24

migajos wrote: »

I wouldn't book that flights if I were You... The news about easyJet's withdrawal is like 100% sure. bmibaby has recently taken some easyJets slots at Nottingham Airport and announced 8 new services. Some of them doubble easyJet ones.

No commercial airlines fly from Nottingham Airport. Several do however fly from East Midlands Airport.