easyJet to BRU?

1V1 · Post by **1V1** » 19 May 2004, 10:39

I've just read easyJet is talking with BIAC about coming to Brussels. Would this be as a destination or rather to start a hub? What are the consequences for SNBA and Virgin?
Greetz

Post by **sn26567** » 19 May 2004, 10:51

If you read French, you can read the article of today's 'Le Soir' online in our French-speaking forum: https://www.aviation24.be/modules.php?name ... highlight=.

Alternatively, there is a short English article in the Latest News: https://www.aviation24.be/article4386.html

1V1 · Post by **1V1** » 19 May 2004, 11:03

Hi André
I found it here http://www.standaard.be/nieuws/economie ... 052004_004
But it's in dutch and it doesn't say if easy wants to use Bru as a base or just add it as a destination. I mean will they fly to other European destinations out of Bru or just to the UK?
greetz

danieln · Post by **danieln** » 19 May 2004, 12:29

1V1, I don't know what their plan are. But for me it is no coincidence that Easyjet is interested in BRU now. They had a gentlenmen's agreement not to compete with Virgin Express on Brussels. But a few months ago VEX and SN Brussels annaounced their co-operation. I guess that this is the reaction of Easyjet.
If EZY decides to include Zaventem in its schedule, they will probabely open routes to their main hubs or destinations Liverpool, Glasgow, Belfast, Luton, Geneva and Berlin. From these cities, only Geneva is actually served by Virgin Express.

Comet · Post by **Comet** » 19 May 2004, 13:52

If EZY do open routes to Brussels, they wouldn't be in competition with SNBA on the routes, as they don't use the same airports, with the exception of Bristol. And there will always be people who prefer the full service of SNBA to the low cost style of EasyJet!

1V1 · Post by **1V1** » 19 May 2004, 14:10

LJ · Post by LJ » 19 May 2004, 14:50

If EZY do open routes to Brussels, they wouldn't be in competition with SNBA on the routes, as they don't use the same airports, with the exception of Bristol.

They may not serve the same airport, but will put pressure on yields on similar routes (for example BRU-MAN). It happened in The Netherlands when EZY came, it will happeen again in BRU. Personally I think easyJet wouldn't do BRU-STN as Ryanair is already in this market, but BRU-LGW or LTN and BRU-LPL are likely candidates for initial operations (later followed by Glasgow, Geneva and/or Edinburgh).

Captain · Post by **Captain** » 19 May 2004, 15:08

Read that Easyjet have ordered 120 new airbuses which will be delivered by 2008. The article said that expanding into BRU could explain their new ambitions for Europe.

Captain

danieln · Post by **danieln** » 19 May 2004, 15:32

Captain, where did you read it?

Dorfmeister · Post by **Dorfmeister** » 19 May 2004, 16:17

In Le Soir, they're talking about the new busses. But I think that it is the already well known order and not a new one.

Regards,

Benjamin

Sabena_690 · Post by **Sabena_690** » 19 May 2004, 16:20

LJ: Ryanair does not serve CRL-STN anymore...

BRU-LGW would be in direct competition with SN.

Frederic

ATC · Post by **ATC** » 19 May 2004, 19:42

Just a wild thought...

We all know that EasyJet isn't happy with the AirFrance/KLM merger.
(For the moment EasyJet is flying on AMS(hub) and CDG)

Isn't this the first step for EasyJet to find a new hub between AMS and CDG. From BRU they can start a whole new competition and maybe attract the AMS and CDG customer. In BRU they have no competition of the AF/KLM alliance. They (EasyJet) can start a new central hub (BRU) in the backyard of AF/KLM.

In this context (or for this reason) I think that BRU will attract more airlines to compete with the big AF/KLM alliance...

Just a thought... ?

reactions ?

greetings,
ATC

Post by **luchtzak** » 19 May 2004, 19:51

Can BIAC disallow easyJet to fly to/from Brussels?

greetz,

Bart
:rock:

ATC · Post by **ATC** » 19 May 2004, 20:12

Can BIAC disallow easyJet to fly to/from Brussels?

I don't think so...
Why should BIAC do this...?

More airlines should result in more passangers that leeds to more income....
BIAC is not married with SNBA or Virgin Express...

Or am I mistaken ...?

greetings,
ATC

Burner · Post by **Burner** » 19 May 2004, 20:18

1. They can refuse them, by keeping prices high. But what's the use of chasing customers away? Unless BIAC has other objectives then profitability (political, environmental, ethical, ...), but even this will get more difficult, since they will be privatised in the medium run ...

2. BRU would indeed seem a perfect fit. Not a major expensive longhaul hub, and yet next to a big (and more and more important) city. If the price is right, they will come, even if some gentlemenagreements may still be in force now. I would find it little intelligent if they didn't (except for a price issue).

3. I think in BRU, no company (except for maybe Virgin Express, who - unfortunately - bears a big inheritance from the past) is really prepared for the arrival of a big developped experienced lowcost airline. An Easyjet hub would hurt almost all companies. Including the charter airlines, since Easy has also a focus on all holiday destinations within roundabout 2,5 flight hours.
To get 120 A319's (150 pax/each) in operation in 4 - 5 years means taking away traffic from existing carriers sooner or later ...

Interesting times (maybe) ahead, ...

Greetz

Burner

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 19 May 2004, 20:53

Well it could indeed be very interesting if Easy Jet would come to BRU.

Personally I hope they won't come to BRU to open a new hub. Because if they do start a hub out of BRU this could really mean hard times for SN/VEX and all the others. I have nothing against EZY but I want that belgian carriers survive

Greetz
Chris
8)

1V1 · Post by **1V1** » 19 May 2004, 21:22

From pilot's point of view it would be a nice thing. A company with 120 new Airbuses needs also a lot of pilots. I'm not looking for a job but it's always nice to know you can find one. Now we have 6 Thomas Cook A320's and 3 SNBA A319's in BRU, imagine easyJet doubles this amount....

blackhawk · Post by **blackhawk** » 19 May 2004, 21:33

BIAC is not married with SNBA or Virgin Express

Actually, when SN started their operations, BIAC took a share of 12.5 million EUR in SN-airholding. One year later BIAC made a depreciation of the real value of these shares with 11 million EUR because of the bad performance in the first year of SNBA. I think they still have the shares these days, I'll look it up.

Avro · Post by **Avro** » 19 May 2004, 21:59

1V1 wrote:From pilot's point of view it would be a nice thing. A company with 120 new Airbuses needs also a lot of pilots. I'm not looking for a job but it's always nice to know you can find one. Now we have 6 Thomas Cook A320's and 3 SNBA A319's in BRU, imagine easyJet doubles this amount....

That would indeed be nice. And those A319 are also very special (spotters point of view

) since they have 2 emergency doors on each site

Chris
8)

LJ · Post by LJ » 19 May 2004, 22:08

Isn't this the first step for EasyJet to find a new hub between AMS and CDG. From BRU they can start a whole new competition and maybe attract the AMS and CDG customer.

ATC I don't think many people coming from the "Randstad" (the most populated area in The Netherlands) will drive all the way to Brussels to catch a low cost flight. Many people already object to drive to Eindhoven for the LCC flight to Istanbul and BRU is a few miles further..... However for those living in the southern part of The Netherlands any LCC flight from BRU would be great.

Anyway, Sabena_690 thanks for the info that FR isn't flying to STN anymore (I thought they only reduced flights). If FR is gone than I think BRU's chances of getting into the easyJet network have increased very much

BTW Blackhawk, BIAC still owns a few shares in SNBA (at least they're listed as such on their website)