U.K. domestic routes

[atuk]

Following on from the recent discussions of who base aircraft where and which routes are flown here is a wee bit of history.

Apologies if, for some, this smacks of teaching grandma how to suck eggs, but there may be members who have no previous knowledge of how things were.

Many domestic services were flown by single carriers, no competition involved, the only exceptions being British Eagle, British Midland and Virgin Little Red on LHR and BUA then British Caledonian providing competition to LGW. This was followed by BA and easyJet on LGW after the Routes were flown by Air UK, Dan Air and BA Cityflyer.

Historically BIA, British Midland, Cambrian, Dan Air, Northeast, BEA Scottish and Channel Islands operated non trunk services with both Cambrian and Northeast serving LHR.

Yes fares wee higher however the competition between BE and LM, EZY and BA, show clearly there is neither sufficient loads, revenue and profit to support two carriers.

Although we operate in a deregulated market place my personal preference for domestic services would be for a single carrier operation until there is sufficient recovery to support dual operations.

Everyone will have their own views in this but bear in mind Air competes against road and rail in many instances let alone competing carriers slugging it out for marginal returns, if at all.

[atuk]

Following on from the recent discussions of who base aircraft where and which routes are flown here is a wee bit of history.

Apologies if, for some, this smacks of teaching grandma how to suck eggs, but there may be members who have no previous knowledge of how things were.

Many domestic services were flown by single carriers, no competition involved, the only exceptions being British Eagle, British Midland and Virgin Little Red on LHR and BUA then British Caledonian providing competition to LGW. This was followed by BA and easyJet on LGW after the Routes were flown by Air UK, Dan Air and BA Cityflyer.

Historically Air Anglia, BIA, ( later Air UK), British Midland, Cambrian, Dan Air, Northeast, BEA Scottish and Channel Islands operated non trunk services with both Cambrian and Northeast serving LHR.

Yes fares wee higher however the competition between BE and LM, EZY and BA, show clearly there is neither sufficient loads, revenue and profit to support two carriers.

Although we operate in a deregulated market place my personal preference for domestic services would be for a single carrier operation until there is sufficient recovery to support dual operations.

Everyone will have their own views in this but bear in mind Air competes against road and rail in many instances let alone competing carriers slugging it out for marginal returns, if at all.