EGPF Forum

There was much speculation recently around Etihad's autumn announcement of 10 new routes and whether that might involve scotland in any way.

The announcement has been made today and doesn't involve any scottish (or UK) airports.

There may have been some duff info going about, given that SeanM on twitter was claiming a few weeks ago there would be a UK route and iirc someone on here said EDI was a done deal.

I believe there is expected to be another big announcement in the new year in Feb though.

Iain wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2024 9:54 am There was much speculation recently around Etihad's autumn announcement of 10 new routes and whether that might involve scotland in any way.

The announcement has been made today and doesn't involve any scottish (or UK) airports.

There may have been some duff info going about, given that SeanM on twitter was claiming a few weeks ago there would be a UK route and iirc someone on here said EDI was a done deal.

I believe there is expected to be another big announcement in the new year in Feb though.

Can’t imagine it would include Scotland at all.

Clive wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2024 10:27 am
Can’t imagine it would include Scotland at all.

EK and QR seem to be doing well here, so why not EY?

Granted they couldn't cut it previously and dropped their service at EDI, but I think the people at etihad would probably tell you that EY now is quite different to what they were back then.

Iain wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2024 10:45 am

Clive wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2024 10:27 am
Can’t imagine it would include Scotland at all.

EK and QR seem to be doing well here, so why not EY?

Granted they couldn't cut it previously and dropped their service at EDI, but I think the people at etihad would probably tell you that EY now is quite different to what they were back then.

I just think they have a whole world of opportunities and probably don’t see us as we see ourselves. ie it’s not always about us.

I don't believe anyone genuinely thought EDI was a serious contender, except perhaps the die-hard EDI enthusiasts on airliners.net or those constantly replying to SeanM on Twitter with "Please be EDI" .

That said, I recall SeanM mentioning there would be one returning destination, but I don’t think he specified it would be in the UK. When you consider the global cities Etihad has dropped but not yet relaunched; Cape Town, Hong Kong, Perth, Melbourne, Los Angeles and so on; it's absurd to place Scotland's second city in the same league as those major destinations.

Additionally, EDI was one of Etihad's most unsuccessful route launches. It would be madness for them to revisit a market that failed so spectacularly.

Anyway, I'm happy to see Turdhouse not included. Fingers crossed more airlines will cut capacity to the facility.

Clive wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2024 10:50 am
I just think they have a whole world of opportunities and probably don’t see us as we see ourselves. ie it’s not always about us.

You could say that about lots of airlines that serve Scotland, including EK and QR, but they're here nevertheless.

FlyGLA wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2024 11:20 am I don't believe anyone genuinely thought EDI was a serious contender, except perhaps the die-hard EDI enthusiasts on airliners.net or those constantly replying to SeanM on Twitter with "Please be EDI" .

That said, I recall SeanM mentioning there would be one returning destination, but I don’t think he specified it would be in the UK.

He appeared to hint that a 3rd UK destination for EY would be along in late Nov, but maybe many people misread that and inferred something that wasn't being implied.

https://x.com/SeanM1997/status/18386485 ... O7hzw&s=19

Additionally, EDI was one of Etihad's most unsuccessful route launches. It would be madness for them to revisit a market that failed so spectacularly.

Yes it doesn't seem to have done that well - and given they couldn't compete at EDI back then it's got to be open to question how they would compete nowadays with more QR and TK plus EK. Nevertheless EDI seem to be pretty good at persuading airlines who've pulled out to restart service.

Iain wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2024 11:37 am

Clive wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2024 10:50 am
I just think they have a whole world of opportunities and probably don’t see us as we see ourselves. ie it’s not always about us.

You could say that about lots of airlines that serve Scotland, including EK and QR, but they're here nevertheless.

FlyGLA wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2024 11:20 am I don't believe anyone genuinely thought EDI was a serious contender, except perhaps the die-hard EDI enthusiasts on airliners.net or those constantly replying to SeanM on Twitter with "Please be EDI" .

That said, I recall SeanM mentioning there would be one returning destination, but I don’t think he specified it would be in the UK.

He appeared to hint that a 3rd UK destination for EY would be along in late Nov, but maybe many people misread that and inferred something that wasn't being implied.

https://x.com/SeanM1997/status/18386485 ... O7hzw&s=19

Additionally, EDI was one of Etihad's most unsuccessful route launches. It would be madness for them to revisit a market that failed so spectacularly.

Yes it doesn't seem to have done that well - and given they couldn't compete at EDI back then it's got to be open to question how they would compete nowadays with more QR and TK plus EK. Nevertheless EDI seem to be pretty good at persuading airlines who've pulled out to restart service.

No doubt we’ll hear in February but I’m fairly sure it won’t be anything to do with GLA or wider Scotland.

On similar topic but quite different.
My mate just booked his return flight to Middle East . EK from Edinburgh
Just shy of £200 cheaper than Glasgow
That cant be right, Right?

hads wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2024 8:53 pm On similar topic but quite different.
My mate just booked his return flight to Middle East . EK from Edinburgh
Just shy of £200 cheaper than Glasgow
That cant be right, Right?

Loads of capacity and competition over there resulting in lower fares.

egpffqtv wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2024 10:57 pm

hads wrote: ↑Mon Nov 25, 2024 8:53 pm On similar topic but quite different.
My mate just booked his return flight to Middle East . EK from Edinburgh
Just shy of £200 cheaper than Glasgow
That cant be right, Right?

Loads of capacity and competition over there resulting in lower fares.

Yup, they need cheap fares to fill 300 new seats and try to gain market share at EDI. Meanwhile at GLA they have planes that are already full and no direct ME3 competition, so they can charge higher fares.

This is EDI playing out the MO we've seen on so many routes - they bring in more choice/frequency, which leads to lower fares at EDI and attracts pax from the west.

Imo GLA have brought this on themselves by failing over the course of over 20 years to get any other ME3 Airlines (or TK) to serve GLA.