New london to Exeter Service

[21C101]

Apparently from 27th October FGW and SWT have some more competition. Flybe will be flying three times a day between London City airport and Exeter (Broadclyst?) Airport.

Up journeys one hour twenty minutes, down journeys one hour fifteen minutes. Fares seem to be £80-110 judging by the online planner.

http://www.londoncityairport.com/TravelAndBooking/DestinationMapFor/EXT

 

[61653 HTAFC]

Might do well with the cut in 1st class capacity on FGW...

 

[scotsman]

That's a stupidly long flight time.

 

[Clip]

That's a stupidly long flight time.

Probably has to go a long way round to miss the Gatwick/Heathrow flight paths which you can see circling high above city airport

 

[scotsman]

Probably has to go a long way round to miss the Gatwick/Heathrow flight paths which you can see circling high above city airport

True, any idea what aircraft will be used on that? Because I'm not sure a Dash would be sufficient to attract the First Class passengers away from the train.

 

[starrymarkb]

Will be a Dash which is the only aircraft Flybe have that can land at City. (Flybe's E175s don't have the steep approach mods that BA Cityflyer's do)

I wish them luck with it. Given that they are one of the few large private employers around here I'd rather not see them go under.
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Probably has to go a long way round to miss the Gatwick/Heathrow flight paths which you can see circling high above city airport

Looking at the NATS preferred route database it will be along the coast to Southampton, Goodwood, then out over the channel to pick up the STAR (Standard Terminial Arrival Route) into London City off the coast of Eastbourne.

Similarly for the route back, the London City Standard departure via the Southampton VOR takes them out over Lydd before turning west along the coast back to Southampton - up to 162 nautical miles depending on runway in use!

Click here - select "London City - EGLC" and then chose "Standard Departure Chart Instrument (SID) lONDON/City SOUTHAMPTON - ICAO" in the list to see the route

 

[jamesontheroad]

That's a stupidly long flight time.

That's the block time. Scheduled to include 5-10 minutes on the ground at each end, plus a bit of contingency for ATC delays.

 

[flymo]

They also start flights between London City and Edinburgh & London City and Inverness on the same day.

Also on the same day they start City - Aberdeen as BA are pulling out of that route.

 

[21C101]

That's the block time. Scheduled to include 5-10 minutes on the ground at each end, plus a bit of contingency for ATC delays.

I suppose key is how long you have to be there before it takes off and how long it takes you to get out at the other end.

London city is quite attractive for the city as it spares you the Circle or Central line and the fares seem to be a little above the FGW fares

It also gets you to city airport (07.55) much earlier than the first train (EXD 05.46 PAD 08.38) and the airport is just off the M5 so saves you a trek into the town centre

I think it might work. I guess with the met office at exeter near the airport there is potential going the other way too

 

[starrymarkb]

I suppose key is how long you have to be there before it takes off and how long it takes you to get out at the other end.

London city is quite attractive for the city as it spares you the Circle or Central line and the fares seem to be a little above the FGW fares

It also gets you to city airport (07.55) much earlier than the first train (EXD 05.46 PAD 08.38) and the airport is just off the M5 so saves you a trek into the town centre

I think it might work. I guess with the met office at exeter near the airport there is potential going the other way too

I know London City is a 15 min check in - EXT is 35 mins IIRC. I think the main attraction would be cutting out the trek from Paddington to Canary Wharf (and to a lesser extent the City)

 

[Temple Meads]

It also gets you to city airport (07.55) much earlier than the first train (EXD 05.46 PAD 08.38) and the airport is just off the M5 so saves you a trek into the town centre

Although there's also the up Night Riviera sleeper which is a Super Off Peak train ticket wise (£30.35 single, £53.15 return, with my YP railcard), and it gets into London just after 05:00, obviously that's just for the seated accommodation, so it's not for everyone, but I can't honestly see me using the plane in the forseeable future with that option there.

I do hope this is a success for Flybe though.

 

[21C101]

Although there's also the up Night Riviera sleeper which is a Super Off Peak train ticket wise (£30.35 single, £53.15 return, with my YP railcard), and it gets into London just after 05:00, obviously that's just for the seated accommodation, so it's not for everyone, but I can't honestly see me using the plane in the forseeable future with that option there.

I do hope this is a success for Flybe though.

I guess the big challenge for Flybe will be when Crossrail opens.

 

[LateThanNever]

I know London City is a 15 min check in - EXT is 35 mins IIRC. I think the main attraction would be cutting out the trek from Paddington to Canary Wharf (and to a lesser extent the City)

The problem is Exeter airport is in East Devon Council area and Exeter taxis cannot ply for hire there - you have to order them and seek them out in the car park! Not what I'd call ideal - yes, there's a bus but only hourly and not in the evening...
Plus check in times at Exeter seem just as much hurry up and wait as a much larger airport!
In the end it will still be the trek East from Paddington for me, which is less hassle although probably more expensive....

 

[Tetchytyke]

People would drive to the airport, or get their partner to drop them off, so the taxi issue won't be a big issue. Besides which, East Devon registered taxis on the rank will take you into Exeter.

Having recently decided to fly back from Newquay because it was cheaper and quicker than FGW, I can really see the appeal of this.