[bluemooner]

Turkish Airlines now offer a non stop Istanbul to Durban service at certain times of the year, the rest of the time it’s an hour stopover in Jbg while passengers alight. (Cannot find the seasonal dates when direct flights operate)
Given the fact that most Western European passengers do not want to travel via Istanbul or the Gulf as it adds hours to the journey time, surely a London to Durban direct flight makes sense.
Its mid winter in Durban, temperature is almost always mid 20s C unlike Cape Town or Jbg where the mercury drops like a stone. It’s therefore an all year round destination.

[AMcWhirter]

bluemooner – “Given the fact that most Western European pax do not want to travel via the Istanbul or the Gulf as it adds hours to the journey time.”

That makes sense but then you must remember that not every passenger in Europe is starting in London.

One major selling point of both TK and the Gulfies is the fact they serve dozens of secondary destinations the length and breadth or Europe. They also have keen fares.

And that is why so many travellers are prepared to take those indirect journeys.

[JordanD]

The Tehran delay: is this due to the 787s being delivered late, meaning the 772 required for this route being unable to be released as yet?

Or is it some politics delaying things?

[AnthonyDunn]

@JordanD – 22/06/2016 15:47 BST

There was mention somewhere over the past few months of BA’s 787 deliveries being delayed owing to late delivery of their seats.

[bluemooner]

Direct UK to Durban – Given the historical links, the potentially all year round tourist trade and from a business point of view Durban is the 2nd largest commercial city in SA, there surely must be enough business and leisure passengers from the UK wanting to travel direct to fill a flight at least once per week as a starting point. After all shouldn’t airlines provide a service. Durban Airport is extremely busy daily, with people from UK travelling to and from.

[ShelinGathiram_]

Majority of PAX leaving Durban on emirates continue on to the UK so I don’t see why BA or Norwegian (who have stated they want flights to Durban by year end) use these PAX numbers to their advantage

[BEYbrit]

BA or Norwegian will fly to LGW or LHR direct.

EK fly to BHX, NCL, EDI, MAN, GLA, LHR and LGW via Dubai.

The convenience of landing in a local airport after a seamless transit in Dubai and a couple of great EK flights is far far far more attractive than arriving at LGW and then having to Easyjet it up to Scotland…..

[Jasonltd1]

BA fly LGW-EDI/GLA if you need to get to ABZ then hardlines

[Jasonltd1]

but are Easyjet that bad on such a short flight?

[BEYbrit]

It’s not easyjet that’s the problem. It’s the hassle of not being able to check bags through. It’s the hassle of BHX bound passengers having to drive three hours home (or take the train(s) home). It’s the hassle of arriving at airports that aren’t super transfer friendly.

All of these add up to a win for the gulfies who serve the british regions.

[canucklad]

Not sure about the specifics, but does EK and EZ not have some sort of co-operation agreement that allows for seamless onward travel to destinations not covered by EK ?

[BEYbrit]

Maybe, but my point is really in answer to the question of “why not a direct flight from Durban to London when there is so much via-gulf traffic from the UK”.

I guess I’m trying to simply say that a circuitous route to Durban (or elsewhere) via the Gulf is more attractive than a direct flight from London for a big chunk of the UK’s population.

[BEYbrit]

Anyway, it’s kind of going off-topic.

Back on topic….whatever happened to the Honolulu ‘sure thing’ announcement?

[sparkyflier]

When I made a post on this thread, I actually intended to update the more up to date “route” discussion, in which there are the most recent ideas and chat. but updated the former thread by accident.

I will post on that thread to avoid confusion.

[onajetplane]

Delta just announced a seasonal run to Portland starting May 17 so maybe that rules that out for BA now?

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