[Anonymous]

[icenspice]

As of 29 March easyJet will fly between Lisbon and Ponta Delgada. An overnight in Lisbon will be required for those of us not living in the Portuguese capital…it’s one of those painful early morning departures 🙁

Where next? Cape Verde or Dakar?

[LuganoPirate]

Well possible Icenspice. They serve Madeira ex Lis so why not Dakar? I’m sure other destinations could be served as well.

[openfly]

These routes out of Lisbon have the potential to take Easy into the freight market….an area that has never been in their sights. Freight is a quiet revenue producer (and never complains!) As Easy is a “hand baggage” low cost operator it is flying around with empty holds. Africa is always crying out for freight space. A perfect match.

I gather that BA makes money on the West African routes on freight alone!

[MartynSinclair]

I was wondering why Easy Jet are recruiting pilots to be based in Portugal….(see last weeks Flight International)

[JordanD]

Martyn – was speaking to a colleague last week who used to be working with easyJet as a Ground Manager. Apparently Lisbon was the cheapest base to operate in terms of flight crew with good promotion opportunities, and many Dutch pilots could be found climbing the corporate ladder there before heading back ‘north’.

Further expansion at Lisbon seems to suggest the former point …

[FaroFlyer]

It could well be that easyJet, and Ryanair, are positioning themselves for the, almost, inevitable demise of TAP. TAP staff seem to believe that striking is the solution to losing money, and blocking the proposed sale of the airline.

Now that Cyprus Airways been has shown that EU Governments cannot subsidise airlines indefinitely, it cannot be too many years before the same situation happens to TAP.

[MrMichael]

Faro flyer, staff thinking striking at loss making airlines is nothing new nor is it just TAP. Look at Air France, Lufthansa, Iberia…..even the pristinely clean BA in the past!

On survival, one needs a strong leader with the guts to protect the business and not cave in, a decent business model and a little luck! Too many airline staff still think that the LoCo’s are a flash in the pan and should have absolutely no impact on their own ageing T&C’s.

[AnthonyDunn]

@ MrMichael – 19/01/2015 20:31 GMT

In which case, they would do well to remind themselves of O’Blarney’s erstwhile description of BA as a “pension fund with wings…” The latter has, at the least, had the management ready take drastic action – and before most other legacy carriers woke up to the twin threats of LoCos in short-haul and the Gulfies eating into long-haul.

[MrMichael]

Cannot disagree with you there AnthonyDunn. I happen to think BA is in a reasonably good position, accepting its non premier league status. Many businesses are in a tight spot regarding pensions, as are HM government, both are dealing with it. Not sure what the status is regarding IAG and its pension position, nor for AF/KLM or LH. My understanding is that one of the reasons BA have a relatively ageing fleet is its desire to reduce the pension problem. Interestingly with the fall in energy/oil prices it looks like a good business move….and another reason it should not try to compete with the five star airlines……not yet anyway.

[FaroFlyer]

Mr Michael. Fully understand that Air France, Lufthansa, Iberia are in similar positions.
The difference with TAP, and hence the Cyprus analogy, is that TAP is State owned and supported, and does not have strong leadership.
TAP management know that they will be replaced if TAP survives, and becomes private, so have no incentive to manage the business well, and enable a sale or privatisation.

[Author]

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