British Airways-2
The destinations on offer included.
Alicante
Bergerac
Berlin
Chambéry
Edinburgh
Faro
Florence
Ibiza
Limoges
Malaga
Nice
Palma
Salzburg
Obviously the Covid pandemic hit the industry which resulted in some of the destinations not even being served such as Florence. Some of those destinations only lasted for a couple of weeks.
The list of destinations offered by British Airways Cityflyer from Southampton has slowly diminished since 2019. Many of the original destinations have been axed or not even operated in the first place.
Winter flights to Salzburg stopped earlier this year and now Chambéry has been axed from the winter schedules from Southampton.
The remaining destinations offered by British Airways Cityflyer from Southampton for summer 2024 include the following.
Alicante
Bergerac
Faro
Malaga
Palma
Although the above destinations are on sale for summer 2025 from Southampton there's no guarantee that they will actually go head. Other than Palma where British Airways Cityflyer also operate on behalf of TUI the schedules are very reduced for summer 2024 especially in comparison to previous years.
It's fairly obvious that British Airways Cityflyer have no real long term interest in serving Southampton. A shame really as on paper Southampton seems like an ideal fit for British Airways Cityflyer. So much potential especially after the collapse of Flybe but it was never realised. Lack of marketing, public awareness, and the pandemic didn't help.
As much as I would to see British Airways Cityflyer remain at Southampton, I'm afraid that in the long term, they probably won't.
British Airways Cityflyer has announced LGW to Chambéry and STN to Chambéry for winter 2024/25. The LGW flights seem to replace the Southampton flight.
I'm not really answering your original question, but it gives you an idea why Chambéry was canned from Southampton.
I think the issue is a bit more fundamental. I agree that BACF has done very little to market the Southampton services whether through traditional media or through socials and on-line advertising - the web presence is dire too. AGS need to be in the dock as co-accused in this trial as well, for they've put nothing of substance behind making this work.
There is a wider problem though. If you are BACF and you fly from a London airport, search on ba.com for "London to Ibiza" and the Stansted flights will come up as an option whether you ask for Heathrow, Gatwick, City or Biggin Hill (I joke). Search for "Southampton to Ibiza" and you get what you ask for. You need to know the Southampton flights are there. If BACF puts weekend flying into Stansted, it pops up on ba.com just as a Heathrow or Gatwick flight would - so no effort or expense to promote it. Everyone on here sees it as a different airport - and they're right - but the passenger doesn't have to do any work to find that BA service from Stansted, because it just appears in front of them, where they've got to know the Southampton service exists to then try to book it.
Given a choice of throwing your aircraft into LONDON Stansted or into SOUTHAMPTON at weekends, the lack of advertising and the way ba.com presents flights to those searching, which do you think will do better? If Southampton was called London Waterloo Flyaway then you'd have no problem ... but it isn't.
I suspect that's why BACF is not working as well as it really should be. People just don't know it's there nor how to look for it.
There is a wider problem though. If you are BACF and you fly from a London airport, search on ba.com for "London to Ibiza" and the Stansted flights will come up as an option whether you ask for Heathrow, Gatwick, City or Biggin Hill (I joke). Search for "Southampton to Ibiza" and you get what you ask for. You need to know the Southampton flights are there. If BACF puts weekend flying into Stansted, it pops up on ba.com just as a Heathrow or Gatwick flight would - so no effort or expense to promote it. Everyone on here sees it as a different airport - and they're right - but the passenger doesn't have to do any work to find that BA service from Stansted, because it just appears in front of them, where they've got to know the Southampton service exists to then try to book it.
Given a choice of throwing your aircraft into LONDON Stansted or into SOUTHAMPTON at weekends, the lack of advertising and the way ba.com presents flights to those searching, which do you think will do better? If Southampton was called London Waterloo Flyaway then you'd have no problem ... but it isn't.
I suspect that's why BACF is not working as well as it really should be. People just don't know it's there nor how to look for it.
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Thank you so much. Appreciate the quick response. I had booked on the Southampton - Chambery flight for 2025 and they have already cancelled it. I find it bizarre as when I booked they had about 4 seats left each way. It is such a shame as it is a dream of an airport to fly from as a passenger IMO. Same goes for BOH. I always thought the demand was high but clearly not.
I think the issue is a bit more fundamental. I agree that BACF has done very little to market the Southampton services whether through traditional media or through socials and on-line advertising - the web presence is dire too. AGS need to be in the dock as co-accused in this trial as well, for they've put nothing of substance behind making this work.
There is a wider problem though. If you are BACF and you fly from a London airport, search on ba.com for "London to Ibiza" and the Stansted flights will come up as an option whether you ask for Heathrow, Gatwick, City or Biggin Hill (I joke). Search for "Southampton to Ibiza" and you get what you ask for. You need to know the Southampton flights are there. If BACF puts weekend flying into Stansted, it pops up on ba.com just as a Heathrow or Gatwick flight would - so no effort or expense to promote it. Everyone on here sees it as a different airport - and they're right - but the passenger doesn't have to do any work to find that BA service from Stansted, because it just appears in front of them, where they've got to know the Southampton service exists to then try to book it.
Given a choice of throwing your aircraft into LONDON Stansted or into SOUTHAMPTON at weekends, the lack of advertising and the way ba.com presents flights to those searching, which do you think will do better? If Southampton was called London Waterloo Flyaway then you'd have no problem ... but it isn't.
I suspect that's why BACF is not working as well as it really should be. People just don't know it's there nor how to look for it.
There is a wider problem though. If you are BACF and you fly from a London airport, search on ba.com for "London to Ibiza" and the Stansted flights will come up as an option whether you ask for Heathrow, Gatwick, City or Biggin Hill (I joke). Search for "Southampton to Ibiza" and you get what you ask for. You need to know the Southampton flights are there. If BACF puts weekend flying into Stansted, it pops up on ba.com just as a Heathrow or Gatwick flight would - so no effort or expense to promote it. Everyone on here sees it as a different airport - and they're right - but the passenger doesn't have to do any work to find that BA service from Stansted, because it just appears in front of them, where they've got to know the Southampton service exists to then try to book it.
Given a choice of throwing your aircraft into LONDON Stansted or into SOUTHAMPTON at weekends, the lack of advertising and the way ba.com presents flights to those searching, which do you think will do better? If Southampton was called London Waterloo Flyaway then you'd have no problem ... but it isn't.
I suspect that's why BACF is not working as well as it really should be. People just don't know it's there nor how to look for it.
The one thing that has distracted me from booking British Airways Cityflyer from Southampton was the lack of frequency. Therefore, LGW and LHR will always be my preferences, which is a shame as I drive past SOU on my way to those two airports.
BACF, on the other hand, does operate charter flights on behalf of tour operators from several airports in the British Isles. BACF operates scheduled flights from EDI, LCY, LGW, SOU, and STN. BACF operates flights on behalf of several tour operators as well scheduled flights from the likes of DUB, EDI, GLA, IOM, JER, SOU, and STN. (I'm sure I've missed one)
For example, there is or was up to four flights a week from Southampton to Palma by BACF, with two of those being purely charters for TUI. The remaining two Palma flights are scheduled BACF.
The SOU flights are generally sold as BACF scheduled flights, although certain tour operators have blocked bookings on several flights. The BACF flights are bookable via the British Airways App and website, and you can use Avios points.
BACF, on the other hand, does operate charter flights on behalf of tour operators from several airports in the British Isles. BACF operates scheduled flights from EDI, LCY, LGW, SOU, and STN. BACF operates flights on behalf of several tour operators as well scheduled flights from the likes of DUB, EDI, GLA, IOM, JER, SOU, and STN. (I'm sure I've missed one)
For example, there is or was up to four flights a week from Southampton to Palma by BACF, with two of those being purely charters for TUI. The remaining two Palma flights are scheduled BACF.
BACF, on the other hand, does operate charter flights on behalf of tour operators from several airports in the British Isles. BACF operates scheduled flights from EDI, LCY, LGW, SOU, and STN. BACF operates flights on behalf of several tour operators as well scheduled flights from the likes of DUB, EDI, GLA, IOM, JER, SOU, and STN. (I'm sure I've missed one)
For example, there is or was up to four flights a week from Southampton to Palma by BACF, with two of those being purely charters for TUI. The remaining two Palma flights are scheduled BACF.
"BACF operates flights on behalf of several tour operators as well as scheduled flights from the likes of DUB EDI, GLA, JER, IOM, LCY, SOU and STN."
That's why I said "the likes of" but not necessarily inclusive 👍
That's why I said "the likes of" but not necessarily inclusive 👍
Genuine question. Can someone explain how the CityFlyer operation fits in with British Airways?
As the post above (868 by Sotosean) has eloquently educated me, I was always under the impression that the Cityflyer fleet was underutilised at weekends. Hence the need to find a market for the fleet during this period. Is this correct?
I emphasise, I do not follow airline schedules or time tables.
As the post above (868 by Sotosean) has eloquently educated me, I was always under the impression that the Cityflyer fleet was underutilised at weekends. Hence the need to find a market for the fleet during this period. Is this correct?
I emphasise, I do not follow airline schedules or time tables.
Genuine question. Can someone explain how the CityFlyer operation fits in with British Airways?
As the post above (868 by Sotosean) has eloquently educated me, I was always under the impression that the Cityflyer fleet was underutilised at weekends. Hence the need to find a market for the fleet during this period. Is this correct?
I emphasise, I do not follow airline schedules or time tables.
As the post above (868 by Sotosean) has eloquently educated me, I was always under the impression that the Cityflyer fleet was underutilised at weekends. Hence the need to find a market for the fleet during this period. Is this correct?
I emphasise, I do not follow airline schedules or time tables.
The scheduled flights by Cityflyer are bookable on the British Airways App and website. They are in all aspects operated as British Airways scheduled flights, similar to their LCY operations. The same service levels as British Airways, with BA flight numbers, lounge access, etc, etc, plus avios.
If anyone didn't know any different they wouldn't think that they were on any other aircraft but a British Airways aircraft. Cityflyer and Euroflyer are just two conveniences.
Yes the Cityflyer fleet is and has always been underutilised at the weekend due to restrictions at LCY. I'm sure you are aware of those restrictions.
The scheduled flights by Cityflyer are bookable on the British Airways App and website. They are in all aspects operated as British Airways scheduled flights, similar to their LCY operations. The same service levels as British Airways, with BA flight numbers, lounge access, etc, etc, plus avios.
If anyone didn't know any different they wouldn't think that they were on any other aircraft but a British Airways aircraft. Cityflyer and Euroflyer are just two conveniences.
The scheduled flights by Cityflyer are bookable on the British Airways App and website. They are in all aspects operated as British Airways scheduled flights, similar to their LCY operations. The same service levels as British Airways, with BA flight numbers, lounge access, etc, etc, plus avios.
If anyone didn't know any different they wouldn't think that they were on any other aircraft but a British Airways aircraft. Cityflyer and Euroflyer are just two conveniences.
As to BA CityFlyer, it was a licence to print money out of LCY with the highest % per load of Gold and Silver Exec Club holders on financial services routes to EDI (RBS) and FRA / ZRH. Post COVID, that's moved more towards higher end leisure with a densified fleet, I would imagine the jury is still out on what a longer term future size and shape will actually be.
