Any news on the possible direct winter flights?

[Fran]

Hi

A while back I saw a post about the possibility that an airline was planning to run one direct flight a week from the UK over the winter. Has anyone heard any more about this and if so which company it was?

Thanks!
Fran

[Eileen]

Hi Fran,

Unfortunately it all seems to have gone quiet on that front just now....I've not heard a whisper or even a rumour for a while.   Maybe Joe will have heard of something on the grapevine. 

Eileenx

[Joe]

Not going to happen unfortunately, if there was money to be made on that route then someone would have jumped in already, there just isn't the demand to fill a regular flight, shame. For it to be viable Corfu would need to be able to attract visitors in winter and with all due respect its not the same destination in winter as it is in summer.

This summer there are actually less UK flights going into Corfu then last year, stats like this just reinforce the airlines decisions.

[Eileen]

Not going to happen unfortunately,

Thought you might say something like that Joe   It makes sense doesn't it?

Have  you any idea how successful GB airways have been in getting bums on seats for the Gatwick-Corfu service?

Eileenx

[Joe]

The flights have lasted more than 2 weeks, which is a good sign, but the fact they keep changing the flight times is not. With independent travel growing there should be enough demand for a scheduled to Corfu but only through the summer months.

[Eileen]

The flights have lasted more than 2 weeks, which is a good sign,

Oh Joe...that's a bit scary when you say that, it shows that 'you people in the know' actually think in terms of weeks! (if you know what I mean)

I have been back for only just over a week and already it seems like ages ago that the season started.

I'm off to see how the late prices for June are doing...but shhh don't tell Keith yet!!

Eileenx

[Joe]

Yes, as soon as a flight starts to underperform it will be pulled whether there are bookings or not, its more cost effective to reimburse than operate a loss making flight, most routes are pretty well scouted though and this barely happens so I would imagine the Corfu flights are making them money.

Remember holiday charter flights are different, unless due to tech reasons they are never cancelled as all the seats are sold in advance to the tour operator who in turns plans the holidays available. You may have no legroom but at least you'll get a seat

[Eileen]

Thanks Joe,  all this information is really appreciated.

Eileen.

[Joe]

Anytime

[Sandy x]

As a regular flyer rom Gatwick, I was really excited about the new BA flight to Corfu. The problem is that it is not as cheap as we had hoped. Each time I have booked, I have been able to find something much cheaper with one of the other airlines so have not as yet used it.

[Joe]

Well if the prices are high we can take that as a good sign that the cheap seats are selling, you will probably find cheaper fares if you avoid Friday, Saturday and Monday flights

[Eileen]

LOL Joe you are wicked...that only leaves a Wednesday by my reckoning

Eileenx

[Joe]

Nothing wrong with Wednesdays

[Sandy x]

Except if you want to go for a weekend.....just have to have a long weekend!!!

[Joe]

We have great deals for weekend flights but whoever came up with the flight times needs to be shot