Darwin airline does the predictable thing

[Roland Perry]

And evolves from four routes, to two, to none...

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-26536105

[Theo Markettos]

Post by Roland Perry
And evolves from four routes, to two, to none...
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-26536105

I flew with them on the Geneva route three weeks ago. There's only one
flight a week, a Saab 2000 seats 50, our load was 21. Many of those were
people skiing (I don't know the Saab 2000's capacity for skis).

Flight time was about the same as EZY from Stansted, despite being a
turboprop. It was way less stressful than Stansted, especially outbound.
Took 1h08 from my front door to takeoff.

Not an amazing load factor, but I don't know what breakeven is. In one
sense the flights weren't quite frequent enough to be useful as a regular
service, especially connecting (you really need a morning flight out and an
evening return, unless the connecting flights are overnight).

I'm not sure how flights to Paris ended 5 weeks ago, given there was a
flight from CDG on the departure board when I checked in.

Theo

[Roland Perry]

Post by Theo Markettos
I flew with them on the Geneva route three weeks ago. There's only one
flight a week, a Saab 2000 seats 50, our load was 21. Many of those were
people skiing (I don't know the Saab 2000's capacity for skis).
Flight time was about the same as EZY from Stansted, despite being a
turboprop. It was way less stressful than Stansted, especially outbound.
Took 1h08 from my front door to takeoff.

From that point of view it was a promising service. Had I needed to go
to Amsterdam recently I think I'd have tried it.

Post by Theo Markettos
Not an amazing load factor, but I don't know what breakeven is. In one
sense the flights weren't quite frequent enough to be useful as a regular
service, especially connecting (you really need a morning flight out and an
evening return, unless the connecting flights are overnight).

When they started the flights I looked at the timetable, and I thought
there were at least two daily flights. Or was that only to Amsterdam?

The original idea seemed to be to feed Etihad long haul, so the timing
would need to connect with those. eg EY958 from AMS to Abu Dhabi, 11am
departure [or their other daily flight EY78 at 10pm].

The Etihad flight from GVA to Abu Dhabi departs at 10.05am, which would
need a roughly 7am departure Cambridge.

Post by Theo Markettos
I'm not sure how flights to Paris ended 5 weeks ago, given there was a
flight from CDG on the departure board when I checked in.

Looking at their current timetable (from Geneva) it seems they have one
plane that flies to Rome and back, Florence and back, then Rome and back
again. (With a short spell of inactivity in the mid afternoon).

Another apparently flies from Lugarno to Geneva and back, then to Geneva
again. Followed by a considerable layover, which looks just right to
have fitted in Geneva-Cambridge-Paris-Cambridge-Geneva. The plane then
does Geneva-Lugarno-Geneva-Lugarno in the late afternoon/evening.

So that's consistent with what you saw (was it about 2pm?)

[Theo Markettos]

Post by Roland Perry
When they started the flights I looked at the timetable, and I thought
there were at least two daily flights. Or was that only to Amsterdam?
The original idea seemed to be to feed Etihad long haul, so the timing
would need to connect with those. eg EY958 from AMS to Abu Dhabi, 11am
departure [or their other daily flight EY78 at 10pm].

AFAIK Darwin started flights before their were bought (well, majority
shareholding) by Etihad, though there may have been some collaboration.

Post by Roland Perry
The Etihad flight from GVA to Abu Dhabi departs at 10.05am, which would
need a roughly 7am departure Cambridge.

Flight was 13.40 on Saturdays. I don't recall the return time, but it was
Saturdays only so not suitable for me. Came back EZY into Stansted (which
was late, and the GVA gates don't have enough seating).

Post by Roland Perry
Another apparently flies from Lugarno to Geneva and back, then to Geneva
again. Followed by a considerable layover, which looks just right to
have fitted in Geneva-Cambridge-Paris-Cambridge-Geneva. The plane then
does Geneva-Lugarno-Geneva-Lugarno in the late afternoon/evening.
So that's consistent with what you saw (was it about 2pm?)

That would make sense: Paris was in the morning - 10.30 or so. Enough for a
roundtrip to Paris and back again to head to Geneva?

Lugano to Geneva seems to be something of a 'public service' flight - they
have student season tickets which they don't on other routes.

Theo

[Roland Perry]

Post by Theo Markettos

Post by Roland Perry
When they started the flights I looked at the timetable, and I thought
there were at least two daily flights. Or was that only to Amsterdam?
The original idea seemed to be to feed Etihad long haul, so the timing
would need to connect with those. eg EY958 from AMS to Abu Dhabi, 11am
departure [or their other daily flight EY78 at 10pm].

AFAIK Darwin started flights before their were bought (well, majority
shareholding) by Etihad, though there may have been some collaboration.

The services started (remember the pictures of the Saab and two fire
engines) on 2nd September and included:

"Cambridge International Airport’s new Darwin Airline flights to
Amsterdam, Geneva, Milan and Paris now offer worldwide
connections through Abu Dhabi.

"This week, with the launch of its 50 weekly flights to Europe,
Darwin Airline will also link Cambridge (CBG) to Etihad
destinations in Australia, the Indian Ocean, Asia, Africa and
the Far East.

This was slightly different to the original announcement in May which
had said:

"The new services will be operated by highly regarded European
regional airline Darwin Airline, in code-share partnership with
SkyTeam member Alitalia. Flights to Amsterdam, Paris, Milan and
Geneva will enable travellers from Cambridge and the East
England region to reach hundreds of destinations worldwide with
connections to the global networks of SkyTeam partners Alitalia
and Air France-KLM."

Although flights via Paris to USA on Air France were "reannounced" on
23rd October.

The initial schedule is available here, with GVA flights at 08.05 on a
Saturday and 13.15 on Tuesday and Thursday:

<http://www.anna.aero/2013/05/23/darwin-airline-selects-cambridge-
airport-as-first-uk-base/>

The financial deal with Etihad was announced 17th November.

Darwin seems to have fallen out with the Italians at some point, which
also explains why their reported derogation (as a Swiss airline) to fly
a domestic route inside Italy has been terminated. Interesting that the
remaining flight (if it happens) is now said to be (reading a little
between the lines) a holiday charter to Verona.

Post by Theo Markettos

Post by Roland Perry
The Etihad flight from GVA to Abu Dhabi departs at 10.05am, which would
need a roughly 7am departure Cambridge.

Flight was 13.40 on Saturdays.

Yes, I can now see that flight for tomorrow. The inbound flight is from
Amsterdam, arriving 13.00 but no inbound [public] flight from Geneva,
although there's a departure to Amsterdam at 18.20 which must have
gained its aircraft from somewhere! The best explanation is that they
are flying empty from Geneva (dep 16:00 UK time for arrival Cambridge
17.50 - which fits the turnaround and flying times exactly.

Post by Theo Markettos
I don't recall the return time, but it was
Saturdays only so not suitable for me. Came back EZY into Stansted (which
was late, and the GVA gates don't have enough seating).

Post by Roland Perry
Another apparently flies from Lugarno to Geneva and back, then to Geneva
again. Followed by a considerable layover, which looks just right to
have fitted in Geneva-Cambridge-Paris-Cambridge-Geneva. The plane then
does Geneva-Lugarno-Geneva-Lugarno in the late afternoon/evening.
So that's consistent with what you saw (was it about 2pm?)

That would make sense: Paris was in the morning - 10.30 or so. Enough for a
roundtrip to Paris and back again to head to Geneva?

Yes, the timing works exactly.

Post by Theo Markettos
Lugano to Geneva seems to be something of a 'public service' flight - they
have student season tickets which they don't on other routes.

I thought they were based in Geneva, but in fact it's Lugano, which goes
some way to explaining the service pattern.