 Poster: A snowHead
|
Afternoon all,
Just seeing if anyone here is aware of airlines planning to reigniting this route for 2023/2024 season? Swiss ran a LHR and LCY route back in 2016, 2017 and 2018 but it then disappeared. They where always pretty full and Swiss only ran them for the peak Feb weekend dates.
As a regular Zermatt visitor a flight to Sion would be hugely appealing!
|
|
|
|
|
|
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
|
|
Some of the tour operators run special charter flights to Sion [SIR] - we have previously piggy-backed on one of these as a flight-only option. I've been flying Gatwick to Geneva and been surprised to see check-in details for a Sion flight which I assume must have been a charter. I think you just have to look at each TO and see what they're offering.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
|
|
There was talk a couple of years back about someone restarting a regular service, from Bristol IIRC, but it came to nothing. Would be a lot more convenient for visitors here, halving the transfer time from Geneva. I'll be watching this thread in case anyone can add anything about TO charter flights, which might also be of interest.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
|
|
One of the pilots on here might be able to comment better, but my understanding is that Sion requires specialist flight crew and is very susceptible to weather diversions.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
|
My understanding from years ago was the limitation on aircraft size thus making the economics very marginal.
Flights into Bern are similarly difficult as they can not get 737 and Airbus equivalent size planes in.
Ingham's used to charter smaller planes but they had very limited ski carrying capacity, that service disappeared around 10 or 12 years ago.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
|
@snowdave, Yes and Yes.(It makes Chambery look easy!)
The only operator of fixed wing aircraft appears to be Air Mountain who seem to only run summer flights to half a dozen airports.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Rogerdodger, Inghams' problem with Bern was the local noise restrictions. The word was "draconian".
As far as Sion is concerned, something called Powdair was promising (?) wonderful things from many places to Sion for December 2017. Unfortunately whilst Powdair probably sold some seats they didn't operate at all...
I suspect that various places in the Valais (e.g. Sion Airport, Valais Tourism) bought a lot of advertising and then had to write off the expenditure.
For any Snowheads from the Isle of Wight google "powdair" and "scoot ferries"
@chocksaway, in the late 80's I spent a very pleasant afternoon at Sion watching the Swiss Air Force at play with primary trainers and Venoms or Vampires. The departure was HIGHER, HIGHER, HIGHER.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Rogerdodger wrote: |
My understanding from years ago was the limitation on aircraft size thus making the economics very marginal.
Flights into Bern are similarly difficult as they can not get 737 and Airbus equivalent size planes in.
Ingham's used to charter smaller planes but they had very limited ski carrying capacity, that service disappeared around 10 or 12 years ago. |
I think might be the issue. That said, Swiss had a wet lease with Helvetic Airways which was flying Embraer 190 aircraft - not a bad size with c112 passengers.
My read on the 2017/18 season was the Feb flights where all full - so unsure why they didn't keep it going.
AERO then ran a semi-private jet service from Biggin Hill to Sion last season for £1,800pp e/w.....unsurprisingly they have cancelled this route for this up coming season due to lack of uptake.
|
|
|
|
|
|
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
|
|
Apparently it’s also a hard airport to land at so flights often re-routed to Bern or Geneva in bad weather
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Very true. The fact that there might be charter flights is interesting.
Looking at the summer schedule there are numerous direct flights operating daily to Mallorca and Figari. So a commercial route does seem possible.
|
|
|
|
|
|
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
|
I’ve had a look at the docs:
The runway is short: 6300 ft ish
It’s at altitude: 1500 feet
It’s in the mountains
Pilots have to undergo significant training to approach in cloud (economics).
The approach is gin and tonic spillingly steep
Pilots have to be visual with the runway 1500 feet above the ground. In winter this would prevent landings on a good number of days.
So I can see it is commercially viable in summer with maybe one aircraft doing 4 legs a day with a small cadre of pilots. In the winter I struggle to see how you run a reliable service with premium passengers who have a reasonable chance of diverting to GVA. (I think this was my stated view when Powderair launched their product (not their aircraft!!)
Nemisis- happy days!
|
|
|
|
|
|
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
|
| chocksaway wrote: |
I’ve had a look at the docs:
The runway is short: 6300 ft ish
It’s at altitude: 1500 feet
It’s in the mountains
Pilots have to undergo significant training to approach in cloud (economics).
The approach is gin and tonic spillingly steep
Pilots have to be visual with the runway 1500 feet above the ground. In winter this would prevent landings on a good number of days.
So I can see it is commercially viable in summer with maybe one aircraft doing 4 legs a day with a small cadre of pilots. In the winter I struggle to see how you run a reliable service with premium passengers who have a reasonable chance of diverting to GVA. (I think this was my stated view when Powderair launched their product (not their aircraft!!)
Nemisis- happy days! |
The pipedream of LON-SION continues then. Looks like GVA or ZRH will suffice for next season.
I must say....travelling with a c1 year old does change the allure of the 3 hour train.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
@Run28, I think the Aero service last winter was from Farnborough (Hampshire) rather than Biggin Hill (near Farnborough, Kent).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
FAQ
