Swiss cancels London City to Basel route

quark · #1 07.02.2011, 16:05

Just in case in anyone is interested or didn't already know, the London City <-> Basel route with SWISS is being withdrawn as of 27 March.

This is the consequence of SWISS' new routes out of Basel to Heathrow, which will be run with bmi:

	Quote:
	We are delighted to be able to offer our customers in the Basel region a more extensive range of services to and from bmi’s London (Heathrow) hub and one of Europe’s most important airports,” says SWISS CEO Harry Hohmeister. “Being home to so many chemicals and pharmaceuticals companies, the trinational region around Basel is a highly attractive market for us,” adds bmi Chief Commercial Officer Jörg Hennemann. All the new bmi services between Switzerland and the UK will be operated as bmi/SWISS codeshare flights. The present SWISS services between Basel and London (City) will be withdrawn. But customers from the Basel region can continue to reach London (City) daily via Zurich.

Taken from press release here.

Moorsholm · #2 07.02.2011, 16:22

I'm pretty gutted. It seems whenever I find a good route out of Basel - it's changed. I loved city as it's so quick to get to Kings Cross station from the airport and then train up North. Suppose it's back to Manchester and the transpennine to the North east (takes forever!)

quark · #3 07.02.2011, 16:38

	Quote:	StephanieWD
	I'm pretty gutted. It seems whenever I find a good route out of Basel - it's changed. I loved city as it's so quick to get to Kings Cross station from the airport and then train up North. Suppose it's back to Manchester and the transpennine to the North east (takes forever!)

Exactly the same for me - Heathrow's a nightmare to get to and from, and when you add in the extra time for check-in/baggage collection there compared to City it's just not a feasible alternative in my case.

It's a real shame, and as Basel to Heathrow was quite well served anyway I'm not sure who stands to gain from it all. This tendency to drive everybody to the big long-haul hub airports like Zurich and Heathrow means that you miss out on using the smaller, efficient airports like City and Basel all the rest of the time. But I guess it must make sense on some accountant's balance sheet somewhere.

What we actually need is for SWISS to install Swiss-style public transport to and from Heathrow as compensation - now that would make it a tempting alternative (although anything is tempting compared to an hour on the Piccadilly line)

TalkingHorse · #4 07.02.2011, 16:58

I totally agree. I will miss this route! City is the best airport in the UK by miles in my experience and was a pleasure to use.

MotorsportsNorton · #5 07.02.2011, 17:11

Totally agree, City by far the best airport for business in London, easy for a quick day trip when necessary and efficient. Anyone know of anyone else thinking of going into City airport in the future.

Phil_MCR · #6 07.02.2011, 17:21

you could always fly from zurich...

quark · #7 07.02.2011, 17:22

	Quote:	MotorsportsNorton
	Totally agree, City by far the best airport for business in London, easy for a quick day trip when necessary and efficient. Anyone know of anyone else thinking of going into City airport in the future.

Skywork are going to be flying between London City and Bern-Belp airport soon.

It's a bit risky if you're on public transport though - the flight to Bern lands at 2155, but the last bus from there is at 2205. Even for Switzerland, that's optimistic

Fine if you've got a car though.

Deep Purple · #8 07.02.2011, 17:23

There is nothing else from Basel to City at present. Would it be better to go into City from Zurich or Geneva rather than Heathrow from Basel?

There will be route from Bern from March
new route Bern-Belp to London City airports

quark · #9 07.02.2011, 17:31

	Quote:	Phil_MCR
	you could always fly from zurich...

True, but add on the fact that you add on another 75 minutes + 17.5 CHF each way for the transfer, the higher cost of the flights from Zurich, extra time for the slower check-in and baggage collection, and then take into account that you have to get an earlier flight to make sure you can get back to Basel/wherever in time for the last tram or bus... it's definitely doable, but it's not exactly a like-for-like swap.

Either way, you've got to take a bit of a time-and-money hit at one end or the other for either the cross-London or cross-Switzerland commute.

adrianlondon · #10 07.02.2011, 17:39

Bastards. That's my preferred route! Now I'll have to go to Heathrow and step over the thousands of plebs who immediately complain about lack of food to a TV news crew as soon as their flight is delayed for half an hour.

Phil_MCR · #11 07.02.2011, 17:56

	Quote:	quark
	True, but add on the fact that you add on another 75 minutes + 17.5 CHF each way for the transfer, the higher cost of the flights from Zurich, extra time for the slower check-in and baggage collection, and then take into account that you have to get an earlier flight to make sure you can get back to Basel/wherever in time for the last tram or bus... it's definitely doable, but it's not exactly a like-for-like swap. Either way, you've got to take a bit of a time-and-money hit at one end or the other for either the cross-London or cross-Switzerland commute.

hmm. i guess it's not so bad for me.

zurich only takes 45 minutes to the airport. i have a GA, so no additional costs. though i expect heathrow express costs about the same or more unless you really want to suffer and travel along the picadilly line.

i only take hand luggage, so no check-in delays.

i also check in online and arrive with only a few minutes before the flight closes, so i waste no time hanging around at the airport.

depends where you're going on the other side, but if you need to head northwards and go from heathrow to euston/kingsX then it is a nightmare. i'd prefer to travel from city or gatwick and take the hit on outgoing side.

Deep Purple · #12 07.02.2011, 18:09

	Quote:	Phil_MCR
	hmm. i guess it's not so bad for me. i only take hand luggage, so no check-in delays. i also check in online and arrive with only a few minutes before the flight closes, so i waste no time hanging around at the airport.

To make things better for those flying from Zurich, they have introduced automated baggage check-in (Details in German)

Rough translation:

	Quote:
	03.02.2011 Test suite with automated baggage at Zurich Airport Flughafen Zürich AG testing a system for the automated baggage drop for six months. The test suite to check-in 3 lasts until end July 2011 and will provide of practicality and acceptance. The automated baggage complements the existing check-in with the possibility of the independent task of baggage by passengers. Bags not to manually operated switches be abandoned but an ATM specially installed. Passengers benefit from more autonomy and a speditiveren process, the airport operator hopes increased efficiency at the baggage drop. Use the automated baggage drop requires a valid boarding pass. This means that passengers check as a vending machine at Zurich Airport far in advance via Web or mobile check-in or at a check-in. The ordered test will begin on September 7. February 2011, lasts until late July and will provide of practicality and acceptance. During testing, the automated baggage is only passengers of the airline SWISS available. The use of the machines is voluntary. Travellers are still the traditional luggage registration desk. Seamless travel The automated baggage is part of "Seamless Travel". Visionary goal of this so-called seamless travel is that passengers arrive quickly and independently from check-in to the aircraft. Travelers check a computer at home or by smart phone from a traveling and automatically place your baggage at the airport. Then pass automated boarding card control and get to the non-public airport area where security checks take place. For flights to destinations outside the Schengen area, an also automated border control occurs before passengers at E-Gate independently present their boarding pass and then get on the plane. Flughafen Zürich AG occupies a pioneering role in the testing of new technologies in the passenger process. Already have test suites with automated boarding card checks (from December 2009 to March 2010) and E-gates (from September 2010 to January 2011). 1. December 2010 also launched the pilot operation with automated border controls, which lasts six months also. Establishing centralized security and the new dock B in December 2011 introduces automated boarding card checks and E-gates at Zurich airport. Nevertheless, travelers in Zurich will to choose always a staffed ticket counter with personal service if they wish.

quark · #13 07.02.2011, 18:29

	Quote:	Deep Purple
	To make things better for those flying from Zurich, they have introduced automated baggage check-in (Details in German)

Sounds interesting, might try that out.

ecb · #14 07.02.2011, 18:35

	Quote:	quark
	Skywork are going to be flying between London City and Bern-Belp airport soon. It's a bit risky if you're on public transport though - the flight to Bern lands at 2155, but the last bus from there is at 2205. Even for Switzerland, that's optimistic Fine if you've got a car though.

When I recently flew from Hamburg to Bern (arriving mid morning), when I enquired about the times of the bus, I was told that the city link bus would "meet" my plane!

My flight arrived a little late and the bus wasn't there, but turned up 10 mins later with a flustered driver saying that he already had a couple of passengers on the bus from an earlier flight and couldn't wait any longer but had turned round and come straight back to "meet" my flight. He drove me straight to the station even though it wasn't a scheduled departure .. I was the only one on the bus!

So if they say there is a connection with the bus, then it seems there will be! HTH.

Deep Purple · #15 07.02.2011, 18:36

	Quote:	quark
	Sounds interesting, might try that out.

This is what to look out for

Moorsholm · #16 07.02.2011, 22:41

I used to use a mini cab firm on cally road - 25 pounds from City to Kings Cross. Early morning flight - I'd stay at a friends in Islington and be a the airport in 20 mins.

Heathrow is a total and utter nightmare - I most definitely won't be flying there from Basel. Both Heathrow and Gatwick take forever to get to from North London.

Bearing in mind that my end destination is most of the time the North East (2.5 hours by train) from London - adding more travel time on by taking the train to Zurich PLUS the travel time over London from Heathrow just isn't worth it.

I just cannot understand this decision. The flight to city from Basel was always busy.

It's just a shame. I'm still hoping that one of these years one of the airlines will recognize that millions of people also live in the North East of England and introduce a Newcastle service. Well - I can dream! It'll probably happen in about 20 years - around the same time as Switzerland introduce school lunches!!

Mikers · #17 07.02.2011, 22:59

	Quote:	StephanieWD
	I just cannot understand this decision. The flight to city from Basel was always busy. It's just a shame. I'm still hoping that one of these years one of the airlines will recognize that millions of people also live in the North East of England and introduce a Newcastle service. Well - I can dream! It'll probably happen in about 20 years - around the same time as Switzerland introduce school lunches!!

During December to April easyjet fly geneva to Newcastle Stephanie, not sure if they do Basel as well.

ecb · #18 07.02.2011, 23:06

	Quote:	StephanieWD
	Heathrow is a total and utter nightmare - I most definitely won't be flying there from Basel. Both Heathrow and Gatwick take forever to get to from North London. Bearing in mind that my end destination is most of the time the North East (2.5 hours by train) from London - adding more travel time on by taking the train to Zurich PLUS the travel time over London from Heathrow just isn't worth it. I just cannot understand this decision. The flight to city from Basel was always busy. It's just a shame. I'm still hoping that one of these years one of the airlines will recognize that millions of people also live in the North East of England and introduce a Newcastle service. Well - I can dream! It'll probably happen in about 20 years - around the same time as Switzerland introduce school lunches!!

Basel to Manchester is going daily from the end of March - codeshare between Swiss and BMI (am told by brother who works in the industry that BMI booked tickets are currently cheaper than Swiss booked tickets ..

) but not sure how good your onward connections to the NE would be?

#19 07.02.2011, 23:06

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmm - and it looks as if another part of this story is that the slots bmi/Swiss will be using for Basel/Heathrow are the ones freed up by the canning of all bmi Glasgow/LHR flights at the end of March

smackerjack · #20 07.02.2011, 23:06

I am so surprised that this route is being stopped in the middle of Baselworld - www.baselworld.ch . The flights are usually packed out - they will be losing out not stopping till after the fair is finished