More than I can remember. My Mum held me. I drank rum with my Dad, and finally saw the light.
It seems the dream is turning into growth. Growth of Sylvie and I and our little family unit. And not the end of a dream, the start of us kicking arse.
More soon.
We’ve had a big ride to get here, looks like the ride just started again, this time, we are coming faster and harder than ever.
You so knew we would. x
UPDATE!! No we are not expecting a baby, nor is anything up between Sylvie and I!! We are all 100% fine, just needed to make a very very strong business decision.
It seems people power may have worked, people power and the Chamber of Commerce.
Just confirmed with La Rochelle airport that the route from la Rochelle to Stansted is back on, starting from 29th November – the operator, Ryanair.
I bet those of you that booked cheap deals with them and had them cancelled are thrilled..no offers, no apologies, no thrills..
I still hope that Easyjet have that marketing meeting they promised to me in email, be good to see some competition on this route, which clearly is a money maker. My email and their response below, send your email to paul @ easyjet.com (remove the blank space.)
Hi Kevin,
Thanks for returning to us with the details of your suggestions.
Please, be assured I’ve passed your message to Paul and the marketing department for their consideration.
I agree with you that there are many strong arguments supporting the idea of extending the number of routes going to and from La Rochelle. Definitely, your suggestion is worth noticing and deep considering.
Once again, thank you very much for the suggestion. Let me wish you nice day, and hope we will welcome you on board of one of our flights in the future.
Best Regards,
Dorota Owczarek
Customer Experience Team
From: Kevin Dixie Sent: Tue 15/09/2009 11:45 To: Paul
Hi Dorota
Thanks for the response.
I live in La Rochelle, France and Easyjet fly here during the summer months. Up until now, Ryanair have flown from La Rochelle to Stansted 3-4 times per week through-out the year. I have just learned that they are pulling out of La Rochelle, Angouleme and Nantes airports between November and April. I think there is a huge opportunity, I was once told that LR to STN was in the top ten busy routes on Ryanair and I have never ever been on a flight that isn’t full, and I have been on the plane during the dark depths of winter!
Given that Ryanair have now only one airport open serving SW France, I think if you set up a regular route from La Rochelle you would pick up an absolute steal. La Rochelle is the 3rd most visited destination by tourists in France, all year around it is packed. France is the most visited country in the world by tourists. It must make sense. I would love to Easyjet launch a marketing campaign to “save the route” – after all, Ryanair have a habit of doing that..!
I think any company taking up this route would simply be getting huge amount of sales – there are thousands of holiday rental homes in the region and as many that commute to the UK and Ireland. I would also look at other routes from la Rochelle to European cities as the area is very affluent and is one of the richest cities in France.
Those people that moved to France and commute are just about to hear a bombshell, our friends Ryanair who have been serving our local airports for years and years have just pulled out. Bang. No emails to those already booked, nothing, just pulled the plug. Ryanair stopped flying to La Rochelle, Nantes and Angouleme outside summer season.
So my parents who have booked in November and December, will “get a refund”, yet have not, at the time of writing even had en email confirming the route closure. Nor does it mention this anywhere on any other site as far as I can see.
I have confirmed with la Rochelle airport that Ryanair are no longer flying there between November and April nor are they flying to Nantes or Angouleme. The only airport they are going to fly to is Poitiers “out of season”. So those packed flights I have travelled on from La Rochelle to Stansted all year have clearly not been making any money. Yes, packed flights.
I have looked into it and I can get a train to Poitiers or even drive which is two hours each way or jump the train to Bordeaux..how about the rest of the regular commuters, what do you intend doing? What about the thousands of gites and small businesses in the region that rely on the English tourism?
I am shocked and wonder if this route cancellation will mean we will have to move back to Blighty or to the USA..
UPDATE: I have since found out that Ryanair are letting 850 people go from their operations and a travel insider has emailed me to tell me that Ryanair are in so much financial trouble they could be going bust. This is an unconfirmed rumour but would make a little sense as to why they are scrapping very busy flights.
