Review of easyJet flight Bournemouth → Liverpool in Economy

A Unique UK Service!

The UK has been known for its gimmicks to say the least from the Pantomime plays every Christmas, novelty bands including Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, a train station with an insanely long name in Welsh Gaelic and now this unique summer route between Bournemouth and Liverpool!!!

The UK has been a little fickle to say the least with its attitude to getting tourism going. But I shall not bore you too much- lets just say as it stands until further notice, you're better off enjoying UK "staycations" rather than risk going abroad for the time being.

An easyJet Airbus A319 departing Bournemouth Hurn in 2015 for Geneva, a regular winter route offered by the airline for years!

None the less, hot on the trails of Bournemouth Hurn and easyJet announcing Edinburgh and Belfast- a third route was added to the network…… LIVERPOOL! 

This is a bit of an odd one, since the route from Bournemouth to Liverpool is basically not much different than a London to Manchester service, and given both destinations are holiday locations, it seemed like an odd paring- given easyJet could have launched a LPL to London Gatwick or London Luton service just as easily. During the late 1990s (when EZY used an all Boeing 737 fleet) operated a regular service between Luton and Liverpool which were the airlines first two bases.
It ended around 2000/2001- according to Airline UK documentary it was due to landing fees being increased at London Luton.

This would be the first easyJet domestic route within the mainland UK since this LPL/LTN venture, the only other domestic routes being served are Belfast International and Jersey.

Looking up the flight for a potential trip, I opted to take advantage of a £22 fare one-way, You can't buy me love- but it can buy me a flight on a plane, which for me isn't much different!

easyJet Airbus A320 departing Bournemouth Hurn Airport, passing the Aviation Museum opposite the airport.

easyJet EZ622

I got to Bournemouth Hurn (a 20 minute drive from my home) by car and walked the last few yards to the Terminal to avoid the charges of dropping off. Luckily there is an intersection by the entrance. As I got the Terminal I witnessed the arrival from Liverpool in the form of an Airbus A320-neo (G-UZLG), which also turned out to be the 9000th Airbus A320-family aircraft built!

The whole check in area at Bournemouth Hurn, Though this is mainly for dropping off bags as most people check in online using smart phone apps or using a computer and printing a pass at home.

My flight to Liverpool was the only flight operating out of Bournemouth Hurn that morning, a Ryanair & TUI service were both running later in the afternoon. Whilst the Terminal was still very quite, the W.H Smith store airside was now open, but the restaurant and Duty Free was shut, the trio of vending machines were still in operation for those who decide to use them. After finding the price of a Pepsi last time- I opted not to go for it.

Traffic is picking up again, but the airport is still only operating half service.

The vending machines have basically replaced the restaurant and bar for the time being, but its at least £2 for a Pepsi bottle!

As with all my other flights out of BOH, we boarded using an open method using a stair ramp. I boarded towards the end of the que so I could get some footage without holding up too many people. I got this amazing photo of the three airliners parked on the ramp with my GoPro. The line up being the single BOH based Boeing 737-800 from Ryanair and TUI UK as well as the Liverpool based Airbus A320-neo from easyJet.

Ryanair Boeing 737-800, TUI UK Boeing 737-800 and easyJet Airbus A320-neo at Bournemouth Hurn on August 4th 2021. Note the two Airbus A340-600 behind that are operated by Mr Paul Stoddard's European Aviation Group.

I got on the aircraft, which had the same interior as the Airbus A320-neo as the last time, the new all black leather slimline seats with orange mesh on the seat backs. I chose to sit in 7F which is right next to the massive engine. It was a more forward position than 11F, where I sat on my Edinburgh flight with easyJet three months earlier.

The brand new Airbus A320-neo use these slimline leather seats, and unlike older designs have toned down the use of Pantone-21C

A short delay was caused, but it only lasted ten minutes and we eventually got on our way. We had a short taxi down to Runway 26 and we rolled out onto the runway and off we went!

These hangers ran by JETS (a business jet maintenance company) now occupies the old site of the Bournemouth Aviation Museum.

Goodbye Dorset, see you again in 48 hours from now!!!

We had a smooth 50 minute flight in all. The UK skies were rather clear and I got to see from above about 4 different Airports.

Having not done many flights prior to this, I was still quite excited about flying again, following a good year with almost no opportunities to go anywhere.

I ordered an orange twirl and cup of tea on this short flight, it set me back £4- not too bad as far as airline food goes, but yeah- better value to be found in the high-street.

The overall flight was quite quick. There was a few twists and turns as we descended over the North of England as we neared Liverpool.

We arrived on time into Liverpool John Lennon Airport. The airport was quite quiet. An Airbus A321-ceo of Wizzair was waiting to take off as we landed, and once we were off the runway, the Wizzair didn't wait long before it was off. I don't recall its destination- but I think was flying off to a city in Poland.

A sign of the travel downturn from the previous year was clear as day with a line of five Airbus A319-ceo parked up with covers, likely having not flown since April 2020 at the latest. A few newer Airbus A320 of easyJet and two Ryanair 737s parked at the Terminal building marking the active planes that would be doing the services that day.

We parked at the end stand by a hanger, which was where the domestic flights to and from Belfast, Bournemouth and Jersey would have been using at various points of the day. 

The aircraft was disembarked as if it was 2019 again, both the rear and front doors were opened in true LCC fashion to get everyone off and on their ways. I opted not to enquire for a flight deck visit on this occasion with the current measures and given that I have seen plenty of A320 flight decks in the past from easyJet (and other airlines). 

It felt odd having a wonder around Liverpool Airport's check in area. Having seen this area (and airport grounds) filmed many times and aired on TV on Airline (UK). Having done Luton many times, it felt odd coming here knowing how important this place is in the 25+ year history of easyJet as their second UK base. London Gatwick might get the most flights, but here and Luton are Ground Zero!

Thank you for reading this article, and have a nice day where ever you are! I also hope this gives you some inspiration for a new UK holiday!

Bonus : Click here display hide

Heritage at liverpool speke

Liverpool John Lennon Airport has been in its current state since 1986, prior to that it was Liverpool Speke, and the old Terminal building is a listed building- not only that its now a hotel run by Crowne Plaza. Still standing, and you can stay in it overnight. But that's not the most impressive part of this building!

The Prototype BAe Systems Jetstream 41, now preserved at the former Liverpool Speke Airport, by the Speke Heritage Group.

Behind this building on the old Airport apron is a full on collection of planes owned by a Heritage Group offering a small aviation collection for people to see, there are some impressive aircraft in this collection including a Bristol Britannia, Jetstream 41, Hawker Siddley H.S748 and Gloucster Meteor.

The Bristol Britannia was once known as the "Whispering Giant". This aircraft is under restoration to static display. (reg: G-ANCF)

One of the rarest UK airliners to find in preservation is the Hawker Siddley HS.748, this one is being restored in Dan Air London livery.

The museum is free entry, however you can't enter the aircraft- which isn't fully surprising given the various states of restoration.

Most the planes are in various states of restoration, but the Meteor fighter jet looks the most restored at the time of my visit.

G-AMLZ is the last surviving civilian Percival Prince in the world, the other examples preserved are all ex-Naval or Air Force.