On Saturday I wrote about Prince William and Kate Middleton taking a coach FlyBe trip. The royals are no stranger to flying commercial, and as I noted even flying economy. At times it’s been because there weren’t any first class seats available, and other times because the best seats from a security standpoint are at the back of the aircraft.
This time, however, blog commenter Pete points out that the aircraft they flew turns out to be a substitute Embraer ERJ-145 brought in just for them.
While they certainly flew economy, they didn’t share the aircraft with other passengers.
Flight logs show that the plane flew 123 miles down to Norfolk early on Thursday morning, with its identification number EZE041P reportedly indicating it was empty.
The Cambridges slipped onto the plane at the last minute, rather than the smaller Logan Air aircraft earmarked to make the flight up to Aberdeen.
Prince William is carrying the family baggage. They flew in economy seats, and apparently bought budget tickets. And it’s hardly the first time.
There is also a short video from the #DukeandDuchessofCambridge, #PrinceGeorge, #PrincessCharlotte, #PrinceLouis and Nanny Maria leaving their flight from Norwich to Aberdeen.
📸@MailOnline pic.twitter.com/lQnqLDdU0e
— Christin Zi (@PackhamGown) August 22, 2019
The Duke of Cambridgehas flown Ryanair when it’s been more convenient than BA. He also flew American Airlines coach and back in 2014 took the US Airways Shuttle.
However he was first lauded for taking FlyBe, and is now being criticized for his family taking a separate ERJ-145, because his brother Prince Harry and Megan Markle were just criticized for flying private (they’ve flown in the back of coach too) over the environmental impact. Lots of posturing.
I don’t think anyone really cares where they go or how they get there.
Why do I get the sense the airline did this – not at the request of the family
I’m really sick of all the news talking about the british royal family. Why do people give a flying fu€£ about them? Every other day there is story about what she ate or he farted and it smelled bad.
There is this ridiculous trend in Europe to focus on air travel as the sole source of global warming. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-49408915 I hope it doesn’t spread to the US.
Isn’t this article a bit misleading? From what I can read, FlyBe (not known by the royals) substituted a plane with one carrying FlyBe design. And, from what I can read, the plane was not empty on the trip; it was two connecting trips though – to Norfolk to pick the Cambridges up, and from Scotland back to HQ.
From what I can read, the trip was otherwise normal.
“crappy regional jet”?
You’re an irresponsible immature idiot in addition to being a dumb ass if it is carbon emissions one is presumably concerned about then you wouldn’t fill a 50 passenger transport category jet with a handful of people. You’re laughable.
That’s just WOW!
Are they first royals who flew in economy class?
Hard times are coming…
Kudos for the update ! Keep up the good work.
Shocking that Royal Families still exist in seemingly normal places. What an outrage. Time to join the 21st Century and let them find real work.