Why do two Malaga flights leave just 30 minutes apart?

Q Why are there two flights from Newcastle to Malaga, on separate airlines, departing only half an hour apart? Surely there is no need for two flights that close together. Wouldn’t it be sensible for one of them to fly later to provide another option?

- 

Poppy C

A On Fridays and Saturdays this summer, Jet2 departs from Newcastle to Malaga at 7.05am, with Ryanair setting off on the same route within half an hour. There are no further flights to the Costa del Sol hub until the following morning. I agree it looks strange, and that the traveller would be better served by spacing them out: one in the morning, the other in the afternoon (allowing an evening return from Malaga, giving an extra day away). But each airline has a good reason for flying as it does.