BRISTOL - 4
Brunel to Concorde
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Virtute et Industria, et Sumorsaete Ealle
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Ryanair
I've had a look at the Ryanair web timetable and web booking engine for next summer now that the new destinations are available.
Of the new routes Venice (Treviso) will be 3 x weekly; Valencia 3 x weekly; Gdansk 2 x weekly; Palma 5 x weekly; Faro 4 x weekly.
Malta will be 3 x weekly (up from twice weekly last summer and this winter) and Malaga daily (up from 4 x weekly this winter).
Of last summer's routes Eindhoven and Porto seem to have been dropped, as has Shannon. Marrakesh is retained for summer having been only a winter route previously.
A detailed study of the web timetable and web booking engine throws up numerous anomalies.
On several evenings the timetable shows a need for six or seven based aircraft - based because of the timings, unless one or two from elsewhere will fly away from Bristol empty late each evening which is not likely. The timetable as currently published is confirmed in the booking engine for some test days I tried. I used the period 17-24 May.
For example the following timetable schedule is confirmed on a couple of the days I tried the booking engine (time from BRS and time back into BRS).
Tuesday
1330-2110 Marrakesh
1705-2030 Limoges
1715-2300 Palma
1740-2355 Riga
1740-2300 Wroclaw
1750-2345 Malaga
1855-2340 Toulon
Wednesday
1645-2220 Faro
1715-2300 Palma
1725-2310 Cagliari
1750-2345 Malaga
1805-2345 Budapest
1845-2350 Trieste
1845-2345 Venice Treviso
There is also a daily morning service to Belfast City out at 1010 and back at 1255 but on most days five departures will have occurred to other destinations in early morning, none of which gets back in time to operate the BHD. There are other anomalies including Thursday evening with work for only four aircraft.
I can't imagine that two more aircraft will be based at BRS next summer in addition to the extra one already announced.
As it appears, people will be booking flights today for next summer some of which will have their timings or even days altered from what is in the timetable and booking engine - unless there is another explanation that eludes me.
Of the new routes Venice (Treviso) will be 3 x weekly; Valencia 3 x weekly; Gdansk 2 x weekly; Palma 5 x weekly; Faro 4 x weekly.
Malta will be 3 x weekly (up from twice weekly last summer and this winter) and Malaga daily (up from 4 x weekly this winter).
Of last summer's routes Eindhoven and Porto seem to have been dropped, as has Shannon. Marrakesh is retained for summer having been only a winter route previously.
A detailed study of the web timetable and web booking engine throws up numerous anomalies.
On several evenings the timetable shows a need for six or seven based aircraft - based because of the timings, unless one or two from elsewhere will fly away from Bristol empty late each evening which is not likely. The timetable as currently published is confirmed in the booking engine for some test days I tried. I used the period 17-24 May.
For example the following timetable schedule is confirmed on a couple of the days I tried the booking engine (time from BRS and time back into BRS).
Tuesday
1330-2110 Marrakesh
1705-2030 Limoges
1715-2300 Palma
1740-2355 Riga
1740-2300 Wroclaw
1750-2345 Malaga
1855-2340 Toulon
Wednesday
1645-2220 Faro
1715-2300 Palma
1725-2310 Cagliari
1750-2345 Malaga
1805-2345 Budapest
1845-2350 Trieste
1845-2345 Venice Treviso
There is also a daily morning service to Belfast City out at 1010 and back at 1255 but on most days five departures will have occurred to other destinations in early morning, none of which gets back in time to operate the BHD. There are other anomalies including Thursday evening with work for only four aircraft.
I can't imagine that two more aircraft will be based at BRS next summer in addition to the extra one already announced.
As it appears, people will be booking flights today for next summer some of which will have their timings or even days altered from what is in the timetable and booking engine - unless there is another explanation that eludes me.
Join Date: May 2005
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I could suggest an explanation. FR will see which routes sell, and cancel the one that doesn't about two weeks out - and offer people their money back, whilst leaving them in the lurch.
Sounds very plausible to me.
Sounds very plausible to me.
Brunel to Concorde
Join Date: Mar 2003
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New Route
Flybe announced today that they will operate year round from BRS to Isle of Man on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays from 28 March 2010, with an additional Saturday service from May to September.
The route was lost when Eastern pulled out a couple of years ago. Flybe used to operate it in their Jersey European days.
Flybe will also increase BRS-Jersey rotations next year to daily in the main part of the summer.
The route was lost when Eastern pulled out a couple of years ago. Flybe used to operate it in their Jersey European days.
Flybe will also increase BRS-Jersey rotations next year to daily in the main part of the summer.
Join Date: Aug 2008
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Good stuff!
All we need now is for FBE to offer a few routes over to Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, etc, and all will be good
How is the new walkway looking by the way? Been using other airports recently, so not been down to EGGD for a bit
All we need now is for FBE to offer a few routes over to Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, etc, and all will be good
How is the new walkway looking by the way? Been using other airports recently, so not been down to EGGD for a bit
StandupfortheUlstermen
Join Date: Dec 2001
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A rhapsody in steel and concrete (mind you, most of the concrete seems to be on the windows of the CTB), finish date some time in March so we hear.
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Qatar
Notice Qatar Airlines have a huge number of 787s and A350's on order.
I wonder if BRS is a potential target for them? I understand none of their current fleet are suitable (We're a little short on tarmac for the A330), but I can see them turning up in a shiny new 787 in a few year's time?!
A UAE connection for BRS for those heading to Asia... That would be nice!
I wonder if BRS is a potential target for them? I understand none of their current fleet are suitable (We're a little short on tarmac for the A330), but I can see them turning up in a shiny new 787 in a few year's time?!
A UAE connection for BRS for those heading to Asia... That would be nice!
Join Date: May 2007
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I have often wondered if we could see QR at BRS...If you think about it they use/used a A319LR to the like of ARN etc so wonder if they could do the same to BRS.
I hear also that VCE is def gone this year with Easyjet, which is a shame, so looks like it is RYR to Treviso only.
I hear also that VCE is def gone this year with Easyjet, which is a shame, so looks like it is RYR to Treviso only.
Brunel to Concorde
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Not according to the Bristol Evening Post. That organ of journalistic non-excellence (it's not even printed in the city any more), that seems to make an almost daily ritual of reporting airport activities in a negative light, carries a headline today stating that, Bristol Airport expansion could be grounded by lack of business class passengers.
It's only when you read the article that you see they are reporting the conclusions of the Commons Transport Select Committee that long-haul travel from UK regional airports is unlikely to see expansion, which they base on the fact that BA and bmi have axed transatlantic flights from Manchester because of fewer business passengers.
BRS has already stated in its master plan that potential long haul scheduled routes from the airport are limited in number and that New York, Washington, Dubai and Atlanta are the most likely to succeed in the future. That was written over four years ago but I doubt that their views on this have changed in the interim.
As for Qatar, possible I suppose at some point in the future but the thought remains that they would be looking for bigger fish in the first instance.
easyJet
Valencia also seems to have gone for summer 2010 and that too has been picked up by Ryanair.
Bristol City Council
The city council is one of a number of local authorities in the area to have formally objected to airport expansion. It is 'run' (in the loosest sense judging from their track record and I'm not a party political animal) by the Liberal Democrats whose leader is Barbara Janke.
Now Leader Janke and some acolytes are off to the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in order to 'network' with people of like mind - Bristol is supposedly a Green city and was one of the eight finalists for European Green City of the Year earlier this year - the only UK city shortlisted.
So our Leader has a good excuse for a jolly at public expense.
When asked on local radio this morning if she was travelling by ferry and train she told the interviewer that she couldn't possibly spend more than two days there and would have to fly.
Perhaps she might like to consider that business people's time is also valuable, probably more so than hers in most cases, and they would appreciate the opportunity to travel from their local airport and not just to those places currently flown from Bristol. Support rather than hostility from local councils might also encourage airlines to increase services. easyJet might even restore the Copenhagen route and she could then have flown from Bristol herself to see what a very useful facility the airport has become and how it might become even more useful in the future.
Or is she already one of those 'antis' who use the airport covertly to creep away on their summer holidays to the Alicantes, Malagas, Palmas etc?
Not according to the Bristol Evening Post. That organ of journalistic non-excellence (it's not even printed in the city any more), that seems to make an almost daily ritual of reporting airport activities in a negative light, carries a headline today stating that, Bristol Airport expansion could be grounded by lack of business class passengers.
It's only when you read the article that you see they are reporting the conclusions of the Commons Transport Select Committee that long-haul travel from UK regional airports is unlikely to see expansion, which they base on the fact that BA and bmi have axed transatlantic flights from Manchester because of fewer business passengers.
BRS has already stated in its master plan that potential long haul scheduled routes from the airport are limited in number and that New York, Washington, Dubai and Atlanta are the most likely to succeed in the future. That was written over four years ago but I doubt that their views on this have changed in the interim.
As for Qatar, possible I suppose at some point in the future but the thought remains that they would be looking for bigger fish in the first instance.
easyJet
Valencia also seems to have gone for summer 2010 and that too has been picked up by Ryanair.
Bristol City Council
The city council is one of a number of local authorities in the area to have formally objected to airport expansion. It is 'run' (in the loosest sense judging from their track record and I'm not a party political animal) by the Liberal Democrats whose leader is Barbara Janke.
Now Leader Janke and some acolytes are off to the Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in order to 'network' with people of like mind - Bristol is supposedly a Green city and was one of the eight finalists for European Green City of the Year earlier this year - the only UK city shortlisted.
So our Leader has a good excuse for a jolly at public expense.
When asked on local radio this morning if she was travelling by ferry and train she told the interviewer that she couldn't possibly spend more than two days there and would have to fly.
Perhaps she might like to consider that business people's time is also valuable, probably more so than hers in most cases, and they would appreciate the opportunity to travel from their local airport and not just to those places currently flown from Bristol. Support rather than hostility from local councils might also encourage airlines to increase services. easyJet might even restore the Copenhagen route and she could then have flown from Bristol herself to see what a very useful facility the airport has become and how it might become even more useful in the future.
Or is she already one of those 'antis' who use the airport covertly to creep away on their summer holidays to the Alicantes, Malagas, Palmas etc?
Join Date: May 2005
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I'd lay a pretty good wager they all flew, and they all flew from Heathrow, and they all flew from Heathrow on BA.
Supporting the local economy, and all that.
Long Haul
I think we need to have reasonable expectations of the region to support long-haul travel. I'd trade a poor smattering of long-hauls to limited destinations on probably sub-par aircraft, in return for a reliable and frequent connecting service into efficient and well-served hubs.
Its important to feed traffic into airline alliances. Whilst I'm sure QR are a fine airline, they aren't in an alliance, and their code-shares are not extensive, so their endpoints are limited compared to connecting into Oneworld, Star or Skyteam. (Although Skyteam are certainly, in my mind, placed third out of three alliances).
Supporting the local economy, and all that.
Long Haul
I think we need to have reasonable expectations of the region to support long-haul travel. I'd trade a poor smattering of long-hauls to limited destinations on probably sub-par aircraft, in return for a reliable and frequent connecting service into efficient and well-served hubs.
Its important to feed traffic into airline alliances. Whilst I'm sure QR are a fine airline, they aren't in an alliance, and their code-shares are not extensive, so their endpoints are limited compared to connecting into Oneworld, Star or Skyteam. (Although Skyteam are certainly, in my mind, placed third out of three alliances).
Brunel to Concorde
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Bristol Council off to Copenhagen
The council leader and party are flying to Copenhagen.
My previous post mentioned it in order to highlight the hypocritical stance of the leader of the council who objects to Bristol Airport expanding but is willing to fly when it suits her.
She wasn't asked which airport she would be using in the local radio interview that I heard. I doubt very much it was Bristol unless the Amsterdam or Paris link was used.
She may subscribe to the view of the StopBristolAirportExpansion lot that Heathrow can provide all the real needs of people from the Bristol region.
Long Haul
I agree with B_T about long haul. I believe the airport is realistic in its view that the potential for regular scheduled long haul destinations is limited.
It was a great shame when the LH service to Frankfurt was withdrawn. In the last airport consultative committee meeting minutes (October) CEO Robert Sinclair, in answer to a question, said he believed the service would return but not in the next twelve months.
This seems to confirm the words of the LH UK chief who said at the time of the route withdrawal that she could not see circumstances where it would return in 2010.
The council leader and party are flying to Copenhagen.
My previous post mentioned it in order to highlight the hypocritical stance of the leader of the council who objects to Bristol Airport expanding but is willing to fly when it suits her.
She wasn't asked which airport she would be using in the local radio interview that I heard. I doubt very much it was Bristol unless the Amsterdam or Paris link was used.
She may subscribe to the view of the StopBristolAirportExpansion lot that Heathrow can provide all the real needs of people from the Bristol region.
Long Haul
I agree with B_T about long haul. I believe the airport is realistic in its view that the potential for regular scheduled long haul destinations is limited.
It was a great shame when the LH service to Frankfurt was withdrawn. In the last airport consultative committee meeting minutes (October) CEO Robert Sinclair, in answer to a question, said he believed the service would return but not in the next twelve months.
This seems to confirm the words of the LH UK chief who said at the time of the route withdrawal that she could not see circumstances where it would return in 2010.
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SN Brussels
It has been reported that the Brussels flight will go to three times daily from 10 Jan 2010. There will be a change of equipment with flights being operated by BMI ERJ145s.
Join Date: May 2005
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That will be really good if it happens, and it seems logical given the shuffling that's happening with BD. I guess it'll be BD regional crews on a BD liveried aircraft, but with SN service. (The crews will be getting used to the EZ from ABZ in that case)
Hopefully the first out will be at 6am, not 10am!
Nothing showing on GDS yet... I'll wait a day or so before booking my flights for Jan.
Hopefully the first out will be at 6am, not 10am!
Nothing showing on GDS yet... I'll wait a day or so before booking my flights for Jan.
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Really?
That's interesting.
This is the same equipment they use from LBA... Nice little planes, but usually SN pack about 50+ onto the morning service from BRS, so I don't know how they are gonna squeeze all these people into one of those things.
Can't say I am surprised at this to be honest- I use the SN service a lot and am always wondering how much longer they will keep using the BAe146 at ~50% capacity...
That's interesting.
This is the same equipment they use from LBA... Nice little planes, but usually SN pack about 50+ onto the morning service from BRS, so I don't know how they are gonna squeeze all these people into one of those things.
Can't say I am surprised at this to be honest- I use the SN service a lot and am always wondering how much longer they will keep using the BAe146 at ~50% capacity...
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IIRC the capacity of a 145 is about 48-50 pax, so that should fit the bill, and improve load factors (which might also push up fares).
The useful things would be an early start / late back flight. And maybe some less crazy fuel surcharges.
Frankfurt used so sit around 50-60 pax per flight, on 3x daily, so that's a fair indication of demand. KL seem to fill the Fokkers, but only by use of apparently very (unsustainably?) cheap fares.
The useful things would be an early start / late back flight. And maybe some less crazy fuel surcharges.
Frankfurt used so sit around 50-60 pax per flight, on 3x daily, so that's a fair indication of demand. KL seem to fill the Fokkers, but only by use of apparently very (unsustainably?) cheap fares.
What cheap fares? Yes a scattering of 99 pound return but the majority seem to be from 155 to 180 return...I dont call that cheap for a 50 minute flight on a Fokker 70 or 100.
Nivsy
Nivsy
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KL's long-haul fares are extremely low at the moment. BRS-AMS-TYO at £470 r/t a/i. By the time you've stripped out APD, and airport taxes at BRS, AMS x2 and TYO, there ain't a lot left to pay for Jet-A.
I notice that EZY are loading their flights into GDS now. BRS-EDI (etc.) are showing up with flight numbers and times, and just a single "Y" booking class with no availability. No fares loaded. I assume this is to alert T/As to the availability of flights, but that they still have to go and book them through the EZY website. Along with business-specific advertising in places like The Times and The Economist, they seem to be having a go at becoming a business choice.
I notice that EZY are loading their flights into GDS now. BRS-EDI (etc.) are showing up with flight numbers and times, and just a single "Y" booking class with no availability. No fares loaded. I assume this is to alert T/As to the availability of flights, but that they still have to go and book them through the EZY website. Along with business-specific advertising in places like The Times and The Economist, they seem to be having a go at becoming a business choice.