BELFAST AIRPORT INTERNATIONAL
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Belfast
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Antrim
Posts: 1,601
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'd say from experience you are right, it can be like people everywhere at times, especially Starbucks and the bars which are starting to feel not big enough . Summer will be interesting - a good type of problem.
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: six micro tesla zone
Age: 33
Posts: 416
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Really pleased about the Jet2 route BFS to LEI, but will it be profitable? I've been hoping for years that some airline would do Belfast - Almeria, but never thought there would be enough demand for it!
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Antrim
Posts: 1,601
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Didn't EZY do Almeria a few years ago, or did I dream it?
I think LS have played a very clever game here, launched lots of routes, gaining plenty of publicity in the process, all at low frequency during high season to markets that's let's be fair while some are slightly different for the market they are well known to work in general and fit with their holidays business. They are also making a very clear message to FR that this is their territory in terms of holiday flights. All interesting to watch, FR's response especially. I'd expect little or no response from EZY or EI who I'd guess will hold fast to what they are doing.
I think LS have played a very clever game here, launched lots of routes, gaining plenty of publicity in the process, all at low frequency during high season to markets that's let's be fair while some are slightly different for the market they are well known to work in general and fit with their holidays business. They are also making a very clear message to FR that this is their territory in terms of holiday flights. All interesting to watch, FR's response especially. I'd expect little or no response from EZY or EI who I'd guess will hold fast to what they are doing.
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Ballymena
Posts: 1,438
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am surprised they picked Antalya over Bodrum. Antalya has only ever supported about one flight a week, in the past Bodrum has been capable of supporting about 6 flights a week.
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Antrim
Posts: 1,601
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Not 100% certain but I'd say the lack of any other operator from this island would be the draw for AYT. Theres only so much of a market for anything and LS's strategy looks like profit maximisation.
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Antrim
Posts: 1,601
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Also True Blue do not forget how sensitive politically Turkey is, still. The market is slowly building back but I can't see 6x BOD happening. The likes of TCX are putting routes like ALC back on sale from UK airports after years of absence, it's evidence that holidaymakers are still heading for old favourites in Spain over Turkey, Egypt etc.
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Belfast
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 2,781
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mart901,
Easyjet didn't do Belfast Almeria, but the Easyjet Belfast aircraft and crew used to do Belfast Stansted Almeria Stansted Belfast on selected days in previous seasons!
Easyjet didn't do Belfast Almeria, but the Easyjet Belfast aircraft and crew used to do Belfast Stansted Almeria Stansted Belfast on selected days in previous seasons!
Last edited by EI-BUD; 27th Apr 2017 at 09:05.
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 349
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My Travel also operated to Almeria back in the day.
More than anything else Jet2 are catching up their Belfast base with their others (though BFS is still the smallest). Below are the number of bases (out of 8) that serve the new destinations.
Almeria (6), Antalya (8), Funchal (8), Heraklion (8), Malta (6), Naples (3), Paphos (8), Rhodes (8)
As you can see, 5 of the 8 new destinations are already served from all bases, so clearly this was a catchup expansion more than a retaliation to Ryanair.
Also worth noting; four other destinations are served from at least 6 Jet2 bases, so some of these could be launched from Belfast next year for 2019. Corfu (6), Dalaman (7), Larnaca (8), Split (6).
From next year Antalya will be served by all 9 Jet2 bases. Bodrum will only be served from the three largest bases. Given that this is their first Turkish route from Belfast, it makes sense for them to launch flights to the area where they have the larger operation, especially given that many passengers will be using Jet2 Holidays.
I think LS have played a very clever game here, launched lots of routes, gaining plenty of publicity in the process, all at low frequency during high season to markets that's let's be fair while some are slightly different for the market they are well known to work in general and fit with their holidays business. They are also making a very clear message to FR that this is their territory in terms of holiday flights. All interesting to watch, FR's response especially. I'd expect little or no response from EZY or EI who I'd guess will hold fast to what they are doing.
Almeria (6), Antalya (8), Funchal (8), Heraklion (8), Malta (6), Naples (3), Paphos (8), Rhodes (8)
As you can see, 5 of the 8 new destinations are already served from all bases, so clearly this was a catchup expansion more than a retaliation to Ryanair.
Also worth noting; four other destinations are served from at least 6 Jet2 bases, so some of these could be launched from Belfast next year for 2019. Corfu (6), Dalaman (7), Larnaca (8), Split (6).
From next year Antalya will be served by all 9 Jet2 bases. Bodrum will only be served from the three largest bases. Given that this is their first Turkish route from Belfast, it makes sense for them to launch flights to the area where they have the larger operation, especially given that many passengers will be using Jet2 Holidays.
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 1,488
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BFS watcher commented (25th Apr 2017);
Any rumours to what these announcements may be? EZY? BAW? CFE? RYR?
Also that there will be another big announcement in mid-May with another in June.
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: N.Ireland
Posts: 1,751
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Belfast
Posts: 193
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Totally agree. Was in the terminal yesterday and the place was bouncing and this was the 1st week of May. Supposedly works starting shortly in the bar. Still hearing at least one more announcement this month and it sounds like it maybe a good one although no info on where but plenty of gossip.
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 349
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
CAA March Passenger Statistics
A very good month for BFS, so no wonder management have raised their annual goal from 5.4m to 5.6m, and now to 5.8m. The airport saw 447,334 passengers in March, a 21% increase over last year.
BFS-LGW remains the busiest UK domestic route with 90,583 passengers, meaning 986,843 passengers have used the route during the first 12 months of Ryanair operating the route alongside easyJet.
All other domestic routes are reporting a 3-7% increase in passenger numbers compared with March 2016.
International routes of note;
Berlin: 3,306 - 127 pax (67%) - decision to go x2 weekly w17/18 is a good move
Milan: 2,468 - 137 pax (73%)
Gdansk: 2,591 - 144 pax (76%)
Warsaw: 2,499 -139 pax (73%)
Wroclaw: 2,659 - 148 pax (78%)
Vilnius: 2,589 - 144 pax (80%) - up 42% on 2016 - upgrade to A321 later this year
Other notable figures are that Krakow is up 102% since Ryanair joined easyJet. Ryanair is also making a mark in Spanish routes: Tenerife is up 29%,Lanzarote is up 6%, Malaga is up 115% and Alicante is up 78%.
BFS-LGW remains the busiest UK domestic route with 90,583 passengers, meaning 986,843 passengers have used the route during the first 12 months of Ryanair operating the route alongside easyJet.
All other domestic routes are reporting a 3-7% increase in passenger numbers compared with March 2016.
International routes of note;
Berlin: 3,306 - 127 pax (67%) - decision to go x2 weekly w17/18 is a good move
Milan: 2,468 - 137 pax (73%)
Gdansk: 2,591 - 144 pax (76%)
Warsaw: 2,499 -139 pax (73%)
Wroclaw: 2,659 - 148 pax (78%)
Vilnius: 2,589 - 144 pax (80%) - up 42% on 2016 - upgrade to A321 later this year
Other notable figures are that Krakow is up 102% since Ryanair joined easyJet. Ryanair is also making a mark in Spanish routes: Tenerife is up 29%,Lanzarote is up 6%, Malaga is up 115% and Alicante is up 78%.
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Belfast
Age: 40
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The two returns I've used the Ryanair GRO route in the first 5 weeks of ops, I'd estimate 150-160 on each sector.
On a separate note, security has been a shambles recently. Last weekend, the priorty lane was being used by everyone which wasn't going down too well with those who had paid to skip the queue but subsequently had to queue anyway.
On Wednesday morning this week I couldn't purchase fast track because "the machine has no paper". It's 2017 and they lose out on business because there is no paper.
On a separate note, security has been a shambles recently. Last weekend, the priorty lane was being used by everyone which wasn't going down too well with those who had paid to skip the queue but subsequently had to queue anyway.
On Wednesday morning this week I couldn't purchase fast track because "the machine has no paper". It's 2017 and they lose out on business because there is no paper.