BELFAST AIRPORT INTERNATIONAL
Join Date: Apr 2008
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I share your sentiments BHD2BFS. I flew in/out last week from/to GLA, and the architectural similarities between the terminals are striking. Both have almost iconic core terminal buildings (GLA - architect Basil Spence, c. 1965; BFS - architects (IIRC) Kennedy Fitzgerald, c. mid sixties). Both had lots of glass, with big, chunky but elegant roof structures. Now both have been hacked about with decade upon decade of piecemeal alterations and additions and desperately cynical re-orientation around retail (at least the new security search area at BFS gives you an uninterrupted view of all the old butterfly roof).
Sadly that's what much of air travel has become, a chance to sell people stuff. BFS arrivals hall gets no such treatment because 99% of people arrive and bugger off, they don't linger and if they do spend any money it's for a cuppa.
Sadly that's what much of air travel has become, a chance to sell people stuff. BFS arrivals hall gets no such treatment because 99% of people arrive and bugger off, they don't linger and if they do spend any money it's for a cuppa.
Join Date: Aug 2007
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flew in and out at the weekend, first time in years. domestic arrivals was not particularly inspiring but hey one only wants to get bag and get out .
departures was a lot better than i remember and whilst plenty of shopping to be had one was certainly not forced to shop!
security was very quick and painless and polite. all in all an excellent experience all round
departures was a lot better than i remember and whilst plenty of shopping to be had one was certainly not forced to shop!
security was very quick and painless and polite. all in all an excellent experience all round
Join Date: Dec 2010
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Just looking at Knock airport there and I see Lufthansa is starting a route to Dusseldorf next year. How can an airport such as Knock secure an airline like this and Belfast cant? Surely a German route would do very well from Belfast
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LH also offer a seasonal DUS-NQY; it's a one of several carefully managed thin but profitable tourist routes for the German market using a (Cityline?) regional jet. It's not really compatible with a route into BFS/BHD.
Join Date: Dec 2010
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Air bridges
looking through old photos of the airport and realised there used to be 3 airbrides 
. why were they removed or at least not replaced? maybe bringing a few back will get rid of horrible red and white road works 
, by looks of the photos one used to be around the area where the vacant unit beside starbucks is now ( i know that particular bridge hasnt been there in a very long time) but maybe could use that unit as a new gate its not like it will be occupied in the near future. im sure aer lingus wouldnt mind paying a bit more to use them, especially on the heathrow route 
. why were they removed or at least not replaced? maybe bringing a few back will get rid of horrible red and white road works , by looks of the photos one used to be around the area where the vacant unit beside starbucks is now ( i know that particular bridge hasnt been there in a very long time) but maybe could use that unit as a new gate its not like it will be occupied in the near future. im sure aer lingus wouldnt mind paying a bit more to use them, especially on the heathrow route
Join Date: Nov 2006
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Hey BHD2BFS, yeah the airbridges were neat, one was designated to BA's super shuttle London Heathrow route. Second is where gate 18 (approx 18 location if memory serves me rightly) and it was designated to British Midland and the 3 is the existing one I think!
So on a good day a 757 BA on one a BD 734 or DC9!! I have memories of KLM from AMS using one.
When BA pulled the route in 2001 and then in a later season Bmi moved all to BHD, the place was used mainly by LOCOs Go, Easyjet , and they didnt want the jetties. Quite a shame..
You brought back some memories. And I am remembering how far BFS has come in a short space of time. in the mid 1990s the scheduled routes were only to a selection of GB destination and 2 on the continent.
In the 90s there were so many different types
BA - Bac1-11s, ATPs, HS748, 757, 737, 320, L10, J41,
BD - F70, DC9, 733, 734,735, 319, 320, 321, ATP, EMB
DA - used Bac1-11s, 737s and HS748s!
BY - 73S and 757 to LTN
KL to AMS
and SN to BRU I think....!
EI-BUD
So on a good day a 757 BA on one a BD 734 or DC9!! I have memories of KLM from AMS using one.
When BA pulled the route in 2001 and then in a later season Bmi moved all to BHD, the place was used mainly by LOCOs Go, Easyjet , and they didnt want the jetties. Quite a shame..
You brought back some memories. And I am remembering how far BFS has come in a short space of time. in the mid 1990s the scheduled routes were only to a selection of GB destination and 2 on the continent.
In the 90s there were so many different types
BA - Bac1-11s, ATPs, HS748, 757, 737, 320, L10, J41,
BD - F70, DC9, 733, 734,735, 319, 320, 321, ATP, EMB
DA - used Bac1-11s, 737s and HS748s!
BY - 73S and 757 to LTN
KL to AMS
and SN to BRU I think....!
EI-BUD
Join Date: Dec 2010
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Maybe if we lose the heathrow to bhd route and EI manage to begin a shuttle we may see a new bridge. If I'm correct in thinking the empty unit is above gate 16 or possibly is gate 18 it would be a great place for the bridge, especially for businesses travellers, close to business lounge and quite close to security for late passengers. Only a thought :-)
Join Date: Oct 2011
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BFS bridges
There were four bridges at one point, 14/15A, 18, 22/23 and 27. As mentioned BA and BD had their own for their LHR services.
Old 22 bridge was originally half way down the international pier when the stands were slightly different (approx pre-1997)
It was then moved to where the glass air bridge is now and it could rotate between the present stand 22 and the old 23 which was at a right angle to 22 (14 bridge could also be used on 15A and maybe the old 13).
The bridge on 27 was a nose loader ( could only move up/down and back/forward)
It was originally the bridge at stand 18 used for BMI but was moved to 27 when a new bridge was placed on 18 (the more flexible jetty type). It was removed when stand 28 and 29 were created.
A real shame that there is only one bridge these days as they do present the image of more successful airport! But thats the nature of BFS these days!
Perhaps a small sacrifice for the much more extensive network the airport has these days.
Old 22 bridge was originally half way down the international pier when the stands were slightly different (approx pre-1997)
It was then moved to where the glass air bridge is now and it could rotate between the present stand 22 and the old 23 which was at a right angle to 22 (14 bridge could also be used on 15A and maybe the old 13).
The bridge on 27 was a nose loader ( could only move up/down and back/forward)
It was originally the bridge at stand 18 used for BMI but was moved to 27 when a new bridge was placed on 18 (the more flexible jetty type). It was removed when stand 28 and 29 were created.
A real shame that there is only one bridge these days as they do present the image of more successful airport! But thats the nature of BFS these days!
Perhaps a small sacrifice for the much more extensive network the airport has these days.
Join Date: Nov 2006
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Easyjet MANCHESTER Route
Well done Easyjet, Belfast International/Manchester route off to a good start the month of November carried 10230 up 26% on the same month last year when bmibaby were offering the route on similar frequency. No doubt Easyjet will build on this performance, and hopefully before too long we will see a 3rd daily rotation. With a bit of luck based on the performance of MAN they might look at BHX, would be good to see it back on the Aldergrove route map...
Liverpool did great with 34K, other routes showed some improvement over last year. Nice to see it!
EI-BUD
Liverpool did great with 34K, other routes showed some improvement over last year. Nice to see it!
EI-BUD
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"In the 90s there were so many different types
BA - Bac1-11s, ATPs, HS748, 757, 737, 320, L10, J41"
And the 727, anyone remember the ATA doing the shuttle?
Notice TCX are starting flights to ILD, take it this is a Ski Charter.
BA - Bac1-11s, ATPs, HS748, 757, 737, 320, L10, J41"
And the 727, anyone remember the ATA doing the shuttle?
Notice TCX are starting flights to ILD, take it this is a Ski Charter.
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MAN/BHX
EI-BUD
I would love to see the Orange lot on BFS - BHX but I can't see it happening at present. Is that right for the Manchester figures 10230 at double daily?
That only equates to 85 per flight or 54%? I don't follow easyjet load factors that much as they only have two routes at BHX but 54% seems incredibly low even for a first month.
Was it double daily every day or reduced frequency at the weekend?
I suppose with Christmas it will improve but slightly surprised at these figures.
156 seats per flight for BHX I fear would be too much but EI Regional that is a different matter.
Pete
I would love to see the Orange lot on BFS - BHX but I can't see it happening at present. Is that right for the Manchester figures 10230 at double daily?
That only equates to 85 per flight or 54%? I don't follow easyjet load factors that much as they only have two routes at BHX but 54% seems incredibly low even for a first month.
Was it double daily every day or reduced frequency at the weekend?
I suppose with Christmas it will improve but slightly surprised at these figures.
156 seats per flight for BHX I fear would be too much but EI Regional that is a different matter.
Pete
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Hi OltonPete,
Yeah the load factor soft enough but being November I think it is not bad at all, and the route had been closed for 10 months!
You are probably right re the BHX route though if we consider that LPL, LGW, GLA, EDI, BRS, NCL all do far more pax from BFS goes to show that BFS can sustain much better numbers than BHD, with that in mind lets think about BHX and MAN being big markets in terms of overall pax (from Belfast Market), Easyjet sticking at it will over time get a big audience, and bearing in mind the pax on BHX from BHD I dont see why 2 daily 319 wouldnt work. BE has the advantage that the brand is well known in BHX and surrounding areas!
EI-BUD
Yeah the load factor soft enough but being November I think it is not bad at all, and the route had been closed for 10 months!
You are probably right re the BHX route though if we consider that LPL, LGW, GLA, EDI, BRS, NCL all do far more pax from BFS goes to show that BFS can sustain much better numbers than BHD, with that in mind lets think about BHX and MAN being big markets in terms of overall pax (from Belfast Market), Easyjet sticking at it will over time get a big audience, and bearing in mind the pax on BHX from BHD I dont see why 2 daily 319 wouldnt work. BE has the advantage that the brand is well known in BHX and surrounding areas!
EI-BUD
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Does anyone know how well WW did BHX-BFS? I used to find the morning flight was nornally packed in both directions, busier than BE, although their loads are spread over a lot more rotations. I seem to remember mytravellite and maersk doing well on the route too.
Last edited by mart901; 18th Dec 2011 at 17:18.
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BFS-BHD
mart901
Absolutely no idea re the yield from this route but these are the CAA stats
2010 - 101430 down 22% on 2009
Punctuality stats show 1247 rotations which is an average on 81 per flight or around 58% based on 140 seats (some 131 seat 735's and 149 seat 733's).
2010 of course included the ash cloud closures contributing to some of the loss.
I have not collated all the 2011 figures released thus far from BHD and I will wait until the December figures are released mid January.
Pete
Absolutely no idea re the yield from this route but these are the CAA stats
2010 - 101430 down 22% on 2009
Punctuality stats show 1247 rotations which is an average on 81 per flight or around 58% based on 140 seats (some 131 seat 735's and 149 seat 733's).
2010 of course included the ash cloud closures contributing to some of the loss.
I have not collated all the 2011 figures released thus far from BHD and I will wait until the December figures are released mid January.
Pete
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Well flew into BFS last night from LTN with EZY on the 320, a tiny bit late.. but not too much, think i only seen a handful of free seats... obviously the Christmas rush to get home, looks like they have done a spot of resurfacing around the airport, i did notice on my way out that the old international arrivals door seems blocked up, what way are they sending passengers now from those flights?
