Simon Lumley

It was unveiled yesterday that the West Midlands local authorities have given Coventry Airport permission to build a new terminal building.

The new terminal building will be built and ready for passenger operations by next August.

This press release has managed to attract three low-cost airlines which are hoping to start operations at the end of summer 2003.

Coventry Airport is currently a cargo airport but new passenger commericial operations are expected to soar in its first year of operation.

A consultation period is currently being undergone in the local area but all signs are for a thums up!

Now, let me see which three low-cost airlines have said that they will start operating... COULD IT BE....

Buzz - 2nd base in the Midlands? ... after successful operations at Stansted (STN).

Channel Express - Apart from operating at Leed/Bradford (LBA) next year, will they base in the Midlands too?

Ryanair - threre was a rumour about a year ago that they wanted to get into the Midlands, especially at Coventry... 3rd base after Prestwick (PIK) and Stansted (STN)?


It can't be Easyjet/Go or BMI Baby because they are at East Midlands (EMA)... nor can it be My Travel Lite, being at Birmingham (BHX).

mmmmmmmmm......... Can anyone shed any light on the matter.


SOURCE: Birmingham Radio Station & BBC Midlands Today.


Cheers.

Buster the Bear

The airspace surrounding this area will be capable of dealing with all these flights easily-NOT!

Smokie

Ryan Air used to fly into COV in the early 90,s, perhaps a return ?

niknak

Buster - it's a well known fact that Bears know nothing about airspace, other than the presence of honey within a radius of 2nm of their own bear pit.

Given the growth of both Birmingham and EMA, and the ease of access to both, I would of thought it unlikely that Coventry would be able to compete in the low cost market.
However, the terminal building is badly needed for the few charter/schedule flights they could provide in competition with Birminham/EMA/Wolverhampton.

Out of interest, I know of one UK airport whose runway length is similar to Coventry, who were told by Ryanair that they needed a minimum of 2000m runway length to operate from, which Coventry doesnt have.
Anyone care to comment?

sharpshot

Niknak,

Tell me, who do airways hand inbound COV traffic over to and who do COV hand departures over to........

then I'll have more to add

Buster the Bear

nicnak. you must be fully aware of the demands being made on TC Midlands and TC north west then?

The Daventry area can get rather busy at times, add into this possble extra flights using Cov and the situation gets even worse.

But then again, what do bears know about airspace?

Easy226

Sharpspot,
I'm training for a PPL, but live under the flight-paths for both. All i know is that inbound traffic to Coventry from the north and south tune into Birmingham approach which usually give them direct routings to the CT. NDB at COV. Departures also get handed over to Birmingham Approach before being handed over to the various TMA's overhead (133.07, 130.92, etc.
Someone correct me if i'm wrong!
Dan

Manu Forte

All Coventry IFR traffic to and from airways is dealt with by BHX Radar, handing inbounds off to Cov approach or Cov Radar (if they can be found). Their respective main runway centrelines are perpendicular, causing major problems for BHX in arranging Cov departures from R/W 23, especially northbound. I wonder if the lo-costs have factored lengthy low-level departures, mainly outside controlled airspace, into their calculations? My guess is that they haven't.

P.S. After Dec 16th, when the Birmingham Radar Manoeuvring Area comes into operation, don't be surprised to see Coventry inbounds from the south going to Honiley before descending below FL 50 prior to turning eastbound again!

Fly_146

Odds are on Buzz at Coventry next autumn. It wont be the Ryans with their intollerable business attitude towards airport owners and authorities (especially when six LCA's are in the running to operate out of Coventry - well five now!).

There is also a high chance of a small new airline operating A320's out of Coventry. Anything is possible if you have the financial backing!