Any new routes expected out of BFS/BHD ???

[BFS/BHD]

Just wondering of there are any new routes expected out of these airports this year and next year.

Any info will be great.

[aeulad]

- Flybe have mentioned the possibility of launching more regional UK flights in future, hav heard Norwich, Cambridge and Teesside are possibilities. Personally, I think it will be NWI , where Flybe may set up a hub.

- There are the new easy routes from BFS to NCE, CDG, ALC and AGP. They may well add more flights ex BFS if the above destinations are successful, and it would appear they have been selling very well.

- Continental, as always is rumoured for the BFS-EWR route, but again, it remains to be seen as to where will be their next UK departure point. Rumoured are BFS, NCL and BRS.

Regards

Mike

[SNNEI]

If the Shannon stopover goes, do not be surprised to see EI back at Aldergrove. The SNN-JFK route will need the extra traffic from Belfast once that service is de-linked from DUB. If Continetal get there first though, it would'nt be such a good bet I would imagine. Obviously a direct connection would have far more appeal.

[EGAC_Ramper]

Indeed FlyBe are looking at Norwich and Cambridge,aswell as this they are wanting to remove BA on the Manchester route out of City.Also heard yesterday FlyBe are NOW looking to do their summer run to Blackpool but this looks likely not to start til July.Will see what happens as EGAC is near full to capacity with nightstopping aircraft with only 1 stand free now.

Regards

[Bang Or West]

Have it from a very good source that Emirates are looking at BFS - Dubai 3 or 4 times per week with a 2 - class Airbus A330-200.

[with alacrity]

I would not be surprised to see Easyjet introducing Faro and Berlin next year from BFS. The Faro however might hurt MyTravel.
Mind you there are plenty of well heeled golf fanatics in Northern Ireland.

[SNNEI]

Bang or West,

That would not surprise me at all. We all know their DUB intentions, but they even mentioned SNN!! If the reckon SNN would be a goer, then Belfast must surely be much higher up the list.

Would be fantastic news for our Northern friends :)

[ALLMCC]

Have recently heard that Eastern have had discussions with BHD about transferring to there from BFS - as well as ABZ, other destinations have been mooted possibly Norwich or Humberside.
Also heard an interesting one about Emerald considering BHD - LPL using ATPs.

A press statement from BMI during the week mentioned the possibility of a Manchester service from BHD to cater for business passengers (in addition to the existing Baby route from BFS).

[bmiboyz]

Where is the press release regarding a bmi full service flight from BHD-MAN??

[EGAC_Ramper]

All interesting routes there!! BMI wanting to do Manchester aswell as FlyBe stating they want to do the Manchester route and remoce BACX from it.Could be exciting times ahead if these routes prove true.

Regards

[mysecretsmile]

I've included below details of recent Press Coverage in the Newsletter regarding BMI and their intentions at BHD:



THE boss of the bmi group yesterday said there is a demand for late-night flights to Belfast City Airport, particularly from the business community.

Austin Reid, who was in Belfast to brief politicians and business leaders on the airline's progress at both the City and Aldergrove airports, said: "There are people who find it frustrating because they can't get back to Belfast late in the evening.

"We respond to consumer demand and we believe there is a certain level of demand for later flights."

Mr Reid said bmi would "seriously consider" the introduction of a later arrival from Heathrow or possibly even an additional rotation if Belfast City owners, Spanish firm Ferrovial, decided to extend its opening hours.

"I say that only because I reflect what I know our customers want. But in reality, that is an issue for the airport itself to pursue, if it believes it makes sense to do so."

Because of its proximity to the city, Belfast City Airport operates under a number of planning restrictions. The biggest constraint is on late flights.

Flights are currently restricted to between 6.30am and 9.30pm, apart from delayed flights.

However, in its review of aviation policy unveiled last December, the Government said those planning controls should be re-examined and that ways could be found to limit the inconvenience to residents while increasing the economic benefit to Northern Ireland.

Mr Reid said bmi would participate in a Government review, but pointed out that the airline's role would be "relatively small" in any potential alteration of the schedule at the City Airport.

Commenting on the group's performance in 2003, Mr Reid said it has been seeing the "green shoots of recovery", with a 25 per cent growth in passengers to 9.4 million - bmibaby accounting for almost three million of these in only its first full year of operation.

Load factors were up four points to 67 per cent and it halved pre-tax losses to £9.8 million.

Last month, it saw an 18 per cent increase in passengers, with a 15 per cent rise in the full service business and a 25 per cent growth in bmibaby.

However, Mr Reid pointed out that Belfast has not been one of the major growth markets over that period.

He said the airline has been restricted in its growth by having to switch to smaller aircraft over the winter, as a result of software issues with the Airbus A321 - an issue which affected all A321 operators, not just bmi.

Mr Reid said: "Belfast, either from the City Airport or from Belfast International, is never going to become a major international hub in its own right.

"But there is the market to support a range of direct short-haul routes - many of which we supply - and to support a high frequency connecting service into a major hub such as Heathrow."

Mr Reid intimated that bmi is considering a service from Belfast to connect with the long-haul services at Manchester. This would be in addition to the low-cost bmibaby service.

"We have a regional business that flies out of Manchester to Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Tagging a Belfast service on to that would be quite a natural extension," he said.