BMI-EDI to USA Service

[msmithy]

I am admitedly a bit biased, but I think that a direct service from Edinburgh to the USA makes sense. Most tourist from the US come to Scotland to see Edinburgh, St. Andrews and other East Coast destinations. Very few go to their travel agents and say, "I want to go to Glasgow !". I think BMI would do OK with this service and they may even end up attracting pax from the North East of England, Newcastle, etc.

What are everyone's thoughts ?

[E. MORSE]

You are absolutely right

[5552N0426W]

Me thinks bmi would have thought about transatlantic from either Edinburgh or Glasgow at the same time as plans were put in place for Manchester.

A service out of GLA to BOS to replace the old service years ago by Northwest and GLA to IAD replacing United may well work.

I think you would generate traffic if the fares were right to fly UK airlines GLA/EDI to USA/Canada rather than Continental/American/Air Canada/Canada 3000/Air Transat

[The Zombie]

Saw their A330 taking off 09R at Heathrow this week and it looks very very nice !!!!!!!!

:)

[Prince Kebab]

Very, very tacky

[sky unlimited]

Yes, it's true.... BMI's A330 is really great! BMI's second A330 will be in service soon and I understood that the a/c is scheduled for MAN-IAD and maybe also for MAN-DFW...???????

[KADS]

DFW would suit me just nicely! :) Anyone with more info on that please?

[Yak Hunt]

There are rumours of some Scottish routes as a trade of allowing LHR operations.
I am interested as to why Prince Kebab thinks the aircraft is 'very very tacky'
We all have an opinion, I am merely interested to know what is so offensive.

[John MacCalman]

Now this one has an air of intrigue...

Could it be that Sir Michael was trying to put a spoiler on CO's plans to start from EDI to EWR.

I reckon it is very unlikely that bmi will operate their 330s out of EDI to the USA... but on the other hand UAL might just consider operting on a code share basis from IAD to EDI.

At the moment bmi's request to codeshare on the UAL ex LHR flights got a knockback so Sir Michael says how come Branson and Bethune can do it but not bmi & UAL - he cries foul. Likely scenario. bmi & UAL codeshare goes ahead after election.

bmi has done a real nice job on the ife system an upgraded version of the one currently with Virgin plus the addition of 2 cameras, one forward looking and one pointing to the ground.

Only problem is with the cheap seats... fat guys like me can't get the control unit for the IFE out of the side armrest, anything in your pocket can trigger the buttons on the control unit, and when the seat in front reclines, you can't see the screen.

[This message has been edited by John MacCalman (edited 10 May 2001).]

[Sheep fancier]

And of course none of them come to see the 3rd most visited city in Britain....Glasgow (in tourist terms)the Western Highlands, Loch Lomond, the golf courses of Ayrshire (Royal Troon, Turnberry etc)or any other of the multitude of attractions of the west coast. Sounds a bit more than biased......

[2A]

Saw the bmi A330-200 at MAN yesterday.
Colourscheme a bit too "fussy".It could do without the red wingtips and engine cowlings. However- wish them all the best on the Atlantic.

[Joe Curry]

>>And of course none of them come to see the 3rd most visited city in Britain....
Glasgow <<

Glasgow's visitor figures are boosted by
transatlantic pax arriving on the monopoly
services there...how many 'visitors' have
no intention of visiting Glasgow.? :-(

[Rinky]

Don't lose sight of the main point here. It is important that more routes are established from Scotland be it GLA or EDI. (I think in this case the fact that 44% of pax at EDI are business vs 37% at GLA favours EDI.)
There has been much talk recently of the future of UK aviation. We are slipping behind Europe and with the south east overcrowded to limits more flying from the regions makes sense.
Just one question. With the millions being invested in EDI (new international terminal etc) how long will it be before someone sees sense and extends the taxiway to the full lengths of 06/24? I can't think of anywhere else I fly to in Europe where this is the case.

[Yak Hunt]

There will be little chance of runway improvement at EDI, it is basically a bean counter driven shopping ardcade :mad:
'But we have established a study group to investigate, should have a report when the costs have doubled so we can say no again'
:rolleyes:

[The Guvnor]

KýLike it or not, the only airport in Scotland with any viable potential is PIK. Both GLA and EDI have numerous restrictions - whereas PIK already has over 10,500ft.

Of course, a more modern terminal would be nice! :) :) :)

[Joe Curry]

>>But we have established a study group to investigate, should have a report when the costs have doubled so we can say no again'<<

BAA are incompetent! They spend millions on
terminal facilities and scrimp on field
improvements. Perhaps they should have a
billboard at EDI's entrance? "The biggest
MERRY-GO-AROUND in EUROPE!

[PaulDeGearup]

Based on the 330's config and a 70% LF do you think that 107,000 Scots would use such a route each year if a daily service was offered when they can go via LHR already ?

Takes a fair bit to change brand loyalties, esp when you check the prices ex - MAN.

[The Guvnor]

Very true - and its this preference on the part of Scots business travellers (who have a slight reputation for being canny with their cash) for wanting to fly via London so they can overfly their house several hours later simply so they get the FFP benefits that convinces me that Newlines and Blue Fox are not going to work.

Equally, bmi will be off to LHR like a shot, dropping MAN (which they never wanted to serve anyway) as soon as they get the slots and Bermuda II sorted out.

The only way you'll get the biztravellers ex Scotland is if you offer them (personally and corporately) a better deal than they are getting at the moment as well as frequency (at least daily); and the leisure pax just want lower fares.

It can work; but it needs to be very well thought out. Right now, the only transatlantic operators (CO and FI) are both using 757s, so anyone coming in with widebodies is in the pound seats.

[Joe Curry]

>>Right now, the only transatlantic operators (CO and FI) are both using 757s, so anyone coming in with widebodies is in the pound seats.<<

But CO and FI fly exclusively from GLA.!
EDI scheduled USA flights have never been
tried.

One would imagine that in common with other
routes, any competing routes from EDI would
outperform those from GLA.

A possible scenario for wide-bodies.? :)

[EGPFlyer]

Dont forget AA who fly the 767 to ORD daily from glasgow May-October. It is definately the best service i have ever had on a flight.

P :)

[Joe Curry]

>>Dont forget AA who fly the 767 to ORD daily from glasgow May-October. It is definately the best service i have ever had on a flight<<

Will the AA route be worthwhile from GLA if
bmi decide to fly EDI-Chicago.?

AA were contemplating switching their route
to EDI and Icelandair were also considering.
Methinks both have lost an opportunity to get
into EDI's ground floor. http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/frown.gif

If a competitor to AC decides to fly EDI-
Toronto will AC be left just carrying the mailbags? :O

[EGPFlyer]

>Will the AA route be worthwhile from GLA if
bmi decide to fly EDI-Chicago.?<

It depends who is cheapest :) . Of course it isnt uneasonable to think that people would rather fly with a british carrier but until either BA or bmi fly transatlantic from Scotland it is purely hypothetical.

I also dont really think there is an arguement over why Edinburgh should be used rather than Glasgow...For any yanks who have just flown several thousand miles, I dont think they would be too fussed about the short hop across the central belt. Conversely, for people going the other way, it certainly wouldnt bother me going through to Edinburgh or Prestwick for a flight to the states...its still going to be a lot quicker than going via Heathrow or Europe.

All the best,

P :)

(Edited cause i can't spell :) )

[This message has been edited by EGPFlyer (edited 15 May 2001).]

[Joe Curry]

>>I also dont really think there is an arguement over why Edinburgh should be used rather than Glasgow...For any yanks who have just flown several thousand miles, I dont think they would be too fussed about the short hop across the central belt.<<

Not according to the feedback I get on my
webpage. http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/frown.gif www.edinburghairport.org.uk] (http://www.edinburghairport.org.uk])

Most Americans prefer to touchdown in Edinburgh and be in their hotel
with 20/30 minutes.

The majority of east coast pax do not consider GLA as a short hop across the central belt. http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/frown.gif

They do consider GLA monopoly flights as 'social engineering' ;)

One can get to most London and Euro gateways
in the time it takes to get to GLA. http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/cool.gif

Plus there is no expensive car parking or
surface transport involved. :)

[This message has been edited by Joe Curry (edited 15 May 2001).]

[This message has been edited by Joe Curry (edited 15 May 2001).]

[PaulDeGearup]

The debate over EDI vs GLA vs PIK will rage long and everyone has their opinion, which of course they are entitled too.

For my part I regard PIK as a better gateway for Scotland than GLA: longer runway, better weather, quiter terminal, better rail link to the city centre.

EDI has certain advantages too; it's only 30 mins on the M8 from the eastern end of GLA, it's closer to the tourist spots in Fife, closer to Silicon Valley and has good transport, not rail tho, to the city.

The answer has to be historic; GLA was favoured politically over PIK hence the demaise of the latter. Quite why EDI never really developed as an international gateway could well be rooted in the same camp.

[Joe Curry]

>>The answer has to be historic; GLA was favoured politically over PIK hence the demise of the latter. Quite why EDI never really developed as an international gateway could well be rooted in the same camp.<<

The answer to that is monopoly airport owners BAA!.

They fully intended to categorise their Scottish airports in the 'London' fashion.

EDI's geographical/political/tourist/business
location was not taken into account by BAA
and they could well LOSE the EDI "franchise"
if they don't get their finger out. :)