Anything is possible but...
The passenger cap at BHD doesn't allow for any significant growth there. BHD is, according to recent press reports, right up against the limit already.
Those same press reports and comments from local politicans indicate that the Dept of Environment want a public inquiry before that is altered.
ALLMCC - the passenger cap was not imposed at the behest of BFS. It was voluntarily agreed by BHD and Bombardier back in 1997 or 98.
There are commercial reasons too why a move is not as simple and logical as it first looks. Belfast City was in the past and probably still is a high cost airport. It doesn't have the throughput and resultant economies of scale to offer charges as low as BFS.
The opportunities for raising revenue from non aviation activities at BHD are very limited. The terminal, with its short kerbside to gate distance, doesn't lend itself to too much retail.
Parking, which is the other big potential source of revenue, is also limited. It's very convenient, so convenient that lots of people take taxis or get dropped off.
Take a look at LPL, LTN, STN, BRS. They are brimming with shops, and acres and acres of expensive (and full) car parking spaces.
It's hard to see how BHD can reduce charges, which are still seen as critical to loco airline economics, to a level that would make sense for an operator to move its operations there.
bmibaby might take the hit but in a business where margins are so thin, would that be wise? They recently moved CWL-GLA to PIK - in a bid to reduce costs and keep that route going.
bmibaby's operations at BFS aren't that successful at the minute. Loads on MAN especially are poor - sub 60 per cent.
A move down the road would probably make this worse. EZY would probably start EMA from BFS. At least where they are now, baby have that market to themselves.
They would also be up against an improving twice daily turboprop (which is arguably a more suitable plane for a thin route like this) Air Wales operation on Cardiff.
BA may be carrying less passengers than baby on MAN but it's not how many you carry that's important but how much money they are paying. Punters pay more to fly with BA. Who knows, they might be happy with the numbers they have and may compete quite easily alongside baby at BHD.
Just one man's opinion...
Last edited by Uncle Monty; 19th Sep 2003 at 23:26.