Originally Posted by
ATNotts
Badly phrased by me. What I meant was that if there was no EMA then BHX would be a larger airport, much larger in passenger number terms than, say BRS. That said of course there had long been an East Midlands airport in Burnaston but it wasn't suitable for the larger aircraft such as the Argonaut and later the Viscount that were the catalyst for the evolution of Derby Aviation into BMA. I wonder what might have happened had EMA not been opened in the mid 1960s. Would British Midland have relocated to BHX, or perhaps not even have developed into the carrier it became. That is more for a historical thread!
As you say, any direct competition for passenger routes between the two airports has diminished. EMA is now principally a first class cargo orientated airport primarily, though 4m plus PAX p/a is hardly a pittance.
It’s always intriguing when BMA is mentioned in relation to Birmingham in all its existence if I recall the only regular international service was to Brussels with a Heathrow service oft shared with a round robin to Donnington oh and BE/BA operating the first and last of the day with a Viscount ! Seasonal flights to Newquay and Jersey.
Did BMI do much with Embraer from Birmingham to Scotland can’t remember .
That said charters and inclusive tour operations certainly took place with prop Douglas,1-11s and for jetsave with the 707 to Canada.