What's next for BHX?
Just pondering on the last few posts regarding the withdrawal of Mahan (to be fair not the airports fault) and rumoured LDY switch to EMA which got me thinking......in terms of route development I simply can't see what's next, just my thoughts but here goes
Loco - It would seem no chance of a new base by either EZY or Jet2 (IMO the only way for BHX to gain a fistful of new destinations). Of the existing carriers, I cannot see any major expansion by FR (indeed I can see them going) or ZB. WW a paltry three re-introduced routes on the cards perhaps one or two others depending on how their new Fortress Midlands strategy works, but EMA will always be their priority. BE as ever very cautious, maybe the E175 will see a few new thin European routes introduced but can't see this amounting to more than one or two new routes, maybe HEL with the Finncomm tie up?
Full Service European - a range of hubs served, other possibles (TAP, IB, AZ?) seems happy to serve BHX as a codeshare through an existing hub
Long Haul - A possible third daily EK but again can't see anything else viable. I don't believe that the runway extension if built will attract anything more than perhaps a second across the pond US service or at a push the new SQ long haul loco operation
Charter - this is the only area I can see new routes in, Thomson to take on the Dreamliner next year so maybe another Caribbean destination, perhaps Goa and Mombasa too?
Overall, pretty awful (as it stands now), apart from going via a hub or on a charter flight very lean pickings indeed and no real prospect of any serious route development. Having jumped on the loco bandwagon far too late (thanks to its love affair with BA) and IMO got into bed with the wrong ones, BHX I think seems to be condemned to being woefully underserved in terms of direct destinations. In the meantime the flow of pax using other airports like BRS, LHR, MAN and so on turns into an ever bigger flood, its a vicious circle. I'm off to LIS in two weeks from MAN, would love to support BHX more but don't want to pay the via hub prices that the likes of LX, LH and so on charge (although am aware that if you book ahead there are competitive deals around)