Quote: "
I don't know how they dream this stuff up, but read through this article, and you will see that there is a plan to rename BHX as London Birmingham Airport. Hilarious!
Countryside planning revolution: 'new city' proposed for Midlands - Telegraph 24th Mar 2012 22:05"
Firestorm, a new city near HS2 and BHX could do Coventry no favours. More likely is that it will be a "dormitory suburb" for Coventry and Birmingham rather than a "new city". It could just a case of more people to moan about noise at "London-Birmingham International Airport". Taking the situation at LHR for example, moaners don't neccessarily have to be under the flightpath and/or practically on the airport.
As for Coventry becoming a part of a "greater Birmingham conurbation" as suggested in the article, it already is, only it's called "West Midlands" rather than "Greater Birmingham". As the second city of the conurbation it's a similar situation to Croydon and London, or Bradford and Leeds.
Quote: "
Interesting point - BHX are going to have to do some major landing fee sweeteners to attract the big birds in, something they are not renowned for....but I can't see them wanting top open the new extension without a headline grabbing new route or airline.
Looking at it the other way, if a few popular long haul routes do take off (am thinking India, at a push Singapore and China), will there be enough connecting/point to point traffic remaining on LH/AF/LX/KL for these routes to continue with present high frequencies and aircraft used?"
GayFriendly,
regretably direct long haul flights ex-BHX are unlikely at this time:
(1) endless APD increases threaten any potential viability as it deters discretionary (e.g. VFR) traffic;
(2) there is relatively little transfer traffic at BHX;
(3) there are overlapping catchment areas - BHX is stuck between MAN and an eventually to be expanded LHR;
(4) any non-LHR direct flights by Asian carriers (or BA/VS for that matter (highly unlikely of course)) would probably do MAN before BHX;
(5) KL, LH, etc., appear to have the shortest routes sown up and EK is mopping up the long way round.
If any long haul carrier comes to BHX after the runway extension, would expect it to be QR or EY, but it is unlikely that they have a stomach for a fight with long-established EK.