I note that the following routes are not currently served at Birmingham or
will close by September when bmibaby is wound down. Anyone like to suggest when
they will be served ?
davidjohnson you have hit the nail on the head here - although I am not sure about the viability of some of the destinations you have mentioned the point is BHX needs to get its short haul network in order first and forget for the moment these ridiculous pretentions of grandeur about being an alternative to LHR for long haul services. I have lost count of the number of times I have had to fly from LPL, MAN, LHR and EMA to a European city as there simply were no flights available from BHX with suitable timings and/or at a non eye wateringly high price.
Yes ambition is good but healthy ambition and IMO BHX needs to regain the years of ground lost to other airports in terms of European flights having been so late in embracing the original loco revolution snd regenerate its stagnant long haul network - at one point in addition to EWR, DXB and ASB there were additionally services to DEL, ATQ, ORD, LHE, KHI and TAS, all now long gone. Progress to be fair has been made in short haul this year with LH, SK and ZB all adding a number of lost city destinations which is encouraging.
The runway extension may well attract a few more long haul charters and MAYBE a Far Eastern service at a push but taking over from LHR, not yet if ever. And lets face it there is absolutely no certainty that HS2 will get built, if it ever does its bound to be late opening and a watered down version of what was originally proposed.