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Hellenic are without an AOC .
Their only airworthy 747 was last seen doing some Hajj flights over a year ago.
The two A343 aircraft were painted up but returned to Gulf Air before delivery and are now stored probably awaiting a gas axe !
The only financially sound and viable Greek carrier is Aegean and they route all their UK regional passengers via alliance partners SN Brussels.
Face it the Birmingham, West Midlands, Warwickshire and Worcester business man finds it far too easy (once in the company car) and on the M40 to drive down to Hounslow and Slough regional !
This is NOT going to change in the next decade.
What Birmingham needs to do is develop those solid European business routes (the ones that connect the good old fashioned metal bashers with their European suppliers).
Give up on this long haul nonsense other than to the Sub continent and a few holiday routes.
I am afraid the geography can't be altered.
It's a fantasy to believe that because LHR slots are a premium, carriers might look at Birmingham.
They won't and neither will they look at Manchester based solely on those grounds.
If they can't expand into the South East then expansion will leave these shores for mainland Europe with the UK becoming a branch line feed via alliance partners !
Sorry but thats the facts of the matter.