BIRMINGHAM
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I See that MoL is having his annual 'pop' at BHX...
(from the The Birmingham Post)
http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/...name_page.html
Ryanair boss pours more scorn on BIA Sep 15 2005
By Steve Pain, Deputy Business Editor
The outspoken boss of Irish budget airline Ryanair yesterday launched another scornful attack on Birmingham International Airport after announcing a major expansion of its operations at rival Nottingham East Midlands Airport.
Pulling no punches, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said it was a “tragedy” that Birmingham had failed to cut its charges.
He also claimed it was overdependent on British Airways, predicting the UK flagship airline would pull out of Birmingham within the next five years.
The airport immediately hit back, pointing out that it is now home to seven low cost airlines. And next summer another budget operator, Thomsonfly.com, will start services from Birmingham to Palma, Majorca.
However, Mr O’Leary insists that because of its reliance on BA, Birmingham will eventually face a crisis.
From March 7 next year, his airline will increase the number of routes out of East Midlands Airport from five to
15. It will also base two new Boeing 737-800 jets, worth around £67 million, at the airport. The airline claims the expansion will create around 1,000 jobs.
Mr O’Leary said: “Up to two years ago we were doing six daily flights between Birmingham and Dublin.
“Birmingham put up the charges – we cut back the flights from six to three.
“We launched three flights a day from Dublin to East Midlands as a direct result of Birmingham putting up the cost and that was the start of the relationship with Nottingham.
“Today that has resulted in Nottingham getting a base and ten new routes.
“Sadly all of this has been lost by Birmingham as a result of the airport’s high charges.
“What has been happening at Birmingham at the same time is that British Airways keep pulling routes. BA will ultimately close their base in Birmingham, no question.
“The timescale for this is hard to know, but I would say within the next five years. “BA will cut back to Heathrow and Gatwick. Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Belfast are doomed as far as BA is concerned. They can’t make any money out of a regional base like Birmingham, because their cost base and fares are too high.
“Meanwhile, Ryanair can come in and offer a million, two million seats at £5 plus taxes, £10 plus taxes.
“That would bring a whole new swathe of traffic to Birmingham Airport – but we can’t get Birmingham Airport to wake up, which is a tragedy.”
He continued: “Before we offered these routes to Nottingham we had another go at Birmingham Airport. We last wrote to them about two months ago. We write to them every time BA pulls a route – and we say ‘we are here – do you want to talk to us?’
“We could put in routes here and replace the BA traffic.
“They keep coming back with the same old thing: ‘No, we don’t want to upset British Airways – we are a regional hub airport.’ Well, it won’t be for much longer.”
Mr O’Leary believes Birmingham will eventually be forced to put together a deal to persuade Ryanair to increase its services at the airport.
“The tragedy is that instead of being pro-active and doing it prior to BA pulling out, they will probably do it some time when the crisis blows up in their faces,” he added.
Mr O’Leary said Birmingham had been held back by its reliance on the “old” BA high fares model.
“That is the past. The very fact that Ryanair has overtaken BA’s worldwide traffic shows that this is what people want. What British Airways is providing is what the old fat cats want – and there are not enough fat cats out there to keep it going.”
Peter Vella, BIA’s business development director, appeared unimpressed by Mr O’Leary’s argument.
He said: “Birmingham has become a successful base for seven low cost airlines, growing rapidly over the last few years due to its first class facilities and progressive airline incentive scheme.
“It now prides itself on being the Midlands’ low cost capital providing services to 34 low cost destinations.
“However, Birmingham’s success story is due to its ability to meet the needs of both business and leisure travellers – not just those searching for cheap flights.”
British Airways also said: “We have been flying out of Birmingham for 66 years – we have no plans to pull out.”
(from the The Birmingham Post)
http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/...name_page.html
Ryanair boss pours more scorn on BIA Sep 15 2005
By Steve Pain, Deputy Business Editor
The outspoken boss of Irish budget airline Ryanair yesterday launched another scornful attack on Birmingham International Airport after announcing a major expansion of its operations at rival Nottingham East Midlands Airport.
Pulling no punches, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said it was a “tragedy” that Birmingham had failed to cut its charges.
He also claimed it was overdependent on British Airways, predicting the UK flagship airline would pull out of Birmingham within the next five years.
The airport immediately hit back, pointing out that it is now home to seven low cost airlines. And next summer another budget operator, Thomsonfly.com, will start services from Birmingham to Palma, Majorca.
However, Mr O’Leary insists that because of its reliance on BA, Birmingham will eventually face a crisis.
From March 7 next year, his airline will increase the number of routes out of East Midlands Airport from five to
15. It will also base two new Boeing 737-800 jets, worth around £67 million, at the airport. The airline claims the expansion will create around 1,000 jobs.
Mr O’Leary said: “Up to two years ago we were doing six daily flights between Birmingham and Dublin.
“Birmingham put up the charges – we cut back the flights from six to three.
“We launched three flights a day from Dublin to East Midlands as a direct result of Birmingham putting up the cost and that was the start of the relationship with Nottingham.
“Today that has resulted in Nottingham getting a base and ten new routes.
“Sadly all of this has been lost by Birmingham as a result of the airport’s high charges.
“What has been happening at Birmingham at the same time is that British Airways keep pulling routes. BA will ultimately close their base in Birmingham, no question.
“The timescale for this is hard to know, but I would say within the next five years. “BA will cut back to Heathrow and Gatwick. Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Belfast are doomed as far as BA is concerned. They can’t make any money out of a regional base like Birmingham, because their cost base and fares are too high.
“Meanwhile, Ryanair can come in and offer a million, two million seats at £5 plus taxes, £10 plus taxes.
“That would bring a whole new swathe of traffic to Birmingham Airport – but we can’t get Birmingham Airport to wake up, which is a tragedy.”
He continued: “Before we offered these routes to Nottingham we had another go at Birmingham Airport. We last wrote to them about two months ago. We write to them every time BA pulls a route – and we say ‘we are here – do you want to talk to us?’
“We could put in routes here and replace the BA traffic.
“They keep coming back with the same old thing: ‘No, we don’t want to upset British Airways – we are a regional hub airport.’ Well, it won’t be for much longer.”
Mr O’Leary believes Birmingham will eventually be forced to put together a deal to persuade Ryanair to increase its services at the airport.
“The tragedy is that instead of being pro-active and doing it prior to BA pulling out, they will probably do it some time when the crisis blows up in their faces,” he added.
Mr O’Leary said Birmingham had been held back by its reliance on the “old” BA high fares model.
“That is the past. The very fact that Ryanair has overtaken BA’s worldwide traffic shows that this is what people want. What British Airways is providing is what the old fat cats want – and there are not enough fat cats out there to keep it going.”
Peter Vella, BIA’s business development director, appeared unimpressed by Mr O’Leary’s argument.
He said: “Birmingham has become a successful base for seven low cost airlines, growing rapidly over the last few years due to its first class facilities and progressive airline incentive scheme.
“It now prides itself on being the Midlands’ low cost capital providing services to 34 low cost destinations.
“However, Birmingham’s success story is due to its ability to meet the needs of both business and leisure travellers – not just those searching for cheap flights.”
British Airways also said: “We have been flying out of Birmingham for 66 years – we have no plans to pull out.”
Join Date: Feb 2005
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Flybe have released flights from UK airports to Malaga, Alicante and Murcia. Birmingham is not included at present.
Does anybody know if they have withdrawn the 737 flights from BHX or are they waiting to see what the competition are doing.
Speaking of competition Monarch have reduced the winter flights to Malaga and Alicante, it will be interesting to see what they do next summer 2006.
After healthy increases for summer 2006 the winter does not look so rosy at present will little development for winter 2005/6.
Mytravellite have gone, Alitalia withdraw, BACX cut routes, Aer Arran drop routes.
Centre cities
Does anybody know if they have withdrawn the 737 flights from BHX or are they waiting to see what the competition are doing.
Speaking of competition Monarch have reduced the winter flights to Malaga and Alicante, it will be interesting to see what they do next summer 2006.
After healthy increases for summer 2006 the winter does not look so rosy at present will little development for winter 2005/6.
Mytravellite have gone, Alitalia withdraw, BACX cut routes, Aer Arran drop routes.
Centre cities
Join Date: Oct 2003
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Remember that the flybe experiment with the Boeing 737-300s was when the airline was considering adding higher-capacity aircraft such as the A319 or B737-700, but has instead plumped for the Embraers, which have similar seating numbers to the existing 146s, but with increased performance. I don't know if flybe will be leasing 737s again, but can imagine that once the Embraers arrive then there will be more expansion for BHX.
Monarch are of course going to cut back flights for the winter, unlike other no-frills airlines, they mostly operate just to holiday destinations and during the winter there is less demand. I've heard however that BHX are actively campaigning for a second based aircraft for next summer.
Shame about MyTravelLite & Alitalia. Time will tell who will plug the gap!
Monarch are of course going to cut back flights for the winter, unlike other no-frills airlines, they mostly operate just to holiday destinations and during the winter there is less demand. I've heard however that BHX are actively campaigning for a second based aircraft for next summer.
Shame about MyTravelLite & Alitalia. Time will tell who will plug the gap!
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Coventry
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How will BE's EMB195s compare economy wise with the 737-3?00s that 'baby are using?
I don't see why BHX management should be too fussed about FR. They never "put their charges up", they just didn't extend an incentive which they seem to offer to all airlines. Airports like BHX, MAN, EDI & GLA don't need Ryanair, so they can afford to be dismissive of MOL's outbursts.
I don't see why FR want to go there anyway. BHX has long term plans to extend the runway and then build another one, neither of which will help FR's goals.
FR don't seem to like MAN for similar reasons.
This argument that every regional airport should go after the lowest common denominator is nonsense, let BHX stick to what it does best (mixed use regional hub), and leave the lower end of the market to EMA. If FR are keeping those '200 classics for a bit longer, we have the perfect budget terminal for them here at CVT, and I'm sure the locals would just love to hear those engines roar
If FR are to expand more in the West Mids then the CoBa on a runway extension at CVT to handle a 737-800 must be much better than that of a wide spaced runway at BHX with all the cross-field taxiing it will entail. You can buy a lot of Ryanair flights for £2.5bn.
I don't see why BHX management should be too fussed about FR. They never "put their charges up", they just didn't extend an incentive which they seem to offer to all airlines. Airports like BHX, MAN, EDI & GLA don't need Ryanair, so they can afford to be dismissive of MOL's outbursts.
I don't see why FR want to go there anyway. BHX has long term plans to extend the runway and then build another one, neither of which will help FR's goals.
FR don't seem to like MAN for similar reasons.
This argument that every regional airport should go after the lowest common denominator is nonsense, let BHX stick to what it does best (mixed use regional hub), and leave the lower end of the market to EMA. If FR are keeping those '200 classics for a bit longer, we have the perfect budget terminal for them here at CVT, and I'm sure the locals would just love to hear those engines roar
If FR are to expand more in the West Mids then the CoBa on a runway extension at CVT to handle a 737-800 must be much better than that of a wide spaced runway at BHX with all the cross-field taxiing it will entail. You can buy a lot of Ryanair flights for £2.5bn.
Join Date: Dec 2004
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I believe FR fell out with BHX when a discount on all flights to Ireland ended. Their expansion started about a year before the expiry and so was possibly an attempt for BHX to continue the offer further but this didn't happen and so they reduced their presence. Not surprising as this is typical Ryanair behaviour! BHX could live to regret this but we'll never really know!
BHX seemed to hit a decline over the past couple of years, conicidentally with the appointment of the new MD i feel, but now appears to be back on track. Lowering fees for FR expansioncould have been an option but I guess shareholders(particularly Macquorie) were not happy with this!
Perhaps the expansion of T2 currently taking place could move "full service," short haul carriers such as LH,SK,CSA etc moving into T2, leaving T1 for long haul and Low cost carriers?
Anyway interesting times ahead for BHX, hopefully the runway extension will come ASAP igniting further long haul growth!
Regards, Mark
BHX seemed to hit a decline over the past couple of years, conicidentally with the appointment of the new MD i feel, but now appears to be back on track. Lowering fees for FR expansioncould have been an option but I guess shareholders(particularly Macquorie) were not happy with this!
Perhaps the expansion of T2 currently taking place could move "full service," short haul carriers such as LH,SK,CSA etc moving into T2, leaving T1 for long haul and Low cost carriers?
Anyway interesting times ahead for BHX, hopefully the runway extension will come ASAP igniting further long haul growth!
Regards, Mark
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Monarch Scheduled - new routes announced today are MJV, PMI and MAH from BHX. Inc freq to AGP and FAO (daily instead of one per wk), TFS remains daily and ALC remains 3/wk. Additional A321 to be based at BHX. All from s06.
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Here's the full story,
22/09/2005
Mammoth expansion announced by Monarch Scheduled at Birmingham
In a move that proves Birmingham is fast becoming the bargain flights capital of the Midlands, low cost airline Monarch Scheduled is announcing a major expansion to its services from the airport for next summer. As well as introducing three brand new routes to Spain, the airline will also increase capacity on its already successful routes, double its fleet by basing an additional £50m Airbus A321 aircraft in Birmingham and create 60 new jobs at the airport.
After the hugely successful launch of the new base in April 2005, Monarch Scheduled is introducing three brand new destinations to its network from Birmingham: Murcia (four times each week*), Menorca (three times per week*) and Palma de Mallorca (once per week*).
Since opening it’s Birmingham base, Monarch Scheduled has carried more than 160,000 passengers to and from Europe and will continue next summer to offer daily flights to Tenerife and three flights per week to Alicante, whilst vastly increasing capacity on its other existing routes with:
five extra flights per week to Malaga* – this means a double-daily service to and from the Costa del Sol’s most popular city each Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and represents a 40% capacity increase on the route compared to Summer 05
a 600% increase in frequency to Faro* – proving such a popular route, flights to the Algarve will operate everyday instead of just once per week
Commenting on the developments, Tim Jeans, managing director of Monarch Scheduled said, “This is an exciting day for Monarch Scheduled and our rapid growth further proves our commitment to Birmingham International Airport. We launched our base with confidence earlier this year and our record-breaking summer is testimony to the fact that we were right about there being a strong market for low fares and high quality service in the Midlands.
We have received the wholehearted support of the Airport which has introduced a range of initiatives to ensure that costs are competitive with any other airport in the region.”
Birmingham International Airport’s Business Development Director Peter Vella said: “We’re delighted that Monarch Scheduled has taken this step to expand its operation from Birmingham. This is further confirmation that both full fare and low cost airlines are continuing to recognise the huge benefits of operating from Birmingham thanks to our first class facilities. We look forward to working with the Monarch team to make these new routes a success, providing even more choice and flexibility for Midlands’ travellers from our expanding route network.”
Today’s expansion represents a year-on-year capacity increase of 104% – there will be 200,000 more seats on sale for Summer 06 than there were for Summer 05.
Monarch Scheduled’s Birmingham base began operating flights to four destinations in April 2005 and this increases to seven destinations from Summer ’06.
* New and existing route frequencies:
Murcia – new route, twice per week from 10.02.06, increasing to four per week from 01.05.06
Menorca – new route, three times per week from 03.05.06
Palma – new route, once per week from 07.05.06
Malaga – daily with double daily flights on four days per week from 25.05.06-24.09.06, increasing to double daily flights on five days per week from 24.07.06-04.09.06
Faro – increases to daily service from 01.05.06
Tenerife – remains a daily service
Alicante – remains three flights per week
22/09/2005
Mammoth expansion announced by Monarch Scheduled at Birmingham
In a move that proves Birmingham is fast becoming the bargain flights capital of the Midlands, low cost airline Monarch Scheduled is announcing a major expansion to its services from the airport for next summer. As well as introducing three brand new routes to Spain, the airline will also increase capacity on its already successful routes, double its fleet by basing an additional £50m Airbus A321 aircraft in Birmingham and create 60 new jobs at the airport.
After the hugely successful launch of the new base in April 2005, Monarch Scheduled is introducing three brand new destinations to its network from Birmingham: Murcia (four times each week*), Menorca (three times per week*) and Palma de Mallorca (once per week*).
Since opening it’s Birmingham base, Monarch Scheduled has carried more than 160,000 passengers to and from Europe and will continue next summer to offer daily flights to Tenerife and three flights per week to Alicante, whilst vastly increasing capacity on its other existing routes with:
five extra flights per week to Malaga* – this means a double-daily service to and from the Costa del Sol’s most popular city each Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and represents a 40% capacity increase on the route compared to Summer 05
a 600% increase in frequency to Faro* – proving such a popular route, flights to the Algarve will operate everyday instead of just once per week
Commenting on the developments, Tim Jeans, managing director of Monarch Scheduled said, “This is an exciting day for Monarch Scheduled and our rapid growth further proves our commitment to Birmingham International Airport. We launched our base with confidence earlier this year and our record-breaking summer is testimony to the fact that we were right about there being a strong market for low fares and high quality service in the Midlands.
We have received the wholehearted support of the Airport which has introduced a range of initiatives to ensure that costs are competitive with any other airport in the region.”
Birmingham International Airport’s Business Development Director Peter Vella said: “We’re delighted that Monarch Scheduled has taken this step to expand its operation from Birmingham. This is further confirmation that both full fare and low cost airlines are continuing to recognise the huge benefits of operating from Birmingham thanks to our first class facilities. We look forward to working with the Monarch team to make these new routes a success, providing even more choice and flexibility for Midlands’ travellers from our expanding route network.”
Today’s expansion represents a year-on-year capacity increase of 104% – there will be 200,000 more seats on sale for Summer 06 than there were for Summer 05.
Monarch Scheduled’s Birmingham base began operating flights to four destinations in April 2005 and this increases to seven destinations from Summer ’06.
* New and existing route frequencies:
Murcia – new route, twice per week from 10.02.06, increasing to four per week from 01.05.06
Menorca – new route, three times per week from 03.05.06
Palma – new route, once per week from 07.05.06
Malaga – daily with double daily flights on four days per week from 25.05.06-24.09.06, increasing to double daily flights on five days per week from 24.07.06-04.09.06
Faro – increases to daily service from 01.05.06
Tenerife – remains a daily service
Alicante – remains three flights per week
Join Date: Dec 2004
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Excellent news from Monarch!
I flew them in August and they were the best short haul flights I've had in a long time! This isn't really expansion for the airport though, Monarch are just covering the gaps left by Mytravellite but welcome news all the same! Bring on more from ZB!
Does anyone think they could acquire some smaller equipment, maybe A319s to cover smaller routes, MAD, NAP, FCO, BCN, GIB etc as their 320s and 321s would possibly be to big for these routes?
I flew them in August and they were the best short haul flights I've had in a long time! This isn't really expansion for the airport though, Monarch are just covering the gaps left by Mytravellite but welcome news all the same! Bring on more from ZB!
Does anyone think they could acquire some smaller equipment, maybe A319s to cover smaller routes, MAD, NAP, FCO, BCN, GIB etc as their 320s and 321s would possibly be to big for these routes?
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Trouble with getting A319's is that you can't do any mixed fleet flying.... You would need dedicated crews for A319/20/21. Because according to CAA rules your not allowed to fly A319/20/21 and A330. And considering that MON still has got 2 A330's this wouldn't be the best way about it....
Maybe a less dense configuration... So more legroom seats....
We'll just have to wait and see
Cheers
Maybe a less dense configuration... So more legroom seats....
We'll just have to wait and see
Cheers
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There was a TV prog' on recently with Martin Whateverhisnameis walking around Brum talking about his proposed airline, can't remember if he specifically mentioned any routes though, possibly did mention the BHX-BBP route
Fried Chicken
Fried Chicken
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Was there a lot of congestion at Brum yesterday? There seemed to be some very low flying a/c circling over Warwick.
All nice to look at, but given recent announcements about CVT, the conspiracy theorists will be quick to get their chins wagging, especially as this was a Sunday, when everyone would have been out "enjoying their gardens".
Fortunately, the do gooders at Warwick District Council haze zero say in the future of BHX.
FC, Not sure if we're still allowed to talk about Alpha1, but wouldn't Mr Halstead be better off by running his business, rather than just talking about it?
All nice to look at, but given recent announcements about CVT, the conspiracy theorists will be quick to get their chins wagging, especially as this was a Sunday, when everyone would have been out "enjoying their gardens".
Fortunately, the do gooders at Warwick District Council haze zero say in the future of BHX.
FC, Not sure if we're still allowed to talk about Alpha1, but wouldn't Mr Halstead be better off by running his business, rather than just talking about it?
