BRISTOL - 2
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Solihull
Age: 60
Posts: 3,326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BA/BE
What about BE/BA out FR in?
Hahn, Bergamo, if not a base at Bristol operate from others like the Girona, which is coming soon - it might not be all bad news.
LH must be a possibility (their press release mentions more regional flights)
but they do like at least 3 daily flights to connect with the hubs but at least the RJ/146 is at Frankfurt (BHX's midday flight is one) but I can't
see the 737 or 319 as a preferred choice, not to start with anyway.
Could FR compete with Easy EDI or GLA (well PIK) or is that overkill?
The press release from flybe was interesting to say the least and
if they are not 100% behind Bristol, then best shot of them and let
others have a go. I don't particularly like FR but at least they bring in
the pax, as long as the airport can stomach the deal.
Pete
Hahn, Bergamo, if not a base at Bristol operate from others like the Girona, which is coming soon - it might not be all bad news.
LH must be a possibility (their press release mentions more regional flights)
but they do like at least 3 daily flights to connect with the hubs but at least the RJ/146 is at Frankfurt (BHX's midday flight is one) but I can't
see the 737 or 319 as a preferred choice, not to start with anyway.
Could FR compete with Easy EDI or GLA (well PIK) or is that overkill?
The press release from flybe was interesting to say the least and
if they are not 100% behind Bristol, then best shot of them and let
others have a go. I don't particularly like FR but at least they bring in
the pax, as long as the airport can stomach the deal.
Pete
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: uk
Posts: 63
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
heard from the BA Connect ground staff today that half have been given one month’s notice and the remainder will be out of a job at the end of December. All seems abit swift and I hope it doesn’t turn out to be the case but it would suggest that flybe don’t intend to keep the routes from Bristol.
Guest
Posts: n/a
We heard today from the BA groundstaff that they were not told officially that FlyBe brought BA Connect out until this afternoon, even tho it was released over the news and radio this morining. They also told us that FlyBe would be reducing staff, aircraft and routes as early as december and BA will be out of BRS by march 2007. But may be replaced with FlyBe's EMB 195s and Dash 400's!
Airlines like Wow's, eastern airways & SN brussels will be dispatched by servisair as of 1st of Demeber, so servisair will be come the sole handling agent out of BRS.
Airlines like Wow's, eastern airways & SN brussels will be dispatched by servisair as of 1st of Demeber, so servisair will be come the sole handling agent out of BRS.
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Bristol
Posts: 433
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It sounds like the end is going to be mercifully swift, and the intentions made clear soon on. Whilst it's painful for the staff, it's probably much better than months of uncertainty. Better to have Xmas planning for the future rather than worrying about it. Well done to FlyBe for having the guts to deal with the situation promptly.
I rather hope that we don't see FR land with a greater presence at BRS. A combination of FR and EZ would somewhat condemn BRS to a low-fares future, and that in turn would drive existing and potential business fliers back down the M4. Arguably we aren't good business for the airport, as we rarely do anything other than duck into the lounge - we certainly don't scour the shops for bargains.
Having done so well to get the CO route to EWR, I'd like to think that we could see some more of the middle ranking airlines coming to BRS. (Cue debate about what that means).
An ideal scenario (for me - apologies for the selfish point of view) would be LH (or Cityline) doing 3/4 rotations a day to FRA/MUC with an Avro, which would provide some decent competition to KL/AMS, without it being fatal to either route.
To end on a crazy thought; would any airline move over from CWL? Would BMI/baby want to defect to BRS?
I rather hope that we don't see FR land with a greater presence at BRS. A combination of FR and EZ would somewhat condemn BRS to a low-fares future, and that in turn would drive existing and potential business fliers back down the M4. Arguably we aren't good business for the airport, as we rarely do anything other than duck into the lounge - we certainly don't scour the shops for bargains.
Having done so well to get the CO route to EWR, I'd like to think that we could see some more of the middle ranking airlines coming to BRS. (Cue debate about what that means).
An ideal scenario (for me - apologies for the selfish point of view) would be LH (or Cityline) doing 3/4 rotations a day to FRA/MUC with an Avro, which would provide some decent competition to KL/AMS, without it being fatal to either route.
To end on a crazy thought; would any airline move over from CWL? Would BMI/baby want to defect to BRS?
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Solihull
Age: 60
Posts: 3,326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
FR/BMI Baby
Bristol Traveller
As a BHX local, I use and follow BMI Baby and although many on various forums ridicule the BMI Group, Baby at BHX (not getting into the DTV debate) have followed a steady but conservative path. Bristol I fear
would be far too radical and as much as I like them you can do better.
Baby's objective seems to be consolidating the remaining bases but
as a non aviation worker, Baby always give the impression they
are been fattened up, not for Christmas but for sale
LH must definitely be a target but with FR adding Shannon, was it last year and Girona to come it does seem that they are testing the water.
Although some would say Bournemouth have had FR for years and is
still not a base (despite rumours) but Bristol and its surrounding areas surely must make it tempting.
Of course Easy might charge straight in with more flights, although with
their crewing problems some might groan at this
Pete
As a BHX local, I use and follow BMI Baby and although many on various forums ridicule the BMI Group, Baby at BHX (not getting into the DTV debate) have followed a steady but conservative path. Bristol I fear
would be far too radical and as much as I like them you can do better.
Baby's objective seems to be consolidating the remaining bases but
as a non aviation worker, Baby always give the impression they
are been fattened up, not for Christmas but for sale
LH must definitely be a target but with FR adding Shannon, was it last year and Girona to come it does seem that they are testing the water.
Although some would say Bournemouth have had FR for years and is
still not a base (despite rumours) but Bristol and its surrounding areas surely must make it tempting.
Of course Easy might charge straight in with more flights, although with
their crewing problems some might groan at this
Pete
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BRISTOL
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I think its a real shame to see the countries national flag carrier disapear from BRS, hopefully the TFS route will stay as officially its GB Airways isn't it not BAcon, I think that the BRS management would of been aware of the BE/BA situation and probably have something in lined up to fill the void, MV the FCA situation is that the 321 will leave in a few weeks and just leave the 757 until feb when you will see the visiting 767 every week, then may will be 2 x 757, 767 at weekends and probacbly visiting 320 once a week 
Brunel to Concorde
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Virtute et Industria, et Sumorsaete Ealle
Posts: 2,283
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Many thanks, WATABENCH, for information re FCA based aircraft.
As for the BAConnect and Flybe matter, it seems to me that the reason Flybe appears to be vacillating over what it intends for the South West is that it is still in dialogue with the preferred bidders for EXT (who clearly were not Flybe’s preferred bidders) to try to get a deal that will satisfy the airline.
It probably will get the deal, especially in view of Friday’s announcement, but sensibly (from its point of view) Flybe wants to keep all options open at this stage, which conceivably could include a reversal of its falling out of love with BRS.
If Flybe ultimately decides to pull all the current BRS BACon routes there are, as others have said, some intriguing possibilities with regard to who might fill some of the gaps.
Given that Greater Bristol provides around 25% of the GDP of the entire Government South West Region (it extends from Gloucestershire in the north, to Cornwall in the west and to Swindon and Bournemouth/Poole in the east) and is the largest conurbation by some measure in that region, and that Bristol itself has the highest GDP per capita of the eight English core cities, it would be a surprising move for any airline to move primarily business routes to an airport elsewhere in the region.
Of course, that is not to say it would not do so or even cease to operate all or some altogether.
I hope this is sorted quickly because I am aware that an increasing number of local business people are using the BACon routes to the likes of Milan, Zurich and Frankfurt (albeit the lack of a day return option can sometimes be a pain and better timings would increase their popularity further still), and it would be pity if they reverted to using LHR now they are being weaned from that habit.
As for the BAConnect and Flybe matter, it seems to me that the reason Flybe appears to be vacillating over what it intends for the South West is that it is still in dialogue with the preferred bidders for EXT (who clearly were not Flybe’s preferred bidders) to try to get a deal that will satisfy the airline.
It probably will get the deal, especially in view of Friday’s announcement, but sensibly (from its point of view) Flybe wants to keep all options open at this stage, which conceivably could include a reversal of its falling out of love with BRS.
If Flybe ultimately decides to pull all the current BRS BACon routes there are, as others have said, some intriguing possibilities with regard to who might fill some of the gaps.
Given that Greater Bristol provides around 25% of the GDP of the entire Government South West Region (it extends from Gloucestershire in the north, to Cornwall in the west and to Swindon and Bournemouth/Poole in the east) and is the largest conurbation by some measure in that region, and that Bristol itself has the highest GDP per capita of the eight English core cities, it would be a surprising move for any airline to move primarily business routes to an airport elsewhere in the region.
Of course, that is not to say it would not do so or even cease to operate all or some altogether.
I hope this is sorted quickly because I am aware that an increasing number of local business people are using the BACon routes to the likes of Milan, Zurich and Frankfurt (albeit the lack of a day return option can sometimes be a pain and better timings would increase their popularity further still), and it would be pity if they reverted to using LHR now they are being weaned from that habit.
Brunel to Concorde
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Virtute et Industria, et Sumorsaete Ealle
Posts: 2,283
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
easyJet announced today that it is to restore the BRS-Pisa route "due to popular demand."
The route will re-commence on 18 January 2007 with 3 rotations per week until the end of March when it will go daily.
easyJet say that the route (it commenced in July 2005) was intended as a summer-only route.
Strange that because it operated 3 x weekly last winter and was only taken off from the beginning of this month.
Were they not aware of the "popular demand" before they took it off?
The route will re-commence on 18 January 2007 with 3 rotations per week until the end of March when it will go daily.
easyJet say that the route (it commenced in July 2005) was intended as a summer-only route.
Strange that because it operated 3 x weekly last winter and was only taken off from the beginning of this month.
Were they not aware of the "popular demand" before they took it off?
Brunel to Concorde
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Virtute et Industria, et Sumorsaete Ealle
Posts: 2,283
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BRS’s Master Plan was finally published today, around nine months behind the original timescale. There is not a lot in it that differs from the draft and it provides detailed planning for the period up to 2015 when BRS thinks it will need to cater for up to 9 million pax per annum.
Summary of main points are:
£100 million to be spent on infrastructure improvements.
Terminal to be almost doubled in size by additions to east and west of current building.
Provision of onsite hotel.
New admin block, new fire station, multi-storey car park, double-deck car park covered in green and plants to present rural effect.
Old terminal building to be demolished to provide more aircraft stands and better access/egress to/from east end of runway.
More bus/Flyer services to other destinations to be introduced gradually as demand requires.
More stands to be built to a total of around thirty.
The Master Plan will be considered by North Somerset Council to decide whether they can use the plan as a basis when airport planning applications are put forward, the first of which will be early next year.
No runway extension thought necessary, even in the period up to 2030 when an outline indication has to be given of future intentions beyond 2015. The airport is putting its faith in the B 787 which Boeing has told it could operate from the existing runway to the west coast of the USA and to Cape Town, although turning circles would be necessary as the 787 would be too wide for the parallel taxiway. The Master Plan also mentions the B 737-700ER has having a wide capability without the need for runway lengthening.
Long haul sched routes are said to be limited from the BRS catchment although the following list of scheduled destinations (short, medium and long haul) is set out as possibilities.
Atlanta, Bilbao, Bologna, Boston, Cologne, Connaught, Copenhagen, Doncaster/Sheffield, Dubai, Dubrovnik, Hanover, Istanbul, Kerry, Larnaca, Limoges, Lisbon, Liverpool, Lyon, Nantes, Naples, Orlando, Oslo, Perpignan, Riga, Salzburg, Sardinia, Seville, Stuttgart, Stockholm, Tallinn, Toronto, Vienna/Bratislava, Warsaw, Washington.
Some of these are already flown as charter routes.
They might now have to add Bordeaux, Bergerac, Belfast City and Norwich, now they have been or will be dropped, plus possibly Frankfurt, Munich, Dusseldorf, Zurich and Milan if Flybe won’t play with BACon’s ball.
ITV West did a big item on the plans in their evening news bulletin and properly gave time to the views of those opposed to expansion, as well as an interview with MD Andrew Skipp who was quite blunt in his comment that if the West Country wants a decent airport some inconvenience is inevitable (my paraphrasing – not his exact words), although he did go on to say the airport is doing everything it can to minimise inconvenience to local residents.
Despite the organised and vocal anti-expansion lobby a viewers’ poll taken all day by the TV company showed 67% of respondents in favour of the expansion plans.
Summary of main points are:
£100 million to be spent on infrastructure improvements.
Terminal to be almost doubled in size by additions to east and west of current building.
Provision of onsite hotel.
New admin block, new fire station, multi-storey car park, double-deck car park covered in green and plants to present rural effect.
Old terminal building to be demolished to provide more aircraft stands and better access/egress to/from east end of runway.
More bus/Flyer services to other destinations to be introduced gradually as demand requires.
More stands to be built to a total of around thirty.
The Master Plan will be considered by North Somerset Council to decide whether they can use the plan as a basis when airport planning applications are put forward, the first of which will be early next year.
No runway extension thought necessary, even in the period up to 2030 when an outline indication has to be given of future intentions beyond 2015. The airport is putting its faith in the B 787 which Boeing has told it could operate from the existing runway to the west coast of the USA and to Cape Town, although turning circles would be necessary as the 787 would be too wide for the parallel taxiway. The Master Plan also mentions the B 737-700ER has having a wide capability without the need for runway lengthening.
Long haul sched routes are said to be limited from the BRS catchment although the following list of scheduled destinations (short, medium and long haul) is set out as possibilities.
Atlanta, Bilbao, Bologna, Boston, Cologne, Connaught, Copenhagen, Doncaster/Sheffield, Dubai, Dubrovnik, Hanover, Istanbul, Kerry, Larnaca, Limoges, Lisbon, Liverpool, Lyon, Nantes, Naples, Orlando, Oslo, Perpignan, Riga, Salzburg, Sardinia, Seville, Stuttgart, Stockholm, Tallinn, Toronto, Vienna/Bratislava, Warsaw, Washington.
Some of these are already flown as charter routes.
They might now have to add Bordeaux, Bergerac, Belfast City and Norwich, now they have been or will be dropped, plus possibly Frankfurt, Munich, Dusseldorf, Zurich and Milan if Flybe won’t play with BACon’s ball.
ITV West did a big item on the plans in their evening news bulletin and properly gave time to the views of those opposed to expansion, as well as an interview with MD Andrew Skipp who was quite blunt in his comment that if the West Country wants a decent airport some inconvenience is inevitable (my paraphrasing – not his exact words), although he did go on to say the airport is doing everything it can to minimise inconvenience to local residents.
Despite the organised and vocal anti-expansion lobby a viewers’ poll taken all day by the TV company showed 67% of respondents in favour of the expansion plans.
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Bristol
Posts: 313
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Rampboy: If, as you say, Servisair are dispatching SN, T3 and WOW from December 1st, where are they getting the extra staff from? Surely new dispatchers can't be recruited and trained in less than three weeks? I think you might have been a bit over-optimistic with your timescale!
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SOUTH WEST
Posts: 257
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BA/BE
How will the Flybe takeover effect the thrice weekly A320 scheduled TFS flight that is operated by BA mainline a/c, will that be the end of it or will some else step in, as it seems to be going well. Surely Flybe cant pull all of the routes and expect pax to travel to EXT to fly, i would have thought the BRS population and sorrounding area would once again be hitting the M4 and heading east for london. also what happened to Flybe,s plan they announced a couple of years ago, about being big at BRS and hoping to have 12-14 routes within 4 years. or could this be their way in ?
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: BRS
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The TFS route is operated by GB Airways so is not affected by the Flybe takeover. Whether GB will continue to use the BA Connect brand is another matter.
I have to assume that Flybe & BRS fell out over something a while ago. I too remember the big plans they announced for BRS, but now nothing.
I sincerely hope Flybe do keep the BA routes. Most of our flights are pretty full so it's an opportunity for someone if Flybe do pull out. LHR and EXT are about the same distance from Bristol, so I doubt any passengers will be driving down the M5 if the flights are switched.
I have to assume that Flybe & BRS fell out over something a while ago. I too remember the big plans they announced for BRS, but now nothing.
I sincerely hope Flybe do keep the BA routes. Most of our flights are pretty full so it's an opportunity for someone if Flybe do pull out. LHR and EXT are about the same distance from Bristol, so I doubt any passengers will be driving down the M5 if the flights are switched.
Brunel to Concorde
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Virtute et Industria, et Sumorsaete Ealle
Posts: 2,283
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Flybe made extravagant promises about big route development at other regional airports at the times they began modest expansions at those fields, as they did at BRS, but little transpired.
For example, NCL was one and there has been a lot of comment from time to time in that airport's thread concerning the lack of action, although it does now seem that the demise of BACon might kickstart things there with Flybe.
As for BRS, I can only assume that Flybe don't want two bases so close together and with overlapping catchments, so have plumped for EXT where there is no easyJet to outgun them.
There is a post in the Flybe thread saying the airline has applied for EXT-DUS daily slots for summer 2007 which would almost certainly mean curtains for the BRS-DUS route. Of course, slot applications don't necessarily mean a route will be flown.
It is a fact that the Bristol region has a much bigger business base than the Devon area and one might wonder how routes like DUS could be sustained from EXT.
Well, some people living in the south of Bristol might regard EXT as a better alternative than LHR, and it is said by some that EXT is better-placed for inbound tourism from the continent as so many continentals visit Devon and Cornwall, but this would not be the case in winter, so perhaps any such routes would be summer-only.
If that were the case then the business community would become a tad irked and the M4 would doubtless see their presence again.
If Flybe pulls all or most of the BRS BACon routes I wonder how likely it is that easyJet will add extra EDI and GLA rotations, and even extra CDG if slots can be obtained.
I note the big Flybe banner on the BRS entrance roundabout has gone and has been replaced by easyJet banners. Is that an omen?
How long before Bristol-based ITV West finds another sponsor for its local weather forecast?
For example, NCL was one and there has been a lot of comment from time to time in that airport's thread concerning the lack of action, although it does now seem that the demise of BACon might kickstart things there with Flybe.
As for BRS, I can only assume that Flybe don't want two bases so close together and with overlapping catchments, so have plumped for EXT where there is no easyJet to outgun them.
There is a post in the Flybe thread saying the airline has applied for EXT-DUS daily slots for summer 2007 which would almost certainly mean curtains for the BRS-DUS route. Of course, slot applications don't necessarily mean a route will be flown.
It is a fact that the Bristol region has a much bigger business base than the Devon area and one might wonder how routes like DUS could be sustained from EXT.
Well, some people living in the south of Bristol might regard EXT as a better alternative than LHR, and it is said by some that EXT is better-placed for inbound tourism from the continent as so many continentals visit Devon and Cornwall, but this would not be the case in winter, so perhaps any such routes would be summer-only.
If that were the case then the business community would become a tad irked and the M4 would doubtless see their presence again.
If Flybe pulls all or most of the BRS BACon routes I wonder how likely it is that easyJet will add extra EDI and GLA rotations, and even extra CDG if slots can be obtained.
I note the big Flybe banner on the BRS entrance roundabout has gone and has been replaced by easyJet banners. Is that an omen?
How long before Bristol-based ITV West finds another sponsor for its local weather forecast?
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: England
Posts: 200
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'm pretty sure that WOW will not be changing to Servisair unless they absolutely have to. What I mean by that is, they will be staying with BA as long as there is people there working. As far as I understand it, WOW will still be handled by BA on 1st December.....
Join Date: Nov 1999
Location: BRS
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't think EXT is a realistic alternative for most BRS business travellers (the bulk of BA's passengers), LHR is just too close if there isn't a service from BRS. EXT-DUS may work, but probably not as a replacement for BRS-DUS.
Competition from EZY is strong on GLA/EDI, but less so on CDG. I think it's the same as KLM/EZY to AMS where KLM pick up all the connecting traffic as they have several flights a day including the all important first and last. EZY pick up less of the business travellers.
Alas though, I think most of the BA BRS routes are doomed in the New Year, and my job with it. I don't fancy the M5 to EXT each day either. Ah well, it was good while it lasted - at least the job market is fairly buoyant.
Competition from EZY is strong on GLA/EDI, but less so on CDG. I think it's the same as KLM/EZY to AMS where KLM pick up all the connecting traffic as they have several flights a day including the all important first and last. EZY pick up less of the business travellers.
Alas though, I think most of the BA BRS routes are doomed in the New Year, and my job with it. I don't fancy the M5 to EXT each day either. Ah well, it was good while it lasted - at least the job market is fairly buoyant.