BELFAST - 2
Join Date: Oct 2006
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Totally agree with you and I have said exactly the same on this forum a few years ago.There is no need for two airports within the small catchment area that is Northern Ireland.I will say it again.Competition should be between airlines and not airports.If a flight cancels for some reason then people in Belfast simply cant go and rebook onto the competitors service because their ticket desk is 19 miles away either up,or down the road,in another airport.Its absolute bonkers.
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Co. Antrim UK
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Good point - I never thought of it like that. So in actual fact its the airlines that win with two airports from early negotiation's through to operation. I suppose at Belfast there are no competing routes from the same airport apart from IOM - i think, so as you say, if a flight is cancelled you can't nip across the hall. Yet the belief out there is that two airports give's passengers choice, which is only an advantage if you live close to a particular airport. So at the end of the day the airlines win, airports and passengers end up losers. Cannot be good for NI plc. Oh and the loss in traffic to Dublin another by-product of this silly situation.
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loss in traffic to Dublin another by-product of this silly situation.
Slight thread drift...but the way UK tax is increasing t will drive more and more pax to airports outside of NI . I personally now arrange Mrs EW's flights to and from Cleveland(oh) out via DUB and return via BFS to prevent Gordon getting his hands on as little of our hard earned cash as we can !
Join Date: Jun 2005
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The Dublin problem is a growing one with the vast improvement in the road network heading south. Aircoach run pretty regularly from outside the Jury's hotel in belfast straight to Dublin airport in VERY comfortable coaches and so flying from Dublin has virtually none of the hassle it used to. I think a return ticket is either 12 £ or 12 euro if my memory serves me correctly which either way, is pretty cheap. My ideal situation would be for the city airport to expand, get a longer runway through extensions and utilise what seems to be considerable space at the other side of the airfield. Its a much more central location in terms of Belfast although I doubt BHD would ever have the capacity for the cargo operations located at aldergrove with the large dedicated apron and associated warehouses.
What is the situation regarding the RAF at aldergrove? Are they likely to move out any time soon? Is the cost of running the airfield shared fairly between the RAF and BIA or do the RAF pay a hugh chunk which would cause BFS to crumble should the RAF pull out?
While I love being a passenger from the city, being a GA pilot is brilliant in aldergrove. The ATC in aldergrove is famously pilot-friendly (esp if your thick like me) and it is a great opportunity to mix it with the commercial heavy metal using the place too. I doubt GA could exist to the same extent at an enlarged BHD.
What is the situation regarding the RAF at aldergrove? Are they likely to move out any time soon? Is the cost of running the airfield shared fairly between the RAF and BIA or do the RAF pay a hugh chunk which would cause BFS to crumble should the RAF pull out?
While I love being a passenger from the city, being a GA pilot is brilliant in aldergrove. The ATC in aldergrove is famously pilot-friendly (esp if your thick like me) and it is a great opportunity to mix it with the commercial heavy metal using the place too. I doubt GA could exist to the same extent at an enlarged BHD.
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Computer Says No!
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BFS or BHD
Belfast City Airport gets my vote because it is a newer airport than Belfast International and at least it looks like an airport after security. Belfast Interntional now looks like a shopping centre after security. However, if you asked me, say in about April 2001 (before the new terminal of the city airport opened), whic airport did you prefer, I would say Belfast International because back then, it was an airport. A large open window around the Gate 18 area with light shining in and you could see the planes, and friendly staff who actually worked for an airline and were proud of their jobs, and a duty free shop which lets face it, was all you needed! I then would have said that Belfast City was just a shabby old garden shed where you might as well be standing waiting for a bus! Belfast International nowadays is the same building which has just been installed with too many retail outlets to try and make it look modern, whereas Belfast City has just what you need: a bar, a newsagents, a small duty free, windows, and alltogether a warmer feeling to it, an airport.
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Northern Ireland, UK
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New Transatlantic Route & Advertising in Republic
I see that zoom have announced a new transatlantic service from BFS to Halifax in Canada!
Also good to hear that BFS has launched a cross-border advertising campaign! The 4 week advertising campaign is now being run in the border counties to attract attention to BFS and the huge number of new services here, some of which are not avaliable from Dublin. The cost of the advertising is said to be a six figure sum and is hoped that more travellers will be attracted from the Republic.
Also good to hear that BFS has launched a cross-border advertising campaign! The 4 week advertising campaign is now being run in the border counties to attract attention to BFS and the huge number of new services here, some of which are not avaliable from Dublin. The cost of the advertising is said to be a six figure sum and is hoped that more travellers will be attracted from the Republic.
Join Date: Jun 2002
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GATE 22
You have made one very interesting justification as to why there should be two Airports. They are virtually no competing flights at Aldergrove as competition has been killed off by LCC`s. If there was only one Airport there may be competition in the short term but as has already happened the eventual outcome would be one airline operating one route with no competition and no consumer choice. The choice of two airports ensures that NI travellers have the option to chose which airline they travel with to the same destunations ensuring competitive pricing.
I just tend to travel with the cheapest which often happens to be Flybe or the most convenient for onward connections through Heathrow which is always Bmi. I check the price and make up my own mind rather than have one Airline rip me off!!
In reality there is no point saying what you`d like. There are two Airports so get over it and have a pleasant and somewhat cheaper flight whichever one you choose!!
PS Traffic congestion in Belfast relative to any other Capital City is a minor delay!! Try getting through Dublin at 8am!!!
Cheers
You have made one very interesting justification as to why there should be two Airports. They are virtually no competing flights at Aldergrove as competition has been killed off by LCC`s. If there was only one Airport there may be competition in the short term but as has already happened the eventual outcome would be one airline operating one route with no competition and no consumer choice. The choice of two airports ensures that NI travellers have the option to chose which airline they travel with to the same destunations ensuring competitive pricing.
I just tend to travel with the cheapest which often happens to be Flybe or the most convenient for onward connections through Heathrow which is always Bmi. I check the price and make up my own mind rather than have one Airline rip me off!!
In reality there is no point saying what you`d like. There are two Airports so get over it and have a pleasant and somewhat cheaper flight whichever one you choose!!
PS Traffic congestion in Belfast relative to any other Capital City is a minor delay!! Try getting through Dublin at 8am!!!
Cheers
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Co. Antrim UK
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Are you saying that if there has always only been one airport for Belfast, then there would be only 4 airlines operating domestic uk flights WW, LS, EZY and BD, oh and plus IOM flights, that Fly-be would simply close-up shop and leave - I actually think that what you would find is that Fly-be's prices would come down and they would become more competitive. I mean look at Glasgow or Edinburgh all the airlines compete there. Why don't we have an airport in Portadown (Aer Lingus), one in Ballymena (BA) oh and one in Cookstown (KLM). NORTHERN IRELAND IS TWO SMALL FOR 3 AIRPORTS.
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Belfast
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Is it likely that easyJet will announce new routes from BFS in the near future? Perhaps for the winter timetable? Perhaps new based aircraft? How many aircraft are currently based at BFS?
ta
c
ta
c
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Ireland
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Easy currently base 5 x 737-700's at BFS. I don't think theres any plans for any more based aircraft since the 737 fleet is being withdrawn.
Most likely new routes include: MAD/DTM.
Prob more chance of Jet2 expanding than Easyjet at the Minute.
Brgds
richard
Most likely new routes include: MAD/DTM.
Prob more chance of Jet2 expanding than Easyjet at the Minute.
Brgds
richard
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Belfast
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you mentioned DTM, I really wish either Jet2 or easyJet would launch some new French/Swiss/German/Austrian routes, as a keen French and German language student, cheap flights to such places would be very beneficial 
plus I would like to see my local (intl) airport expanding.
perhaps Air Berlin would launch direct, or should I say non-stop services to Germany, instead of via Stansted, e.g. Düsseldorf would be good
plus I would like to see my local (intl) airport expanding.perhaps Air Berlin would launch direct, or should I say non-stop services to Germany, instead of via Stansted, e.g. Düsseldorf would be good
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Co. Antrim UK
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I flew from Dublin with Ryanair in September to La Rochelle. On both flights the number of Northern Ireland accents surprised me. I thought that it would be a good weekly flight on a Saturday with Easyjet this summer, as they already fly from BRS to La Rochelle, but they chose to compete against Jet 2 on Ibiza. I know Flybe have talked of La Rochelle from Belfast. Vancouver is to go all year with Zoom, great ski destination. I wonder if Jet 2 will introduce a few ski destinations from Belfast this winter.
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Belfast
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Have flybe repainted any of BAconnect's erjs? I swear i just saw one in a flybe colourscheme fly over my house on approach to BHD
Checked BHD website Arrivals page, and the time matched a BE flight from Manchester - BE7018
ta
c
Checked BHD website Arrivals page, and the time matched a BE flight from Manchester - BE7018
ta
c
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Co. Antrim UK
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There is an article today on the beeb website about residents winning first round of legal challenge into the lifting of the passenger cap. I thought this was all sorted out with the recent planning review and that the cap had been lifted with all parties happy, and that the planners were in the process of producing a final document. Financial remuneration to local residents with respect to late arrivals etc etc
Join Date: Aug 2001
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Aer Lingus at BHD?
Probably seeing things, as the eyes aren't what they used to be but I thought I saw an Aer Lingus A32x go into BHD today...
Could I be right?
Could I be right?
Join Date: Mar 2006
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might've been the charter flight for the sweden supporters from stockholm... it was in bhd around lunchtime yesterday... Dont know what colour it was though, but it definitely wasnt a shamrock
Join Date: Jun 2003
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So called "residents groups" concerned with expansion at BHD have been given leave to appeal against increasing the passenger cap by 1m annually - according to a spokesman granting of this would constitute a "change of use" for the airport and in breach of current planning legislation!
Ah hello! - what change of use would that be? BHD will still be an airport simply looking to expand, not a licensed house of ill repute!
It really is time for these "concerned" residents to be told that their continued interference in operations at BHD will no longer be tolerated! They've made their point so now's the time for all to move on!
Ah hello! - what change of use would that be? BHD will still be an airport simply looking to expand, not a licensed house of ill repute!
It really is time for these "concerned" residents to be told that their continued interference in operations at BHD will no longer be tolerated! They've made their point so now's the time for all to move on!