BELFAST - 2

[gate 22]

How come in 2000 before the BD move figures for the regions to LHR were (2006 in brackets) figures are approx Bfs - 1,168,000, (665,000) Edi -1,700,000 (1,495,000) Gla - 1,500,000 (1,284,000), how come Belfast is so different from the other regions, I would say very similar, in fact as there are no trains buses from belfast/london there would be higher proportion of fliers. So you would say that the massive decline only experienced at belfast is Easyjets fault, and that security congestion at Lhr would ironically put belfast passengers off and not scottish. BFS london flights remain stable as more direct options is taking any growth away from London, while BHD is constantly falling away. (As are most other options from BHD)

[Straightahead]

If you consider 3-4 years ago BFS had only one direct link to the outside world and that was KLM to AMS.To get anywhere from BFS you had to go to LHR.Now with so many direct options from BFS there is no need to go to LHR.This is probably why pax figures are down on BFS-LHR hence the downsize in aircraft.

[Belboy]

The increased range of destinations may well be a contributory factor for the decrease in the LHR traffic, but there are many others, not least of which are the fares charged by bmi. The shorter hours at the city also have an impact, I regularly have to return via BFS as the last flight to BHD doesn't suit my schedule, and I have met others who have to do the same.
It is only a matter of time before someone else provides competition on the only route in the bmi network that does not have competition, and I look forward to it.

[kwoody]

Hi,

Who are the charter operators this summer? MyTravel and First choice again?

Thanks

[gate 22]

Due to still poor figures NCL-BHD despite increase in flights, do you think that BE may shift this operation to Durham, and give up competition with EZY, as they have done at BRS/LPL. I think they had 3 flights per day NCL/BHD for most of April (2800 approx passengers), Leeds/bhd 3 flights per day (6500 approx) however Doncaster has 2 per day (2800 approx) probably higher yield (no competition). Maybe Durham is too close to Doncaster. GLA/EDI routes seem to be holding their own against EZY.

[wingman863]

I'm on the edinburgh routes with flybe quite regularly. Use sleazyjet occasionally too and their flights are nearly always full. Flybe is rarely more than half full and added to this, it's a much smaller aircraft that they use. I havn't seen the figures but it'd be a miracle if they're making much of a profit.

[Wellington Bomber]

Gate 22

Durham to Doncaster is about 2 hours traffic permiting. hardly too close

[myairways]

belfast charters this year

Hello There,
Belfast Will Be Operated By Myt And Fca As Per Normal And Also Thomas Cook Airlines Will Do Selected Flight Out Of There Belfast Brochure From June To September The Aircraft Will Be Brought Over From England Or Subed To Fca, Myt. There Will Also Be Thomsonfly Will Be Doing There Routes However I Think They Have Added More Flights For This Year.

[EI-BUD]

747 into BFS

Last Thursday I was driving away from BFS and on approach was a 747 aircraft, I couldnt work out what the airline was or if it was Freighter or passenger. I also couldnt get near the pc to check where the arrival was.

It was on approach at about 1315 on Thursday afternoon. Does anyone know where it was from and what airline?

In addition, I heard that on Sunday (tomorrow ) that there is a very signifificant Fire drill being carried out that will try to simulate a plane crash and be a near to real life situation for the firecrew at the airport.
Should be interesting!

Ei-bud

[kwoody]

Thanks myairways. EI-BUD do you know what time this fire drill will be happening at?

[richardnei]

The 747 was Kilitta Air operating a cargo flight from BFS-YYZ. Has been operating every couple of weeks over the pass few months. Always routes AMS/BFS/YYZ.

The Emergency Drill on Sunday will take place from about 10:00. I think the crash is at 10:45.

[BFS/BHD]

I believe there is also a fire drill happening at BHD tomorrow.

[spanishflea]

The drill is involving a flight from BHD to LDY diverting into BFS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/n...nd/6668555.stm

[gate 22]

What do folk think are the chances of Belfast becoming the 1st UK base for Aer Lingus.
Personally I think that they would be quite high
I heard they are initially basing 3 airbuses at this new base.
1. LONDON HEATHROW - It would take one of these all day to operate back and forward to LHR plus one other aircraft for a rotation if say they were to have 6 per day. This route is a winner, would say its already making BD nervious about there Belfast Heathrow link (rumours of talk with BFS). Aer Lingus have experience of this exact route/competition at Dublin.
2. With so many east european workers in the whole of Ireland the North is greatly under represented in relation to options with thousands from Hungary, Portugal, Poland, Latvia etc etc a couple of flights a week to each key city would easily use up another airbus.
3. Belfast is still lacking a few key west european cities eg Frankfurt, Brussels, Copenhagen etc this would keep the other airbus busy.
4. Long haul future development. With Aer Lingus considering cities in the far east, what about some flights originating in Belfast and routing through Dublin to Dubai/Hong Kong/ Austrailia.
People tend to rule Belfast out when Bristol/ Birmingham/Glasgow are mentioned but taking into consideration some areas in the Republic which would find Belfast handier than Dublin you are talking about a catchment of not far of 2 million. In fact BFS/BHD combined traffic is around 7.1 million.

[en2r]

I heard they are initially basing 3 airbuses at this new base.

No there will only be 2 new A320s for the new base.

1. LONDON HEATHROW - It would take one of these all day to operate back and forward to LHR plus one other aircraft for a rotation if say they were to have 6 per day. This route is a winner, would say its already making BD nervious about there Belfast Heathrow link (rumours of talk with BFS). Aer Lingus have experience of this exact route/competition at Dublin.

LHR is key. A BFS base will almost definitely not be set up if the can't get a codeshare with BA for LHR. However there is the small problem of slots. I heard before that they have slots leased out, so perhaps these could be used, or a rotation dropped from the underperforming Shannon route. 6 flights per day is highly unlikely, they simply would not be able to get their hands on that many slots. However they would need to get the agreement of the Irish Government for any change in use of the slots.

Personally I'd tip BHX for the new base. It has a lot less competition than BFS and a much better and more affluent catchment area. They could operate routes to Madrid, Berlin, Venice, Vienna etc. where there are currently no competitors as well as operating the flights to Dublin and Cork which are currently operated by Dublin/Cork based aircraft. Lots of Northern Ireland travellers travel via Dublin anyway (over 1 million per year according to Wikipedia), so if they just advertised more in the North they could probably attract more people to travel via Dublin without actually setting up a base in Belfast.

[gate 22]

Well if only 2 aircraft are to be based at this airport then that's better news from a Belfast point of view. Two aircraft considering Lhr would be utilised to their full potential. Any gaps at Belfast will be used eventually eg when EZY get more aircraft or J2/baby/BE expand, this will take away the need to travel to Dub, so EI could come in now and clean-up.

[Tower Ranger]

" Come in now and clean up "

I must admit you do cheer me up no end. There is already so much competition on London routes that it would be a bit of a gamble to start another one.

[Wee Weasley Welshman]

Right. I see.

You can currently fly to or from Stansted (9 times a day), Luton (5 times a day) or (6 times a day) Gatwick with easyjet at an aveage ticket price of £43.

Thats 9+5+6=20 * A319's with 156 seats = 3,120 seats into AND out of Northern Ireland to London ALONE. Not to mention Bristol, Newcastle, Liverpool or the Scottish Airports...


Discuss: A business plan that will yield a decent profit from offering an airline seat out of BFS to London.

That would be a laugh to read.

WWW

[flyingbug]

WWW

I think the point is, they are not talking about flying from Belfast to Luton, Stansted or Gatwick, but to LONDON LHR.

[Wee Weasley Welshman]

I get that.

But to whom is LHR such a boon?

Handy for the West End and a night In Town. Despite the £45 taxi fare or the £22 rail ticket.

Otherwise anyone wanting to go to London for business or pleasure is better off tackling it from them South, East or West (Gatwick, Luton, Stansted).

Thiefrow is best enjoyed as a Long Haul connector.


WWW