BRISTOL - 3
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Just reading on another rumour website that BRS is being considered by FR as 1 of 10 new routes from MLA if they can get the right deal from the authorities in MLA, other UK routes in the list were Doncaster/Sheffield and Glasgow-PIK.
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Bristol
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BD will end up part of BA one day.
Mark my words! I can see the future and I hope it is not all bloody Orange @ Lulsgate Bottom!
Mark my words! I can see the future and I hope it is not all bloody Orange @ Lulsgate Bottom!
I'm not sure how LH and SK (the (50% - 1 share) part of BMI) would view an approach from BA. I'd also be interested to see how BA would square away with their shareholders an emphatic decision to increase profitability by ditching regional operations, and then acquire an airline with significant regional operations.
I'm not saying it would never happen, but it would sure take some corporate gymnastics to make it happen. There are probably easier acquisitions than BA/BD. (BA / BE for instance).
In the consolidation of European airline travel, FR/EZY et. all will fight to consolidate the "budget" end of the market, and my view is that BA and LH are the only serious contenders to consolidate the European short/long haul operators.
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Bristol
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Thomas Cook and FCA still sharing S08
I've just had a look at a preview of Thomas Cook brochure for summer 08, they have no new routes and are still sharing on FCA, maybe these mergers were too late in the day for TCX to allocate on the based MYT a/c.
Its a shame BD dont show an intrest in BRS, they could be the perfect replacement for BACON routes, they use Embraers aswell dont they? so no likelyhood of struggling to get the pax i guess.
Intresting to see FR eyeing another potential route to MLA, I guess they'd use a MLA based a/c
Its a shame BD dont show an intrest in BRS, they could be the perfect replacement for BACON routes, they use Embraers aswell dont they? so no likelyhood of struggling to get the pax i guess.
Intresting to see FR eyeing another potential route to MLA, I guess they'd use a MLA based a/c
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Bristol
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Seriously need someone to do early & late Paris. It's a real pain at moment,
Youll b able to get about 5 hours then.
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Itd be great to see some BD's in.
Another Transavia 737 for KLM this lunchtime, and last night the RYR Dreamliner paid a visit to Bristol.
Brunel to Concorde
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Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Virtute et Industria, et Sumorsaete Ealle
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whats the likelyhood of a munich flight starting up at brs? are ezy interested at all?
I heard something about an airline fkying to GIB but has anything been announced?
I heard something about an airline fkying to GIB but has anything been announced?
An airline called Fly Gibraltar announced last year that it would commence services from Gibraltar to STN, BRS, MAN, BHX and DUB from this month.
Things seem to have dragged along and there is now doubt that it will happen at all. The airline's website is promising developments but is still sticking to the April 2007 start date which clearly won't occur.
This PPRuNe link to the Gibraltar thread might interest you.
http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=244342
Recently have been noticing the GEEBEE for BA flights come in and out of BRS on Fridays and Saturdays. It seems a little silly for just the 'one' flight to Tenerife , do GEEBEE have any ideas on possibly opening more routes out of BRS?
Easyjet have announced the double daily to paris, start booking it. It leaves at 7.40am (i think) and back at about 5.30.
The provisional CAA stats for March have been published and, perhaps surprisingly, they show a rise of 4.4% (452,197) in pax numbers over March 2006. The 12-month rolling total is 5,711,176 a rise of 6.6% compared to a year ago.
Given that BACon axed some of its routes midway through the month and the others were subject to a lot of cancellations and the inevitable running down in pax numbers, it is probably a very decent performance.
In fact, ATMs were down 7% compared to March 2006 so BRS has achieved a four and a half percent rise in pax numbers with seven per cent less aircraft movements.
The Green Lobby ought to be pleased, in so much as it will ever be pleased as long as airports and aircraft remain.
Join Date: Mar 2007
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Andrew Skipp anounced his resignation today. Press release as follows:
End of an Era at Bristol International Airport
DATE: 19 April 2007
Bristol International Airport today announced that Managing Director Andrew Skipp has decided to leave the company.
Andrew joined the airport in 1989, was appointed to the Board as Financial Director in 1992 and became Managing Director in 2002.
On behalf of the Board, Bristol International Chairman Simon Geere said: “We would like to thank Andrew for the commitment he given the Airport over the last 18 years. He has played a significant role in Bristol International’s development and growth to become one of the country’s leading regional airports. We wish him well for the future.
Andrew Skipp stated "I obviously have mixed emotions at the moment. I am incredibly proud of the huge progress made at Bristol International in the last 18 years. The airport is flourishing, and is now integral to the success of our region. I have been considering this decision for some time with a view to embarking on new and different challenges and, as the airport prepares to enter the next exciting phase of its development, it is the right time for someone new to take the helm.
Andrew has agreed to remain in post until his successor is appointed to ensure a smooth transition.
End of an Era at Bristol International Airport
DATE: 19 April 2007
Bristol International Airport today announced that Managing Director Andrew Skipp has decided to leave the company.
Andrew joined the airport in 1989, was appointed to the Board as Financial Director in 1992 and became Managing Director in 2002.
On behalf of the Board, Bristol International Chairman Simon Geere said: “We would like to thank Andrew for the commitment he given the Airport over the last 18 years. He has played a significant role in Bristol International’s development and growth to become one of the country’s leading regional airports. We wish him well for the future.
Andrew Skipp stated "I obviously have mixed emotions at the moment. I am incredibly proud of the huge progress made at Bristol International in the last 18 years. The airport is flourishing, and is now integral to the success of our region. I have been considering this decision for some time with a view to embarking on new and different challenges and, as the airport prepares to enter the next exciting phase of its development, it is the right time for someone new to take the helm.
Andrew has agreed to remain in post until his successor is appointed to ensure a smooth transition.
Join Date: May 2005
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I think, as always, there is considerably more going on behind the scenes than is public (and rightly so).
Macquarie are a demanding investor; Easyjet are a demanding customer. Working between the two must take considerable skill and stamina.
It's my opinion that the runway boycott in January started as an operational concern, but was used as a tactic by Easyjet to emphasise their influence over the direction of the airport, and particularly the fees it charges.
I work close to another Macquarie business, and they have a very robust approach to business. Typically they buy into a business that has a large fixed cost, relatively inelastic pricing, and customers who would incurr substantial costs in switching to another supplier. They press the pricing to the limits, whilst at the same time driving costs very hard, which generates a lot of cash very quickly. That in turn is used to buy another business with a similar profile, and so on and so on.
I believe there's a considerable strategic battle taking place over the future of the airport's operational style (expansion plans notwithstanding), which could ultimately be described as Easyjet's desire to create a low cost "Stanstead of the South West" and Macquarie's desire to price operations to the very max without driving Easyjet away. (See also: Ferroval and Heathrow/Gatwick/Stanstead). I suspect, sadly, that the other airlines are merely bystanders.
I, too, have been impressed by Andrew's attention to customers, and I think he's overseen some radical change that's gone extremely well. They say it's always good to go out at the top, and runway shenanigans excepted, I think he would be regarding as doing so.
Macquarie are a demanding investor; Easyjet are a demanding customer. Working between the two must take considerable skill and stamina.
It's my opinion that the runway boycott in January started as an operational concern, but was used as a tactic by Easyjet to emphasise their influence over the direction of the airport, and particularly the fees it charges.
I work close to another Macquarie business, and they have a very robust approach to business. Typically they buy into a business that has a large fixed cost, relatively inelastic pricing, and customers who would incurr substantial costs in switching to another supplier. They press the pricing to the limits, whilst at the same time driving costs very hard, which generates a lot of cash very quickly. That in turn is used to buy another business with a similar profile, and so on and so on.
I believe there's a considerable strategic battle taking place over the future of the airport's operational style (expansion plans notwithstanding), which could ultimately be described as Easyjet's desire to create a low cost "Stanstead of the South West" and Macquarie's desire to price operations to the very max without driving Easyjet away. (See also: Ferroval and Heathrow/Gatwick/Stanstead). I suspect, sadly, that the other airlines are merely bystanders.
I, too, have been impressed by Andrew's attention to customers, and I think he's overseen some radical change that's gone extremely well. They say it's always good to go out at the top, and runway shenanigans excepted, I think he would be regarding as doing so.
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It was announced this morning, i'm pretty sure the BRS crew are aware as plenty of them milling round this morning in civvies and glum faces, also over heard a couple of crew saying "so weve got until next may, then thats it" my guess is that if the FC/TUI merger is given go ahead by european commission the BRS crew may be offered jobs with FCA, BUT... thats just my personal though on it.
Join Date: Oct 2004
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Can confirm that Watabench's comment is correct.
Its not going to end there either. Prepare for another big announcement regarding another airline and a different base......
Its not going to end there either. Prepare for another big announcement regarding another airline and a different base......
Join Date: May 2005
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This recent news (and more apparently to come) might give a better understanding to why Andrew Skip decided to move on.
I suspect that Easyjet does affect airlines' perceptions of Bristol Airport quite considerably. For example, I don't really enjoy queuing with the "surge" of EZY passengers in the morning, and I can't see why EZY would offer to pay a penny more to reduce security times.
Similarly, I would expect that running ground handling at BRS, with EZY as the largest customer, means that costs are kept extremely well controlled and the operation run as tight as possible. So when things go wrong (as they inevitably will), there's simply no slack to compensate. EZY might simply accept that disruption as part of the risks involved with an LCC operation, but other operators can't/won't/shouldn't have to. If the disruption and cost impact on their business becomes material, they'll move somewhere more predictable.
I suspect that Easyjet does affect airlines' perceptions of Bristol Airport quite considerably. For example, I don't really enjoy queuing with the "surge" of EZY passengers in the morning, and I can't see why EZY would offer to pay a penny more to reduce security times.
Similarly, I would expect that running ground handling at BRS, with EZY as the largest customer, means that costs are kept extremely well controlled and the operation run as tight as possible. So when things go wrong (as they inevitably will), there's simply no slack to compensate. EZY might simply accept that disruption as part of the risks involved with an LCC operation, but other operators can't/won't/shouldn't have to. If the disruption and cost impact on their business becomes material, they'll move somewhere more predictable.
Join Date: Nov 2006
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Mathers,
As far as I've been made aware, Excel have been doing very well from Bristol to date, so I can't see them moving back to Cardiff-and I'm not sure what the other big announcement could be.......any ideas anyone?!
Watabench,
With the merger of Thomsonfly and First Choice into 'TUI Choice', do you think that the Bristol based FCA and TOM crews will be merged together at BRS to create minimum job losses or base transfer requirements? I hope so.
It could be looked at from the point of view that TOM aren't closing their base at BRS, simply merging it with FCA's base there?
As has been said before in previous posts, it does looks like TOM want to concentrate their efforts on CWL and FCA's theirs on BRS. However, when/ if the merger goes through, surely it's just going to be the same airline; 'TUI Choice', operating from two different bases again?!
From the loads I've seen of FCA and TOM out of BRS, both appear to be doing well, and there seems to be enough demand to keep the current capacity that the two airlines have operating independently at the moment. I can't see the logic in loosing the TOM aircraft next summer, as it just seems to be reducing the capacity of the 'TUI Choice' product from BRS when the merger has taken place.
As far as I've been made aware, Excel have been doing very well from Bristol to date, so I can't see them moving back to Cardiff-and I'm not sure what the other big announcement could be.......any ideas anyone?!
Watabench,
With the merger of Thomsonfly and First Choice into 'TUI Choice', do you think that the Bristol based FCA and TOM crews will be merged together at BRS to create minimum job losses or base transfer requirements? I hope so.
It could be looked at from the point of view that TOM aren't closing their base at BRS, simply merging it with FCA's base there?
As has been said before in previous posts, it does looks like TOM want to concentrate their efforts on CWL and FCA's theirs on BRS. However, when/ if the merger goes through, surely it's just going to be the same airline; 'TUI Choice', operating from two different bases again?!
From the loads I've seen of FCA and TOM out of BRS, both appear to be doing well, and there seems to be enough demand to keep the current capacity that the two airlines have operating independently at the moment. I can't see the logic in loosing the TOM aircraft next summer, as it just seems to be reducing the capacity of the 'TUI Choice' product from BRS when the merger has taken place.