BIRMINGHAM - 4
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Solihull
Age: 60
Posts: 3,327
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Routes
Yes very slim pickings at the moment.
Skywings start their second Sunday flight this week then by mid July it
has four sectors every day except Thursday I believe.
Ryanair add a Saturday evening extra Montpellier from 2/7/2011. However
they never bothered to fill the 13.00/17.30 Tuesday and Thursday slot for
one of their based aircraft. My guess of LDY was hopelessly wrong and to
me this speaks volumes if FR can't even make money in high-summer at BHX.
I suppose the official line is the gap is to build in any unforeseen maintenance
issues although FR's time-keeping at BHX is usually of a high standard.
Also one aircraft finishes quite early on a couple of other days as well.
Ryanair "usual" winter flights yet to be released - BTS, BZG, GRO, LDY MLA and GRO although we should find out about the latter shortly.
Aer Lingus have moved the 4th DUB - BHX flight on a Monday to a
Thursday arriving quite late. The 4th Friday flight has been re-timed as well
to match the Thursday timings.
Other than the demise of Frankfurt I have not noticed any other flybe route
changes except the usual high-summer business reductions and French
increases (although fewer destinations compared to last year).
Also did you see the press release with the May passenger figures on the
bhx website, no neither did I. This is actually a smart move as there are only
so many ridiculous excuses you can give and it does present a negative image albeit true.
Although I admired Manchester during their dark days the way the pax figures were still released within days of the end of the month.
Pete
Skywings start their second Sunday flight this week then by mid July it
has four sectors every day except Thursday I believe.
Ryanair add a Saturday evening extra Montpellier from 2/7/2011. However
they never bothered to fill the 13.00/17.30 Tuesday and Thursday slot for
one of their based aircraft. My guess of LDY was hopelessly wrong and to
me this speaks volumes if FR can't even make money in high-summer at BHX.
I suppose the official line is the gap is to build in any unforeseen maintenance
issues although FR's time-keeping at BHX is usually of a high standard.
Also one aircraft finishes quite early on a couple of other days as well.
Ryanair "usual" winter flights yet to be released - BTS, BZG, GRO, LDY MLA and GRO although we should find out about the latter shortly.
Aer Lingus have moved the 4th DUB - BHX flight on a Monday to a
Thursday arriving quite late. The 4th Friday flight has been re-timed as well
to match the Thursday timings.
Other than the demise of Frankfurt I have not noticed any other flybe route
changes except the usual high-summer business reductions and French
increases (although fewer destinations compared to last year).
Also did you see the press release with the May passenger figures on the
bhx website, no neither did I. This is actually a smart move as there are only
so many ridiculous excuses you can give and it does present a negative image albeit true.
Although I admired Manchester during their dark days the way the pax figures were still released within days of the end of the month.
Pete
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Dublin
Posts: 2,348
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ryanair "usual" winter flights yet to be released - BTS, BZG, GRO, LDY MLA and GRO although we should find out about the latter shortly.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Solihull
Age: 60
Posts: 3,327
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Monarch & Ryanair
Jamie
Do we know anything more re Malta and LDY as no sign of them being released?
Monarch major reductions this winter.
Things seem to be going from bad to worse.
This is mainly the last week in November, first two weeks
of December, the last two weeks of January and first week
of February.
FUE stops in the above periods and it is only once weekly anyway.
ACE reduces to once weekly at times compared to three last
winter.
LPA reduces to weekly compared to two weekly.
LCA reduces to weekly at times and mainly two and
occasionally three.
TFS fairs better but the odd Monday flight is chopped
and Thursday in the New Year and the second Tuesday and
Friday starts later in February.
Malaga, Alicante and Faro all see reductions but similar
to last year.
Lanzerote is a shock as FR have not increased but FUE is
a bit more understandable as FR did not operate last winter.
Pete
Do we know anything more re Malta and LDY as no sign of them being released?
Monarch major reductions this winter.
Things seem to be going from bad to worse.
This is mainly the last week in November, first two weeks
of December, the last two weeks of January and first week
of February.
FUE stops in the above periods and it is only once weekly anyway.
ACE reduces to once weekly at times compared to three last
winter.
LPA reduces to weekly compared to two weekly.
LCA reduces to weekly at times and mainly two and
occasionally three.
TFS fairs better but the odd Monday flight is chopped
and Thursday in the New Year and the second Tuesday and
Friday starts later in February.
Malaga, Alicante and Faro all see reductions but similar
to last year.
Lanzerote is a shock as FR have not increased but FUE is
a bit more understandable as FR did not operate last winter.
Pete
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Dublin
Posts: 2,348
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Do we know anything more re Malta and LDY as no sign of them being released?
I would say the LDY is gone but if my menory is correct it was uncertain if it would operate last winter as well. The same goes for Malta this summer so I don't know but if it will it should be up by July.
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Tracey Island
Posts: 1,496
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've seen it a few times where two 757's are parked next to each on the south gates with neither being attached to an airbridge, yet the third parking stand is left vacant or has a Aer Lingus ATR parked up. To me it seems rather pointless to have smaller aircraft that don't use the jet-bridges parking up at the pier and stopping the larger jets doing so because of space. Now that it the airport is one terminal is there a plan for other airlines to use to the old Eurohub side? Seems a waste that all those jetbridges go to waste unless Flybe's Embraers are in.
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Does anyone else think its about time the marketing team at bhx came back from there 4 year sabaticle and did something about the sorry state of affairs we call a route network
PS its very worrying that FR did not fill a vacant Tues-Thurs afternoon summer slot at BHX, it would appear that even the 'king' of low cost cannot make money at BHX what hope for anyone else??
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Coventry
Age: 48
Posts: 1,946
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Does anyone else think its about time the marketing team at bhx came back from there 4 year sabaticle and did something about the sorry state of affairs we call a route network
I worry that all this investment in the runway extension will also produce, well, null points. Looking at what MAN has right now, considering BHX's proximity to London, it ias hard to think of many long haul routes which will materialise from this, and harder still to see how they will pay for all that A45 diversion & asphalt.What BHX needs first is decent connections to major European capitals & other key cities - if we can't get flights to MAD & BER, how are we ever going to attract routes to BJS & HKG etc?
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 1,065
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
jabird - I agree, the new terminal facilities (including the new pier which is a vast improvement on the last) have hardly resulted in a rush of new carriers or routes so can hardly see that a longer runway will make a difference. Whenever I have used the pier it has been like a ghost town, great views of a quiet airfield, lots of empty seats and some very bored staff in Costa Coffee and WHSmiths......so a longer runway I don't think will result in any new business apart from perhaps a few extra long haul charters and maybe just very maybe an extra US destination. Of course, if it had been done properly when it should have been back in the 1960's then perhaps it would be a very different story today at BHX, hindsight is a wonderful thing
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Coventry
Age: 48
Posts: 1,946
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
GF,
I am even more confused by BHX mgt's support for HS2 - assuming that still includes the link into LHR. That would be a guaranteed way to suck away any high yielding LH routes!
If they think pax will come OUT of London to use BHX, I think they are even more misguided, especially now London is getting its 6th airport - or is that 7th 8th or 9th, I lose count!
Am I missing something in the details of HS2? I initially thought it might be a way to fill all those multistoreys at better daily rates than the holiday crowd spending a week in Malaga - but the proposed station is the other side of the NEC site!
I am even more confused by BHX mgt's support for HS2 - assuming that still includes the link into LHR. That would be a guaranteed way to suck away any high yielding LH routes!
If they think pax will come OUT of London to use BHX, I think they are even more misguided, especially now London is getting its 6th airport - or is that 7th 8th or 9th, I lose count!
Am I missing something in the details of HS2? I initially thought it might be a way to fill all those multistoreys at better daily rates than the holiday crowd spending a week in Malaga - but the proposed station is the other side of the NEC site!
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Birmingham
Age: 50
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
HS2 Route
I'd say the Birmingham Airport Mgmt are in support as the proposed route goes from Birmingham to Euston....yes a link would enable people to get to Heathrow via the Heathrow Express (£32 return) but I believe with the time involved people would think twice about going to Heathrow when Birmingham is effectively easier to get to 
http://highspeedrail.dft.gov.uk/site...y-plan-map.pdf
http://highspeedrail.dft.gov.uk/site...y-plan-map.pdf
the proposed station is the other side of the NEC site
Just say it takes 40 mins to get from London, you would have to allow 10 mins to get from the new NEC station with all your luggage to the presumably new sort of train to take you to the airport, then at least 5-10 mins to actually travel to the airport.
Whats the time saving from the current method? 5-10 mins maybe? What will the cost of travel on the HS2 route be? more than Virgin currently charge I guess. If its built then the BBC can always get the Top Gear boffins to do a comparasion, as they did from London to Edinburgh a couple of years ago.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Hobbiton, middle England
Posts: 86
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
HS2 Station
According to the plans, there will be a direct monorail link from the HS2 station straight to the airport. I guess it would take 5mins?
As for a link to existing Birmingham International station I can't remember. Maybe it stops there on way to airport?
As for a link to existing Birmingham International station I can't remember. Maybe it stops there on way to airport?
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Coventry
Age: 48
Posts: 1,946
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
ElBogster,
Re: Euston - The current trade off on many routes from BHX is - shall I use my local, more expensive airport or go down to London for higher frequency. Often the local airport wins, especially as higher fare is offset by not paying for petrol / fare to get to a London airport.
Do this in reverse - shall I ignore all of London's (9 by then?) airports and go out to the sticks to use a more expensive, less frequent service, not to mention an extortionate rail fare on top?
Re: LHR - my understanding is there will be a stop at Old Oak Cmm / Wormwood Scrubs for tfer onto Crossrail - or a facility out by the M25.
I just don't think HS Rail can work to regional airports - my suspicion is that we will end up with a white elephant like Lyon Satolas, except we won't get the impressive architecture that goes with it
Re: Euston - The current trade off on many routes from BHX is - shall I use my local, more expensive airport or go down to London for higher frequency. Often the local airport wins, especially as higher fare is offset by not paying for petrol / fare to get to a London airport.
Do this in reverse - shall I ignore all of London's (9 by then?) airports and go out to the sticks to use a more expensive, less frequent service, not to mention an extortionate rail fare on top?
Re: LHR - my understanding is there will be a stop at Old Oak Cmm / Wormwood Scrubs for tfer onto Crossrail - or a facility out by the M25.
I just don't think HS Rail can work to regional airports - my suspicion is that we will end up with a white elephant like Lyon Satolas, except we won't get the impressive architecture that goes with it
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Home
Posts: 1,948
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Air Malta restructuring plan by Ernst & Young as reported by The Times of Malta.
The report suggests that routes with low profitability and high competition such as Birmingham, Palermo, Tunis and Turin are eliminated. It also proposes reducing the frequency on some commercially viable routes like Gatwick.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So, the Prime Minister of China, Wen Jiabao, decides to visit the UK.
He is one of the most prestigious politicial leaders in the world, perhaps more important than the Pope.
Wen Jiabao was to visit the MG factory at Longbridge so he arranged for his direct flight to arrive to arrive at Birmingham Airport last Saturday.
For an airport so short of positive news, surely, I thought, the arrival of the Chinese Prime Minister on his B744 directly into Birmingham Airport is newsworthy?
Silly me, far more important to the highly paid marketing people, the latest News item posted on the BHX website excitedly tells us that the airport has a new shop, selling trainers.
He is one of the most prestigious politicial leaders in the world, perhaps more important than the Pope.
Wen Jiabao was to visit the MG factory at Longbridge so he arranged for his direct flight to arrive to arrive at Birmingham Airport last Saturday.
For an airport so short of positive news, surely, I thought, the arrival of the Chinese Prime Minister on his B744 directly into Birmingham Airport is newsworthy?
Silly me, far more important to the highly paid marketing people, the latest News item posted on the BHX website excitedly tells us that the airport has a new shop, selling trainers.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Solihull
Age: 60
Posts: 3,327
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Air Malta
TSR2
You have either found an old article or Air Malta need to change the company
they are dealing with or the Journo is a bit behind the time. The closure of
the BHX route was announced over six months ago.
Air Malta ceased inbound to BHX on 30/04/2011 but due to a delay on the last flight the final departure made May - the early hours of 1/5/2011.
Sad to see them go but they sure didn't hang around after the Harps started.
This winter sees.....................nothing as yet with FR showing a big
zero on BHX-MLA although it took them ages to release summer 2011.
Pete
You have either found an old article or Air Malta need to change the company
they are dealing with or the Journo is a bit behind the time. The closure of
the BHX route was announced over six months ago.
Air Malta ceased inbound to BHX on 30/04/2011 but due to a delay on the last flight the final departure made May - the early hours of 1/5/2011.
Sad to see them go but they sure didn't hang around after the Harps started.
This winter sees.....................nothing as yet with FR showing a big
zero on BHX-MLA although it took them ages to release summer 2011.
Pete
Last edited by OltonPete; 27th Jun 2011 at 20:57. Reason: added text
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: MIA-IBZ
Posts: 563
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Did any other crew last night have a problem with laser's?
"ATC warned us of a blue laser around Leamington. We had a green one from Kenilworth & another one from just east of the field straight down the approach" from a friend.
fr-
"ATC warned us of a blue laser around Leamington. We had a green one from Kenilworth & another one from just east of the field straight down the approach" from a friend.
fr-
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Solihull
Age: 60
Posts: 3,327
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Mahan
back at two weekly but for how long?
BBC News - Birmingham Airport's Tehran flight grounded in dispute
Pete
BBC News - Birmingham Airport's Tehran flight grounded in dispute
Pete