BIRMINGHAM - 4
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Exactly....I cannot understand the rush by some people to champion Ryanair at their airport...There is a perfectly good reason why they are thin on the ground at BHX. They want the airport to pay them to come in and have everything for nothing. Their passengers do not spend enough in airport outlets to justify giving into the blackmailing. BHX has not given in to these tactics. Notice when O'leary threw his dummy over BHX not giving in he did not pull the Dublin routes.....So good for BHX standing up to him. The airport is a business at the end of the day. Those airports paying Ryanair are not exactly flush with the rewards.
Join Date: Aug 2000
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Giddy has it spot on. Ryanair are the airline you want if you just can't get anyone else and you don't need any money to run your airport. Pax numbers would increase but the airport itself would not see an extra penny. Ryanair pay no one for anything and are rightly proud of it.
However, if you are interested in seeing serious development at BHX they are bad news. Baby, Monarch and Fly Be will leave or seriously scale back, it will hurt Thomson Fly and the other charters and Easy will totally lose interest. That leaves a handfull of full service carriers to pay for your runway extension and new terminal facilities. Ryanair will not contribute in anyway. Ryanair are great at portraying themselves as the champion of "the poor man" and the passenger's friend. However, they are firmly behind the constant pressure on Ts & Cs across the industry in all areas and provide by far the worst customer service in the sector! If the airport believe anything has changed they are deluded. In airline terms they are the ebola virus !
Having a few extra 737s floating around and few new routes may look good and keep a few spotters happy but will ultimately provide nothing in terms of airport development.
However, if you are interested in seeing serious development at BHX they are bad news. Baby, Monarch and Fly Be will leave or seriously scale back, it will hurt Thomson Fly and the other charters and Easy will totally lose interest. That leaves a handfull of full service carriers to pay for your runway extension and new terminal facilities. Ryanair will not contribute in anyway. Ryanair are great at portraying themselves as the champion of "the poor man" and the passenger's friend. However, they are firmly behind the constant pressure on Ts & Cs across the industry in all areas and provide by far the worst customer service in the sector! If the airport believe anything has changed they are deluded. In airline terms they are the ebola virus !
Having a few extra 737s floating around and few new routes may look good and keep a few spotters happy but will ultimately provide nothing in terms of airport development.
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Having a few extra 737s floating around and few new routes may look good and keep a few spotters happy but will ultimately provide nothing in terms of airport development.
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That said, and given BHX's history, no doubt they'll go at it with a stupid grin on the face and their eyes firmly closed!
Join Date: Aug 2007
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October Passenger Figures
More good news......
From the BHX website
October 2007 Passenger Figures
Birmingham International Airport (BIA) handled 850,034 passengers during October, including 607,979 scheduled passengers and 242,055 charter passengers spread across the two passenger terminals; an increase of 2.8% over the previous year.
John Morris, Head of Corporate & Community Affairs said: “I am delighted that Birmingham continues to grow, offering more choice and exciting new destinations. More people than ever are choosing to travel from the Midlands’ premier gateway rather than face the hassle of less convenient Airports. “
In October, growth was achieved on Non EU routes of 8.5% and EU of 5.9%. Domestic routes saw an increase of 2.3%, and the Channel Isles an increase of 12.2%. Long-haul routes to Asia saw a positive increase of 10.1%.
Scheduled routes that experienced growth in October includes: Bratislava (+298.5%), Palma (+135.7%), Aberdeen (+110.8%), Murcia (+69.4%), Barcelona (+49.6%), Hanover (+39.4%), Malta (+34.4%), Zurich (+30.5%), Cologne (+26.2%), Arrecife (+22.9%), Mahon (+20.3%), Gothenburg (+20.2%), Lyon (+19.6%), Faro (+16.5%), Krakow (+14.1%), Glasgow (+11.8%), Alicante (+10.3%), Düsseldorf (+6.4%), Inverness (+5.3%) and Larnaca (+4.4%).
Charter traffic which experienced growth includes: Bulgaria (+46.1%), Egypt (+34.4%), Morocco (+34%), Malta (+31.2%), Turkey (+15.2%), Greece (+11.4%) and Portugal (+4.8%).
Scheduled traffic accounted for 71.5% of the total passenger traffic in October whilst charter passengers made up the remaining 28.5%.
From the BHX website
October 2007 Passenger Figures
Birmingham International Airport (BIA) handled 850,034 passengers during October, including 607,979 scheduled passengers and 242,055 charter passengers spread across the two passenger terminals; an increase of 2.8% over the previous year.
John Morris, Head of Corporate & Community Affairs said: “I am delighted that Birmingham continues to grow, offering more choice and exciting new destinations. More people than ever are choosing to travel from the Midlands’ premier gateway rather than face the hassle of less convenient Airports. “
In October, growth was achieved on Non EU routes of 8.5% and EU of 5.9%. Domestic routes saw an increase of 2.3%, and the Channel Isles an increase of 12.2%. Long-haul routes to Asia saw a positive increase of 10.1%.
Scheduled routes that experienced growth in October includes: Bratislava (+298.5%), Palma (+135.7%), Aberdeen (+110.8%), Murcia (+69.4%), Barcelona (+49.6%), Hanover (+39.4%), Malta (+34.4%), Zurich (+30.5%), Cologne (+26.2%), Arrecife (+22.9%), Mahon (+20.3%), Gothenburg (+20.2%), Lyon (+19.6%), Faro (+16.5%), Krakow (+14.1%), Glasgow (+11.8%), Alicante (+10.3%), Düsseldorf (+6.4%), Inverness (+5.3%) and Larnaca (+4.4%).
Charter traffic which experienced growth includes: Bulgaria (+46.1%), Egypt (+34.4%), Morocco (+34%), Malta (+31.2%), Turkey (+15.2%), Greece (+11.4%) and Portugal (+4.8%).
Scheduled traffic accounted for 71.5% of the total passenger traffic in October whilst charter passengers made up the remaining 28.5%.
Join Date: Jul 2000
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If you will permit a comment from someone with no connection whatever with BHX, it seems to this outside observer that BHX have done rather well in the past 3 years or so.
Air India: Well, they should be at BHX given the size of the local Indian ethnic community. Plenty of scope for more frequencies and destinations in India
Monarch: They have built a substantial scheduled operation from nothing. A good quality product with plenty of scope for growth, I would have thought.
BMI Baby: Not everyone's favourite, but they have at least committed to a decent sized operation even if they do change routes around a bit.
IT sector: At least BHX still has a substantial presence from TOM/TCX etc unlike some airports (eg LTN) where this sector has contracted greatly
I would have thought their is plenty of scope for another Indian airline to use BHX, ideally Jet Airways which are growing phenomenally fast.
The scope for more routes to eastern Europe cities is huge.
And bring back the daily AA to Chicago!
BHX has no doubt suffered from the rapidly growing loco presence at EMA, but it still has plenty of potential. Things are starting to look up.
Air India: Well, they should be at BHX given the size of the local Indian ethnic community. Plenty of scope for more frequencies and destinations in India
Monarch: They have built a substantial scheduled operation from nothing. A good quality product with plenty of scope for growth, I would have thought.
BMI Baby: Not everyone's favourite, but they have at least committed to a decent sized operation even if they do change routes around a bit.
IT sector: At least BHX still has a substantial presence from TOM/TCX etc unlike some airports (eg LTN) where this sector has contracted greatly
I would have thought their is plenty of scope for another Indian airline to use BHX, ideally Jet Airways which are growing phenomenally fast.
The scope for more routes to eastern Europe cities is huge.
And bring back the daily AA to Chicago!
BHX has no doubt suffered from the rapidly growing loco presence at EMA, but it still has plenty of potential. Things are starting to look up.
Join Date: Aug 2006
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Whoops another departure.....
I see today that Globespan have launched their Summer 08 Toronto YHM programme - no surprises that after this summers well reported operational fiascos they have a considerably down sized programme that unfortunately does not include BHX (but of course does include the golden boy de jour, BRS). If the AI rumours prove to be true (DEL-YYZ direct on 777ER from Feb) then BHX could be left with just the Transat seasonal service its the only Canadian link on what is already a very threadbare transatlantic schedule. And of course its another lost carrier and destination..........which takes the grand total of ghost airlines to four (so far??) for 2008 (Sky Europe, Norwegian, TUI Fly and now Globespan) 
. Surely there has to be some good news for BHX soon - no one wants a glorified retail park with a few planes on show to keep the kids entertained whilst chomping on Burger King between shopping purchases now do they??!!! 
. Surely there has to be some good news for BHX soon - no one wants a glorified retail park with a few planes on show to keep the kids entertained whilst chomping on Burger King between shopping purchases now do they??!!!
Join Date: Aug 2007
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It seems a long time ago now that BHX management and Mike Whitby announced that the Runway Extension Planning Application would be submitted 'in the Summer'.
Unfortunately they didn't specify which summer.
The urgency inherent in the initial announcements seems to have dissipated leaving in doubt prospects for completing the work in time for the 2012 Olympics.
Perhaps BHX is now sitting on its hands waiting for the CVT appeal to be heard, after all, the Coventry New Terminal application was the excuse they used for delaying their BHX Master Plan for 12 months.
Unfortunately they didn't specify which summer.
The urgency inherent in the initial announcements seems to have dissipated leaving in doubt prospects for completing the work in time for the 2012 Olympics.
Perhaps BHX is now sitting on its hands waiting for the CVT appeal to be heard, after all, the Coventry New Terminal application was the excuse they used for delaying their BHX Master Plan for 12 months.
Join Date: Jan 2007
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The new board gave the OK to carry on with the planning application. It should be lodged around the end of this month with luck....The new owners have only been on board for a few weeks. Don't be so glum...
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Runway extension and Masterplan
Alvechurch
As per press release on BHX website. Runway extension planning application is to be submitted before end of 2007 and masterplan to be published by end of November.
As per press release on BHX website. Runway extension planning application is to be submitted before end of 2007 and masterplan to be published by end of November.
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elmdonlad
I must admit it hadn't registered with me that the Master Plan published in the Spring was in fact a draft Master Plan so the real Master Plan is nearly two years late.
Should we expect any significant changes to the draft version?
call100
Well yes, I am a bit glum at the moment, I'll try to be more positive from now on.
I must admit it hadn't registered with me that the Master Plan published in the Spring was in fact a draft Master Plan so the real Master Plan is nearly two years late.
Should we expect any significant changes to the draft version?
call100
Well yes, I am a bit glum at the moment, I'll try to be more positive from now on.
Join Date: Jun 2006
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Snow
While at work listening to ground to find out what diverts we had on the deck as no one had any info as the midlands ground to a halt when the snow came. I heard the EK38 calling ground saying there is veichle on fire!!!! After ground checked with checker one to see if he could confirm the fire, which he could not as he was clearing the runway. Airport fire brigade became involved and came rushing to the scene, Also as our office is close to the security point, the domestic or external fire brigade were arriving. So what was on fire then, well nothing it was a de-icing rig warming up and subsequently smoking in the cold temps. Quite simply ridiculous. Has the EK flight deck not seen a deicing rig before??
Another point about last night was how long it took the airport to get open the runway, what they were playing at I don't know but we seemed to start getting the diversions and then sduddenly we closed for well over 2 hours subsequently losing a lot of flights to MAN. Clearly safety is priority but to take 2 hours plus to get the runway open especially once the snow stopped and have other stations open such as EMA and LTN open after 45mins seems ridiculous..
All of this also came after the airport released a snow warning at 2 o clock in the afternoon.
Oh well.......
Rant over...
barry
Quite simply ridiculous. Has the EK flight deck not seen a deicing rig before?? Another point about last night was how long it took the airport to get open the runway, what they were playing at I don't know but we seemed to start getting the diversions and then sduddenly we closed for well over 2 hours subsequently losing a lot of flights to MAN. Clearly safety is priority but to take 2 hours plus to get the runway open especially once the snow stopped and have other stations open such as EMA and LTN open after 45mins seems ridiculous..
All of this also came after the airport released a snow warning at 2 o clock in the afternoon.
Oh well.......Rant over...
barry
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Fire or not
A very expensive aircraft, better to be safe than sorry.
Another forum reported that the deicing didnt work as it needed sweeping first. Perhaps a time saving gamble that didnt pay off. You win some and loose some.
Centre cities
Another forum reported that the deicing didnt work as it needed sweeping first. Perhaps a time saving gamble that didnt pay off. You win some and loose some.
Centre cities
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Snow ops are not fun, they are damned hard work. Luckily we don't get many these days.
Bazza. I thought it would have been obvious but, It does not matter what time you get the snow warning. YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL THE SNOW FALLS. So it is irrelevant really.
Bazza. I thought it would have been obvious but, It does not matter what time you get the snow warning. YOU CAN'T DO ANYTHING UNTIL THE SNOW FALLS
. So it is irrelevant really.
Last edited by call100; 21st Nov 2007 at 14:36.
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Night Closures
Apologies if I missed it, but why the early night closures at the moment?
Flew back from Glasgow last night on baby and everybody was in a hurry to get back before 10pm otherwise, it was a diversion. Caused panic for the person who was picking me up cause she thought I was on Flybe and that ended up in MAN with a coach trip to follow.
Flew back from Glasgow last night on baby and everybody was in a hurry to get back before 10pm otherwise, it was a diversion. Caused panic for the person who was picking me up cause she thought I was on Flybe and that ended up in MAN with a coach trip to follow.
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Closure due to runway work, happens every November 3/4 nights a week for 3 weeks. It's the quietest time of year so causes least disruption, can cause plenty of headaches for the airline ops people though especially with things like French ATC on strike again.
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Repairs are badly needed, some are in preparation for the resurfacing of the taxiways with tarmac. As groundhog says we use this period every year to catch up on anything needing major work.
Any aircraft not within 20 miles of BHX by 2200 will not be let in. So any delays are crucial this time of year.
Any aircraft not within 20 miles of BHX by 2200 will not be let in. So any delays are crucial this time of year.