BIRMINGHAM - 4
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: BHX
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departure lounge
think it's taking a bit longer because it's now being extended down paralell with the pier, to make way for shops I presume rather than seats
, the framework is pretty much up now so hopefully won't take too much longer.
With ref to easy, have read on a number of forums that BHX is being considered as a destination from MAD & SXF with GVA a slight possibility also. Maybe BHX have seen the light, and now BA have gone they're ready to embrace the LOCO's like others did years ago
, the framework is pretty much up now so hopefully won't take too much longer.With ref to easy, have read on a number of forums that BHX is being considered as a destination from MAD & SXF with GVA a slight possibility also. Maybe BHX have seen the light, and now BA have gone they're ready to embrace the LOCO's like others did years ago
Join Date: Aug 2006
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BHX and LOCOs
Better late than never I suppose, although its still a cautious approach. Shame it took them till BA did eventually pull the plug. Always the way with BHX reactive rather than proactive. O Leary was right for once - after FR decamped to EMA he issued a statement with all usual gusto saying that there would be no BA at BHX in five years time and that BHX was short-sighted not to recognise the potential of FR.
Personally am not so sure of the Easy rumours myself, would be great if it happened even if routes into BHX from other bases - but i'm not holding my breath for orange tails on the runway (would love to be stood corrected........)
Personally am not so sure of the Easy rumours myself, would be great if it happened even if routes into BHX from other bases - but i'm not holding my breath for orange tails on the runway (would love to be stood corrected........)
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Stelios himself was quoted at an event in Brum as saying "make us an offer we can't refuse" (to BHX or CVT). I remember being suprised at the baby rumours, and then they set up a base there.
Considering ongoing rumours about both of the above running down at EMA, I think that Easyjet would certainly mix things up a bit, but if they are just going to offer a few routes in from other bases, should they be discounted from CVT too? Again, the picture has changed here quite a bit since the airport was sold.
For BHX to continue without links to two prominent European capitals would not be good. BE have obviously looked at both, their a/c size would seem to satisfy demand, but they must have been scared off by competition at MAD, and possibly slot issues at TXL? Baby also appeared briefly on the SXF website about 2 years ago iirc, so again, they must have looked at this - and MAD too.
FR already operate SXF & MAD to EMA, so Easy would certainy make sense.
Considering ongoing rumours about both of the above running down at EMA, I think that Easyjet would certainly mix things up a bit, but if they are just going to offer a few routes in from other bases, should they be discounted from CVT too? Again, the picture has changed here quite a bit since the airport was sold.
For BHX to continue without links to two prominent European capitals would not be good. BE have obviously looked at both, their a/c size would seem to satisfy demand, but they must have been scared off by competition at MAD, and possibly slot issues at TXL? Baby also appeared briefly on the SXF website about 2 years ago iirc, so again, they must have looked at this - and MAD too.
FR already operate SXF & MAD to EMA, so Easy would certainy make sense.
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Gold Cup
MarkBHX
No A330's planned I believe.
I think there is at least one 321 (the EI262 has been one the last 2 days).
Still any extra pax is a bargain this month with the Connect cancellations.
Good to see PIA operating normally again including the Wednesday flight.
OP
No A330's planned I believe.
I think there is at least one 321 (the EI262 has been one the last 2 days).
Still any extra pax is a bargain this month with the Connect cancellations.
Good to see PIA operating normally again including the Wednesday flight.
OP
Join Date: Jan 2007
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Easy have been talking to BHX for years - even Brian Summers, who saw Lo Costs at the devil incarnate, was talking to them before he retired.
the problem BHX now have is that their bargaining power with the likes of EZY is vastly reduced. Two major shareholders want out, Passenger numbers have not been as robust as hoped for this year, BA finally gave up the ghost as predicted by everyone except BHX Management and Flybe can't take all the routes. Therefore, all the bargaining power lies with the airlines.
On a brighter note, the new Dept lounge looks the business (they could do with replacing the chairs with something decent though) and it would be nice to see the Orange of EZY at BHX
the problem BHX now have is that their bargaining power with the likes of EZY is vastly reduced. Two major shareholders want out, Passenger numbers have not been as robust as hoped for this year, BA finally gave up the ghost as predicted by everyone except BHX Management and Flybe can't take all the routes. Therefore, all the bargaining power lies with the airlines.
On a brighter note, the new Dept lounge looks the business (they could do with replacing the chairs with something decent though) and it would be nice to see the Orange of EZY at BHX
Hapag-Lloyd Express / TUIFly
Having just flown with them, I wonder how long they'll stay on the BHX route? Load factors weren't impressive, less than 50% both ways - and one of these was a Friday night. Germanwings soon gave it up when they tried it. I said at the time and I say it now: they need to provide two conveniently timed daily rotations (weekdays) and they'll attract a lot more business traffic. Ah well, on the up side I enjoyed the space I had - but on the down side how long will the service continue I wonder.
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Cologne
Avman
I agree that it needs to be double daily but I am not sure if a 73G is the right aircraft.
It amazes me how many airlines have tried this route compared to
some others which you would think would be more viable.
Saying that, the HLX service was showing some signs of life in December,
CAA stats: -
Aug 3340
Sep 2902
Oct 3120
Nov 3882
Dec 3924 (Markets traffic?) - average pax 98 or 66% load factor
Jan 2502 - 34 rotations per acarsd = 73 pax at just under 50%
It does not make happy reading but they have shifted more pax
since the F100 left (obviously more cheaper seats available) but at
the moment I can't see it going beyond the summer unless something
changes. The prices charged also seem reasonable, so unless they
are getting a lot of late bookings or selling bulk to agents it is not
looking good.
OP
I agree that it needs to be double daily but I am not sure if a 73G is the right aircraft.
It amazes me how many airlines have tried this route compared to
some others which you would think would be more viable.
Saying that, the HLX service was showing some signs of life in December,
CAA stats: -
Aug 3340
Sep 2902
Oct 3120
Nov 3882
Dec 3924 (Markets traffic?) - average pax 98 or 66% load factor
Jan 2502 - 34 rotations per acarsd = 73 pax at just under 50%
It does not make happy reading but they have shifted more pax
since the F100 left (obviously more cheaper seats available) but at
the moment I can't see it going beyond the summer unless something
changes. The prices charged also seem reasonable, so unless they
are getting a lot of late bookings or selling bulk to agents it is not
looking good.
OP
Last edited by OltonPete; 17th Mar 2007 at 13:00. Reason: order of words
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Well both carriers will be operating as seperate companies for this Summer at least. I would think that gives both agents the opportunity to prove they're worthy of being handed the contract for both when the time comes?
Can Swissport rise to the challenge?
Can Swissport rise to the challenge?
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February CAA provisional stats
Not a great month but some interesting ones: -
Lyon - 3644 which is an average of 38 based on 96 rotations (they did not
all run) and a load factor or 77%. Okay this probably has some
low yielding ski packages but it can't be lower than Brest.
Flybe Brest a pathetic 666 or an average of 28 or 35%. Okay they did not
all run either but I am surprised that this operates in winter
Berne - 308 pax, a tidy 38 a flight
Chambery 1245 or 39 a flight on 32 rotations.
Berlin 1394 pax or 26 per flight (based on 54 flights I think it was less)
Not great but at least over 50% load factor on reasonable fares.
Krakow 1875 or 117 per flight
Dubai 26957 or 240 per flight (772 & 330)
Newark 8227 or 147 per flight (84%)
Milan MXP 2682 or 29 per flight (that is soooo bad) to what it used to be
OP
Lyon - 3644 which is an average of 38 based on 96 rotations (they did not
all run) and a load factor or 77%. Okay this probably has some
low yielding ski packages but it can't be lower than Brest.
Flybe Brest a pathetic 666 or an average of 28 or 35%. Okay they did not
all run either but I am surprised that this operates in winter
Berne - 308 pax, a tidy 38 a flight
Chambery 1245 or 39 a flight on 32 rotations.
Berlin 1394 pax or 26 per flight (based on 54 flights I think it was less)
Not great but at least over 50% load factor on reasonable fares.
Krakow 1875 or 117 per flight
Dubai 26957 or 240 per flight (772 & 330)
Newark 8227 or 147 per flight (84%)
Milan MXP 2682 or 29 per flight (that is soooo bad) to what it used to be
OP
Join Date: Apr 2003
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Regional (AF susidiary) might be taking over the BHX-LYS later this year; double daily with an EMB 145.
The loads on Berlin and Malpensa are shocking! I remember they used to be a lot better when we operated these routes (and the LYS) at Maersk Air!
Cheers
The loads on Berlin and Malpensa are shocking! I remember they used to be a lot better when we operated these routes (and the LYS) at Maersk Air!
Cheers
Thread Starter
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Well both carriers will be operating as seperate companies for this Summer at least. I would think that gives both agents the opportunity to prove they're worthy of being handed the contract for both when the time comes?
Can Swissport rise to the challenge?
Can Swissport rise to the challenge?
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Feb Stats
Very interesting info Olton Pete
I flew every week between BHX and Berlin with Maersk/BA for six months in 2001 and the flights were always quite busy - in fact sometimes full, OK so this was flying out on a Sun evening and back Fri evening, but even so i'm amazed the fgures on that route are now soooo bad - can't all be because people have defected to FR at EMA - their flight runs at a shockingly late hour, certainly no good for business pax?? There seems to be a long term rot in pax figures on routes that BHX has traditionally had as its bread and butter, time for a major re-think me thinks, its quite obvious that theres a LOT more competition now for BHX for passengers and no easy solutions to solve the problem (apart from getting easy or FR in??
yeah and pigs might fly.....). At least DXB, EWR etc loading up quite well and glad to see Krakow finally doing well too
I flew every week between BHX and Berlin with Maersk/BA for six months in 2001 and the flights were always quite busy - in fact sometimes full, OK so this was flying out on a Sun evening and back Fri evening, but even so i'm amazed the fgures on that route are now soooo bad - can't all be because people have defected to FR at EMA - their flight runs at a shockingly late hour, certainly no good for business pax?? There seems to be a long term rot in pax figures on routes that BHX has traditionally had as its bread and butter, time for a major re-think me thinks, its quite obvious that theres a LOT more competition now for BHX for passengers and no easy solutions to solve the problem (apart from getting easy or FR in??
yeah and pigs might fly.....). At least DXB, EWR etc loading up quite well and glad to see Krakow finally doing well too
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Originally Posted by FougaMagister
The loads on Berlin and Malpensa are shocking! I remember they used to be a lot better when we operated these routes (and the LYS) at Maersk Air!
Happy to hear there's a prospect of Regional picking up the BHX-LYS, as there's a reasonable amount of business traffic and it's an important link for local industry (esp. automotive).
Brgds
C.
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Berlin/Lyon/Milan
I deliberately put the Lyon figures first as I just fail to see how flybe have
come by the decision to not take this on based on the annual pax figures
and the cheapest online fare BA charged. I understand that some seats would have been sold cheaply to tour operators in the winter but exactly how many?
Surely Lyon should have been kept on an the expenses of Brest, Toulouse
or Bergerac, all of which performed poorly after Ryanair set up shop at EMA? Some of flybe's route decisions just baffle me.
As for Berlin, I thought the figures were not that bad for February but
I do understand why flybe passed on it. Milan I am sure could make them money but once the 145 goes will they have the inclination to use a 195
on the route?
OP
come by the decision to not take this on based on the annual pax figures
and the cheapest online fare BA charged. I understand that some seats would have been sold cheaply to tour operators in the winter but exactly how many?
Surely Lyon should have been kept on an the expenses of Brest, Toulouse
or Bergerac, all of which performed poorly after Ryanair set up shop at EMA? Some of flybe's route decisions just baffle me.
As for Berlin, I thought the figures were not that bad for February but
I do understand why flybe passed on it. Milan I am sure could make them money but once the 145 goes will they have the inclination to use a 195
on the route?
OP
Join Date: Jan 2006
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BACON's last scheduled flight 24/3/07
The last scheduled flight (still plenty of charters left) arrived at 17.12 yesterday G-ERJB BA1807 from Paris .
It will be an interesting time to see how it all works out with flybe
.
Barcelona service was restored today with BMI Baby but still only
rumours re Madrid, Lyon & Berlin. As for Geneva............... BMI Baby
still operate until mid April before it takes it's summer and autumn rest.
OP
.It will be an interesting time to see how it all works out with flybe
.Barcelona service was restored today with BMI Baby but still only
rumours re Madrid, Lyon & Berlin. As for Geneva............... BMI Baby
still operate until mid April before it takes it's summer and autumn rest.
OP
Last edited by OltonPete; 25th Mar 2007 at 08:32. Reason: change of title