BELFAST (BHD) - 3

[gate 22]

At some point JetII will lose the mail contract and go puff in the blink of an eye.

Aviation evolves, if Jet2 disappear, then if there is a market for their routes another carrier will step in. Compare airlines and routes to 10 years then 20 years ago and in 10 years and 20 years the same amount of changes will probably happen.

[ALLMCC]

There seems to be some confusion about Flybe/Loganairs recent announcement. Press reports say that both IOM - BLK and IOM - BHD will cease on the 12 July. However, it appears that the BHD is not stopping but reducing in frequency to 1x daily ex Wed & Sun. The timings suggest that a DND based a/c will operate DND - BHD - IOM - BHD - DND.

[BFS101]

BFS security

Belfast International Airport :: News

A standard summer press release from BFS, however of interest is how it acknowledges the criticism of security at the airport...

"We are also very aware of some recent criticism of our security handling. At Belfast International we take these issues seriously and endeavour to provide a courteous and helpful service to our passengers whilst complying with all current Department for Transport regulations. There is no excuse for discourteous behaviour by staff in pursuit of their main aim, which is the safety of our customers.

[sealink]

BHD terminal upgrade

its good to see the stairs that once connected to the cafe / bar / viewing area from the check in hall have finally been removed. the cafe is now only accessible by departing airside passengers. this is part of the soon to start upgrade of the terminal. the area next to travelex - where the stairs once stood - is to become a large coffee shop. ( costa moving off the middle of the floor area ). interesting that the main bar - upstairs next to the cafe - has closed since it became airside !! Lack of customers ??
the common boarding lounge will be given over to a large security channel and the offices on the first floor, next to the business lounges, will also be removed to create a lounge for waiting passengers. this will mean that passengers will wait for flights on the same level as the cafe / viewing area and then make their way back down to join their flights.

[tigger2k8]

does anyone know what the loads are like on the TCX flight from BFS to sanford? other day the TCX 330 had left the runway just before Bravo (using runway 25) was either a light load, or hes been watching the Maersk cargo aircraft taking off and wants to copy him...

[BELHold]

TCX A330 was probably positioning to GLA can't see it being airborne much before the intersection if it were off to SFB.

As far as I am aware loads to SFB are rarely short of full.

[tigger2k8]

hmm never thought of it being a positoning flight, must have been

[gate 22]

LS 2027 Reus 15:10

Arrival this afternoon, Jet2 don't do Reus from Belfast, do they carry out charter work regularly for the big operators? or is this just a one off?

[BFSKLBD]

Jet2

I know earlier in the year Jet2 were scheduled to fly quite a few charters out of BFS on a regular basis. But I think that has been reduced over time due to one reason or another.

On the subject of Jet2...does anybody know why they have removed the eyebrow windows off most of their 737's?
This is only something new 737's coming off the production-line have at present due to no requirement for the window anymore.
Does this mean most of Jet2's 737's have gone through a maintenance upgrade recently or is it a quick-fix, patch-up job to make them look more modern than what they really are?

[BFS101]

do they carry out charter work regularly for the big operators? or is this just a one off?

The LS Reus flight is season long for the Thomas Cook group. Jet2 also operate the season long Ibiza flight for Thomson/TUI group - Sat 22.30 rtn Sun 05.10, rather than the previously scheduled Air Europa Saturday morning flight. This is in addition to the scheduled Jet2 flights to Ibiza on Thursdays and Sundays.

Thomson also changed their Spanair Saturday morning Palma flight, to be combined with the already scheduled Thomson Airways flight, previously ment to be solely Falcon Holidays passengers. The Thomson chartered Spanair Reus flight on a Saturday, operated by the same aircraft as the Palma, is now operated by a FlyBE Embraer from Belfast City. Presumably as a result of lower demand.

I wonder will this encourage Thomson Holidays to work more closely with FlyBE at BHD, for lower demand destinations, possibly at the weekends when aircraft availability is increased? Already use them for the Thomson/Crystal winter ski flights, and now the summer Reus.

[super737]

737 eyebrows

BFSKLBD, alot of airlines are removing the eyebrow windows on the classic 73s due to the savings on maintenance (replacing the eyebrow windows), reduces the aircraft weight and also ever so slightly reduces fuel burn.

[BFSKLBD]

Haven't seen any other airlines so far with this change to the windows...
Do you know what other carriers are planning this SUPER737?

[Skipness One Echo]

Aside from Jet2, Lufthansa, KLM, Thomsonfly and BA have all undertaken this kind of work, as do Ryanair which has replaced them all (I think). No more sun in your eyes!

[newtownards]

The Sanford flights are always full, the TCX 330 and i believe the GSM 767/757 always position in from Glasgow on a friday, and out again on a saturday, hence the spectacular takeoffs

The Maersk 762F doesn't carry much out, but always comes back with more cargo, and i suspect makes its money flying between EMA and Europe during the middle of the night

If a Flybe Q400 or a Ryanair diverts from BHD and then positions empty to BHD the next morning it will usually be airborne and climbing like a rocket long before Bravo

[BFS101]

The Sanford flights are always full, the TCX 330 and i believe the GSM 767/757 always position in from Glasgow on a friday, and out again on a saturday, hence the spectacular takeoffs

Thomas Cook have released summer 2010 to Florida from BFS and huge reduction in capacity.
For 2009 weekly Friday flights from start of May until 4 September, and then peak Saturday flights from 27 June until 11 July, and peak Tuesday flights from 23 June until 7 July. So at least a weekly flight from May until 4th Sept.
For summer 2010, Saturday flights from 26 June until 10 July and Tuesday flights from 22 June until 6 July. Total of six flights over the very peak period.
Be interesting to see if FlyGlobespan alter capacity, and with TUI long haul already on sale, no flights from BFS to Florida. Wonder if the increasing strength of sterling against dollar will effect TCX to increase their program. Perhaps CO are taking a lot of Florida traffic from the charters.

[david1994]

Belfast Airport - Aircraft based

The following airline's have based the following for the summer :

Aer Lingus - 3x A320-200
Easyjet - 6x B737-700
Jet 2 - 2x B737-300 [no B757 this summer , hopefully back in winter for TFS]
Thomson Airways - A320-200
Thomas Cook - 1x - A320-200

And of course aircraft that isn't based but makes an appearance every day :
Bmi Baby - B737-300 / 500
Manx 2 - LET-410
Continental - B757-200

And not lets forget about the big ones ,
Thomas cook - A330 on a Friday to Sanford as TCX12K/L
Fly Globespan - B763 on a Friday to Sanford
Fly Globespan - B763 on a Sunday to Toronto Hamilton

RUMOR'S :
EASY JET - Will be operating A320-200's out of Belfast by X-MAS ??
JET2 - Will be transferring all operations to Belfast City Airport and keeping the cargo flights at Belfast Intl ?? [perhaps to get competition from Flybe , Ryanair]

Many thanks
keep posting you questions and ill try my best to answer
David

[david1994]

Hi everyone ,
I it true that EZY have based 6x B737-700' in BFS and no A319-100 , But i was reading on a website they easyjet plan to base A320's at BFS , and that by X-MAS BFS will be all Airbus but surly jet2 wont plane orders for airbus when they are happy with their B737's and B757's and so with Bmi Baby.

Then jet2 are planning to move all pasenger opps to BHD once r/w has been done and keep the cargo flights at BFS.

Anyone but any light onto this ,

david 1994

[gate 22]

Then jet2 are planning to move all pasenger opps to BHD once r/w has been done and keep the cargo flights at BFS.

The cap on passengers and flight numbers would have to be lifted also, especially if FR are to expand, BHD don't seem to permit competition within their airport on routes like LBA and no late flights beyond 21.30. A few ifs!!!! however no smoke without fire!!!!!

[BFS101]

Then jet2 are planning to move all pasenger opps to BHD once r/w has been done and keep the cargo flights at BFS.

Are the LS aircraft that carryout the cargo flights at night, not the same aircraft used for the passenger flights by day, quick change aircraft? Expensive to be ferrying aircraft between BHD and BFS twice daily to switch between the passenger and freight services.

On the point of the runway extension at BHD, what's the latest. If it is going to a full public enquiry, it could be years away from completion. Any information??

[tigger2k8]

as far as im aware Jet2 is happy enough with BFS...

I it true that EZY have based 6x B737-700' in BFS and no A319-100 , But i was reading on a website they easyjet plan to base A320's at BFS , and that by X-MAS BFS will be all Airbus

read again, theres currently a rumor of 1 A320 appearing at BFS in December for a BFS-TFS route... but that wont be confirmed for another month or 2.. By May 2010 BFS will be all airbus.

every airline has their own preference on aircraft type... EZY is only doing it for a slightly higher capacity and that the A319 is about 20% more fuel efficent than their 737's