BELFAST (BHD) - 3
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http://u.tv/newsroom/indepth.asp?id=84014&pt=n
Where have EI confirmed utv?, I cannot believe they are going to do 'Barcelona' why!!!-the latest from this article is 10 to include Brussels as well. Changes by the minute. Why do EI not come and officially say what they intend on their website.
Where have EI confirmed utv?, I cannot believe they are going to do 'Barcelona' why!!!-the latest from this article is 10 to include Brussels as well. Changes by the minute. Why do EI not come and officially say what they intend on their website.
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Surely at least one new Germany route will be included in the EI announcement.
An interesting one will be the bmi reaction regarding LHR, if Aer Lingus do put on the later flight which has long been an issues for bmi at City. Either way, it is long overdue and the passenger will be the main benefactor. It seems that the Ryanair 'spoiler' didn't work, I look forward to the detail being announced tomorrow.
An interesting one will be the bmi reaction regarding LHR, if Aer Lingus do put on the later flight which has long been an issues for bmi at City. Either way, it is long overdue and the passenger will be the main benefactor. It seems that the Ryanair 'spoiler' didn't work, I look forward to the detail being announced tomorrow.
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If you are going to do LH out of LHR you still need feeders, no other carrier has a feeder to LHR from Belfast except bmi (who funny enough have made links with the exBMED/BA network!), EI broke out of the one world agreement with BA and others, they are pitching at the loco market which I think would do well however I dont think the price added to tickets for connecting flights out of LHR would be much different than what EI would charge, but with no through baggage check-in or IATA cover i.e. collect your bags and recheck in at LHR and no transfers to the next onward flight if delays are incured, I think its a no brainer!
I agree the later BFS flight would benifit Pax in NI but without going into the " mines bigger and better than yours" we all know the story of the teddies being thrown out of the cot some years ago causing the move to BHD thats not to say things may change!
The shorthaul will be feeders in to LHR with onward connections but will still maintain a product for the business traveller who stop at LHR.
At a guess bmi will end up with 5 or 6 domestic routes to LHR of which one will be Belfast.
That also doesnt rule out these routes originating from LHR(Doh can of worms opened!).
rgds
Keepitlit
I agree the later BFS flight would benifit Pax in NI but without going into the " mines bigger and better than yours" we all know the story of the teddies being thrown out of the cot some years ago causing the move to BHD thats not to say things may change!
The shorthaul will be feeders in to LHR with onward connections but will still maintain a product for the business traveller who stop at LHR.
At a guess bmi will end up with 5 or 6 domestic routes to LHR of which one will be Belfast.
That also doesnt rule out these routes originating from LHR(Doh can of worms opened!).
rgds
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Aer Lingus set to touch down at International
Business Telegraph - Monday, August 06, 2007
By Nigel Tilson
Aer Lingus is set to announce tomorrow that Belfast International Airport will be its new UK hub.
Since the start of this year the Irish airline has been evaluating airports across the UK which could act as a base - and Belfast International has won the race.
It is understood that part of the deal will see the launch of new transatlantic services from Aldergrove.
The airline is expected to base two new Airbus 320 aircraft at Belfast International and use them for routes to the US.
Aer Lingus is due to make the announcement at a press conference in Belfast tomorrow.
But today it was remaining tight-lipped about its plans.
Late last month a spokesman for Aer Lingus in Dublin said it was still looking at a number of options and was in discussions with a number of airports across the UK.
However, it was reported as recently as June that the airline was trying to decide between Belfast and Birmingham as the location of its new UK hub.
Also last month Uel Hoey, the business development director at Belfast International, admitted it was talking to Aer Lingus, but no decision had been made. However, he said BIA was hopeful of a positive outcome to the discussions.
And earlier this summer DUP transport spokesman Jeffrey Donaldson said that if the airline set up shop at Aldergrove, it could ultimately result in the opening of 15 new routes to Britain and the Continent, as well as the reinstatement of a link between Belfast International and London Heathrow.
Mr Donaldson, the Lagan Valley MP, was confident that Aer Lingus would plump for Aldergrove ahead of Birmingham.
Belfast International, which is owned by Spanish company Abertis, now handles five million passengers a year and is already a major hub for easyJet.
If Aer Lingus does launch a service from Aldergrove to Heathrow, it will be in direct competition with bmi's eight flights a day service from Belfast City.
But the possibility also emerged recently of British Airways re-starting the route from Aldergrove, which it axed as part of the fall-out from 9/11.
Willie Walsh, the BA boss who used to run Aer Lingus, told the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce in June that he would "love" to reinstate the route.
He said he regarded the service as having been "suspended" rather than axed, but said its revival hinged on an increase in runway capacity at Heathrow.
Meanwhile, a new report produced by the Irish Echo newspaper in the US reveals that more than half of transatlantic travellers in America would choose to fly into Belfast as opposed to Dublin if the costs were less.
Eileen Murphy, of the Irish Echo, said: "Our report, based on a survey of readers, suggests that given discussions around a new Aer Lingus hub for the British market out of Belfast, the airlines will do well to note that a majority of our respondents (57%) say they would choose Belfast over Dublin as their end destination if the route cost less."
Currently airport taxes add almost $90 to the cost of flights between Belfast and New York versus Dublin-New York.
Business Telegraph - Monday, August 06, 2007
By Nigel Tilson
Aer Lingus is set to announce tomorrow that Belfast International Airport will be its new UK hub.
Since the start of this year the Irish airline has been evaluating airports across the UK which could act as a base - and Belfast International has won the race.
It is understood that part of the deal will see the launch of new transatlantic services from Aldergrove.
The airline is expected to base two new Airbus 320 aircraft at Belfast International and use them for routes to the US.
Aer Lingus is due to make the announcement at a press conference in Belfast tomorrow.
But today it was remaining tight-lipped about its plans.
Late last month a spokesman for Aer Lingus in Dublin said it was still looking at a number of options and was in discussions with a number of airports across the UK.
However, it was reported as recently as June that the airline was trying to decide between Belfast and Birmingham as the location of its new UK hub.
Also last month Uel Hoey, the business development director at Belfast International, admitted it was talking to Aer Lingus, but no decision had been made. However, he said BIA was hopeful of a positive outcome to the discussions.
And earlier this summer DUP transport spokesman Jeffrey Donaldson said that if the airline set up shop at Aldergrove, it could ultimately result in the opening of 15 new routes to Britain and the Continent, as well as the reinstatement of a link between Belfast International and London Heathrow.
Mr Donaldson, the Lagan Valley MP, was confident that Aer Lingus would plump for Aldergrove ahead of Birmingham.
Belfast International, which is owned by Spanish company Abertis, now handles five million passengers a year and is already a major hub for easyJet.
If Aer Lingus does launch a service from Aldergrove to Heathrow, it will be in direct competition with bmi's eight flights a day service from Belfast City.
But the possibility also emerged recently of British Airways re-starting the route from Aldergrove, which it axed as part of the fall-out from 9/11.
Willie Walsh, the BA boss who used to run Aer Lingus, told the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce in June that he would "love" to reinstate the route.
He said he regarded the service as having been "suspended" rather than axed, but said its revival hinged on an increase in runway capacity at Heathrow.
Meanwhile, a new report produced by the Irish Echo newspaper in the US reveals that more than half of transatlantic travellers in America would choose to fly into Belfast as opposed to Dublin if the costs were less.
Eileen Murphy, of the Irish Echo, said: "Our report, based on a survey of readers, suggests that given discussions around a new Aer Lingus hub for the British market out of Belfast, the airlines will do well to note that a majority of our respondents (57%) say they would choose Belfast over Dublin as their end destination if the route cost less."
Currently airport taxes add almost $90 to the cost of flights between Belfast and New York versus Dublin-New York.
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I read a rumour that the EI annoucement was to be at Stormont tomorrow. If that was the case, then the NI government must be involved ie will we see a commitment to infrastructure with regards to the airport. This could be the railways or road improvements. There has been talk of a dual carriageway from BFS to the A1 at Lisburn. ie the A26 becoming dual carriageway with a branch heading for Lisburn then the A1. The road then continues via Ards to Bangor. This whole system includes dual carriageway BFS to M2 at Templepatrick. If all forms a by-pass round Belfast. It was very much an alternative to upgrading the West-link.
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What about some 11th hour 'educated' or 'wild' guesses, will you believe the rumours or would you hazard a guess at say 8 routes, mine would be 1. LHR 2. Amsterdam (as code sharing with KL) 3. Budapest 4. Riga 5. Frankfurt 6. Brussels 7. Rome (as EZY have vacated) and 8. Bordeaux (my wild hoping one)- all just a bit of fun. Lets just hope that there is an announcement tomorrow or there will be a lot of egg flying around hitting a lot of faces including mine, so come on folk fire in your 8 routes.
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Budapest is getting abit of attention at the moment. FR and EI!
Anyway, it will be very interesting to see who comes out on top on the BCN route as surely not all three will be able to hold sustainable loads?! Maybe...
Also, competing with EZY between two of their bases. Tut tut tut! BFS-Geneva will be another interesting route to watch.
Also joining EZY and LS on the AGP route but this is probably sustainable.
EZY on the FAO route and opening up LHR (kerching!), AMS (with KLM help and interlining an instant success - look out EZY) and Rome should make the EI base a success!
Just wish the airline would set up shop at MAN!
Anyway, it will be very interesting to see who comes out on top on the BCN route as surely not all three will be able to hold sustainable loads?! Maybe...
Also, competing with EZY between two of their bases. Tut tut tut! BFS-Geneva will be another interesting route to watch.
Also joining EZY and LS on the AGP route but this is probably sustainable.
EZY on the FAO route and opening up LHR (kerching!), AMS (with KLM help and interlining an instant success - look out EZY) and Rome should make the EI base a success!
Just wish the airline would set up shop at MAN!
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No mention yet of any Canary routes...with LS covering both TFS and LPA I'm surprised that EI don't consider ACE.
Croatia is getting very popular also, a lot of people buying out there so how about a RJK.
Croatia is getting very popular also, a lot of people buying out there so how about a RJK.
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Interesting times ahead for BFS!! If the above list of destinations is correct, I think the biggest surprise is how many of the routes EI are going head to head with Easyjet on. Easy certainly will not be pleased. When it comes to the crunch and if the price is right EI offers a far superior service to easy. I would have though some new destinations would have made more sense so as not to upset the apple cart straight away e.g. Madrid, Lisbon, Zurich, Brussels and some longer routes such as the Greek islands. One thing is for sure, dust off your Barcelona travel guides as you will be able to get there for peanuts when the battle commences!!
Would be extremely interesting if Jet2 saw the potential to increase there off season earnings and moved further into the domestic market at BFS e.g. Gatwick, Newcastle, Manchester and Edinburgh, where they already have handling in place. I certainly feel there is room for another carrier at BFS to apply the pressure on these routes by offering their different interpretation on service i.e. allocated seating at check-in or even better pre booked seating!!
Would be extremely interesting if Jet2 saw the potential to increase there off season earnings and moved further into the domestic market at BFS e.g. Gatwick, Newcastle, Manchester and Edinburgh, where they already have handling in place. I certainly feel there is room for another carrier at BFS to apply the pressure on these routes by offering their different interpretation on service i.e. allocated seating at check-in or even better pre booked seating!!
Last edited by tornado15; 6th Aug 2007 at 20:11.
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Slightly disappointed at the lack of new routes but still good for NI plc. The prices will plummet, short term, and what happens longer term, who knows. I'm hearing a 4th daily rotation is planned on the LHR very shortly after the start, hope it's the late one. What are bmi likely to do, they must be hacked off, competition in a market where for 6 years they have had a total monoply, the most profitable route in their network, and we now have an alternative.
Bad news for the 'city' as the importance and subsequently, power of Ryanair, the only airline that can keep the numbers up has just increased, even more cheaper flights to come. Better get the bull dozers in to start the land scrape.
Bad news for the 'city' as the importance and subsequently, power of Ryanair, the only airline that can keep the numbers up has just increased, even more cheaper flights to come. Better get the bull dozers in to start the land scrape.
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If BE and and EZY are able to compete on routes from the two airports to airports on GLA, EDI, NCL and LGW, surely the worlds busiest international airport can handle two carriers to the two different airports.
Are you sure it is BMI's most profitable route? Mubai (LHR) and ORD (MAN) are also very lucrative, not to mention BGI. Do you mean Europe?
Are you sure it is BMI's most profitable route? Mubai (LHR) and ORD (MAN) are also very lucrative, not to mention BGI. Do you mean Europe?
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Yeah didn't think it would be any of them to be honest. That should mean more jobs for whoever gets it. It'll be interesting to see who gets this, Aviance have picked up a few new contracts in the past couple of years incl Continental, Globespan & of course the biggest one - Manx2 but I'm sure Serviceair will be very keen to get it.