BELFAST (BHD) - 3
Join Date: Oct 2009
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It really hasn't been a great week for the city. Easyjet announce their pulling out and starting a Manchester service later in the year. bmibaby loads are c..p then your friendly judge gets moved off your case and his replacement decides there are grounds for a review of the last environments ministers decision to remove the passenger cap. The runway extension just seems to be being pushed further and further into the future.
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Sarcon
Surely you aren't suggesting that the judiciary are less than impartial?
FOK
Perhaps today was one of the "no tangible benefits" sort of day?
then your friendly judge gets moved off your case and his replacement decides there are grounds for a review of the last environments
Surely you aren't suggesting that the judiciary are less than impartial?
FOK
Perhaps today was one of the "no tangible benefits" sort of day?
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The legal challenge being mounted by BFS against the lifting of the passenger cap at BHD is clearly anti-competitive and hopefully will be seen as such by the OFT. BFS would need to tread carefully here.
Last edited by ALLMCC; 31st Mar 2011 at 18:50.
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bmibaby loads are c..p
It is early days to judge anyway imo. Alot of the rumours that are out at BFS lately are coming true and I wonder will BHX be one such, in which case more trouble for WW.
Although not much to go on at all, last Friday I flew BHD EMA and there were 115 onboard, a reasonable load. However, looking at BE, they are most unlikly to pack their tent up on the BHD routes. But EZY is unlikely to let them steal the show either so if someone is to go it would be WW first. There frequency is poor on the main two routes when compared to BE.
On a separate note, I have to say leg room is woeful on Bmibaby 733!!!
EI-BUD
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ALLMCC
Couldnt agree more. If BFS spent as much energy trying to grow their own business rather than trying to destroy their competitor then they might be in a better place. A bit pathetic really.
While I'm on a rant I'm sure that BHD are disappointed that Easy have left but even 'the dogs in the street' thought that it was an Easy ploy to beat a better deal out of Aldergrove - which perhaps succeeded. Lets not forget that it was the same day that Stansted was launched - if handled properly by WW this has the potential to be much bigger that Luton.
As for all of the 'Belfast only needs one airport' posters (all BFS supporters). If there was only one airport the only effect would be fewer airlines and higher prices. If any of you think that it would result in an airport utopia of glass cathedrals, long haul flights and electic trams whizzing you to the city centre you are sadly deluded.
Couldnt agree more. If BFS spent as much energy trying to grow their own business rather than trying to destroy their competitor then they might be in a better place. A bit pathetic really.
While I'm on a rant I'm sure that BHD are disappointed that Easy have left but even 'the dogs in the street' thought that it was an Easy ploy to beat a better deal out of Aldergrove - which perhaps succeeded. Lets not forget that it was the same day that Stansted was launched - if handled properly by WW this has the potential to be much bigger that Luton.
As for all of the 'Belfast only needs one airport' posters (all BFS supporters). If there was only one airport the only effect would be fewer airlines and higher prices. If any of you think that it would result in an airport utopia of glass cathedrals, long haul flights and electic trams whizzing you to the city centre you are sadly deluded.
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airport66
The problem with all the BHD supporters at the minute is BHD got its just deserts it took couple of months they thought they had it all to themselves but tables have been turned on them and now they are all crying like bunch of old babies good on BFS for getting 2 of there routes back and more to come and also with the argument with the passenger cap hope they win who wants a big airport in the middle of there city the local residents dont anyway and the BHD supporters couldnt give 2 hoots about those poor people that have to put up with that place every day of there lives.
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To be clear - I use and support both airports and enjoy the low fares that only healthy competition can bring.
'just deserts' - not sure what that means but the only looser out of the Easy move down and back up was BFS. BHD i'm sure have had a years business that they never planned on and Easy used them (BHD) to beat down landing charges at BFS. I dont have an inside knowledge but seems that way to me.
Finally 'two hoots' is what the people of East Belfast couldnt give about the airport. They couldnt care less and are more concerned about anti social behaviour, jobs and health.
'just deserts' - not sure what that means but the only looser out of the Easy move down and back up was BFS. BHD i'm sure have had a years business that they never planned on and Easy used them (BHD) to beat down landing charges at BFS. I dont have an inside knowledge but seems that way to me.
Finally 'two hoots' is what the people of East Belfast couldnt give about the airport. They couldnt care less and are more concerned about anti social behaviour, jobs and health.
Rinty, good, valid points.
The BFS supporters, Airport66 (or is it Victoria73 in disguise?) for example, are of the opinion that the only place there should be an airport in NI is BFS. It is a blinkered opinion which cannot be argued about.
Shame really, that airlines don't feel the same way about the place.
I've argued before that if there is no need for three airports in NI, then economies of scale will kill one or two off. Airlines want to fly to/from airports where they can generate profits. It's not rocket science. If BFS is the place to be, then the airlines will flock there. If BHD isn't, then they'll jump ship. As it is, airlines have been chopping and changing between the two for years.
However, with BFS pax numbers STILL falling (a fall which may be arrested by the return of LTN and the beginning of MAN), one wonders where all the people who SHOULD love it and use it have gone.
BHD serves a purpose (and I've lived under its flightpath, and it didn't ruin my life). LDY serves the northwest, where infrastructural deficiencies mean travelling to either Belfast airport can be a grind. BFS is there as a 24/7 operational base for several cargo airlines and a few major commercial airlines.
In that context, I don't see where the conflict comes from.
The BFS supporters, Airport66 (or is it Victoria73 in disguise?) for example, are of the opinion that the only place there should be an airport in NI is BFS. It is a blinkered opinion which cannot be argued about.
Shame really, that airlines don't feel the same way about the place.
I've argued before that if there is no need for three airports in NI, then economies of scale will kill one or two off. Airlines want to fly to/from airports where they can generate profits. It's not rocket science. If BFS is the place to be, then the airlines will flock there. If BHD isn't, then they'll jump ship. As it is, airlines have been chopping and changing between the two for years.
However, with BFS pax numbers STILL falling (a fall which may be arrested by the return of LTN and the beginning of MAN), one wonders where all the people who SHOULD love it and use it have gone.
BHD serves a purpose (and I've lived under its flightpath, and it didn't ruin my life). LDY serves the northwest, where infrastructural deficiencies mean travelling to either Belfast airport can be a grind. BFS is there as a 24/7 operational base for several cargo airlines and a few major commercial airlines.
In that context, I don't see where the conflict comes from.
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Thank-you Cuthere. - was feeling very alone.
In my 'humble'opinion all 3 airports serve a purpose. If they didnt they wouldnt attract any passengers and would go out of business. I do not subscribe to the view that everywhere should be shut to 'prop-up' BFS. If it is to remain NI's most popular airport let it be because it deserves to be on its own merits and not because it has killed the competition through anti-competitive legal challenges.
In my 'humble'opinion all 3 airports serve a purpose. If they didnt they wouldnt attract any passengers and would go out of business. I do not subscribe to the view that everywhere should be shut to 'prop-up' BFS. If it is to remain NI's most popular airport let it be because it deserves to be on its own merits and not because it has killed the competition through anti-competitive legal challenges.
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So with the relocation of Ltn to Bfs and maybe a big impact from Ezy on Man and other routes, has Bhd passed its high water point in terms of pax numbers, at least for a while?
I thought the word on the street was that WW had reasonable loads and these are improving over LY overall figures?
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At the end of the day BFS handles more pax per year than BHD and LDY put together so put your toys back in your prams children.
Rinty,1 airport would not mean less airlines and higher fares,get real.As ive always said the city airport only exists because of the jobs for the boys in the eighties.
Rinty,1 airport would not mean less airlines and higher fares,get real.As ive always said the city airport only exists because of the jobs for the boys in the eighties.
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Now now, we don't need to go back to the bickering about what airports best and how they aren't all needed, I myself used to believe we needed 1 Belfast airport, but when you sit down and add up the actual benefits of having 2 its good. Such as competition, close diversion airport (been diverted many times over the years to each airport, and I'm glad it was a short distance. As long as all 3 airports in the country are pulling in passenger numbers then they will exist, and that's not going to change. Each airport is a threat to each other, as they can all manage to pull off surprises which has happened at BFS and BHD over the last year or 2.
BFS is off to a good start this year, but if there's a demand for LTN from BHD then no doubt management will find a replacement, as they have shown they are effeciant at doing so
BFS is off to a good start this year, but if there's a demand for LTN from BHD then no doubt management will find a replacement, as they have shown they are effeciant at doing so
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My goodness - there really are some very bitter and opinionated views being fired around!
I work at BHD so therefore you could argue am biased but the facts are as follows: If I can get a cheap deal I will fly from BHD for a weekend break, if an airline from BFS is cheaper - thats where I will fly from. Holidays the same, this summer I am flying from BFS, if I could have had a better deal from DUB then thats where I would have gone from - no big deal, just common sense!
Going by the views here, Tesco would have one gigantic store somewhere in the middle of Norn Iron and woe betide anyone else who dared to even think about opening a different shop selling the same brands!
If you feel so strongly about BHD then dont use it, likewise BFS! Thats what choice and competition are all about.
PS Airport66 = Victoria73, same inane rambling and crazy horse comments...
I work at BHD so therefore you could argue am biased but the facts are as follows: If I can get a cheap deal I will fly from BHD for a weekend break, if an airline from BFS is cheaper - thats where I will fly from. Holidays the same, this summer I am flying from BFS, if I could have had a better deal from DUB then thats where I would have gone from - no big deal, just common sense!
Going by the views here, Tesco would have one gigantic store somewhere in the middle of Norn Iron and woe betide anyone else who dared to even think about opening a different shop selling the same brands!
If you feel so strongly about BHD then dont use it, likewise BFS! Thats what choice and competition are all about.
PS Airport66 = Victoria73, same inane rambling and crazy horse comments...
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Yet, the way the chaps on here who seem to have shares in BFS behave, you'd think LDY and BHD were some kind of threat...........
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We are an island and thats why we have a relatively high amount of airports and air travel per capita than say Austria which can avail of rail and autobahn links.
It's always going to be the case until we have a rail tunnel connecting us with GB. That'll never happen.
FYI, not to be political. LDY's name is City of Derry Airport. Just as Aldergrove is now called Belfast International. And BHD is Belfast City not Harbour.
It's always going to be the case until we have a rail tunnel connecting us with GB. That'll never happen.
FYI, not to be political. LDY's name is City of Derry Airport. Just as Aldergrove is now called Belfast International. And BHD is Belfast City not Harbour.
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Yes we are but you are not allowed to say that. In fact some would make you believe that there should be an international airport for every large town, regardless of cost. Some just do not understand the benefits of not having services split all over the place, eg 4 flights a day from one airport instead of 2 from one and 1 each from the others.
TB
TB
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Competition is healthy, and no competition is not. Look at NI Water for that. And the fact we pay the most for electricity in the UK.
Yes with one airport for Northern Ireland we'd have an amazing terminal, or maybe we wouldn't.
I for one would rather not drive the 140 mile round trip to BFS if I can fly from LDY. Just as some in Belfast couldn't conceive flying from DUB and would rather fly to heathrow to connect on a flight to the same destination served by DUB.
Finally, an other arguement for regional and multiple airports is the fact that only last April 300 people got stuck on the Glenshane Pass. Does that mean that if we had one airport, when it snows, we're unable to fly as our roads closed off.
Competition is healthy, and none of our airports have closed yet due to financial difficulties. Let it remain that way.
Yes with one airport for Northern Ireland we'd have an amazing terminal, or maybe we wouldn't.
I for one would rather not drive the 140 mile round trip to BFS if I can fly from LDY. Just as some in Belfast couldn't conceive flying from DUB and would rather fly to heathrow to connect on a flight to the same destination served by DUB.
Finally, an other arguement for regional and multiple airports is the fact that only last April 300 people got stuck on the Glenshane Pass. Does that mean that if we had one airport, when it snows, we're unable to fly as our roads closed off.
Competition is healthy, and none of our airports have closed yet due to financial difficulties. Let it remain that way.