BELFAST (BHD) - 3
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Ireland
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It's always good to see new route development at any of our 3 airports.
But I do feel that the WW routes won't last in the long term against bigger and
cheaper competition at BFS & LDY. (some may not even get started?)
These new routes might keep the BHD shareholders happy in the short term on the promise of pax growth and revenue but given the earliest routes don't start until Winter 2011 and the majority summer 2012 - it's all a long time away.
Presuming all these new European routes can be operated regardless of the runway extension happening or not ? Will this now work against the airport's case for the extension if the planners see these routes can operate with the runway at it's current length?
But I do feel that the WW routes won't last in the long term against bigger and
cheaper competition at BFS & LDY. (some may not even get started?)
These new routes might keep the BHD shareholders happy in the short term on the promise of pax growth and revenue but given the earliest routes don't start until Winter 2011 and the majority summer 2012 - it's all a long time away.
Presuming all these new European routes can be operated regardless of the runway extension happening or not ? Will this now work against the airport's case for the extension if the planners see these routes can operate with the runway at it's current length?
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Belfast
Age: 40
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If bmibaby are not doing the BHD-LHR for "big bmi" within 6 months I'll eat my hat. Cost base, legacy crew, overheads and all that.
It was noted over the past few days on the bmi thread that BHD is performing very well. Why change something that is working?
In regards to "big bmi" I would say we are more likely to see some of the LHR-MAN slot retainers being traded for more profitable mid-haul routes (if they can find them!) before LHR-BHD sees any major change. With the start of the summer timetable BD83 has returned to the very popular time of 0850, presumably on demand from customers. That to me shows bmi are more interested in retaining rather that dropping LHR-BHD.
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Belfast
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airport66
Why couldnt WW announce some new flights to different places instead of the same as what we have had for years.Ams,Gva are a flop straight awayas for the other routes wait and see but Ezy ,EI,LS will fight there corner on this one.During the summer months when you have big delays at times the aircraft going to be diverted to BFS when BHD is closed at night.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: dublin
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I really dont think that Northern Ireland needs any more flights to any of these places, other cities area available!!! MAD,CPH,VNO,SVO just as a wild selection. Why on earth to all airlines that use NI airports like lambs to the slaughter keep all going to the same place only for a price war to follow and they all pull out again!!!
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Glasgow
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i am quite disappointed....i got quite excited about an announcement of a "new" airline only to find it wasn't and then again for "new" routes which they aren't so not impressed at all......basically give 7 routes (for 2012) and take away 2 before we even finish 2011...not exactly riveting news. Maybe pax numbers are just not good enough from here to justify a decent programme of flights.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London (Babylon-on-Thames)
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I really dont think that Northern Ireland needs any more flights to any of these places, other cities area available!!! MAD,CPH,VNO,SVO just as a wild selection. Why on earth to all airlines that use NI airports like lambs to the slaughter keep all going to the same place only for a price war to follow and they all pull out again!!!
Belfast does have a growing inbound tourist market but there's reasons why it's way behind the rest....
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Somewhere up there
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To add to Skipness' comments, I think most people forget just how small NI actually is. The entire population of NI is just 1.7 million - around the same as a small English county.
The vast majority of flights and passengers are to GB.
The economy is dominated by the public sector in a way that would embarass many an Eastern European state and public spending is on the way down. It also has a massively seasonal holiday market (July basically).
Comments on these boards about there being 'markets' to x y and z are largely flights of fancy.
The vast majority of flights and passengers are to GB.
The economy is dominated by the public sector in a way that would embarass many an Eastern European state and public spending is on the way down. It also has a massively seasonal holiday market (July basically).
Comments on these boards about there being 'markets' to x y and z are largely flights of fancy.
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Sunny spain
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I must admit that the launch of the same routes served by other airlines is pointless, but it is still nice to see routes launched even though they wont last long
I would be happier to see a regional airline such as Flybe, aer arann or aer lingus regional reinstating cork or even starting routes to london city (which i think would do very well) or shannon airport (which is even advertising belfast as a possible route on theroutesop.com)
I would be happier to see a regional airline such as Flybe, aer arann or aer lingus regional reinstating cork or even starting routes to london city (which i think would do very well) or shannon airport (which is even advertising belfast as a possible route on theroutesop.com)
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Belfast, UK
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Regarding only holiday traffic, new destinations could (or should) work from Northern Ireland. Rather than huge amounts of seats on sale for Malaga, Alicante, Palma, Faro; why does demand not exist for a full summer Naples, a summer Fuerteventura, Corfu, Paphos etc, even once or twice weekly. Compared to the mainland airports, we seem to have more seats to fewer destinations, rather than a more even spread. Yes the Costa's and Spanish Islands will always be popular, but our we (NI passengers) really that boring and unadventurous with our holiday choices, and now in many cases at least three carriers competing on the same routes.
Jet2 are the only airline that offer niche, more unusual routes from Belfast, Toulouse, Pisa, Dubrovnik etc, and as these are available after a number of years, I would assume they are profit making. It is these routes that I would actively encourage people to support, so at least there is some choice beyond the mass markets.
Jet2 are the only airline that offer niche, more unusual routes from Belfast, Toulouse, Pisa, Dubrovnik etc, and as these are available after a number of years, I would assume they are profit making. It is these routes that I would actively encourage people to support, so at least there is some choice beyond the mass markets.
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: dublin
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I thinlk you all missed my point. My point being NI only has a v small population so why not try and serve it better with more choice rather than more airlines going over the same routes. Its the same as the UK when busses deregulated, too many busses chasing not enough passengers. The market needs to be expanded rather than diluting down and down the pot of passenegers you have.
And as for Dub, if the route is right the passenegers will come from the entire island.
It is almost sad to see the airlines in BFS and BHD chasing after the same passenegers going to the same place time and time again when we all know that within 18 mths bang and the route quietly pulled.
And as for Dub, if the route is right the passenegers will come from the entire island.
It is almost sad to see the airlines in BFS and BHD chasing after the same passenegers going to the same place time and time again when we all know that within 18 mths bang and the route quietly pulled.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: belfast
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BMI BABY
Has anyone figured out which aircraft are doing what? There seems to be alot off the flights on a Sat? Have they still not wised up and added a Sat STN service for next year? Doesnt seem to be much on a MOnday....
On a different note, looked at the fares and they really are not that good value, and to add a bag on was 32 pounds and you HAD to check in at the airport at another 16.... 48 quid to check in a bag... you must be joking! Ive paid less for flights to Portugal return for that!!!!!!!!!!!
I really do wish them the best... but how narrow minded is AMS.. seriously, could they not have added say Berlin, Madrid, Lisbon, etc with less frequency at say X2 a week and added 3 routes which they would have had a niche in? Anyone agree!
Has anyone figured out which aircraft are doing what? There seems to be alot off the flights on a Sat? Have they still not wised up and added a Sat STN service for next year? Doesnt seem to be much on a MOnday....
On a different note, looked at the fares and they really are not that good value, and to add a bag on was 32 pounds and you HAD to check in at the airport at another 16.... 48 quid to check in a bag... you must be joking! Ive paid less for flights to Portugal return for that!!!!!!!!!!!
I really do wish them the best... but how narrow minded is AMS.. seriously, could they not have added say Berlin, Madrid, Lisbon, etc with less frequency at say X2 a week and added 3 routes which they would have had a niche in? Anyone agree!
Join Date: Apr 2008
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Is there anything remotely positive to come out of this announcement ? Looking over this thread it would seem that all of the routes are sure to fail !!! Both the senior management teams from Baby and Belfast City seem to think somewhat differently ?????
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: USA
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Both the senior management teams from Baby and Belfast City seem to think somewhat differently ?????
Remember when Ryanair first pitched up?
That was thought of differently too.
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Northern Ireland
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Today's move by bmibaby is in my view the first signal that the move from BFS to BHD is not yielding fruit. MAN is being cut back and at daily wont last. Message to EZY is we retreat on MAN from Belfast, a long standing route (albeit from BFS). What will EZY do? BHX will be on the radar, and why wouldnt EZY do the same as LPL, beat BE performance on BFS over BHD.
As for the routes to Europe, I feel that BHD despite how much I do like the airport, have made a mistake by choosing WW for this expansion into Europe. Why? When the first challenge appears, ie losing money on some of these routes, (note EI and EZY wont retreat in face of WW), they will then close them down and where will that leave BHD in terms of European routes?
While some might say that WW is being steered towards profitability and axing routes and bases that are not economical, to me it looks like an organisation that is in a state of disarray, 2 bases gone and very little has remained in place. EZY making a real go of MAN and WW pulling out. If they cant make MAN work, they should take a hard look at what they are all about.
EI-BUD
As for the routes to Europe, I feel that BHD despite how much I do like the airport, have made a mistake by choosing WW for this expansion into Europe. Why? When the first challenge appears, ie losing money on some of these routes, (note EI and EZY wont retreat in face of WW), they will then close them down and where will that leave BHD in terms of European routes?
While some might say that WW is being steered towards profitability and axing routes and bases that are not economical, to me it looks like an organisation that is in a state of disarray, 2 bases gone and very little has remained in place. EZY making a real go of MAN and WW pulling out. If they cant make MAN work, they should take a hard look at what they are all about.
EI-BUD
Last edited by EI-BUD; 13th Apr 2011 at 21:44.
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: co antrim
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Bmi baby
The Northern Ireland public will not want to pay £16 to checkin.They will choose EZY and EI everytime.Looked at prices to AGP in Aug 2012 very dear considering they have my money for 16 months and no guarantee that they will actually fly.Not long ago they announced PRG from BFS, HOW LONG DID THAT LAST.
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Northern Ireland
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The Northern Ireland public will not want to pay £16 to checkin.
Passenger who find BHD convenient and who want to go on holidays will not mind one bit driving an extra 15miles (approx) to BFS.
AMS will not last too long. My money is on them lasting most of 1 season. Why? Because EZY will challenge them to the max. Aer Lingus had loads of about 15 pax on some flights when they launched opposite EZY at BFS, fares were usually very low and EI offered x2 daily business timings. I feel that WW foray into BHD will push the entire operation to the brink.
I would question in my mind will BE step in with smaller Embraers to challenge them? Afterall in nearly all markets that BE have challenged WW, WW have backed down and pulled routes, CWL one example.
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Ballymena
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Is this another example of Bhd have a serious love affair with a newcomer, like they did with Fr, meanwhile their most loyal customer, Flybe, is just pushed aside again. If I was Flybe I would be seriously p***ed off, I would get some routes going out of Bfs.
TB
TB
