BELFAST (BHD) - 3

[BFS/BHD]

I think they will be adding one. The BD96 will be overnighting again in the summer along with the usual 92. I'd expect to see the BD79 returning. Could be very busy times at BHD this summer. Talk of RYR basing another 738. So those added to the current nightstoppers i think there will be around 13-14 overnighting for Summer 08. Bmi will also be doing Verona charters again on Sats.

[gate 22]

Or is this the first sign of a reduction by Bd at Bhd?

Actually Bmi must be doing okay with the arrival of EI as of from Monday there will be 9 returns on Mondays and Fridays, so maybe traffic to LHR has increased significantly.

[keepitlit]

The BD79 0630 will be returning in the summer, it proved a sucess last year and the winter program was already written otherwise it would have ran on, as you said its an increase.

Let the games begin

2 VRN's on a staurday like last year

regards

Keepitlit

[True Blue]

This is fairly common action when there is new competition on a route, increase capacity, only to take it off shortly after. The EI pax are coming from somewhere, the Caa stats will soon show if Bd are keepimg their pax, or not. Will they have this number of flights Feb 09?

True blue

[flyer55]

Would be good for a belfast - lgw by EI !

[belfastmark]

ohhh maybey another ryanair plane at BHD. That would be fantastic i love Ryanair! But where are they plannning on flying to with the whole runway length thing!!! That would make for interesting times at checkin, security and in the depature lounge at peak times!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[cessnarocket]

jet2 operated a 737-300 down to TFS this morning 129 pob streching her legs a little bit 4hrs 45mins with the 757 sitting parked up, dont know if she made it back without tec stopping but this morning service was none stop!!!!! dry tanks or nearly with a 5 hour endurance on a good day eco cruse etc .

[Husky One]

Flyer55 do you not think EI have enough problems with loads without launching another battle with Easyjet? Their decision to tackle the Orange Machine is already costing them an arm and a leg. The flying program of all the locos will change over the course of the year. Makes you wonder why they didn't do it in the first place.

[SELF SERVICE C/IN]

Strong Rumours That Bd079 Will Not Be Rtning During Summer But Bd096/bd097 Will Operate As Per Winter Schedule. One Has To Ask Is There A Demand For 4 Lhr Deps From Both Airports In Space Of 3hrs?

[richardnei]

The Jet2 737 will be operating from BFS to TFS/LPA/AGP over the nest few weeks. The loads on the routes are low over the next couple of weeks so are using 737 instead of the usaully 757.

On the TFS/LPA routes the 737 is limited to 135Pax both ways to allow for the extra fuel required.

The 757 will remain at bfs for the moment, ready for any last minute charters and also as a back up A/C.

The usually 737-300QC will also remain at bfs to operate the PRG/BCN/BLK routes.

A bit unusual!!!

[EI-BUD]

FR to base another 738

If Ryanair do base another 738 at BHD, I am confident that they will aim to make an impact on the competition, I would guess first Birmingham, Bristol, Maybe Luton and Manchester, I think any additional aircraft will be used to hurt BE and WW.

I think mr o Leary has issue with BE and their attempts to scupper a runway extention wont escape his attention. Does anyone agree?

This will be a very interesting and exciting summer season.

[belfastmark]

i never atually thaught about that, Ryanair wanting to hurt Flybe because of the runway issue. i totally agree with you. But one thing i don't understand is why haven't Flybe launched any europane cities. You would think they would do it now 1. to establish themselves and get repeate customers before Ryanair get their extension 2. It would be a monopoly for them with no direct competition at the city so could be rather profiatable. Only my thaught though!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Charlie Roy]

Would Charleroi be a short enough hop from Belfast for Ryanair to consider it as a route?

[en2r]

If Ryanair do base another 738 at BHD, I am confident that they will aim to make an impact on the competition, I would guess first Birmingham, Bristol, Maybe Luton and Manchester, I think any additional aircraft will be used to hurt BE and WW.

I think mr o Leary has issue with BE and their attempts to scupper a runway extention wont escape his attention. Does anyone agree?

This will be a very interesting and exciting summer season.

I'd say Bristol, Bournemouth, Luton, Durham Tees Valley as well as perhaps Prestwick going twice daily. Theres lots of routes they could do to hurt Easy at BFS instead of Flybe

[EI-BUD]

London Luton

I was looking at the CAA 'provisional' statistics for December. Easyjet are 33k passengers down on the combined figures for the following routes;

Luton down around 7400
Gatwick down around 3000
Stansted down 4000
Glasgow down almost 6000
Edinburgh down almost 5900
Liverpool down almost 7000

And a 6th aircraft added!

BMI are down quite a bit on LHR before EI had joined the fold. BMI DEC 07 compared with DEC 06!

Despite all the competition that exists there definately has been a softening on the normal numbers of people wanting to travel, alot of travellers going because they are getting such cheap deals. Otherwise where would it be.

It is interesting that Luton is hurting the most. Does this suggest that the budget travellers choose Luton, and many of these have moved to FR BHD STN??

[gate 22]

Luton down around 7400
Gatwick down around 3000
Stansted down 4000
Glasgow down almost 6000
Edinburgh down almost 5900
Liverpool down almost 7000

Gla/Edi/Ltn down because EZY cut down each route by 1 rotation per day, for whatever reason. Gla/Edi aircraft are being used for other operations at these airports don't know about Ltn. Lpl result of FR, but as you say general downturn in traffic which probably is normal at this time of year, but due to all the new arrivals we are keeping a close watch on events and its more apparent. As for FR they rushed into a new base at BHD in reaction to EI, and due to restrictions at BHD are operating really what services they could domestic UK. For instance STN arrived on their plate as the route was vacated by Air Berlin soon after their announcement. So they are probably sucking and seeing with relation to BHD. I always wonder why have they not tried out an extensive UK domestic operation from PWK before trying out BHD. There is probably not a lot of money to be made with all the competition on the domestic front. I would say there will be casualities before the summer kicks in, airlines vacating routes or at the very least a vast reduction in frequency. The problem is we could end up with FR at the city operating 3 flights a day to the Man/Bhx etc and likewise at BFS with EZY, no other carriers which could be a pain for flexibility.

[richardnei]

Seems to be general downturn on all BFS-UK routes!

[True Blue]

I believe that last night's Fr flight Bhd - Lpl had less than 30 pax. If this is correct, why is there no comment on the Fr flights in/out of Bhd with very low pax nos? Lots of comment re Ei on this subject.

I was pricing Fr Bhd - Stn soon and the fare was £15 return. I don't think Fr are making much money at Bhd, if any, at this time.

True blue

[en2r]

I was pricing Fr Bhd - Stn soon and the fare was £15 return. I don't think Fr are making much money at Bhd, if any, at this time.

FR regularly sell flights to London from Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Kerry, Knock and Derry for similiar money and still seem to make a profit so why should it be any different from Belfast? I think Belfast people still aren't used to Ryanair fares yet. They give you this really cheap headline fare but when you add on Credit Card fees, check in fees, baggage fees etc. etc. the prices are far higher.

[True Blue]

With less than 30 pax, other fees would make no difference. I am well aware how Fr operate with additional fees, I just wonder if Bhd will work for them as well as they think. Even with rock bottom fares, I repeat, look how few pax was on that flight.

True Blue