BELFAST (BHD) - 3
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Belfast
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Ramper, How does the restriction change when nothing else has changed, is there a possibility that the permitted load will change again, negating the need for the planned extension? This would allow the residents to get on with their lives and not have to organise more protests. Watched the one at the weekend and that has to be the most well spoken mob ever to hold a protest. The comments by BA at the protest were interesting, no longer hours, no extra flights, no larger aircraft, £7m investment. How does he hope to make a return on this additional investment with the owners having already paid over the odds for the airport. Having recently been proved, in the letters in the BelTel, to have been economical with facts, are the public just expected to believe everything being said by the airport. The protesters, other residents, and key customers are all calling for a public enquiry, why not agree to holding one? Having commissioned a survey which shows 70% of NI want the extension it will be a formality and you will have an opportunity to prove your case and reassure everyone that you are a good neighbour and the greater good and of NI plc is your only goal.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Co. Antrim UK
Posts: 742
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BHD is only inches away from capacity, passengers fell by 9% last month which works in its favour at the moment. Basically 3million passengers per year is the maximum it can carry based on seats for sale. 3 million is 75% load on every flight landing and taking off to the 4m cap of seats for sale. Its sitting at 2.6 million passengers pa. That means each aircraft must be carrying 65% LF average, or they are breaking the cap. With BD and BE all experiencing a downturn and FR frankly not putting bums on seats at a rate normally associated with them as a key player, the LF must be quite low at the facility. So any additional routes starting up cannot take the figures over 3 million but must also allow for an increase in LF on existing routes. So are BHD going to spend £7million to achieve an increase of a few hundred thousand passengers? I would also say that this is the reason why FR are not expanding at BHD-they physically cannot. BHD are going to have to get rid of the passenger cap as well as a longer runway. Isn't this what Mr Ambrose wants and has said publicly. He is happy with 48,000 air transport movements which with aircraft utilisation at say 120 average = 5.76 million passengers PA. (put a ban on private ops and air taxis).
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Belfast
Posts: 143
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
What a load of nonsense
Bellboy,
not an ounce of common sense or logic in that rant.
There are of greedy and selfish people in this world, but why are they all on internet forums? (Not a specific comment on Bellboy)
Ah, now I remmeber why I can't be arsed posting here anymore...
not an ounce of common sense or logic in that rant.
- There is absolutely no need for an extension at BHD.
- The only way airtravel is going and that is down, and it will stay down.
- There is no tangible link between flights out of BHD and the health of NI.
- If someone paid over the odds for BHD it's THEIR problem.
- letting FR damage the relatively enviromentally friendly FlyBe is not to NIs benefit.
- People have the right not to have their lives made misery by noise pollution.
There are of greedy and selfish people in this world, but why are they all on internet forums? (Not a specific comment on Bellboy)
Ah, now I remmeber why I can't be arsed posting here anymore...
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Larne, UK
Posts: 990
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
EI 0046--- DUBLIN------ 16:10 - FINAL CALL GATE 25
surely thats a mistake? as thats currently showing on the BFS departures list.. EI0046 is the BCN flight?
edit - has now been changed to BCN and showing as departed
does anyone know if theres any new airlines coming to BFS this summer? WizzAir which operated until a few months ago currently doesnt allow booking for next summer, does this mean they've pulled out?
surely thats a mistake? as thats currently showing on the BFS departures list.. EI0046 is the BCN flight?
edit - has now been changed to BCN and showing as departed
does anyone know if theres any new airlines coming to BFS this summer? WizzAir which operated until a few months ago currently doesnt allow booking for next summer, does this mean they've pulled out?
Last edited by tigger2k8; 22nd Dec 2008 at 16:02.
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Greater Aldergrove
Age: 52
Posts: 851
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have no particular preference for BHD or BFS...BHD has certainly upped it's game over the last couple of years in terms of queues etc., but I'm happy to use either airport.
However this debate throws up a much bigger question, although it's not one that we're going to answer here...is it right that the private sector dictates policy on a piece of national infrastructure? In the US model, the local authority often owns and operates the local airport(s)...if it's good enough for New York (where the Port Authority operates JFK, Newark and La Guardia), should we not consider it? If a local authority (the assembly?) planned airport capacity, we would probably get a joined up approach that might benefit NIplc...instead BHD wants to spend money on an unnecessary extension (and that is not a criticism, just the reality) which may further dilute the ability of NI to draw big carriers to the market.
Having seen the free-market approach destroy our financial sector, I am really beginning to question this non-interventionist stance. Certainly let the free market look after commodities, but when it comes to infrastructure why not get some strategic government thinking in place?
However this debate throws up a much bigger question, although it's not one that we're going to answer here...is it right that the private sector dictates policy on a piece of national infrastructure? In the US model, the local authority often owns and operates the local airport(s)...if it's good enough for New York (where the Port Authority operates JFK, Newark and La Guardia), should we not consider it? If a local authority (the assembly?) planned airport capacity, we would probably get a joined up approach that might benefit NIplc...instead BHD wants to spend money on an unnecessary extension (and that is not a criticism, just the reality) which may further dilute the ability of NI to draw big carriers to the market.
Having seen the free-market approach destroy our financial sector, I am really beginning to question this non-interventionist stance. Certainly let the free market look after commodities, but when it comes to infrastructure why not get some strategic government thinking in place?
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Cork, Ireland
Posts: 730
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
WizzAir which operated until a few months ago currently doesnt allow booking for next summer, does this mean they've pulled out?
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Solihull
Age: 60
Posts: 3,326
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Aldergrove November pax
CAA stats now available and here are some: -
CDG - 10704
MUC - 1564
MXP - 1224
FCO - 2888
AMS - 8711
BCN - 5330
ACE - 3939
KRK - 3114
EMA - 7529 yes 7529
BHX -12980 (less than 2k down)
If ACE is all EI then that is good but the rest appear to be a horror story.
If MUC & MXP were Tu/Th/Sat in November then OMG!!!!!!
FR EMA - BHD was about 7k up if I remember correctly.
Pete
CDG - 10704
MUC - 1564
MXP - 1224
FCO - 2888
AMS - 8711
BCN - 5330
ACE - 3939
KRK - 3114
EMA - 7529 yes 7529
BHX -12980 (less than 2k down)
If ACE is all EI then that is good but the rest appear to be a horror story.
If MUC & MXP were Tu/Th/Sat in November then OMG!!!!!!
FR EMA - BHD was about 7k up if I remember correctly.
Pete
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Larne, UK
Posts: 990
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Yes, as far as I recall Wizzair pulled out of Belfast at the end of September. As far as I know they have no plans to return.
.
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 87
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Interesting post from NWSRG. To a certain extent it mirrors my own feelings, but some points in that post are thought provoking. Firstly, the idea of a "local authority" body handling airport policies, a la PANYNJ. Sounds good - overall common policies applied in the interests of both the airports and "NI plc". No pulling in three separate directions (BFS/BHD/LDY). Economies of scale, critical mass, common marketing etc.
Secondly, and to go against all that I've just said, the use of the Assembly, or anyone/thing connected to it fills me with nothing but fear and dread. When the Executive failed to agree and to meet for over 150 days I believe, what hope is there for any quango attached to it actually running our airports properly. You've only got to look at the fiasco which is the Maze stadium. That'll drag on nearly as long as the idea/plan/enquiry/construction of T5 at LHR !!
Thirdly, it was interesting to read in one of the aviation monthlies that Midway Airport in Chicago has become the first privately owned and operated airport in the US, i.e. not having a local authority owner as in NY. It is now run by the operator of Vancouver Airport, if I remember correctly. They are now moving away from local authority ownership in order to maximise their position and scope of operations, being a close neighbour (and VERY small brother by comparison) of O'Hare. Scale things back considerably and is there a mirror of BHD competing against BFS? Are we really that different after all?
Secondly, and to go against all that I've just said, the use of the Assembly, or anyone/thing connected to it fills me with nothing but fear and dread. When the Executive failed to agree and to meet for over 150 days I believe, what hope is there for any quango attached to it actually running our airports properly. You've only got to look at the fiasco which is the Maze stadium. That'll drag on nearly as long as the idea/plan/enquiry/construction of T5 at LHR !!
Thirdly, it was interesting to read in one of the aviation monthlies that Midway Airport in Chicago has become the first privately owned and operated airport in the US, i.e. not having a local authority owner as in NY. It is now run by the operator of Vancouver Airport, if I remember correctly. They are now moving away from local authority ownership in order to maximise their position and scope of operations, being a close neighbour (and VERY small brother by comparison) of O'Hare. Scale things back considerably and is there a mirror of BHD competing against BFS? Are we really that different after all?
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Larne, UK
Posts: 990
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
must be a mistake gate 22, yesterday aer lingus had a dublin flight, but it was actually barcelona...
bt then again i have seen the blue and grey BMI plane appear at BFS from time to time
bt then again i have seen the blue and grey BMI plane appear at BFS from time to time
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Greater Aldergrove
Age: 52
Posts: 851
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Dee747,
Agree with you about the assembly...maybe a bad example!
If you think in local terms, the NI Transport Holding Company has done a good job of co-ordinating NI Railways and Ulsterbus...not exactly the same but it shows what can be done...
Agree with you about the assembly...maybe a bad example!
If you think in local terms, the NI Transport Holding Company has done a good job of co-ordinating NI Railways and Ulsterbus...not exactly the same but it shows what can be done...
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: London
Posts: 278
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I doubt it, they are concentrating on the LHR route and further improving it's loads. Adding LGW would be in direct competition with easyjet and wouldn't help the LHR route in any way.