BELFAST (BHD) - 3

[EI-BUD]

Aer Lingus

The next big step for Aer Lingus is without doubt the addition of transatlantic activity. The first of the new batch of A330s ordered will arrive in 09 and expect one at least to be for Belfast. I dont believe anything has been decided however expect JFK and perhaps Boston. Any American destination will probably be a Jetblue destination, in this way Aer Lingus are in a good place to compete with Continental.

It's on the atlantic where Aer Lingus make most of its profit, I believe that this ultimately was why Belfast was chosen over Birmingham, a good potential to the US!

[nrm2]

Heres hoping - would be fantastic to see the A330 back in belfast after a good few years away! The question is - will it be a stopover from dub/snn with southern crew, or will it be a based BFS aircraft with their new BFS crews??

[en2r]

BUD seems to be gone, FAO seems to be gone for the winter (though thats just from reading the article - doesnt say it explicity) and no sign of GVA coming back! HMMMMM interesting!!

Presumably Lanzarote will be winter only like it is from Cork. Faro will then probably return for the summer. Budapest and Geneva seem to be axed for good though.

[bfsalphaone]

G-LSAB

A Jet2 insider confirmed that G-LSAB is getting ETOPS approval and is starting the process of getting winglets fitted, but with the launch of LBA-EWR in Nov/Dec looks like BFS will loose AB as the base aircraft and another 757 will be replacing it. Unless they decide to fit winglets to the whole 757 fleet.

But it’s only a matter of time before more expansion will be coming, another route across the pond in a 757 or 767.


bfsalphaone

[EI-BUD]

bmi A321

Does anyone know if there is a bmi 321 operating for Bmibaby? I could be wildly wrong but I think that I saw (from a distance) a A321 of bmi approaching the international airport about 1450 today and there are no bmi charters due in according to the website anyway. However there is a ww Manchester arrival.

Can anyone shed some light?

In addition on Friday morning May2nd i was departing to LGW and a bmi a321 took ahead of my flight at 0900. Is this regular or what is the summer charter patterns?

[adam12345]

Bmi A321

Yes, BmiBaby is using an A321 for most of the summer at its Manchester base.

[EI-BUD]

nrm2

I think it definately will be a based aircraft with local crew. I dont have any specific information, but i think that anything Belfast will be kept totally separate from Dublin, due to issues in the past with unions and all this type of stuff.

What do you think?

[en2r]

I think it definately will be a based aircraft with local crew. I dont have any specific information, but i think that anything Belfast will be kept totally separate from Dublin, due to issues in the past with unions and all this type of stuff.

It depends which way it operates. If it operates from Belfast direct to the states then yes it would probably be a Belfast crew. However if it operated via Shannon for example or if it originated in the south and operated via Belfast it would have to have a southern crew since Belfast crews aren't allowed operate any flights to airports in the republic as part of the deal with cabin crew (because belfast crew are paid less and are on inferior terms).

[jamesie_version1]

Hi guys - long time lurker here. Seems cityjet is leaving BHD...

'As of 24 May 2008, Air France will suspend its ‘CityJet for Air France’ route from London City Airport (LCY) to Belfast (BHD). This decision has been made for commercial reasons and to allow for the rescheduling of the CityJet for Air France network, as communicated on 2 May 2008.
Passengers already booked on these flights should contact their travel agent or
call the Air France call centre on 0870 142 4343.
They will either be rerouted on Air France’s London City Airport – Dublin flight or alternatively they can claim a full refund, without incurring any fees.'

[2leeet]

at The international airport flight DSO533 to JOHANNESBURG is scheduled. what airline is this? is it just one off. what aircraft is it likely to be? 747 lol

[ardpro]

Flytecomm shows DSO533 as going to Niamy, Niger not Johannesburg. DSO is the ICAO identifier for a private charter airline called Dassualt Falcon Services. They operate a fleet of Falcon biz jets.

[BFS101]

May be something to do with Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, being in Belfast today for a conference.

Full story:
http://u.tv/newsroom/indepth.asp?id=89148&pt=n

Just a guess, however Senegal's a long distance from Zimbabwe.

[spanishflea]

The Senegal PM is in Belfast alongside Morgan and a number of other global liberal party leaders.

[OltonPete]

April pax & provisional route analysis

Quoted on another forum as 375694 for April down 9.2%

On a slightly more positive note LHR-BFS 19334 which on 180 rotations would = 107 per flight or about 62% load factor.

BMI LHR-BHD 42670 down from 51968

easy LGW - BFS 25805 down from 34257
STN - BFS 21208 down from 32870

I have no idea if easy have reduced rotations on the LGW & STN to BFS
routes, which would provide part of an explanation.

Source for the route figures CAA.

Can't get over that monthly pax figure.

Pete

[True Blue]

Pax figures for Fr at Bhd/April 08

I had a very quick look at the pax nos for Fr at Bhd for the routes to Stn, Pik and Ema. As far as I could see, all were operating at less than 50% capacity, based on 180 pax which is what they could sell if there were no restrictions. So it seems that even with all the cheap fares, they are also failing to find the pax. Too much capacity out of Belfast now, something will have to give.As I said, this was a very quick calculation, if I'm wrong, don't shoot me.

True Blue

[OltonPete]

April provisional route analysis

Belfast Int now released, source CAA with 2007 in brackets: -

CDG 7990 (7513)
FCO 3540 (????)
AMS 10139 (7376)
BCN 9469 (5113)
EWR 8051 (9254)
BHX 13005 (15K)
EMA 11558 (19048) might have copied the wrong 2007 figure.
MAN 13781 (19113)
BRS 16862 (20695)
EDI 18358 (26783)
GLA 17607 (25563)
LPL 29949 (42479)
NCL 17238 (19043)

I am sure Amsterdam & Paris are for real but if both were double daily then CDG averaged 67 pax or 41% load factor and Amsterdam 84 pax
which equates to 52%. Rome averages 104 per the number flights operated per acarsd.

I trust the Aer Lingus strategy is to force easy off CDG & AMS, another case of who blinks first.

Some flybe BHD figures

BHX 18849 (18268) - finally an increase but still only 60% load factor.
EMA 8825 (nil)
EDI 11441 (8090)
GLA 10008 (7602)
MAN 21403 (21330)
NCL 3861 (3136)

[en2r]

I am sure Amsterdam & Paris are for real but if both were double daily then CDG averaged 67 pax or 41% load factor and Amsterdam 84 pax
which equates to 52%.

Paris is absolutely shocking for a double daily service! EI's Cork-Paris service carries more than that just operating once daily. Amsterdam is a little better but still pretty diarr. I think EI have finally got the message with the 3 new routes but I think Easy will have to pull at least one aircraft since the figures right across their Belfast network are so terrible. Not one of their routes showed growth! Has anyone seen that Easy are now offering flights to Stansted for £9.99 including taxes. A sign of desperation?

[EI-BUD]

Olton Pete

Interesting set of figures! Re the Amsterdam and Paris, are we sure that the figures include figures for both carriers? I know easyjet did increase frequency on CDG over the winter albeit by 1 a week! Easyjet will never budge off either of those routes, I would bet on that!

Elsewhere, bmibaby routes are taking a battering at the moment, and especially Cardiff I would be surprised if going forward this route warrants a 737? Given the soft loads and the low frequency? Air Wales were contracted to operate Cardiff/Prestwick some years ago in a similar situation, does anyone see Regional operating any of these Cardiff or indeed EMA routes for Baby?

EI-BUD

[OltonPete]

CDG

EI-BUD

I must admit the same thing crossed my mind when I saw the CDG figures,
are they just easy's figures and not including EI but this would be unusual even if they are only stated as provisional?

I must admit I have not seen too many major adjustments when the "actuals" are released but I usually only check the BHX ones and occasionally EMA.

I am just wondering how long can EI & EZY take these kind of figures
on some of the routes, I know EI are to or have stopped/suspended some with Munich, Arrecife & Milan coming online for winter but they must still be shipping bucket loads of cash on CDG and to a lesser extent AMS.

The baby BHX figure was quite a drop and I did not notice many cancellations in April but I might check acarsd on that one.

Pete

[True Blue]

Easyjet @ Bfs

Has anyone any views on why the Easy pax nos are so poor? I have flown many times with them this year, the fares have been good and all the flights were good/on-time. Fr cannot be affecting them on routes to Brs or Ncl, even Gla and Edi have seen large falls, but those have been reduced to 3 daily. Is it a sign that the economy is really bad and will we see a much quieter winter at Bfs. See Ba is now also talking about parking planes over the winter due fuel prices. Fr must also be losing lots at Bhd. Talk of them making lots of extra money on baggage and flight sales don't wash with me. I flew Stn return and hardly anything was sold on those flights. On Pik and Lpl they wouldn't have the time to sell.

True Blue