BELFAST (BHD) - 3
Join Date: Dec 2007
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the word around the bhd terminal is that a big announcement is due to be made by the airport by end of week so highly likely a new airline.... baby ?
smaller news is the 2 new retails outlets in departures. 1 opening in a few weeks. could it be boots ?
smaller news is the 2 new retails outlets in departures. 1 opening in a few weeks. could it be boots ?
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: Ireland
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Confirmed Press Release - Not sure how happy Flybe will be with this news ?
bmibaby launch new services from Belfast City Airport
Services commence on 10 January 2011
bmibaby will commence flying from George Best Belfast City Airport to Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and East Midlands Airport from 10 January 2011.
bmibaby will move its operation from Belfast International Airport to Belfast City Airport, in a move to offer more convenient services to passengers wishing to travel into Belfast.
The new bmibaby services will add to the bmi Groups current flights between Belfast City Airport and London Heathrow, meaning the bmi Group will become one of the largest operators from Belfast City Airport.
The low cost airline will operate up to 48 flights a week from Belfast to its regional airports, with fares starting from just £9.99 one way including taxes.
bmibaby launch new services from Belfast City Airport
Services commence on 10 January 2011
bmibaby will commence flying from George Best Belfast City Airport to Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff and East Midlands Airport from 10 January 2011.
bmibaby will move its operation from Belfast International Airport to Belfast City Airport, in a move to offer more convenient services to passengers wishing to travel into Belfast.
The new bmibaby services will add to the bmi Groups current flights between Belfast City Airport and London Heathrow, meaning the bmi Group will become one of the largest operators from Belfast City Airport.
The low cost airline will operate up to 48 flights a week from Belfast to its regional airports, with fares starting from just £9.99 one way including taxes.
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: gate 67 JFK
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Much of Ryanairs volume was discounted fares, having said that the volume through all of baby's bases into BHD will make a big impact on BHD numbers without doubt.
It will also reduce the groups cost base and i would expect to see regional services pitch up in due course, flybe cannot hope to compete with the dash on this route.
So who will back fill BFS, well LS could do BFS-EMA but its well know loads were crap for baby when Ryanair were on the route 30-50 most days at very low ticket prices
This should illustrate to all the doomsayers that bmi and baby are back in business to stay with LH clout behind them
It will also reduce the groups cost base and i would expect to see regional services pitch up in due course, flybe cannot hope to compete with the dash on this route.
So who will back fill BFS, well LS could do BFS-EMA but its well know loads were crap for baby when Ryanair were on the route 30-50 most days at very low ticket prices
This should illustrate to all the doomsayers that bmi and baby are back in business to stay with LH clout behind them
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Larne, UK
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A very strange move, and probably not thought out too well... this has been decided within the last month anyway, as just over a month ago they were looking pricing for the handling contract at BFS from both handling agents.. Good luck to WW, but i honestly think they could come off worse, atleast with BFS they had no competition on their routes.. to all those who now have to travel to BHD for their flights, enjoy the sydenham bypass 
Join Date: Jul 2003
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The move of Baby to BHD from BFS is indeed a strange one given that all their routes with compete directly with Flybe.
Not sure who will win that dog fight but I guess Joe Public should reap the benefit of a few cheap flight deals in the short term while it goes on.
I can only presume that the bigger picture for BHD is that Baby may deliver direct European routes in the summer months? I presume their aircraft have no operating restrictions with the current runway length at BHD?
It would certainly appear to close the door on RYR ever returning to BHD but would it open the door for them to consider BFS as a base or would this fit too uncomfortably with easyjet agreement?
Not sure who will win that dog fight but I guess Joe Public should reap the benefit of a few cheap flight deals in the short term while it goes on.
I can only presume that the bigger picture for BHD is that Baby may deliver direct European routes in the summer months? I presume their aircraft have no operating restrictions with the current runway length at BHD?
It would certainly appear to close the door on RYR ever returning to BHD but would it open the door for them to consider BFS as a base or would this fit too uncomfortably with easyjet agreement?
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Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Co. Antrim UK
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A very strange move, and probably not thought out too well...
Join Date: Apr 2008
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Hmm. Could be deliberate BMI style strategy to make a route uncompetitive and then withdraw. Just like reducing GLA-MAN with BMI-Regional from three well timed flights to one midday roundtrip and then canceling it altogether due to a surprising lack of business passengers... 
Join Date: Sep 2007
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Why move from an airport where you have no competition, to one that you do. Strange. Don't expect to see 2 airlines out of BHD on CWL and EMA in 12 months time. Suspect we will see a game of trying to price each other off the route. Will wait and see who can last the longest.
Join Date: Feb 2009
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baby at BHD
Flybe has seen off competiton in the past. I wonder did Lufthansa negotiate a very good deal taking bmi and baby as one in the negotiations. Will we now see FR at BFS or will Easy pick up the slack?
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Belfast
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BMIbaby
I think that they will be making the European routes BHD need, they offer European routes from all their other hubs and if they are making it a big hub by joining with BMI then they will probably offer European routes
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Belfast, UK
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Baby did offer Prague last winter from BFS, maybe testing the water for European flights from NI.
Could the 737-300/500 make it to Italy, Czech Republic, Spain, Germany etc unhindered from BHD??
Could the 737-300/500 make it to Italy, Czech Republic, Spain, Germany etc unhindered from BHD??
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Newcastle NI
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baby should be able to lift between 51t-53t with 20k engines on a 733,(from BHD) which would get to most of europe except FAO/AGP/MLA on a standard day, i expect the jet ban will cause some problems come the Summer
Join Date: Dec 2007
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everyone is speculating why baby is moving to BHD. why when BE operate the same routes and why when they had no competition at BFS. surely its all to do with MONEY!! big carrot offered by BHD and bmi mainline already present with bmi ground staff and all resources in place. !! makes sense ?
Join Date: Oct 2009
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Of course the move was because of money. bmi baby havent developed a strategy to operate european destinations, they were offered a deal they couldn't refuse and that was only offered to ensure the LHR was protected. Pax numbers will go up, profit will go down, just as it did with FR, look at the last published accounts. More worryingly this time, they have slapped their biggest airline, they may live to regret that. As MR said, it smaks of desperation by the owners.
But on the plus side, BA is staying, whoooooooh.
But on the plus side, BA is staying, whoooooooh.