BRISTOL - 4

[Pandy]

Thanks MV, assume its fair to say that these routes are more business orientated and August aint a great month for business!

[Bristol_Traveller]

FRA needs interlining traffic.

As when BACon operated the routes, FRA as a point destination doesn't generate enough traffic. I'm told BM are working on codeshares with LH, which hopefully would bring the volume up.

The prevailing assumption that interlined/codeshared traffic isn't good yield isn't necessarily true. I just booked BRS-FRA-BKK-BNE, and from the way the fare is constructed, it looks like BM is getting the BRS-FRA fare as if I'd bought it from them directly. (aka, on my travel dates, about £250).

I hope Helvetic will sort out codeshares with LX for the ZRH route.

[MerchantVenturer]

The bmi regional marketing director gave a press interview recently where the proposed rebranding to bmi next year was given prominence. Of perhaps greater interest to airports such as Bristol was this quote: We're also looking to work closer with some of the big European carriers and may look to feed some of the European carrier networks.

Doesn't specify exactly what is in mind though.

TravelMole - News

As for Helvetic, a look at the airline's website shows no booking availability on any of its routes after the end of October (ie the routes it operates itself not those its aircraft operate on behalf of Swiss).

The BRS website carries prominent advertisements for Helvetic to Zurich this winter but there are no days or times of operation shown - the BRS website seems to be displaying last winter's Helvetic schedule.

A poster on another aviation website emailed Helvetic about three weeks ago asking about BRS winter flights and received the reply that the airline was still working on its winter schedule that should be ready within two weeks. A week beyond those two weeks and there is still nothing shown on the Helvetic website.

[BleadonHell]

I asked the question to Helvetic about the winter timetable as I need to book a couple of trips. If they are going to interline with anyone apart from the SBB to the city centre, they certainly need to get to Zurich a lot earlier than 22.15 on Wednesday and Friday per their current summer schedule.

BH

>>Thanks a lot for your email and your interest in Helvetic Airways.
We are still working on our Winter Schedule, which should be ready by the end of September. Once the new schedule is ready, it will be published on our website. >>

Thanks a lot for your patience and understanding.

Kind Regards,

Guest Relations

Helvetic Airways AG
P.O. Box 250
CH-8058 Zurich Airport
p: [phone]
f: [phone]
e: [email protected]

Helvetic Airways

[MerchantVenturer]

Helvetic BRS-ZRH

Now on sale from 13 December (meaning no flights in November or the first part of December) but just 2 x weekly (last winter 3 x weekly) on Fridays and Sundays until the end of March when the winter timetable finishes.

[Hank Birofski]

New easyJet routes

Bristol – Marrakech &
Bristol – Reykjavik now viewable on the iPad 'Inspire Me' app... announcement shortly?

[stalling attitude]

both new routes announced this morning starting December

[bobsyerunlce]

Thursdays and Sundays to KEF ON Easyjet. I found flights in Jan and Feb for under £100. Perfect.
I hope that route does well. It's an amazing place and with those days and prices, it should do.

[MerchantVenturer]

easyJet: Reykjavik (Keflavik) and Marrakech

This would be the first regular route to Iceland from BRS, scheduled or charter. Like Marrakech, I suspect it will be predominantly leisure traffic and Iceland has the reputation of being a relatively expensive tourist destination. The demographics of the BRS catchment may have encouraged the airline to start this route.

Marrakech was operated year-round by Ryanair between 2009 and 2011 with decent loads for the most part although in the end that airline presumably decided the yield did not justify a continuation. Thomson is also advertising a new Marrakech summer service in 2014.

[Bristol_Traveller]

bmi interlining

I've just hit my first bump in my plan to use bmi to get from Bristol to Brisbane. bmi tell me they aren't interlining bags with any other airline, so I'm going to have to go airside at FRA, pick up my bags, and check them back in again.

It's a good thing I've got 3 hours layover in FRA in both directions.

[MerchantVenturer]

Two in and one out it would seem today.

The easyJet Reykjavik (Keflavik) and Marrakech against the apparent axing of the bmi regional to Hannover this winter (seems no longer bookable after early November). Hannover was the surprise one when the routes were announced despite it being one of Bristol's twin cities.

Let's hope that's the only glitch in your BRS-BNE adventure, B_T.

[bravoromeosierra]

I do wonder if bmi are ever actually going to implement their online MMB & check-in.

Seems like the should have done by now!

[2J&D]

BMI interlining

B_T i am interested to know where you booked your ticket? There has never been an interlining agreement with an airline and BMI Regional and so it would be interesting who might have sold you the ticket without telling you this. I know it is something they are working towards but as you say you will have to collect baggage etc which isn't the best situation!

[Morrihell]

Twin "cities"

Surprised whilst on holiday in Languedoc last month, to see that the town of Clermont-l'Herault is twinned with no less than Patchway!

Keflavik, that's an interesting one, Copenhagen's still flying 3 (?) per week, perhaps Keflavik will work?

MH.

[MerchantVenturer]

Next phase of infrastructure development begins

The airport has now confirmed that the next phase of the eventual £150 million development has commenced with the £6.5 million central walkway expected to be completed next summer.

It will include four new pre-boarding zones serving up to six departure gates with connection to the departure lounge featuring an escalator and six lifts.

The new facility will be able to accommodate the likes of the B 787 and A 350 and provision will be made for an airbridge in the future for the hoped-for long haul.

The central walkway is the latest development in the infrastructure expansion following the completion of the western walkway in 2010, and additional immigration and security areas and three new aircraft stands all opened last year.

Future developments include extensions to the terminal building, a public transport interchange, a multi-storey car park and an on-site hotel which will appear as passenger numbers increase.

This link accesses the airport's press release concerning this initiative and contains a video 'walk-through' of the planned central walkway.

Next phase of development begins at Bristol Airport ? Bristol Airport

[globetrotter79]

So, I assume from having the current not-very-much view of the outside world from the dep lounge in future there will be zero view...

I suppose at least there will be some natural light etc - unlike the thoroughly depressing main dep lounge area in EXT!

[Bristol_Traveller]

@2J&D

The ticket was issued on LH (220) stock, using one of their published fares for BRS-BNE (-RCGB type fares). The routing rules include:

BRS-LH/BM-STR/NUE/MUC/HAM/HAJ/FRA/DUS-SN/OS/LH-ZRH/VIE/
MUC/FRA/DUS/BRU-SN/OS/LH-BKK-TG/LH-BNE

The problem was that LH re-issued the ticket (after TG cancelled the BKK-BNE sector, and I had to re-route BKK-SIN-BNE and onto SQ), and the re-issued ticket didn't make it to BM correctly.

BM have confirmed through check-in and interlining of the bags will be fine. So all good news in the end.

[LGS6753]

From Travel Mole:

Wales blocked from abolishing unpopular air tax

[Wycombe]

BRS-ARN with SAS

Travelmole says SAS will be operating BRS-ARN (Stockholm) twice weekly for a short season in S14:

New flight from Bristol to Stockholm

[Bristol_Traveller]

Nice to see SK back again with their weekend excursions. I used it when it ran last time, and it was very handy. (I think I also got lounge access with my *G).