BRISTOL - 4
Join Date: Jan 2005
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Santito you asked the following a couple of posts back - Is the SFB flight going to be non- stop again? I guess it is an on- the- day decision depending on winds, etc?
Ta
SFB still ops direct barring any abnormal operational restrictions on the day, CUN via MAN outbound, direct inbound.
Some nasty delays this weekend, top of the pops goes to MON A321 to KTT, aircraft went tech on arrival in BRS during its W pattern, MON engineer and parts came down from LTN i believe, helped by TOM engineers, but no joy, could not get a spare aircraft in due to fleet problems and snow closures at other uk airports i believe, delayed from 1500 until 0800
VIKING
Quick update, looks like 12 weekly flights from Viking over the summer with a based 737-300, with the return of JSI which stopped after the XL collapse.
BJV, DLM, CFU, HER, EFL, KGS, RHO, JSI, ZTH, ACE, TFS, VRN
Ta
SFB still ops direct barring any abnormal operational restrictions on the day, CUN via MAN outbound, direct inbound.
Some nasty delays this weekend, top of the pops goes to MON A321 to KTT, aircraft went tech on arrival in BRS during its W pattern, MON engineer and parts came down from LTN i believe, helped by TOM engineers, but no joy, could not get a spare aircraft in due to fleet problems and snow closures at other uk airports i believe, delayed from 1500 until 0800
VIKING
Quick update, looks like 12 weekly flights from Viking over the summer with a based 737-300, with the return of JSI which stopped after the XL collapse.
BJV, DLM, CFU, HER, EFL, KGS, RHO, JSI, ZTH, ACE, TFS, VRN
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fca/mon
i have been reliably informed that the fca 767 only ever takes 150/160 pax too enable it too go direct( i stand ready too be corrected) also is the mon a321 a lgw a/c?rgds brs
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brs - I believe the SFB goes with a full load, it wouldn't break even let alone make money going with 100 seats un sold mate, especially as no cargo goes on to it at BRS unlike other bases.
I believe TOM and BRS looked into what was needed for it to operate direct and managed to adjust things operationally, would prob need a more technically minded body than me to explain it all, WINDSHEER usually has a good take on things like this, I'm sure if he reads this he might shed some light on it, or a TOM 75/76 pilot if they read the thread may be kind enough to enlighten us on the ops side of it.
I believe TOM and BRS looked into what was needed for it to operate direct and managed to adjust things operationally, would prob need a more technically minded body than me to explain it all, WINDSHEER usually has a good take on things like this, I'm sure if he reads this he might shed some light on it, or a TOM 75/76 pilot if they read the thread may be kind enough to enlighten us on the ops side of it.
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Viking
Just to update...
Saga Airlines will be operating the Turkish routes and Viking Hellas will be operating the Heraklion flight. This leaves no flights for a Tuesday, however, Birmingham has a 733 position in to operate flights to Iraq on a Tuesday which then positions back in the early hours of Wednesday. I presume this will be the Bristol based aircraft?
Saga Airlines will be operating the Turkish routes and Viking Hellas will be operating the Heraklion flight. This leaves no flights for a Tuesday, however, Birmingham has a 733 position in to operate flights to Iraq on a Tuesday which then positions back in the early hours of Wednesday. I presume this will be the Bristol based aircraft?
Brunel to Concorde
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Summer transatlantic charters
The Sanford route was discussed on this board last May and it seemed to be accepted, after initial debate, that the TOM flights would be going non-stop which, so far as I am aware, is what happened. I understand the aircraft were 258-seat former First Choice B 767-300s. Passenger figures for the summer months suggest that the aircraft were nowhere near restricted to 150/160 occupied seats.
Here is part of a post from that time from Baron buzz who is an airline pilot.
easyJet to Milan Malpensa
It looks as though this route will finish in April - no longer bookable after that.
It started around the time in early 2007 that BACon pulled out of its MXP route from BRS.
Ryanair then came in with its Milan Bergamo and for a couple of years the two competed daily summer and winter.
Last summer and this winter easyJet reduced its MXP route to 5/6 weekly and Ryanair, having gone daily year round since the route's inception, has reduced to 3 x weekly in the coming summer.
So from 14 flights a week to the Milans there will be only 3 flights a week to Milan Bergamo.
When easyJet axed Valencia and Venice Marco Polo Ryanair soon stepped in with Valencia and Venice Treviso. I wonder if they will now increase rotations on their Bergamo route.
The Sanford route was discussed on this board last May and it seemed to be accepted, after initial debate, that the TOM flights would be going non-stop which, so far as I am aware, is what happened. I understand the aircraft were 258-seat former First Choice B 767-300s. Passenger figures for the summer months suggest that the aircraft were nowhere near restricted to 150/160 occupied seats.
Here is part of a post from that time from Baron buzz who is an airline pilot.
The BRS-SFB flights are rostered to operate via MAN for the next few weeks, however it would seem that previous posters are correct in that the company is intending to operate where possible directly. The S09 plan was to operate via MAN, and this is a change fairly late in the day. I think the passengers are still being told its via MAN, and then get a pleasant surprise should they get to go directly.
The performance is close though, and there will be days when ops direct is not possible. Since the flight is only once weekly, hopefully these occasions will not be frequent.
MV, you raise interesting points. There was a school of thought that involving no crew swop and planning the flight via Shannon or something like that would work. Shannon is in the right direction and a fuel stop would be quicker than MAN.
I think MAN is chosen simply because it is an operating base, and problems/crew changes can be solved easily there (relatively). Then, should weather not be a factor flight could be planned to go directly to SFB, rather than stopping in Shannon. This would prevent the problem you raise.
It would seem though, that the company is confident enough in operating directly, and that should performance be an issue, there is enough operating hours available for a stop in MAN, without a crew change. We will see though....
The performance is close though, and there will be days when ops direct is not possible. Since the flight is only once weekly, hopefully these occasions will not be frequent.
MV, you raise interesting points. There was a school of thought that involving no crew swop and planning the flight via Shannon or something like that would work. Shannon is in the right direction and a fuel stop would be quicker than MAN.
I think MAN is chosen simply because it is an operating base, and problems/crew changes can be solved easily there (relatively). Then, should weather not be a factor flight could be planned to go directly to SFB, rather than stopping in Shannon. This would prevent the problem you raise.
It would seem though, that the company is confident enough in operating directly, and that should performance be an issue, there is enough operating hours available for a stop in MAN, without a crew change. We will see though....
It looks as though this route will finish in April - no longer bookable after that.
It started around the time in early 2007 that BACon pulled out of its MXP route from BRS.
Ryanair then came in with its Milan Bergamo and for a couple of years the two competed daily summer and winter.
Last summer and this winter easyJet reduced its MXP route to 5/6 weekly and Ryanair, having gone daily year round since the route's inception, has reduced to 3 x weekly in the coming summer.
So from 14 flights a week to the Milans there will be only 3 flights a week to Milan Bergamo.
When easyJet axed Valencia and Venice Marco Polo Ryanair soon stepped in with Valencia and Venice Treviso. I wonder if they will now increase rotations on their Bergamo route.
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MV, you raise interesting points. There was a school of thought that involving no crew swop and planning the flight via Shannon or something like that would work. Shannon is in the right direction and a fuel stop would be quicker than MAN
Dare I even suggest CWL - shared market, reduced distribution cost longer runway (soz) = win win situatioon and no euro vs gbp costs!!!
waiting for the bullets!!!!
Dare I even suggest CWL - shared market, reduced distribution cost longer runway (soz) = win win situatioon and no euro vs gbp costs!!!
waiting for the bullets!!!!
Join Date: Jan 2007
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Saga Airlines will be operating the Turkish routes
Summer Transatlantic Route
For some reason or other i think we should face to the fact that we will not have any longhaul TOM flights from CWL except for the Cruise flights which have done excellent this year.
It was proven with TOM before the merger that these flights do work but the ex FCA management seem to be pulling the shots on this one hence the reduction in flight from CWL.
Join Date: Jul 2007
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North Somerset planners have recommended approval of the airports expansion. The recommended proposals will have to go to the full planning committee shortly, but it is a major step forward. There appear to be a number of restrictions, including limiting the number of passengers to 10 million, but over all the airport appears to have got what it wanted. Excellent news!
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Nice!
How long does the 10Mil limit apply for? How would it be implemented? i.e. would the airport only be allowed to accept 10M seats from incoming aircraft? That sounds quite restrictive seeing as we are already at over 6M pax PA, and there must be -something like- 7M seats on flights already?
That would only allow growth of 45% in number of flights.
How long does the 10Mil limit apply for? How would it be implemented? i.e. would the airport only be allowed to accept 10M seats from incoming aircraft? That sounds quite restrictive seeing as we are already at over 6M pax PA, and there must be -something like- 7M seats on flights already?
That would only allow growth of 45% in number of flights.
Brunel to Concorde
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Expansion plans
Although it is certainly a step in the right direction don't let's get carried away.
North Somerset's professional planning officers have made the recommendation but they don't make the decision, the elected councillors do.
In recent times North Somerset councillors have ignored the advice of their own professional planning officers and made planning decisions contrary to that advice on two high-profile local planning matters.
They did so with the airport's application to regard the western walkway as general permitted development and only later changed their mind when they realised their decision was perverse and unsustainable in law and would have led to the council tax payers footing a legal bill in the certain knowledge that the airport would have appealed.
They did so recently in regard to the link road at Long Ashton to the proposed new Bristol City FC stadium and that is still to be finally resolved.
Even if the planning councillors do go along with their planning officers' recommendations and the airport accepts the restrictions, there is still a possibility that the whole scheme will be called in by the government minister leading to a public enquiry or, if it isn't, legal challenges from opponents could still occur. SBAE with the backing of some prominent local politicians have already asked the minister to call in the application.
The latest news is a step forward it is true but there are many more to be taken before the plans are finally approved.
Although it is certainly a step in the right direction don't let's get carried away.
North Somerset's professional planning officers have made the recommendation but they don't make the decision, the elected councillors do.
In recent times North Somerset councillors have ignored the advice of their own professional planning officers and made planning decisions contrary to that advice on two high-profile local planning matters.
They did so with the airport's application to regard the western walkway as general permitted development and only later changed their mind when they realised their decision was perverse and unsustainable in law and would have led to the council tax payers footing a legal bill in the certain knowledge that the airport would have appealed.
They did so recently in regard to the link road at Long Ashton to the proposed new Bristol City FC stadium and that is still to be finally resolved.
Even if the planning councillors do go along with their planning officers' recommendations and the airport accepts the restrictions, there is still a possibility that the whole scheme will be called in by the government minister leading to a public enquiry or, if it isn't, legal challenges from opponents could still occur. SBAE with the backing of some prominent local politicians have already asked the minister to call in the application.
The latest news is a step forward it is true but there are many more to be taken before the plans are finally approved.
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planning
I see the planning application is being discussed tonight. Is anyone any plans for going. Cant make it my self. I recon they will delay decision and pass it on for someone else as they wont upset the locals with an election not far away.
Brunel to Concorde
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I wouldn't even try to forecast what North Somerset Council planners will decide this evening. Their recent track record of unpredictablity in planning matters means that nothing will surprise me.
What would surprise me is tonight's vote, whichever way it goes, being the final say. I doubt that whoever 'loses' will let the matter rest and appeals or legal challenges will likely follow, that is if the whole thing is not called in for public enquiry, something the objectors still hope will happen.
There's been plenty of rhetoric from both sides in the local rags in recent days.
Airport CEO Robert Sinclair said, "(Lack of expansion) will expose the uncomfortable fact that our facilities aren't adequate to meet the needs of a resurgent region."
He particularly mentions congestion at immigration and security with the current terminal leaving no room for expansion in these fields.
Whilst some of the comment must be taken in the context of pushing for the expansion there is no doubt that crowding can be uncomfortable at busy periods.
In recent months SBAE seems to have become slightly more conciliatory with their spokesman accepting the airport in its current form as serving the needs of the region and even suggesting a compromise figure of 8 mppa maximum.
Whether this is being done because they perceive their case to be weak only time will tell.
Incidentally, the local paper today reports the BRS February passenger figures up 14% on February 2009 at 364,906.
If this percentage increase was replicated each month for the rest of the year the airport would see a record calendar year of about 6.3 mppa. The CEO is cautiously bullish about 2010 though I've not read anywhere that he is that optimistic.
What will be true though is that the terminal crowding will not get any less and expanded facilities are needed, though even an uncontested planning approval (which I think is unlikely) would not see anything built immediately.
Finally, has the airport supporters' group website (BISON) closed? I've not been able to access it for a week. Seems odd that it should close (if it has done) at such an important time for the airport's future.
What would surprise me is tonight's vote, whichever way it goes, being the final say. I doubt that whoever 'loses' will let the matter rest and appeals or legal challenges will likely follow, that is if the whole thing is not called in for public enquiry, something the objectors still hope will happen.
There's been plenty of rhetoric from both sides in the local rags in recent days.
Airport CEO Robert Sinclair said, "(Lack of expansion) will expose the uncomfortable fact that our facilities aren't adequate to meet the needs of a resurgent region."
He particularly mentions congestion at immigration and security with the current terminal leaving no room for expansion in these fields.
Whilst some of the comment must be taken in the context of pushing for the expansion there is no doubt that crowding can be uncomfortable at busy periods.
In recent months SBAE seems to have become slightly more conciliatory with their spokesman accepting the airport in its current form as serving the needs of the region and even suggesting a compromise figure of 8 mppa maximum.
Whether this is being done because they perceive their case to be weak only time will tell.
Incidentally, the local paper today reports the BRS February passenger figures up 14% on February 2009 at 364,906.
If this percentage increase was replicated each month for the rest of the year the airport would see a record calendar year of about 6.3 mppa. The CEO is cautiously bullish about 2010 though I've not read anywhere that he is that optimistic.
What will be true though is that the terminal crowding will not get any less and expanded facilities are needed, though even an uncontested planning approval (which I think is unlikely) would not see anything built immediately.
Finally, has the airport supporters' group website (BISON) closed? I've not been able to access it for a week. Seems odd that it should close (if it has done) at such an important time for the airport's future.
Brunel to Concorde
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Expansion Planning Application
North Somerset South Area Planning Committee did not make a decision tonight on BRS's major expansion planning application, as was expected.
Instead, after listening to submissions and planning advice they have adjourned the matter to a future date to be considered by the council's Planning and Regulatory Committee.
The positive aspect is that the nine councillors on the South Area Committe have recommended approval by six votes to three.
Instead, after listening to submissions and planning advice they have adjourned the matter to a future date to be considered by the council's Planning and Regulatory Committee.
The positive aspect is that the nine councillors on the South Area Committe have recommended approval by six votes to three.
Brunel to Concorde
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Ryanair
Yet more tweaking with the summer 10 timetable from BRS.
Rimini is back in both the booking engine and web timetable at 2 x weekly - Wednesdays and Sundays. Having been in the first editions of the timetable (and booking engine) it was taken out a couple of months ago.
To make room Malaga has been reduced to 6 x weekly (no Sundays) from 7 and a gap has been utilised for the Wednesday flight with a bit of shuffling of some other flight times.
With easyJet going 2 x daily to Malaga it's certainly a better option to lose a weekly rotation in order to operate the Rimini.
Rimini is back in both the booking engine and web timetable at 2 x weekly - Wednesdays and Sundays. Having been in the first editions of the timetable (and booking engine) it was taken out a couple of months ago.
To make room Malaga has been reduced to 6 x weekly (no Sundays) from 7 and a gap has been utilised for the Wednesday flight with a bit of shuffling of some other flight times.
With easyJet going 2 x daily to Malaga it's certainly a better option to lose a weekly rotation in order to operate the Rimini.
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MerchantVenturer - I'm afraid we did make the decision to close BISON.
It wasn't an easy decision to make as a lot of work had gone into the group over the years, however it was just dying, and we weren't getting out of the site what we had originally hoped.
It was originally founded to be for supporters of the airport, the public to show support rather than another spotting website - which in the end, that's what it turned out to be.
It seems as though the public are happier to complain and protest than show support. We had received lots of support from fans and the media, however there wasn't much else we could do in progression. The team behind BISON were also busy on other projects and couldn't dedicate the time any more.
Thanks for everybody's support in the past, and we hope that all of the members still continue to actively support the website.
It wasn't an easy decision to make as a lot of work had gone into the group over the years, however it was just dying, and we weren't getting out of the site what we had originally hoped.
It was originally founded to be for supporters of the airport, the public to show support rather than another spotting website - which in the end, that's what it turned out to be.
It seems as though the public are happier to complain and protest than show support. We had received lots of support from fans and the media, however there wasn't much else we could do in progression. The team behind BISON were also busy on other projects and couldn't dedicate the time any more.
Thanks for everybody's support in the past, and we hope that all of the members still continue to actively support the website.
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February Traffic Figures
Bristol International Airport have published Traffic Figures for February.
Total Pax 365,331 up 14.33%
Charter 45,462 up 10.81%
Scheduled Int 233,130 up 12.38%
Scheduled Dom 86,679 up 22.07%
Total Aircraft Movements were also up 4.70% at 4,875
A great turnaround in fortunes for the airport, lets hope this is a good year of recovery.
Total Pax 365,331 up 14.33%
Charter 45,462 up 10.81%
Scheduled Int 233,130 up 12.38%
Scheduled Dom 86,679 up 22.07%
Total Aircraft Movements were also up 4.70% at 4,875
A great turnaround in fortunes for the airport, lets hope this is a good year of recovery.
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2 questions...
Great stats indeed. I wonder which, if any, of the other regional airports can better that.
On a different note, did anyone know that Bristol International Airport is being rebranded tomorrow and the name changed?
I appreciate, and guess that potentially, the airport wants to appeal to a wider geographical area, and this may be reflected in the new name, but will it stop anyone calling it Bristol (or even for the older generation - Lulsgate)?
I just hope they dont choose a famous person, like Liverpool did. I hate that idea.
On a different note, did anyone know that Bristol International Airport is being rebranded tomorrow and the name changed?
I appreciate, and guess that potentially, the airport wants to appeal to a wider geographical area, and this may be reflected in the new name, but will it stop anyone calling it Bristol (or even for the older generation - Lulsgate)?
I just hope they dont choose a famous person, like Liverpool did. I hate that idea.
StandupfortheUlstermen
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Adge Cutler International Airport?
Wurzelshire International Airport?
Ciderset International Airport?
Bristol Cary Grant International?
Oh, I could have seconds of fun with this one!
Wurzelshire International Airport?
Ciderset International Airport?
Bristol Cary Grant International?
Oh, I could have seconds of fun with this one!