BRISTOL - 4
Brunel to Concorde
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Virtute et Industria, et Sumorsaete Ealle
Posts: 2,283
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Dinard last operated in 2008 - one of several routes that were discarded by FR at BRS in the past but brought back in more recent times - Bratislava, Katowice, Gdansk and Budapest being others.
I posted the above in December. Lodz and Dinard have materialised. I wonder if any of the others will.
There have been rumours that destinations such as Chania, Rhodes, Corfu, Kos, Murcia, Lodz, Biarritz and Dinard might appear in summer 2012.
Brunel to Concorde
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Virtute et Industria, et Sumorsaete Ealle
Posts: 2,283
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I checked the main summer 2012 timetable a couple of weeks ago and, though fairly full, did show some gaps that might be filled by the BUD, DNR and LCJ routes announced today with a little re-jigging - assuming none is more than 2 x weekly. I can find no details of timings or frequency yet - the routes go on sale tomorrow.
Lodz is interesting. It's one of Poland's largest cities but has a tiny airport in passenger number terms - around half a million passengers a year.
Ryanair already operates to five other Polish cities from BRS (Gdansk, Katowice, Poznan, Rzeszow and Wroclaw), and easyJet goes to Krakow.
Lodz is interesting. It's one of Poland's largest cities but has a tiny airport in passenger number terms - around half a million passengers a year.
Ryanair already operates to five other Polish cities from BRS (Gdansk, Katowice, Poznan, Rzeszow and Wroclaw), and easyJet goes to Krakow.
Brunel to Concorde
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Virtute et Industria, et Sumorsaete Ealle
Posts: 2,283
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bristol Airport named 'Best UK Airport' at Business Travel Awards - Bristol Airport
Well done to all concerned and it's pleasing that this is a business travel award as one of the whinges from the objectors to the expansion plans is that the airport is nothing more than a holiday airport.
This shows it has some business travel credentials and is working hard to improve them.
Thanks Jamie, though at present the Ryanair booking engine and timetable are both showing Dinard at 4 x weekly - Mon, Tues, Thurs and Sat.
Well done to all concerned and it's pleasing that this is a business travel award as one of the whinges from the objectors to the expansion plans is that the airport is nothing more than a holiday airport.
This shows it has some business travel credentials and is working hard to improve them.
Dinard will be 3 weekly on Tues, Thur and Sat
Brunel to Concorde
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Virtute et Industria, et Sumorsaete Ealle
Posts: 2,283
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Helvetic
I'm pleased that Helvetic has given this route more time.
The Switzerland-originating traffic to CWL during last summer was reported as being quite good whereas the Wales-emanating passenger numbers were poor meaning the route as a whole struggled, with average monthly loads on the F100 as follows from May through to September: 18, 21, 33, 22 and 17 respectively (CAA stats).
Helvetic added the BRS stop in both directions in early December with about three weeks notice and with little advertising other than on the BRS and Helvetic websites. I'm told that BRS is now advertising the route more widely including on city buses.
Mid-winter is never the best time to begin such a route, or insert additonal stops, so it must be presumed that Helvetic saw something to encourage the idea of continuing the double-drop operation through the summer despite the additional costs that such routings usually bring.
It's like the old days when airlines often operated routes via BRS and CWL.
The Switzerland-originating traffic to CWL during last summer was reported as being quite good whereas the Wales-emanating passenger numbers were poor meaning the route as a whole struggled, with average monthly loads on the F100 as follows from May through to September: 18, 21, 33, 22 and 17 respectively (CAA stats).
Helvetic added the BRS stop in both directions in early December with about three weeks notice and with little advertising other than on the BRS and Helvetic websites. I'm told that BRS is now advertising the route more widely including on city buses.
Mid-winter is never the best time to begin such a route, or insert additonal stops, so it must be presumed that Helvetic saw something to encourage the idea of continuing the double-drop operation through the summer despite the additional costs that such routings usually bring.
It's like the old days when airlines often operated routes via BRS and CWL.
Brunel to Concorde
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Virtute et Industria, et Sumorsaete Ealle
Posts: 2,283
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Infrastructure
At the recent airport consultative committee meeting Robert Sinclair, the CEO, told members that the construction of three new aircraft stands (on the western apron) was due for completion in April.
He also said that work on the expanded passenger security search area was proceeding.
There will also be a new immigration channel to provide additional capacity.
It had previously been reported that enhancements will be made to gate 10, one of the pre-boarding gates along the western walkway, to provide an area to meet the needs of business travellers, including seating and wifi. Previously the western walkway was limited in facilities that could be provided as it had been constructed under General Permitted Development, but the major planning consents obtained last year have removed these restrictions.
The trade press has reported this week that a locally-based engineering consultancy has been awarded the civil and structural engineering contract for the first stage of the major expansion; this contract relates to the western extension of the existing terminal building. The expansion plans call for an eventual doubling of the current terminal's size together with other major infrastructure enhancements such as multi-story car parks, walkways and piers, public transport interchange and an office block, as well as an airport hotel.
Planning and development – Bristol Airport
Airport Flyer
The airport announced this week that the timetable for the Bristol Airport Flyer is to be expanded to provide a 24-hour service. The 12-strong fleet of specially adapted and liveried Volvo buses is operated by First Bristol on behalf of the airport and runs between the airport and the main rail station at Temple Meads, central area hotels and the country bus and coach station. It currently carries about ten per cent of the airport's passenger numbers and features through ticketing with the rail companies, National Express and local area buses.
The present timetable provides a ten-minute frequency in both directions from around 0600 until 2030 with 20-minute frequencies between 2030 and midnight. There is no service between 0050 and 0305 at the moment but from April there will be 11 journeys leaving the airport between midnight and 0600 and a broadly similar number in the reverse direction.
Passenger numbers
At the recent airport consultative committee meeting the airport CEO said he anticipates a rise of 2-3 per cent in passenger numbers in 2012. He pointed out the increasing seasonality of passenger traffic patterns at the airport with September 2011 being the best ever September whereas November's passenger figures were similar to those in November 2004.
The 318,000 passengers in January 2012 means numbers were down 3.5 per cent on the previous January.
After its impressive rise in passenger numbers from 2.124 mppa in 2000 to 6.229 mppa in 2008, the airport regressed to 5.615 in 2009 followed by small rises in the following two years to 5.723 in 2010 and 5.768 in 2011.
That said, it has fared better than many regional airports in holding on to the bulk of its passenger numbers through the recession.
The airport's 5.768 million passenger total in 2011 was achieved using over 20 per cent fewer flights than were needed to handle 5.710 million passengers in 2006.
At the recent airport consultative committee meeting Robert Sinclair, the CEO, told members that the construction of three new aircraft stands (on the western apron) was due for completion in April.
He also said that work on the expanded passenger security search area was proceeding.
There will also be a new immigration channel to provide additional capacity.
It had previously been reported that enhancements will be made to gate 10, one of the pre-boarding gates along the western walkway, to provide an area to meet the needs of business travellers, including seating and wifi. Previously the western walkway was limited in facilities that could be provided as it had been constructed under General Permitted Development, but the major planning consents obtained last year have removed these restrictions.
The trade press has reported this week that a locally-based engineering consultancy has been awarded the civil and structural engineering contract for the first stage of the major expansion; this contract relates to the western extension of the existing terminal building. The expansion plans call for an eventual doubling of the current terminal's size together with other major infrastructure enhancements such as multi-story car parks, walkways and piers, public transport interchange and an office block, as well as an airport hotel.
Planning and development – Bristol Airport
Airport Flyer
The airport announced this week that the timetable for the Bristol Airport Flyer is to be expanded to provide a 24-hour service. The 12-strong fleet of specially adapted and liveried Volvo buses is operated by First Bristol on behalf of the airport and runs between the airport and the main rail station at Temple Meads, central area hotels and the country bus and coach station. It currently carries about ten per cent of the airport's passenger numbers and features through ticketing with the rail companies, National Express and local area buses.
The present timetable provides a ten-minute frequency in both directions from around 0600 until 2030 with 20-minute frequencies between 2030 and midnight. There is no service between 0050 and 0305 at the moment but from April there will be 11 journeys leaving the airport between midnight and 0600 and a broadly similar number in the reverse direction.
Passenger numbers
At the recent airport consultative committee meeting the airport CEO said he anticipates a rise of 2-3 per cent in passenger numbers in 2012. He pointed out the increasing seasonality of passenger traffic patterns at the airport with September 2011 being the best ever September whereas November's passenger figures were similar to those in November 2004.
The 318,000 passengers in January 2012 means numbers were down 3.5 per cent on the previous January.
After its impressive rise in passenger numbers from 2.124 mppa in 2000 to 6.229 mppa in 2008, the airport regressed to 5.615 in 2009 followed by small rises in the following two years to 5.723 in 2010 and 5.768 in 2011.
That said, it has fared better than many regional airports in holding on to the bulk of its passenger numbers through the recession.
The airport's 5.768 million passenger total in 2011 was achieved using over 20 per cent fewer flights than were needed to handle 5.710 million passengers in 2006.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: bristol
Posts: 29
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BRISTOL AIRPORT EXPANSION
Following on from M.V. post,with the three new parking stands nearly completed and construction to start shortly on the extension to the terminal,where exactly is the new traffic coming from ? Easy Jet and Ryanair seem to have run out of steam,apart from introducing, withdrawing,then reintroducing some of their destinations, from year to year,always looking for maximum yield.Thompson,Thomas Cook appear to be in period of consolidation at the moment so I can't see any growth there for a while.I know that the terminal is packed first thing in the morning,but it's not exactlty bursting at the seams the rest of the day.As M.V stated in his post a lot of the recent increase in passenger numbers has been acheived without an increase in aircraft movements.
Brunel to Concorde
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Virtute et Industria, et Sumorsaete Ealle
Posts: 2,283
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In the short term there isn't going to be a lot of growth, as suggested by the CEO's forecast of 2-3 per cent for 2012 which may even turn out to be optimistic.
Like most airports BRS is in thrall to the vicissitudes of the economy and no-one knows for sure which way it will turn; furthermore, there are many other potential national and international concerns that could have a major bearing on air travel.
As I said previously, BRS has so far ridden out the recession better, or perhaps less badly might be a more accurate term, than many regional airports which shows the strength of the underlying catchment. A look back at the stats also shows it was one of the last regional airports to be negatively affected by the national and world downturn.
The management and owners have a realistic belief that BRS will be one of the first to recover when the economy shows signs of sustained and substantial growth which, I suspect, is why they are pushing ahead with their infrastructure expansion plans.
Rumour has it, with some basis, that the airport was close to securing a number of carriers for 2012 and would have done in a more favourable economic climate; that is likely to apply to other airports as well.
When I mentioned last year's passenger numbers being carried on fewer flights than a similar number a few years ago I was suggesting a positive from an economic perspective - larger aircraft and/or higher loads.
Like most airports BRS is in thrall to the vicissitudes of the economy and no-one knows for sure which way it will turn; furthermore, there are many other potential national and international concerns that could have a major bearing on air travel.
As I said previously, BRS has so far ridden out the recession better, or perhaps less badly might be a more accurate term, than many regional airports which shows the strength of the underlying catchment. A look back at the stats also shows it was one of the last regional airports to be negatively affected by the national and world downturn.
The management and owners have a realistic belief that BRS will be one of the first to recover when the economy shows signs of sustained and substantial growth which, I suspect, is why they are pushing ahead with their infrastructure expansion plans.
Rumour has it, with some basis, that the airport was close to securing a number of carriers for 2012 and would have done in a more favourable economic climate; that is likely to apply to other airports as well.
When I mentioned last year's passenger numbers being carried on fewer flights than a similar number a few years ago I was suggesting a positive from an economic perspective - larger aircraft and/or higher loads.
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Bristol, UK
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The airport is going to look at the long term picture. They must be sure that the expenditure will bring a return. No business would invest if they did not hold this view. I remember when the new terminal opened and there was a massive amount of space. It was designed to handled 2 million passengers and look where we are 12 years later. They will quite rightly look beyond the current climate to 10-15 years in the future. It is hard to see how much further Easyjet and Ryanair can expand, but one would assume higher frequency and larger aircraft. Germany has always been weak. There could be growth with the 787 coming on line. Thomson may look to expand to other holiday destinations, Goa for example. I've often wondered if Ryanair may have a crack at a lo-cost transatlantic airline from cheaper regional airports. They have hinted in the past, but you never know whether it is MOL looking for some quick press coverage. The middle eastern carriers will look to expand and they have money to burn. Etihad has 41 787's on order and Qatar has 30, so they might be an option a few years down the road. I can't see an American carrier back in a hurry.
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: BRISTOL
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Airport website has a questionaire for local business people to fill out with regard to the following destinations.... Copenhagen, Dusseldorf, Munich, Frankfurt, Hamburg & Istanbul, guess trying to build strong case for the routes to show potential airlines.
Not sure if posted before, but noticed BRS-NOC was back on Ryanair website.
Not sure if posted before, but noticed BRS-NOC was back on Ryanair website.
Brunel to Concorde
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Virtute et Industria, et Sumorsaete Ealle
Posts: 2,283
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Business questionnaire
DUS, FRA and MUC were all served by BAConnect until Flybe took over BACon in 2007. DUS and MUC were daily and FRA double-daily all with ERJ145s.
Lufthansa (Eurowings) then did FRA for 13 months until April 2009, axing it as the recession began to bite.
It was operated by Bae 146-300 aircraft, initially 3 x daily 7 days a week, and carrried over 98,000 passengers during its lifetime. Maybe the aircraft were too big and/or frequency too great, at least to begin with - frequency was reduced during the winter of the operation.
easyJet operated Copenhagen in 2003-2004 and it was attracting very good loads but was axed when the Danish government imposed a £7 per passenger tax.
Hamburg was tried by easyJet in 2005-2006 and was one of the very few Orange failures at BRS in terms of loads, though they were nowhere near dire.
HAM was also operated by the German airline OLT (Saab340 and 2000 aircraft) as a niche route for the aviation industry double-dropping with Bremen. HAM ceased but Bremen carried on till last year.
Istanbul has never been tried from BRS, not even regular charters so far as I can recall.
Incidentally, as well as the route questionnaire the airport website is also inviting business travellers to take part in a general in-depth survey.
Ryanair - Knock
Looks as though this may become a summer-only route. I wondered whether it would re-appear at all when it was dropped for the current winter. It's been in the summer 12 timetable for a while so let's hope a few more people use it this year.
Eastern
I'm told that the two remaining former Air Southwest Dash 8-300s will leave the fleet within the next two months and that BRS will then have a based Saab 2000.
The Eastern BRS-LBA-ABZ summer timetable shows two Saab 2000 rotations most days and in addition a Jetstream 41 rotation on selected days each week.
Flybe BRS-Isle of Man
There was a post in the Isle of Man thread recently stating that BRS-IOM is to cease.
I'm told on good authority that this is not the case.
It's available for booking this summer and BRS has a car park promotion in connection with this route.
DUS, FRA and MUC were all served by BAConnect until Flybe took over BACon in 2007. DUS and MUC were daily and FRA double-daily all with ERJ145s.
Lufthansa (Eurowings) then did FRA for 13 months until April 2009, axing it as the recession began to bite.
It was operated by Bae 146-300 aircraft, initially 3 x daily 7 days a week, and carrried over 98,000 passengers during its lifetime. Maybe the aircraft were too big and/or frequency too great, at least to begin with - frequency was reduced during the winter of the operation.
easyJet operated Copenhagen in 2003-2004 and it was attracting very good loads but was axed when the Danish government imposed a £7 per passenger tax.
Hamburg was tried by easyJet in 2005-2006 and was one of the very few Orange failures at BRS in terms of loads, though they were nowhere near dire.
HAM was also operated by the German airline OLT (Saab340 and 2000 aircraft) as a niche route for the aviation industry double-dropping with Bremen. HAM ceased but Bremen carried on till last year.
Istanbul has never been tried from BRS, not even regular charters so far as I can recall.
Incidentally, as well as the route questionnaire the airport website is also inviting business travellers to take part in a general in-depth survey.
Ryanair - Knock
Looks as though this may become a summer-only route. I wondered whether it would re-appear at all when it was dropped for the current winter. It's been in the summer 12 timetable for a while so let's hope a few more people use it this year.
Eastern
I'm told that the two remaining former Air Southwest Dash 8-300s will leave the fleet within the next two months and that BRS will then have a based Saab 2000.
The Eastern BRS-LBA-ABZ summer timetable shows two Saab 2000 rotations most days and in addition a Jetstream 41 rotation on selected days each week.
Flybe BRS-Isle of Man
There was a post in the Isle of Man thread recently stating that BRS-IOM is to cease.
I'm told on good authority that this is not the case.
It's available for booking this summer and BRS has a car park promotion in connection with this route.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Solihull
Age: 60
Posts: 3,325
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Istanbul?
I am sure Bristol management would or maybe already have contacted Turkish Airlines considering it is an airline similar to Emirates when it comes to ambitious plans.
Their UK expansion somewhat stalled after the BHX route started but this did commence at an unfortunate time in terms of the economy. However they have stuck with it and loads have spectacularly improved (no idea of yields).
Now Manchester, Birmingham and Gatwick are to see increases and Edinburgh is an intended new route. Turkish also don't seem to worry too much about how close other airports are and are more intent on feeding their two main banks at Istanbul Ataturk.
Their financials have dipped somewhat recently no doubt partly due to the expansion but I wouldn't be surprised to see a Bristol route in future.
Pete
Their UK expansion somewhat stalled after the BHX route started but this did commence at an unfortunate time in terms of the economy. However they have stuck with it and loads have spectacularly improved (no idea of yields).
Now Manchester, Birmingham and Gatwick are to see increases and Edinburgh is an intended new route. Turkish also don't seem to worry too much about how close other airports are and are more intent on feeding their two main banks at Istanbul Ataturk.
Their financials have dipped somewhat recently no doubt partly due to the expansion but I wouldn't be surprised to see a Bristol route in future.
Pete
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Bristol
Posts: 433
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
TK are establishing themselves (and IST) as a very credible long-haul operation; I've had colleagues fly to BKK, KUL on them, and come back with good reports.
That said, it feels like a stretch to fill a 319/320 every day to IST from BRS.
I remain hopeful (BD bumps not withstanding) that LH or LX will pick up a FRA or ZRH route from BRS, on at least double daily. I've been trying my hardest to use BRS-BRU as a feeder, but the range and timing of connections at BRU is dreadful, the fares are ambitious, and the lack of Saturday and Sunday flights is surprisingly limiting when trying to fly to Asia (or even the US) for the beginning of the business week.
I was pleased to see the questionnaire asking questions about the importance (to business travellers) of FFPs. Put simply, I stick with my *A FFP because it turns Economy travel (company policy) into something approaching Business (when travelling short-haul), and I can use my FFP miles to upgrade myself to Business on Long-haul. Towards the end of the CO EWR route, I was often using my FFP to put me in the Business cabin on EWR-BRS. The value of FFPs to the frequent biz traveller who has an Economy-only policy at work can't be underestimated. (And Flying Blue is not a good programme, at all, IMHO).
That said, it feels like a stretch to fill a 319/320 every day to IST from BRS.
I remain hopeful (BD bumps not withstanding) that LH or LX will pick up a FRA or ZRH route from BRS, on at least double daily. I've been trying my hardest to use BRS-BRU as a feeder, but the range and timing of connections at BRU is dreadful, the fares are ambitious, and the lack of Saturday and Sunday flights is surprisingly limiting when trying to fly to Asia (or even the US) for the beginning of the business week.
I was pleased to see the questionnaire asking questions about the importance (to business travellers) of FFPs. Put simply, I stick with my *A FFP because it turns Economy travel (company policy) into something approaching Business (when travelling short-haul), and I can use my FFP miles to upgrade myself to Business on Long-haul. Towards the end of the CO EWR route, I was often using my FFP to put me in the Business cabin on EWR-BRS. The value of FFPs to the frequent biz traveller who has an Economy-only policy at work can't be underestimated. (And Flying Blue is not a good programme, at all, IMHO).
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bah
Posts: 61
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
TK
TK to IST would be great for connections to the Middle & Far East. Flown on them a few times and they're quite good. IST Terminal is not the best however it appears to work.
On another subject - LCC; BRS has 2 as does the UAE where I send most of my time Fly Dubai & Air Arabia. Have always tried to 'marry' 2 flights one from each end to get one way or the other, but they just don't match. The only possible junction in Athens with a 12 hour wait (& then not to BRS).
Appreciated LCC have different business models to normal scheduled airlines and maybe the need / requirements for destinations differ in Middle East (with more migrant labour) & Europe (with more leisure travel) markets, but isn't a trick being missed here by the LCCs. Wouldn't it be a opportunity to test the longer haul market by one LCC at each end having a loose arrangement on scheduling ? Fly Dubai has just announced Belgrade with a 737 but as usual no BRS carrier operates there
On another subject - LCC; BRS has 2 as does the UAE where I send most of my time Fly Dubai & Air Arabia. Have always tried to 'marry' 2 flights one from each end to get one way or the other, but they just don't match. The only possible junction in Athens with a 12 hour wait (& then not to BRS).
Appreciated LCC have different business models to normal scheduled airlines and maybe the need / requirements for destinations differ in Middle East (with more migrant labour) & Europe (with more leisure travel) markets, but isn't a trick being missed here by the LCCs. Wouldn't it be a opportunity to test the longer haul market by one LCC at each end having a loose arrangement on scheduling ? Fly Dubai has just announced Belgrade with a 737 but as usual no BRS carrier operates there
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: South West
Age: 35
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
UA @ BRS
Interesting......
As 'bycrewlgw' stated in the TOM ski 2012/13 brochure it gives United Airlines scheduled departures to the USA from the following UK airports:
LHR
BRS
BHX
MAN
EDI
GLA
If it was a printing error then surely LGW would be in there too (as it was also operated previously by CO) or it would give a CO flight code?
I mean thats not just a copy and paste job from last years brochure as these flights haven't operated in the previous few years and have therefore not appeared in any of the brochures. What makes it more strange is the fact that it has UA flight codes which makes it very up to date as the CO code has recently ceased to exist!?!?
The timings in the TOM brochure give a 08:20 arrival into BRS from EWR and a departure of 10:25 back - are these the same or different to when CO operated before? does anyone remember?
As 'bycrewlgw' stated in the TOM ski 2012/13 brochure it gives United Airlines scheduled departures to the USA from the following UK airports:
LHR
BRS
BHX
MAN
EDI
GLA
If it was a printing error then surely LGW would be in there too (as it was also operated previously by CO) or it would give a CO flight code?
I mean thats not just a copy and paste job from last years brochure as these flights haven't operated in the previous few years and have therefore not appeared in any of the brochures. What makes it more strange is the fact that it has UA flight codes which makes it very up to date as the CO code has recently ceased to exist!?!?
The timings in the TOM brochure give a 08:20 arrival into BRS from EWR and a departure of 10:25 back - are these the same or different to when CO operated before? does anyone remember?