BELFAST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - BFS (Aldergrove)
Join Date: May 2007
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Turkuaz and Onur to Bodrum and Dalaman,
Onur to Antalya, and
Viking to Heraklion and Corfu.
Antalya and the Greek destinations were only peak season, Dalaman and Bodrum season long.
Onur to Antalya, and
Viking to Heraklion and Corfu.
Antalya and the Greek destinations were only peak season, Dalaman and Bodrum season long.
Join Date: Jul 2010
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Anyone know what Thomas cook are doing with their Sanford Orlando flights next year.. Are they increasing the number of them have they changed the dates or are they all just the same.. Thinking of going you see. Off to reus today on tcx .
Join Date: Oct 2008
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Well 2 more retail units are now open, duty free has moved to the old WHSmith and the irish shop has appeared, looks very well and modern, if the airport can do the whole place the same way, it might just make it a modern airport
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Aaron9890, just a quick update about the TCX SFB, couple of people i know have tried to book flights for 2011 from BFS to SFB but have been told theres no available flights to any of the long-haul destinations... either they have not released a schedule yet or they have pulled them... If they have pulled them id expect someone else to jump in as the airport should be a little more attractive for new airlines with all of the development and abertis will probably be offering some nice deals on landing fee's to get the new retail units filled.
The next phase of the redevelopment will be installing windows where the "Welcome to Belfast" sign is (the former Harp sign) with a restaurant moving into part of the old duty free area... the viewing gallery may also make a return, however its unclear if it will be landside or airside, its currently airside at the moment but with no passenger access
By the way, for anyone who is going to the drop off zone or the short stay car park, be cautious when driving up that one way system road, some people are driving up to the barriers discovering theres a charge of £1, or that you cant get to the long stay (even though additional signs are up...) and performing 3-point turns or reversing the whole way out of the 1 way system
The next phase of the redevelopment will be installing windows where the "Welcome to Belfast" sign is (the former Harp sign) with a restaurant moving into part of the old duty free area... the viewing gallery may also make a return, however its unclear if it will be landside or airside, its currently airside at the moment but with no passenger access
By the way, for anyone who is going to the drop off zone or the short stay car park, be cautious when driving up that one way system road, some people are driving up to the barriers discovering theres a charge of £1, or that you cant get to the long stay (even though additional signs are up...) and performing 3-point turns or reversing the whole way out of the 1 way system
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Is there anywhere at BFS to see the aircraft and take pictures within walking distance of the terminal?
Perhaps a PM might be better if someone knows,
Many thanks!
Perhaps a PM might be better if someone knows,
Many thanks!
Join Date: May 2007
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Aaron9890, just a quick update about the TCX SFB, couple of people i know have tried to book flights for 2011 from BFS to SFB but have been told theres no available flights to any of the long-haul destinations... either they have not released a schedule yet or they have pulled them...
The CAA July figures are not yet available, but for June 10 Cancun rose from 177 to 311 from June 09, Puerto Plata from 163 to 263, but Sanford dropped from 3312 to 655 (charter passengers only figure for 2009). If these are pulled I could maybe see Thomson/Falcon offering a few peak dates to Orlando, but doubt anyone else would pick up the Cancun and Puerto Plata. Hopefully will not come to this. These flights seemed ideal to offer Belfast during our peak season, and helping fill the flight from the mainland during their lower season.
some people are driving up to the barriers discovering theres a charge of £1, or that you cant get to the long stay (even though additional signs are up...) and performing 3-point turns or reversing the whole way out of the 1 way system
Join Date: Jul 2010
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Florida
Yes tiger2k8 i tried to book them myself and there is none either. it would be disappointing if the stopped these flights because. then there would only be two more long haul flights from Belfast which would be Cancun and Dominican Republic. I suppose most people are doing the flights to Florida from London and Dublin these days because there is better choice. BFS, if all the long haul flights haven't came up then maybe they haven't released the schedule for long haul flights yet
Last edited by Aaron9890; 4th Aug 2010 at 16:55.
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Confirmed that the flights have been pulled. Telephoned Thomas Cook at Forestside this afternoon, and they confirmed that they received a memo stating that Florida, Mexico and Dominican Republic are no longer on sale for summer 2011.
With Thomas Cook prepared to give Belfast a try for long haul peak season flights, these should have been advertised on a wider basis. The amount of folk up here prepared to drive upwards of a hundred miles to save a few quid or to get a direct flight from Dublin.
Well surely if BFS offered the only direct Cancun flight on the island, or a Dominican Republic flight on a widebody, rather than a Primera 737 via Gander, people from the Republic was consider and use BFS likewise. All the traffic is from Northern Ireland down, almost like some just consider the drive to Dublin as part and parcel of the trip. Well if Thomas Cook advertised, especially when they had their Irish branch network, destinations served by BFS not served by Dublin, we could get some more punters.
BFS may have not done themselves any favours recently, and guess Dublin are going to soon get to display gorgeous terminal 2, but while BFS may not hold many cards in relation to Dublin, the routes we offered that Dublin didn't should have been exploited, especially long haul leisure.
Same happened when Anatolian Sky and Metak when they offered North Cyprus from BFS with KTHY over a number of years, to tap into the whole of Ireland market, as they couldn't operated from Republic, but very poorly advertised down south and the flights pulled...
With Thomas Cook prepared to give Belfast a try for long haul peak season flights, these should have been advertised on a wider basis. The amount of folk up here prepared to drive upwards of a hundred miles to save a few quid or to get a direct flight from Dublin.
Well surely if BFS offered the only direct Cancun flight on the island, or a Dominican Republic flight on a widebody, rather than a Primera 737 via Gander, people from the Republic was consider and use BFS likewise. All the traffic is from Northern Ireland down, almost like some just consider the drive to Dublin as part and parcel of the trip. Well if Thomas Cook advertised, especially when they had their Irish branch network, destinations served by BFS not served by Dublin, we could get some more punters.
BFS may have not done themselves any favours recently, and guess Dublin are going to soon get to display gorgeous terminal 2, but while BFS may not hold many cards in relation to Dublin, the routes we offered that Dublin didn't should have been exploited, especially long haul leisure.
Same happened when Anatolian Sky and Metak when they offered North Cyprus from BFS with KTHY over a number of years, to tap into the whole of Ireland market, as they couldn't operated from Republic, but very poorly advertised down south and the flights pulled...
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BFS
Ref discussion about flights to Orlando, things have sure changed from a few of years ago when there were at least 2 direct flights a week in the peak from Aldergrove, even if some of them originated elsewhere. I recall flying one March with Airtours (DC10 out, B767 back) with passengers who had boarded at Manchester.
Anyway Aaron9890 speculated that Florida bound passengers for Orlando are now going via Great Britain. I suspect this is not the case and they are driving to Dublin for the Aer Lingus scheduled flight to Orlando. While some might thing the car or express bus to Dublin is inconvenient, the EI flight goes to Orlando International which considerably reduces the time taken to get to the resorts in Orlando compared to charter flights into Sanford.
Anyway Aaron9890 speculated that Florida bound passengers for Orlando are now going via Great Britain. I suspect this is not the case and they are driving to Dublin for the Aer Lingus scheduled flight to Orlando. While some might thing the car or express bus to Dublin is inconvenient, the EI flight goes to Orlando International which considerably reduces the time taken to get to the resorts in Orlando compared to charter flights into Sanford.
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You all need to look at the hard facts. Costs. Passenger tax changes will make the previous deals unworkable and so if a route is not likely to be profitable then it will not be offerred. All the observations made so far are wishful thinking with no hard facts of how many people will want to spend an extra £250 minimum travelling longhaul from the UK for their family holiday.
I'm sure TCX don't make these decisions lightly, they have teams of professionals researching the facts, however don't let facts get in the way of speculation, it wouldn't do at all.
I'm sure TCX don't make these decisions lightly, they have teams of professionals researching the facts, however don't let facts get in the way of speculation, it wouldn't do at all.
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Maybe MON will do some Long Haul charter routes from BFS with their MAN based A332 because this year it only seems to do two long haul routes per week (CUN & SFB) and the rest medium haul like LXR so I suppose there is always MON who might operate it on behalf of tour operators.
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Anyway Aaron9890 speculated that Florida bound passengers for Orlando are now going via Great Britain. I suspect this is not the case and they are driving to Dublin for the Aer Lingus scheduled flight to Orlando.
Maybe MON will do some Long Haul charter routes from BFS with their MAN based A332 because this year it only seems to do two long haul routes per week (CUN & SFB) and the rest medium haul like LXR so I suppose there is always MON who might operate it on behalf of tour operators.
Join Date: Jul 2010
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Maybe Continental Airlines mights start to do a route to MCO to celebrate their years being at BFS. I was looking at the Virgin Atlantic brochure and the sure do have cheaper holidays from LGW. So indeed more people must be taking the BHD - LGW - MCO. It would be great to see Virgin Atlantic or British Airways start long haul flights from BFS, but they are both fixed on just doing those kind of flighs from LHR and LGW in a competition against each other.
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Continental Airlines only operate 3 routes from Orlando International Airport and they don't have a base there so I wouldn't think that will happen.
Aer Lingus fly from Dublin all year and since the new road opened it less then an 1 hour and 30 mins to the airport.
Aer Lingus fly from Dublin all year and since the new road opened it less then an 1 hour and 30 mins to the airport.
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I was looking at the Virgin Atlantic brochure and the sure do have cheaper holidays from LGW. So indeed more people must be taking the BHD - LGW - MCO.
Also now that Thomas Cook have stopped long haul flights from BFS they might add more european destinations.
Hopefully these will be introduced over the next few months, as initially for this year we had a peak season bmi. This was then pulled along with the destinations and extra capacity, only to be reintroduced months later but using Smartwings. Zakynthos, Paphos and Gerona also all recent casualties from Thomas Cook...
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When do you think the next long haul flights will come and who do you think (if you do) will introduce them.. what about Thomson. What i honestly think is that Thomas Cook will reintroduce them