BELFAST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - BFS (Aldergrove)

[tigger2k8]

Air Canada? BFS-YYZ? 2011?

the airport and Air Canada had been talking, think i mentioned this a few months back, possibly in the old belfast thread, but never heard anything more of it, good news if true , where'd u hear?

[dublindispatch]

The AC season so short in DUB i would be surprised too see then operate from both DUB and BFS. Loads very good all the same

[NWSRG]

Apart from the Arrows, did BFS see anything interesting today for the Portrush show? I know the solo Hawk was in, what about the Typhoon?

[speedbirdATC]

The Typhoon was probably in at some stage. We had the Typhoon up around LDY yesterday, and this afternoon again.

[tigger2k8]

The solo hawk (british flag paint work), a eurofighter typhoon and atleast 1 other jet is there at aldergrove at the min, no sign of the rest of the red arrows, could be tucked away in the hangar...

[eastern wiseguy]

Arrows left for Liverpool immediately after the airshow.

[True Blue]

I have to say that if the reports on the Easy and Bhd threads are true re Easy basing down at Bhd to operate some routes there, then Bfs should be trying to get Jet2 or WW to expand. Maybe they should even get an agreement with Fr. The romours in the past were that Bfs had to watch what they were doing to keep Ezy happy. If Ezy now believe that they can start a strong courtship with Bhd and expect Bfs to just watch but say nothing, I think Bfs should show them otherwise. One advantage that Bfs has, Ezy could not move their full operation down to Bhd even if they wanted to, not enough room plus probably a lot of noise from local residents. Ezy trying to be smart, in my opinion, might end with the result they never wanted, Fr at an airport with no operating limits, but Ezy at one with limits.

True Blue

[mutleyshriek]

At present it looks like increased frequency at BFS.Might be a chance of of a few w patterns into BHD for the short term,however no based aircraft.Talk of LTN reverting back to BFS also.....

[EI-BUD]

If Ezy now believe that they can start a strong courtship with Bhd and expect Bfs to just watch but say nothing, I think Bfs should show them otherwise. One advantage that Bfs has, Ezy could not move their full operation down to Bhd even if they wanted to, not enough room plus probably a lot of noise from local residents. Ezy trying to be smart, in my opinion, might end with the result they never wanted, Fr at an airport with no operating limits, but Ezy at one with limits.

True Blue

I have to say this is an interesting post. In the last 6 months I have been feeling that BHD is slowly becoming the airport of choice given the gap has significantly closed between BHD and BFS in terms of overall share of passengers flying into Belfast.

However, when you strip FR out of the equation I am not sure anymore that BHD would be gaining such ground. Easyjet should stick firm. I guess Ryanair got great deal on new routes that were not already served, this was an investment by BHD management to reverse passenger number declines plus also to create perception that BHD is where everybody wants to fly to. However, I think that Ryanair were not making money in the market as the sheer volume of £5 seats and the sheer amount of empty seats (yes there will be a dive in here saying that the yield and load factor are different things, all that accepted.)

Easyjet were correct to move LTN to BHD as Ryanair would not then go onto this route as it is likely they would get no deal given that Easyjet had it 1st.

The best strategy for Easyjet is to stay at BFS and keep Ryanair out (given overall relationship with TBI BFS and LTN), and stick with current plan and in the mean time hope that Flybe make a committment to BHD with a bunch of 175s that Europe is going to be well served and maybe that may removed the need for runway extention, in my view now this is the best possible future strategy. One thing is likely that if Ryanair get a runway extention they would drive Aer Lingus off European routes, Easyjet off many or to big reduction and in the long run take over the whole show.

It is also now my view that Flybe with some 175s could develop a nice little bunch of new markets that would be viable at reasonable frequencies on a realistic size aircraft.

EI-BUD

[True Blue]

I am of the opinion that if Fr had been profitable on the routes at Bhd, they would still be there. I only used Fr once to Stn, day return, and a huge number of the pax were like me, on a £3 day trip. I have also looked at other flights at short notice, £6. My suspicion, not making money and blame it on the runway extension to get out.

True Blue

[tigger2k8]

Heard nothing about any aircraft moving / or being based down the road to BHD.. however i have heard that EZY and Abertis have now got their relationship back on track to a good understanding... Have heard that they will be expanding at LTN soon, which could mean BFS gets its LTN route back, as mutleyshriek has mentioned

The fact that LTN has remained in the BFS drop down menu, for 8 months past its last flight is fishy enough... also still on the route map.. i have also heard that EZY is not happy with the performance of Servisair so far

another kick in the teeth for Servisair and the WW contract (which is on/has been on an improvement notice) today, aircraft arrives on stand, requires GPU on arrival, takes servisair almost 7 minutes to locate a GPU ..

all we can do is sit and wait, has been a year of surprises... however im putting my money on a similar annoucement to what WW made on its EMA... added frequencies

[mutleyshriek]

I have to agree lads,multi flights to both airfields would just confuse the flying public.I think the outcome will be increased flights into BFS, as was before Ryanair came on the scene.As we all know Ryanair,s entry into the market was a very quick knee jerk reaction to Aer Lingus coming up north and I think promises were made in haste.It was the exact same when BMI were promised a late arrival when they switched airfields.It also never came to fruition.I worked at BMI at the time and BHD were bending over backwards to try to secure late flights.It never happened,as they tried to dismiss local residents fears.Many people have short memories including Brian Ambrose,who stated at the time"We will never seek an extension to the runway".Then comes along O,leary and Ambrose bends again.This man has no regard for anyone,except the bank whom he is now working for........

[clareview]

Not only is noise an issue at BHD but the opening hours are 6.30am to 21.30 pm and this would be very restrictive to Easyjet which has many late night arrivals at BFS

[ILS25]

Two Eurofighter Typhoons left BFS this morning at around 9.30. They both did performance take offs from runway 07. Amazing sight, and sound.

[ESCNI]

Good job it wasn't from BHD.

[tigger2k8]

The timing restrictions at BHD is one of the main reasons why EZY will probably never have a base at BHD, All base aircraft arrive back during the summer between 2115 and 2235, with summer peak flights arriving back near 0130... if EZY did base aircraft at BHD (or ultimately move as some people think ) they will lose a rotation during the day to get aircraft back an hour earlier, and even then it could be pushing it, even during winter most aircraft arrive back after 2130, and with weather delays such as snow and the added time for de-icing, there would be many nights flights would be cancelled or diverted and aircraft not being in position for the morning

yes the eurofighters were impressive today, didnt take them long to get off the ground, unfortunately i was past bravo towards the 25 end.. i agree amazing sight and the sound... where can i get it as a ringtone

[gate 22]

Do EZY operated W patterns with BFS based aircraft? I did a check on the 18th of Feb and the AMS and CDG flights are on the ground at these airports (or running another operation) for 4 hrs. I didn't check any other flights out of BFS.

[True Blue]

I believe that the Bfs to Ams then operates Ams -Man return before coming back to Bfs.

TrueBlue

[Aaron9890]

Ryanair

I think that Ryanair will try routes from BFS but will not try until they et their new aircraft in that they ordered and try to persuade BFS to give them easy landing fees

[Aaron9890]

Just as expected

Flybe add three new routes

1. Liverpool
2. East Midlands
3. Bristol

all begin 31st of October
This probably means that Easyjet will move Stansted route to BHD and Glasgow Prestwick will be ditched completely for BHD

Flybe.com | News Archives | September 2010