BELFAST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT - BFS (Aldergrove)

[gate 22]

when the rumours a while back were out about baby going to the wall if my memory serves me right 2 carriers did say say they would be interested in taking over the Man&Bhx routes from Bfs i wonder will these 2 companies make any decision now on opperating these routes it would be interesting to see what would happen if they did.

I am pretty sure that BFS have meetings lined up in the near future with several carriers. MAN/BHX have always been popular from BFS. Who do you reckon EZY, LS, BE, FR ????
This will be interesting as it took 6 years for an LHR service, LTN still is not available after one year, Toronto, Sanford........ If there is not an announcement this side of Christmas then I would have severe doubts about the ambitions of BFS.
If EZY had to choose one route, would BHX not be a better option than MAN. The midlands is a vast densily populated area not served from Belfast with EZY, whereas MAN can be served by LPL. However it would be good to see both served.

[dublindispatch]

It must be very hard for the BFS sales and marketing team to compete with the mite of the DAA v.v. DUB what they offer BUT not with saying that is the RWY length at BFS not something that they have over DUB and should be using to get some operators?

[tigger2k8]

gate 22 is correct, BFS will be in talks with airlines, as to how many and who they are, i dont know.. but i would put my money on EZY and LS being included in the line up, as far as i have been told replacing MAN/BHX is on the cards but its up to an airline to jump on the route at the end of the day, as for CWL and EMA i cant say..

BFS has been keen to get transatlantic flights into the airport (more than CO), so it wouldn't surprise me if they try and do something about that... the main problem with BFS isn't the local management, its the Spanish who have to approve everything, the local management has hardly any power... the amount of times local management has routes lined up and agreed on, then when it comes to a final approval the Spanish mess it up.

theres been enough FR's in BFS over the last few days they may as well start a service , was surprised to see that FR bussed passengers from BFS-LDY and then from LDY-BFS for some of the flights anyway

[cuthere]

Tigger, four inches of powder snow, which when cleared, blows back onto the runway, caused the diversions. Why does it surprise you that RYR bussed pax to/from Derry? That's where the said pax had chosen to fly from, however the elements prevented this from happening. A non-event that has been happening all over these Islands in the last few days.

Good to see BFS didn't suffer any cancellations or delays yesterday......oh, hang on.

[tigger2k8]

Oh I knew someone would bite at that, and there's nothing to bite at... But to clear things up ill explain my post more shall I? And just to state my post was in no way to be taken as a dig at LDY, which I think is a missed opportunity for a lot of routes or FR

I've seen flights that are diverted land in BFS before from both BHD and LDY and had the outbounds cancelled, I'm not surprised at the transport from BFS to LDY, but more so at the LDY to BFS, considering last year a lot of outbounds were cancelled even though the passengers where located 20 miles down the road in BHD

And yes I know all about snow, I've spent many winters working in it at various airports

[cuthere]

Well, thank God someone "bit" then eh? I'm glad you've had the opportunity to work at many airports in the snow. It can be very interesting, can't it?

I also knew you'd bite. How predictable we both are eh? Perhaps laying off the little smiley faces would give more credibility to your posts? Just an idea.

On a serious note. As for FR, one wonders what BFS management are or are not doing, that means Europe's largest LCC is apparently totally uninterested in operating from there. I mean, with all the chopped routes, and with Bmibaby going, there's plenty of room for a big carrier to come in and arrest the continuing plummet in pax numbers.

[tigger2k8]

Interesting? Depends on your definition of interesting, I would be more inclined to say nightmare.

The smiley faces are there to be used or not used, its up to the poster isn't it.

FR was in talks with BFS last year but wanted a subsidy for each aircraft that landed, so they were interested, it was just the spanish not wanting to cough up the money

[BFS101]

As for FR, one wonders what BFS management are or are not doing, that means Europe's largest LCC is apparently totally uninterested in operating from there.

Maybe BFS have made themselves unattractive for FR. Northern Ireland is a relatively small market. Easyjet have most domestic routes covered, without using regional sized aircraft. Between EZY, LS and EI most viable European routes, in my opinion, are also covered. Many other have been tried, and failed to give those airlines their dues.

BFS stated that they wanted to generate new business, from new markets, like the Iceland route, rather than replicate or fight-out on already served markets. Destinations and available routes may help generate some new business and look good on paper, but many may be canabalistic (lets not fly to TFS, we'll go to LPA; or restart NAP, but to the detriment of NCE). At the end of the day its passenger numbers through the doors, and if BFS feel that a stable future lies with EI / LS / EZY then maybe they have made a concious decision to be unattractive to FR, aka pay FR to fly from the airport.

Sure, if FR set up tomorrow passenger numbers would soar... in the short term. Price war would commence, everyone would take twice as many breaks, Aldergrove would reap it in, but as equilibrium restores, and prices once again become sustainable, what benefits would we be left with. Maybe an extra based unit, a few new routes, if that!!

Is BFS prepared to take that chance?? Prepared to possibly upset LS / EI / EZY?? Would I probably do the same and be wary of FR?? Hell yeah!!

[ILS25]

Easy announcement.

Easy reps were in BFS today with BFS management. Saw them myself in the check in area. I also heard today that Easy are going to make a big announcement re BFS. Anyone heard anything ?

[david1994]

Easy reps were in BFS today with BFS management. Saw them myself in the check in area. I also heard today that Easy are going to make a big announcement re BFS. Anyone heard anything ?

They where also in BHD as well talking about Stansted. A member I know that works for EZY as cabin crew says MAN is on the cards from BFS.

[Jamie2k9]

If EZY do decide to operate BFS - MAN. EZY MAN base couldn't operate it as there is harly any space. I'm not sure if the BFS based aircraft can operate it. If another A319 based is required would be it based in BFS or MAN?? I think EZY may base it in MAN although if they decided to operate BHX as well then BFS would get it. Any thoughts??

[david1994]

From what I have heard from EZY cabin crew if BFS-MAN went ahead then the AGP or ALC will be put back a couple of hours to operate it.

[tigger2k8]

Heard nothing about STN yet from BHD, although theres rumors (yes rumors) that FR are wanting to get back into BHD, perhaps hes realised its a market he should never have left.., as for BFS-MAN, if it happens there are certain days of the week that it could operate without changing flight times, Tues/Wed are 2 days anyway.. but yes, if a BFS a/c is used then the base aircraft that takes out the AGP/ALC will leave a little later to allow an early morning departure, as the early morning domestics are important and wont be changed as they are generally full

[gate 22]

although theres rumors (yes rumors) that FR are wanting to get back into BHD,

The only available route is STN, also BHD handled 39330 aircraft movements during 2009. 48000-39330=8670 =24 flights per day average. Which works out at 12 arrivals / 12 departures per day. FR gone, means 11 less (I think), however around 3 or so extra from NM, 6 or so extra from BE, 8 extra from WW this means around a net gain of 6. So there is only room for 6 or 7 extra returns. However, Bhd being Bhd don't go by any rule book any way, however they do keep sayiing 'we won't be increasing the aircraft movements agreement'. What I am saying is that on paper BHD is now almost at capacity.

[victoria73]

victoria73

Read on the jet2 thread about them buying B737-800 from Transavia,possible new route to Larnaca from BFS any more news on this or just a rumour?

[david1994]

What I posted on Jet2 thread is not a rumor it is true stuff

[gate 22]

What I posted on Jet2 thread is not a rumor it is true stuff

But is it a charter on behalf of a tour operator, or will it be an official jet2.com service bookable on the site?

[victoria73]

victoria73

Good news then,is it gonna be there own flight or tour operator like Olympic asking them to do it for them.Few weeks ago they were looking another carrier to take the place of Eurocypria.

[gate 22]

Tigger,

What is BFS like these days?, now that FR have gone from Bhd, for the moment anyway, are there tumbleweeds still blowing about up there are has there been a noticeable increase in passengers?

[BFS101]

Will there be a number of new routes from Jet2, or just Larnaca?? And will an -800 be based at BFS to operate this route plus the routes currently on sale, or are we still getting our -300's??

David, are you aware of an official announcement being made anytime soon?