BIRMINGHAM - 5
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: UK
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I recall that BHX-SOU was originally operated by a HS.748 from BA's Highland Division as I was on the inaugaral flight.
BHX-CPH-STO I'm pretty sure was Maersk and when I was using it came back ST0-ARN direct on a 1-11.
BHX-LIN was I think Birmingham European and when I flew it was a Saab 340.
BHX-ZRH was again Birmingham European or could have been Birmingham Executive on a Jetstream 31 and I think some flights called in at GVA.
Going back a long time I seem to recall BOAC operating a VC10 BHX-JFK but it may have gone via MAN or PIK. More recently I think BA had a go with a767/757? BHX-JFK-YYZ or could have been the other way around.
For more odd routings AI ran a 707 on BHX-SV0-ATQ-BOM-DEL and BD ran a Viscount EMA-BHX-BRU-FRA.
BHX-CPH-STO I'm pretty sure was Maersk and when I was using it came back ST0-ARN direct on a 1-11.
BHX-LIN was I think Birmingham European and when I flew it was a Saab 340.
BHX-ZRH was again Birmingham European or could have been Birmingham Executive on a Jetstream 31 and I think some flights called in at GVA.
Going back a long time I seem to recall BOAC operating a VC10 BHX-JFK but it may have gone via MAN or PIK. More recently I think BA had a go with a767/757? BHX-JFK-YYZ or could have been the other way around.
For more odd routings AI ran a 707 on BHX-SV0-ATQ-BOM-DEL and BD ran a Viscount EMA-BHX-BRU-FRA.
Last edited by EGBE0523; 8th Feb 2012 at 14:48. Reason: typo
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Lichfield UK
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BA etc from BHX
I used a few BA / Maersk franchised flights between 1999 and 2002 including.
CPH a few times on 737s ( I seem to recall frequency grew to 5/6 flights per day immediately before things went belly up - am I correct? OP will know)
Milan LINate - also 737
Nice (NCE) was missing from that list, Chinapattern, which on the flight I was on, was operated by a nearly brand new CRJ-700 (G-MRSI), which eventually operated with Duo.
Edited to say that one thing stood out on those and the other Maersk services I used from BHX - the crew, both on board and on the ground were excellent - customer service was far superior to that provided by mainline BA colleagues at LHR.
CPH a few times on 737s ( I seem to recall frequency grew to 5/6 flights per day immediately before things went belly up - am I correct? OP will know)
Milan LINate - also 737
Nice (NCE) was missing from that list, Chinapattern, which on the flight I was on, was operated by a nearly brand new CRJ-700 (G-MRSI), which eventually operated with Duo.
Edited to say that one thing stood out on those and the other Maersk services I used from BHX - the crew, both on board and on the ground were excellent - customer service was far superior to that provided by mainline BA colleagues at LHR.
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 262
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"one thing stood out on those and the other Maersk services I used from BHX - the crew, both on board and on the ground were excellent - customer service was far superior to that provided by mainline BA colleagues at LHr "
Couldn't agree more, without being sexist the lady FA's of a certain age were absolutely super,most having been BA longhaul in a previous life. Drinks trolley was wonderful-a couple of G&T,s two mini bottles of wine and a decent snack on the way to BCA- perhaps that is where the profits went. And in the earlier days the BAC1-11's really did crackle,especially taking off on the short cross runway.
Couldn't agree more, without being sexist the lady FA's of a certain age were absolutely super,most having been BA longhaul in a previous life. Drinks trolley was wonderful-a couple of G&T,s two mini bottles of wine and a decent snack on the way to BCA- perhaps that is where the profits went. And in the earlier days the BAC1-11's really did crackle,especially taking off on the short cross runway.
Thanks guys. I was one of the Cabin Crew with Maersk. We used to fly daily to CPH, MXP, STR, ARL, NCL, ORK, LYS, TXL, GVA, FCO We often did work for BA Regional using a fleet of 737s CRJ's 200 & 700. We used to fly Spanish charters on summer weekends and various ski flights during the winter. When it became DUO there were a couple of other routes but I got out before then as the writing was on the wall after 9/11.
Yes we were a franchise of BA and it worked well except BA didn't help too much with their marketing trying to re-route passengers to the above destinations via their hubs. We were proud of the service we offered and even the product in those days.
Yes we were a franchise of BA and it worked well except BA didn't help too much with their marketing trying to re-route passengers to the above destinations via their hubs. We were proud of the service we offered and even the product in those days.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Solihull
Age: 60
Posts: 3,325
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Duo
Here are the last month's figures April 2004 with 2003 in brackets (Maersk)
Vienna - 1746 pax at 30 per flight 59% (2343)
Copenhagen - 10625 (11336) - 49 pax (90 Duo & 126 SAS)
Helsinki - 1939 (nil) - avg 21 but 45 duo and 46 City Airline split with GOT
Lyon - 3758 (3896) - 35 per flight 70%
Nice - 311 (1939) - 17 per flight
Berlin TXL 1886 (3062) - 36 per flight 73%
Cologne - 1985 - 25 per flight 50%
Stuttgart 6571 (4194) - 29 per flight (86 Duo, 138 BA) 59%
Stockholm 2388 (2439) - 27 per flight 53%
Oslo 471 (nil) - 12 pax per flight (via EDI?)
Geneva - 3428 (8670) - 31 pax per flight - 62%
Zurich and Milan shown on wiki but ZRH was Swiss by April and Milan was BA
CAA used for passengers and number of rotations.
Helsinki was quite low but distorted by the split with City Airline GOT and I believe averaged over 30.
Some good and some bad in terms of bums on seats.
Will Lyon remain unserved as it has done okay for load factors, Helsinki and Stockholm you would hope would be considered by flybe with their Nordic connections although you can understand why most would be shy of Oslo.
Never flew Duo but did a couple of Maersk Amsterdam's on the amazing 1-11
and crew were great but to be fair I can't remember a single bad mainline or BACON flight from BHX
Pete
Vienna - 1746 pax at 30 per flight 59% (2343)
Copenhagen - 10625 (11336) - 49 pax (90 Duo & 126 SAS)
Helsinki - 1939 (nil) - avg 21 but 45 duo and 46 City Airline split with GOT
Lyon - 3758 (3896) - 35 per flight 70%
Nice - 311 (1939) - 17 per flight
Berlin TXL 1886 (3062) - 36 per flight 73%
Cologne - 1985 - 25 per flight 50%
Stuttgart 6571 (4194) - 29 per flight (86 Duo, 138 BA) 59%
Stockholm 2388 (2439) - 27 per flight 53%
Oslo 471 (nil) - 12 pax per flight (via EDI?)
Geneva - 3428 (8670) - 31 pax per flight - 62%
Zurich and Milan shown on wiki but ZRH was Swiss by April and Milan was BA
CAA used for passengers and number of rotations.
Helsinki was quite low but distorted by the split with City Airline GOT and I believe averaged over 30.
Some good and some bad in terms of bums on seats.
Will Lyon remain unserved as it has done okay for load factors, Helsinki and Stockholm you would hope would be considered by flybe with their Nordic connections although you can understand why most would be shy of Oslo.
Never flew Duo but did a couple of Maersk Amsterdam's on the amazing 1-11
and crew were great but to be fair I can't remember a single bad mainline or BACON flight from BHX
Pete
Thanks OP for those interesting figures. Those figures would have improved a lot if BA had marketed the routes properly. The endless times we had passengers who said they didn't realise BA operated 'this' route, Travel agents didn't even know of the existence of such routes Maersk operated. Don't forget in those days people were still relying on agents for their bookings and weren't using the internet unlike today. There were no airline sites such as flyertalk trip advisor for comparisons.
The relationship got so bad during 1999/2000 that there was talk of breaking away from BA and setting up alone as a lowcost carrier. The Danes really wanted a hold in BHX. However 9/11 killed everything off and of course BA went and shafted BMed. That too was an excellent operation.
The relationship got so bad during 1999/2000 that there was talk of breaking away from BA and setting up alone as a lowcost carrier. The Danes really wanted a hold in BHX. However 9/11 killed everything off and of course BA went and shafted BMed. That too was an excellent operation.
Elmdon site
Does anyone know what the plan is for the old international building that was built in '60's ?
Ive noticed it has been empty now for more than a year and recently some of the internal walls have been knocked thru
thanks
Simon
Ive noticed it has been empty now for more than a year and recently some of the internal walls have been knocked thru
thanks
Simon
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Birmingham
Age: 53
Posts: 46
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BA at BHX
This relates to the problem at the moment at LHR.
'National' carrier only serves one Airport in the South East.
Everyone has to go to one airport to get anywhere.
Result: 1 Overcrowded and overutilised airport in the SE and the rest of the country with spare slots..
Daft..
'National' carrier only serves one Airport in the South East.
Everyone has to go to one airport to get anywhere.
Result: 1 Overcrowded and overutilised airport in the SE and the rest of the country with spare slots..
Daft..
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Lichfield
Posts: 563
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Maersk/Monarch
Maersk also opertaed Marseille with 737 in the summer months as we used it a few times as the in-laws had property there. We traveled on the inaugural flight Allo Allo's Vicki Michelle was at check-in with a Breton top and onions! Great crews with fantastic customer service.
More good news for Summer Monarch are to add three extra flights to AGP Fri/Sat/Sun late night departures from 20/7-9/9.
Daza
More good news for Summer Monarch are to add three extra flights to AGP Fri/Sat/Sun late night departures from 20/7-9/9.
Daza
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Lichfield UK
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BA from BHX
Result: 1 Overcrowded and overutilised airport in the SE and the rest of the country with spare slots
BA seem to be sqeezing every inch out of LCY with another three routes about to be announced to Angers, Quimper and Mahon. I make that almost 20 BA routes from Docklands. Unfortunately it's the overheated south-east where the money is.
BA seem to be sqeezing every inch out of LCY with another three routes about to be announced to Angers, Quimper and Mahon. I make that almost 20 BA routes from Docklands. Unfortunately it's the overheated south-east where the money is.
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Coventry
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
2012
2012 expansion update
Aer Lingus - One extra rotation on sunday to Dublin and Cork increasing to 17 flights a week on ATR aircraft
Bmibaby - Re-introduce Barcelona, Lisbon and Rome and now 2 extra flights a week to Knock
Flybe - Introducing daily Waterford
Lufthansa - Adding Berlin and now a 2x Daily service to Hamburg operated by eurowing CRJ 900
Ryanair - Budapest at 2x weekly
Monarch - 2 extra aircraft introducing Dubrovnik, Heraklion, Milan, Rome, and Venice and now 3 extra weekly flights to Malaga
Turkish - Istanbul becoming Daily
Aer Lingus - One extra rotation on sunday to Dublin and Cork increasing to 17 flights a week on ATR aircraft
Bmibaby - Re-introduce Barcelona, Lisbon and Rome and now 2 extra flights a week to Knock
Flybe - Introducing daily Waterford
Lufthansa - Adding Berlin and now a 2x Daily service to Hamburg operated by eurowing CRJ 900
Ryanair - Budapest at 2x weekly
Monarch - 2 extra aircraft introducing Dubrovnik, Heraklion, Milan, Rome, and Venice and now 3 extra weekly flights to Malaga
Turkish - Istanbul becoming Daily
rn750
You're right, BA is effectively "LA", but really, unless for political / patriotic reasons you absolutely want to fly with the "national carrier" the lack of a BA presence at BHX I really don't think has been all that detrimental.
Seems to me that Star Alliance (being Lufthansa and Swiss) offer a more than acceptable alternative through hubs at DUS, FRA , MUC and ZRH, and surely the flight and transfer at a comfortable, efficient european hub (OK so rule FRA out on that score!) is infinitely preferable than the drive to London and travel through the third world airport that is LHR!
You're right, BA is effectively "LA", but really, unless for political / patriotic reasons you absolutely want to fly with the "national carrier" the lack of a BA presence at BHX I really don't think has been all that detrimental.
Seems to me that Star Alliance (being Lufthansa and Swiss) offer a more than acceptable alternative through hubs at DUS, FRA , MUC and ZRH, and surely the flight and transfer at a comfortable, efficient european hub (OK so rule FRA out on that score!) is infinitely preferable than the drive to London and travel through the third world airport that is LHR!
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Coventry
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Monarch
Monarch continuing Rome, Milan and Venice service in winter 12-13
Rome - 4 x Weekly (5 in Summer)
Milan - 4 x Weekly (Same as summer)
Venice- 4 x Weekly (Same as Summer)
Rome - 4 x Weekly (5 in Summer)
Milan - 4 x Weekly (Same as summer)
Venice- 4 x Weekly (Same as Summer)
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Beaumaris
Posts: 204
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BHX Services BA/Maersk/BEA/Connect
Chinapattern, Having just read your posting I've looked at 2 old BHX Timetables, one from 31.03.96-26.10.96 and 26.10.03-27.03.04 and between the two of them the following cities are not included in your list:-
Brussels, Cologne/Bonn, Faro, Gothebourg, Hannover, Hamburg, Helsinki, Lyon, Newcastle, Nice and Oslo.
It does illustrate how many connections BHX have lost.
I have many timetables from the 1980's onwards, I'll check if there are any others, but I think most have been posted now.
Brussels, Cologne/Bonn, Faro, Gothebourg, Hannover, Hamburg, Helsinki, Lyon, Newcastle, Nice and Oslo.
It does illustrate how many connections BHX have lost.
I have many timetables from the 1980's onwards, I'll check if there are any others, but I think most have been posted now.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Lichfield
Posts: 563
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Maersk/BA
I am a great supporter of BHX and regional air services but, there was one major problem with the route network that Maersk/Duo/BACON operated. Most were unprofitable or uncompetative due to both airlines high operating costs. This would explain why BA is no longer in the regions and Maersk UK/Duo are sadly no more. 
The 50 seat high frequency jet service is no longer the money maker it was, due to increased fuel and duty costs and most low fares airlines operate aircraft that are too big (too many seats) to warrant daily service to what are essentially business destinations such as OSL, HEL, CGN, GVA, ARN, LYS etc.
I think that some of these services may not resume ex BHX for many years if at all.
There are things to look forward to at Birmingham and that there is any expansion at all next Summer is a real bonus in the present economic climate.
Daza
The 50 seat high frequency jet service is no longer the money maker it was, due to increased fuel and duty costs and most low fares airlines operate aircraft that are too big (too many seats) to warrant daily service to what are essentially business destinations such as OSL, HEL, CGN, GVA, ARN, LYS etc.
I think that some of these services may not resume ex BHX for many years if at all.
There are things to look forward to at Birmingham and that there is any expansion at all next Summer is a real bonus in the present economic climate.
Daza
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Continuing the retro feel of the thread if I may there have been many other non BA/Maersk/Duo routes (some downright strange or daft!) that have graced the pages of the BHX timetable at some point or another including
Le Havre/Caen (was it Love Air?)
Rotterdam/Eindhoven (I recall this was very briefly a BA franchise?)
Augsburg - Interot
Basle - Crossair
Kirkwall (via ABZ) BA Highland Division?
Norwich
Newquay - WW and BE
Plymouth, Gatwick - Brymon
Kiev - Aerosvit (why was that route ever flown?)
Moscow - Air India!
Loganair actually as Loganair did a season BHX-GCI on an ATR, 2002 ish?
And much more recently, the more recent crop of 'fulfill our initial contract at BHX until we have to pay full landing fees' routes from FR including Biarritz, Olbia, Bologna, Billund, Torp, Stockholm, Pisa, Poitiers, Trapani, Krakow
And for long haul - Tashkent, Amritsar, Delhi, Chicago, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Tehran, Philadelphia, Bishkek
Not sure if Gulf Traveller to AUH ever got off the ground? It was certainly in the BHX timetable. Those chancers FlyWho certainly never got going.......I also seem to remember Tajikstan Airlines very briefly operating to Dushanbe???? A Tristar?? Could be wrong.
As for scheduled airlines - Highland Express, Metropolitan, Uzbekistan, Aerosvit, American, Iberia, Air India, Crossair, Swissair, Alitalia, Krygystan Airlines (TU134??), Air Canada, British Midland and BMI, Czech Airlines, Interot, Newair (did Billund on an F27 in the 80's), American, US Airways, Community Express (LGW-BHX-LPL on a Jetstream I flew LGW-BHX once on their Jetstream!) Brymon, Norwegian, Sky Europe, Germanwings, HLX, Wardair.......some are still around many gone but that is why aviation is so fascinating as it changes all the while
Did Sabena ever fly their own metal into BHX, I seem to remember they always codeshared with BD on their DC9's?
I love a bit of nostalgia!
I agree with Daza, BHX routes are looking more healthy again in 2012 despite very challenging economics. It is doubtful any of the ones I have mentioned above will ever see the light of day again for all sorts of reasons. It is a pity that FR have not fulfilled early promise with route development but there could be more from ZB in the next few years as well as WW (if a new owner has deep pockets!). Personally I am disappointed that the MAD route is still a gaping hole, IB must have looked but deemed it no go from BHX for whatever reason at the moment
Le Havre/Caen (was it Love Air?)
Rotterdam/Eindhoven (I recall this was very briefly a BA franchise?)
Augsburg - Interot
Basle - Crossair
Kirkwall (via ABZ) BA Highland Division?
Norwich
Newquay - WW and BE
Plymouth, Gatwick - Brymon
Kiev - Aerosvit (why was that route ever flown?)
Moscow - Air India!
Loganair actually as Loganair did a season BHX-GCI on an ATR, 2002 ish?
And much more recently, the more recent crop of 'fulfill our initial contract at BHX until we have to pay full landing fees' routes from FR including Biarritz, Olbia, Bologna, Billund, Torp, Stockholm, Pisa, Poitiers, Trapani, Krakow
And for long haul - Tashkent, Amritsar, Delhi, Chicago, Lahore, Karachi, Peshawar, Tehran, Philadelphia, Bishkek
Not sure if Gulf Traveller to AUH ever got off the ground? It was certainly in the BHX timetable. Those chancers FlyWho certainly never got going.......I also seem to remember Tajikstan Airlines very briefly operating to Dushanbe???? A Tristar?? Could be wrong.
As for scheduled airlines - Highland Express, Metropolitan, Uzbekistan, Aerosvit, American, Iberia, Air India, Crossair, Swissair, Alitalia, Krygystan Airlines (TU134??), Air Canada, British Midland and BMI, Czech Airlines, Interot, Newair (did Billund on an F27 in the 80's), American, US Airways, Community Express (LGW-BHX-LPL on a Jetstream I flew LGW-BHX once on their Jetstream!) Brymon, Norwegian, Sky Europe, Germanwings, HLX, Wardair.......some are still around many gone but that is why aviation is so fascinating as it changes all the while
Did Sabena ever fly their own metal into BHX, I seem to remember they always codeshared with BD on their DC9's?
I love a bit of nostalgia!
I agree with Daza, BHX routes are looking more healthy again in 2012 despite very challenging economics. It is doubtful any of the ones I have mentioned above will ever see the light of day again for all sorts of reasons. It is a pity that FR have not fulfilled early promise with route development but there could be more from ZB in the next few years as well as WW (if a new owner has deep pockets!). Personally I am disappointed that the MAD route is still a gaping hole, IB must have looked but deemed it no go from BHX for whatever reason at the moment