BIRMINGHAM - 5
doing the rounds at BHX is that TCX may move their op to EMA at the end of the summer ??
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Warwickshire
Posts: 1,062
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I'd say, wait until the BHX runway extension is completed and see the balance of power, long haul ITX wise, gravitate westwards!
But I'm not sure it is the first all year service. If my memory serves me well I'm sure the GVA-BHX winter service was operated through the summer only 3/4 years ago
Does that give a hint as to which of the majors might being diving in at BHX, should the worst happen with Baby?
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Solihull
Age: 60
Posts: 3,325
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
BHX
JonEMA - Cheers for the link, I have e-mailed them to see if they can save me some time.
GayFriendly - Ryanair Modlin was a shock, definitely expecting BHX.
I flew easyjet (Swiss) GVA - BHX one August and it was originally listed as daily but it did drop to four weekly and was packed but still a decent service provided, so Belfast is not the first all-year-round route.
Would loved to have been in on the meeting when BFS-BHX was decided
BHX-FRA Still showing as BMI through next winter but I assume will change in due course
kasuga
Well EMA can't keep two aircraft occupied in winter in a market now even more swamped with the likes of Jet2 etc so putting BHX's aircraft there as well seems like madness. However you only have to look at Thomas Cook's financials to show that any crazy idea is possible.
Even if BMI Baby was closed it would hardly help Thomas Cook in winter but consolidating on one Midlands airport might make financial sense as long as you choose the right airport.
Closing BHX and not increasing EMA by much might be an option but you risk just handing the competition the year-round market.
Swiss - Drops to two daily from Monday until 7 May but then the afternoon operates off and on until 15 June. This has happened at least once before in the past and again it was the lunchtime service that was affected. However this is an improvement as the whole period between 23/4 and 15/6 was affected originally.
Pete
GayFriendly - Ryanair Modlin was a shock, definitely expecting BHX.
I flew easyjet (Swiss) GVA - BHX one August and it was originally listed as daily but it did drop to four weekly and was packed but still a decent service provided, so Belfast is not the first all-year-round route.
Would loved to have been in on the meeting when BFS-BHX was decided
BHX-FRA Still showing as BMI through next winter but I assume will change in due course
kasuga
Well EMA can't keep two aircraft occupied in winter in a market now even more swamped with the likes of Jet2 etc so putting BHX's aircraft there as well seems like madness. However you only have to look at Thomas Cook's financials to show that any crazy idea is possible.
Even if BMI Baby was closed it would hardly help Thomas Cook in winter but consolidating on one Midlands airport might make financial sense as long as you choose the right airport.
Closing BHX and not increasing EMA by much might be an option but you risk just handing the competition the year-round market.
Swiss - Drops to two daily from Monday until 7 May but then the afternoon operates off and on until 15 June. This has happened at least once before in the past and again it was the lunchtime service that was affected. However this is an improvement as the whole period between 23/4 and 15/6 was affected originally.
Pete
Last edited by OltonPete; 21st Apr 2012 at 16:38.
TCX to EMA?
kasuga
For the life of me I cannot see why TCX would pull out of BHX to EMA, or for that matter why TCX would abandon EMA for BHX.
Thomas Cook are a tour operator that simply couldn't afford to dump either airport and leave the market to the other big player - TUI (in the guise of Thomson). Tour operators these days market flying with their own in-house airline as a plus point for booking with them, so even if TCX were to remove their base at BHX they would maintain a very large presence at the airport, operating as "W" patters, perhaps from EMA - still, myself, I think the clue is in the word "rumour" on this one.
For the life of me I cannot see why TCX would pull out of BHX to EMA, or for that matter why TCX would abandon EMA for BHX.
Thomas Cook are a tour operator that simply couldn't afford to dump either airport and leave the market to the other big player - TUI (in the guise of Thomson). Tour operators these days market flying with their own in-house airline as a plus point for booking with them, so even if TCX were to remove their base at BHX they would maintain a very large presence at the airport, operating as "W" patters, perhaps from EMA - still, myself, I think the clue is in the word "rumour" on this one.
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: BHX
Posts: 418
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
TOM
Why would TOM be changing handling agent? There is plenty of time to run on the contract and they are more than happy with the service they get. I seem to remember this one starting up last time the contract was up for renewal stating that they were changing then and nothing was further from the truth. More wishful thinking?
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Solihull
Age: 60
Posts: 3,325
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
TCX
ATNotts
Totally agree, the only way I could see it happening is if they bought seats for their packages from Monarch schedule during the winter (a lot of overlap other than Banjul & Egypt) but this would be a risky strategy to do it wholesale, as pax might book it themselves with ZB next time round .
One or two flights and it might be worthwhile if it meant that they cut a few aircraft here and there but who knows what TC are thinking at the moment.
Pete
Totally agree, the only way I could see it happening is if they bought seats for their packages from Monarch schedule during the winter (a lot of overlap other than Banjul & Egypt) but this would be a risky strategy to do it wholesale, as pax might book it themselves with ZB next time round .
One or two flights and it might be worthwhile if it meant that they cut a few aircraft here and there but who knows what TC are thinking at the moment.
Pete
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 2,781
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Easyjet is in a good position to expand. If bmibaby disappear Easyjet would be ideally placed to fill their shoes at Birmingham. Easyjet likely to recognise the uncertainty that exists around the Midlands in the last few weeks especially since the news of the number of bmi lay offs came out.
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: birmingham
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Recently booked a holiday through Thomas Cook and fly out from BHX Saturday the 15th of September. On the paper work i noticed that i'll be flying with monarch and not TCX themselves is this normal? as i've always flew on TCX aircraft when i've booked in the past.
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: United Kingdom
Posts: 168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
easyJet - BHX/BFS - Anybody know the flight times?
This is great news as I have to be in Belfast in November so this has come at a great time for me - also as much as I love flybe - It will make for a change
This is great news as I have to be in Belfast in November so this has come at a great time for me - also as much as I love flybe - It will make for a change
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Coventry
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Easyjet
MON-FRI
Depart BHX at 8:40 and 19:20 for BFS
SAT
Depart BHX at 8:40 for BFS
SUN
Depart 18:00 for BFS
Belfast times
MON-FRI
Depart BFS at 7:10 and 17:50 for BHX
SAT
Depart BFS at 7:10 for BHX
SUN
Depart BFS at 16:30 for BHX
Flight Time 1hr 10 min
Departs
Depart BHX at 8:40 and 19:20 for BFS
SAT
Depart BHX at 8:40 for BFS
SUN
Depart 18:00 for BFS
Belfast times
MON-FRI
Depart BFS at 7:10 and 17:50 for BHX
SAT
Depart BFS at 7:10 for BHX
SUN
Depart BFS at 16:30 for BHX
Flight Time 1hr 10 min
Departs
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Birmingham
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Border Agency
The biggest impediment to Birmingham's development in the foreseeable future is the shocking performance of the new combined search area and on the way back the UK Border Agency. I've used BHX for 20 years and have always preferred it to heading South but lately it has been atrocious. I'm serious, you would need to look at the place with very rose tinted glasses to have anything good to say about the place. Unfortunately responding to criticism in BHX's case means explaining to you why you are wrong and they are right.
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: UK
Posts: 741
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
New BHX Tower Light show
You would need to look at the place with very rose tinted glasses
and watch the light display from the new BHX Tower,
marking completion of the first phase of the works,
complete with "Olympic Rings"
Last edited by Coconutty; 23rd Apr 2012 at 18:52. Reason: To add pic :
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: solihull West Midlands
Posts: 967
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Can someone please explain, why there is all this Olympic fanfare at BHX, when there are no events in Birmingham and no known charters for it either to BHX ?.
Could fully understand the Olympic gateway airports LHR,STN,LGW,LTN who are getting all the flights and visitors , justifiably throwing such an event.
Find it all a bit embarrassing,like we are gatecrashing a party we were never invited too ?
Nigel
Could fully understand the Olympic gateway airports LHR,STN,LGW,LTN who are getting all the flights and visitors , justifiably throwing such an event.
Find it all a bit embarrassing,like we are gatecrashing a party we were never invited too ?
Nigel
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: MCT
Posts: 895
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Can someone please explain, why there is all this Olympic fanfare at BHX, when there are no events in Birmingham
but then I guess all the fans will fly in there rather than BHX
Join Date: May 2011
Location: IOM
Posts: 967
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Will someone care to clarify that just because the Olympics are in London, Birmingham can't celebrate them? Allow me to break the news, it's a country-wide event (sort of) - it's not just about London 
I have a feeling it's this kind of attitude that will mean the Olympics will just pass us by and most people who aren't in/around London will forget it ever happened.
I have a feeling it's this kind of attitude that will mean the Olympics will just pass us by and most people who aren't in/around London will forget it ever happened.
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: MCT
Posts: 895
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Kehoe stirs the pot
Very interesting story
Birmingham Airport boss says Heathrow runway claims ‘a con’ : Birmingham Airport News Stories
23.04.12
Claims Britain's economy requires new runways in the south-east are a ‘con’ that an industry dominated by BAA will not question, according to the boss of Birmingham Airport. Paul Kehoe said that at the same time as Heathrow's owner BAA is claiming that the lucrative Chinese market only wanted to fly to the west London airport, he was in Chengdu talking to Chinese airlines that were happy to consider any entry point into the UK.
BAA said last week that foreign airlines were ‘ready to vote with their feet and base new flights outside of the UK because of a lack of Government policy supporting aviation’, highlighting a survey showing that 86% would put on more flights to the UK if additional take-off and landing slots were available at Heathrow. However, Mr Kehoe said his experience at a conference in China last week was that ‘taxes and visas are a problem, but the Chinese said they would be happy to come to Birmingham: they see the UK as an important market and don't care how they get here.'
He also took issue with Heathrow's claim to be a unique ‘hub’ airport, one that can provide routes due to the volume of connecting traffic. He said: ‘Only 30% of its traffic connects. It is just a very big, successful airport. Is it positioned to be a world hub? For US traffic yes, for Europe going east and everyone else, no. A con is being perpetrated and it's time we held BAA to account. Even if there was a third runway, where is runway four? Where is the extra capacity you say Britain needs?’
He said few airport executives would speak out because they were either owned by or linked to BAA, or rely on British Airways, whose interests at Heathrow are closely connected.
Birmingham Airport boss says Heathrow runway claims ‘a con’ : Birmingham Airport News Stories
23.04.12
Claims Britain's economy requires new runways in the south-east are a ‘con’ that an industry dominated by BAA will not question, according to the boss of Birmingham Airport. Paul Kehoe said that at the same time as Heathrow's owner BAA is claiming that the lucrative Chinese market only wanted to fly to the west London airport, he was in Chengdu talking to Chinese airlines that were happy to consider any entry point into the UK.
BAA said last week that foreign airlines were ‘ready to vote with their feet and base new flights outside of the UK because of a lack of Government policy supporting aviation’, highlighting a survey showing that 86% would put on more flights to the UK if additional take-off and landing slots were available at Heathrow. However, Mr Kehoe said his experience at a conference in China last week was that ‘taxes and visas are a problem, but the Chinese said they would be happy to come to Birmingham: they see the UK as an important market and don't care how they get here.'
He also took issue with Heathrow's claim to be a unique ‘hub’ airport, one that can provide routes due to the volume of connecting traffic. He said: ‘Only 30% of its traffic connects. It is just a very big, successful airport. Is it positioned to be a world hub? For US traffic yes, for Europe going east and everyone else, no. A con is being perpetrated and it's time we held BAA to account. Even if there was a third runway, where is runway four? Where is the extra capacity you say Britain needs?’
He said few airport executives would speak out because they were either owned by or linked to BAA, or rely on British Airways, whose interests at Heathrow are closely connected.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London (Babylon-on-Thames)
Age: 42
Posts: 6,168
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
He said: ‘Only 30% of its traffic connects. It is just a very big, successful airport. Is it positioned to be a world hub? For US traffic yes, for Europe going east and everyone else, no. A con is being perpetrated and it's time we held BAA to account. Even if there was a third runway, where is runway four? Where is the extra capacity you say Britain needs?’
London isn't a feed on Europe going East as much as it was due to the rise of the ME carriers in the Sand Pit. His last point sounds post pub. I wonder how much this commercial genius is on?