BIRMINGHAM - 5

[ATNotts]

With APD rising again next year, flying from BHX might not necessarily be the best option.

Perhaps the statement should be "With APD rising again next year, FLYING might not necessarily be the best option".

Combined with the costs of parking, the inconvenience of security and the long check-in times that are required because of the security checks, driving, or taking the train shorter distances to the European mainland have become more viable and pleasant means of transport.

[crewmeal]

And so the debate of the extension to the runway goes on. It's now on you tube. I only hope it all comes true:

Birmingham Airport Runway Extension - YouTube

I think this one is better, no talk of what it's going to do just action.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=642J6EbASoE

[TSR2]

Good grief, the runway looks like a rollercoaster.

[Monty Gordo]

Runway video

I'm afraid I can't agree with you Crewmeal. Without a soundtrack it should be clear what the video is all about, particularly to people not attune with the engineering works currently under way

And what is the message carried in this video? As TSR2 says, it makes the existing runway look like a roller-coaster with planes approaching above heavy earth-moving equipment.

Nil point!!

[crewmeal]

Without a soundtrack it should be clear what the video is all about

Exactly my point. I agree with you, it should be clear as to what is going on! However I'm not on prune to point score as you seem to be every time I comment on a topic.

[GayFriendly]

Interview with PK!

Very interesting and honest interview with PK in this weeks anna.aero online newsfeed, with the following being noteworthy:

1. The runway extension is focused at both long and medium haul traffic and to keep up with a new generation of medium haul aircraft - does he mean the 787?

2. He supposes that eventual liberalisation in UK-India and China bilaterals will open up competing traffic opportunities to LHR from these countries

3. He admits that BHX have a history of 'backing the wrong airline' and that they should have engaged a lot earlier with FR and EZY

4. An agreement was signed with AI to fly to ATQ but the Chairman that signed it was sacked and BHX is now back at square one in its negotiations with AI

5. Chicago is quite obviously PK's primary hope for a new destination once the extension opens

30-seconds with: Paul Kehoe, CEO, Birmingham Airport | anna.aero

[Grafters]

Staff Canteen

Hello does anyone know why Birmingham airport does not have some sort of airside food canteen available to members of staff? As the airport is expanding i would have thought this may be a possibility within the near future?
Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[hec7or]

Staff Canteen

FR have had a staff canteen for some time, you just have to bring your own food!!

[nigel osborne]

Gayfriendly Re PK Interview.

Yes agree an honest interview, ex BHX marketing Marc Watkins now works for anna.aero I believe after leaving Cov Airport, interview so perhaps down to him.

BHX usual bad luck.. sign a contract with Air India then that person gets sacked !

Not sure what he means by medium haul..the 787 is a long haul to ultra long haul plane. Might be talking up the A321NEO, BHX EWR service is reliant on ageing 757s as would any Chicago.

However the 321AEO still won't have the legs for such routes and loads required if you look at the specs.

Nigel

[jabird]

BHX usual bad luck.. sign a contract with Air India then that person gets sacked !

What's the saying about fooled once, twice and so on?

OK, so AI not returning is bad luck. What about perpetual rumour re: DOH + where's AUH?

The 757 has been the workhorse of this airport; the current fleet of A321s is seen as one of the 757 replacements and we can’t afford to lose those

Now that is an interesting point, see also thread on the 753s. Realistically, what frame will be doing the EWR run in 10 years' time?

we never engaged with Ryanair and easyJet when we should have done

What is stopping them doing so now? After all, they already provide a valet parking service for them in addition to a few routes. As for easy, again that could be a Hamsterwheel thread. Why not work with BE to get them to go somewhere interesting? I know they've had better days, but don't they have less to risk with dipping toes in using a Q400?

We’d also ideally like a Chicago service: firstly, there is significant trade and Chicago has phenomenal connections; secondly, the two cities are twinned and are roughly the same size, with a metro area of around 2.73 million.

Err I'd check with the Wikiref before comparing the Windy city to Brum! CHI is 9.5m metro - far bigger than Brum, including West Mids. Not sure I'd want to be pairing up with cities of equal size anyway, nor that twinning is ever a reason to add a route. Maybe one or two annual junkets, but by same logic, Brum Al is 1.2m metro - but I think passengers would be more interested in ATL.

[Skipness One Echo]

5. Chicago is quite obviously PK's primary hope for a new destination once the extension opens

ORD has been served before with American who didn't need a runway extension to get a B767-223ER out non stop to O'Hare....

[GayFriendly]

Agreed skipness they did, however I know from former BA staff in Eurohub (as it was) that used to load/board that flight that more often than not (and especially in high summer) it used to leave minus some pax, pax bags or cargo (or a combination of all three) to be able to get off the ground.....at least that would now not be the case with the runway extended! Whether of course there is now a compelling commercial case for ORD flights ex BHX a decade on is another point altogether.....

What about perpetual rumour re: DOH + where's AUH?

Yes that rumour has been going years - as reported before APPARENTLY when QR get their full quota of 787's BHX will start, hmmm. Next year looks increasingly doubtful now routes upto June 2013 have been announced although didn't EK start DXB in Sept or Oct?

What is stopping them doing so now?

Regarding EZY and FR, that is something I have said for years, however it is too late IMO: FR and EZY have cut long term deals with the MAG Group, LPL and BRS that limits BHX's attractiveness for both. Why BHX has never been able to cut a deal with them before is a mystery to me. Former BHX management were VERY dismissive of loco when it first became significant in the UK hence BHX only joined the loco game once BRS, LPL etc had become experienced players.

Although BHX can rightly be quite proud of its 'full service' airline portfolio, it will now only ever be an outsider for 'loco'. EZY may perhaps add one or two W pattern routes in addition to BFS. The FR base (a total shock to me when it was announced) although important for BHX pax numbers, has completely stagnated and seems to hang on so they can get good winter parking deals? Good job ZB expanded when they did (as PK mentioned, reading between the lines) to provide some substance in destinations and based units for that particular gap in the market.

[getonittt]

but I think passengers would be more interested in ATL.

Jabird ,You slipped this in as an afterthought, alot of talk about routes and the like from an extended runway with ORD seemingly being the favourite , but a daily DL 764 to ATL would be my preference a route not available at the moment.
Why do you keep on about AUH ? Etihad are on a code share with the SN and there have never been strong rumours about an AUH unlike QR who hopefully will be flying from BHX this time next year.
As for the transatlantic 757 replacement , this is going to be a problem not only for UA but also but also other airlines where there is no like for like replacement , personally i think there will be twin aisle aircraft plying these routes in 10 years time.

[hec7or]

GF, I'm sure your friends who worked in the Eurohub back in the 90s are also aware that BA did not want competition from low cost airlines with British Airways Regional and made this position clear to BHX management.

[FR-]

So what is the chance of BHX being an easyJet base, or at least a few more routes. I would like to see two a/c from March, with routes to PMI, AGP, LIS, EDI, CDG, NAP, VCE.

FR-

[chaps2011]

I don`t think Easyjet are going to have many aircraft to play with next year
as some A319 are going and a few A320 arriving of which 2 are Manchester bound and probably at least 2 more to Gatwick for the Moscow route

Chaps

[nigel osborne]

getomitt re Delta 764s,

Not a chance ,they are fitted out with a lot of lie flat beds and are aimed at high yield business routes..hence why you get so many in LHR.

Jaibird

re AA 767s and problems off the current runway..

When they operated 767-200s with underated engines, when the air temp hit more than 21c with high humidity the air was too thin to lift them off the runway, and numerous times had to offload cargo.

However this was rectified when they introduced 767-300s which had more powerful engines.

BHX are looking at AA using 757s on the route although that would be a bit tight westbound with their 757 range limitations all the way to ORD.

Nigel

[getonittt]

O.K delta 763's then. The only problem i could see is it may affect the skyteam hubs at CDG/AMS.

BHX are looking at AA using 757s on the route

What was it that was said about backing the wrong airline....

[chaps2011]

AA have had quite a few problems with B757 to ORD ex MAN when winds
on the ocean have been stong and have had to take a tech stop

Chaps

[Planeaddict]

I would imagine that there are a few airlines who would want to operate long-haul services at BHX at this moment in time, but the landing fees are preventing them (I'm talking about Middle Eastern airlines, probably the likes of Airblue, AA etc). Maybe that's the reason Delta went to Edinburgh in 2005 instead.

As far as I recall, the AA 763 had to leave behind cargo on hot days.

We are unlikely to get hot days like that again so there should be no issue but on a serious note a 757 would be most suited.