BELFAST AIRPORT INTERNATIONAL
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: dublin
Age: 56
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Regardless of tax i should have added what Dublin has is competition both in Airlines and Tour Operators which all help to make flying from Dublin competative. I know of at least one tour package company that maintains that NI pax account for two of there flights eack week to Turkey from DUB. But if cost was not the main factor I would much rather support NI airports and the staff that work there, a point that is never mentioned on here. Support to NI airport staff.
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: N.Ireland
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I agree, if I have a choice I would support the NI airports and associated jobs.
Sometimes it can be a false economy to fly out of DUB. Friends recently flew DUB via LGW to Mexico as price was better than Belfast, but they had to book hotel accommodation at Dublin airport on way out! additional fuel to drive to DUB plus additional time, including three hour drive to DUB and three hours back.
Agree sometimes it can be cheaper especially if you live in the south of the province and can get a lift to/from DUB.
Hopefully finance minister will have the sense to see that a reduced APD will benefit the NI economy.
Maybe someone can post how much on average an incoming tourist or business person spends per day
Sometimes it can be a false economy to fly out of DUB. Friends recently flew DUB via LGW to Mexico as price was better than Belfast, but they had to book hotel accommodation at Dublin airport on way out! additional fuel to drive to DUB plus additional time, including three hour drive to DUB and three hours back.
Agree sometimes it can be cheaper especially if you live in the south of the province and can get a lift to/from DUB.
Hopefully finance minister will have the sense to see that a reduced APD will benefit the NI economy.
Maybe someone can post how much on average an incoming tourist or business person spends per day
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Carryduff
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I love to support the local Northern Ireland economy and its fantastic workers.
However it has brought it all home to me in the last few years that I realize I now fly most of the time from DUB. For example I have booked flights to Lanzarote for next summer with EI from DUB for family of 4 for ~1300 EUR (~£1100). To fly from BFS with one of the tour operators or LS would have cost >£1600. That's a saving of more than £500! Even the car parking at DUB works out cheaper (50 EUR for two weeks). Since EI moved from BFS the options for flying from NI has been limited and the gap has not yet been filled.
However it has brought it all home to me in the last few years that I realize I now fly most of the time from DUB. For example I have booked flights to Lanzarote for next summer with EI from DUB for family of 4 for ~1300 EUR (~£1100). To fly from BFS with one of the tour operators or LS would have cost >£1600. That's a saving of more than £500! Even the car parking at DUB works out cheaper (50 EUR for two weeks). Since EI moved from BFS the options for flying from NI has been limited and the gap has not yet been filled.
Last edited by Carryduff Flyer; 18th Oct 2013 at 11:09.
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Northern Ireland
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The whole debate about ROI scrapping the travel tax is a bit of a red herring in my view, it's more about perception than actual price comparison. I'm not sure much actually changes in NI with the ROI tax removed. The airlines ex NI limit capacity to a point where they make a good return especially in summer where fares are huge. I refer to non domestic flights of course.
CO didn't increase capacity when the adp was reduced on long haul... Yes maybe they maintained better winter frequency but no other scheduled services started. The fact that DUB has such a wide range of services, passenger who book early are bound to get a half competitive deal.
Finally, as I've said before complaining about passengers going across the border to fly, this is nothing new, and Wont change. The main reason being passengers have next to no routes to Europe ex Belfast, there are literally a dozen over lapping routes, and on these carriers have limited capacity, so in my view the removal of the €3 tax is highly irrelevant...
CO didn't increase capacity when the adp was reduced on long haul... Yes maybe they maintained better winter frequency but no other scheduled services started. The fact that DUB has such a wide range of services, passenger who book early are bound to get a half competitive deal.
Finally, as I've said before complaining about passengers going across the border to fly, this is nothing new, and Wont change. The main reason being passengers have next to no routes to Europe ex Belfast, there are literally a dozen over lapping routes, and on these carriers have limited capacity, so in my view the removal of the €3 tax is highly irrelevant...
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: UK
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Notice that cologne Xmas market flight is not on the website any more?
Have they cancelled this one off?
Have they cancelled this one off?
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Bradford
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The Cologne flights have been cancelled, they were a majority charter by Newmarket holidays with Jet2 filling the remainder 48 seats but Newmarket pulled the plug so they had to be scrapped.
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Greater Aldergrove
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Dublin removing tax
I've recently travelled with my wife and daughter to YYZ via DUB and LHR. I would loved to have flown out of BFS or BHD, but the price difference was unreal. Out of BHD with EI and AC, the fare was around £2000....flying EI and AC out of DUB brought this down to less than £1300. Almost £800 less! Pricing BA, the fares were similar....and all down to APD.
At least in NI we have the option to avoid the full effects of APD by driving to DUB. Customers in GB have no real option other than getting the ferry to mainland Europe or Ireland!
So the 3Euro reduction will make little real odds...it's a minor issue in the grand scheme. APD is the real problem...but most UK customers have little practical option, so the UK government has them over a barrel...and again, the NI issue is a sideshow to government. Sad state of affairs but there you have it.
At least in NI we have the option to avoid the full effects of APD by driving to DUB. Customers in GB have no real option other than getting the ferry to mainland Europe or Ireland!
So the 3Euro reduction will make little real odds...it's a minor issue in the grand scheme. APD is the real problem...but most UK customers have little practical option, so the UK government has them over a barrel...and again, the NI issue is a sideshow to government. Sad state of affairs but there you have it.
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Belfast, UK
Age: 43
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NWSRG, I have found exactly the same situation. Heading to LA in March, and really wanted flights from Belfast. UA was working out reasonable, but was really wanting VS or BA to gain FF miles. From DUB the BA fare was over £160pp cheaper than from BHD.
With direct long-haul flights having reduced APD from Belfast, this distorts long-haul through tickets via another British airport. Would it not be fairer, as I believe the point of reduced long-haul APD was to save the EWR flight AND help with the leakage of NI folk to DUB travelling long-haul. So all long-haul through-ticketed flights be allowed to avail of the reduced APD.
Surely this is just giving UA a competitive advantage over their competitors that through-ticket via LHR, MAN etc. No really any benefit for the NI economy when NWSRG and myself, still see a substancial financial gain for flying from DUB rather than an NI airport.
With direct long-haul flights having reduced APD from Belfast, this distorts long-haul through tickets via another British airport. Would it not be fairer, as I believe the point of reduced long-haul APD was to save the EWR flight AND help with the leakage of NI folk to DUB travelling long-haul. So all long-haul through-ticketed flights be allowed to avail of the reduced APD.
Surely this is just giving UA a competitive advantage over their competitors that through-ticket via LHR, MAN etc. No really any benefit for the NI economy when NWSRG and myself, still see a substancial financial gain for flying from DUB rather than an NI airport.
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: N.Ireland
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Will be very interesting. I agree JER twice weekly and BOD three weekly but it looks like no extra planes. Looks likes a little bit of jigging with a reduction on BHX on Tuesday and Saturday and reduction on Tuesday on LPL on Tuesday and Wednesdays to accommodate BOD and JER
Pity an additional plane would be nice
Pity an additional plane would be nice
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: N.Ireland
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Yes I am also very surprised. This Thursday and Friday flights in evening are fully booked from BHX. The reduction seems to start from end of June /early July which I thought would be a little late in starting BOD and JER.
With SEN stopping and BE stopping LGW I thought they would increase STN flights
I suppose we will see on Wednesday when rest of summer schedule is released
With SEN stopping and BE stopping LGW I thought they would increase STN flights
I suppose we will see on Wednesday when rest of summer schedule is released
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Belfast, UK
Age: 43
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Bordeaux and Jersey now on sale from BFS; weekly flight to Bordeaux, Saturday from 28 June 14. Jersey twice weekly, Tuesday and Saturday also from 28 June 14. Both currently on sale up to the 27 September 14.
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Sunny spain
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Are these routes at the cost of frequency on other routes
Also with bhx and man being successful domestic routes could we see lba and ema added?
Can we expect more routes to me announced tomorrow?
Also with bhx and man being successful domestic routes could we see lba and ema added?
Can we expect more routes to me announced tomorrow?
Last edited by BHD2BFS; 22nd Oct 2013 at 22:27.
Join Date: Jun 2012
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BHD2BFS
Yes at a cost of losing some domestic flights for the short period of 10 to 12 weeks
Sat to MAN and BHX lost, LPL down on Tuesdays
Can't see anything more later today, but you never know. Not much to shout about
Yes at a cost of losing some domestic flights for the short period of 10 to 12 weeks
Sat to MAN and BHX lost, LPL down on Tuesdays
Can't see anything more later today, but you never know. Not much to shout about
Last edited by GAZMO; 23rd Oct 2013 at 05:25.