BELFAST AIRPORT INTERNATIONAL
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: South Wales
Posts: 463
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The old chestnut of yield im afraid. FR and EZY have a record of chopping routes with great LF's (90%+), only reasons could be potentially operational, or yield, where their aircraft would make them more money on other routes.
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Ballymena
Posts: 1,438
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I commented on this back at the start of March. I think we are now starting to see the impact of a dominant force, Easyjet. Looking at Saturday 15th Nov, last flight back here from Lgw is 4.15pm, Ltn is 6.05pm and Stn, 4.30pm. I think they have only 5 flights out of Bfs to London area on a Saturday. So for a football fan, these times are useless and a lot of people would like to fly over for a match on a Saturday as a day return. Whilst I understand that demand is lower on a saturday, I do not believe that there is not demand out of one London airport for a say 8.00pm departure by Easy. Last back from Lgw on EI is 6.00pm, also of no use. They have one back from Lhr to Bhd at 7.45pm. BA, 6.20pm. So only one flight out of London that would allow a day return to London for any reason over three airlines, but I think this is a very poor show from Easy. Why is this happening? I think the dominant force might deter other operators, like Norwegian. BA are only interested in Lhr and not too concerned about 8.00pm on a Saturday evening. EI are limited by the amount of metal they commit here and also lack of slots at both airports that they might allocate to NI. So I see Easy limiting flights to drive up yield and being able to do it because they have little effective competition. Maybe it is time to try and get FR back, never thought I would be saying that! But on my flight last month from Stn to Dublin at 8.00pm, it was full and some of the pax were travelling back to belfast.
TB
TB
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Changing topic but does anyone know how many controllers are actually based at BFS these days? With the lack of traffic I'm assuming there has been a reduction on shift coverage. Do people take reduced hours or get transfers anywhere else?
I take it there is always at least 5 people in the tower available at any time per shift?
Cheers.
I take it there is always at least 5 people in the tower available at any time per shift?
Cheers.
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: N.Ireland
Posts: 1,753
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Doubt if jet2 are going to do ALC MJV and PIS. They have announced 23 weekly flights and assuming the 5 cargo flights makes 28, 2 rotations for each BFS plane. Unless they are going to base a third plane at BFS?
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: N.Ireland
Posts: 1,753
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Another Jet2 plane would mean 14 rotations for a week. Certainly ALC, PIS and MVJ could possibly cover 7 of those. The other seven? Pula? Toulouse? Verona?....struggling here unless they look at key European cities
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 1,489
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Looking at Monday & Thursday there is 2 rotations in the afternoon.
Monday there is Mahon & Reus.
Thursday there is Ibiza & Reus.
So that means they would need a 3rd aircraft as Stansted cargo flight goes around 7pm.
So you never no BFS Dude and GAZMO!
Monday there is Mahon & Reus.
Thursday there is Ibiza & Reus.
So that means they would need a 3rd aircraft as Stansted cargo flight goes around 7pm.
So you never no BFS Dude and GAZMO!
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 16
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
@eastern, fair enough but I'm not expecting or asking anyone to divulge confidential information here.
It's more a question of is there a UK specific standard of cover per shift in the same way that there are different standards of fire cover?
It's more a question of is there a UK specific standard of cover per shift in the same way that there are different standards of fire cover?
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: N Ireland
Posts: 48
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Canada coming
Note Arlene Foster talking up Canada flights on BBC today. Presume announcement due soon. Doubtless will be timed to maximise feel good factor for local elections.
Let's hope its a "proper" airline and offering year round ops.
Is Montreal an option for business connection or is the vfr traffic to Toronto the target market?
Let's hope its a "proper" airline and offering year round ops.
Is Montreal an option for business connection or is the vfr traffic to Toronto the target market?
Could be Westjet, their Dublin service fully booked out for the whole summer in about 4 hours apparently, although connections into Europe wouldn't be as good.
Air Transat seem to send A310s everywhere in the summer so they would be a decent bet too
Air Transat seem to send A310s everywhere in the summer so they would be a decent bet too
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 1,489
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Greater Aldergrove
Age: 53
Posts: 851
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Panpan,
That's a very broad brush you've just used there...as a local PPLer, I always found the guys and gals at Aldergrove very helpful. GA will always take second place to commercial traffic, but I can't imagine another large airfield that would provide GA with the same level of service as I experienced at BFS. Even when the army and RAF were busy, GA was always looked after...was a lot of fun then!
That's a very broad brush you've just used there...as a local PPLer, I always found the guys and gals at Aldergrove very helpful. GA will always take second place to commercial traffic, but I can't imagine another large airfield that would provide GA with the same level of service as I experienced at BFS. Even when the army and RAF were busy, GA was always looked after...was a lot of fun then!
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: NI
Posts: 1,033
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Re: TCX training yesterday. Good to see Aldergrove taking some of this market from Shannon.
With the training discount Belfast is marginally more expensive per tonne for landings ( £3.75 vs ~ £3.50 ) but can still hopefully offer a saving in en route charges, fuel consumption due to priximity etc
With the training discount Belfast is marginally more expensive per tonne for landings ( £3.75 vs ~ £3.50 ) but can still hopefully offer a saving in en route charges, fuel consumption due to priximity etc
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 1,489
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Anyone no what BFS are doing on runway 17 north of runway 25? Two NOTAMs out saying it is unavailable to taxi on for a month!! :
AIRCRAFT NOT PERMITTED TO TAXY FROM RUNWAY 25 ONTO RUNWAY 17 NORTH
OF INTERSECTION.
FROM: 16 APR 2014 04:30 TO: 16 MAY 2014 04:30
AIRCRAFT NOT PERMITTED TO TAXY FROM RUNWAY 17 NORTH AND TURN LEFT
ONTO RUNWAY 07.
FROM: 16 APR 2014 04:30 TO: 16 MAY 2014 04:30
AIRCRAFT NOT PERMITTED TO TAXY FROM RUNWAY 25 ONTO RUNWAY 17 NORTH
OF INTERSECTION.
FROM: 16 APR 2014 04:30 TO: 16 MAY 2014 04:30
AIRCRAFT NOT PERMITTED TO TAXY FROM RUNWAY 17 NORTH AND TURN LEFT
ONTO RUNWAY 07.
FROM: 16 APR 2014 04:30 TO: 16 MAY 2014 04:30
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: County Armagh
Posts: 267
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
They're completing the rapid exit facility at the intersection. Basically they are cutting the corner off the north east section of the intersection allowing traffic to exit faster off 25 onto the north section of 17-35.
It's part of the runway works project that they didn't finish last year.
It's part of the runway works project that they didn't finish last year.