BELFAST AIRPORT INTERNATIONAL
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: dublin
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When we rumourate on here we tend to forget downstairs on flights ie cargo. This could be the selling point for something like QR as all pallets of cargo are on thw whole sent by road out of here to connect with freigter services in MAN/AMS etc. A more direct routeto the eastern markets of middle near and far east may work
I REALLY SHOULDN'T BE HERE
Belfast will not get ahead of Dublin no matter what routes it offers and you are deluding yourself if you think it could.
1) DUB is right beside the biggest population centre (by far) on the island.
2) Anyone from Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway or any of the medium sized regional towns would have to drive by Dublin Airport and then keep on driving for another two hours before they would get to BFS. Or let me put it another way - would you drive from Belfast to Cork to catch a flight to Moscow or Athens? Me, I would catch a flight to LGW with Easy or LHR with BA and connect.
3) Departure taxes are less from the Republic (albeit the difference may reduce in future).
4) As you pointed out Belfast and Dublin are on the same piece of rock. Anyone operating from both airports would be diluting their yields.
Don't get me wrong, I like BFS. It serves a great range of destinations for a reasonably small population centre. It is not and for the foreseeable future won't be anywhere near in the same league as Dublin Airport which has five times the number of passengers going through its doors every year.
1) DUB is right beside the biggest population centre (by far) on the island.
2) Anyone from Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway or any of the medium sized regional towns would have to drive by Dublin Airport and then keep on driving for another two hours before they would get to BFS. Or let me put it another way - would you drive from Belfast to Cork to catch a flight to Moscow or Athens? Me, I would catch a flight to LGW with Easy or LHR with BA and connect.
3) Departure taxes are less from the Republic (albeit the difference may reduce in future).
4) As you pointed out Belfast and Dublin are on the same piece of rock. Anyone operating from both airports would be diluting their yields.
Don't get me wrong, I like BFS. It serves a great range of destinations for a reasonably small population centre. It is not and for the foreseeable future won't be anywhere near in the same league as Dublin Airport which has five times the number of passengers going through its doors every year.
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Dublin
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Totally agree , I know you want your airport to do well , but put a bit of perspective into things , Dublin gets 20 million plus which for a capital in a country with 5 million plus is excellent figures .
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: N Ireland
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I suspect the implication was that BFS could get ahead in certain areas not already served from DUB, not that BFS would get ahead in terms of overall pax numbers 
I agree with your point 2 though, personally I would connect any day before driving to DUB, SNN or ORK. But don't forget that BFS is as conveniently or more conveniently located than DUB for a large part of the island.
You're right about the curse of APD which is probably hurting BFS much more than any other UK airport.
Not sure I'm 100% on board with the "great range of destinations"....... we're doing ok, but we're still missing a fair few airlines/routes that even some smaller UK airports have.
Oh and just to be pedantic, DUB may have 5x the pax of BFS, but remember it's only 3x the pax of BFS+BHD
I agree with your point 2 though, personally I would connect any day before driving to DUB, SNN or ORK. But don't forget that BFS is as conveniently or more conveniently located than DUB for a large part of the island.
You're right about the curse of APD which is probably hurting BFS much more than any other UK airport.
Not sure I'm 100% on board with the "great range of destinations"....... we're doing ok, but we're still missing a fair few airlines/routes that even some smaller UK airports have.
Oh and just to be pedantic, DUB may have 5x the pax of BFS, but remember it's only 3x the pax of BFS+BHD
Last edited by madgav; 3rd Jan 2015 at 10:57.
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Northern Ireland
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A hello I said Belfast could get ahead of Dublin in those sectors and empty markets that aren't being met in Dublin.. Not that Belfast could get 20 million passengers.
Belfast could definitely do with a few legacy carriers such as KLM and Turkish airlines, we have enough Easyjet flights for now.
Belfast could definitely do with a few legacy carriers such as KLM and Turkish airlines, we have enough Easyjet flights for now.
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Northern Ireland
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Belfast could definitely do with a few legacy carriers such as KLM and Turkish airlines, we have enough Easyjet flights for now.
And I'd say there's more chance of seeing KLM fly to DUB using their own equipment (rather than EI codeshare) than them flying to BHD/BFS, would be great to have another choice for connections though.
Just to pedantic, there's 4 daily flights to the UAE from DUB, not 3.
As for QR, I'm guessing they have much higher priorities than BFS or DUB, but time will tell. A lot of 787s and A350s due over the next couple of years
As for QR, I'm guessing they have much higher priorities than BFS or DUB, but time will tell. A lot of 787s and A350s due over the next couple of years
Join Date: Dec 2014
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Don't know about fleet availability but would have thought Qatar in BFS must have some legs?
Think there must be big numbers of people and cargo going south to etihad and Emirates. Don't they both employ staff full time in the north just to keep the flow going?
Surely it would be in local Gov interest and airport, airline interest to make this a priority. Big investment from the Gulf and direct access into asia, and an opportunity for QR to come into probably the biggest market in Uk Ireland without Middle East flights, at the same time picking up a big piece of a ready made local market that has been developed by the other two competitors?
Seems to me this would be well worth a punt.
Think there must be big numbers of people and cargo going south to etihad and Emirates. Don't they both employ staff full time in the north just to keep the flow going?
Surely it would be in local Gov interest and airport, airline interest to make this a priority. Big investment from the Gulf and direct access into asia, and an opportunity for QR to come into probably the biggest market in Uk Ireland without Middle East flights, at the same time picking up a big piece of a ready made local market that has been developed by the other two competitors?
Seems to me this would be well worth a punt.
Join Date: Dec 2013
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Qatar is further than America. An A321 would never reach here.
Btw Belfast had a fuel stop today!!! https://uk.flightaware.com/live/flig...110Z/EGAA/KALB
Btw Belfast had a fuel stop today!!! https://uk.flightaware.com/live/flig...110Z/EGAA/KALB
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Belfast
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Speedrection makes a pretty cast iron case above and it is (unfortunately) a view I agree with. Dublin simply has the best catchment are for the whole island and thats all beancounters/route planners are interested in.
In addition to everything said above, I'd imagine Willie Walsh as chief of OneWorld and IAG would have something to say about a OneWorld partner stepping on BA's toes in Belfast. Qatar seems unlikely.
Only one thing for it......better increase our population and wealth. Fast
In addition to everything said above, I'd imagine Willie Walsh as chief of OneWorld and IAG would have something to say about a OneWorld partner stepping on BA's toes in Belfast. Qatar seems unlikely.
Only one thing for it......better increase our population and wealth. Fast
Join Date: Apr 2010
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With my links to NI, I've been a frequent visitor for years but what has always struck me about the place (apart from the friendliness of folks) is just how unpopulated it is. Even Belfast feels like a small city.
The entire population of NI is similar to Kent and is a lot poorer.
There just isn't the demand. Dublin is the main port of call for the island.
Belfast will continue to serve mainly GB destinations, bucket and spade and the usual city break places. Nothing wrong with that - it's what people want. Those that want something more exotic seem quite happy to head to Dublin.
Talk of flights from Belfast to a long haul middle east hub are premature to say the least given that none of main European hubbing airlines currently see any value in serving Belfast.
The entire population of NI is similar to Kent and is a lot poorer.
There just isn't the demand. Dublin is the main port of call for the island.
Belfast will continue to serve mainly GB destinations, bucket and spade and the usual city break places. Nothing wrong with that - it's what people want. Those that want something more exotic seem quite happy to head to Dublin.
Talk of flights from Belfast to a long haul middle east hub are premature to say the least given that none of main European hubbing airlines currently see any value in serving Belfast.