BELFAST AIRPORT INTERNATIONAL
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Northern Ireland
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Agree with Adfly, daily isn't an option for BFS, nor would it sit well with UA I'm sure. Weekly from end June-start of September would be a great start, then see if you are likely to draw any business during term before expanding into the spring/autumn.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: USA
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I am not sure a 757 would have legs to do BFS-MCO without a stop in Bangor ( no NOT north Down) or somewhere similar. That would add to the cost base and impact upon the profitability.
At least the flights to the east coast are back. ....let's hope they grow.
At least the flights to the east coast are back. ....let's hope they grow.
Join Date: Jul 2009
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The 757 can make it direct to Orlando (and has done so in the past, Air Scandic/Air Finland, for example), but it's right on the top end of the aircraft's range capability. Realistically if a 757 service operated to Orlando, who would operate it? Monarch's 757s are gone, and the Thomas Cook and Thomson fleets are slowly reducing their 757 fleet, and replacing with 737s, A321s etc. None of the US carriers are likely to do this, as we would otherwise see them offering Orlando to other European cities.
As mentioned above, once a week would suffice for Orlando, and more suitably on a 767 or A330. Daily flights would be overkill, as would Toronto on a daily widebody.
As mentioned above, once a week would suffice for Orlando, and more suitably on a 767 or A330. Daily flights would be overkill, as would Toronto on a daily widebody.
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Greater Aldergrove
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Agree with the above...MCO is best as a weekly (and during the peak months, we could fill a 747). Add in a twice weekly YYZ, and a twice / three times weekly JFK / EWR and it could make sense for someone to base a single widebody at BFS.
The only airline that would seem a natural is VS. They operate from the regions already (MAN / GLA) and have the infrastructure in place at the destinations (have they started YYZ yet from LHR?). They also have the mix of aircraft...A333/A343/A346/789/744...
Hopefully the flights this summer are a toe in the water. I can't think of anyone else who could do this. The only other one is EI, but I think they stated they weren't going long haul from NI. Unless IAG ownership could change their minds...
The only airline that would seem a natural is VS. They operate from the regions already (MAN / GLA) and have the infrastructure in place at the destinations (have they started YYZ yet from LHR?). They also have the mix of aircraft...A333/A343/A346/789/744...
Hopefully the flights this summer are a toe in the water. I can't think of anyone else who could do this. The only other one is EI, but I think they stated they weren't going long haul from NI. Unless IAG ownership could change their minds...
Join Date: Dec 2013
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I am pretty certain it can make the distance in the summer but it would not be comfortable.
We do not need a widebody to Toronto its only 3,000 miles. I don't want a service if it is going to result in reductions in the United service.
We do not need a widebody to Toronto its only 3,000 miles. I don't want a service if it is going to result in reductions in the United service.
Join Date: Jul 2009
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The thing to remember is that most 757s that fly across the pond are in a mixed class config. All the local airlines that fly the 757 (excluding EI) are leisure airlines in a high seating config. These aircraft tend to have less capability for range. Also remember Canada has no 757s in passenger service (excluding TCX chartered to Westjet), so this leaves the likes of Air Canada Rouge or Air Transat to provide services to Toronto (Westjet cannot fly direct)
In the past charter airlines were very keen to use the 767 in Belfast as they were multi sector flights that tended to start in the Mainland. Nowadays if you want to fly direct airlines have to operate positioning flights, or W-patterns, then transport crew across..all this is logistically more complicated and airlines will be less keen to do this on small or low yielding markets, such as Northern Ireland.
On a latter note about 737s operating transatlantic, for the likes of Boston or New York yes it is theoretically possible, but the weight restrictions would be substantial, and as a result probably non-profitable. Owenc if you don't believe me I recommend you fly Oslo-Dubai with Norwegian on the 737 some time, you'll have almost 7 hours to count how many empty seats are onboard. That's without worrying about ETOPS too.
In the past charter airlines were very keen to use the 767 in Belfast as they were multi sector flights that tended to start in the Mainland. Nowadays if you want to fly direct airlines have to operate positioning flights, or W-patterns, then transport crew across..all this is logistically more complicated and airlines will be less keen to do this on small or low yielding markets, such as Northern Ireland.
On a latter note about 737s operating transatlantic, for the likes of Boston or New York yes it is theoretically possible, but the weight restrictions would be substantial, and as a result probably non-profitable. Owenc if you don't believe me I recommend you fly Oslo-Dubai with Norwegian on the 737 some time, you'll have almost 7 hours to count how many empty seats are onboard. That's without worrying about ETOPS too.
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Northern Ireland
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Lets face it, the key to getting any new major route like the ones discussed is most certainly how much you are willing to pay the Airline to come.
Obviously that is done in the form of grants/advertising packages or however it has to be worded to be legal so.
Wouldn't it be handy if you had in your employ, someone who is also the chairperson of a southern based tourism organisation that could award such grants/contributions?
Obviously that is done in the form of grants/advertising packages or however it has to be worded to be legal so.
Wouldn't it be handy if you had in your employ, someone who is also the chairperson of a southern based tourism organisation that could award such grants/contributions?
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Belfast
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BBC News - Rail spur could link Belfast to Dublin Airport
So according to this article 500,000 people from Northern Ireland use Dublin every year. A breakdown of these numbers by destination may help point us all in the direct of new routes that are feasible.
So according to this article 500,000 people from Northern Ireland use Dublin every year. A breakdown of these numbers by destination may help point us all in the direct of new routes that are feasible.
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: dublin
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Never mind the train the plunging euro will be a massive magnet to use dublin short term random dates in may dub hkg rtn work out at 459 sterling return from bhd 618 sterling. Never mind all the tax talk even a week in spain is stonking good value now ex dub
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Ireland
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Aer Lingus have stated that they have no intentions of flying long haul from Belfast.
Aer Lingus flying high with lie-flat seats from Ulster firm - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk
As for the other roumers who knows 
Aer Lingus flying high with lie-flat seats from Ulster firm - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk
But he also revealed transatlantic routes from Belfast were out of the question because Dublin was only two hours away.
Join Date: Jul 2009
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That statement annoys me because not everyone is 2 hours from Dublin.
Join Date: Nov 2006
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EI Long-Haul from Belfast? Not for a while at least! Maybe IAG will do it, but not under the current leadership.
They did fly MAN JFK but axed it once they closed the short haul operation out of the regions, while it may be a sensible rumour to suggest that BA could return to MAN transatlantic routes in the face of a potentially growing Virgin Atlantic, the same can not be said of Belfast. The catchement size, connectivity as examples would render such a route unattractive.
Equally and importantly all IAG ops potential subsidiary Aer Lingus all operate from BHD which cannot facilitate a nonstop service too thee U.S. equally BFS an unlikely option as a court case hangs in the balance ...
Last edited by EI-BUD; 1st Feb 2015 at 07:53. Reason: Typo