BELFAST AIRPORT INTERNATIONAL
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: NI
Posts: 1,033
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I've heard that progressively UA will put 767's on transatlantic routes in place of 757's and move 757's to US domestic services... If this is true could result in improved capacity for BFS EWR route.
UAL memo:
We were already replacing Boeing 757s with Boeing 767s on flights from EWR to BCN (Barcelona, Spain) and TXL (Berlin) this summer and now they will continue as 767s year-round.
We will make the same upgauges from EWR to HAM (Hamburg, Germany) and MAD (Madrid, Spain) effective Oct. 25.
We will make the same upgauges from EWR to HAM (Hamburg, Germany) and MAD (Madrid, Spain) effective Oct. 25.
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: dodging CB clouds
Posts: 209
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This is growing a little tiresome with the messages and attitude on here and other forums.
First of all, a major international airline will have a better idea of what is viable or not, than one single person will, unless you possess the intimate financial knowledge of what United deem to be the perfect balance of passenger and cargo revenue vs. length of flight and operational viability..if so we are of course all ears. The 737 MAX does have range, though the manufacturer will not know exactly how much until flight testing- look at the C-Series and MD11 projects, the estimates were both off (in opposite directions) before it came to flight testing.
Also keep in mind that just about all aircraft at max range trade off valuable cargo/passenger capacity. For example a 747-400 can fly direct from London to Australia, and has done before, but only if practically empty. Fill her up and you have to trade off fuel, hence why the furthest you can fly direct from Heathrow is to the likes of Manila or Singapore- both of which really push it to the limits.
Airlines that operate on long flights often have to work out what is more cost effective- making tech stops for fuel, or reducing payload to make it direct..both are very costly. Even on aircraft with a very long range, you can find that you have to carry extra fuel just to carry along other extra fuel into the air..at long range the efficiency of an aircraft goes downhill.
The largest variant of the MAX family- the 9 series is about 5 metres shorter than a 757, so it is unlikely to have the same seating capacity, and indeed for many airlines on the order books, they have stated it will have fewer seats. It's always good to check facts before posting.
Existing 737s do have good range capabilities, but there is a difference between the likes of Transcontinental and Transatlantic, with the latter you are more restricted on routing, diversion points, ETOPs, and of course the strong winter winds. I've flown just shy of 7 hours direct on a standard 737-800, which according to 'the book' is perfectly achievable, but in reality the airline in question places heavy restrictions on the number of seats sold. Last month I flew Transatlantic on a WOW A321, 6 hour flight, and only achievable with 2 extra fuel tanks in the hold.
Also remember that a fully laden 737-900 is quite a ground hogger on a runway (the MAX 9 is suspected to be the same) you might find that on shorter runways there are performance problems. (Dublin Airport and the failed Air India plan??)
My own humble opinion (and it is just that, not a fact) is that the 737MAX will feature heavily on the domestic market, Caribbean and into Central and South America-Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana etc. allowing the older 757s to retire. There are still plenty of young 757s out there to keep plying the oceanic routes for years. The new 787 is smaller than the 767, so we may see more of them in Europe, but unless something changes in the market it is unlikely to come to Belfast..perhaps if they dropped from daily to 5 weekly or something??
First of all, a major international airline will have a better idea of what is viable or not, than one single person will, unless you possess the intimate financial knowledge of what United deem to be the perfect balance of passenger and cargo revenue vs. length of flight and operational viability..if so we are of course all ears. The 737 MAX does have range, though the manufacturer will not know exactly how much until flight testing- look at the C-Series and MD11 projects, the estimates were both off (in opposite directions) before it came to flight testing.
Also keep in mind that just about all aircraft at max range trade off valuable cargo/passenger capacity. For example a 747-400 can fly direct from London to Australia, and has done before, but only if practically empty. Fill her up and you have to trade off fuel, hence why the furthest you can fly direct from Heathrow is to the likes of Manila or Singapore- both of which really push it to the limits.
Airlines that operate on long flights often have to work out what is more cost effective- making tech stops for fuel, or reducing payload to make it direct..both are very costly. Even on aircraft with a very long range, you can find that you have to carry extra fuel just to carry along other extra fuel into the air..at long range the efficiency of an aircraft goes downhill.
The largest variant of the MAX family- the 9 series is about 5 metres shorter than a 757, so it is unlikely to have the same seating capacity, and indeed for many airlines on the order books, they have stated it will have fewer seats. It's always good to check facts before posting.
Existing 737s do have good range capabilities, but there is a difference between the likes of Transcontinental and Transatlantic, with the latter you are more restricted on routing, diversion points, ETOPs, and of course the strong winter winds. I've flown just shy of 7 hours direct on a standard 737-800, which according to 'the book' is perfectly achievable, but in reality the airline in question places heavy restrictions on the number of seats sold. Last month I flew Transatlantic on a WOW A321, 6 hour flight, and only achievable with 2 extra fuel tanks in the hold.
Also remember that a fully laden 737-900 is quite a ground hogger on a runway (the MAX 9 is suspected to be the same) you might find that on shorter runways there are performance problems. (Dublin Airport and the failed Air India plan??)
My own humble opinion (and it is just that, not a fact) is that the 737MAX will feature heavily on the domestic market, Caribbean and into Central and South America-Colombia, Venezuela, Suriname, Guyana etc. allowing the older 757s to retire. There are still plenty of young 757s out there to keep plying the oceanic routes for years. The new 787 is smaller than the 767, so we may see more of them in Europe, but unless something changes in the market it is unlikely to come to Belfast..perhaps if they dropped from daily to 5 weekly or something??
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: N.Ireland
Posts: 1,752
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Notice rest of winter season now on sale. No sign of BCN or MLA during this period?
They were late putting them up last year but I believe they were on sale in July last year.....disappointing
They were late putting them up last year but I believe they were on sale in July last year.....disappointing
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Antrim
Posts: 1,601
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I hope they haven't dropped them altogether, I'm sure that Lanzarote and Lyon were deemed as winter routes but that means very little in aviation nowadays! Hoping VY don't get Barcelona to themselves, that will be the end of cheap!
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,192
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
United
EWR reductions or is it the same as 2014
6 weekly from 9 August
5 weekly from 29 August
4 weekly from 5 September
3 weekly from 28 September
2 weekly from 16 November
4 flights on Dec 3-4-5-6
2 weekly from 7 March
3 weekly from 28 March
4 weekly from 4 April
6 weekly from 9 August
5 weekly from 29 August
4 weekly from 5 September
3 weekly from 28 September
2 weekly from 16 November
4 flights on Dec 3-4-5-6
2 weekly from 7 March
3 weekly from 28 March
4 weekly from 4 April
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: N.Ireland
Posts: 1,752
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Disappointing but shows the difficulty BFS has in maintaining new routes
Would be concerned about Iceland as well, as numbers for last couple of months are not too good looking.
Full figures for June now available and most other routes looking good
Would be concerned about Iceland as well, as numbers for last couple of months are not too good looking.
Full figures for June now available and most other routes looking good
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 1,488
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Jet2 Summer 2016
Palma has got TWO flights on Thursdays and Sundays.
Flight Number is EXS391/2
Looks like the Prague slots are being used now for Palma...
Edit: Alicante now got 6 weekly flights Tuesday flight now added.
Flight Number is EXS391/2
Looks like the Prague slots are being used now for Palma...
Edit: Alicante now got 6 weekly flights Tuesday flight now added.
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: N.Ireland
Posts: 1,752
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Wonder what they will use FCO slots for?
For Summer 16 free slot Thursday am and Sunday PM.
Wednesday morning still vacant, although Zante and FUE going out mid morning
Could be a few more to come. I make that Tuesday AM is three early plus TFS going out before 10am
Maybe fourth aircraft for next year
For Summer 16 free slot Thursday am and Sunday PM.
Wednesday morning still vacant, although Zante and FUE going out mid morning
Could be a few more to come. I make that Tuesday AM is three early plus TFS going out before 10am
Maybe fourth aircraft for next year
Last edited by GAZMO; 27th Jul 2015 at 19:23.
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Up There
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
And you'd be in a position to offer an opinion on that!! Also a "case" which strongly argues if Dublin and its agencies used the £millions of yearly tourism funding fed to it by Belfast for the intended and legit purpose of promoting tourists flying to Belfast there would indeed be EVERY economic reason for losing APD in NI quick-smart! 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Antrim
Posts: 1,601
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Exactly, on that basis the Dublin government ought to bring back APD to improve its finances. Until it gets axed nobody can prove it will or won't help grow passenger numbers but I sure as hell don't believe it helps, particularly as such a high percentage of flights are domestic