BELFAST AIRPORT INTERNATIONAL

[Dee747]

That would suit me right down to the ground. Saves having to travel to DUB each time. Happy days if it turns out to be true.

[GAZMO]

Ryanair

Some quotes from anna.aero website


" the first route that anna.aero predicts will be served will be to East Midlands, in direct competition with Flybe’s 25 weekly departures from Belfast City "
"The second domestic route which anna.aero predicts that Ryanair will serve from its new base is Leeds Bradford, a route which is not served directly from Belfast International and was last served by Jet2.com back in 2013"


Also predicting Berlin, Brussels, Barcelona and Milan. Normally anna.aero are fairly correct in their assumptions.


http://www.anna.aero/2016/01/07/ryan...international/

[BFS watcher]

CAA January stats

Confirms the BFS growth at 19.7% although City are minus 3.5%.

[HH6702]

Hope they do add ncl as it will give another option to easyjet

[eastern wiseguy]

City are minus 3.5%

That has to be a mistake. There is NO way that being so close to the City Centre and being where everybody wants to fly from and and and and and ad nauseum........ Seems that people DO vote with their wallets.

It will only get better with the arrival of RYR.

Great result BFS .

BHD ...apparently you need to buck your ideas up.

[cuthere]

Great figures indeed. It means the tired, worn, dark, grim terminal will be even worse to spend time in.

Poor form for BHD. Still. Good to see those who mock it now are consistent as they also mocked BFS when its figures nosedived. Oh....er.....hang on.

Should be a great year pax-wise for BFS. Good luck to them (and good luck to those closer to the city centre as well - note lack of capitalisation which is unnecessary. Tut tut).

[GAZMO]

Some impressive figures on the domestic front!

Also AMS up 46%!!!!!! And with increase frequency this summer season are EZY throwing the gauntlet down to KLM??

[josechung]

Great numbers indeed!

Would like there to be ine instance where people wouldnt come and bash BFS 9nce some good news comes along.

Also this hatred towards the terminal is always funny... looks fine to me and im there every week.

[josechung]

Originally Posted by eastern wiseguy

Hardly a ringing endorsement of your "often cheaper" assertion if you have "flown twice" and "once" it was cheaper and the second was 25 quid more.

I would dearly love to use BFS however the combination of higher expense and the often long lines at immigration in the USA works against it. The single North American connection on a narrow body also does it no favours.

Dublin is cheaper,more choice,and I can clear immigration before I leave. That lets me get a tighter connection home.

I fly from BFS to the US twice a year for the last 4 years, only once was dublin cheaper and once you take into account bus ticket it was almost neutral. Not to mention having to waste 6 hours of my life on a bus.

Also the flights are always full. I think you're a little delusional when it comes to people being put off by a narrow body plane, clearing immigration in dublin etc etc. People like to fly from a local airport.

[BFS watcher]

Easy out carrying Flybe heavily now on MAN and BHX. EI figures on LGW down 15%. Even the vaunted LHR route down 4%. Interesting times ahead between the 2 airports or will the Boys on the Hill try and level the playing field for their mate.

[eastern wiseguy]

Cuthere

note lack of capitalisation which is unnecessary. Tut tut).

Remind me, are there two G's in BUGGER OFF?

[SecondDog]

Originally Posted by eastern wiseguy

Cuthere




Remind me, are there two G's in BUGGER OFF?

You could also suggest that the sentence should have had a comma after the word capitalisation, otherwise it is a double negative meaning that capitalisation is required? But hey, lets not nit-pick a nit-picker or he will just get nit-pickier.... 😈 #ffspgal

[True Blue]

I don't understand the Bhd figures either. I have been under the impression, based on numerous press releases and other statements, that almost everyone wanted to land at an airport as close to the City Centre as possible. Must be a lot of very stupid passengers, picking the wrong airport.

[eastern wiseguy]

Josechung.

I think you're a little delusional when it comes to people being put off by a narrow body plane, clearing immigration in dublin etc etc. People like to fly from a local airport.

Delusional is a little strong. A 757 is perfect for shorter hops. It is an ordeal for 7 plus hours (unless of course you are NOT in cattle class) . I usually am.

Clearing immigration is a BIG thing if you need a quicker connection and prefer NOT to spend 2 hours plus in line at e.g. EWR.

Price is an important driver. I am aware that people like to support their local airport. I know that I did. However ,if you are a family of four ,then a saving of a few hundred pounds/euros/dollars might just sway you.

What's a bus?

[Husky One]

I used Dub several times last year due price. Ironically it involved flying to LGW or LHR to connect. This year I can't find much difference in price, in fact BFS seems to be slightly cheaper. As for the whole narrow body thing, I don't think the average NI traveller cares much. I find the UA757 reasonably comfortable. A couple of films, a snooze and EWR is upon you. It usually takes about an hour to clear immigration. United's on board service is improving too. VS and BA are far from anything special in economy these days anyway but the best bit is the return leg. It seldom takes more than 6hrs back to BFS. No hanging around for an ill timed connecting flight (or bus)

[GAZMO]

My last two flights to USA with UA the prices were keen. Immigration on both occasions there was no queue which was surprising.

[owenc]

Belfast to Newark is barely a 7 hour flight, in the summer it is more like 6 hours and 20 minutes - it is barely over 3,000 miles, it only ends up being over 7 hours in the winter due to headwinds, fly to NYC in June or August and you'll not be on there for over 7 hours. Immigration also does not take very long at Newark either, maybe 45 minutes at the most, it's even quicker now anyway as US immigration have introduced new self service machines where you put in all your details and then go to the booth, that speeds it up by like 20 minutes. Obviously you haven't travelled to America anytime recently otherwise you'd know this.

I have flown from Dublin aswell, the facilities are obviously better there but I agree with the other poster, I won't be flying from there again unless the price is massively cheaper, it is not worth it if you are only going to New York.

I have booked to fly from Belfast this June and I am looking forward to flying from my own airport to America and not having to get up at 3am for a 12pm flight.

Also not sure what you are harping on about a narrowbody for? Even Aer Lingus themselves fly narrowbodies to New York now. It's really no big deal to fly a narowbody to New York, it's about 6 hours, all you do is watch a few films and it's over, deal with it. Your not flying to Hong Kong.

Newark doesn't normally have long queues in immigration Gazmo. It's about 20 minutes of queuing.

http://awt.cbp.gov/

The only thing I don't like about United is that when i've used them in economy the American passengers have a tendancy to throw the seat back into your face which can be very restrictive. (don't know why Americans do this but they are pretty much the only nationality/country i've been to where the seatbacks are widely thrown back, even on 2 hour flights)

I haven't noticed that on Aer Lingus.

I just put my luggage in the overhead locker so don't have to stand for ages.

[GAZMO]

Yes Owen, as I said no queue at immigration in January when I last flew to EWR and on the previous occasion likewise. Much improved. Slight wait on the luggage though, but I have no complaints


PS welcome back to the thread

[eastern wiseguy]

OwenC ...you're my hero.Welcome back.

I have read your piece and OBVIOUSLY I am wrong.

I haven't travelled to America? Seriously? I have homes in the US and Ireland. I am writing this in Ohio. (travel tip.....that's in the US)

So I really don't fly the Atlantic often. In fact I do it so rarely that I won't do it again TODAY. Nor will I do it again in April.

Thank you for your useful immigration tips. I am pleased that you managed to obtain your Global Entry pass. As you know these are not available to everyone so kudos to you for passing your ACPO check and traveling enough that makes it worth your while. I haven't bothered with it as (for me) the green card and US citizens lines are generally shorter. Pre clearance though,is my preferred option.

How dare "Americans" recline their seats even on a short flight. You must be a model customer. I seem to recall from your previous outings on this board that you preferred business class so reclining seats intruding on your personal space would really be of minimal concern to you.

I don't think I have never been on a westbound flight which lasted less than seven hours. Moreover when working I rarely saw a flight plan for less than seven hours.

I also prefer at least a twin aisle aircraft. That is purely my choice.

However...every day is a school day.

Anyways folks . I have a flight to catch.

Owenc...have a good day at school.

[cuthere]

Remind me, are there two G's in BUGGER OFF?

Yes. The letter g does appear twice in that word. However, as the plural of home is homes (without apostrophe) so the plural of g is gs (without apostrophe). Maybe if you ask Owenc nicely he'll get some English language textbooks for you. Ones on grammar Owen, if you don't mind.