BELFAST AIRPORT INTERNATIONAL

[West Brit]

So Bhd needs to replace lost passengers big time from next month. Just after BFS has slowly recovered at the expense to BHD. So BHD sorts something out and BFS then has to put something else in place...... on and on. 2 airports fighting over the same little small pile of crumbs while Dublin eats all the cake. Will it take another 20 years of this before the penny drops within NI plc?

[GAZMO]

Yep at least 20 years!!

[GAZMO]

From the BBC. Looks like this thread will be busy today

Ryanair due to announce new flights from Belfast International Airport - BBC News

[mart901]

Originally Posted by GAZMO

From the BBC. Looks like this thread will be busy today

Ryanair due to announce new flights from Belfast International Airport - BBC News

It nearly always is gazmo! If only BFS was so busy on a winters morning!

[Skipness One Foxtrot]

Both airports should hoover up the bulk of point to point short haul and there's still a lot of scope for growth in inbound tourism. Long haul is lost to DUB as it now has a critical mass and an expanded passenger footprint and catchment area with improved road and public transport options.
Even one Belfast airport doing all of BFS/BHD wouldn't be much more of a match for DUB.
Glass half full?

[mart901]

Originally Posted by Skipness One Foxtrot

Both airports should hoover up the bulk of point to point short haul and there's still a lot of scope for growth in inbound tourism. Long haul is lost to DUB as it now has a critical mass and an expanded passenger footprint and catchment area with improved road and public transport options.
Even one Belfast airport doing all of BFS/BHD wouldn't be much more of a match for DUB.
Glass half full?

If the APD went I could see a lot of increased domestic flights, the fares in theory could come down £26 on a return. I don't agree that transatlantic is lost to Dublin, UA is well patronised and a good many people use LHR, not saying AMS and soon BRU won't take a fair few either - it just needs an operator to make a calculated risk, UA seem to be doing well this winter hopefully this will continue and support more.

[mart901]

Here it is;

Alicante, Berlin schonefield, Krakow, Lanzarote, Malaga, Milan Bergamo, Tenerife

[BFS BHD]

Originally Posted by mart901

Here it is;

Alicante, Berlin schonefield, Krakow, Lanzarote, Malaga, Milan Bergamo, Tenerife

Some being done by non based aircraft. I think there could be gaps still?

[mart901]

Originally Posted by BFS BHD

Some being done by non based aircraft. I think there could be gaps still?

Maybe, domestic has yet to appear I can't see them missing that bloodbath opportunity at some stage

[j636]

So Wizz will exit BFS soon with KRK, prehaps BHD might take them.

[mart901]

Originally Posted by j636

So Wizz will exit BFS soon with KRK, prehaps BHD might take them.

The airports are 50 miles apart so not necessarily.

I did say I could see canaries coming on non based aircraft which they have, along with Krakow. FR seem to have gone for EZY and EI with the routes they picked, I can visualise a rather unhappy Carolyn McCall, mind you they'd have been daft to imagine FR would stay away forever from NI.

[Buc Driver]

If these are the new routes, then with the exception of Berlin, what a disappointment, it`s just the same old sun routes that everyone else is flying.

[EI-BUD]

Good grief... this route selection will have huge impact. Yes numbers will sky rocket on all these routes, but I suggest an enormous impact to BHD in terms of its sun routes business.

EasyJet certainly will show its hand against the airport for striking a deal with Ryanair. Gatwick with the IAG slot surrender situation seemed to be handled well and could have been sold to EasyJet, but this is a biggie. Krakow is a very strong performer for EasyJet for short breaks. 320 on the routes frequently, very strong loads and what appears to be very strong fare revenue....

Are we to assumed that the mooted domestic services will be operated by based aircraft? Or will they be launched, may let Flybe off the hook there....

[mart901]

Originally Posted by EI-BUD

Good grief... this route selection will have huge impact. Yes numbers will sky rocket on all these routes, but I suggest an enormous impact to BHD in terms of its sun routes business.

EasyJet certainly will show its hand against the airport for striking a deal with Ryanair. Gatwick with the IAG slot surrender situation seemed to be handled well and could have been sold to EasyJet, but this is a biggie. Krakow is a very strong performer for EasyJet for short breaks. 320 on the routes frequently, very strong loads and what appears to be very strong fare revenue....

Are we to assumed that the mooted domestic services will be operated by based aircraft? Or will they be launched, may let Flybe off the hook there....

I think it's FR who are showing the hand to anyone encroaching on their DUB network, our sunshine routes have grown massively from both airports recently and the last thing they want is people believing its cheaper to fly locally than drive to DUB and fly with them, so they've come to the customer. Krakow is similar, and also designed to hit EZY.

[JM926]

I can't find the official announcement anywhere...so I'm assuming someone has heard accurate info through the grapevine?

I'm frustrated at the amount of overlap between J2 and Ryanair. I was all for them coming if they were going to introduce destinations not currently served but the airport allowing them in just to wage war with the existing carriers is criminal

[EI-BUD]

JM926,

Jet2 is very differentiated in the market. The jet2holidays brand is huge for package holidays in the Northern Ireland market. They have less to worry about than say EasyJet, who at the face of it will be competing for the same thing. Yes EasyJet have holiday options, but this is far less developed than the Jet2 offer.

Jet2 also has the diversified model with revenue from freight, and typically low cost aircraft that are old and low or no repayments. They can compete effectively. They have demonstrated resilience in the Leeds market where Ryanair set up a base in competition...

EI-BUD

[BFS BHD]

Michael O'Leary says @Ryanair will be back with more routes and more aircraft within matter of months.

Great to see!

[GAZMO]

Only semi excited on the routes to Alicante, Berlin Schonefield, Krakow, Lanzarote, Malaga, Milan Bergamo, Tenerife


Berlin, Milan great, KRK could see the end of Wizz to Katowice.


Disappointed in others, ACE, TFS well covered at the moment.


What about domestic routes?

[GAZMO]

Press announcement


New Ryanair Berlin and Milan routes are long-awaited...


Also stating pax numbers up although 20% in February

[BHD2BFS]

I don't think there will be many domestic routes by FR, ADP will have quite a big effect on domestic and many routes are thin, could they fill 2 or 3 rotations to LBA or EMA? JET2 tried LBA which is their main base and failed

Personally (and you can shoot me down if you want) I would not be surprised if the next domestic route to be announced is STN. London is the big money spinner from NI and more than likely needs the least marketing