BELFAST AIRPORT INTERNATIONAL
Join Date: Nov 2011
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I'm not sure Donald Trump would stand in the way. Although he's very pro American business he is against stifling business, he thinks it needs setting free of red tape, blocking growth seems contary to his ideas....that said anything might happen
He's a politician now, he'll do whatever ensures his own survival to the detriment of everything else, just look at Arlene as an example...
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Join Date: Jan 2017
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CAA November and December figures are now available, so I've had a look at how Ryanair's new routes - the ones with no direct competition - have performed since commencing.
Berlin (4 months) 15,209 79% LF
Milan (4 months) 9,654 73% LF
Gdansk (2 months) 4,999 73% LF
Warsaw (2 months) 5,761 85% LF
Wroclaw (2 months) 4,986 73% LF
So Warsaw and Berlin seem to be the winners, at least during the Autumn/Winter months. It'll be interesting to see how Milan will perform during the Summer, as 73% LF isn't the best of starts.
Krakow has also seen some growth this year, including a 97.5% increase in passenger numbers during November and December when Ryanair started operating. This puts annual passenger numbers at 54,580, a 23.6% increase. Next year I could see this figure topping 80,000.
Total passenger numbers at BFS were 5,147,399 which is a 17.2% increase.
Berlin (4 months) 15,209 79% LF
Milan (4 months) 9,654 73% LF
Gdansk (2 months) 4,999 73% LF
Warsaw (2 months) 5,761 85% LF
Wroclaw (2 months) 4,986 73% LF
So Warsaw and Berlin seem to be the winners, at least during the Autumn/Winter months. It'll be interesting to see how Milan will perform during the Summer, as 73% LF isn't the best of starts.
Krakow has also seen some growth this year, including a 97.5% increase in passenger numbers during November and December when Ryanair started operating. This puts annual passenger numbers at 54,580, a 23.6% increase. Next year I could see this figure topping 80,000.
Total passenger numbers at BFS were 5,147,399 which is a 17.2% increase.
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: liverpool
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Good loads thought considering the majority of the routes have started in the Autumn/ Winter months. I would expect Bergamo to improve considerably as we move to Spring/Summer. I wonder how many polish workers from over the border are using the new services. Loads of Irish and quite a few Polish reg cars in the long stay car park last week.
Join Date: Jan 2016
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I have to say that the pick up/drop off facility needs addressing as a matter of urgency. Last week there was a tail back from past the roundabout and backed up to the approach road where many cars were parked up on the layby just waiting. The bottle neck seems to happen after the roundabout just before the terminal. It confused me a bit as I though BHD was Belfasts favourite airport as they advertise, and everyone flies from there. Obviously not. InOBan, more likely to do with Euro versus Pound at the minute.
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Northern Ireland
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A320.b744,
Good round up there on performance! Great to see the airport doing well.
Kudos to Ryanair for stimulating the market with 1.99 each ways fares across Nov and Dec and beyond, it is sure to drive volumes, and being able to book a getaway even at the last minute for those prices is incredible.
And of course LGW, last week being able to book to fly today for 12.99 in each direction is again amazing, cheaper than staff travel on easyJet!!!
EI-BUD
Good round up there on performance! Great to see the airport doing well.
Kudos to Ryanair for stimulating the market with 1.99 each ways fares across Nov and Dec and beyond, it is sure to drive volumes, and being able to book a getaway even at the last minute for those prices is incredible.
And of course LGW, last week being able to book to fly today for 12.99 in each direction is again amazing, cheaper than staff travel on easyJet!!!
EI-BUD
Join Date: Jun 2012
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Yes good results all round. Well done to BFS
I am a little surprised that MD of BFS is only suggesting 5.4 million pax for 2017??
I thought with the number of FR flights in 2017 compared to last year the number might have been much higher. Any word on the third aircraft??
I am a little surprised that MD of BFS is only suggesting 5.4 million pax for 2017??
I thought with the number of FR flights in 2017 compared to last year the number might have been much higher. Any word on the third aircraft??
Join Date: Jan 2017
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The 33% drop in Katowice passenger numbers in December is quite worrying - was there a reduced service or anything else that could have affected passenger numbers?
If it was due to Ryanair's Krakow flights stealing passengers (KRK is less than 50 miles away from KTW), then I wouldn't be surprised if the route was scrapped altogether. Maybe if Wizz operated to Belfast during the day time they'd have better fortunes; arriving in KTW at 01:35 isn't convenient in the slightest.
If it was due to Ryanair's Krakow flights stealing passengers (KRK is less than 50 miles away from KTW), then I wouldn't be surprised if the route was scrapped altogether. Maybe if Wizz operated to Belfast during the day time they'd have better fortunes; arriving in KTW at 01:35 isn't convenient in the slightest.
Join Date: Jan 2012
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GAZMO said
Nope all quiet now. I'm surprised there's not more flights to Faro.
I was expecting to see BFS announced with the other routes that was announced at STN the other day.
This could mean they aren't planning any more routes from BFS for now.
Any word on the third aircraft
I was expecting to see BFS announced with the other routes that was announced at STN the other day.
This could mean they aren't planning any more routes from BFS for now.
Join Date: Apr 2012
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I have to say that the pick up/drop off facility needs addressing as a matter of urgency. Last week there was a tail back from past the roundabout and backed up to the approach road where many cars were parked up on the layby just waiting. The bottle neck seems to happen after the roundabout just before the terminal.
Join Date: Jan 2017
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An analysis of possible new routes/increased frequencies
I was looking at CAA statistics for BFS passenger numbers between 2006-2010, and it was very interesting to see that there are several routes that had the demand but had their services reduced or dropped altogether. Undoubtedly the financial crisis led to the reduction in services, but while most services have seen increased frequencies or new operators over the last few years, some routes have been left behind. Below are a few routes that I think could be restarted in the near future, or could have more frequencies, based on previous passenger numbers. Of course, I doubt that all of these will materialise, and previous passenger numbers aren’t the most reliable for predicting market demand, but it shows that there are opportunities out there for a more diverse range of destinations from BFS.
Prague has been added and dropped several times over the last 10 years, most recently by Jet2 who cancelled the route in late 2015 after less than a year of operations. However, at its peak in 2007 when both easyJet and Jet2 operated the route, 60,526 used the service. Given the huge potential for this route and that they have just opened a new base in Prague, I’d be very surprised if Ryanair didn't start flights to the Czech capital. A thrice weekly service would offer 59,130 seats.
Rome was one of the destinations that many thought Ryanair would operate to when they opened their Belfast base last year. Aer Lingus carried 40,000-43,000 annually when they flew to FCO, and easyJet carried 44,000-47,000 passengers when they flew to CIA. A thrice weekly service offering 59,130 seats seems highly plausible, especially given Ryanair’s huge presence at CIA.
The resumption of Toronto flights actually seems quite plausible. Passenger numbers to Toronto and nearby Hamilton were constantly between 35,000-40,000 per year. A thrice weekly seasonal Air Canada Rouge service would put 42,840 seats on the market - twice weekly would see 28,560 seats up for sale. Given that 7,356 passengers travelled to Vancouver from Belfast during its peak, a viable option could be Vancouver-Toronto-Belfast. The demand is there for a Toronto route, so fingers crossed Belfast is included in Air Canada Rouge’s next expansion plans.
The commencement of Virgin Atlantic 747 flights to Orlando during the summer period was a step in the right direction, however 5,831 passengers in 2015 is a long way off peak numbers of 29,933. Given that VA are planning on retiring their B744s in the next few years, the airline could establish a full seasonal service to MCO. A summer seasonal X2 weekly A330 service would offer 31,920 seats in addition to Thomas Cook’s charter seats. However unlikely, the passenger numbers were there when scheduled services were offered, so the possibility should not be ruled out.
easyJet carried 20,081 passengers on their seasonal Nice flights in 2015. Back when Aer Lingus also competed on the route, 54,783 passengers used the service. The demand could be there for a twice weekly year long service, with two additional frequencies during the summer months, offering a total of 52,040 seats.
Paris would also be capable of handling an increased service. Passenger numbers have almost halved since 2009 peak of 144,345. Ryanair doesn’t fly to its Beauvais base from any UK airports, so I doubt they’d fly from Belfast. easyJet however would probably be able to sustain between 8-9 weekly flights without too much trouble, offering up to 146,417 seats.
Barcelona handled 122,121 in its peak, but only 37,924 seasonal passengers in 2015. Ryanair and Jet2’s new flights to Girona will help increase capacity to the area, but clearly a year round service is viable. Four weekly winter flights, with 11 weekly flights during the summer would offer 134,070 seats on an easyJet A319.
Prague has been added and dropped several times over the last 10 years, most recently by Jet2 who cancelled the route in late 2015 after less than a year of operations. However, at its peak in 2007 when both easyJet and Jet2 operated the route, 60,526 used the service. Given the huge potential for this route and that they have just opened a new base in Prague, I’d be very surprised if Ryanair didn't start flights to the Czech capital. A thrice weekly service would offer 59,130 seats.
Rome was one of the destinations that many thought Ryanair would operate to when they opened their Belfast base last year. Aer Lingus carried 40,000-43,000 annually when they flew to FCO, and easyJet carried 44,000-47,000 passengers when they flew to CIA. A thrice weekly service offering 59,130 seats seems highly plausible, especially given Ryanair’s huge presence at CIA.
The resumption of Toronto flights actually seems quite plausible. Passenger numbers to Toronto and nearby Hamilton were constantly between 35,000-40,000 per year. A thrice weekly seasonal Air Canada Rouge service would put 42,840 seats on the market - twice weekly would see 28,560 seats up for sale. Given that 7,356 passengers travelled to Vancouver from Belfast during its peak, a viable option could be Vancouver-Toronto-Belfast. The demand is there for a Toronto route, so fingers crossed Belfast is included in Air Canada Rouge’s next expansion plans.
The commencement of Virgin Atlantic 747 flights to Orlando during the summer period was a step in the right direction, however 5,831 passengers in 2015 is a long way off peak numbers of 29,933. Given that VA are planning on retiring their B744s in the next few years, the airline could establish a full seasonal service to MCO. A summer seasonal X2 weekly A330 service would offer 31,920 seats in addition to Thomas Cook’s charter seats. However unlikely, the passenger numbers were there when scheduled services were offered, so the possibility should not be ruled out.
easyJet carried 20,081 passengers on their seasonal Nice flights in 2015. Back when Aer Lingus also competed on the route, 54,783 passengers used the service. The demand could be there for a twice weekly year long service, with two additional frequencies during the summer months, offering a total of 52,040 seats.
Paris would also be capable of handling an increased service. Passenger numbers have almost halved since 2009 peak of 144,345. Ryanair doesn’t fly to its Beauvais base from any UK airports, so I doubt they’d fly from Belfast. easyJet however would probably be able to sustain between 8-9 weekly flights without too much trouble, offering up to 146,417 seats.
Barcelona handled 122,121 in its peak, but only 37,924 seasonal passengers in 2015. Ryanair and Jet2’s new flights to Girona will help increase capacity to the area, but clearly a year round service is viable. Four weekly winter flights, with 11 weekly flights during the summer would offer 134,070 seats on an easyJet A319.
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