BELFAST AIRPORT INTERNATIONAL
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Belfast
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Gazmo, I used the Girona service last weekend. Was busy enough for early season and only the 3rd flight. I'd estimate load factor of around 70%. Seemed a lot busier on the way home on Monday.
Heading out again in a couple of weeks, will be interesting to see if it is any busier then.
Heading out again in a couple of weeks, will be interesting to see if it is any busier then.
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: United Kingdom
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Join Date: Jan 2017
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Twice weekly easyJet: 312 seats each way (A319)
Thrice weekly Icelandair:222 seats each way (Q400)
easyJet will cater solely for the leisure market, but the Icelandair service will also be used for connecting passengers - we've seen the loss of United Airlines and Brussels Airlines so there is a need for another hub connection.
During the summer when easyJet flights are suspended, I wouldn't be surprised if Icelandair increased their frequency to 4-5 weekly flights. Eventually easyJet will probably suspend the route, but I think that it'll be a success for Icelander. The only disadvantage is that the route will be operated by the Q400, but even so it will cut journey times for North American bound passengers who previously had to fly east to go west.
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Greater Aldergrove
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I'd say five weekly flights to KEF is in line with current demand. It must be noted that Icelandair operate aircraft that have less than half the seat capacity of easyJet.
Twice weekly easyJet: 312 seats each way (A319)
Thrice weekly Icelandair:222 seats each way (Q400)
easyJet will cater solely for the leisure market, but the Icelandair service will also be used for connecting passengers - we've seen the loss of United Airlines and Brussels Airlines so there is a need for another hub connection.
Twice weekly easyJet: 312 seats each way (A319)
Thrice weekly Icelandair:222 seats each way (Q400)
easyJet will cater solely for the leisure market, but the Icelandair service will also be used for connecting passengers - we've seen the loss of United Airlines and Brussels Airlines so there is a need for another hub connection.
Join Date: Jan 2017
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As the easyjets usually take return fuel for divert to abz should the weather be not great (which it usually is lol) can the q400 match the return fuel capability?
Join Date: Jan 2017
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Icelandair have managed with their Q400 Aberdeen service, which is only about 50 miles shorter than their Belfast route. If they can manage ABZ then BHD on the Q400 will be fine. Plus, the Q400 has a lot more landing opportunities if they have to divert - the Icelandic flight crew would be familiar with a number of airports along the southern coast of Iceland that would be able to handle the Q400.
Join Date: Jan 2017
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Icelandair have managed with their Q400 Aberdeen service, which is only about 50 miles shorter than their Belfast route. If they can manage ABZ then BHD on the Q400 will be fine. Plus, the Q400 has a lot more landing opportunities if they have to divert - the Icelandic flight crew would be familiar with a number of airports along the southern coast of Iceland that would be able to handle the Q400.
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Belfast
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Interesting how? like a good book ? Interesting like a documentary ? Interesting like Steve Davis ? Interesting like a normal flight that an airline is capable of flying ?
Or are we getting into its not operating out of Aldergrove so lets start sheep worrying ?
Or are we getting into its not operating out of Aldergrove so lets start sheep worrying ?
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Antrim
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Interesting how? like a good book ? Interesting like a documentary ? Interesting like Steve Davis ? Interesting like a normal flight that an airline is capable of flying ?
Or are we getting into its not operating out of Aldergrove so lets start sheep worrying ?
Or are we getting into its not operating out of Aldergrove so lets start sheep worrying ?
Icelandair won't be operating anything from BHD as they are not the operator of the route, and as has been said the ABZ route is fine, it will operate as long as permitted by ATC. Let's be fair, I think someone might have considered the weather before the route was approved....
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Norn Iron
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The route will survive only if there is a market for a 'premium' year round service to KEF. It's not a viable connection to the US. It takes 2hrs 50 to get to KEF on a Q400 and a further 6 to New York compared to 1hr 45 on a bus to DUB followed by 6hr to New York. If it does work then fair play to them but I reckon the NI market is too price sensitive to sustain it.
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Icelandair won't be operating anything from BHD as they are not the operator of the route, and as has been said the ABZ route is fine, it will operate as long as permitted by ATC. Let's be fair, I think someone might have considered the weather before the route was approved....
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The route will survive only if there is a market for a 'premium' year round service to KEF. It's not a viable connection to the US. It takes 2hrs 50 to get to KEF on a Q400 and a further 6 to New York compared to 1hr 45 on a bus to DUB followed by 6hr to New York. If it does work then fair play to them but I reckon the NI market is too price sensitive to sustain it.
Here's the time it takes for someone living in Belfast to get to Midtown Manhattan. (time to airport + total flight time + time to Midtown)
BFS-SWF; Norwegian: 0hr30+7hr45+1hr30=9hr45
BHD-JFK; Icelandair: 10hr20+0hr45=11hr05
BHD-JFK; British Airways: 10hr40+0hr45=11hr25
BHD-EWR; Aer Lingus/United: 11hr20+0hr35=11hr55
DUB-JFK: Aer Lingus: 1hr45+7hr30+0hr45=10hr00
So yes, for someone living in Belfast it is quicker to get to New York via Dublin instead of via BHD, though Norwegian is the quickest option despite the drive to BFS and from SWF.
But what about a route that isn't served by Dublin, such as Seattle. Here are the times required to get from Belfast to downtown Seattle. (time to airport + total flight time + time to downtown)
Belfast-Seattle
BHD-SEA; Icelandair: 12hr35+0hr30=13hr05
BHD-SEA; British Airways: 14hr15+0hr30=14hr45
DUB-SEA; British Airways: 1hr45+13hr10+0hr30=16hr25
DUB-SEA; KLM; 1hr45+13hr10+0hr30=16hr25
DUB-SEA; United: 1hr45+14hr30+0hr30=16hr45
Clearly Icelandair is the quickest way to get from Belfast to Seattle, followed by flights via Heathrow from Belfast. Belfast residents would save at least 3hr20 by using Icelander's service over using the fastest connections via Dublin.
So maybe Dublin is the most convenient for people living in the south of the province when flying to destinations directly served by the airport, but for all other North American routes, Icelandair is becoming a real contender.
Given that on every BA and KLM flight I've been on in the last year from Belfast, the likes of Seattle, Minneapolis, Portland have all been mentioned for connecting gates, I think that the demand is there for a convenient west-bound connection.
Join Date: Nov 2006
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Keflavik to Aberdeen is 40 miles shorter than Keflavik to Belfast City. Incase amidst these debates anybody is interested. The distance is fine, I don't think the distance will be an issue for the Q400.
As regards Icelandair ( op by Air Iceland), they will aim hard at picking up passengers who will want to fly into the US and Canada. My prediction is that at least 75% of pax will be going that way, though I suspect as in the case of United it will predominantly be leisure passengers. I also suggest that Keflavik is a great connection point and using a Q400 well keep the costs down. Icelandair are good on promoting the transatlantic routes, and can be reasonably priced. All the best to them but plenty of challenges too, namely increased competition ex Dublin and Norwegian etc etc...
As regards Icelandair ( op by Air Iceland), they will aim hard at picking up passengers who will want to fly into the US and Canada. My prediction is that at least 75% of pax will be going that way, though I suspect as in the case of United it will predominantly be leisure passengers. I also suggest that Keflavik is a great connection point and using a Q400 well keep the costs down. Icelandair are good on promoting the transatlantic routes, and can be reasonably priced. All the best to them but plenty of challenges too, namely increased competition ex Dublin and Norwegian etc etc...
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Norn Iron
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According to Icelandair's website BHD-SEA doesn't connect outbound. Instead it requires 1x Flybe and 2x icelandair. It does connect inbound and costs £££. It's not even an option on many search engines. An MCO connection is feasible but even dearer than the VS from BFS.
Don't confuse me with giving a monkies about any of these airports. I travel a lot and the bottom line is £. Good luck to Icelandair. If they put a jet on it and it's cheap enough I might even try it myself someday.
I use Dublin, not because I love T2 or contributing to the Irish economy but because BFS failed to provide a useful alternative to the United service and BHD connections via LHR are much more expensive (and I don't like BA either)
Don't confuse me with giving a monkies about any of these airports. I travel a lot and the bottom line is £. Good luck to Icelandair. If they put a jet on it and it's cheap enough I might even try it myself someday.
I use Dublin, not because I love T2 or contributing to the Irish economy but because BFS failed to provide a useful alternative to the United service and BHD connections via LHR are much more expensive (and I don't like BA either)