BELFAST AIRPORT INTERNATIONAL

[GAZMO]

Agree
If FR looked at routes such as EMA, reus, girona, Madrid, etc with maybe a small overlap on Stansted and Preswick then this should be good for FR and EZY as well as NI as well

[Mlinnie]

Ryanair

Aren't Jet2 rumored to be starting EMA ? Also regarding Ryanair if they come to BFS wouldn't it affect the LDY operation ? And wouldn't they just start the same old routes in competition with Easyjet so they can get rid of Easyjet and have the market to themselves ? They seem to do that a lot I mean look recently at cork they're starting the same polish routes as Wizzair

[CARNMANORLAD]

I don't see RYR arriving at BFS anytime soon for a few reasons. They will want next to nothing landing fees which BFS won't give unless they're willing to offer EZY the same. Again don't see that happening as it will have an effect on profits which Abertis are very much in to. RYR will of course give EZY major competition on routes which at the minute BFS can't risk. Also IF RYR did arrive at BFS it would have a detrimental effect on the LDY operation. I have used the European routes from LDY on many of occassion and the amount of folk from the Belfast and surrounding area was unbelievable, upon making friendly conversation with some i found it was down to price. I would also assume that RYR will give LDY a considerable boost of new routes and increase frequency on others for the City of Culture year.

[left rudder]

Ryanair "Belfast"

Good point Carnmorelad

The RYR "Belfast" Eglinton operation is a success. Why would they move to "Belfast" International?

[BHD2BFS]

Simply because the market is limited especially with European destinations

[True Blue]

I am very confused. Post 1068 refers to the number of pax using Fr out of Ldy from Belfast. Are these some of the same pax who cannot/will not travel out to the wilds to what is known as Bfs as it is far too far to have to travel? Or is Ldy/Dub closer to Belfast than Bfs?

TB

[Jamie2k9]

This is not the first time that FR/BFS have held so called "talks", since the last time which wasn't to long ago, the only thing has changed is that EI have left BFS and where LDY is concerned they have scaled back some of there sun routes to peak months.

I would be very surprised if they could agree terms at all and for them to fly anything other sun routes and Eastern European routes.

[panpanpanpan]

So let me sum this up - when FR were at Harbour = bad for everybody, doomed to failure, take pax away from BFS, etc ad nauseum.

FR possibly go to BFS = brilliant, cant wait, Harbour is stuffed, cant wait to see the losses posted etc etc

I would imagine both airports are probably in contact with Ryanair and others, they would be foolish not to. When Ryanair were at Harbour I dont think they annoyed FlyBe that much. By the same token why does Easy have to have the monopoly at BFS? If your product is right and your pricing is competitive then people will book flights, if its not then they will take their hard earned money elsewhere. The joys of an open market.

I have said before, competition is good, I`m sure if FR do go to BFS they will grow the market considerably, whether that is poaching customers from other airlines or creating a brand new customer base remains to be seen.

[EI-BUD]

When Ryanair were at Harbour I dont think they annoyed FlyBe that much

I would agree with this comment, the figures would also bear that out. Flybe continued to grow LGW number month on month when FR landed on STN BHD route. FR were carrying up to 30K pax per month yet BE still saw some growth on their LGW route. Similarly PIK didnt impact GLA to any significant extent in terms of number, and FR's PIK route wasnt performing especially well.

EZY are resilient and well established, that coupled with customers who are creatures of habit may see FR struggle to make the big impact that people would expect them to have. FR seem to have moved away from challenging EZY to any great extent and the two carriers co exist quite comfortably at many airports and on many routes.

On domestic front I cant see FR looking at much more than EMA, that's if they come at all. If they did return to BHD add STN and LPL to that list.

On routes to the continent if FR can bring some new markets and new routes then it would be overall a good move, but simply moving onto AGP and FAO will simply serve to make life hard for all involved. Nonetheless, the question is will BFS want to put a spanner in the works of any efforts of BHD to establish Euro routes..
EI-BUD

[BFS BHD]

easyJet's releases S13

Looks like no extra flights or no new routes have been uploaded (Could be wrong about the extra flights!).

[GAZMO]

Agree, looks like LGW will stay at up to 5 X Daily

Has EDI lost the extra Tue and Wed flights. Maybe the extra EZY planes at EDI will cover these

No new aircraft or destinations

[BFS101]

Are there any obvious reductions in frequencies to destinations for summer 13? NCE, IBZ etc.

[AIRPORT66]

airport66

Looks like they are not picking up any of the slack left by EI maybe someone else is being lined up for that LS,RYR.

[GAZMO]

nice still three times weekly and Ibiza once per week

Agree surprised EZY not putting another aircraft in for the summer 13

LS or FR!!!! I can see LS coming, maybe EMA twice daily, extra flights to canaries and maybe increasing FAO since Thomson withdrawing the FAO flights next year.
FR, I would be surprised but with MOL nothing is a surprise

[Mlinnie]

Jet2

Yes I can see Jet2 starting East Midlands, maybe even increase Alicante (What with EI gone). Also is there a chance that Jet2 or Easyjet would start Venice or Milan ?

[GAZMO]

EZY did operate Venice twice weekly but pulled the route. Think LS also tried Milan. There would probably be a better return on MAD or LIS...possibly BER

Could see LS going back to BCN on opposite days to EZY, Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday

[EI-BUD]

Jet2 were the one who originally did BCN and VCE, they were also the sole operator on PRG, then when they decided to follow EZY onto some of the sun routes, EZY responded by joining them on those 3 routes, and 2 were axed. I would think LS would go back on BCN as they opted out and at that time, the market was stronger in terms of demand.

Would FR be interested in doing BFS from Canary Island bases and EMA and strike a good deal with BFS and no conflict with EZY? Would be no need for based aircraft at BFS as a result.??

[panpanpanpan]

Any truth in the rumour Aldergrove are looking for a Tumbleweed Operative from the start of the winter schedule?

[BFS BHD]

easyJet BFS to Reykjavik?

Would EZY not want to try Reykjavik from belfast from next year, I could see it as a good route for EZY and BFS. I see they are starting at Edinburgh and Manchester.

Any views on this is welcome!

BFS BHD

[GAZMO]

A twice weekly flight to Iceland would be feasible
Icelandexpress initially offered this service on a mon and fri but dropped the route before it was launched

I believe there are enough destinations with good yields and
LF for EZY if thet would base another aircraft at BFS

London....SEN has proved very popular, 14.5 K passengers last month, yes Iceland and what about MAD, LIS, BER plus menorca if they want an extra bucket and spade route.
By summer 13 BHX would probably need to go three times daily and twice on Sunday

Views welcome