BELFAST AIRPORT INTERNATIONAL
Excellent points EI-BUD, but I fear logic and statistics will not be enough to placate people like West Brit. The only way to sate his/her appetite is for BHD to close, and everything to transfer up to the shed.
The distance thing keeps rearing its head too. The plain fact of the matter is that people from the mainland DO choose BHD for its convenience to the city centre. Their perspective of BFS is that it's out in the Stix. Rightly or wrongly, that IS their perspective.
The distance thing keeps rearing its head too. The plain fact of the matter is that people from the mainland DO choose BHD for its convenience to the city centre. Their perspective of BFS is that it's out in the Stix. Rightly or wrongly, that IS their perspective.
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EI-BUD,
Agree totally, was responding to 'And trust me, the users are perfectly happy with landing at BHD' by cuthere, who was suggesting that a survey he carried out on all these flights there was a over whelming preference to fly from BHD.
He also talked about 'thin' routes like CWL. I can remember a 'thin' route the Belfast/Liverpool. In the mid nineties there was 1 Manx ATP per day during the week. Now that was a thin route especially with MAN located nearby. EZY with the correct model has turned that route around to one of the busiest there is out of NI. Now CWL could easily be supported by FR or EZY my guess would be 2 per day.
Agree totally, was responding to 'And trust me, the users are perfectly happy with landing at BHD' by cuthere, who was suggesting that a survey he carried out on all these flights there was a over whelming preference to fly from BHD.
He also talked about 'thin' routes like CWL. I can remember a 'thin' route the Belfast/Liverpool. In the mid nineties there was 1 Manx ATP per day during the week. Now that was a thin route especially with MAN located nearby. EZY with the correct model has turned that route around to one of the busiest there is out of NI. Now CWL could easily be supported by FR or EZY my guess would be 2 per day.
Hahaha! You're not helping yourself here Westbrit. CWL-DUB can't support a single daily FR bird, but somehow BFS could support double daily. You're covering yourself in glory here mate.
Oh, and p.s. Westbrit, I said, and you even quote me, that those pax were PERFECTLY HAPPY to land at BHD. I'm not sure where in that statement I said they have a preference? Most of them probably think NI has one airport. A bit like you.
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cuthere,
Well if someone asked me, while on a flight, if I was happy to land at the airport where I had booked a flight too then my answer would be yes!! So I feel that you are suggesting a preference.
By the way, I most definitely support one airport for NI, and find the current situation is costing opportunities, jobs etc as the 2 Belfast airports fight it out. The real winner is Dublin and many, not just me, see this as the reality. Until either there is one owner of both or authority step in, this will continue to be the case with no advantage to NI plc.
Well if someone asked me, while on a flight, if I was happy to land at the airport where I had booked a flight too then my answer would be yes!! So I feel that you are suggesting a preference.
By the way, I most definitely support one airport for NI, and find the current situation is costing opportunities, jobs etc as the 2 Belfast airports fight it out. The real winner is Dublin and many, not just me, see this as the reality. Until either there is one owner of both or authority step in, this will continue to be the case with no advantage to NI plc.
I've been on these forums for over 12 years. And every so often a new user appears who thinks they have the solution to the aviation situation in NI. Get it through your skull. BHD, like BFS, is a private enterprise. It cannot be forced to be closed. Nor can BFS. Nor should either.
Do we really have to go through this again? Or can you digest that fact? Also, digest this fact. BFS is nothing but an unwashed toilet compared to DUB. BHD is a shiny cloakroom in the same comparison. DUB will ALWAYS be the dominant airport on this island, and for you, or anyone else, to seriously think a single NI airport could compete effectively really is fantasy of the highest order.
Do we really have to go through this again? Or can you digest that fact? Also, digest this fact. BFS is nothing but an unwashed toilet compared to DUB. BHD is a shiny cloakroom in the same comparison. DUB will ALWAYS be the dominant airport on this island, and for you, or anyone else, to seriously think a single NI airport could compete effectively really is fantasy of the highest order.
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Actually Cuthere is just trying to use a forceful opinion with scathing assessment for effect.
I found his/her last post a bit confusing. He defends the 'private enterprise' right for BHD/BFS to exist regardless of economic viability. Then (s)he says that DUB is destined to always be dominant and neither Northern Airport should expect to compete. So what happened to private enterprise's right to attempt growth and competition?
Just because you may think that there is no scope for competition doesn't mean that is neccessarily the case. Also, private enterprise has no right to exist if it is not economically viable. The state in which the enterprise operates does have right to set the guidelines for the enterprise so that the needs of the state are best served. I would suggest that this is where we fall down because the folks on the hill are useless at best and biased toward a failing enterprise at worst.
Call it a toilet all you want but BFS still represents the best solution for maximising N.I. potential for aviation and I suggest it has become run down because hard decisions weren't made when they needed to be.
I found his/her last post a bit confusing. He defends the 'private enterprise' right for BHD/BFS to exist regardless of economic viability. Then (s)he says that DUB is destined to always be dominant and neither Northern Airport should expect to compete. So what happened to private enterprise's right to attempt growth and competition?
Just because you may think that there is no scope for competition doesn't mean that is neccessarily the case. Also, private enterprise has no right to exist if it is not economically viable. The state in which the enterprise operates does have right to set the guidelines for the enterprise so that the needs of the state are best served. I would suggest that this is where we fall down because the folks on the hill are useless at best and biased toward a failing enterprise at worst.
Call it a toilet all you want but BFS still represents the best solution for maximising N.I. potential for aviation and I suggest it has become run down because hard decisions weren't made when they needed to be.
Scathing or brutally honest? BFS is tired, run down, dark and I don't find it particularly welcoming. When Burgerking is the highlight of an airport, you know there's an issue.
There is no conflict in what I say at all. As private enterprises, if one fails then it will be eaten by capitalist reality. If one survives, it will thrive within its capacity to do so - and should be let to.
As an example, I'm sure Bangor would love to have the same urban economy as Belfast, and it will strive to do its best, but effectively it can try all it likes. It can't compete. Exactly the same with all, one or none of the NI airports vs Dublin. The only currently non-viable, non-profit making airport in NI is LDY. The other two are bimbling along in their respective niches. That's as good as it'll get for some time, and it's about time people woke up to that reality.
There is no conflict in what I say at all. As private enterprises, if one fails then it will be eaten by capitalist reality. If one survives, it will thrive within its capacity to do so - and should be let to.
As an example, I'm sure Bangor would love to have the same urban economy as Belfast, and it will strive to do its best, but effectively it can try all it likes. It can't compete. Exactly the same with all, one or none of the NI airports vs Dublin. The only currently non-viable, non-profit making airport in NI is LDY. The other two are bimbling along in their respective niches. That's as good as it'll get for some time, and it's about time people woke up to that reality.
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if I was happy to land at the airport where I had booked a flight too then my answer would be yes!!
But it does raise a point; if City wants to remain a top choice for business passengers it really needs to step-up to Cat II ILS to avoid the foggy-morning problem. Is there a technical reason this hasn't been done? Interference from nearby steel structures perhaps?
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Scathing or brutally honest? BFS is tired, run down, dark and I don't find it particularly welcoming. When Burgerking is the highlight of an airport, you know there's an issue.
There is no conflict in what I say at all. As private enterprises, if one fails then it will be eaten by capitalist reality. If one survives, it will thrive within its capacity to do so - and should be let to.
As an example, I'm sure Bangor would love to have the same urban economy as Belfast, and it will strive to do its best, but effectively it can try all it likes. It can't compete. Exactly the same with all, one or none of the NI airports vs Dublin. The only currently non-viable, non-profit making airport in NI is LDY. The other two are bimbling along in their respective niches. That's as good as it'll get for some time, and it's about time people woke up to that reality.
There is no conflict in what I say at all. As private enterprises, if one fails then it will be eaten by capitalist reality. If one survives, it will thrive within its capacity to do so - and should be let to.
As an example, I'm sure Bangor would love to have the same urban economy as Belfast, and it will strive to do its best, but effectively it can try all it likes. It can't compete. Exactly the same with all, one or none of the NI airports vs Dublin. The only currently non-viable, non-profit making airport in NI is LDY. The other two are bimbling along in their respective niches. That's as good as it'll get for some time, and it's about time people woke up to that reality.
You say if an enterprise fails it should be allowed to but I repeat that it not neccessarily the case in NI aviation and the idea that both airports are ticking along nicely doesn't quite ring true to me given the high level of debt that is involved.
Your example of Urban economy is a good one but you are looking at it from a whole. Within each economy are competing markets e.g. a fish shop in Bangor doesn't have to close because there is a bigger fish shop in Belfast, it just has to do its best to retain its local customers and do the odd deal to get a Belfast customer or two. But the town council should realise that there isn't room for two Bangor fish shops, one of which is only really fit for a niche customer base. And its councillors definitely shouldn't favour the niche shop just because it is beside the council chamber.....
If anyone needs woken up, it is the folk on the hill....
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If FR had stayed at CWL then yes the loads would be there
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Has there been any new retail/ restaurant announcements to go with all the expansion?
A little old but I see a new petrol station and forecourt will be built this year
I also wonder if the airport could support another hotel?
Over the years the airport bought out the independent car park firms and most of the land has been left derelict, plenty of space for one there
A little old but I see a new petrol station and forecourt will be built this year
I also wonder if the airport could support another hotel?
Over the years the airport bought out the independent car park firms and most of the land has been left derelict, plenty of space for one there
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Flew through BFS today. Lots of suits and the boss showing these people around. Interesting I thought, as a family member has suggested an air bridge is also being installed in the vicinity of the new lounge. They work for the company involved in the revamp. Just saying.