BELFAST CITY AIRPORT (BHD)
Join Date: Nov 2011
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I'd say the only way EI would move to the city would be to do the lhr route. The runway in BHD is too short for the aer lingus med and canary routes and would not make sense. They may have one a/c in bhd having a code share with BA and the other aircraft operating holiday destinations out of bfs
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Well the question is where will the third base aircraft from BFS go during winter when its reduced to 2? Could be going to BHD with very little base costs.. or it could operate from LHR as EI-BUD suggested
I cant see BFS letting EI move the whole operation to BHD without offering a better deal (however i guess it depends how desperate BHD's offer could be) as its one of the airports goal to get EI to do long-haul in the future (as far fetched as that sounds).. after all if all goes to plan this will be the best year for the airport passenger number wise since the downturn.
No doubt it'll be an interesting few weeks
I cant see BFS letting EI move the whole operation to BHD without offering a better deal (however i guess it depends how desperate BHD's offer could be) as its one of the airports goal to get EI to do long-haul in the future (as far fetched as that sounds).. after all if all goes to plan this will be the best year for the airport passenger number wise since the downturn.
No doubt it'll be an interesting few weeks
Join Date: Jul 2011
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Its not possible to move all BFS ops to BHO as LPA,TFS, ACE could not operate and they are strong routes for EI at BFS as they are competing with nobody. I think EI-BUD post about an aircraft from LHR operating would be most lightly. EI already have 2 aircraft overnight in LHR as it is.
If the routes were profitable these cost would be covered and they would of stayed until September. Would think forward bookings were a high part of the choise to close BHO in June.
I think the main reasons for BHD to go first was the costs of over nighting crew and the fact many pilots/cabin crew will be off to newer pastures. So having the crew to actually fly the full schedule would become unfeasible.
Join Date: Jul 2010
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Its not possible to move all BFS ops to BHO as LPA,TFS, ACE could not operate and they are strong routes for EI at BFS as they are competing with nobody. I think EI-BUD post about an aircraft from LHR operating would be most lightly. EI already have 2 aircraft overnight in LHR as it is.
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Well not easyjet unsurprisingly: Belfast Telegraph
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If Brian Ambrose has given a committment (??) to give an update, it would feel like he must be very confident, as can hardly see him giving a negative update as it were.
To my mind, Flybe is his only hope, and if they do commit to European fligths, they would be for 2013, I would imagine. Definately no Ryanair unless they bring back STN, LPL or potentially add LTN. The costs required and given the strong bargaining position they would be in with BHD, the price would be far too high so definately think we can rule Ryanair to Europe out.
However, I stand firm to my instinct that EI will appear and will be the successor to bmi on LHR working closely with BA. BA coded many international routes with BA flight numbers and that was announced today, nothing on the domestics yet, in my view still work to be done and that will include EDI, ABZ, BHD and interestingly no changes to DUB flight codes. I would expect BA to withdraw completely and EI enter stage at BHD with a 319. EDI and ABZ come on board too.
EI-BUD
To my mind, Flybe is his only hope, and if they do commit to European fligths, they would be for 2013, I would imagine. Definately no Ryanair unless they bring back STN, LPL or potentially add LTN. The costs required and given the strong bargaining position they would be in with BHD, the price would be far too high so definately think we can rule Ryanair to Europe out.
However, I stand firm to my instinct that EI will appear and will be the successor to bmi on LHR working closely with BA. BA coded many international routes with BA flight numbers and that was announced today, nothing on the domestics yet, in my view still work to be done and that will include EDI, ABZ, BHD and interestingly no changes to DUB flight codes. I would expect BA to withdraw completely and EI enter stage at BHD with a 319. EDI and ABZ come on board too.
EI-BUD
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Just off a BMI baby flight and travelling over to Sydenham train halt chatted with driver. He seems to think announcement today and rumour of some Scottish firm!? Only passing on what he said so don't shoot me! 
Regards
Regards
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Belboy, I don't recall that anyone said there would be a press conference today. Brian A said he would confirm today if one of the four airlines they were speaking to, would be ready to take over the baby routes from June.
Thread Starter
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Surely the airport would have been trying to lure new business before now. Does the " week of intensive negotiations " not smell a little like desperation?
I'm sure someone here is a professor of business management. Would they care to share how they would play this hand?
I'm sure someone here is a professor of business management. Would they care to share how they would play this hand?
Join Date: Oct 2008
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I thought we were to find out today if they had got a replacement, not to be told to wait until June for an annoucement, by that stage everyone will have re-booked with other airlines, by June the bulk of the summer seats will be sold with EI and moving operations this year is unlikely, im going to take a guess that EI is going to use this invitation as a good excuse to get a better deal off BFS.