BELFAST CITY AIRPORT (BHD)
Join Date: Feb 2015
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I just wonder what people think that land there for the first time from abroad, given they have a choice and so many arrive at DUB
"Great, flight over, I survived, I am tired, where is the car hire desk? I am glad I didn't fly into Dublin as I am visiting Northern Ireland which saves me an unnecessary 100 mile journey. Oh and the dollar goes further here."
"what about the airport?". "Hell it was an airport, you know planes, noise and people!"
"Great, flight over, I survived, I am tired, where is the car hire desk? I am glad I didn't fly into Dublin as I am visiting Northern Ireland which saves me an unnecessary 100 mile journey. Oh and the dollar goes further here."
"what about the airport?". "Hell it was an airport, you know planes, noise and people!"
Join Date: May 2017
Location: Belfast
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Believe what you want to believe. I nor anyone else will help change your mind in fact before you make up your mind open it first. I know my facts I know the yields and I know the league tables of were the BHD operation fits in that data from BA.
Join Date: May 2011
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Age: 63
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Forgive me while I reminisce, many many years ago I recall flying from a fledgling Harbour, basically a tin hut in those days! All the staff were employed by Harbour airport and every one knew each other and in many cases were able to do several jobs.
Fast forward a lot of years and the buzz word was "contract out", the staff loyalty slowly disappeared and the operation has continued to grow. The staff all by now employed by a myriad of different companies and the personal touch has gone. From what I am led to believe the same Harbour management structure has been left largely intact, I don't believe there are any direct employees by Harbour anymore, just managers who in a lot of cases know 2 fifths of nothing about the running of an airport - but hey, they are managers and are experts so they know best, right?
How many of the managers at Harbour have worthwhile aviation experience at a variety of airports? Climbing the corporate ladder at a desk bound office job doesn't count. Doing a degree in some weird and wonderful theory doesn't count. Being promoted because you have connections doesn't count.
Getting business counts. Pushing to expand the current operation counts. Fighting back against untruths in the news counts. Fighting fire with fire rather than saying nothing counts.
I recall when Harbour seemed to be stymied at every turn by Aldergrove objecting to any sign of expansion, Harbours reaction in public at least, was - nothing.
To an outsider like me, Harbours intention seems to be just wait and see. Let Easy and Ryanair and Jet2 all fight at Aldergrove for the same routes. Maybe, just maybe at some stage one of the operators will say enough and come down to Harbour. I still find it astounding that Harbour some years ago had routes to every London airport, they have nearly all gone and don't look likely to be replaced. Where have those passengers gone? My guess is Aldergrove! I stand by previous posts - Harbour is stagnant and will continue to deteriorate unless action is taken, that is something I take no pleasure in saying as I have used this friendly little airport many times over the years but not recently, perhaps the new owners will shake things up a bit - its long overdue!
Fast forward a lot of years and the buzz word was "contract out", the staff loyalty slowly disappeared and the operation has continued to grow. The staff all by now employed by a myriad of different companies and the personal touch has gone. From what I am led to believe the same Harbour management structure has been left largely intact, I don't believe there are any direct employees by Harbour anymore, just managers who in a lot of cases know 2 fifths of nothing about the running of an airport - but hey, they are managers and are experts so they know best, right?
How many of the managers at Harbour have worthwhile aviation experience at a variety of airports? Climbing the corporate ladder at a desk bound office job doesn't count. Doing a degree in some weird and wonderful theory doesn't count. Being promoted because you have connections doesn't count.Getting business counts. Pushing to expand the current operation counts. Fighting back against untruths in the news counts. Fighting fire with fire rather than saying nothing counts.
I recall when Harbour seemed to be stymied at every turn by Aldergrove objecting to any sign of expansion, Harbours reaction in public at least, was - nothing.
To an outsider like me, Harbours intention seems to be just wait and see. Let Easy and Ryanair and Jet2 all fight at Aldergrove for the same routes. Maybe, just maybe at some stage one of the operators will say enough and come down to Harbour. I still find it astounding that Harbour some years ago had routes to every London airport, they have nearly all gone and don't look likely to be replaced. Where have those passengers gone? My guess is Aldergrove! I stand by previous posts - Harbour is stagnant and will continue to deteriorate unless action is taken, that is something I take no pleasure in saying as I have used this friendly little airport many times over the years but not recently, perhaps the new owners will shake things up a bit - its long overdue!
Join Date: May 2011
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Extract from the Belfast Telegraph business section
Katy Best, commercial and marketing director at George Best Belfast City Airport, said: "Belfast City Airport is enjoying an exciting period, as highlighted by the launch last month of our three-times weekly flight to Reykjavik with Icelandair, which is serving key cities such as Boston, Seattle and Toronto.
"Strategic air connectivity is vital to maintaining the success which Belfast City Airport has enjoyed in recent years and we are confident of continuing to grow our route network.
"While our domestic passenger figures for May 2017 were impacted by the reduction of capacity on Flybe's Liverpool route, we have seen an increase in passengers across a large number of other UK routes.
"Aer Lingus began its popular sunshine routes later than last year and we also lost a significant number of passengers through the cessation of our Brussels flight in March, both of which affected our international figures for the month.
"However, our KLM flight to Amsterdam continues to go from strength-to-strength, enjoying an impressive 22% increase in passenger figures in May."
I'm sure the new bosses can't wait to see how excited Ms Best gets when the figures continue to tank as the year progresses! Commercial and marketing director? Is that the same as spin doctor?
Unless of course, there is a new deal imminent to recover the passenger demise to date, now that would be worth getting excited about!
Katy Best, commercial and marketing director at George Best Belfast City Airport, said: "Belfast City Airport is enjoying an exciting period, as highlighted by the launch last month of our three-times weekly flight to Reykjavik with Icelandair, which is serving key cities such as Boston, Seattle and Toronto.
"Strategic air connectivity is vital to maintaining the success which Belfast City Airport has enjoyed in recent years and we are confident of continuing to grow our route network.
"While our domestic passenger figures for May 2017 were impacted by the reduction of capacity on Flybe's Liverpool route, we have seen an increase in passengers across a large number of other UK routes.
"Aer Lingus began its popular sunshine routes later than last year and we also lost a significant number of passengers through the cessation of our Brussels flight in March, both of which affected our international figures for the month.
"However, our KLM flight to Amsterdam continues to go from strength-to-strength, enjoying an impressive 22% increase in passenger figures in May."
I'm sure the new bosses can't wait to see how excited Ms Best gets when the figures continue to tank as the year progresses! Commercial and marketing director? Is that the same as spin doctor?
Unless of course, there is a new deal imminent to recover the passenger demise to date, now that would be worth getting excited about!
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Belfast
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BA cuts
http://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/news/disappointment-at-decision-by-ba-to-reduce-belfast-flights-to-heathrow-35899871.html
The Telgraph has caught up with PPRUNE
The Telgraph has caught up with PPRUNE
Join Date: Jun 2012
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Aer Lingus ending flights to Alicante and Palma earlier than planned according to BBC website
Does not hold well for next year!!
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-40520319
Does not hold well for next year!!
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-40520319
Last edited by GAZMO; 8th Jul 2017 at 08:24.
Join Date: May 2011
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Wow, the excitement just keeps building! The directors must be in party mood by now!
One point of interest though from the Telegraph article, there are still fares of £16.99 available on Fri 14th July with Ryanair to Gatwick. How sustainable is that in the long run between Ryanair and Easyjet? Would there be a temptation for Easy to move some routes down to Harbour as they did before with Luton? Is this what Harbour are banking on in the long run? So many questions but looks like no quick answers!
One point of interest though from the Telegraph article, there are still fares of £16.99 available on Fri 14th July with Ryanair to Gatwick. How sustainable is that in the long run between Ryanair and Easyjet? Would there be a temptation for Easy to move some routes down to Harbour as they did before with Luton? Is this what Harbour are banking on in the long run? So many questions but looks like no quick answers!
Last edited by panpanpanpan; 6th Jul 2017 at 18:07.
Join Date: Jan 2017
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Wow, the excitement just keeps building! The directors must be in party mood by now!
One point of interest though from the Telegraph article, there are still fares of £16.99 available on Fri 14th July with Ryanair to Gatwick. How sustainable is that in the long run between Ryanair and Easyjet? Would there be a temptation for Easy to move some routes down to Harbour as they did before with Luton? Is this what Harbour are banking on in the long run? So many questions but looks like no quick answers!
One point of interest though from the Telegraph article, there are still fares of £16.99 available on Fri 14th July with Ryanair to Gatwick. How sustainable is that in the long run between Ryanair and Easyjet? Would there be a temptation for Easy to move some routes down to Harbour as they did before with Luton? Is this what Harbour are banking on in the long run? So many questions but looks like no quick answers!
Join Date: Jul 2006
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I have often seen fares out of Belfast quite cheap just after the 12th. Rush out over. Nothing new in my opinion.
What interests me more is that it is not that long ago we were being told BHD was the airport of choice for many. People had to fly into BHD or they would not come at all. Seems to me that many routes that have transferred from BFS to BHD have then withered on the vine and died. Remember higher yields for airlines out of BHD?
What interests me more is that it is not that long ago we were being told BHD was the airport of choice for many. People had to fly into BHD or they would not come at all. Seems to me that many routes that have transferred from BFS to BHD have then withered on the vine and died. Remember higher yields for airlines out of BHD?
Join Date: Nov 2011
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True Blue, various airlines have arrived or increased routes and frequency from BFS this year, also predominantly FR's arriving with very low price fares is what's mostly driving growth at BFS. Nothing has changed geographically, BHD is still on the doorstep for thousands of Belfast residents in comparison to BFS, but price is one of the biggest things which drives people to make a booking. There is multiple airlines both scheduled and charter fighting over the same holiday makers 2 weeks in Spain, EI which grew last year significantly over 2015 this year have met with FR and capacity increases from other airlines too, hence they've suffered - this I'd imagine has little to do with which Belfast airport they are flying from.
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Mart,
I think that is the point True Blue is making exactly, it has little to do with which airport you fly from, many on here explained the overwhelming point of difference that BHD over BFS, however, the stats bear out that not to be so true ....
I think that is the point True Blue is making exactly, it has little to do with which airport you fly from, many on here explained the overwhelming point of difference that BHD over BFS, however, the stats bear out that not to be so true ....
Join Date: Nov 2014
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Kids fly free from Belfast to Heathrow with British Airways, up to 2 children can fly free with 1 adult!
That's a very very good deal, Heathrow can be a very expensive airport to get to.
That's a very very good deal, Heathrow can be a very expensive airport to get to.
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Seems like management at BHD will have to pedal quite a bit harder to make the current strategy a success.
The idea of high airline yield which has been trotted out for so long doesn't appear to be happening with BA giving away free seat promotions. It seems that the high yields achievable at London City don't read across to high yields applying at Belfast City.
A trail of airlines - Air Berlin, bmibaby, Vueling, Brussels Airlines, Ryanair, easyJet have all come and gone from BHD in recent years, KLM are stuck on one daily flight while they are growing big-style in Dublin and even Inverness, and now its clear that Aer Lingus and BA are under pressure there too.
Through it all flybe have been the mainstay.
It will be interesting to see how the newly installed owners at BHD look to take the airport forward.
The idea of high airline yield which has been trotted out for so long doesn't appear to be happening with BA giving away free seat promotions. It seems that the high yields achievable at London City don't read across to high yields applying at Belfast City.
A trail of airlines - Air Berlin, bmibaby, Vueling, Brussels Airlines, Ryanair, easyJet have all come and gone from BHD in recent years, KLM are stuck on one daily flight while they are growing big-style in Dublin and even Inverness, and now its clear that Aer Lingus and BA are under pressure there too.
Through it all flybe have been the mainstay.
It will be interesting to see how the newly installed owners at BHD look to take the airport forward.
Join Date: May 2011
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I agree entirely with the comment regarding the current strategy, thats assuming there is one! Its becoming ever more apparent that it just might not be working in the anticipated manner. The question is what to do about it? Keep going under the illusion that it is simply another part of this exciting time or face reality and come up with a Plan B, quickly!
I wonder what projected figures were presented to the new owners and what will the adjusted ones be.
Perhaps Harbour had become complacent and now Ryanair has arrived and really shaken the market Harbour management might just be regretting the decision not to pursue the runway extension from a few years ago. Its quite ironic that the battle they fought was seats for sale, probably totally unnecessary now!
A runway extension and more realistic opening hours would go a long way to attracting new business, providing of course Aldergrove don't let their pet concerned residents groups of the leash again. Whatever happened to Belfast City Airport Watch? I miss them spouting nonsense on the local news, it was quite entertaining.
I wonder what projected figures were presented to the new owners and what will the adjusted ones be.
Perhaps Harbour had become complacent and now Ryanair has arrived and really shaken the market Harbour management might just be regretting the decision not to pursue the runway extension from a few years ago. Its quite ironic that the battle they fought was seats for sale, probably totally unnecessary now!
A runway extension and more realistic opening hours would go a long way to attracting new business, providing of course Aldergrove don't let their pet concerned residents groups of the leash again. Whatever happened to Belfast City Airport Watch? I miss them spouting nonsense on the local news, it was quite entertaining.
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Blah blah blah and BFS would make a lovely set of farmers fields. Grow up. People posting drivel on here know fine rightly there is no way BFS could accommodate the trade of BHD throughout the summer. My wife and I shared a table in BFS the other night with 4 sets of people, none of whom we knew - because there was nowhere else for us or them to sit down. It's tired and tatty in places and desperately needs investment, and I'm a big supporter of it, I'm not knocking it but we need to get real. BHD had its glory years of growth and now BFS is, thanks to FR mostly and other airlines reaction to them.
Fact is BHD is brilliant at what it does, and I have to say on the balance it's a more pleasant experience using it than BFS, the security queues are like a quarter of the length for starters. BE continue to offer high frequency domestic routes and I'm sure they will find the niche with euro routes, maybe regional aircraft operators will be the future.
Fact is BHD is brilliant at what it does, and I have to say on the balance it's a more pleasant experience using it than BFS, the security queues are like a quarter of the length for starters. BE continue to offer high frequency domestic routes and I'm sure they will find the niche with euro routes, maybe regional aircraft operators will be the future.