BELFAST CITY AIRPORT (BHD)
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Belfast
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spotters fantasy
1. the use of the word spotter as a term of denigration.
2. That having an airport big enough to have the economies of scale to sustain routes and infrastructure is not a "Fantasy". It is something to which a lot of people aspire.
It's true that too much money was paid for the City. The proposed (Imagined) return on investment that supported that ridiculous valuation will not be recouped in my lifetime. Companies cut their losses, they don't pour good money after bad.
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Dublin
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I don't think the solution for NI is one airport. I think the solution for the Belfast itself is one airport serving the UK, and different European regions, and serving as the international portal of Northern Ireland.
I think there is potential to make money out of selling BHD by selling land when the economy picks up.
A strong single Belfast airport could then offer a wide range of destinations at a sustainable profit, with BE remaining there to operate smaller routes. Whilst attracting new transatlantic routes and middle eastern routes.
LDY would not affect a strong Belfast airport, but I believe it would continue to grow modestly to eventually turn a profit and perhaps offer a real low cost alternative for the likes of FR in NI. And if the North West economy ever became strong, be there for a route to LHR. Ask any rate payer in the North West, I'm sure they're happy to continue subsidising the airport until it becomes self sustainable. It is a net contributor to the region after all.
I think there is potential to make money out of selling BHD by selling land when the economy picks up.
A strong single Belfast airport could then offer a wide range of destinations at a sustainable profit, with BE remaining there to operate smaller routes. Whilst attracting new transatlantic routes and middle eastern routes.
LDY would not affect a strong Belfast airport, but I believe it would continue to grow modestly to eventually turn a profit and perhaps offer a real low cost alternative for the likes of FR in NI. And if the North West economy ever became strong, be there for a route to LHR. Ask any rate payer in the North West, I'm sure they're happy to continue subsidising the airport until it becomes self sustainable. It is a net contributor to the region after all.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Holywood
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Why do people think the land the airport is on could be used for building on? It may be reclaimed but in many parts dig a hole and you can watch the tide come in and out!
The general feeling is EI is coming.
The general feeling is EI is coming.
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Belfast, UK
Age: 43
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Heard that about Aer Lingus, also. Would tick a lot of the boxes. An airline operating both domestic and European routes, and fit in with the codeshare LHR issue. The only thing, would EI's timetable be able to be condensed to still offer the same amount of rotations per day especially with an aircraft currently able to do a mainland Europe and a Canary Island flight per day. Also heard recent rumours again mentioning KLM to AMS, which would provide an alternative hub to LHR for long-haul connections.
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Sunny spain
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Was flying out to heathrow today and seen that the airbridge has had the ulster bank logo taken off it so you can see outside now as you walk down. I assume this will be replaced with HSBC as most BA airbridges have this.
In relation to EI moving down it seems more and more likely as they still haven't released their winter schedule yet
In relation to EI moving down it seems more and more likely as they still haven't released their winter schedule yet
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: County Armagh
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The airbridge at BFS has no sponsor.
Remember this anyone?
Belfast City Airport - AIRPORT CHIEF LABELS AER LINGUS REMARKS ARROGANT AND ILL-INFORMED
Remember this anyone?
Belfast City Airport - AIRPORT CHIEF LABELS AER LINGUS REMARKS ARROGANT AND ILL-INFORMED
Last edited by ILS25; 21st May 2012 at 13:49.
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Antrim
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Not sure to what extent this involves BHD but had an advertising email from BA regarding new routes and it states Belfast flights may be operated by bmi or aer lingus aircraft.
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Northern Ireland
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Aer Lingus moving to BHD, I think as I said way back that LHR BHD is a possibility and BA exit the market:
I cant help but feel that this latest rumour of Aer Lingus coming to BHD has no substance
Pro's for a move to BHD:
What becomes of the whole LHR EDI and ABZ routes is relevent here, I feel that that this is relevant.
Does anybody know when the new carrier is to be chosen for LHR ABZ and EDI, or how is this being sorted, who sorts it, is it BAA?
EI-BUD
I cant help but feel that this latest rumour of Aer Lingus coming to BHD has no substance
Pro's for a move to BHD:
- Airport offer attractive deal to get the business
- EI could also bring LHR and consolidate LHR route for NI at BHD
- Some routes on baby showed good numbers and this may attract EI to the party as a differentiation from EZY proposition at BFS
- With 319s EI could comfortably serve its current network include Canary Islands
- Likely that a good yield on LHR could be achieved
- Short opening hours, no room to do a 2330 arrival from Tenerife or Lanzarote
- No opportunity to move to a 6am departure on any day
- Cap on aircraft/seats (probably wont be an issue)
- Now well established at BFS, have invested heavily in developing the base
- No future potential to facilitate a flight to USA or Canada should EI wish to operate same, especially with talk of A321 NEO coming onto the Atlantic
- Parking not as easy for long stay or as competitively priced.
What becomes of the whole LHR EDI and ABZ routes is relevent here, I feel that that this is relevant.
Does anybody know when the new carrier is to be chosen for LHR ABZ and EDI, or how is this being sorted, who sorts it, is it BAA?
EI-BUD
- The brand attracts a lot of customers from cross border areas and border counties, such as Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Fermanagh... who in the main view BFS as closer with better parking facilities
Join Date: Jul 2006
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At the minute, Ei has 3 routes on sale to Tfs etc, which for all 3 is approx a 10 hour duty, all scheduled to arrive back in Bfs around midnight. So if they move to Bhd, how does this work? Assume they move all 3 to a 6.30am departure, back to Bhd around 4.30ishpm. Only time left for a return to Lhr, assuming no delays. At the minute, Ei use the same aircraft all day to Lhr, I believe. So would this work?
I cannot see the benefit for Ei in moving to Bhd. Someone here mentioned better yield at Bhd. But if Lhr was all moved to Bfs, then this better yield will move to Bfs, as we will never have competition on the route to Lhr again, unless another runway is built. So Ei get the better yield, but with the freedom that comes with operating from Bfs.
TB
I cannot see the benefit for Ei in moving to Bhd. Someone here mentioned better yield at Bhd. But if Lhr was all moved to Bfs, then this better yield will move to Bfs, as we will never have competition on the route to Lhr again, unless another runway is built. So Ei get the better yield, but with the freedom that comes with operating from Bfs.
TB
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Antrim
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On the face of it it does sound an odd thing to have EI operating out of both Belfast airports, but perhaps no more so than operating out of numerous London airports (although obviously the geography is vastly more expansive). I can see BHD-LHR as being highly lucrative for them though especially in winning over business passengers which is such a big part of bmi's market, say a 6 or 7 times a day shuttle split over both.
The canaries do seem their forte though and are also very lucrative, and also they are very established and respected at BFS.
Time will tell.
The canaries do seem their forte though and are also very lucrative, and also they are very established and respected at BFS.
Time will tell.
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Belfast, UK
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There are all sorts of rumours going on, one I heard was that BFS management are talking to FR at the moment
BHD management stated that one of the airlines in question would operate both domestic and European routes. Now if Germanwings / Lufthansa / KLM arrive, they will not be operating domestically. So who would serve both the mainland AND Europe. My guess would be either FR or EI. What other airline would. MON I couldn't see domestically, so what other airlines would even be on the radar.