BELFAST CITY AIRPORT (BHD)
Join Date: May 2004
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Maybe BHD management could look at talking to the new owners of BMI regional. If FlyBE are unwilling to fly further afield in Europe then perhaps as mentioned smaller aircraft like the use of ERJ135/145's of BMIR could be put to use on Brussels/Frankfurt? Only suggestion as reading other topics BMIR will apparently have a number of airframes released come the winter season with an apparent lack of anything else to do.
I too would love more direct flights to places like Berlin but I agree N.Ireland itself would not warrant the use of 738's/A320's regularly to keep a route viable. Belfast has great connections to the UK mainland and onwards to the world through LHR/LGW/MAN/AMS/CDG. The vast majority of routes departing Belfast will be the bucket and spade/domestic market but I do think a few well placed ERJ145's as mentioned on well timed routes to Europe would be acceptable and serve the market well.
As for BHD/BFS I'm sick of the argument and Derry I think has earned its place as an important air link bringing in business up that way and again offering a few choice summer sun routes but some "dreams" of what they want are in my opinion far fetched.
Finally Dublin will always be the BIG brother and handle the passenger numbers but Belfast is an important link and will always remain.
Regards
I too would love more direct flights to places like Berlin but I agree N.Ireland itself would not warrant the use of 738's/A320's regularly to keep a route viable. Belfast has great connections to the UK mainland and onwards to the world through LHR/LGW/MAN/AMS/CDG. The vast majority of routes departing Belfast will be the bucket and spade/domestic market but I do think a few well placed ERJ145's as mentioned on well timed routes to Europe would be acceptable and serve the market well.
As for BHD/BFS I'm sick of the argument and Derry I think has earned its place as an important air link bringing in business up that way and again offering a few choice summer sun routes but some "dreams" of what they want are in my opinion far fetched.
Finally Dublin will always be the BIG brother and handle the passenger numbers but Belfast is an important link and will always remain.
Regards
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Belfast
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If Aer Lingus start a regional base and not mainline could this mean that the European routes stay at BFS and let regional do BHD (except the LHR connection) could they do a double base operation ?
Join Date: Nov 2007
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I wounder to if it could be double base if it is could be like this for winter
1 A319 for Gatwick, Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow at BHD
1 A320 for Heathrow and 1 A319 for Alicante, Lanzarote, Málaga and Tenerife-South at BFS
Seasonal routes end Barcelona, Oct 27 2012 Faro, 27-Oct-2012 Gran Canaria 16-Sep-2012
Bmi Baby 737-300 148 seats
Aer Lingus A319 144 seats
on jethros says two more A319's to come next year
so could be back to 3 airplanes 1 A320 and 2 A319's in BFS in the summer and maybe 2 A319's at BHD
1 A319 for Gatwick, Edinburgh, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow at BHD
1 A320 for Heathrow and 1 A319 for Alicante, Lanzarote, Málaga and Tenerife-South at BFS
Seasonal routes end Barcelona, Oct 27 2012 Faro, 27-Oct-2012 Gran Canaria 16-Sep-2012
Bmi Baby 737-300 148 seats
Aer Lingus A319 144 seats
on jethros says two more A319's to come next year
so could be back to 3 airplanes 1 A320 and 2 A319's in BFS in the summer and maybe 2 A319's at BHD
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Well if it does turn out to be Aer Lingus Regional and not Aer Lingus opening a base in BHD, it'll be Aer Arann running the show. Obviously they'll co-ordinate with each other on what routes to start, but Aer Lingus would just carry on doing its own thing in BFS.
Join Date: May 2007
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Andrew R, that clip is hilarious!! If only!!
Although EIR is actually Aer Arann, I think that EI / EIR should decide on one base or the other. For the typical man on the street, all they will see is Aer Lingus. Confusion could result on whether they believe their flight will leave Aldergrove or the City.
The history of airlines operating out of both is not positive. BD tried and felt BHD served them better. EZY tried, albeit just with the LTN, and felt BFS ops suited them better. For economies of scale, I'd guess that one airport, most likely now BHD will see all EI and EIR flights.
Although EIR is actually Aer Arann, I think that EI / EIR should decide on one base or the other. For the typical man on the street, all they will see is Aer Lingus. Confusion could result on whether they believe their flight will leave Aldergrove or the City.
The history of airlines operating out of both is not positive. BD tried and felt BHD served them better. EZY tried, albeit just with the LTN, and felt BFS ops suited them better. For economies of scale, I'd guess that one airport, most likely now BHD will see all EI and EIR flights.
Join Date: Nov 2011
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LGW already has a crew base and the route could easily be operated from there. I would have thought to make routes like BHX, MAN etc work they would need a minimum of one early and one late rotation and that requires a lot of a/c for all the routes that have been mentioned or some very complicated W arrangement. It will all come out in the wash I'm sure but I can't see quite as many UK routes thinking about it.
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"I think it's crazy that some stuck up Dubliners think all us 'Northies' should drive 100 miles or spend 2 and a half hours on a crappy bus to Dublin airport. Absolutely nonsense."
My last 4 flights. 2 Holidays included . And 1.5h drive by car. Due to APD
My last 4 flights. 2 Holidays included . And 1.5h drive by car. Due to APD
Join Date: Jul 2006
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Ryanair tries to buy Aer Lingus again
Not sure MOL would support the planned move to BHD. 
The budget airline Ryanair has launched another attempt to buy its biggest Irish rival Aer Lingus.
Ryanair says it plans to make a cash offer for Aer Lingus, which would value it at 694m euros ($883m; Ł561m). Ryanair will make the offer through a subsidiary called Coinside.
Ryanair already owns 30% of Aer Lingus.
On Friday, Ryanair's existing holding was referred to the UK's Competition Commission for a probe that could lead to it being forced to sell the stake.
When Ryanair tried to buy Aer Lingus in 2006, its attempt was blocked by the European Commission.
It said the 1.30 euro offer was a premium of 38.3% above Tuesday's Aer Lingus closing price.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said: "This offer represents a significant opportunity to combine Aer Lingus with Ryanair, to form one strong Irish airline group capable of competing with Europe's other major airline groups.
"Since the European Commission recently approved BA's takeover of British Midland, and Etihad recently invested in Aer Lingus, and there are reports that it has a 'strong interest' to acquire the government's stake, and since the Irish government has decided to sell this stake, we believe now is the time to focus on the right long-term strategic partner for Aer Lingus."
The budget airline Ryanair has launched another attempt to buy its biggest Irish rival Aer Lingus.
Ryanair says it plans to make a cash offer for Aer Lingus, which would value it at 694m euros ($883m; Ł561m). Ryanair will make the offer through a subsidiary called Coinside.
Ryanair already owns 30% of Aer Lingus.
On Friday, Ryanair's existing holding was referred to the UK's Competition Commission for a probe that could lead to it being forced to sell the stake.
When Ryanair tried to buy Aer Lingus in 2006, its attempt was blocked by the European Commission.
It said the 1.30 euro offer was a premium of 38.3% above Tuesday's Aer Lingus closing price.
Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary said: "This offer represents a significant opportunity to combine Aer Lingus with Ryanair, to form one strong Irish airline group capable of competing with Europe's other major airline groups.
"Since the European Commission recently approved BA's takeover of British Midland, and Etihad recently invested in Aer Lingus, and there are reports that it has a 'strong interest' to acquire the government's stake, and since the Irish government has decided to sell this stake, we believe now is the time to focus on the right long-term strategic partner for Aer Lingus."
Join Date: Nov 2011
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I think you will find he's going to do that Mlinnie. But prior to that he will create as much hype and publicity as possible, sending his own airlines shares and the shares he has in aer lingus as high as possible before selling them because he knows full well having been blocked twice before and investigated by the UK authorities for abusing their position the likleyhood of buying them is somewhere between slim and none.
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Join Date: Oct 2011
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It is happening from W12. I said a month ago that the move was planned and that the routes from the city would be LHR LGW EDI with MAN BHX and GLA to follow shortly afterwards, S13 at the latest. The first 3 using jets and the later 3 using ATR 72s which will be pulled from other Irish bases. As the PSO route are no longer in place support these aircraft they are being moved to BHD. Flybe will be very cross but as usual do nothing, or will they?
Last edited by larry the man; 21st Jun 2012 at 16:44.
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Belfast City Airport (BHD)
I don't know the distance involved between the two airports but how will this affect folk there in terms of travel for reaching BHD for say a heathrow flight .
And isn't the runway a lot shorter at city ? . In which case that must mean smaller aircraft on the route.
What if anything can the executive do about this? . Also was it not on the news how a runway extension was refused planning after a huge campaign by folk roundabout ? . I can't imagine they will be happy with she'd loads more flights using large aircraft ( ATR aside ). The whole thing seems odd
And isn't the runway a lot shorter at city ? . In which case that must mean smaller aircraft on the route.
What if anything can the executive do about this? . Also was it not on the news how a runway extension was refused planning after a huge campaign by folk roundabout ? . I can't imagine they will be happy with she'd loads more flights using large aircraft ( ATR aside ). The whole thing seems odd
Join Date: Sep 2006
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I don't know the distance involved between the two airports but how will this affect folk there in terms of travel for reaching BHD for say a heathrow flight .
It will add or subtract twenty miles to/from their journey depending on where they started from.
And isn't the runway a lot shorter at city ? .
Yes it is.
In which case that must mean smaller aircraft on the route.
No, it mustn't.
What if anything can the executive do about this? .
What if anything would the executive want to do about this?
Also was it not on the news how a runway extension was refused planning after a huge campaign by folk roundabout ? . I can't imagine they will be happy with she'd loads more flights using large aircraft ( ATR aside )
It was never refused planning permission, the application was withdrawn. Some of those "roundabout" wouldn't be happy with boisterously flown kites in the park, as long as City keeps within it's caps and doesn't start operating fast jets as a sideline that's immaterial.
The whole thing seems odd
That it most certainly does.
Last edited by frg7700; 21st Jun 2012 at 17:51.
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EI mainline are due a further two A319's next year to replace two A320's with expiring leases. I daresay this will be part of the plan. I think RE have more a/c than they actually need currently and also when winter sets in I daresay they will have more capacity still, for instance DUB-BLK is being made seasonal.
In terms of the question are BHD trying to run BE out I would ask how any airport can run with literally one carrier? Surely that puts them in a precarious position. Pax figures at BHD would surely be much higher if there was more competitive fares available and I'm sure EI will engage in battle. Also whats the likelyhood of BE ever operating any european routes? They've had years to do so. Something has to give somewhere in order to grow the airport and if it involves a bit of pressure on BE then so be it.
In terms of the question are BHD trying to run BE out I would ask how any airport can run with literally one carrier? Surely that puts them in a precarious position. Pax figures at BHD would surely be much higher if there was more competitive fares available and I'm sure EI will engage in battle. Also whats the likelyhood of BE ever operating any european routes? They've had years to do so. Something has to give somewhere in order to grow the airport and if it involves a bit of pressure on BE then so be it.