BELFAST CITY AIRPORT (BHD)
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Why is EI's LHR schedule being called terrible? Only the afternoon flight has any major difference, the other two are virtually the same. EI have a further 2 A319's due next year and I would imagine any EIR services would coincide with their new aircraft delivery schedules.
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Perhaps BHD had done a deal with EI on the basis that if BE pulled the plug on some routes eg CWL or EMA (if BE did move them to BFS),the EIR would enter BHD market to these routes, just a thought.
EI-BUD
EI-BUD
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If anyone is wondering, it appears that Gatwick will be operated by an LGW based aircraft as opposed to a Belfast one. Therefore LGW-ORK is being dropped this winter.
Last edited by skyways1452; 19th Jul 2012 at 14:08.
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Doesn't look like that to me, the aircraft leaves BHD at 6.45am and the last flight lands into BHD at 8.40pm and there is nothing scheduled after that. LGW-ORK was only ever 1x daily anyway.
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You're completely right, my mistake. I was under the impression that AGP and FAO were transferring in the autumn but now see that they will be starting next year.
Last edited by skyways1452; 19th Jul 2012 at 14:30.
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It's not all fully loaded onto the website but it looks like one aircraft will operate Malaga and Faro one after another. It doesn't look like very good utilization of aircraft all in all but as has been mentioned there may be more to come and the schedules could easily be tweaked.
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This might seem like good news for BHD, but with the rumoured zero landing fees for EI over a 3 year period, what is this move really going to do for an airport whose profits are not so good already.
I don't get it, and judging by other peoples reactions I am not alone.
I don't get it, and judging by other peoples reactions I am not alone.
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Judging by the current timetable for the winter, there will be three night-stopping aircraft whose first flight will be to LHR.
The first BA1427 departs at 06.30
Second BA1431 departs at 07.50 (too early for the first inbound to turnaround)
The first EI30 departs at 07.20
These are based for dates at the end of January 2013.
The first BA1427 departs at 06.30
Second BA1431 departs at 07.50 (too early for the first inbound to turnaround)
The first EI30 departs at 07.20
These are based for dates at the end of January 2013.
Join Date: Oct 2003
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Have BHD actually considered the potential impact to BE?
What if BE are subsidising some of their niche BHD routes with the revenue from the popular LGW service...what will happen then?
I think this is a foolish move by BHD towards a carrier that has supported them and provided good and constant business for nearly 20yrs. Talk about biting off the hand that feeds you!
What if BE are subsidising some of their niche BHD routes with the revenue from the popular LGW service...what will happen then?
I think this is a foolish move by BHD towards a carrier that has supported them and provided good and constant business for nearly 20yrs. Talk about biting off the hand that feeds you!
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As it stands EI are only going up against BE on one route, the one most able to accommodate a third carrier. If EI get it right they could nestle quite comfortably at BHD, the 2 summer sun routes are safety shots really, guaranteed high volume for summer and I'm sure a Geneva or similar could be slotted in somewhere over winter. Its not an exciting array of routes by any stretch but I'm sure they will deliver profit, they already have their own niche out of LHR and are also now well exposed at LGW, I can't see either struggling, especially not LHR where they are about 1/3rd cheaper than BA.
Join Date: Apr 2008
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I reckon there is more than meets the eye here, that or Aer Lingus are thick.
Why would they jump into the hornets nest and compete directly with the BA machine at LHR and BEE at LGW? BA have been accused of being London Airways, the same now nearly appies to EI from NI.
Im assuming BA are now going to kill off the EI codeshare which will increase pressure even further. Have BA been given the same sweetener to stay at BHD as EI have to move down? The cynic in me says this is step one of the withdrawal, they downsize the base and only fly 2 destinations in winter then we get an announcement in Jan that it just isn't working - there will be no summer timetable. Hopefully my cynical side is wrong.
How much more will BEE take before they can BHD? I'd love to see them walk purely on principle. They have been ever present in their many incarnation over the years, would BHD be what it is today without their business? I suspect not.
Why would they jump into the hornets nest and compete directly with the BA machine at LHR and BEE at LGW? BA have been accused of being London Airways, the same now nearly appies to EI from NI.
Im assuming BA are now going to kill off the EI codeshare which will increase pressure even further. Have BA been given the same sweetener to stay at BHD as EI have to move down? The cynic in me says this is step one of the withdrawal, they downsize the base and only fly 2 destinations in winter then we get an announcement in Jan that it just isn't working - there will be no summer timetable. Hopefully my cynical side is wrong.
How much more will BEE take before they can BHD? I'd love to see them walk purely on principle. They have been ever present in their many incarnation over the years, would BHD be what it is today without their business? I suspect not.
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Im assuming BA are now going to kill off the EI codeshare which will increase pressure even further. Have BA been given the same sweetener to stay at BHD as EI have to move down?
Could this strengthen the codeshare with BA to LHR? EI Operate a solid established route, maybe increase frequencies, BA reduce frequencies and utilise elsewhere while still getting connecting traffic from BFS? BA win, EI win!!
This is just ramblings with no substance to add to the discussion, but you never know!
GA
Join Date: Nov 2006
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Whether EI are successful or not it will definatly last more than 1 season. They have been through much harder times here especially the first 2 winter seasons where routes like BUD, MXP, MUC had awful loads and a huge drain on resources, yet they stuck it out and we are almost seeing the end of year 5. BHD wont be axed as quickly as you think. They see Belfast as an important market for them now and a lot of resource has been poured in to make it work, marketing etc.
Having been sure and convinced that BA would stand back and allow EI to have the LHR route to themselves all along, I am now quite surprised that BA are not only staying but increasing frequency. I had expected BA would utilise the slots elsewhere, to me it doesnt seem like the prize is massive for BA to compete with EI heavily on DUB and BHD to LHR, if they are successful they get all their interlining pax to use BA on LHR routes ex BHD and DUB, alienate EI, prob invest a stack of money competing for customers, lose ORK and SNN connecting pax via LHR, WHEN all the while they could move the slots to other LONG haul routes and let EI relationship work that keeps feeding BA Long and medium haul ex LHR. Doesnt make sense to me. Nonetheless, I wish BA and EI well on the routes, good luck to EI at BHD it is good to see another airline who supports transfer connections in the market at this time as we need them especially given the limited connectivity from Belfast.
That is an even bigger loss than the LHR route ex BFS to my mind, the ability to take a flight ex BFS (excl UA) and connect to the world.....all on one ticket.
Having been sure and convinced that BA would stand back and allow EI to have the LHR route to themselves all along, I am now quite surprised that BA are not only staying but increasing frequency. I had expected BA would utilise the slots elsewhere, to me it doesnt seem like the prize is massive for BA to compete with EI heavily on DUB and BHD to LHR, if they are successful they get all their interlining pax to use BA on LHR routes ex BHD and DUB, alienate EI, prob invest a stack of money competing for customers, lose ORK and SNN connecting pax via LHR, WHEN all the while they could move the slots to other LONG haul routes and let EI relationship work that keeps feeding BA Long and medium haul ex LHR. Doesnt make sense to me. Nonetheless, I wish BA and EI well on the routes, good luck to EI at BHD it is good to see another airline who supports transfer connections in the market at this time as we need them especially given the limited connectivity from Belfast.
That is an even bigger loss than the LHR route ex BFS to my mind, the ability to take a flight ex BFS (excl UA) and connect to the world.....all on one ticket.
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EI Operate a solid established route, maybe increase frequencies, BA reduce frequencies and utilise elsewhere while still getting connecting traffic from BFS? BA win, EI win!!
BA reduce LHR-DUB and LHR-BHD.
Aer Lingus don't really increase on either of LHR-DUB or LHR-BHD but code-share with BA. BA have lots of nice new LHR slots to fly to Asia with.
EI and BA will also code share at Gatwick on routes from Belfast, Dublin, Knock.
Either that's what's going to happen or EI are about to join the Star Alliance and enter fierce competition with BA, canceling all code-sharing.
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I agree Charlie Roy, but I cannot see the overall cost benefit for BA given the limited amount of slots they have and the opportunities that they have for long haul services in markets not as hotly contested!
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Perhaps EI's arrival will be the wake up call Flybe need and deserve. A look any day at BHD's arrivals/departures board and it is peppered with long delays and cancellations due to Q400 tech issues. Also why did Flybe unceremoniously ditch BRS recently with no apparent reason given. This route was one of their longest established ex BHD and had steady if not exceptional loads.
Mr Ambrose is bound to be fed up with Flybe's performance and he is quite entitled to bring in another competitor. Hopefully, regional will also appear and start BRS and other routes in competition with Flybe - the ATRs might not be ultra reliable but couldn't be any worse than those Q400s.
Mr Ambrose is bound to be fed up with Flybe's performance and he is quite entitled to bring in another competitor. Hopefully, regional will also appear and start BRS and other routes in competition with Flybe - the ATRs might not be ultra reliable but couldn't be any worse than those Q400s.
Last edited by ALLMCC; 20th Jul 2012 at 11:30.
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Also why did Flybe unceremoniously ditch BRS recently with no apparent reason given. This route was one of their longest established ex BHD and had steady if not exceptional loads.
BRS was not one of the longest established routes, it was picked up on Ryanair's exit. BE doesnt have a good track record with BRS airport, instead prefer CWL. When they took over BACON they closed most routes ex BRS.