BELFAST CITY AIRPORT (BHD)

[dublinaviator]

A lot of people looking at this as some last ditch, desperate attempt by Aer Lingus to save face in the North and generate some profit from their BFS operation.

We know for a fact the BFS operation is profitable, to say otherwise is to accuse Aer Lingus management of lying and knowingly misleading their shareholders.

What I see this as is Aer Lingus refocussing away from low-yielding bucket and spade routes and focussing more on business routes. In their statement, they've clearly implied that they may well launch more routes from BHD:

“Jobs are secured in this move and indeed our plans for new routes in the future, may see employment and investment increase."

I would also echo what others have said regarding BA reducing frequency on the route, which again is backed up by Aer Lingus' own statement:

"Aer Lingus works closely with a number of partner airlines and expects transfer traffic to grow through both Heathrow and Gatwick."

Why would Aer Lingus predict an increase in transfer traffic if they were about to terminate their code share agreement with BA?

The fact that Aer Arann recently ordered 8 ATR 72-600s which are due for delivery in early 2013 would also suggest that they have plans for Aer Lingus Regional to begin flying from BHD sometime in 2013, which would compliment Aer Lingus' mainline operation and could also open the way for the BHD-ORK route to resume.

[LBIA]

onyxcrowle I think you'll find that the Doncaster-Belfast City route was dropped due to declining passenger figure’s and flybe losing the funding from Yorkshire Forward whom had been subsidizing the service.

When it finally got axed it was operated about 4x weekly which was no good to anyone compared to when it first started it was running up to 2x daily!

[Skipness One Echo]

I would imagine that given the most powerful man in IAG and the former head of BA is in play here. Mr Walsh has made no secret that now they're back in both Belfast and Dublin he is expecting his people to make a success of it and not hand it on a plate to his former colleagues in green. Hence the inital assumption BA would be using these slots for long haul may indeed be wrong. What this may mean is that the EI routes feeding BA drop in importance with he exception of ORK and SNN. BA will be encouraging and expecting their own feed to be flying on BA metal.

Hence the strategic relation with BA is not as crucial as it once was at LHR an at LGW they're only feeding BA before noon for the most part so not sure where the growth is coming from.

[Mlinnie]

Sorry but I find this is a bad move for EI. Look at the profitable year round routes that are going Tenerife, Heathrow and Lanzarote. And come on 10 flights a day now from BHD to LHR ? Hang on now isn't that a bit greedy ? Far too much flights. Sorry I don't think I see EI in BHD lasting too long... Just like Bmi baby and Ryanair. And EI aren't taking up all the lost Baby routes are they ? What about Stansted ? Palma, Ibiza, Minorca, Alicante, Geneva and Amsterdam ?
And I thought we were told that 'more than one airline' would replace BMI baby ?

[EI-BHD]

I have to laugh at some of the comments on here. Clear to see a distinctlack of knowledge amongst many of the frequent posters.

Get a grip, wake up & smell the coffee, EI are here for the long term & will be profitable.

What grounds have Flybe got to be peeved off ? They have sat back and let this happen, they had mass opportunities to expand & safeguard their product...... sat back being the key expression.

EI-BHD

[dublinaviator]

Originally Posted by WingoWango

The last I seen no agreement had even been signed for any aircraft. So I would not expect to see new -600's in BHD anytime soon.

It was only in the news last week, so there's plenty of time for it to be signed off on. The fact is though that ATR have reached agreement with Aer Arann to order 8 ATR 72-600s, with delivery starting in 2013.

Originally Posted by WingoWango

I would take a wander over to the regional thread to take a look at whats being said re the current ATR's that RE have flying for them. They sound like junk! Whilst the Q400 suffers with reliability its a better aircraft by far compared to RE's current fleet.

The ATRs being referred to in the other thread are the ATR 42-300s, which are 20+ years old, so not surprised at some of the comments. You'll find though that 2/3 of their fleet are ATR 72s, 4 of which are the newer -500s which are actually really nice to fly on.

[dublinaviator]

Originally Posted by Minnie

And come on 10 flights a day now from BHD to LHR ? Hang on now isn't that a bit greedy ? Far too much flights.

So you honestly think a small city like Belfast should have 2 airports, each with equal access to global hubs like Heathrow? Come off the stage...

Originally Posted by Minnie

Sorry I don't think I see EI in BHD lasting too long... Just like Bmi baby and Ryanair.

BMI Baby didn't last in BHD because their parent company was going down the tube and had to be bought out by BA, who couldn't find a buyer for the operation and so decided to shut it down.

And Ryanair pulled out of BHD because Stormont politicians decided to give in to local residents who claimed if the runway was extended Ryanair would start flying 747s into BHD. They use a derated setting on their engines, which meant even on flights to the UK they had to limit capacity, ruling out flights to the continent. So Ryanair made the right decision in pulling out of BHD.

Originally Posted by Minnie

And EI aren't taking up all the lost Baby routes are they ? What about Stansted ? Palma, Ibiza, Minorca, Alicante, Geneva and Amsterdam ?
And I thought we were told that 'more than one airline' would replace BMI baby ?

They've said they may start more routes, so relax. But I wouldn't count on the likes or Menorca and Ibiza being added, more likely it'll be business routes such as Amsterdam, Paris, maybe even Frankfurt etc. Who knows though, it could be more sun routes, but Aer Lingus made a point of saying this move to BHD was to focus on business routes.

[Midnight runner]

^ Hooray for a voice of reason

[eastern wiseguy]

And Ryanair pulled out of BHD because Stormont politicians decided to give in to local residents who claimed if the runway was extended Ryanair would start flying 747s into BHD.

That is one of the most puerile and ridiculous statements I have seen here.

They left because they couldn't get BHD to pony up a deal that suited them end of.

[edi_local]

I was under the impression that FR left BHD because no one made any decision about anything and that they got fed up of the "will they/won't they" fence sitting with regards to airport expansion.

Either way FR weren't happy doing business there so they were fully entitled to leave and it was at BHD's loss.

[Tower Ranger]

Probably just as entitled as EI were to leave Bfs.

It seems like a pretty smart move by BHD to get all the Heathrow services on site. In one move they have pretty much taken BFS out of the picture for international interline passengers inbound to NI.
Quite a few people on here who are now berating EI were the very ones lauding them for their excellent service and great management a couple of years back. For sure Aldergrove management will put on a brave face, maybe their hands are too tied up with their Ezy deal but JD's statement could be briefly summarised;
Horse Gone. Stable Door now bolted. Farmers wife not happy. Grrrrrrr!

[clareview]

Ei and BHD

Reading a bit between the lines in the press today, EI will do LHR 3 times from BHD plus 3 to LGW. I assume this requires 2 aircraft. Then add daily to Malage and Faro for summer 2013. No mention of any wintersun destinations or european city breaks.

To those monaing about no LHR link from BFS, remember that that link did not exist between BA pulling out around 2001 and EI coming in in late 2007.

Those who have been saying that Flybe was a relatively new comer beterrn Bristol and BHD are wrong - flybe, then Jersey European, flew this route in the days of the F27s

[tigger2k8]

To those monaing about no LHR link from BFS, remember that that link did not exist between BA pulling out around 2001 and EI coming in in late 2007.

True, but when you travel for business and don't live in Belfast, or close then BHD is not convenient. Some of my fellow employees travel from Antrim, Ballymena, Coleraine and Cookstown, an extra 15 miles each way adds up in fuel costs. Even the approximate extra 15 miles in total for myself in Larne will add up if I have a month of a few visits to LHR. Not to mention the higher car parking fee's. The company I am working for is now evaluating what is the cheaper option for the company.

[EI-BUD]

Those who have been saying that Flybe was a relatively new comer beterrn
Bristol and BHD are wrong - flybe, then Jersey European, flew this route in the
days of the F27s

Clareview, I said that BRS was not one of BE's longest established routes. The fact is that the route was vacant when FR came to the market, BE picked it up when they axed it. The relationship with BRS is not good of late and they pulled the route, they were not happy with its performance.

So apart from the very short spell they stayed on BRS lately, in the travelling publics mind, BE is not well established between BRS and BFS.

It is quite fascinating that BRS can't work for them even on a lower frequency.

[Shamrock350]

Reading a bit between the lines in the press today, EI will do LHR 3 times from BHD plus 3 to LGW. I assume this requires 2 aircraft. Then add daily to Malage and Faro for summer 2013. No mention of any wintersun destinations or european city breaks.

The winter schedule is currently settled on two A319s operating LHR and LGW, with an A320 arriving for the AGP and FAO routes. Aer Lingus is receiving another two A319s early next year so one of them could find a home at BHD if new routes are to be added.

[EI-BUD]

Quite a few people on here who are now berating EI were the very ones lauding
them for their excellent service and great management a couple of years back.
For sure Aldergrove management will put on a brave face, maybe their hands are
too tied up with their Ezy deal but JD's statement could be briefly summarised;

Horse Gone. Stable Door now bolted. Farmers wife not happy. Grrrrrrr!

Just reflecting on this message. BFS are in a strong position here. They have a huge operation with a relationship that seems to be in a good place with easyJet. They have almost replaced the Aer Lingus business in terms of volume, yes LHR is gone. And that is not the end of the world.

So long as there are 2 airports in Belfast (and I'm am not asking for a debate on the merits of this) the airlines will always hold the leverage and the airports invariably will need to keep giving discounted rates for landing charges.

BFS has strong growth YTD. easyJet has lauched new routes including Manchester, Southend in recent time that are both having positive effect on numbers, Birmingham is coming, some frequencies will be boosted. easyJet to London will pick up a proportion of the LHR passengers as has already been said, not all passengers will find going into BHD convenient. so that will be a toss up between fly from BFS and driving a bit futher for eg when arriving in LGW or LTN.

Jet are filling the Canaries routes. I am sad to see Aer Lingus go but BFS will keep growing.

Easyjet has put a firm marker down again Flybe in markets including IOM and they are well fit to win the business from BE. MAN is growing month on month, and they have seen BE off LPL and BRS to Belfast markets.

So Mr Doran needs to give an injection of enthusiasm to BFS and his publicity should focus on how far the airport has come and how well they are doing. I feel confident the airport will grow. easyJet will hold the LGW numbers quite well, and EI and BE will end up splitting the LGW BHD market, easyJet will probably about 5k pax per month, somethink like what happened on STN when FR started BHD STN.

EI-BUD

[G-FLYB]

Dublinaviator

They use a derated setting on their engines, which meant even on flights to the UK they had to limit capacity,

Surely you mean GB?

[dublinaviator]

I knew I'd rile someone up

[Jake Lewis]

Absolutely unbelievable news!

Aer Lingus currently offer 8 routes from Aldergrove, moving to the City Airport - They will operate 4 routes, half of what they originally operated at BFS. Obviously they aren't looking to make much more profit.

They will operate three daily flights to their new route London Gatwick in addition to three daily flights to London Heathrow. - Prices start from £19.99

Summer Sun favourites Faro and Malaga are also on sale now. Flights are available from £39.99 one way including taxes and charges. Flights commence 31st March 2013.

departs Belfast City arrives Heathrow departs Heathrow arrives Belfast City
07.20 08.50 09.30 10.55
12.10 13.35 15.35 16.50
17.30 18.50 19.45 21.10

departs Belfast City arrives Gatwick departs Gatwick arrives Belfast City
06.45 08.10 08.50 10.15
11.15 12.40 13.15 14.40
17.15 18.40 19.15 20.40

Belfast International Airport said it was aware that discussions between Aer Lingus and Belfast City Airport had been going on for quite some time.

The decision by the airline runs contrary to its stated position in the recent past. We have been offered no explanation as to why Aer Lingus should move from its belief that Belfast International is the “ideal location for the new Aer Lingus base” (2007 Aer Lingus statement).

Aer Lingus also stated that our 24/7, all-weather operations and long runways were capable of “accommodating all current and future Aer Lingus potential”.

Furthermore, in November, 2009*, Aer Lingus Chief Executive, Christoph Mueller, said for a region this size, it made economic sense to have just one airport, and that was Belfast International, indicating that Belfast International Airport (BIA) was “better positioned to facilitate air passengers” than the rival George Best Belfast City Airport (BCA).

Said Mr Mueller: “We will concentrate our operations at Belfast International Airport and will develop them further. The short runway and the night-time flight curfew are significant constraints for Belfast City Airport. More restrictions exist there than opportunities and all the advantages are with Belfast International Airport”.

“We are already working to fill the void left by this defection and are confident that in coming months we will have positive news on new GB and international services”.

One thing for sure, Flybe WILL NOT be happy...

Who in the right mind would choose BHD over BFS facility wise, yes, I understand Aer Lingus are now aiming their business at business users - but boy, are they going to have some competition! BA will for a start be angry with them let alone Flybe are also going to be angry - I would have thought Aer Lingus would have been more than happy with BFS and making a tidy profit. In there 2007 statement this is what they said:

I just don't get it, who ever is sitting behind the marketing desk at Aer Lingus has made some bad , bad decisions.

Check this out... At least we are getting a few explanations

Audioboo / After five years at Belfast International Aer Lingus says it will move to the city airport. I asked Declan Kearney from the airline why

Jake

[dublinaviator]

Originally Posted by eastern wiseguy

That is one of the most puerile and ridiculous statements I have seen here.

They left because they couldn't get BHD to pony up a deal that suited them end of.

If you want to believe that, in the face of facts, be my guest...