BELFAST CITY AIRPORT (BHD)
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Belfast
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airport66
Take it the construction workers who are building that extention have been told not to come back won't need it this year anyway. Wonder what airline will be offered come to are airport for free deal next.
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Ballymena
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So where does Bhd go from here? Fr went in to Bhd for all the wrong reasons and failed, as did WW. How many have tried Bhd - Stn and failed? There are not that many airlines left in the UK that they could go after to offer volume. Lets not get into discussion that Ezy will move, it will not happen for a host of reasons in my opinion. Ei operate long hours and sectors, so Bhd would not suit either. Jet2, have night ops at Bfs. Monarch, if they ever come to N Ireland, it would be a big surprise if they didn't go to Turkey, and in that case Bhd would not suit. In my opinion, there is a real danger for Bhd that the Lhr route will move up the road as well. Bhd/Flybe now seeing increased competition from Ezy on the likes of Man and Bhx for the first time. I think I am right in saying that on every route out of Belfast that Ezy and Flybe compete, Ezy is the largest carrier, on some routes by a long way. If that was to happen on Man/Bhz, then Bhd face the loss of more pax to Bfs. When Fr left Bhd, Mr BA said that it nearly resulted in the closure of the airport. I think WW carried about 400k pax at Bhd in 2011. Is it that dangerous for Bhd now? It will be very difficult to recover from this, where now for Bhd?
TB
TB
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: newtownards
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According to Airbus Takeoff and Landing Performance Calculators an A320-200 of MON's can operate DLM from BHD no problems using flaps 3 for dep. This was tested a while back.
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: London (Babylon-on-Thames)
Age: 42
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Stark truth is that flybe in their numerous guises are the only airline which has ever made a successful fist of operations from BHD
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Dublin2
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I feel for all the good baby staff who are in this horrible position due to the mismanagement of the airline and for all the people who will now not get the flights they booked. I also feel for the airport staff who fell again, for the total c*** from Mr A that the baby move from Aldergrove would make city a true international airport and secure thousands of jobs. baby were a basket case before they moved to city, the pathetic attempt to sell them by both the airport and the airline as something new and exciting for NI, was the greatest pile of b******* I've ever witnessed. The low loads they were getting, even at the low fares they were charging, showed clearly this was a doomed venture. The airline and airport management and the contributors on here who constantly claimed everything was rosy should be ashamed of themselves.
If there are any threads left in the relationship with Flybe the airport should be begging them to pick up some of the lost routes, if any of them are viable. Its probably more likely that they are talking to other airlines at Aldergrove and try to sell them the same bull they sold to baby, higher yields at city, closer to the population centres, high level of civil service and other government traffic, better weather record etc, etc.
Perhaps if FR are offered a even greater incentive than they received the last time they might come back, but to remember how successful that venture was the first time look at the 2009 accounts.
If there are any threads left in the relationship with Flybe the airport should be begging them to pick up some of the lost routes, if any of them are viable. Its probably more likely that they are talking to other airlines at Aldergrove and try to sell them the same bull they sold to baby, higher yields at city, closer to the population centres, high level of civil service and other government traffic, better weather record etc, etc.
Perhaps if FR are offered a even greater incentive than they received the last time they might come back, but to remember how successful that venture was the first time look at the 2009 accounts.
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Denmark
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The airport have tried twice to grow with baby and with Ryanair.
They need a dedicated airline who will grow slowly and surely. baby were sure to fail in City. Too much competition. belfast needs one strong low cost leisure carrier, and not four - easy, Lingus, jet2, baby.
They need a dedicated airline who will grow slowly and surely. baby were sure to fail in City. Too much competition. belfast needs one strong low cost leisure carrier, and not four - easy, Lingus, jet2, baby.
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Belfast
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In the first instance my sympathies to the decent hard working people in BMIBaby who have been treated shamefully through this debacle of an airline sale.
Secondly also my sympathies to the thousands of customers who have booked summer holidays with BMIBaby and now face extra expense and hassle rebooking with other airlines.
Thirdly I have been disgusted to read some of the self satisfied, smug nonsense above. Some of you do yourselves a disservice and are a long way from displaying the 'professional' in the webiste name. Real people have lost their jobs in the middle of a recession. They have mortgages to pay, children to feed and jobs to find!!!!! Your jokes, inuendo and sideswipes are ill advised and unwelcome.
Things will be difficult moving forward for BHD but I have no doubt that other arlines will come lured by higher yields (fact), closer to city (fact), preference of civil servants (fact), better weather (??? dont know) and yes probably lower airport fees.
Also a fact is that BMIBaby loads were very good for the summer with load factors typically in the 70's and 80's. To suggest that BMIbaby leaving was some reflection on BHD is ridiculous - THE AIRLINE HAS BEEN WOUND UP - or maybe its a reflection on all of the other airports that Baby also fly to. Look out Schipol - Baby left you so you must be rubbish.
Baby brought competition, for the first time, on international routes (excluding CoD) and the loads that they have carried before the school holidays even started have demonstrated that there is an appetite for this with the NI public.
When baby moved to city they were an off-shoot of one of the biggest airlines in the world - funny that all of you experts didnt say then that they were a basket case.
Enough - rant over.
Secondly also my sympathies to the thousands of customers who have booked summer holidays with BMIBaby and now face extra expense and hassle rebooking with other airlines.
Thirdly I have been disgusted to read some of the self satisfied, smug nonsense above. Some of you do yourselves a disservice and are a long way from displaying the 'professional' in the webiste name. Real people have lost their jobs in the middle of a recession. They have mortgages to pay, children to feed and jobs to find!!!!! Your jokes, inuendo and sideswipes are ill advised and unwelcome.
Things will be difficult moving forward for BHD but I have no doubt that other arlines will come lured by higher yields (fact), closer to city (fact), preference of civil servants (fact), better weather (??? dont know) and yes probably lower airport fees.
Also a fact is that BMIBaby loads were very good for the summer with load factors typically in the 70's and 80's. To suggest that BMIbaby leaving was some reflection on BHD is ridiculous - THE AIRLINE HAS BEEN WOUND UP - or maybe its a reflection on all of the other airports that Baby also fly to. Look out Schipol - Baby left you so you must be rubbish.
Baby brought competition, for the first time, on international routes (excluding CoD) and the loads that they have carried before the school holidays even started have demonstrated that there is an appetite for this with the NI public.
When baby moved to city they were an off-shoot of one of the biggest airlines in the world - funny that all of you experts didnt say then that they were a basket case.
Enough - rant over.
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Dublin
Age: 34
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If a good offer was there from BHD, I don't see why Aer Lingus couldn't operate to both Belfast Airports from Heathrow, especially if it does win additional slots that have restrictions on where they can fly too.
If Aer Lingus doesn't win the slots, and Virgin do, their new airline is another option. I wouldn't be too worried.
If Aer Lingus doesn't win the slots, and Virgin do, their new airline is another option. I wouldn't be too worried.
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Belfast
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Appalled by some of the barely disguised glee by some of the posters on here ref the news of Bmibaby ceasing to operate from BHD, people have lost jobs still more have had their travel plans thrown into chaos. This is as a result not of their move to BHD but from the years of mismanagement which latterly had been turned around with some good routes & loads which were very respectable. BHD was turning into a good base for them with strong demand which hopefully another carrier will step in to pick up where Baby left off.As for comparing it to when Ryanair left , this was mainly due to there being no sign of the much needed runway extension being agreed. Also lets not forget FR do seem to have a penchant for leaving airports/drastically reducing routes , Liverpool & Bournemouth being prime examples.
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2010
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NEWS!
Join Date: Dec 2010
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To be completely honest I can't see anyone coming in at the 11th hour especially when there is rife competition at BFS, and BHD can't really offer any more rock bottom deals as their current bank balance is not very rosy
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: NornIron
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Ryanair ?
The only candidate I can think of is Ryanair. I think they may have planes parked up at Marana & Prestwick. I believe they cannot fly a fully loaded 738 (fuel & pax & luggage) to Palma / Faro etc????
They can fly them at a restricted payload but is it profitable to these destinations?
However, it simply doesn't make any sense (to me).
We shall hear next Friday.
Finally, my thoughts are with the unfortunate staff Baby & BHD ground, I flew with Baby many times and no less than a month ago to Faro. Such a shame as you were always the first site I visited when booking. I will miss you.
They can fly them at a restricted payload but is it profitable to these destinations?
However, it simply doesn't make any sense (to me).
We shall hear next Friday.
Finally, my thoughts are with the unfortunate staff Baby & BHD ground, I flew with Baby many times and no less than a month ago to Faro. Such a shame as you were always the first site I visited when booking. I will miss you.
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Larne, UK
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Fingers crossed they can sort something out, not really bothered about peoples holidays being cancelled... they can be re-booked or skipped without it being the end of the world, more concerned about those who work at the airport keeping their jobs..
Im with carlrsymington on this one, the only airline i can think of is FR.. EZY and LS sales are doing well and no doubt have increased dramatically with people re-booking to BFS as it was the only alternative and on the news people were urged to re-book straight away..
Im with carlrsymington on this one, the only airline i can think of is FR.. EZY and LS sales are doing well and no doubt have increased dramatically with people re-booking to BFS as it was the only alternative and on the news people were urged to re-book straight away..
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Denmark
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Rinty, if all your facts were reality - BA would not have closed the WW BHD base until the summer was over.
Its a pity that BHD got the short straw here, but it is down to base profitability. Civil servants don't fly to PMI, etc very often, so even if yield is higer on Heathrow (would have to be to cover the extra costs of the BD service over EI), the leisure routes are still low yield - and Easy have that market...
Its a pity that BHD got the short straw here, but it is down to base profitability. Civil servants don't fly to PMI, etc very often, so even if yield is higer on Heathrow (would have to be to cover the extra costs of the BD service over EI), the leisure routes are still low yield - and Easy have that market...
Join Date: Mar 2002
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Thank you
I have already expressed my thanks to the bmi Baby team & BHD ground crew. I really do wish them well but when I look to the future, it only has two colours ... orange & green. (Sorry Jet2). Hopefully all of the baby team can get work with one of the three carriers. On a different note, I could not figure out how they would ever be profitable with cheap fares, well paid & professional crew, BHD as a base & 737-400's. Great while it lasted. I really did appreciate whoever subsidised my trips on WW to BHX & FAO. Finally, I see a future of more expensive but sustainable fares from BFS (or BHD) but I see the heat moving on to Jet2.