BIRMINGHAM - 6
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JAIBIRD, Re AI
You initially questioned whether it would happen at all, then after I disageed, you changed it saying what you meant to say was that it wouldn't happen before the end of July..
hence as its starting 1/8 you were saved by 1 day !! All joking of course.
Nigel
You initially questioned whether it would happen at all, then after I disageed, you changed it saying what you meant to say was that it wouldn't happen before the end of July..
hence as its starting 1/8 you were saved by 1 day !! All joking of course.
Nigel
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Hotel Tango,
Rre United and BHX..
Its a really big problem, currently the UA 757s have just 16 Business Class Seats to fill.
Their 787s have 36 lie flat Business class seats 70 Economy Plus, and 113 Economy.
Thats a huge jump in front end for BHX. Perhaps they will offer to a kinder 2 class config which might be better for us.
Nigel
Rre United and BHX..
Its a really big problem, currently the UA 757s have just 16 Business Class Seats to fill.
Their 787s have 36 lie flat Business class seats 70 Economy Plus, and 113 Economy.
Thats a huge jump in front end for BHX. Perhaps they will offer to a kinder 2 class config which might be better for us.
Nigel
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Getonnitt.
Planeaddict is right,
Qatar did say a year ago that they would be starting Birmingham and 2 other UK destinations they didn't name.
What they didn't say is when that would be.
Nigel
Planeaddict is right,
Qatar did say a year ago that they would be starting Birmingham and 2 other UK destinations they didn't name.
What they didn't say is when that would be.
Nigel
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Oh i see you were referring to Al bakar reportedly saying to a travel magazine that Birmingham will be served ' sometime ' if we get 'some more planes ' and will also to be serving 'some other UK airports' as initial plans for start up , sorry , my bad.
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I think we are being somewhat premature in planning United Dream)liners into BHX, or indeed the rest of the UK beyond LHR.
When the 787s become a larger part of their European ops., the UK and Ireland will be the last destinations to see them.
The fact is, the 757 is currently the optimum frame for UK regional transatlantic hops. They are relatively economical, they have the appropriate split between J and Y capacity and they can operate the hops to EWR year round without refuelling stops.
There will come the day when the transatlantic 757s get retired, but I'd wager the last one back to the states will be from a UK port...
When the 787s become a larger part of their European ops., the UK and Ireland will be the last destinations to see them.
The fact is, the 757 is currently the optimum frame for UK regional transatlantic hops. They are relatively economical, they have the appropriate split between J and Y capacity and they can operate the hops to EWR year round without refuelling stops.
There will come the day when the transatlantic 757s get retired, but I'd wager the last one back to the states will be from a UK port...
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Nigel, I wasn't suggesting that it would happen tomorrow so to speak. However, one could also argue that by providing a better Business Class product than that presently available on the B757 it would generate more C class sales. I could see Business travellers who want the lie-flat seats - who live between LHR and BHX - opting for BHX iso LHR. They could also of course opt to operate a number of their B787 a/c in a different configuration.
Last edited by Hotel Tango; 4th Jul 2013 at 14:48.
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The UA 757's do have lie-flat Business First seats, 16 as already stated. However, only 14 can be sold due to 2 seats being blocked off for flight crew rest.
It's a shame that the 767-200's have almost disappeared from the fleet, 24 Business First seats would have been ideal.
It's a shame that the 767-200's have almost disappeared from the fleet, 24 Business First seats would have been ideal.
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Offstand.
Hoping that United will offer another 787 config for its thinner routes.
BHX is hitting over 85% load factor with the 757 but don't know how many people are paying full fare business class as opposed to economy passengers bein upgraded.
Nigel
Hoping that United will offer another 787 config for its thinner routes.
BHX is hitting over 85% load factor with the 757 but don't know how many people are paying full fare business class as opposed to economy passengers bein upgraded.
Nigel
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Hotel Tango,
We probably have another 3-5 yrs left for the UA 757s so still time for yield to pick up if its not good.
Yes another config on the 787 might be helpful.
Nigel
We probably have another 3-5 yrs left for the UA 757s so still time for yield to pick up if its not good.
Yes another config on the 787 might be helpful.
Nigel
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Cork/Newark
Aer Lingus
From the Cork thread good to see Aer Lingus increasing BHX - Cork albeit only two extra frequencies a week but it allows a business day at both ends on a Monday and Friday.
Schedule for Mondays and Friday at the BHX end
In 08.15-08.50 out
In 16.30-17.00 out
In 20.30-21.00 out
mart901 - Not heard anything re Knock. Even at 4 a week on the AT72 would be better than nothing or all this Dublin extra capacity.
Newark
Without being too boring but I agree with most - 787 business seating config is far too big at present for BHX but if it could be tweaked or could the market grow into the aircraft although with fuel, APD and the economy that seems the least likely and as SBR stated the UK will probably be the last to change from the 757.
Without going into fairyland wasn't it hoped the 321NEO could be tweaked to get it to the UK and Ireland with a hope of selling it to United, EI for a transatlantic sub-fleet or is that just pie-in-the-sky"?
Pete
From the Cork thread good to see Aer Lingus increasing BHX - Cork albeit only two extra frequencies a week but it allows a business day at both ends on a Monday and Friday.
Schedule for Mondays and Friday at the BHX end
In 08.15-08.50 out
In 16.30-17.00 out
In 20.30-21.00 out
mart901 - Not heard anything re Knock. Even at 4 a week on the AT72 would be better than nothing or all this Dublin extra capacity.
Newark
Without being too boring but I agree with most - 787 business seating config is far too big at present for BHX but if it could be tweaked or could the market grow into the aircraft although with fuel, APD and the economy that seems the least likely and as SBR stated the UK will probably be the last to change from the 757.
Without going into fairyland wasn't it hoped the 321NEO could be tweaked to get it to the UK and Ireland with a hope of selling it to United, EI for a transatlantic sub-fleet or is that just pie-in-the-sky"?
Pete
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Quoting Hotel Tango,
We probably have another 3-5 yrs left for the UA 757s so still time for yield to pick up if its not good.
Yes another config on the 787 might be helpful.
Nigel
The replacement for the PMCO 75w will be PMUA two class 763s.
These are frames formally used by UA Hawaiian/West coast flights.
We probably have another 3-5 yrs left for the UA 757s so still time for yield to pick up if its not good.
Yes another config on the 787 might be helpful.
Nigel
The replacement for the PMCO 75w will be PMUA two class 763s.
These are frames formally used by UA Hawaiian/West coast flights.
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Re: Stockholm
It's not a temporary suspension per se , more a planned break in schedules. It will be back in august.
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Nigel,
Did I?
I really don't recall saying anything negative about the possibility of AI returning. Plenty of others did, and all for very sound reasons. I'm glad to see AI back. I certainly never made any predictions about a route starting or not by any date. I don't do that - I'm interest in which airlines go where, and why, I don't speculate on the exact dates, as any route that is going to be viable in the long run can afford to wait a few months before it starts.
You initially questioned whether it would happen at all, then after I disageed, you changed it saying what you meant to say was that it wouldn't happen before the end of July..
I really don't recall saying anything negative about the possibility of AI returning. Plenty of others did, and all for very sound reasons. I'm glad to see AI back. I certainly never made any predictions about a route starting or not by any date. I don't do that - I'm interest in which airlines go where, and why, I don't speculate on the exact dates, as any route that is going to be viable in the long run can afford to wait a few months before it starts.
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My turn to eat a hat I think.
Have a good weekend, J
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Hat eating time?
Quote: "Did I?
I really don't recall saying anything negative about the possibility of AI returning. Plenty of others did, and all for very sound reasons. I'm glad to see AI back. I certainly never made any predictions about a route starting or not by any date. I don't do that - I'm interest in which airlines go where, and why, I don't speculate on the exact dates, as any route that is going to be viable in the long run can afford to wait a few months before it starts."
Quote: "JAIBIRD.
Ive just checked the earlier threads on this topic .. Sincere apologies it was not you but someone else that said that.
My turn to eat a hat I think.
Nigel"
Quote: "Nope, hat eating is strictly for people who have promised to eat one if proven wrong, not for other mistakes, which we all make, all of the time.
Have a good weekend, J"
That's me (and some others), have to hold my hand up! Am at present looking for a small chocolate hat, just in case.
Daft idea to do ATQ-DEL-BHX rather than DEL-ATQ-BHX. DEL-ATQ-BHX is just 5mi. longer than DEL-BHX (great circle mapper) so ATQ is virtually overflown on the DEL-BHX sector.
Bearing in mind that a significant proportion of the business would be VFR to/from the ATQ area, AI would be wasting some 500 mi. worth of fuel, and unneccesarily inconveniencing the above-mentioned pax.
Change at DEL, or change at DXB? Nonstop to ATQ and stay on the plane (at ATQ) for DEL could give AI the advantage of direct flights, assuming it gets its act together of course.
AI can hardly afford this wastage, given it's precarious financial situation, and it's not as if a crew change would be neccesary on DEL-ATQ-BHX, assuming that a DEL-based crew is used.
I really don't recall saying anything negative about the possibility of AI returning. Plenty of others did, and all for very sound reasons. I'm glad to see AI back. I certainly never made any predictions about a route starting or not by any date. I don't do that - I'm interest in which airlines go where, and why, I don't speculate on the exact dates, as any route that is going to be viable in the long run can afford to wait a few months before it starts."
Quote: "JAIBIRD.
Ive just checked the earlier threads on this topic .. Sincere apologies it was not you but someone else that said that.
My turn to eat a hat I think.
Nigel"
Quote: "Nope, hat eating is strictly for people who have promised to eat one if proven wrong, not for other mistakes, which we all make, all of the time.
Have a good weekend, J"
That's me (and some others), have to hold my hand up! Am at present looking for a small chocolate hat, just in case.
Daft idea to do ATQ-DEL-BHX rather than DEL-ATQ-BHX. DEL-ATQ-BHX is just 5mi. longer than DEL-BHX (great circle mapper) so ATQ is virtually overflown on the DEL-BHX sector.
Bearing in mind that a significant proportion of the business would be VFR to/from the ATQ area, AI would be wasting some 500 mi. worth of fuel, and unneccesarily inconveniencing the above-mentioned pax.
Change at DEL, or change at DXB? Nonstop to ATQ and stay on the plane (at ATQ) for DEL could give AI the advantage of direct flights, assuming it gets its act together of course.
AI can hardly afford this wastage, given it's precarious financial situation, and it's not as if a crew change would be neccesary on DEL-ATQ-BHX, assuming that a DEL-based crew is used.
Last edited by Fairdealfrank; 5th Jul 2013 at 16:19.