BIRMINGHAM - 6

[hammerb32]

I am a little puzzled as to why a BA promotional tour is being welcomed to BHX, recognise the publicity for BA but from a BHX point of view surely BA have to be looked at as a competitor? Why allow an airline that is actively trying to attract your passengers down the M40 such a PR opportunity?

[Fairdealfrank]

Quote: "hammerb32.

Re BA A380 visit;

Quite simple.. publicity.. you can see a BHX now exec saying something along the lines of ;

"BHX is a World capable airport and we are in the process of extending our runway so planes like these,( pointing to the BA A380) can operate regulary".

You and I know they can operate already to places like Dubai, but great publicity at a time BHX is pushing the airport commission to take on a lot of the London traffic.

A really big aircraft will turn heads and spin the PR wheels faster.

Nigel"

The BHX boss deserves an "E" for effort! but he always fails to explain how this solves the problem of lack of capacity at the UK's hub airport.

[OltonPete]

June International route analysis

Passenger figures from the CAA with avergage loads from local SBS logs and load factors from seat plans and estimated in some instances.

Most of the sun routes have very high load factors but not great figures from the two new Monarch routes or BMI Regional.

The Gothenburg was the best but only 55% and Billund only averaged 14. Toulouse I am sure would have been better had they not messed with the times.

Dublin added only a couple of thousand pax and dropped 8% on load factor compared to May.

BRUSSELS...........8731 (9158).... 39pax......48%

LARNACA............7538(7978)..... 180 pax...90%

PAPHOS................4354(628).... 156 pax...78%

Copenhagen.........6710 (6310).....75 pax.....71%

Billund.................556 (nil)..........14 pax....28%

Avignon..............539(603)..........54 pax....69%

Bergerac..............534(506).........53 pax....68%

Bordeaux..............1758 (nil)........68 pax...-39%

Brest....................479 (449).......48pax......61%

La Rochelle..........577(512)..........58 pax...66%

Lyon.....................3037 (o)........40 pax.....52%

MONTPELIER .......1922 (2633)....120 pax....64%

NICE.....................6678 (6275)..111 pax....62%

PARIS (CDG).......31046 (31787)....97 pax....80%

Perpignan.............2601(561.......145 pax....76%

Toulouse...............960(nil)..........19 pax....39%

BERLIN (TEGEL).....4845(4538l).....84 pax...68%

DUSSELDORF........16200(14362)..52 pax....58%

FRANKFURT ....... 24345(23772)...103 pax....71%

Hamburg.......... 2977(4184)....... 60 pax.....69%

HANOVER....... 4045 (5196)........70pax.....86%

Munich.............13766(14128)......81 pax.....67%

STUTTGART......3648(3098)........ 41 pax.....52%

GIBRALTAR........3131 (nil)..........120pax.....69%

Heraklion............2507(3201)......157 pax....79%

BUDAPEST...............0(2891).........nil pax....nil

Cork....................6115(6762) .....51 pax....71%

DUBLIN...........44887(42467).......88 pax....60%
...
KNOCK...............2410 (2911)......40 pax.....66%

SHANNON...........2523 (2596)......42pax.....69%

WATERFORD......1600 (1380)........47 pax....60%

BERGAMO............3698(nil) ........142 pax...75%

MILANÂ MXP)....4781 (7372)........80 pax...71% - ZB & BE in 2012

ROME Â (FCO).....9113(9559) ......152 pax..84%

TRIESTE ............2266(1983) ......126 pax...67%

VENICE............5196 (3709).........144 pax..83%

KAUNAS...........3124 (2757).........174 pax....92%

MALTA.............2684()................168 pax...89% -

AMSTERDAM...39496(34156)..........88pax....81%

ISLAMABAD..... 8232(8317) ..........229 pax...65%

BYDGOSZCZ.......4409(4394).........170 pax...90%

GDANSK..........2878 (2996).... ......160 pax....84%

KATOWICE........3812 (4193).........159 pax...84%

KRAKOW,..........2814(nil) ..............156 pax..83%

RZESZOW.........3088(2708)...........172 pax....91%

FARO..............18188(20347)........175 pax...87%

FUNCHAL.........2131 ((nil) ............133 pax...77%

BRATISLAVA....4480(4418).............172 pax...91%

ALICANTE.......26991(32511)..........169 pax..88% -

ALMERIA..........2843 (4121)...........178 pax....83%

BARCELONA..... 15965(3883)...........148 pax....78%

GIRONA.......... ...2662(5683)..........149 pax...78%

IBIZA................13052 (12555).......172 pax...88%

MAHON............. 5563(7191)..........174 pax....83%

MALAGA............27259 (30308) ......179 pax...92%

MURCIA Â ...... ,..5168 (10226)........162 pax...85%

PALMA...............22280 (26622)......166 pax....85%

REUS.....................3685 (4048).......142pax....75%

ARRECIFE............10633 (10979)......177 pax...90%

FUERTEVENTURA..6070(6317)...........179 pax...88%

LASPALMAS..........7568(7413)..........172 pax..88%

TENERIFEÂ (TFS).....14820 (14353) ..176pax..91%

GOTEBORG...........1286(nil)...............27 pax.....55%

Stockholm...........2066(nil)................61 pax... 50% approx

Dubrovnik...... ....3196 (3044)..........114 pax.....80%

Split.....................2748 (nil)..........106 pax.....61%%

ZURICH...............8956(10524).........73 pax......77%

Bodrum..............3645(4177)............152pax....87%

DALAMAN.........9916(9725)........... 164 pax.....87%

ISTANBUL........10857(7904)............126 pax....81%

Ashkhabad........3058(4666)..............90 pax...51%

DUBAI............. 37589(34908)..........313 pax.....75%

Toronto.............1866(2700)............233 pax...90%

NEW YORK (EWR)..9389(8899)...........156 pax..93%..

Pete

[nigel osborne]

LAX-LHR.

RE BHX and A380S

This taken from the BHX NATS site;

(h) A380 Aircraft Operations:
(i) Operators of A380 aircraft may designate Birmingham as a nominated diversionary aerodrome subject to prior
agreement with the Head of Airfield Operations Tel [phone] and assessment of facilities at Birmingham
by the Airline. The use of Birmingham as an alternate for A380 operations is also subject to UK CAA approval on an
individual airline basis.
(ii) Maximum of 5 A380s can be handled at any time (subject to stand availability).
(iii) Only one A380 can move around the aerodrome at any time. If 2 or more aircraft are handled at the same time, one
must be on stand at all times whilst the other is moving or stationary on Taxiway Tango / Taxilane Uniform
(iv) Follow-me will be provided for all movements.
(v) Departing aircraft must use the CAT III runway holds at all times, irrespective of weather conditions.
(vi) Diverting A380 aircraft will be provided with RFF Category 9 in accordance with UK CAA CAP 168 Chapter 8.


Well the experts say we can have 5 at a time..not sure about that myself ,trying to picture it


Nigel

[OltonPete]

Winter 2013/4

Very fluid at the moment with many schedule changes.

Aer Lingus

Down to five daily in the week with the nightstop gone at present despite taking good loads out in the morning.

Shannon retimed inbound Tuesday, Friday and Sunday to 12.35 and I assume Knock will appear at three times a week.

Ex Dublin times much better spaced inbound to BHX 07.30, 11.20, 14.40, 17.20 and 18.45 only if the nightstop at BHX was operating as for BHX based business these times are awful with 18.45 is far too early.

Saturday is one A320 and two ATR72's, which is sensible

Cork still showing three flights Monday and Friday.

BMI Regional

It appears Lyon ends with the summer schedules, a good decision if true and hopefully a new route in the offering such as Vienna or Oslo. The rest operate between 5 and six a week.

SAS

The schedule changes seem to happen on a weekly basis with it showing four a week this winter with Thursday the latest day to disappear. Sun afternoon, Tuesday and Wednesday lunch and Friday night with some B717's showing. Still shows as stopping between 20/12 & 1/3/14

CPH - Saturday morning is back for part of the winter and 717's from mid January on the morning service with double A319's showing for summer .

KLM

Changed again back to as it is now but the lunchtime E190 is a F70 and the 738 nightstop not happening to January and then mid Feb when all three 737 services are showing as the 800 series and two 190's so a big increase.

Lufthansa/Germanwings

Frankfurt 4 a day with the early morning inbound stopping for a while in Jan and early Feb - 3 x A320 and 1 x A319.

Munich & DUS no change

Berlin- earlier Monday to Friday aimed no doubt at the German market with Sunday in the afternoon 4U8331 all A319 and no Saturday service

Hamburg - as above but CRJ9 inbound BHX a bit later 10.50 and again Sunday is afternoon.

Swiss - groan both flights F100's with the RJ100 at the weekend

Brussels Airline - similar to now

Turkish - Maintaining 10 a week

United - Six a week until February then 5 a week for a month

Ryanair - Bratislava and Malta now released for the whole winter leaving just BCN bookable until 20 Jan

flybe - Still showing the 8th EDI & GLA for Tue, Wed & Thu

easyjet - Still showing the third BFS Thursday and Friday and the Tuesday GVA

Monarch - I have not noted any significant changes to the winter schedule since GNB was increased to 4 weekly from mid Feb.

Pete

[LAX_LHR]

Nigel,

Thanks for the info.

Pretty much re-inforces what I was saying about needing to give advance notice:

Operators of A380 aircraft may designate Birmingham as a nominated
diversionary aerodrome subject to prior agreement with the Head of Airfield
Operations Tel [phone] and assessment of facilities at
Birmingham by the Airline. The use of Birmingham as an alternate for A380
operations is also subject to UK CAA approval on an individual airline
basis.

[Fairdealfrank]

HEATHRHOOMDON

HEATHRHOOMDON
Anyone fancy a laugh?

Have alook at this:

Could Cardiff Airport form a new UK hub alongside Birmingham and Heathrow? - Wales Online


This is Heathwick writ large: HEATHRHOOMDON (Heathrow, Rhoose, Elmdon).

What are they on? Can I have some (man)?

It is apparently proposed by an "entrepreneur", an "economist" a "transport expert" and a "management consultant" - that says it all!

Why does no one appear to understand how a hub airport works?

[nigel osborne]

LAX -LHR .

Yes, would love to know how much warning they need, which airlines are approved (guess EK) or what happens if the head of operations is on a day off when one wants to divert in

Nigel

[nigel osborne]

Olton Pete,

Thanks as always for a good update on the scheds.

Nigel

[compton3bravo]

Many thanks as always Olten. A bit concerned about the Monarch Gib though - been to Gib a few times recently and seems the load factor seems around 50-60 per cent and looking at the prices being offered they seem to be struggling to get reasonable loads.

[ATNotts]

"management consultant"

Consultants (excluding the medical variety) - business people that have failed to run their own companies, so instead tell others how (not) to run their's!

Bit similar to sports coaches - if they were any good they'd be playing!

[OltonPete]

GIB

compton3bravo

Yes apart from the first few flights it has been a struggle going by the pax numbers and fares.

I can't say GIB was a "must" in BHX's route portfolio but that is just my opionion and I do see where Monarch's reasoning, as they are well established on the rock. Lets just hope it is just a slow builder and Monarch have patience to stick with it although as a new route it will be getting some assistance at BHX re landing fees etc.

I would imagine the Bordeaux loads are more of a concern as at three times a week in summer that aircraft probably could be making money elsewhere.

The only thing GIB has this winter is the general lack of flights to Southern Spain from BHX.

Pete

[BHX5DME]

EK to US ??

Dubai’s Emirates Airline has not ruled out entering the competitive transatlantic market, currently dominated by British Airways and Virgin Atlantic, and offer flights from Dubai to the US via the UK.

Emirates’ UK vice president Laurie Berryman said the Dubai carrier has seen “strong demand” and last year carried 800,000 passengers on its routes in and out of its hubs in the north of England.

“Glasgow is double daily and we upped the aircraft size. Newcastle went from an Airbus to a B777, so we are growing capacity there as well. Birmingham is twice daily, and one of the Manchester flights is an A380, with the other two being B777s,” Berryman was quoted as saying in an interview with trade publication Buying Business Travel.

Emirates in October will launch flights from Dubai to New York via Milan and Berryman hinted, if it could gain regulatory approval, it might not be long before the carrier enters the transatlantic market and offers flights from Dubai to the US via northern England.
“We do hold some rights out of the regions, so I would never say never. One of the things we are keen to say to the Davies Commission [UK Airports Commission], to relieve pressure on the south-east, is why don’t we make all the regional airports completely open skies, so anyone can fly anywhere. Heathrow sits in the south of England, but Manchester has a bigger catchment area in terms of a two-hour drive,” he said in the interview when questioned on the issue.

The transatlantic market is dominated by the likes of UK carriers British Airways and Virgin Atlantic and US players Delta Air Lines and American Airways. Aviation analyst Saj Ahmad, chief analyst at StrategicAero Research, said there is still obvious demand in the market for Emirates to capitalise on.

“With Emirates carrying over 800,000 passengers out of just four UK regional hubs, it is evident that there is more than enough brisk demand to launch direct flights to the USA from cities that the likes of BA do not operate long haul services from and that too would raise the appeal of Emirates.

“Emirates could flood the North Atlantic with swathes of Airbus A380s and 777-300ERs out of places like Birmingham and Manchester, two cities which are bursting with pent up passenger demand, tempered only by the lack of long haul airlines operating there, particularly for Birmingham,” he said, adding that if the Dubai carrier goes through with the plan “British Airways and Virgin Atlantic will be the big losers.”

[chaps2011]

Thought EK had already had problems with Canada

Chaps

[StoneyBridge Radar]

Good old Saj Ahmad... rolleyes:

Try googling "About Saj Ahmad"

The consultant without portfolio.

To what publication should the "article" be attributed BHX5DME ??

[VickersVicount]

Good old condescending Stoneybridge... rolls eyes
Was quoted from a very reputable Middle Eastern business journal
Middle East Business News, Gulf Financial & Industry Events & Information - ArabianBusiness.com

[StoneyBridge Radar]

Hardly condescending.

His modus operandi is well known and his "articles" are so regularly debunked that he holds little credibility with his remaining peers who pay any attention.

Coming from Abu Dhabi, it is not surprising to find a link to AB dot com, though I couldn't find the article and a search threw nothing up.

Not sure what your problem was with me asking for a source; it is common courtesy to reference the publication one is quoting.

[crewmeal]

I believe MAN has the best opportunity for any expansion of this size if it were to come off. EK numbers at BHX numbers have been quite weak compared with other 'northern airports' Expansion hasn't really taken off in the way they hoped. Now AI are coming back I guess EK figures may well be diluted even more.

Talking of AI, with a week to go what's happening about the big Dreamliner arrival? I can't believe it is so quiet. Have the dancers been organised? chapaits made? PK's suit dry cleaned? Someone must have some updates.

[LAX_LHR]

I believe MAN has the best opportunity for any expansion of this size if it
were to come off

Well, the original article (on which the arabianbusiness article is based) certainly leaned more towards MAN, but, there could be a big question mark as to the merits of both articles. All it seems to indicate is that Emirates could operate UK-USA routes, not that it is likely to.

PK's suit dry cleaned?

I think that's guaranteed. Not exactly camera shy is good old PK!

[Fairdealfrank]

AI at BHX

Quote: "Talking of AI, with a week to go what's happening about the big Dreamliner arrival? I can't believe it is so quiet. Have the dancers been organised? chapaits made? PK's suit dry cleaned? Someone must have some updates."

Only a week? better buy an edible hat sharpish!