BIRMINGHAM - 6
Businesstraveller
Couldn't agree more, I think the lack of BA at BHX is a real weakness, perhaps they were inserting a subliminal image to start the ball rolling!
The point about the BA presence at BHX not being BA Mainline is to emphasise BA's lack of commitment.
The point about the BA presence at BHX not being BA Mainline is to emphasise BA's lack of commitment.
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Originally Posted by Planeaddict
I saw a plane out of my window making a sharp turn on the ILS, heading towards RWY15. At first I thought it was the A380 but I think i'm wrong.
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AI
I’d be inclined to say that Air India's return won’t have that much of a detrimental effect on EK’s loads as primarily they are targeting the BHX-ATQ traffic
The presence of TK will also affect this third generation AI operation, they offer good connections and competitive fares to India from BHX - and I should imagine a double daily BHX-IST can't be too far away. I guess a lot will come down to price, AI lead in fares on their website are attractive and although I find TK a very good airline I would personally rather fly non stop to DEL given the option than change aircrafts.
EK - I think they have sufficient other onward connections to survive but as pointed out pax that may have used them for DEL might now be tempted to AI. I know that there are often a lot of Indian connections on these flights, it will be interesting to see who they choose from 1st Aug.
QR - I think with AI starting BHX will be pushed even further down their list of priorities now.
AI need to run a reliable and punctual operation at BHX - I like others am thrilled they are back and I hope this time it's for the duration and that it's not just a proving route for their 787 before they on a whim find somewhere else for it to fly....I look forward to seeing pictures from this Thursdays launch day (assuming no more Dreamliner oven fires.....)
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Turkmenistan
Having clocked up nearly fifteen years operating from BHX I should imagine they've built up quite a loyal customer base. Indeed, I seem to remember reading a few years back that the BHX was more profitable for them than LHR which I believe is x2 weekly as opposed to BHX's x4. However, they were recently voted the worst airline in the world in some poll I read so that's hardly a great endorsement but as always for some people as long as the price is right that's all that matters. They managed to survive Air India's presence before as well as the likes of Mahan Air in recent years so with a bit of luck they'll continue to do OK this time around too. It would be a shame to lose one of our more exotic tails.
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Gay friendly , I really had to smirk with your quote :
Umm hellooooo
Whenever we have a topic that involves a carrier flying anywhere further east than Greece people are hell bent on sending everyone to india!!
The Asian/Asian british : indian population of the west midlands is around 4% and indeed all Asian ethnic groups together hardly come to 10% , so what about the other 4.5 Million , can't they fly anywhere else? . Yes it is no coincidence that Air India have chosen to serve BHX again, and hopefully it will draw pax from the East midlands and other neighbouring areas instead of them having to trapse down to LHR (that is the pax leakage it hopefully will remedy) But don't forget there are plenty of people that want to go other places and TK/EK/ The European hubs and even T5 will be fine
EK - I think they have sufficient other onward connections to survive
Whenever we have a topic that involves a carrier flying anywhere further east than Greece people are hell bent on sending everyone to india!!
The Asian/Asian british : indian population of the west midlands is around 4% and indeed all Asian ethnic groups together hardly come to 10% , so what about the other 4.5 Million , can't they fly anywhere else? . Yes it is no coincidence that Air India have chosen to serve BHX again, and hopefully it will draw pax from the East midlands and other neighbouring areas instead of them having to trapse down to LHR (that is the pax leakage it hopefully will remedy) But don't forget there are plenty of people that want to go other places and TK/EK/ The European hubs and even T5 will be fine
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AI
According to the AI website, the first four BHX-DEL-ATQ flights are sold out, first bookable is Thurs 8th Aug. All other sectors bookable, including inaugural ATQ-BHX doing the journey in other direction.
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Not sure if has been noted anywhere, but the Aer Lingus Dublin service seems to reduce by 4 x weekly services from middle of August, Regional take out 4 services (was this originally planned to run at 20 x weekly until the end of the Summer timetable ?)
Also, Thomson Airways service to Malaga, in addition to the Sunday service resuming for the Winter wef 10NOV13, they also appear to have put in a Thursday service commencing 13MAR14, operating to the end of April when everything switches back to Monarch again.
Also, Thomson Airways service to Malaga, in addition to the Sunday service resuming for the Winter wef 10NOV13, they also appear to have put in a Thursday service commencing 13MAR14, operating to the end of April when everything switches back to Monarch again.
All this focus on gaining some narrow long haul routes. Who cares? Thriving shops, taxi's, shops, baggage handlers, pushback crews, hire car agents, bar staff etc etc all rely on thriving every day/week round seat sales in volume.
BHX is an under-utilised white elephant as long as it retains its stubborn focus on being a long haul competitor to MAN or LHR.
BRS kicks its ass for profitability..
WWW
BHX is an under-utilised white elephant as long as it retains its stubborn focus on being a long haul competitor to MAN or LHR.
BRS kicks its ass for profitability..
WWW
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Who cares?
I'm sure if BRS regained a long haul flight you would be very happy or were you against the CO flight BRS-EWR as that too was a narrow long haul route?
Thriving shops, taxi's, shops, baggage handlers, pushback crews, hire car agents, bar staff etc etc all rely on thriving every day/week round seat sales in volume
I don't know about profitability of the two airports, maybe BRS is the more profitable? Can you supply documented figures for BRS compared to BHX profitability to back up your claim? Thanks
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Weeweasley.
Re Profit BHX and BRS.
Yes Bristol made more profit up to end of 2012 than BHX but it was down on the previous year whilst BHX profit went up quite a lot.
So sure you can take the fact that BRS looses its long haul TOM Orlando flts next summer after loosing New York United flts..whilst BHX does not
Nigel
Re Profit BHX and BRS.
Yes Bristol made more profit up to end of 2012 than BHX but it was down on the previous year whilst BHX profit went up quite a lot.
So sure you can take the fact that BRS looses its long haul TOM Orlando flts next summer after loosing New York United flts..whilst BHX does not
Nigel
Last edited by nigel osborne; 5th Aug 2013 at 11:31.
I will reopen that old chestnut about Lusgate (BRS) being built out of an old farm with little hope of runway expansion and suggest CWL has a better chance of longhaul operations in the future.
If Filton were to remain an option then I'm sure it would have been a good second London airport with all the motorway and rail connections. However the council have chosen otherwise so poor passengers have to navigate in and out of the city centre on the A38 with very little in way of transportation apart from an odd bus connection.
Long live the Mendips
If Filton were to remain an option then I'm sure it would have been a good second London airport with all the motorway and rail connections. However the council have chosen otherwise so poor passengers have to navigate in and out of the city centre on the A38 with very little in way of transportation apart from an odd bus connection.
Long live the Mendips
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Of course there is that little matter of the BRS owners arranging the airport's finances so as not to pay any corporation tax!
If they're still at it, it's no wonder BRS's profits look good in comparison to BHX.
If they're still at it, it's no wonder BRS's profits look good in comparison to BHX.
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Of course there is that little matter of the BRS owners arranging the airport's finances so as not to pay any corporation tax!
Wee Weasley Welshman
Must say a pretty curious (combative some might say) post- especially from someone who considers himself a "moderator" - presumably for this website / forum?
I would just point out that with it's short, and unextendable runway, the profile of which resembles a relief map of the Cotswolds, BRS doesn't have the opportunity to court long haul - at least BHX does, though I would agree with your point regarding BHX' obsession with long haul.
BHX is an under-utilised white elephant as long as it retains its stubborn focus on being a long haul competitor to MAN or LHR.
I would just point out that with it's short, and unextendable runway, the profile of which resembles a relief map of the Cotswolds, BRS doesn't have the opportunity to court long haul - at least BHX does, though I would agree with your point regarding BHX' obsession with long haul.
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GF
"Where are you now Wee Weasley?"
Read his profile-answer "in the left seat with a major airline"
Having said that I do agree that his comments do not enhance his position as a "moderator"
SS
"Where are you now Wee Weasley?"
Read his profile-answer "in the left seat with a major airline"
Having said that I do agree that his comments do not enhance his position as a "moderator"
SS
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ssflyer, sorry, just because someone 'sits in the left seat with a major airline' it does not give anyone the right (least of all a so called 'moderator') to make such negative and combative posts with no factual back up. He also needs to understand the term 'white elephant' - in modern English a business venture considered without use or value. I hardly think this describes BHX (or BRS).
He obviously has a problem with BHX as he has made postings of a similar nature before. More fool me for being drawn into it.
He obviously has a problem with BHX as he has made postings of a similar nature before. More fool me for being drawn into it.
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I'm not sure why everyone is jumping on WWW. Maybe he has a point (other than the profitability figures that I have no idea about!).
There does appear to be a degree of unjustified expectation that BHX deserves a share of the long haul market whether or not it is possible.
Simply reading here over the last few years there is an oscillation between BHX being far enough away from LHR & MAN to justify long haul routes on it's own, to being close enough to LHR to act as some sort of hub.
Perhaps the runway extension has served to fire up the expectation of longer routes and larger aircraft with BHX supporters. Who knows what the real impact of the extension will be, it's cost an awful lot of money? I hope that it works.
The long/er haul experience to date is that many have come and gone, only Emirates and Continental have hung around. The risk of attracting long haul is that it can go away again very easily.
The airport needs to decide exactly what it needs to be to maximise it's potential. At the moment it appears a little confused.
WWW is right, the airfield is under utilised. I'm based at BHX and visit many similar airfields that are generally busier places to operate.
I don't think that WWW made particularly controversial comments, even a moderator has the right to an opinion that may not be liked by all. I refer you to his comments regarding pilot recruitment a few years back. Highly accurate.
There does appear to be a degree of unjustified expectation that BHX deserves a share of the long haul market whether or not it is possible.
Simply reading here over the last few years there is an oscillation between BHX being far enough away from LHR & MAN to justify long haul routes on it's own, to being close enough to LHR to act as some sort of hub.
Perhaps the runway extension has served to fire up the expectation of longer routes and larger aircraft with BHX supporters. Who knows what the real impact of the extension will be, it's cost an awful lot of money? I hope that it works.
The long/er haul experience to date is that many have come and gone, only Emirates and Continental have hung around. The risk of attracting long haul is that it can go away again very easily.
The airport needs to decide exactly what it needs to be to maximise it's potential. At the moment it appears a little confused.
WWW is right, the airfield is under utilised. I'm based at BHX and visit many similar airfields that are generally busier places to operate.
I don't think that WWW made particularly controversial comments, even a moderator has the right to an opinion that may not be liked by all. I refer you to his comments regarding pilot recruitment a few years back. Highly accurate.
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Gentle climb
Thank you for your post , a well worded opinion , unlike others who just come in to bash or to say our airport is better than your airport .
On one point you made :
As i stated in a post a few pages back it really didn't cost the airport THAT much , the majority of the funding came from elsewhere . And besides, With the major projects going on at the airport it has to be good news for the construction industry in these lean times.
Thank you for your post , a well worded opinion , unlike others who just come in to bash or to say our airport is better than your airport .
On one point you made :
Who knows what the real impact of the extension will be, it's cost an awful lot of money?
Gentle Climb
Those two, plus PIA, who've been at BHX for years and Turkmenistan - likewise.
However I do agree that given the allegedly improving UK economy, there is a case for putting more effort into filling the gaps that exist in BHX route network to several import European capitals - but preferably not with lesiure orientated less than daily services.
The long/er haul experience to date is that many have come and gone, only Emirates and Continental have hung around
However I do agree that given the allegedly improving UK economy, there is a case for putting more effort into filling the gaps that exist in BHX route network to several import European capitals - but preferably not with lesiure orientated less than daily services.