BIRMINGHAM - 6
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BA have not hidden their anger over earlier BHX boast to become LHR 3rd runway, and BAs turse reply to that was well covered in the local media here,did BA get an input into Qatars decision as claimed on other lists today ?
Don't think there are many here who have taken BHX's grandiose plans seriously, and even if a few do, no reason to think the government is remotely interested, or that WW would still be at BA by the time such a scheme opened.
To then suggest WW has a hand in QRs decision is a stretch into absurdity when plenty of more sensible explanations have already been given.
Now back to the ongoing fuss about why BHX stuggles to cater for the latent market on its doorstep. Or is all this talk of becoming a hub just another distraction from this failure - again!
It appears that AIrblue will suspend BHX ops in December. Agents are being advised to rebook affected pax to MAN. Apparent reasons - Shortage of aircraft. Seems like they won't be coming back.
Why is it that BHX attracts all these crap oufits that drop in for a few flights? Armenia? now AirBlue. Don't these carriers have forward planning development and thinking? Obviously not. It reminds me of that idiot who invented "flywho" I was gullible enough to apply for a job and was promised the earth and of course nothing delivered.
Who's next to apply for a couple of flights then? Are there any other grubby third world carriers that want to have a go? Answers on a postcard please.
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Air Blue have been at MAN for years so hardly a "fly by night" operator of UK flights. Perhaps it's the BHX catchment that failed to use the services as I don't believe you have many operators that target the Pakistani cities out of BHX other than the PK services and EK services
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Why is it that BHX attracts all these crap oufits that drop in for a few
flights? Armenia? now AirBlue. Don't these carriers have forward planning development and thinking?
flights? Armenia? now AirBlue. Don't these carriers have forward planning development and thinking?
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Oh Dear
Now's my moment:
The Cat III Charabanc to Ingrowing Nail on Crouch - Absolutely no chance of getting airborne at all .
As a child I went to a 70's Resort in North Wales not far from Llandudnu - The Beach was nearly X kilometres long long enough to support flights !.
Coach services when running, last considerably longer than certain other forms of travel.
All I need is a run up area - Nice and flat, centre line lights to help in fog (CAT IIi) and with help and support "We are all going on a long haul vacation"
More seriously - Something has gone very badly wrong - Is it the [general international social status of the "West Mids Catchment"] or "Show us your plans for initial duration of service based on actual vis projected Yield" or a combination + other factors to be examined, perhaps not for a public forum.
CAT III
The Cat III Charabanc to Ingrowing Nail on Crouch - Absolutely no chance of getting airborne at all .
As a child I went to a 70's Resort in North Wales not far from Llandudnu - The Beach was nearly X kilometres long long enough to support flights !.
Coach services when running, last considerably longer than certain other forms of travel.
All I need is a run up area - Nice and flat, centre line lights to help in fog (CAT IIi) and with help and support "We are all going on a long haul vacation"
More seriously - Something has gone very badly wrong - Is it the [general international social status of the "West Mids Catchment"] or "Show us your plans for initial duration of service based on actual vis projected Yield" or a combination + other factors to be examined, perhaps not for a public forum.
CAT III
Last edited by Guest 112233; 20th Nov 2013 at 20:54.
Strange how they have been serving MAN for what must be 8 years or so now. Must be some forward planning to last that long surely?
Maybe 2 points relatively close together was just not the right move for them?
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Crewmeal
Yes: Why start at all ?
Perhaps an independent audit of the whole process (not just this customer) could provide lessons for the Management.
Do the public Councils of the W. Mids still have shares in the company ? and of course other external share holders; could be interested in the general process of inducting new custom for the enterprise.
I'm not pointing any fingerer’s: but from a commercial reputation standpoint could lessons be learned internally.
CAT III
Perhaps an independent audit of the whole process (not just this customer) could provide lessons for the Management.
Do the public Councils of the W. Mids still have shares in the company ? and of course other external share holders; could be interested in the general process of inducting new custom for the enterprise.
I'm not pointing any fingerer’s: but from a commercial reputation standpoint could lessons be learned internally.
CAT III
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PK/EK/QR/AEE/PA/TK
getonittt
Aegean still not officially announced but is still bookable on various sites although not the main one however the press release is still there.
Westjet
I would take the press release with a pinch of salt re the destinations certainly what many of us should have done with the QR CEO's wonderous claims last year.
Air Blue It was always a tough ask from nil to a 342 seat A343 with competition on the route. I could have swore Manchester was a 319 for six or seven years and in that time have PIA reduced? PK at BHX will at least get a bit of rest bite, as Air Blue did have some stunning loads but obviosly not enough. The October stats were promising but the A343 is hardly the most economic of aircraft gracing the skies - I do know that economics are not always a factor with some airlines but maybe an A319 via Turkey would have been a better way to start the service?
justplanecrazy84 QR "no competition" at EDI is not quite true with Turkish and of course their new alliance partner could be the biggest loser - BA. There is a good chance that BA are currently taking a lot of their potential pax via Heathrow but I know not sure AAB will be losing any sleep about that. QR will do well at EDI despite the curious start date (slap bang in the middle of the low season followed by Ramadan).
Emirates I think QR would have give them something to think about which presently they seem to be having an easy ride.
Turkish Double daily still not bookable - anybody if this is definite and not just from slot proposals?
Pete
Aegean still not officially announced but is still bookable on various sites although not the main one however the press release is still there.
Westjet
I would take the press release with a pinch of salt re the destinations certainly what many of us should have done with the QR CEO's wonderous claims last year.
Air Blue It was always a tough ask from nil to a 342 seat A343 with competition on the route. I could have swore Manchester was a 319 for six or seven years and in that time have PIA reduced? PK at BHX will at least get a bit of rest bite, as Air Blue did have some stunning loads but obviosly not enough. The October stats were promising but the A343 is hardly the most economic of aircraft gracing the skies - I do know that economics are not always a factor with some airlines but maybe an A319 via Turkey would have been a better way to start the service?
justplanecrazy84 QR "no competition" at EDI is not quite true with Turkish and of course their new alliance partner could be the biggest loser - BA. There is a good chance that BA are currently taking a lot of their potential pax via Heathrow but I know not sure AAB will be losing any sleep about that. QR will do well at EDI despite the curious start date (slap bang in the middle of the low season followed by Ramadan).
Emirates I think QR would have give them something to think about which presently they seem to be having an easy ride.
Turkish Double daily still not bookable - anybody if this is definite and not just from slot proposals?
Pete
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Must be some forward planning to last that long surely?
Yes: Why start at all ?
Perhaps an independent audit of the whole process (not just this customer) could provide lessons for the Management.
Perhaps an independent audit of the whole process (not just this customer) could provide lessons for the Management.
of course their new alliance partner could be the biggest loser - BA. There is a good chance that BA are currently taking a lot of their potential pax via Heathrow
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I hear that the Air Blue was shipping a fair amount of cargo, so possibly they do have an aircraft unexpectedly out of service for a month or two. Fortunately I don't get involved with such things anymore 
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TURKMEN
onyxcrowle
Nothing random about it - It connects on to Amritsar and caters for West Mids Sikhs or as some would say VFR traffic! Suffering a little at the moment due to shiny new 787's plying the Amritsar route via Delhi.
Pete
Nothing random about it - It connects on to Amritsar and caters for West Mids Sikhs or as some would say VFR traffic! Suffering a little at the moment due to shiny new 787's plying the Amritsar route via Delhi.
Pete
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This is the same rather crashy Air Blue from Pakistan?
This is the one we're crediting with good forward planning?
Not sure you can pin this one on BHX
Funny how people seem quick to ignore the fact Air Blue have been serving the UK since 2007, which, unless my maths is well out, certainly longer than some of the basket case airlines they have now been grouped with (Air Shylet, flyswe, flywhoo etc). I would imagine some of the outbursts are just bitterness that a new long haul route from BHX hasn't quite turned out how people had hoped.
I am fairly sure the route planning process would have been someone "in authority" pointing at map shouting "Fly there! Fly there!" Or perhaps Air Blue undertook a rigorous market assesment beforehand? I think we're attaching a level of sophistication here that's not actually there
Normally, Im usually a fan of your posts and keen eye for analysis, however, Im not sure whether its late night giddiness on your part, but I think your being overly harsh this time and I cannot fathom why you are doing so. I am not a supporter of Air Blue, nor have I ever flown on them, but, I do think there at least needs to be some explanation as to what has actually happened, and if the cut is temporary until the runway is extended before the witch hunt of 'sh*tty airlines' commences.
I would imagine some of the outbursts are just bitterness that a new long haul route from BHX hasn't quite turned out how people had hoped.
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Crewmeal,
You have my respect for admitting its bitterness. Yes, at the end of the day it has let passengers down whatever has happened, and yes I would be peeved if a flight I had booked was cancelled in advance.
However, I stand by my stance that some of the comments are a bit OTT, especially calling them a 'crashy airline' due to the ISB accident. In a way its almost disrespectful to the people who lost their lives, almost trivialises the accident.
You have my respect for admitting its bitterness. Yes, at the end of the day it has let passengers down whatever has happened, and yes I would be peeved if a flight I had booked was cancelled in advance.
However, I stand by my stance that some of the comments are a bit OTT, especially calling them a 'crashy airline' due to the ISB accident. In a way its almost disrespectful to the people who lost their lives, almost trivialises the accident.
However, I stand by my stance that some of the comments are a bit OTT, especially calling them a 'crashy airline' due to the ISB accident. In a way its almost disrespectful to the people who lost their lives, almost trivialises the accident.
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A statement from Air Blue :
"We wish to inform all our business partners that Airblue is suspending its flights from Birmingham to Pakistan w.e.f 1st December 2013. The suspension of flights is applicable till further notice and is being done in light of Airblue's expansion plan into Saudi Arabia and was a difficult decision in light of successful operation of flights from Birmingham. We are making all possible efforts to adjust our valued passengers on alternate flights wherever possible. However if any passenger would like to cancel their flight and demand for refund, please be assured that the full amount will be refunded to the passenger. The flights from Manchester will continue to operate as per normal schedule. We would like to thank all our business partners for their valuable support for Birmingham Sector and would again like to highlight the fact that it was a difficult decision, but was made in the larger interest of the Organization. Thanking and assuring you of our cooperation. Regards Management Airblue Ltd "
As an aside ,
Turkish will start a new lahore service from IST from 27/11/13 with 3 flights a week and offer excellent connection timings with BHX flights and some travel agents are already going to use these flights aswell as existing TK connections to islamabad.
"We wish to inform all our business partners that Airblue is suspending its flights from Birmingham to Pakistan w.e.f 1st December 2013. The suspension of flights is applicable till further notice and is being done in light of Airblue's expansion plan into Saudi Arabia and was a difficult decision in light of successful operation of flights from Birmingham. We are making all possible efforts to adjust our valued passengers on alternate flights wherever possible. However if any passenger would like to cancel their flight and demand for refund, please be assured that the full amount will be refunded to the passenger. The flights from Manchester will continue to operate as per normal schedule. We would like to thank all our business partners for their valuable support for Birmingham Sector and would again like to highlight the fact that it was a difficult decision, but was made in the larger interest of the Organization. Thanking and assuring you of our cooperation. Regards Management Airblue Ltd "
As an aside ,
Turkish will start a new lahore service from IST from 27/11/13 with 3 flights a week and offer excellent connection timings with BHX flights and some travel agents are already going to use these flights aswell as existing TK connections to islamabad.
Last edited by getonittt; 21st Nov 2013 at 11:05.
getonittt
The Air Blue statement looks reasonably rational, given that they have (I would imagine) had to fight tooth and nail to gain access to the Saudi market, against the like of government owned PIA.
Though I don't know, I would surmise that the Saudi economy, like much of the Gulf is reliant on expats from the Indian Subcontinent to do all the real work for bu**er all, whilst the local Arab "aristocracy" sits on piles of cash, in the lap of luxury!
So, there's a captive market to be taken between KSA and Pakistan.
All that said, if Air Blue were negotiating to get into the Saudi market, it beggars belief that they would start BHX, knowing full well they'd have to pull it as soon as they gained access to Saudi. It's not exactly the way to gain public confidence, should they wish to return to BHX.
The Air Blue statement looks reasonably rational, given that they have (I would imagine) had to fight tooth and nail to gain access to the Saudi market, against the like of government owned PIA.
Though I don't know, I would surmise that the Saudi economy, like much of the Gulf is reliant on expats from the Indian Subcontinent to do all the real work for bu**er all, whilst the local Arab "aristocracy" sits on piles of cash, in the lap of luxury!
So, there's a captive market to be taken between KSA and Pakistan.
All that said, if Air Blue were negotiating to get into the Saudi market, it beggars belief that they would start BHX, knowing full well they'd have to pull it as soon as they gained access to Saudi. It's not exactly the way to gain public confidence, should they wish to return to BHX.
Well if Air Blue are going to put all their eggs in one basket then good luck to them
New Saudi labour laws may restrict remittances to Pakistan ? The Express Tribune
New Saudi labour laws may restrict remittances to Pakistan ? The Express Tribune