BIRMINGHAM - 6
I wonder if they made any money on that (pretty awesome)final gig
It seams to me as though the Bangladeshi politicians thought that what they wanted was western professional airline management to turn around their ailing airline, but soon realised that the consequence of appointing professional business people was that they would make professional business decisions (almost undoubtedly including job losses), which often don't fit comfortably with politicians.
Result - the politicians wanted their "train set" back, Steele wasn't prepared to give, so he got a "letter from his mum" and is leaving on health grounds - and probably to "spend more time with his family".
Turning to the BHX / JFK service, and it's future, or otherwise, I would surmise the politicians would dearly like their airline to be present in the USA, so the service may not be doomed - whether however they find a way of operating it across London rather than BHX may be another matter
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Germanwings
Initial schedule for Germanwings for the winter 2014 period suggests that HAM-BHX will drop from 6/7 to 4/7, CRJ900. Which makes BHXHAM worse off than under the previous BE regime. Berlin to remain as is 4/7 A319.
Initial schedule for Germanwings for the winter 2014 period suggests that HAM-BHX will drop from 6/7 to 4/7, CRJ900. Which makes BHXHAM worse off than under the previous BE regime. Berlin to remain as is 4/7 A319.
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Germanwings Hamburg
I regularly travel to Hamburg on business and for pleasure and monitor the fares regularly. I have found that consistently the Germanwings Birmingham-Hamburg economy fare is higher (by a significant margin) than Lufthansa's economy fare was on the same route.
Enough to put us off using it to travel to Hamburg before Christmas for the Christmas markets we used BA from LHR instead which was £70 less per person!
I don't think Low fares subsidiary will work if the fares aren't low
Enough to put us off using it to travel to Hamburg before Christmas for the Christmas markets we used BA from LHR instead which was £70 less per person!
I don't think Low fares subsidiary will work if the fares aren't low
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Germanwings is not at all a low fare airline, but the attempt by LH to lower operating cost. The lowest fares, especially if with luggage, often work out higher than the LH entry fares of the time. That's right.
However, HAM-BHX never excelled really when it was LH, and so far has not improved as a 4U route (I am writing this without rechecking the historical pax data, but largely I believe this to be true).
Overall it appears that Germanwings is working (better than their European operations before in any case) - see LH Groups's recent financial updates & commentary.
Regarding the BHX-HAM, as a user of that service I (and I know others) alternate between HAJ and HAM, and during the summer period I am likely to combine the morning HAMBHX flight with evening BHXHAJ departure - from HAM to the city centre it takes just under 30mins by train, from HAJ to Hamburg city centre no more than 2h (or 2h20min if taking the slower but cheaper train). Or cheap rental car from HAJ - takes me around 90mins from HAJ to Hamburg, my German colleagues do it in an hour...
However, HAM-BHX never excelled really when it was LH, and so far has not improved as a 4U route (I am writing this without rechecking the historical pax data, but largely I believe this to be true).
Overall it appears that Germanwings is working (better than their European operations before in any case) - see LH Groups's recent financial updates & commentary.
Regarding the BHX-HAM, as a user of that service I (and I know others) alternate between HAJ and HAM, and during the summer period I am likely to combine the morning HAMBHX flight with evening BHXHAJ departure - from HAM to the city centre it takes just under 30mins by train, from HAJ to Hamburg city centre no more than 2h (or 2h20min if taking the slower but cheaper train). Or cheap rental car from HAJ - takes me around 90mins from HAJ to Hamburg, my German colleagues do it in an hour...
Last edited by insuindi; 26th Mar 2014 at 11:54.
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Birmingham-Hamburg
Birmingham needs two daily departures as it did when BACon operated the service. A mid morning 90 seat CRJ is not the right timing or right size of aircraft for this route, maybe a re-vamped Flybe could take this route back? Birmingham-Berlin is suffering in the same way and had much better passenger numbers when operated by LH. I have to add that these two routes are in contrast with most other European short haul business routes which are showing significant growth from Birmingham.
Insuindi I have to disagree about Germanwings not marketing themselves as a "Low or lower than LH fares airline" if you search google for Germanwings the tag line says "cheap flights with Germanwings....." this is also present on their website.
I was shocked at the fares for December and my next trip in April will be again with BA ex LHR.
Daza
Insuindi I have to disagree about Germanwings not marketing themselves as a "Low or lower than LH fares airline" if you search google for Germanwings the tag line says "cheap flights with Germanwings....." this is also present on their website.
I was shocked at the fares for December and my next trip in April will be again with BA ex LHR.
Daza
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Couple of interesting quotes from The Scotsman regarding the launch of QR flights from EDI
"He said: “More people want to come here than other cities in Scotland. We were approached by Glasgow, but we always prefer to go to new destinations which are not served. We do not like to follow people - we like to lead.”
"Mr Al-Baker also said he had wanted to launch the route four years ago, but it had been delayed by production problems with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner aircraft and the lack of other suitable planes."
Even discounting the inevitable media and QR CEO created spin, these comments do not look good for a BHX-DOH service to start in the future. Shortage of aircraft was given as a possible reason why QR never launched from BHX but this seems to have been resolved now, yet there is no sign of them talking about BHX. I can see a third flight from EK happening as opposed to QR or EY launching in the future.
"He said: “More people want to come here than other cities in Scotland. We were approached by Glasgow, but we always prefer to go to new destinations which are not served. We do not like to follow people - we like to lead.”
"Mr Al-Baker also said he had wanted to launch the route four years ago, but it had been delayed by production problems with Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner aircraft and the lack of other suitable planes."
Even discounting the inevitable media and QR CEO created spin, these comments do not look good for a BHX-DOH service to start in the future. Shortage of aircraft was given as a possible reason why QR never launched from BHX but this seems to have been resolved now, yet there is no sign of them talking about BHX. I can see a third flight from EK happening as opposed to QR or EY launching in the future.
GayFriendly
Agreed. In my opinion a third EK service is preferable. A second carrier could result in a price war which could (as in the example of the BHX-Toronto debacle 25 or so years ago) see the airport go from one to no credible service to the Middle and Far East.
Of course the flipside is that over reliance on one major carrier to the region can end in tears (such as was the case with BHX and British Airways).
I can see a third flight from EK happening as opposed to QR or EY launching in the future.
Of course the flipside is that over reliance on one major carrier to the region can end in tears (such as was the case with BHX and British Airways).
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Not sure why qatar and what they are going to do in edinburgh has any relevance to BHX anymore. I accept that there were strong rumours of a start of services but as soon as they joined one world that was the end of it as far as i was concerned . The service may do o.k. from EDI as has the THY serice to IST but they have EK to the south (NCL)and also to the west (GLA) I will , however ,echo the previous posters comments as regards to a 3rd daily EK flight from BHX , i would prefer this moreover than an upgrade to a dumbo on one of the 2 existing services . i would think it's 50/50 on which would happen first.
i would prefer this moreover than an upgrade to a dumbo on one of the 2 existing services
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If this should ever happen, will a fully laden A380 be able to use the new runway or will there have to be a fuel/passengers/freight trade off?
Yes it would be able to operate from the extended runway without restrictions . A380 take off run = 2950M BHX new runway length = 3050M
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Phew, that's a bit marginal?
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Evenelplus,
As others have stated the A380 has been into BHX on a sched flt albeit with only 3/4 passengers to DXB. However the only reason for that is if it was cancelled or tech they could fit on ar B77W.
As its only a 7 hr flt could probably operate with a full passenger load and the required fuel for a relitively short long haul off the current runway length.
I too can see a 3rd EK and if their model continues as theit MAN operation build up, probably the lunch flight would become 3 class with 1st class points.
I doubt very much that EK would pull out of BHX if Qatar arrived (they would only be using a 788/332), and EK have 90% load factors so its not a marginal service !
However it would probably effect our second flight or scupper a 3rd flt.
However as Gettonnitt says, any chance of Qatar was wiped away when they joined One World, who don't do BHX.
So it might be a 1 trick pony but would settle for a 3rd EK flight.
Nigel
As others have stated the A380 has been into BHX on a sched flt albeit with only 3/4 passengers to DXB. However the only reason for that is if it was cancelled or tech they could fit on ar B77W.
As its only a 7 hr flt could probably operate with a full passenger load and the required fuel for a relitively short long haul off the current runway length.
I too can see a 3rd EK and if their model continues as theit MAN operation build up, probably the lunch flight would become 3 class with 1st class points.
I doubt very much that EK would pull out of BHX if Qatar arrived (they would only be using a 788/332), and EK have 90% load factors so its not a marginal service !
However it would probably effect our second flight or scupper a 3rd flt.
However as Gettonnitt says, any chance of Qatar was wiped away when they joined One World, who don't do BHX.
So it might be a 1 trick pony but would settle for a 3rd EK flight.
Nigel
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Turkmenistan are planning to use B777LR to BHX from next month due to high passenger loads on their 757s and extra capacity for cargo required.
Also reported that numerous Air India flights into BHX this spring/summer are already completely sold out. The current average load factor now exceeds 82%
If this continues you would expect them to follow up on their promise to go daily if it was a success which it most certainly is.
TK are also planning to use 739s on their morning flight, Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Fri throughout the summer out of BHX,although this could obviously change to A321 or 737-8s when required.
Happy days at BHX.
Nigel
Also reported that numerous Air India flights into BHX this spring/summer are already completely sold out. The current average load factor now exceeds 82%
If this continues you would expect them to follow up on their promise to go daily if it was a success which it most certainly is.
TK are also planning to use 739s on their morning flight, Mon, Tues, Thurs, and Fri throughout the summer out of BHX,although this could obviously change to A321 or 737-8s when required.
Happy days at BHX.
Nigel