BIRMINGHAM - 6
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Monty....we don't see eye to eye.....But on this occasion as it's Christmas "just", 100% agree
Anyway ignoring Statler and Waldorf and returning to the subject of airports I will re-iterate the point of my post - it is traditional at this time of year for airports to make statements about the level of growth they are expecting over the festive season, this year we are seeing claims of very significant growth : 18% from BHX and up to 25% (max I have seen) elsewhere.
This is in conflict from comments I have heard on the quiet from SOME airlines and airports (yes I really do talk to these) that sales for the festive season are weaker than expected. Now at some point the significant post-ressesional (is that an allowable word Gordo?) growth we have been seeing (UK wide) is going to turn into over-capacity. It is just possible that this festive season MAY be a harbinger that this is point is on the horizon. I await the true December traffic results with interest.
Condiments of the season to you all.
Last edited by Itchin McCrevis; 27th Dec 2015 at 15:48.
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4 airlines to MAD
But the four airlines involved aren't offering exactly the same thing.
All offer cheap flights to Madrid, but IB Express also offers connections to many cities in S America and Africa (and a BA flight # in case you have loads of Avios.
In the long term, it is most important for BHX that the IB Express link thrives and increases frequencies, particularly as IAG will almost certainly increase useful connections through MAD (eg JNB restarting).
Spain is "on the way" to Africa and S America and journey times will be generally be shorter than via CDG or AMS, and even more so compared with DXB.
All offer cheap flights to Madrid, but IB Express also offers connections to many cities in S America and Africa (and a BA flight # in case you have loads of Avios.
In the long term, it is most important for BHX that the IB Express link thrives and increases frequencies, particularly as IAG will almost certainly increase useful connections through MAD (eg JNB restarting).
Spain is "on the way" to Africa and S America and journey times will be generally be shorter than via CDG or AMS, and even more so compared with DXB.
Agreed! It also seems that IAG want to launch DUB as a hub to North America in the same way is IB Express want to to use MAD as a hub. This is IAG's get out clause of not having any flights from UK airports (apart from London airports). It also offers a cheaper option than UA or AA although pricing can change at anytime.
I need to go to IAD from BHX in the summer and all the booking engines offer EI flights via DUB as well as TK flights via IST!
I need to go to IAD from BHX in the summer and all the booking engines offer EI flights via DUB as well as TK flights via IST!
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TK will increase their flights
Turkish Airlines - News - turkishairlines.com
Turkish Airlines - News - turkishairlines.com
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Turkish Airlines
For summer 2016 the flight is thirteen times a week. Initially with second Wednesday flight added on 30th March, the second Tuesday flight commences on Tuesday 31st of May 2015. Considering the slow start it had numbers wise and competition at Birmingham going East, Turkish have quickly grown this route. Does anyone remember how long it has been operating?
Daza
Daza
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flybe/TK
ZULUBOY
The 195 operates Monday - Friday on the Berlin. It was a fairly late change with it once timetabled to do an Edinburgh in between the Amsterdam flights.
Weekend seems to be the 175 still and of course it will be the 175 next summer running double daily Monday, Wednesday & Friday.
Daza
Turkish started December 2008 per the CAA stats and passenger figures have been all over the place since day one averaging between 55% and 85% load factor. Double daily no doubt will help the connections but also some highly competitive pricing has helped in the last few months.
However it is very noticeable that fewer 321's have visited recently (one today though).
Pete
The 195 operates Monday - Friday on the Berlin. It was a fairly late change with it once timetabled to do an Edinburgh in between the Amsterdam flights.
Weekend seems to be the 175 still and of course it will be the 175 next summer running double daily Monday, Wednesday & Friday.
Daza
Turkish started December 2008 per the CAA stats and passenger figures have been all over the place since day one averaging between 55% and 85% load factor. Double daily no doubt will help the connections but also some highly competitive pricing has helped in the last few months.
However it is very noticeable that fewer 321's have visited recently (one today though).
Pete
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Massive capacity increases a slight worry. QR, EK and TK all offering excellent connections but theres only so many outbound. Will be interesting to see if someone buckles first with a 'change in capacity' later this year- my bet is on TK. Think the same will happen at EDI with TK, EY and QR all scrabbling for the same group of pax. Long may low oil prices and lots of empty seats continue!
CabinCrew
It`s funny I thought that when EK started increasing at MAN 20 odd years
ago now look at it, EK 3x daily QR going to 16 weekly EY 2 daily and TK
3 daily, the same is happening at BHX, simply put if people can go direct they will do unless there is a huge difference in cost and as long as there is competition prices will be keen
Hope you all have the year you have dreamed of because it looks that
way from up north
Ian
It`s funny I thought that when EK started increasing at MAN 20 odd years
ago now look at it, EK 3x daily QR going to 16 weekly EY 2 daily and TK
3 daily, the same is happening at BHX, simply put if people can go direct they will do unless there is a huge difference in cost and as long as there is competition prices will be keen
Hope you all have the year you have dreamed of because it looks that
way from up north
Ian
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ZULUBOY
The 195 operates Monday - Friday on the Berlin. It was a fairly late change with it once timetabled to do an Edinburgh in between the Amsterdam flights.
Weekend seems to be the 175 still and of course it will be the 175 next summer running double daily Monday, Wednesday & Friday.
Daza
Turkish started December 2008 per the CAA stats and passenger figures have been all over the place since day one averaging between 55% and 85% load factor. Double daily no doubt will help the connections but also some highly competitive pricing has helped in the last few months.
However it is very noticeable that fewer 321's have visited recently (one today though).
Pete
The 195 operates Monday - Friday on the Berlin. It was a fairly late change with it once timetabled to do an Edinburgh in between the Amsterdam flights.
Weekend seems to be the 175 still and of course it will be the 175 next summer running double daily Monday, Wednesday & Friday.
Daza
Turkish started December 2008 per the CAA stats and passenger figures have been all over the place since day one averaging between 55% and 85% load factor. Double daily no doubt will help the connections but also some highly competitive pricing has helped in the last few months.
However it is very noticeable that fewer 321's have visited recently (one today though).
Pete
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Norwegian BCN
Slowly Norwegian add capacity BCN has a new Tue flight added to make 3 per week. Norwegian will operate 12 flights a week in total now from Birmingham in summer 2016. BCN is now 25 per week operated by 4 airlines for the peak of summer 2016 
Every little helps
Daza
Every little helps
Daza
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Midlands campaign to cut APD
This could apply to any of England's regional airports but this seems to be gathering pace in the midlands too.
Midlands in for the long haul debate on air duty - BBC News
Midlands in for the long haul debate on air duty - BBC News
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2016
Although a steady start to 2016 there have been additions already to the 2016 schedules.
Other than the already mentioned Tuesday Norwegian Barcelona in summer, easyjet continue to add Geneva frequencies this winter. Fairly new is a third Sunday easy Swiss service at 14.55 which starts early February and continues to the end of March.
This when added to the half-term extra on a Saturday will make 10 GVA flights from Friday - Monday for two weeks at least but still nine thereafter and of course the planned the extra Thursday evening service starts as well on 11/2. Half-term week will see 14 flights and still 13 the following ones until the clocks go forward.
Not to be outdone Monarch seem to be constantly adding to this winter. The most recent is a third Fuerteventura a week from Sunday 14 February (first ever Sunday FUE?) for 4 weeks and then the third rotation does returns in May on a Tuesday. I suspect this is compensation for the loss of Sharm although SSH does appear in the timetable from 11 February at the moment.
One Tuesday in February sees three ZB Tenerife flights and two in the following weeks (next Tuesday just one flight full-stop from BHX!), which again is another increase.
Also it is only a few weeks before Venice restarts but that was always planned although up on last year. February with 29 days and favourable whether could be an interesting month.
All lessens the blow of the loss of Antwerp from March.
Pete
Other than the already mentioned Tuesday Norwegian Barcelona in summer, easyjet continue to add Geneva frequencies this winter. Fairly new is a third Sunday easy Swiss service at 14.55 which starts early February and continues to the end of March.
This when added to the half-term extra on a Saturday will make 10 GVA flights from Friday - Monday for two weeks at least but still nine thereafter and of course the planned the extra Thursday evening service starts as well on 11/2. Half-term week will see 14 flights and still 13 the following ones until the clocks go forward.
Not to be outdone Monarch seem to be constantly adding to this winter. The most recent is a third Fuerteventura a week from Sunday 14 February (first ever Sunday FUE?) for 4 weeks and then the third rotation does returns in May on a Tuesday. I suspect this is compensation for the loss of Sharm although SSH does appear in the timetable from 11 February at the moment.
One Tuesday in February sees three ZB Tenerife flights and two in the following weeks (next Tuesday just one flight full-stop from BHX!), which again is another increase.
Also it is only a few weeks before Venice restarts but that was always planned although up on last year. February with 29 days and favourable whether could be an interesting month.
All lessens the blow of the loss of Antwerp from March.
Pete