Belfast International-2
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: United Kingdom
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If Northern Ireland was connected to GB by road/train, then passenger numbers from BFS/BHD would plummet. Remember - 73% of BFS/BHD passengers in 2017 were domestic. A more fair analysis is by looking at international passengers, in which NCL handles more than double the number from BFS/BHD, or by looking at hub links - NCL thrashes BFS/BHD on this measure as well.
Also, BFS/BHD have a 120 min catchment area of 1.95 million. NCL’s 120 min catchment area is 3.7 million. It’s much more accurate to use these figures given by the airports instead of saying Belfast doesn’t deserve a ME3 route because it is smaller than Newcastle. Afterall, the cities don’t encompass the entire catchment area. One point worth noting is that while approximately half of BFS/BHDs catchment area is solely theirs, almost all of NCLs catchment area overlaps with those of EDI, GLA and MAN.
However, your point with regards to the Asian population of NI is interesting. Just because NI has a small Asian population, it doesn’t necessarily mean that a ME3 route isn’t sustainable. After all, there are only approx 60,000 Asians living in Ireland, and they make up roughly the same percentage of the Irish population as in Northern Ireland
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Northern Ireland
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Exactly, much more respected in the local market. I doubt it would be United but American or Delta could be candidates. Just remember I am speaking out of my backside and I have no information. Just suggesting that It is an option considering how bum-hurt BFS were when the United was only seasonal too at one point, thus they would consider other options and the only options are the Legacy carriers.
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: Londonderry
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As for JetBlue it is reasonable but their A321NEOS are coming in 2019.
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: shannonIreland
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What an absurd comment to make, thousands of people from this side of the island moved to canada during the recession...links with canada go all the way back to the great famine.
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Northern Ireland
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Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: six micro tesla zone
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It’s not just Asians that would use a ME3, what about all of the people connecting to Aus/NZ. Lots of people from NI travel there for leisure and there are strong Irish links in that part of the world.
Maybe this has already been discussed, but I see that NAS is reducing SWF to seasonal? Although EDI and SNN are also being treated the same.
Maybe this has already been discussed, but I see that NAS is reducing SWF to seasonal? Although EDI and SNN are also being treated the same.
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: shannonIreland
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It’s not just Asians that would use a ME3, what about all of the people connecting to Aus/NZ. Lots of people from NI travel there for leisure and there are strong Irish links in that part of the world.
Maybe this has already been discussed, but I see that NAS is reducing SWF to seasonal? Although EDI and SNN are also being treated the same.
Maybe this has already been discussed, but I see that NAS is reducing SWF to seasonal? Although EDI and SNN are also being treated the same.
Just thinking about attracting a North American legacy carrier. UA had subsidies and an exemption from APD when they were in, so naturally DL, AA, AC would want similar if they were to consider flying to BFS. With no Stormont in place to approve/finance, would such a deal be possible right now?
Join Date: Nov 2011
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Just thinking about attracting a North American legacy carrier. UA had subsidies and an exemption from APD when they were in, so naturally DL, AA, AC would want similar if they were to consider flying to BFS. With no Stormont in place to approve/finance, would such a deal be possible right now?
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: United Kingdom
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Given that the final deal Stormont gave to United was rejected by the EU on grounds of state aid, wouldn't that mean that United (or indeed another airline) could be given that same deal once we leave the EU? It would be interesting to know if United and BFS have already come to an agreement that would see the route reinstated when the funds are made available post Brexit. That being said, I know that at least two US carriers have been knocking on BFS management's door, so maybe there's a deal being made with one of United's rivals...
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Northern Ireland
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Two American airlines have been desperate to create a route from Belfast? Delta and American, lol.
From where?
United probably wouldn't want to come back to Belfast with the removal of quite a few 757 routes recently.
From where?
United probably wouldn't want to come back to Belfast with the removal of quite a few 757 routes recently.