Belfast International-2

[snn20]

Its not so much that they cant compete in the NI market, Its more a case of them not getting a good deal from BFS along with APD

[JonEMA]

APD is particularly harsh on NI in my opinion.........especially on domestic services that are relied on so heavily for business and VFR. If I were the DUP I would certainly be insisting on a reduction in exchange for their support over Brexit....

[mart901]

Originally Posted by JonEMA

APD is particularly harsh on NI in my opinion.........especially on domestic services that are relied on so heavily for business and VFR. If I were the DUP I would certainly be insisting on a reduction in exchange for their support over Brexit....

This is totally true but FR knew this going in. Its only the same APD that BE and U2 have to contend with. All I hear is negative reports about FR here, people see them as the last resort almost.

[Startledgrapefruit]

Originally Posted by mart901

This is totally true but FR knew this going in. Its only the same APD that BE and U2 have to contend with. All I hear is negative reports about FR here, people see them as the last resort almost.

If a person from Northern Ireland goes on the web and sees a flight for £4.99 they think bargan !
Add on the extras and it ends up £98 they feel they have been done
Other airline charges £105 in total from start, then northern ireland person thinks good deal and those other wee feckers tried to rip me off.
we are a weird we bunch over here when it comes to money ! Especially those Antrim ones
Ryanair almost blame the customer when they talk about low fares now.

[EI-BUD]

Originally Posted by mart901

This is totally true but FR knew this going in. Its only the same APD that BE and U2 have to contend with. All I hear is negative reports about FR here, people see them as the last resort almost.

This is the key point. They knew in advance. The APD is penal on UK domestic as it is chargeable on both legs of the journey, but for say Spain or sun routes it is only on departure. All airlines are subject to the same APD as the competition...
​​​​​
The real issue is that easyJet are stronger now. They are holding firm. Sadly, Ryanair chased Wizz of some routes into the Polish market. In typical Ryanair style they come in chase out the competition, then exit. The most recent example of this is Dublin/Stuttgart, Aer Lingus have exited, now Ryanair will too...

With some luck easyJet and Jet2 will fill some of the void...

EI-BUD

[owenc]

Very rude ground crew member today. Stalking me about using my phone and then laughing.

[All names taken]

Originally Posted by mariofly12

i don't understand how a sun destination, as popular as Malta,has failed to be kept year-round, and ends up a monopoly route by Jet2, and that only seasonal..Why would it be any different to Canaries and Southern Spain?

Have you ever been to Malta in the winter? Like much of the Med, it is cool, damp and unwelcoming. Nothing whatsoever like the Canaries climate. There is a reason why seasonal routes are seasonal you know......apart from those with vfr components. And there are few to none of those in the NI / Malta market.
It's nothing to do with airlines not liking NI it's just the market

[All names taken]

By the way, while I'm on a rare visit to Pprune, it's a pity about the reduction of RYR service to MAN.....the missus and the kids have made far more trips in recent times back home than she would have considered previously. Of course on the downside, it's made it more difficult for me to make an excuse to not visit the in-laws. Ha. Swings and roundabouts. And frankly as an impassive 'bum on seat' the offering between EZY and RYR is imperceptible. After 'price on the day', only the airport experience at MAN swings the vote - recommend EZY from T1 outbound and RYR to T3 back or v/v from your end.

[sealink]

The FR BGY route seems to be not operating November and only starting again for Christmas. Is this really the case? I hope its not the start of the end.

[Startledgrapefruit]

Originally Posted by sealink

The FR BGY route seems to be not operating November and only starting again for Christmas. Is this really the case? I hope its not the start of the end.

As I mentioned a few posts back
I think they have a contract to "opperate" some flights and once that's done they are gone
The ones in the "know" on this fourum are very quiet and have not said that I am wrong so i.assume I am right .

[PPRuNeUser0176]

The schedule indicates ski traffic is what they are after.

[inOban]

Just as EZY suspend EDI to Lyon at the same time of year.

[mariofly12]

Originally Posted by All names taken

Have you ever been to Malta in the winter? Like much of the Med, it is cool, damp and unwelcoming. Nothing whatsoever like the Canaries climate. There is a reason why seasonal routes are seasonal you know......apart from those with vfr components. And there are few to none of those in the NI / Malta market.
It's nothing to do with airlines not liking NI it's just the market

I beg to differ..Tenerife or Las Palmas in the winter can be cool and damp too and so can other places in S.Europe..They have mild temps but do not avoid occasional damp weather..Now Malta most of the year is sunny and temperatures reach 18C in winter..Occasionally of course you get bad cold weather but it doesnt last long..So i see it more or less the same..Either way,maybe now FR is pulling out, Ezy could come back..

[kildress]

Belfast International Airport lounge ranked joint third worst in the UK

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/belfast-international-airport-lounge-ranked-joint-third-worst-in-the-uk-37941534.html

[El Bunto]

Originally Posted by kildress

Belfast International Airport lounge ranked joint third worst in the UK

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/n...-37941534.html

"...ranked the Causeway Lounge at the Belfast International poorly because of its lack of shower facilities, made-to-order dishes, sparkling wine or champagne, spa facilities and fast-track premium security."

Oh the horrors of business-class travel. No spa! The inhumanity!

Wait, aren't they supposed to be working? I'm fairly sure they'll be charging the travel time to some account.

[2Para]

Thats what happens when they're is no premier service operating ex bfs, just no need for a business lounge with everything lo co.

[Alteagod]

Never paid £27.50 in my puff to get in. Always deals.. got in fir £18 about 18 months ago

[EGAC is Better]

Originally Posted by Alteagod

Never paid £27.50 in my puff to get in. Always deals.. got in fir £18 about 18 months ago

i was in around 2 months ago and heard staff at the door charge £27.50 for a walk in. They were also going to charge me the same for my guest if I didn’t use the guest rate available with my lounge pass.

Wait, aren't they supposed to be working? I'm fairly sure they'll be charging the travel time to some account.

They were working and their job was to review the lounge. Thats what they did and to be honest, the sippets published by the Telegraph are all fair comments. The only positive thing it doesn’t mention is that the Causeway Lounge is a place of relative calm in an otherwise horrible and over crowded terminal.

[Husky One]

Unfortunately the Causeway Lounge suffers from the same ineptitude as the rest of BFS. It is certainly a nicer place to spend time as the relic surrounding it however it has failed to keep up with other offerings in the UK. It is now regularly overcrowded and fails to offer anything like the level of catering or drinks offered in other lounges. The staff are great but the corporate feel smacks of the minimum to get by with. That said the City’s offerings aren’t exactly great either. The BA lounge is poor and offers no hot food options at all. Neither lounge at BHD even has their own toilet. Pretty pathetic really.

[GAZMO]

Is Ryanair dropping Milan Bergamo as well. Doesn't appear to be booked after October?

Are they going to leave BFS totally?