Belfast International-2
I REALLY SHOULDN'T BE HERE
It is not merely aesthetics, ugly though they are - it is a question of design and functionality. For example the insufficient security hall capacity, having to queue in the stairwells to board, the long queues up to the Gate 10-14 area where you can have 700 people trying to fit into the same area as a tennis court. There are far better designs out there that allow for passengers to be scanned through the gate and then to wait in relative comfort prior to swiftly boarding across the ramp - think Schipol or the satellite stands in Lyon. If there is redevelopment I hope the airport closely works with Jet2, easyJet and Ryanair to deliver a design which works for the way BFS is actually used.
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Belfast
Age: 40
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Blackfriar
To set some context my experiences of BFS are leaving ~6-7AM during the morning rush, leaving ~5-6PM during evening rush and generally arriving home mid-late evening. In that context I imagine our experiences in BFS are somewhat different. eg. The inverse of your journey, I’ve done Thursday night 8pm departure from BRS to BFS with enough regularity understand how busy it is. It is bad but not BFS bad.
My views are based on the entire experience from front door to bum on seat in aircraft. To say this is the nature of 21st century flying isn’t 100% correct. It is correct to say that about loco hubs, though.
Let me tone down and describe IMO in one word what comes to mind when I now think of BFS; uncivilised.
It’s not a one off experience which makes me write scathing comments as I did above. The inconsistency of service is the biggest bug for me and that is not hard to fix. Eg. Last week we spent 15 minutes in the priority security queue while the standard queues were flying. My OH’s bag was pinged for a search at security, it sat for almost 5 minutes before someone even acknowledged it and told her, “Oh sorry I sent it there by accident”
”Headphone wearing ******s and drunken holiday makers” are what contribute to me calling it carnage and a dump. Add to the being shoved in a stairwell 10 minutes before my plane has even arrived with said ******s all adds to worsen the experience. Rude and obnoxious are words that regularly enter my head as I travel through BFS. The reasonable response to that is if I don’t like it go elsewhere. My answer is, when I have a reasonable choice, I do. I vote with my feet u less I have no other sensible alternative.
I guess my point is, if BFS and Vinci are actually serious about attracting non-loco’s (rather than just blowing smoke up shareholders backsides) they need to first sort out their **** .
I’m not asking for a shiny new terminal just an improvement on what is currently there and that doesn’t require a rebuild, perhaps a redesign. I enter BFS with low expectations and yet the experience still regularly disappoints. I dislike airports today therefore have paid ways to get through them as quickly as possible and to sit in a quiet space away from the craziness. It is an occupational hazard for me so I take action where I can to avail of services which make my travel a bit more bearable. But, BFS can’t even deliver on these services consistently and that’s what they need to sort out if they think there is even a small chance of attracting a premium carrier.
eg. Tomorrow I have a pre 7AM flight from BHD. I know exactly when I need to get out of bed in order to make my flight without unnecessarily losing additional sleep. I know that after arriving at drop off, I can almost certainly expect to walk from car to lounge in 10 minutes, max. If I had the same from BFS, I simply have to make sure I add a lot more additional travel time for delays that occur due to inconsistency, as a regular work traveller time and consistency are what matters to me. This is therefore what shapes my view of the airports I visit.
Join Date: Mar 2019
Location: Uk
Posts: 109
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Blackfriar
To set some context my experiences of BFS are leaving ~6-7AM during the morning rush, leaving ~5-6PM during evening rush and generally arriving home mid-late evening. In that context I imagine our experiences in BFS are somewhat different. eg. The inverse of your journey, I’ve done Thursday night 8pm departure from BRS to BFS with enough regularity understand how busy it is. It is bad but not BFS bad.
My views are based on the entire experience from front door to bum on seat in aircraft. To say this is the nature of 21st century flying isn’t 100% correct. It is correct to say that about loco hubs, though.
Let me tone down and describe IMO in one word what comes to mind when I now think of BFS; uncivilised.
It’s not a one off experience which makes me write scathing comments as I did above. The inconsistency of service is the biggest bug for me and that is not hard to fix. Eg. Last week we spent 15 minutes in the priority security queue while the standard queues were flying. My OH’s bag was pinged for a search at security, it sat for almost 5 minutes before someone even acknowledged it and told her, “Oh sorry I sent it there by accident”
”Headphone wearing ******s and drunken holiday makers” are what contribute to me calling it carnage and a dump. Add to the being shoved in a stairwell 10 minutes before my plane has even arrived with said ******s all adds to worsen the experience. Rude and obnoxious are words that regularly enter my head as I travel through BFS. The reasonable response to that is if I don’t like it go elsewhere. My answer is, when I have a reasonable choice, I do. I vote with my feet u less I have no other sensible alternative.
I guess my point is, if BFS and Vinci are actually serious about attracting non-loco’s (rather than just blowing smoke up shareholders backsides) they need to first sort out their **** .
I’m not asking for a shiny new terminal just an improvement on what is currently there and that doesn’t require a rebuild, perhaps a redesign. I enter BFS with low expectations and yet the experience still regularly disappoints. I dislike airports today therefore have paid ways to get through them as quickly as possible and to sit in a quiet space away from the craziness. It is an occupational hazard for me so I take action where I can to avail of services which make my travel a bit more bearable. But, BFS can’t even deliver on these services consistently and that’s what they need to sort out if they think there is even a small chance of attracting a premium carrier.
eg. Tomorrow I have a pre 7AM flight from BHD. I know exactly when I need to get out of bed in order to make my flight without unnecessarily losing additional sleep. I know that after arriving at drop off, I can almost certainly expect to walk from car to lounge in 10 minutes, max. If I had the same from BFS, I simply have to make sure I add a lot more additional travel time for delays that occur due to inconsistency, as a regular work traveller time and consistency are what matters to me. This is therefore what shapes my view of the airports I visit.
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Belfast
Age: 40
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
you must have to leave long before the flight then old chap, for the sydenham bypass is absolute carnage every, yes every morning between the hours of 05-1900 every weekday, bfs needs an up to date dual carrigeway, the long overdue railway spur off of it and terminal revamp, along with passenger walkways to aircraft, ps the passengers down the stairs are a LOCO thing to facilitate a quick turn, nothing to do with the airport, though a few windows and a-c would be nice lol
I’m not so agreeable that the stairs is a loco thing. As touched on in a post above, this could be fixed by having proper waiting areas where passengers can be penned in, secured and sat down after boarding passes are scanned. Send us on the stairs when the aircraft is ready to board and not a minute before. That’s an airport layout issue.
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: N. Ireland
Posts: 57
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
you must have to leave long before the flight then old chap, for the sydenham bypass is absolute carnage every, yes every morning between the hours of 05-1900 every weekday, bfs needs an up to date dual carrigeway, the long overdue railway spur off of it and terminal revamp, along with passenger walkways to aircraft, ps the passengers down the stairs are a LOCO thing to facilitate a quick turn, nothing to do with the airport, though a few windows and a-c would be nice lol
05-1900? You're joking!
I'm there 3-5 times a week at various times of day and have, of course, seen congestion at peak times but that is easily avoidable with flexibility (admittedly not available to all).
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Belfast
Age: 40
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
No delays anywhere, straight onto a belt with my trays as soon as I arrived. Peak time on a Monday morning. BFS should take note that’s how fast track should work.
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Belfast
Posts: 0
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
As a data point 2Para, home to lounge 18 minutes. Drop off zone at BHD to lounge in 7 minutes.
No delays anywhere, straight onto a belt with my trays as soon as I arrived. Peak time on a Monday morning. BFS should take note that’s how fast track should work.
City centre to City Airport this morning 12 min !
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 2,781
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
There should be very little traffic going toward the city airport in the morning, so should be quick . Besides, there is a train too, so the bus could be avoided at peak times where traffic going your way is heavy.
On a separate note, BHD is very notable as an example of a city with an airport very close to the city centre, the other notable examples this side if the Atlantic are Gotenburg and London City..
On a separate note, BHD is very notable as an example of a city with an airport very close to the city centre, the other notable examples this side if the Atlantic are Gotenburg and London City..
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Sunny spain
Posts: 792
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Anyone know who and what will be operating repat flights into BFS for Thomas Cook?
its a sad time for aviation in NI.
Ryanair base gone
TCX base gone
and ASL base at BHD also gone
hopefully someone will see the demand from NI to help bring jobs back and see the huge gap in the market
its a sad time for aviation in NI.
Ryanair base gone
TCX base gone
and ASL base at BHD also gone
hopefully someone will see the demand from NI to help bring jobs back and see the huge gap in the market
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Not so many places currently
Age: 60
Posts: 3,791
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Sep 2019
Location: Ireland
Posts: 126
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I wonder if any if Jet2 or TUI will take over any off the Thomas Cook routes. There is definitely now room for a fifth aircraft from Jet2 or potentially a second from TUI based at BFS. The demand is there, lets just hope the airlines are willing to cater for it.
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Antrim
Posts: 1,601
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: UK
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am pretty sure Wizz will be evaluating the situation across the UK. A based aircraft at several regional centres for starters would increase their presence and familiarity. At Belfast for example, one based aircraft could serve 1 daily flight to a Canary Island plus a European city. Budapest 2 week, Rome 2 week, madrid..... a year round staple operation.
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 2,781
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I am pretty sure Wizz will be evaluating the situation across the UK. A based aircraft at several regional centres for starters would increase their presence and familiarity. At Belfast for example, one based aircraft could serve 1 daily flight to a Canary Island plus a European city. Budapest 2 week, Rome 2 week, madrid..... a year round staple operation.
So Ryanair have virtually exited the market (granted a lack of new ac issue, but ostensibly we can infer that low yield as its been scaled back in favour of more fruitful pastures), Aer Lingus have axed their 2 sun routes and you feel that this would be an attractive opportunity for Wizz?
The most suitable candidate to scale up is Jet2. An extra unit is completely plausable, however, all airlines will be looking at the wider opportunities in the UK, I.e. MAN, GLA, LGW etc. So that could pose a challenge in adding capacity, pity about Aer Lingus' timing.
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: UK
Posts: 232
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
West Brit,
So Ryanair have virtually exited the market (granted a lack of new ac issue, but ostensibly we can infer that low yield as its been scaled back in favour of more fruitful pastures), Aer Lingus have axed their 2 sun routes and you feel that this would be an attractive opportunity for Wizz?
The most suitable candidate to scale up is Jet2. An extra unit is completely plausable, however, all airlines will be looking at the wider opportunities in the UK, I.e. MAN, GLA, LGW etc. So that could pose a challenge in adding capacity, pity about Aer Lingus' timing.
So Ryanair have virtually exited the market (granted a lack of new ac issue, but ostensibly we can infer that low yield as its been scaled back in favour of more fruitful pastures), Aer Lingus have axed their 2 sun routes and you feel that this would be an attractive opportunity for Wizz?
The most suitable candidate to scale up is Jet2. An extra unit is completely plausable, however, all airlines will be looking at the wider opportunities in the UK, I.e. MAN, GLA, LGW etc. So that could pose a challenge in adding capacity, pity about Aer Lingus' timing.
Ryanair are having a wee winter rest.
A based aircraft for a sunshine operation doesn't work at BHD - too constrained. I would say that is why they have vacated. For instance there was a late arrival last week diverted in BFS, I don't know how many times this has happened. The costs involved must wipe any profit on that flight. The knock on effect was nearly a 2 hour delay to the flight the next morning.
These cancelled flights will be picked up by current Belfast operators. They don't want all the seats just the cream. Maybe they would operate a W pattern into BHD originating in BFS but more costly to do so why bother.
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Antrim
Posts: 1,601
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
West Brit,
So Ryanair have virtually exited the market (granted a lack of new ac issue, but ostensibly we can infer that low yield as its been scaled back in favour of more fruitful pastures), Aer Lingus have axed their 2 sun routes and you feel that this would be an attractive opportunity for Wizz?
The most suitable candidate to scale up is Jet2. An extra unit is completely plausable, however, all airlines will be looking at the wider opportunities in the UK, I.e. MAN, GLA, LGW etc. So that could pose a challenge in adding capacity, pity about Aer Lingus' timing.
So Ryanair have virtually exited the market (granted a lack of new ac issue, but ostensibly we can infer that low yield as its been scaled back in favour of more fruitful pastures), Aer Lingus have axed their 2 sun routes and you feel that this would be an attractive opportunity for Wizz?
The most suitable candidate to scale up is Jet2. An extra unit is completely plausable, however, all airlines will be looking at the wider opportunities in the UK, I.e. MAN, GLA, LGW etc. So that could pose a challenge in adding capacity, pity about Aer Lingus' timing.
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: UK
Posts: 1,488
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Ballymena
Posts: 1,438
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was just looking at the Thomson timetable for next summer. They seem to be operating only from mid-May to end of September. The Bfs holiday market seems to being handed to Jet2 almost on a plate, unless something changes before next summer.