Birmingham-7

[chaps1954]

Yes ATNotts I agree whatever the final outcome of brexit will either make of break UK aviation and I hope to god it is makes it as I don`t
even dare think what could happen if it goes pear shaped

[jon01]

Blue Air
Flights to Cluj no longer bookable and have not been operating this week, route appears to have been dropped

Eurowings
2 x weekly flights that operated last winter to Salzburg still not showing for winter 18/19. Flights to Stansted are showing for next winter, so another service gone?

[OltonPete]

Cluj

Originally Posted by jon01

Blue Air
Flights to Cluj no longer bookable and have not been operating this week, route appears to have been dropped

Eurowings
2 x weekly flights that operated last winter to Salzburg still not showing for winter 18/19. Flights to Stansted are showing for next winter, so another service gone?

Blue Air

At least BHX won't feel singled out re Cluj as Luton seems to have gone the say way. The Luton flights after 3 June have been removed from FR24 but BHX just shows unknown but both airports appear to have lost the direct link - all via OTP.

Eurowings

I was hoping for a second season for Salzburg - amazed Vienna is still going or at least not transferred to an Austrian 195. Mind you it wouldn't even fill that with the loads last winter

Pete

[crewmeal]

Primark sorry Primera management are to blame for this fiasco. How could anyone think that providing 3 new A321 neos for 3 bases at the start of the season, especially when they weren't even ready. would work. If they started with STN first of all then planned BHX and CDG for 2019 then the outlook might have been brighter.. But no they totally screwed up by starting with a second rate charter company expecting it to work. It didn't.

[inOban]

'Starting a second-rate charter company' I understood that Primera is a well established Scandinavian charter airline that sought to expand out of the charter into the scheduled market. It's also not the first airline naive enough to believe the delivery dates quoted by the manufacturers. I think that if they provide a reliable, quality service on their short haul routes this summer the damage will be minimal.

[chaps1954]

I think Crewmeals is refering to the 757s that were bought in which were most definately second rate

Ian

[crewmeal]

I think Crewmeals is refering to the 757s that were bought in which were most definately second rate

Correct. I was referring to National's performance at both STN and BHX. I'm sure Primera's short haul performance elsewhere in the world is excellent. Perhaps inOban should read a post carefully before commenting.

[inOban]

I did. You referred to second-rate charter company. I was suggesting that Primera is not such. By pulling the TATL route using an unsatisfactory a/c they have avoided contaminating their brand.

[ATNotts]

Originally Posted by inOban

I did. You referred to second-rate charter company. I was suggesting that Primera is not such. By pulling the TATL route using an unsatisfactory a/c they have avoided contaminating their brand.

Since the "second rate charter company" B757 turned up at BHX it doesn't appear to have performed too badly - after the inaugural BHX/EWR that was very late leaving. I would suggest that Airbus have been financing the sub charter until 3 x 321s were delivered, and after that any sub charter bill would be picked up by Primera, which probably made the BHX operation unviable. Otherwise I really cannot see why they would have killed the BHX/EWR right at the start of the high season for leisure travel, and also can BHX/YYZ that was allegedly selling well.

As previous poster have said, with hindsight not even trying to start transatlantic until 2019 may have been better.

[Flying Wild]

Airfield closed

Airfield closed

Runway Temporarily Closed



Birmingham Airport can confirm that the D86241 landed safely with 152 crew and passengers on board. Birmingham Airport’s fire service is in attendance as a precautionary measure. Runway temporarily closed. If you are travelling today please check the arrivals/departures page of the Birmingham Airport website or with your airline.

The D86241 from Reykjavik to Madrid was diverted in to Birmingham Airport due to a hydraulic issue. Passengers and crew have been taken to the terminal where they are being assisted by Birmingham Airport. Runway remains temporarily closed.

[OltonPete]

Runway Closure

[QUOTE=Flying Wild;10174393]

Airfield closed

Open 16.03

Some photo's in the Birmingham Mail but wouldn't be surprised if video's get posted as usually quite a few enthusiasts around on a Saturday afternoon.

Emirates

BHX hasn't done too bad from the DXB runway maintenance taking place next April/May. EK39/40 on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday cancelled from 17 April for 45 days (or around that).

Pete

[ZULUBOY]

[QUOTE=OltonPete;10174429]

Originally Posted by Flying Wild

Airfield closed

Open 16.03

Some photo's in the Birmingham Mail but wouldn't be surprised if video's get posted as usually quite a few enthusiasts around on a Saturday afternoon.

Emirates

BHX hasn't done too bad from the DXB runway maintenance taking place next April/May. EK39/40 on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday cancelled from 17 April for 45 days (or around that).

Pete

Is this why my flight back from Hanoi to BHX on 27th April has suddenly disappeared? It was bookable as late as 2 days ago. Looks like the HAN DXB leg has gone

[OltonPete]

Emirates

[QUOTE=ZULUBOY;10174571]

Originally Posted by OltonPete

Is this why my flight back from Hanoi to BHX on 27th April has suddenly disappeared? It was bookable as late as 2 days ago. Looks like the HAN DXB leg has gone

Almost certainly the case, these reductions are pretty new.

Norwegian incident

There is a video of the landing but not sure about the rules on linking but if you use a well known search engine with key words Flugsnug & Norwegian you should be able to find and it is very impressive. Wheels on the left and right MLG look damaged before landing and the debris is clear to see after touchdown (photo's on the ground show the inner left MLG blown).

As for the poor passengers, still at BHX although a recovery aircraft positioned up from Gatwick arriving 21.12. They have used the Gatwick - Madrid aircraft, which was cancelled.

As an outsider it did look like the whole incident was handled well although I realise some might offer differing opinions.

Pete

[OltonPete]

Norwegian @ BHX

Originally Posted by OltonPete

.
As for the poor passengers, still at BHX although a recovery aircraft positioned up from Gatwick arriving 21.12. They have used the Gatwick - Madrid aircraft, which was cancelled.


Pete

Finally left 23.08 for Madrid. Ended up with 5 Norwegian movements today and 4 different aircraft - One 788 out of MAEL, one 789 in for MAEL after a long hold plus the 738 movements.

Pete

[Flying Wild]

Originally Posted by OltonPete

As an outsider it did look like the whole incident was handled well although I realise some might offer differing opinions.

Pete

The diversion in itself may have been handled well, but the aftermath certainly wasn't. I would seriously question whether the situation has ever been wargamed by the airport and the based airlines/handing agents, as it was a shambles trying to get aircraft turned around once they were able to make it back to BHX. Not enough staff, Not enough busses available to service the remote stands. No joined up thinking like using a bus to take passengers to an outbound, then that same bus going to an adjacent stand to collect inbound passengers. There was plenty of time between the runway closing and then reopening for extra staff to be called in. Hugely frustrating experienxe all round.

[OltonPete]

Closure

Originally Posted by Flying Wild

The diversion in itself may have been handled well, but the aftermath certainly wasn't. I would seriously question whether the situation has ever been wargamed by the airport and the based airlines/handing agents, as it was a shambles trying to get aircraft turned around once they were able to make it back to BHX. Not enough staff, Not enough busses available to service the remote stands. No joined up thinking like using a bus to take passengers to an outbound, then that same bus going to an adjacent stand to collect inbound passengers. There was plenty of time between the runway closing and then reopening for extra staff to be called in. Hugely frustrating experienxe all round.

A three hour closure on a Saturday afternoon in summer was never going to be easy.

The incident itself seems to have been handled well but the aftermath is still ongoing, Jet2 seemed to have found aircraft from all over the place but even they still have one Saturday afternoon departure to go out (midday today to Zante) and as for TUI some seriously unhappy passengers sitting in Manchester and still delayed from yesterday afternoons Fuerteventura. Their only crumb of comfort it appears they are going on the 789 which is scheduled to operate back to BHX. TUI had 4 of the based 7 short-haul fleet divert at least 2 others stuck on the ground delayed

Pete

[golf yankee one one]

I would question whether the diversion was "handled well"
The problem was apparantly first identified just north of Belfast, yet the diversion was to BHX. Disruption was caused to thousands of passengers (including myself, inbound on KL1431)
The possibility of a runway closure was presumably predictable with a hydraulic issue, and yet a single runway airport was selected.
Why not MAN with two runways where the subsequent disruption would have been minimised?
Could it be because Norwegian fly from BHX and therefore have some "infrastructure" to handle the diverted passengers. If so, their own company's operational convenience was allowed to cause huge disruption to passengers of many other carriers. This is simply wrong and should not be allowed.

[OltonPete]

Norwegian @ BHX

Originally Posted by golf yankee one one

I would question whether the diversion was "handled well"
The problem was apparantly first identified just north of Belfast, yet the diversion was to BHX. Disruption was caused to thousands of passengers (including myself, inbound on KL1431)
The possibility of a runway closure was presumably predictable with a hydraulic issue, and yet a single runway airport was selected.
Why not MAN with two runways where the subsequent disruption would have been minimised?
Could it be because Norwegian fly from BHX and therefore have some "infrastructure" to handle the diverted passengers. If so, their own company's operational convenience was allowed to cause huge disruption to passengers of many other carriers. This is simply wrong and should not be allowed.

Norwegian don't operate passenger flights from BHX, they stopped quite a while ago.

All BHX sees is the 788 and 789 regularly due to the ongoing engine issues.

I can't help with the most suitable airport around but one forum mentioned the crew wanted a long runway with a favourable wind due to the issues involved and BHX matched -
EGBB 161350Z 19011KT 9999 BKN023 17/12 Q10112018-06-16 13:50:00
EGBB 161320Z 19009KT 160V250 9999 BKN024 17/12 Q10112018-06-16 13:20:00
EGBB 161250Z 19009KT 170V230 9999 BKN028 17/11 Q10112018-06-16 12:50:00
EGBB 161220Z 20012KT 160V230 9999 BKN030 17/10 Q10112018-06-16 12:20:00

Pete

[Packer27L]

Originally Posted by golf yankee one one

If so, their own company's operational convenience was allowed to cause huge disruption to passengers of many other carriers. This is simply wrong and should not be allowed.

You, sir, are a moron.

[OltonPete]

Bussing

Originally Posted by Flying Wild

The diversion in itself may have been handled well, but the aftermath certainly wasn't. I would seriously question whether the situation has ever been wargamed by the airport and the based airlines/handing agents, as it was a shambles trying to get aircraft turned around once they were able to make it back to BHX. Not enough staff, Not enough busses available to service the remote stands. No joined up thinking like using a bus to take passengers to an outbound, then that same bus going to an adjacent stand to collect inbound passengers. There was plenty of time between the runway closing and then reopening for extra staff to be called in. Hugely frustrating experienxe all round.

A quote from a member of a BHX forum currently sitting on the 789 at Manchester (still not departed) and he was due to leave BHX for FUE yesterday afternoon.

Last night we started to board. I think swissport or BHX failed as they couldn't get enough coaches in time and the captain refused to accept us and then went out of hours. I'm sure the out of hours was correct because at the rate boarding was taking with 1 coach that took 20 minutes to load it would have. Taken at least an hour to complete boarding.

I believe the passengers went to the Ramada Coventry and then a 5am start for the coach to Manchester. Stripping out the rights and wrongs of this, it does seem an extreme solution to a problem but I suppose unless you are the one tasked to solve it the best way you can, it is difficult to judge without knowing the alternatives. Personally I would prefer to go home (not always possible for those travelling distances)and wait for availability for an aircraft at the airport I chose to fly from and to be fair Jet2 and TUI usually go down that route but obviously not always.

Pete