Belfast City Airport-3

[BAladdy]

Doesn't look like it. The aircraft departed this morning a T39615 to NCL

[Alteagod]

Announcement about what?

[allan1987]

BAladdy

Must been private chapter

[DUB19]

Aer Lingus appear to be staring BHD-NQY in late June. Flights not on sale but are showing up as a destination

[Alteagod]

I believe NQY and a couple of other routes have been mentioned alright.

[Sharklet7]

Any idea what other routes could be on the table? And are these likely to be Aer Lingus Regional flights or another carrier?

[Alteagod]

I believe Stobart looking at a couple of options. I must admit I would have thought we verymuch at about it with destinations

[Sharklet7]

Would be great news if Stobart announced more routes. As you have said it's hard to know where else they may operate that isnt already covered.

Potentially, a route to the London area, Gatwick has been mentioned previously but maybe Southend. I wonder if they would potentially operate to Jersey.

Given the new ownership we may see routes to Isle of Man and to Carlise being operated by Stobart.

[Jamesair1]

NCL has had several attempts with a link to BHD...maybe time for another go.

[allan1987]

If wanting to start other Routes from BHD Ettyl/Stobart

Could run as Eyttl or a franchise for another airline for routes for CAX, NCL and LGW.

ATR Would be to big for CAX unless able to use JS41 for this.

ATR72 used to NCL.

For LGW would need to be a Jet so would need to use E170/E190 on this

[Sharklet7]

Unfortunately, Stobart no longer have their jets. Fleet solely the ATR.

It will be interesting to see if Stobart continue to operate on behalf of other airlines or indeed if they start to sell their own tickets etc.

The route from Belfast to Cork still remains on the table if rumours can be believed.

With the current state of affairs and coverage of routes by a number of airlines is there any scope for Flybe to make a comeback to BHD??

[Una Due Tfc]

A number of formerly DUB based crew being brought back from furlough to work the BHD operation so they're obviously planning a ramp up.

[Flightrider]

Wasn’t there some commitment to locally based ex Flybe crew in BHD as part of the support for the base? How does that fit with drafting furloughed DUB crews to cover...

[Alteagod]

They already have them. They are furloughed as well. I think they just swopping around staff to give them all some flying hours.

[Sharklet7]

Are you sure that Stobart took on any Flybe guys? I was under the impression Stobart didnt take any onboard. Issues with the licences of Flybe guys and well the slump in demand the reasons why.

[Alteagod]

100% certain they took on ex BHD cabin crew.

[EI-BUD]

Southampton route

I'm mindful that the Eastern brand isn't well known in Belfast. Searching for flights to Southampton you either check Eastern Airways website or online travel agents who seem to have their highest classes of inventory at very high prices example stg 254 one way for the near dates that I checked, also looking at September the same well known online travel agent shows no availability. In my opinion I don't see Eastern as bring the brand to drive this route forward, its needs a well known brand like Aer Lingus Regional or Loganair etc.

[allan1987]

​​​​​Flights SOU-BHD go X2 Monday to Friday from 8th September not much difference in prices when you add a bag with other airlines as in Aer Lingus, Loganair

[EI-BUD]

OK Allan, fair point, my intension wasnt so much about price really, I was meaning to focus on brand recognition and the general public, I'm not convinced this is the airline to optimise the opportunities that will exist on this route.

[allan1987]

I see where you coming from though, general public here wouldn't know Eastern well as Flybe or Aer Lingus more since only 2 routes SOU and CWL and at time MME. I guess if ran few more routes say LGW and NCL possibly CAX might help even if include a codeshare.