Birmingham happenings
 

As there isn't a BHX happenings I'd thought I would start one.
To get the ball rolling lets clear up the runway length issue from other threads. I have been lead to believe by others not on this forum(or maybe) that

1- AA offloaded cargo on ORD flights on more than 1 occassion due to weight restrictions(summer only and as W-N-C pointed out HOT days)- pax not sure on that one

2-PIA had doubts over 777 BHX-Pakistan due to weight restrictions, that being fully loaded pax freight and fuel to Pakistan

comments...............

and of course any more news anyone?

BHXviscount

The press said that there would be a strike during Christmas week over pensions etc. I am due to fly on PIA at that time - wonder how that will affect me and many other travellers!!!

If it does - then I wonder how many carriers would think about operating out of good old BHX in the future!!!

Didn't AA pull their flights to BHX about 3 years ago? What relevance does this thread have to anything?

AA stopped flying to Chicago October 2002.

BHX
 

Surely there has never been a better time for BHX to announce a major expansion with the government white paper backing it other airports are steadily evolving but millenium link, a few check in desks and some cosmetic work aside there has been little happening at BHX since the Eurohub opened. The limited runway length will affect any potential long haul carriers. AA was one of Birminghams flagship airlines and runwaqy length or not it was a big blow to lose them. It is obvious with
MAN's ever expanding network that long haul flights can work outside London but unless the management at BHX act soon once again BHX will be playing catch up.

AA OFF LOADS
 

My brother worked for both AA and AA on the ground for the entire period of their operation with servisair and BA he was both passanger services supervisor and then a dispatcher after speaking to him he CANNOT remember any occasion when weight restrictions caused all or any of the a foremetioned things happening. AA AND THE AIRPORT HAD SOME SORT OF FALLING OUT MY BRO DOES NOT KNOW THE EXACT DETAILS BUT SUDDENLY WITH RELATIVLY GOOD YEILDS THE SERVICE WAS WITHDRAWN??!!I feel that BHX is trying its best it has a good mix of flag carriers and low fares airlines. Next year will be much better for BHX in my oppinion it is MyTravelLite that have cut their ops that have caused most of the monthly falls as they like their parent are struggling!! Also my brother has hinted at BA are expanding into Italy next summer so far relativley untapped from BHX. Also AZ are well exceeding their loads and are looking at utilising 319s 2x daily in the summer.
Lets stay positive Daza:D :D :D

I asked this in a seperate part of the forum and the Maanchester lot highjacked it
CO UK Services
CO are commencing BRS, BFS, HAM, ARN, and TXL all with 757s if EDI, GLA and BHX (with its 2x daily services) where are all these transatlantic config 757s coming from? Does anyone have any ideas how many EROPS 757s CO have?? Will we get 767s??
Daza

TXL, BUD, OSL, TRN an increses in DUB services the passenger numbers are there. Also what about BLQ,VCE, NAP,VRO, LIS, SVQ, OPO, ATH, SKG, JFK, ATL,PHL, MIA,MCO,BGI,IAD,BOS, YYZ and defiantely ORD and maybe due to car links DTW
What do you guys think??
Daza

I think you've been sniffing glue.

Sniffin Glue
 

What sort of an adult reply is that????
Are you one of the many people on this forum who live from Manchester northwards??
If you have no news dont waste our time with your inane oppinions
Daza

Bradford it is then!!

Anyway back to BHX just so that everyone understands the routes i mentioned are POTENTIAL ones!!!
DAza

Sorry, next time I'll just type a random list of places that I'd like to be able to fly to from my local airport.

ABUSE
 

Do u have any interest in this topic??
Do you have any interest in Birmingham Airport?
I have reported your previous comments to the moderator. If as I suspect your interests lie with northern UK Airports there are loads of opportunities to voice your oppinions on them!!
Daza

The above comments always come up when BHX is mentioned or lies about the airport, runway, lack of services etc. This is why BHX related comments soon fall off the first page so lets try to keep this one about BHX eh!!
Daza

It has always been a mystery to me why BHX cannot support more than two daily transatlantic flights. There should be enough willing travellers in the West Midlands - the population is large enough.

I would have expected the two daily CO flights to be achieving near full loads this summer - all the other regional transatlantic flights were full over the summer. BHX flights seemed to peak at around 80%.

Is it as simple as being too close to LHR?

Could be an advantage
 

Being so close could be an advantage due to overcrowding at LHR hence the 2x daily CO for better connections rather than pure capacity. I lve in Lichfield and its possible to commute to London so Londoners could potentially utilise BHX services.
Daza

One of the problems with poor old BHX is that there is not much consistancy on any of the long haul routes.

Take BOAC back in 1970 with their slogan 'Brum Brum Brum to New York' with the SVC.10 That didn't last long and disappeared around 1974 then along comes the BA 767 operation in the 90's and that didn't last. Oh yes what happened to the Tajik flight that used to go direct to JFK two years ago?

We also saw all the hype about Flyblu to Florida this year with all the promises of a professional carrier, and that came to nothing.

Now we have 'odd' carriers trying for India etc. Last year it was flyjet doing the Delhi run via Gatwaick, this year we think it's 'Midland Airways' with an old TWA 767, oh yes plus one or two other Central Asian carriers flying to India via an Eastern European point.

The only carrier to have proven success at the moment is Emirates. They plan to expand next year so much so that Gulf Air are jumping on the bandwagon, will they last the course? Who knows

Then there was PIA who used to come into BHX with a 743. What happened to that it had to be routed via CPH because of the runway length. Then they tried the services with an A310 which seemed to work and BHX became a nice little hub for them - until they bought the B772 into operation and what happened? it all got transferred to MAN!! Now all BHX is left with is a couple of flights a week to ISB and one to PEW & LHE.

What does 2005 hold in store for long haul operators???

BA JFK AND TAJIK
 

BA had no real interest in BHX-JFK the 757 killed that one as it coulnt carry any freight (the 767 could) did you ever travel on it?? must have been BAs oldest 757!! As for Tajik I thought that the Airline was grounded by Tajik authorities due to safety some years back.. I will never understand why Air India dont fly to BHX??
They would make a LOAD!!
Daza

Daza,
I started my ATC career at Brum in 1969. The "management" said then, that they were looking for a runway extension. what happened? They "promised" a larger apron. What happened?... East Mids extended both r/y and apron....nuff said
The [then] Airport director at Manch [Gordon Sweetapple] dragged Manch into the International league, Gill Thompson carried on where GS left off.
Example 1...Extend runway 2. More stands 3. Promote the Airport
Brum has got the NEC...whoopie do, 'cos it isn't being "pushed"
We also said that Brum was a potential "London Airport" instead of Maplin..
watp,iktch

Air India at one stage used to operate a 707 flight via Moscow many moons ago. That died a death as well

I also remember when British Midland used to operate Kingston flights using 707's as well. I also recall the story that they used so much runway that on one occassion they 'took the lights' with them to Jamaica.

Having chatted to many long haul pilots over the years- they all say without doubt BHX needs a longer runway for performance. BHX is a great place to divert to, but not to operate out of!!

BHX
 

Maybe the reason AI haven't started yet is because of the 777 Emirates seem to have been successful with it but DXB is not really that far for long haul but can't see how AI wouldn't be successful. A new airline flying west is definately needed hopefully AA will return in the not to distant future but 2 would be nice. Also the BHX marketing department should be questioned as BHX is ideally placed for long haul passengers from the M5 corridor and Wales who want to avoid the M25.

BHX is just too close to LHR and LGW, that's the sad fact. Long haul operators are not going to start a spearate service from BHX when BHX#s and LHR's catchment overlap so - i.e. Oxfordshire/Warwickshire borders, Morthants and Gloucestershire.

MAN is considered better for long hauls like CX, AI, EK, RB, DL, AA, MH and SQ because Manchester ahs a far wider catchm,ent area i.e. northern England from Birmingham to Carlise and Newcastle, Wales and Scotland.

Iy's nor rocket science.

If anyone had of said 5 years ago that emirates were going to offer a weekly flight to Dubai I would have told them to stop dreaming, if they had of told me it would be daily and would also be a huge success with both Manchester and Heathrow offering the same flights I'd have given it 6 months, but hey guess what.......daily 777 and soon to be double daily 332 ooh err.

I guess the point being BHX can be successful between the umm mighty Manchester and not so convenient Heathrow.

Be positive and Manchester be grateful.

Also a twice daily service to EWR which is carrying decent loads when LHR + MAN offer the same service. Its not just runway length that hinders BHX, T1 at peak times is at breaking point and with the lack of airbridge served stands any potential airlines must look at the service them and their passengers would be getting. T1 cant really handle more than a couple of wide bodied aircraft at once and with baby and gulf starting the facilities will be stretched even more. What BHX needs is a runway extension and a T3/major T2 expansion then I think we'd see more airlines choosing BHX. Seems everyone else but the management can see this. :(

Alitalia will be using an ERJ145 on the twice daily service during Feb '05 with the A319 being used in the Summer.

Anybody knows what Skyways will be using next year? They are to get rid of the ERJ145s (believe two have already gone from the fleet) & it has been rumoured that they are looking at Fokker 100s or that SAS (who they currently codeshare with) will operate the service with a B736.

Any news who will replace FlyBE on the BHX-CDG from April 1st (the current agreement between Air France & Flybe ends on 31st March & will not be renewed by mutual agreement)? Various rumours floating around, Air France will operate the service themselves using A318/319, City Ireland with 146s or Regional/Britair with ERJ145/CRJ.

What BHX could do with (& it's not a long haul!!) is an Eastern European carrier such as Transaero, Air Baltic etc to tap into this growing market.

Last point, BHX accepted various diversions today from Coventry, an Atlantic Electa & a Pa34 on cargo flights, a Hapag Lloyd B737, a Thomsonfly B737 & an Atlantic ATR42 all on passenger flights. Not that bad as people occasionally complain that BHX usually turns diversions away :ok:

WNC

BHX definatley needs a runway extension, no questions asked to attract more long haul services. The managment seem to want to settle to be the small airport between MAN and LHR/LGW, it can be more than that and long haul services that start here do well, all you have to do is look at EK and CO.:ok:
Aside from that though there are other important issues with T1 such as more gates to handle larger aircraft and this will have to be addressed in the future, they have started work recently though. When i was there on Tuesday i could see them building a new taxiway of RWY 15 and aswell as that they are going to build a high-speed turn-off taxiway.
They could also do with a new satillite pier similer to the one's they have at STN. Have to remeber though this all comes at a cost and i think the airport are prioritising at the moment and i believ the new taxiways being built are a good idea. I think a runway extension is needed in under 10 years at maximum.

There ISN'T going to be a high speed exit off the current runway at BHX, where would they put it?

At the end of 33 you have the A & B exits, then the 06/24 turnoff, then E at the end & then you have the current exit being constructed which doesn't leave much (if any) room for a high speed exit.

The exit currently being built was to be a high speed exit but with the desired angle, there wouldn't have been enough space for it to fit in between R15 & Taxiway E so it is now just a conventional exit just like all the others :hmm:

WNC

I wasn't talking about the end of RWY 33????

I saw the new taxiway being built towards the end of RWY 15 from the viewing area, that still leaves room before that new taxiway and the RWY 24/6 cross-over. IF! that was built it could lead to the main taxiway infront of T1. Either way even if one taxiway was built its good news as most aircraft miss the last turnoff being RWY 24/6 and have to taxi all the way to the end.

Neither was I, I was just stating all the exits of 15/33 on the terminal side.

Unfortunetly, the area between the 16/24 runway & where the new exit is being created is where the ILS Glidepath beacon (for 33) is located so no chance of a high speed exit going there!

Aswell as the current construction of the new runway exit, some of the taxiways are being widened so that ALL the taxiways (on the terminal side) can take B777-300 type aircraft. I understand that when Emirates used a B773 in BHX, it could only use certain taxiways due to its size.

WNC

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They could also do with a new satillite pier similer to the one's they have at STN. Have to remeber though this all comes at a cost and i think the airport are prioritising at the moment and i believ the new taxiways being built are a good idea. I think a runway extension is needed in under 10 years at maximum.
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There was I think £290 million for the Millenium link/Satellite pier upgrade which due to 9/11 wasn't completed so some funds must remain. It wouldn't be enough for the whole package but would make a decent start.

The new Twy 'C' that is under construction is quoted as being a 'Fast Turn-Off Taxiway' by BIA. The angle it is designed as however, is such that realistically we can't exit on it at any higher speed than we can at the R/W end, as we currently do. The ONLY advantage is that the exit will be reached quicker than the R/W end, so perhaps about 20secs of R/W time will be saved. A full RET would have been better, but is not possible given the run off length needed.

It's disadvantege is that it's use ties up TWY 'E' so further reducing ATC's ability to juggle ground movements. BHX is already ground movement limited due to it's poor cul de sac system, and this WILL make matters worse. R/W capacity is only worth having if you can move aircraft to/from it to serve that capacity. BHX fails in that respect. Expansion will only make the issue worse as the stand/terminal expansion proposed is purely an extension on the current structure.

The current R/W extension is YEARS away, and will be subject to a FULL Public Enquiry. Commercially NEMA wins every time until then. Firstly, I can do the same long haul flight from NEMA and carry in addition to my pax, 10 tonnes of revenue cargo. Secondly BIA's fees are more costly than NEMA's, so sadly my airlines long haul work will all be done from NEMA. If the airport wanted to compete it could offer much reduced fees for long haul routes, but chooses not to(it would still make money from these passengers due to retail sales) - it will therefore suffer. Wish it were not so, but it does make commercial sense to NOT use BHX.

bhx NEGATIVITY
 

Negative comments about or own airport!! No wander that people who support MAN and its shell suited ALC bound passengers scoff we put this airport down our selves!!!

AZ plan to operate mxp 2x daily with a319 if pax numbers continue. BA are planning to expand @bhx this summer also. We have BMI Babys biggest base which aim to carry 1 million pax per year Flybe chose BHX to launch its new aircraft. GF will commence and by looking at some fares on expedia it looks as if some seats have already been sold. EK are to start 2x daily after only a few years of ops. I also know that the airport have at least 2 more major summer starter airlines to announce!!
Daza

I'm not being negative, i know we have all those operators starting next year and thats great especially with GF's arrival and Flybe's expansion:ok: :) , all i was saying was that runway length "might" of put off some airlines from operating from here.
Go BHX!!!

BHX has shell suited passengers going to ALC also remember :}

What is the exact date of the start of the new Gulf Traveller flights to Abu Dhabi?

GF
 

Gulf Traveller are due to start on 01/04/2005 Thur/Fri/Sat/Sun then daily as of June.

snippet from the MAN happenings...

Air India have applied for slots from both MAN & BHX..

dont know if it is both or either or

Time will tell

Just a word about the new taxiway. The initial plan was to build a high speed exit, but this was shelved because a normal taxiway was cheaper!

I am lead to believe some movement of car parks could allow the building of a new terminal, baring in mind the NEC are trying to offload car parks for money, the car parks next to T2 could be scrapped and moved to whichever the NEC sells. Can't see a new terminal or any major projects in the next 5 years though.

I'm sure the airport would love to reduce charges, if only they didn' have shareholders!!!!!:ok:

Not bothered if positive or negative, as perceived by some:

BHX is expensive to operate from!

Although the Commercial Dept can see this (doesnt take great eyesight!) the airport continues to make money so that is why the 'top' are not reducing fees!

4U
 

Does anyone know if Germanwings are planning a 2xDaily BHX-CGN service seem to remember it being mentioned but never heard an official announcement.

There were rumours of Germanwings starting at BHX in competition to HLX down the road at Coventry & don't forget, Germanwings is related to bmi baby (Lufthansa both have stakes in the companies).

But, I understand that Lufthansa are looking at this closely as Cologne is situated quite close to Dusseldorf which is served by DLH from Birmingham & wouldn't want to its low cost partner Germanwings to start taking passengers away from its DUS route (where the passengers obviously pay more!).

WNC

Wow things really got heated, been away for a day

One thing I have noticed is that any expansion planned or happening is too little and when completed will be too late. If there are funds available then I think the airport board should seriously consider turning the old Elmdon site into a LCC hub with around 15 stands(no airbridges needed).
This would take the pressure off T1 so it could be reconstructed/rebuilt/extended -more widebodied stands passport controll security baggage reclaim etc etc with the current taiway being built couldnt the main pier be extended to accomodate? This needs to happen sooner rather than later as easier to extend when not at full capacity. It will also send out the right signals to potential airlines and those oh so much needed potential pax to make any new routes work.

BHXviscount

Seem to remember some time back Maersk applying for permission to build a new maintainence hanger across the other side of 06/24 next to the now fire training ground that would free up the Elmdon site for T3.

The main hangars are currently occupied by FlyBE where as well as visits by their own aircraft, the hangars have recently visited by Air Nostrum CRJs, BA 146s, Axis Airways 146s & in the past, Austrian & SAS DHC8-400s.

Don't think Signature (used to be Execaire) & Eurojet Aviation (with their nice shiny bizjets) would be too happy being chucked out of the Elmdon site though.
Also the nightly Fedex flight (operated by Air Contractors, formerly BAC Express) to Paris CDG operates from this site. However, during the runway works, this has been occasionally operating from Coventry so I suppose it could move there permanently.

The future plans do involve moving the current long stay carparks so that the apron/terminal can be extended southwards of T2. This will also mean that the fuelfarm will have to move (which would also be the case if the runway got extended) & possibly diverting the A45.

WNC

It was applied for when Mearsk were there thought planning permission might already be there so the usual red tape could be avoided probably doubtful there would be room to accommodate the biz jets aswell.