SNN loads
 

Fair enough Unionjet28
The 6 Sunday departures SNN-BHX that I witnessed last year were always less than half full. I found that poor. I talked to some of the passengers a few times (who were mainly Irish living in Birmingham) and it's true their general impression was that the loads were "... awwwright like".
But I admit, I only saw 6 flights out of I don't know how many.

Just my impression. I think a BHX-SNN could definitely work anyway ;)

September Pax figures
 

Another dismal month :{ , a snip from the press release: -

"Birmingham International Airport (BIA) handled 949,935 passengers during September including 604,046 scheduled passengers and 345,889 charter passengers spread across the two passenger terminals. At just under a million passengers, September was one of the busiest months of the year for the Airport, but following the trend set last month after the security alert, was some 7% down on the previous"

Roll on November, December & 2007!!!!!!!!!!!!

The wait for WW & Flybe 2007 schedule is getting to be a long one.

Pete

It's no secret that there is something seriously wrong with the way BIA markets itself - or should I say within the airports' commercial department - provided there is such a thing...

How come EMA has a much more varied range of leisure destinations (one only has to look at the paucity of Italian and Central European routes served from BHX), and it's not all due to Ryanair!

How come when WIZZAIR decide to fly to the Midlands, they go to Coventry - where their A320s will probably be weight-limited - instead of BHX, where they already have a handling agent (Aviance) which they use when weather-diverting from LTN?

Then again, one only has to look at the way EMA manage three based LCC operations on site (Ryanair, easyjet and bmibaby) to realise that they run a much smoother operation, low-cost-wise. BIA doesn't really seem to have woken up to the importance of this sector of the market - and if they indeed have, then they need to address problem areas such as PAX security hold-ups, stand allocation, airport facilities, landing fees, ramp congestion, etc. - which all conspire to make low-cost, fast turnaround operations out of BHX quite difficult when they seem more routine at EMA :ok:

Cheers :cool:

Fouga

EMA's Commercial Dept are very active when looking for new airlines and routes. The chap there SBJ is Airline thru and thru, knows his stuff really well, and given the choice would sell his mother!. Me thinks BHX are a bit in the dark ages when it coms to attracting new airlines, loosing RYR is a good example. :\

Airlines
 

If a major hotel let its rooms for next to nothing, the hotel would probably be full however it would not make any money.

Profit and Loss matter as well for airports as well as passenger figures.

If you look at the airline base for BHX and NEMA which has the more varied. If Ryanair pulled the plug because the fees increased what would NEMA be left with. A very dangerous game putting all you eggs in one basket.

Having said that I also feel that BHX could do a lot better, but to sing the praises of a chap who has attracted one airline, as second choice airport I may add, is possibly with a low cost deal is stretching it a little bit.

Thinking about it perhaps he should have the credit for the First Choice Long haul as well

NEMA is certainly, on the surface, having the better time of it at the moment however expansion for the Midlands be it BHX,NEMA or COV can be viewed as good.


Centre Cities

For the record, Ryanair have NOT pulled out of BHX. They have taken away the once-daily Murcia and Gerona rotations when the special landing fees deal lapsed, but they still have the three-times daily BHX-DUB. They carry on doing them in spite of the high landing fees because of the very good average load factor on the route (I'd say upwards of 70-75%) and know that if they were ever to stop it, bmibaby or Flybe would take their place - or Aer Lingus would add more flights to their schedule.

There is a difference in being very active in looking for new airlines and routes, and actually landing new contracts... Not much new in that respect as of late at BHX. Don't misunderstand me, I think it's a pity. Working there, I know the airport could (and should) do much better.

Cheers :cool:

In all fairness EMA has added little recently in the way of new airlines, what it has gained is additional routes from Ryanair, yet Easyjet and BMIBaby seem content with their lot.

BHX on the other hand have secured an expansion from BMIBaby that will be comparable to the Ryanair expansion at East Mids, in addition BHX has added many new airlines in the last 2-3 years. Air India, Aerosvit, HLX, Monarch Scheduled spring immediately to mind. Don't get me wrong I'm not saying I'm satisfied with this by any stretch but it's unfair to say that BHX are not expanding in terms of new carriers.

Remember we've not seen all of the flybe summer 2007 schedule, as well as the announcement from bmibaby, so there might be plenty going around BHX next summer.

To call Monarch Scheduled a new operator is stretching the truth. It's Monarch Airlines doing a scheduled service instead of an IT charter (I happen to have worked for them).

Yet PAX figures are still down year on year at BHX...

Cheers :cool:

FougaMagister

Carnt see a problem with Monarch, the IT aircrafr still exists supplemented by 3 more aircraft for 2007 which operate scheduled services.

Agreed about the pax figures, but its the balance sheet at the end of the year that counts as well. The airlines may be content to pay a going rate at places like BHX and MAN where they may not be at other airports.

Centre cities

Has anyone else heard that Clickair might be flying into BHX and MAN next summer? They have bases at SVQ (good route considering the growing second property market on the Costa de la Luz as well as Seville itself being a fab city) VLC (similarly fab city and serving the already popular Costa Blanca) and BCN (surprising lack of competition between BA Connect and Thomsonfly.)

Any news when flybe will have all their S07 flights on the market, and whether we can expect any more based aircraft?

bmi

I saw Clickair's ideal routemap published in a Spanish news paper before they launched. The UK destinations I remember are Manchester and Southampton. No BHX as far as I can know :(

Anyways, all such planning is naturally open to change, so anything's possible...

I've noticed that Air Class no longer operate out of Brum. Their flights are now being operated by European with a knackered old B732 or Flightline with a MD83

Fried Chicken

I`m sure I read that as the summer program comes to a conclusion that as there are only a small number of flights from both Manchester and Birmingham they had been contacted out, but I don`t know what has happened to their sole aircraft

G-I-B

Any one in know ?
 

.... regarding FlyBe Summer 2007 schedule from BHX ? It a bit frustrating - I have hung my hat on them being out by now, not having taken advantage of the BMI Baby firts day releases. Its a bit frustrating when they have revelaed their other schedules out of Southampton and Exeter etc....

Whats going on ? They should be able to reveal now with al all the other out for the summer (inc ThompsonFly @ CVT)

Summer 2007
 

CVTDog

I might be wrong but I have never known flybe "summer" to be out
before November and Easy is usually the same.

I think it is the first time that any BHX BMI Baby flights have been released
this early but I would imagine it is to compete with ZB.

Although for once I am not particularly burning to book my summer
hols, I am hoping for some Italian destinations from Baby as I want
a short break in April/May.

My interest is down to the fact BHX has had such a bad year and
Baby now have the chance to really go for it at BHX and hopefully
flybe will react - but the wait is painful.


Pete

Thanks
 

I think I was just a bit suprised that Flybe would hang on so long with both ZB and WW being available now. DOnt understand why or how they can get their other airports away for 2007 and leave BHX until November !

Changing the subject my last flight out to ALC on 06/10 was interesting in as much as that I have NEVER seen such long queues snaking all the way around from security - all the way past boots round to Frankiw and Bennys and then back towards the security gate. I joined the queue opposite the entrance by WH smith - took nearly 50 mins to get through. Dont know if something had happened that day. But its the worst I have seen since the August.

Didnt even get the chance of a beer before we were called ! :{

On the subject of bars

The bar service in the main Weatherspoons is so slow I have to use the little "island" bar outside it to get served. Its a shame 'cause it is well laid out furnished very nicely - if you can get a drink you can enjoy it !

Heard a rumour that BMI Baby might be moving across to T2 at BHX.

Could T2 handle WW sufficiently? Since the bmi group have moved over to T3 at MAN, there've been check-in and security queues you wouldn't believe, especially in the mornings. They're apparently looking to move back to T1.

Rumour has it that Baby will be taking over the "20"'s stands when they are brought into service, gives them room for all of their based a/c to be on the same apron instead of spread about all over the 40's 50,s 60's and 70's. Plus it frees up space on the 50's for any additional widebodies and new services that we hope BHX management will be attracting for the summer 2007 season.

S07 BHX - worth waiting for....??
 

Brumm Brumm love the very slight hint of sarcasm in your post, myself i'm eagerly awaiting the Baby announcement about all the new routes they will fly to destinations already served from BHX (now surely Britains fastest shrinking airport):ugh: as well as the host of new carriers that i'm sure the Marketing Team will attract with their competitive landing fees and incentives - yes I know BHX has a high cost base and that at the end of the day it is a commercial outfit that can't operate on fresh air but honestly if other airports can manage then why not BHX?

On the subject of routes, does anyone know if Air Slovakia are still flying to BTS?? It seems to have disappeared from the website timetable! If so (and please i'd love to be proved wrong) it's yet another loss to the great BHX Destination graveyard in the sky (remember ARN, OSL, HEL, PSA, MRS, ORD, ATH, VCE, BGY, TRN, GRO, VIE, FCO anyone??) and yet another reason for NEMA to celebrate (I believe that BTS is one of the new FR routes). Go NEMA, go FR, I vote you the new Eurohub...............unless as I sincerely hope that Baby and Flybe see the potential there, stick their necks out and inject some much needed variety into the European routes from BHX..........

What BHX Management
 

Brumbrum - what BHX management:( Never have so many routes been lost in a such a spectacular growth industry by what appears to be so undedicated a management team. Never has so much underdevelopment been witnessed by such a major city airport. Who was it said runway extension has been talked about for 30 years and still BHX seems to be light years away from the "dream" of non stop flights (gasp) to such faraway unvisited dull corners of the globe like LAX, HKG, YVR, SIN.

We are constantly told Birmingham is a world class city, and it is, so why such a Z category airport. Name any other city in the UK which has a world leading (size and quality) national exhibition centre and what is probably the only truly fully functioning international convention centre and no global class airport to serve it. YYZ MEL ORD BCN MXP etc etc etc etc etc must laugh their socks off.:ugh: :ugh: :ugh: :ugh: :ugh:

Yes, BHX-BTS is still flown by Air Slovakia (see the recent thread on Air Slovakia) However, almost everybody on the BTS flights were going onward to India & so not many people actually travelling to BTS itself so doubt the Ryanair flight from EMA will have much of an impact

FC

Air Slovakia
 

No BTS flights operated in September - CAA stats show nil and I think a just few hundred for August.

As FC has stated, the intention is to start again shortly.

Pete

HLX Cologne Route
 

Does anybody know which aircraft tend to operate the HLX CGN-BHX-CGN route and on which days of the week?

HLX operates 5 days a week:

HLX3440/1 Arr 19:30 Dep 20:00 Mon, Wed, Fri, Sun
HLX3440/1 Arr 20:30 Dep 21:00 Thu
A/C: Fokker 100

But only until the end of October when the A/C and schedule then change:

HLX3440/1 Arr 19:40 Dep 20:10 Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri, Sun
A/C: Boeing 737-700

Thank you TCX69

BHX News
 

Has there been any news for months? What is happening to Birmingham Airport? There have been rumours of DL,NW and several european airlines but none have come to fruision. BMIBaby are supposed to be basing a further 737 at Brum from January (then 2 more in summer) their leaving any new route marketing a little late it is almost November. Typical of BHX and based airlines most of the listed failures were through poor marketing,poor slot allocation or pure madness like BACON BHX-BHD????!!!

BHX needs new routes most have already reached saturation eg:ABZ!!!!!(From March there are 3 flights all landing early morning almost at the same time??),ALC,AGP,PMI we could do with VCE(again),MRS(again),VLC,BIO,LIS,SVQ,OPO,TRN(again),CIA,ATH (again)ARN(again),HEL,ATL,ORD(again),JFK(again),YYZ(again AC??) all more than do-able with the surrounding population indeed many have been done just not well, remeber BA-JFK first used a 767 then 757 then onto Toronto didn't operate much in winter used FLC aircraft one year!!!!!
Rant over Ill lie down in a darkened room now
Daza::} :}

BHX News
 

Daza

DL - No rumours but with 10 ETOPS 757's by 2008 some are assuming
that BHX will be one. I still believe that a 763 to ATL would be fine
as an all year round destination but it is not on the radar - I suppose
they have better fish to fry at the moment.

NW- Depends on who you believe, 6 757's now allocated and according
to some that leaves one for 2007 and three more in 2008. The
consensus is that DTW-MAN will be the next one. However the
last pre announcement rumours were not that good compared to
DL where I think they were 100% accurate

US Air - This looked good but recent rumours seem to say Oslo has
got the nod rather BHX for the 757, with VIE getting a 762.
I believe the announcement is soon.

WW - Agree, very late for January and very few route rumours. I agree
with most of the destinations on the list, not sure about BIO.
Perhaps Budapest, Warsaw and more to Krakow as well?

Others - old rumours which have faded in time - LOT Warsaw,
AY Helsinki, Qatar Doha and Austrian Vienna.

CO goes double daily again from June 2007 for the summer and it
is rumoured AI goes daily at some point (sorry can't remember the date).

With Durham's Wizz announcement today, BHX will have the same or
less flights to Poland than Coventry, Bournemouth, Durham, Liverpool, NEMA, Doncaster, Belfast, Leeds, Luton, Belfast & Bristol (plus of course
LHR, LGW, STN and MAN - apologies to Scotland for my ignorance).

Have to say the wait for Baby and Flybe is painful but hopefully
November will bring the news!

Pete

Wizzair
 

I have just seen a Wizzair press release that was released today. In it they list new routes. One of which is Katowice-Birmingham/Coventry. Are they marketing Coventry as Birmingham east or are they undecided as whether to fly from Birmingham or Coventry?

Definitely flying from Coventry (CVT). Use of reference to Birmingham is for marketting purposes, as the country's 2nd city would be more well known to Polish residents

Marketing Coventry as Birmingham East?

That's nothing! Aerosvit (Kiev-Birmingham) are marketing Birmingham as London!

(Seriously - search Google for "Aerosvit", the second link is their English-language website, and when it loads, look at the ad on the right hand side. I believe if you book Kiev-BHX they throw in a free National Express ticket to Victoria! :sad: )

Where are we going??
 

Thanks for the info on BTS flights, lets hope the new incarnation of Air Slovakia does indeed include BHX in its route network.

Daza, am in total agreement with you - what is happening at Birmingham???? In the 15 years or so that I have been using it or simply following developments, I have never seen its route network in such a state. Its European routes are becoming completely overshadowed by others (EMA, BRS, LPL spring to mind), BHX has virtually no services to 'new' countries in the EU and it has just one destination in Italy (less than LPL and LBA) - quite simply its a disgrace. If Birmingham is meant to be Britains second city then why does it not have an airport that offers services to reflect that. No disrespect to CVT at all but it comes to something when Wizzair use it as their Midlands base yet market it as Bham in order (I assume) to sell more seats - why not fly into BHX if thats where they think punters actually want to go!!!!!!!! Because BHX will not offer competitive fees to entice new airlines or, more likely, were not even aware of the fact that Wizz were looking to fly to the Midlands - pure madness!! By my reckoning, LPL will have more European routes next summer than BHX, come to think of it in total it will nearly have the same number of destinations as BHX next summer (Please correct me if i'm wrong!).

As for our dear 'based' LCCs that play consistently safe and offer nothing in the way of variety, the less said the better. BE are obviously mainly SOU focused, ZB have simply filled Lite shoes (thats a good thing mind) and as for Baby, I see the latest announcement as nothing but a damp squib, all talk and no action. When the only route developments are on thin routes (ABZ) and directly against each other then what really is the point?? Why arent ZB offering BCN or Baby flying to VCE or CIA??

Even when it comes to long haul, BHX is starting to look a little tired, just the single US gateway offered by CO, I am sure both ATL and ORD could be made a success yet it all remains pure rumour and is likely to stay that way. At least AI is something to shout about. Summer 07 sees LPL-NYC, new GSM long haul developments from GLA (at least we have attracted a weekly flt to Hamilton, some good news), FCA offering Cuba from NEMA, (i'm sure it's only a matter of time before they get a service to Pakistan or India)...................i'm not saying that these airports shouldn't have long haul, as has been proved the demand is there and us passengers should have a choice of where to fly from that suits us, but surely BHX should be looking at attracting commercially sound new carriers/routes to stay competitive. I guess thats where the lack of runway length comes in:ugh:

BHX really needs to wake up and smell the AVGAS, due to management head in the sand attitude and a thoroughly uncompetitive cost base, its rapidly being left behind. If the Airport cannot see what is going on and actually starts to offer incentives, packages, whatever to carriers to attract them before too long BHX will forever be overshadowed by its more commercially aware, forward looking neighbours.

Rant over, I promise not to let myself out my padded cell again for a while:bored:

PS Any bets on how long will the Aerosvit route will survive, a mate who works at BHX tells me that it has never had over 50 pax on board. I cant find it operating on their timetable after March 07.

Routes and Pax
 

Yes but if there is more black ink on the balance sheet because the airlines pay to land that at some of the other named airports will they or the shareholders care less.

I doubt it.

Centre cities

Routes etc
 

It is a delicate balancing act and although I am no fan of BHX management it is not an easy job to please all.

However on a wider scale it is often mooted that more routes brings
more jobs and increases the profile of the area in general. Although
most routes are for the "locals" I believe that there is some mileage
in this argument.

Was it not rumoured that one US firm set up in Manchester as the airport had a greater range of routes and the city appeared more dynamic?

Sill I want to go Italy and I am going to :{ if someone doesn't start
a Rome or Pisa in 2007:) .

Pete

Re: Routes etc
 

About the US firm. It is Bank of New York and the minimum job count was 750.

It is a fact that the more successful an airport the more success for that region and its employment prospects. Birmingham has everything in place except an airport suitable for the needs of a city region forced (like all other city regions) to exist, perform and develop in the global village of the 21st century.

I also take the point about shareholders not caring where their dividends come from but something as important as the airport serving the UK's second city and the surrounding region should not suffer from bad management. BHX pax figures are now beyond acute embarrassment for BIA management, they are a scandal. Also where are our local politicians??????

Sorry to have such a moan but those who live in the region are the one's left behind (on the M6 to MAN, M40 to LHR and most embarrassing of all the M42 to EMA just to get on a short hop to Europe) :( :sad: :yuk:

I just hope the Baby and Flybe new destinations are not the ones being served already.You only have to look at the flights to Florida.At the moment you have 1 or 2 weekly flights which is complete joke.The only country you are spoilt to fly to is India with numerous airlines and cheap fares.But not everyone wants to go to India.

BANOTOK

Is the M42 really that embarrassing to use - I have driven on it a few times and never felt anything different?

OltonPete

Pete - dry those upset eyes Pete - if you can cope with the alleged ebarrassing feeling drivers get on the M42 you will be pleased to know you can fly to CIA, BGY, PSA AHO & VCE from EMA in Summer '07.

;)

egnxema
 

You missed my point entirely which was about services that should be operating (and in most point were) from BHX. It was nothing to do with the M42. I wish EMA good luck in their business plan. Their management team seem to be succeeding whereas the botch up called management at BHX goes from bad to barely describable.

Fly Gibraltar
 

Fly Gibraltar, funded by The Rock, will initially lease two Boeing 737-300s and offer 11 weekly flights to Stansted, five to Manchester, five to Birmingham, four to Bristol and three to Dublin. The airline plans a pre-flight concierge service allowing passengers to pre-order hot meals, snacks, duty free goods, car hire and travel insurance, at the time of booking. Bookings are expected to open in December.