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.