So why is Southampton successful with its short runway and Bournemouth not? Much of that has got to be down to public transport links and ease of access. For most people Hurn might as well be on the moon, as they can’t get to the place with any ease.

A good rail link means that the catchment area is enlarged considerably. Just look at what is happening to Southend now that they have a railway station. As the airport is miles away from the railway network, has no national coach links and just a local hourly bus service the future looks bleak.

Southampton is completely different with a catchment that includes southwest London, Portsmouth, Bournemouth, Brighton even. The fact that its runway is short has indirectly assisted BOH in attracting medium to longer range routes with aircraft above 120 seats, including ourselves. If SOU had a runway that was as long as BOH's then i would worry about the ability of BOH to attract carriers.

SOU's success has been down to high frequency, business traffic using smaller aircraft on short haul routes. This is how BOH and SOU have competed effectively with each other, almost complementing each other.

I see the future for SOU as more of the same, and for BOH with less of what SOU has and more longer / medium haul routes with a heavy emphasis on seasonal leisure based traffic and Ryanair might not always be part of that future.

Civil Aviation Authority stats show that the passenger numbers at Bournemouth have fallen by 70 percent in the last four years During the first three months of this year it had approx 60,000 passengers, compared with more than 200,000 during the same period in 2007.

Also during this same period APD has risen by 140 percent on short-haul flights, from £5 to £12,

Obviously there is a correlation between the tax take on APD, rising security costs and the sheer hassle factor which puts Joe Public off short regional flights when compared to train travel or cross channel ferries.

So from MAGs’ commercial point of view, having hived off the profitable side of the airport ( NW Industrial Sector ) and leveraged debt onto the passenger side through new facilities, It makes sense to flog this debt off to ANO and proceed with getting STN, which has 22 Million passengers.

Multiply that by £2.50 kerching !!!!

Rumour is announcement due in July…but management didn’t say which year :eek: .

Freight doggy,
Not sure where your rumours are from but performance figures show better than expected passenger numbers for the last few months, no sign of any sale.
Also, do you know anyone who buys debt? Perhaps I could flog them my mortgage at the same time.

The only thing that is happening on 6 th July is a few free holidays being given away by the airport

Maybe its the new arrivals area ??????? or has that already opened:rolleyes:

Jonathan Bailey, external affairs director at Manchester Airports Group, said recently that he saw ‘no future’ for the UK's smallest airports, blaming high tax and regulatory and security costs, which he said had a greater impact in the regions.

I wonder if he was thinking about Bournemouth when he made those comments.

Passengers fall at regional airports by up to 70%; APD blamed : Prestwick Airport News Stories

Does any-one know if the Duch F-16 is coming to the Air Pageant and will it be based at Cobham like last year?

bob1810

Thanks for the update Area51
bob1810

The A330 is already in the Cobham hanger, it arrived 2-3 weeks ago. VP-BAT is living outside temporarily

Big announcment
 

Todays BIG announcement from BOH. Free Crunchie at local Thomas Cook Travel Agents....Phew :p

A330
 

The A330 isnt in Cobhams hanger it arrived a few weeks ago on a proving flight & left the same day....more likely is that Cobham are preparing the hanger ready for the A330's arrival later this year.

Easyjet
 

So Easyjet are basing 3 A/C at Exeter !

What exactly were the new commecial team at Bournemouth Airport doing ?

We can assume that Exeter will be handling the Olympic Traffic in 2012 !

Wake up MAG, time for some changes in the Management Team, it is all going horribly wrong. Although it may well be too late. ( or do MAG really beleive it's the global economy to blame, which didn't stop EZY cretaing the new base up the road )

Any update on what will be flying ex BOH this winter ? Will Easy still operate the Geneva or will that now move to Exeter ? along with the majority of the Thomson Cruise flights !

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse eh, rumours that Ryanair won't return in Feb 2012 ?

They just as well switch the Runway lights off, and let the glow of embaressment be a beacon to the GA, better whack the landing fees up and increase the drop off chage to a fiver.

Have not heard Easy Jet basing in Exeter ?

Word at Thomas Cook is that next summers Dalaman and Antalya flights will not be operating and there is a hold on sales of these holidays at the moment while a final decision is made !

This winter will only see Thomson operate to TFS , LPA , PFO , ACE , SSH and ski flights to TRN

Easy Jet are still operating 8 flights a week from mid Dec and only 3 cruise flights to Barbados are scheduled with Thomson

So with the greatest will in the world at the moment on some days no flights and the maximum on others is 2 flights

I can't say i have heard this anywhere on any other aviation site and believe me I look at lots on a daily basis!

Where have you heard this?

Personally I very much doubt easyjet would base at Exeter with Bristol its largest base outside of London so nearby! For the same reason that neither easy or Ryanair will go to Cardiff.

I can only see one reason why Easyjet would consider Exeter and that would be dissatisfaction with level of charges and service at Bristol, but the CEO of Easyjet recently commented that BRS was one of there most profitable bases in the UK.

I could be proved totally wrong, but this is my personal view and no I have no connection with Bristol or Easyjet before anyone asks!

The biggest issue with the smaller regional airports like EXT, BOH, CWL, MME etc is that while we have such high government taxes on aviation in the UK and with the current state of the economy they will struggle to attract airlines, which in turn sends the passengers to other larger terminals.

Personally the APD tax needs to be scrapped or reduced considerably to get airlines and passengers get flying again!

andrew

I'm sure whining DILLTHEDOG means that easyJet has a new base at Southend.

People like you need to get out more and stop moaning!

Operating Profit 3m
 

BOH made an operating profit of 3m according to the MAG report and accounts for 2010. After taxes and expenses it measured a loss of (0.4m)

Not bad considering the fall in traffic.

Cost per pax has risen considerably given the new terminal, but income per pax has also risen quite fast.

Will be interesting to see how 2011 pans out.

These figues illustrate quite well just how much traffic/business at BOH is NOT pax related.

All the doom mongers out there take note.

Oh Ryanair are so wonderful in supporting 30 local jobs...wouldn't those people still be there looking after Thompson, Thomas Cook and the GA other flights?

Anyway, as we all pretty much suspected,Ryanair shut down for winter then back with a bang in 2012.

Just need another carrier to stir things up/pay back the mortgage on the terminal.

Thanks Ryanair for Announcing Spring / Summer Flights.
Bournemouth Spring/Summer 2012 Schedule


Ryanair, the world’s favourite airline, today (6th July) launched its Bournemouth Spring/Summer 2012 schedule during which Ryanair will base 1 aircraft in Bournemouth from Feb – Oct 2012 and operate 7 spring and 12 summer routes - including Alicante, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and Tenerife. Ryanair’s 300,000 passengers p.a. at Bournemouth will sustain over 30 jobs at Bournemouth airport.

Ryanair celebrated its spring/summer schedule at Bournemouth by releasing seats from £18.99 for travel across Europe in September and October. These low fares are available for booking on www.ryanair.com until midnight (24:00hrs) Thursday (7th July).

How about annoucing your pulling out for winter - Cheers

Ryanair pauses operations at Bournemouth Airport for three winter months

RYANAIR will cease operations at Bournemouth Airport for three months again this winter.
But the low-cost airline will return with a schedule for spring and summer next year.
They will base one aircraft at Bournemouth and operate 12 routes from the airport between February and October 2012.
There will be seven spring and 12 summer routes including Alicante, Fuerteventura, Gran Canaria and Tenerife.
The company did not run a winter schedule last year, blaming the government's air passenger duty tax for their decision.

@Bournemouth Air

Ryanair is grounding aircraft all over this winter, just because they're grounding Bournemouth is no biggy.

take a chance
 

So Ryanair are going to be absent this Winter, then back with the same old destinations next year. Whats the matter with trying something new
such as Ireland/Scotland/Germany/France or Scandinavia, instead of the bucket and spade destinations.WHO DARES WINS comeon MOL take a chance, There must be a twice or three times weekly service to some of these Ports of call to make it viable.
bob1810

More money to be made from sun, sea and sand in the summer months than scotland, plus ryanair have done the whole BOH-scotland thing.

On another note, it was made very clear by a few posters on here inc. my self that BOH would only be open for 9months this year. Stop all your moaning, or try flying the routes and show ryanair that the routes can make a profit in the winter months.

fr-

I've heard the Airport itself is going to be making a big annoucement to it's staff on Friday - any idea's?

Well i would imagine it probably is not the best news they would want to hear regards the dynamics of the airport and the route network that the airport has at this particular moment in time

But everyone working at the airport has seen this happening slowly anyway so no huge surprise , i just hope everyone still has a job and that things improve for all !!

Bournemouth airports definition of a big announcement needs questioning. Last week it was free chocolates, this week the 'big' announcement was a free holiday to Ibiza. So I wouldn't be too eager to find out.

However, i do think it is the perfect time for easyJet to announce a base. Given Ryanair have just cemented their 2012 schedules. Incidentally - they have mentioned Barcelona and not Girona. Does this mean it will operate into Barcelona El Prat?

So for 2011 and possibly 2012 pax numbers look to be around 500,000 each. Big fall from the heights of 1.1m in 2007 and 2008, but not dissimilar in terms of volume to other airports. a 3 aircraft easyJet base could easily propel that to 1.4m in 2012 if they announce it quickly. and 1.4m is still only 40-45% of the capacity of the current terminal.

Let's see.

Dublin, Edinburgh, Prestwick, Hahn, Beauvais, Carcassonne, Limoges, Marseille, Nantes - all tried by Ryanair and dropped!

Also Air Berlin tried Paderborn and dropped it.

That only leaves Scandinavia to be tried.

But Groundloop, you are so limited... :ugh:

Antartica is an untapped market, according to Mr. Reggie Spotter of Christchurch :D

Bournemouth Airport expansion unwelcome to Dorset Council
 

DORSET county councillors have baulked at the environmental and traffic implications of a controversial blueprint for the future of Bournemouth airport which predicts a four-fold increase in passengers over the next 25 years.
In their response to the draft master plan published by airport chiefs in the summer members of the county's influential cabinet on Wednesday backed the concern of officers over proposals - or lack of them - for road traffic, noise and pollution generated by such levels of growth.
And they criticised the master plan for being out of step with local and regional planning policies and transport strategy by ignoring the impact of potential industrial expansion in the north of airport campus and the need for a direct link from the A338 spur road.
In their report to the cabinet head of planning, Andrew Price and environment chief Don Gobbett warned the prospect of four million airport passengers a year by 2030 would outstrip the master plan's proposals for improvements to the capacity of the existing road network, particularly the busy B3073 Parley Lane.
While the plan includes schemes to ease existing bottlenecks caused by the airport access roads junctions, Parley Cross traffic lights and the Hurn Bridge roundabout, highways officers say there is no timetable for the improvements.
The master plan's emphasis on passengers using private cars to reach the airport - an extra 3,500 parking spaces are proposed - is also criticised by county planners who want to see additional public transport measures both for travellers and the increased workforce at the airport and adjoining industrial estates.
Dorset planners also have mixed views on the suggested piecemeal extension of the existing terminal rather than consider the alternative of a completely new building in the north of the airport which would improve the chances of gaining a direct link from the A338 to serve the future industrial development.
The county response also calls for the master plan to contain more measures to offset the environmental impact of the predicted growth of the airport with increased air and road traffic adding extra greenhouse gas emissions and noise to threaten neighbouring residents and surrounding areas of protected heathland

Embarrassing
 

Why? Bournemouth Airport has recently been upgraded to a Category three airport, 7,451ft runway length, with new terminal facilities, and still cannot achieve any tour operators/domestic flights. We need domestic routes, what is the matter with the management at Bournemouth airport? why are they failing to attract airlines... I have recently flown from Bristol Airport which operates at least 80 flights per day. A runway length of 6,598ft.. wake up Bournemouth before it is to late, your missing the boat!

I know this may be going far too deep 'kradsk', but have you perhaps considered that its not soo easy to attract airlines to an airport with a limited catchment area andbigger competitors?

And Bristol? same catchment area, Its no where near the south coast, The catchment area still has nearly 50% of water near it, You tell me why.Come on get real. Bmth wants to wake up.

Yes whatever you say 'kradsky'. Im no aviation expert (who is really?), but you clearly know far more on the subject than me. Particularly on how management clearly arent putting any effort in to attract more airlines and routes despite spending £45 million alone just on a new terminal...

We have publicly said this - the current state of play nothing to do with the relationship with BOH management.

BOH is the first UK airport we have on sale for 2012.

Newquay, Blackpool, Durham, Belfast, Cardiff have been closed completely.

We know BOH has invested a lot of cash into improving the facilities and we recognise that by committing to the airport for the long-term.

Reason for major cut-backs? The state of the UK airline industry is deteriorating. The demand simply isn't there - the APD & rising fuel costs are choking out any possible recovery.

Once recovery is back, BOH could easily support a 4 or 5 ac RYANAIR only base.

Ryanair 1 !

That 4 -5 base A/C chesnut seems to ring a bell, I'm sure I have heard it somewhere before ?

I think you will find that whilst RYR still operate ex BOH it will be impossible to attract Easyjet or Jet2.com and that is why BOH is lagging behind.

The managment have backed the wrong pony and are now paying the price for it ! stuck in limbo land.

Would Ryanair be there if they were paying the same Fees as the other operators ?

Congratulations on backing BOH Management into a tight corner, I do beleive you have them exactly where you want them. ( Mugs )

Note what Ryanair 1 said:

"a 4 or 5 aircraft Ryanair only base"

So, if there's competition in a small catchment area, they won't play. Or, at least that's what he thinks, whoever he is....:)

BOH pax numbers JUN 2011
 

71,407 pax handled in June, down 15.8% on last year (679,928 year to date)

Of the routes that were operated Tenerife, Fuerteventura, Bodrum, Malaga and Murcia showed significant falls, representing capacity cuts. Most other routes showed strong growth year on year.

When I was working there this summer, Bodrum was an awful performer. 110-120 pax on each flight, most of whom were flight only bookings. Hence why it is being cut next year.

Just to add to the airports woes for next year , it very much looks like now that Thomas Cook short love affair with the airport has ended after this summer as they will not now be operating from Bournemouth to Turkey next summer as all there flights have been with drawn for sale and according to local Thomas Cook travel agents they do not expect them to be put back on sale .

Bournemouth is not alone though in having a cut back as Exeter , Doncaster and Humberside have also had a partial or full pull out for next year as continuing trading problems and route demand have put pay to this

Ryanair have released there Spring / Summer 2012 programme from the airport and it is exactly the same as this year so nothing new at the moment

The only company that may possibly return is Olympic holidays to Heraklion and Larnaca but nothing as yet . These services were always full but with the demise of Euro Cypria they had a problem contracting flights this year , hence the flight were cancelled

Fingers crossed for some good news as its going to be an even quieter winter than last !!