Could that KLM rumour be connected to Cityjet/Air France from BHD ?

With the Air Berlin To STN finishing are we likely to Ryanair reinstating the route?

last week I would have said yes, but with all the 'cut-backs' that FR are carrying out at STN I wouldn't bet on it.

Has Air Berlin actually confirmed this, or is it still speculation?

Just a word on the Belfast corridor its interesting to note that despite AF/BE/BD/AB - 4 carriers operating flights to all London airports except Luton from BHD. One carrier EZY operates to 3, not including the main airport in London (Heathrow), from BFS, yet there are more passengers carried BFS to London, than BHD to London. What will happen if EI come in on BFS/LHR, and AB leave BHD/STN. The only hope from BHD is that FR start London. However if anyone needed convincing of BFS or BHD for popularity well statistics speak for themselves.

If Ryanair are to announce additional services, and that seems likely, they would be daft to do so prior to the judical review in September. Belfast City is not the same as CODA and they may find that the stength of opposition from the residents to the bullish attitude of the airport and the airline is greater than both imagined.
The stats do show that the masses prefer BFS but this may change when a real low cost operator sets up shop at BHD. I do however feel, as I've said before, that the one thing made the 'city' one of the best airports was that it was focused more on the business market than the volume market. But as the numbers were declining, throught abuse of monopoly positions and in the other case, just extremely poor service, the airport were left with no choice but to change their strategy, or no one would want to buy it!

So what happens from here. Already there is speculation about the future development of Fr at Bhd. The management at Bhd have stated at the time of the Fr news that they want to grow Bhd to 4m pax, almost as busy as Bfs is now, in the middle of a housing estate. I think the way they are handling this could cause them problems over the limits that they operate to. Lets assume that Fr grow but the airport can't get an increase to pax limits. To satisfy Fr, others are pushed out to Bfs.

Bhd could find themselves left with only Fr and no money/profit to improve the airport further. The rest settle at Bfs and prosper. Bfs could find themselves with the other operators and able to refuse Fr. At some point, all companies make poor decisions and this may be one by both Fr and Bhd. I think both have paniced for different reasons.Time will tell.

True Blue

Its the thin end of the wedge if the cap is lifted. FR and BHD are going to sit quietly until Sept, no major more routes from FR. Once the review has lifted the cap, bang BHD announce application for re-organisation of terminal to include new office complex near the terminal, which will include hotel. The offices being moved free up space in the terminal for airport expansion. Also runway extension will follow on shortly afterwards. FR will announce a lot of new routes in waves from Sept. Would somebody in the know explain if the cap is removed will it be replace by a new cap or will the 45,000 movements restrict the cap anyway.

The operating hours might also need chaging, that is possibly the most contentious issue for the residents. While I'm not quite in the flight path, I'm not far enough away that I wouldn't be impacted. Long been a supporter of City, whether that continues is under consideration.

Surely Emirates must be interested in starting Belfast, they do Ncl, Gla etc. They would pick up plenty of Aussie/far east traffic etc and I read today 6 million people visit Belfast yearly. From Beeb site 6 million that must include 'daily commuters' !!!. Belfast is apparently in the top ten must see destinations this year 'Lonely planet guide' The Dubai services are doing well out of Dublin. Emirates have been sniffing around in the past when things were dodgy here, so now is the time to start flying. Anybody out there got any info.

It would be excellent to see some real medium/long haul carriers flying the airways towards NI, but i suspect that BFS would have to improve infrastructure i.e. Stands and airbridges.

But at the same time i feel that BFS is too busy looking for low-cost carriers and possibly preparing for the small green fungus inducing machine, to try and attract the likes of EK!!!!!

easyjet will base another aircraft at Belfast this winter (6) and announce Gdansk, Venice, Barcelona and Prague on Friday.

Excellent news 6 aircraft, as these are winter routes I don't think any would be daily especially as LS operate 2 of these. Hopefully they will increase Paris to 2 daily bring Gla back to 4 possibly Edi as well. The CDG could be first out, followed by a mid morning to Gla then EDI followed by one of the new routes M-F, then new destinations all weekend what do you think? Good to see EZY fighting back.

Hopefully the Jet 2 reaction will be positive and not result in them reducing frequency or dropping existing existing services.
Any sign of the Aer Lingus, long awaited announcement, we are now in August and the rumours were that it was to be around now. All sustainable, credible, new business is to be welcomed but the return of the LHR route to BFS will be crowning glory for Aldergrove, especially with all of the other possibilities that Aer Lingus would bring to the table.
Perhaps we'll know more early next week!

I heard that there was to be an announcement from EI on 7th AUG

Just read that Krakow is to increase to 5 weekly and Paris 8 (Beeb site) Paris to 8 seems strange, possible mistake by beeb as that would be 1 daily with 1 extra on only 1 day, unless they are adding one extra rotation on a Fri only or something.

And your source for the EI announcement is?

The illustrious Antrim Guardian had an interview with the airport authority and said that the news on the BBC that EI were coming was very premature, nothing had been decided, they were in negotiations and that was it.

EI at BFS
 

Announcement expected next week. Cork and Shannon to lose a LHR rotation to make room for BFS-LHR slots. Cork to get a 321 to make up for some of the loss in capacity.

Easyjet at BFS
 

Easyjet just announced four new routes for BFS, Barcelona and Prague which will be competing with Jet2.com, and Gdansk and Venice. Basing a 5th aircraft.

Source www.u.tv

You would have thought that Easy could have offered something different to Bcn and Pra, when we already have services to those cities. I hope that Jet2 have faith in their product and compete.

I would have liked to see an early to Lgw, but no, lets fly on a route already served. Doesn't the like of Lgw warrant an early departure and extra frequency, it always looks full when I'm on it? They would have been better trying to get Ams and Cdg up to 2 daily.

True Blue

TRUE BLUE,

I have flown loads of times with EZY to GLA, CDG, BRS, EDI, LPL, GLA, Nice, LGW, STN, LTN and frequently on a number of those especially Paris. Not once have I been on a flight less than 70% full. Would agree an early morning to LGW would complete that route, but I think its been mentioned here before about slots in the morning being a problem at LGW. I thought they would have went 2 daily to Paris. They have announced 8 per week which seems strange. EI possibly to code sharing with KLM on AMS 2 daily rumoured.