Flew out on the 0740 this morning...pretty full...guess 85%. Came back on the 1510...maybe 65%...

Have to say, the two smoothest landings I've had in a long time!

Also noticed that the East Apron stands at BFS seems to have been rejigged...I think there were 3 EZYs this morning facing towards the main car parks, all under new (temporary?) floodlighting...

Have flown 4 flights on EI bfs-lhr load each time seems to be approx 120.

EI seems to have made special effort to keep flights going during the turmoil at LHR. Yesterday both flights taken arrived early - unlike most BA and BD domestic flights.

Heard many positive comments from other paxs

EI apparently still have not got the KL codeshare agreement up and running, with only a couple of thousand extra passengers carried BFS/AMS during Dec they must be losing a packet on this route. Why could they not have had it up and running prior to the first flight. With a codeshare agreement the route would work well.

DB,

With only three rotations into LHR a day is hardly difficult to keep it on time! Oh and we were 10 early last night having had a poor slot on the 1715 and the guys turned the last one around in under 35 mins to depart ahead of schedule.

Bring it on!

Regards

Keepitlit

I notice that Ryanair's summer timetable reverts to the useless mid-afternoon return flight.

:rolleyes:

I wonder have their bookings suffered accordingly?

KLM Codeshare
 

Aer Lingus got the BA codeshare up and running in no time but for some reason KL is taking longer. This is very disappointing and I'm worried it's not EI slowing the process down but KL.

Hi
This is only temp as a new storm drain is being put in running west to east,hence the new layout at present on the east stands with northerly headings.Hope this avoids the flooding of the terminal that was experienced last July.This will change again when the new east apron stands are finished,presently under construction and due for opening easrly April or sooner.
Regards
Straightahead.:ugh::ugh:

2 EZY Fights cancelled tomorrow morning BFS/STN, BFS/BRS, anyone know why.

I see EI have released W08-09 to Lhr, times same as this winter. Ams also on sale, but only 1 daily. Is this to be reduced or is the full schedule not yet on sale? Last time I checked, these were the only routes on sale. I had hoped that W08 would have brought 4 daily to Lhr with better times.

From posts here, Ei seem to be getting reasonable loads to Lhr, I assume some of these must have moved from Bhd. I was going out to Lgw 16th jan just as the EI pax from Lhr were getting off. Seemed to be a lot of business people. I am using Ei to Lhr return next week so it will be interesting to see.

The 19.00 hrs arrival at Bhd has been cancelled several times this week, is that due lighter loads?

True Blue

I've heard that the Aer lingus AMS loads haven't been doing well at all, CAA stats show they've only filled 32% of the seats. The LHR loads weren't included as its still january. I think if the KLM codeshare through AMS hasn't started up yet then the loads will increase when it starts up, it's still early days.

I've also heard easyjet are loosing loads on the STN. Not surprising I suppose with O'Leary and Co just a couple of miles down the road. Ryanair are more of a threat than flybe, so easyjet could maybe stop a daily flight to STN and increase the LGW. It would be good if they did this as maybe a long awaited early morning flight to LGW would start, but that's all just speculation.

Easyjet start a 06:30 departure BFS-LGW at the end of March when the nightstop an extra a/c at bfs. So hopefully this is help to take some flybe pax from bhd.

At least 2 STN/BFS, one LPL/BFS and also the Malaga flight cancelled today, all by EZY. Are they feeling the squeeze by FR at BHD, or are technical problems with 2 aircraft. There is a lot of talk about a down turn in traffic from Belfast to London in general, is EZY cutting back a rotation to STN on a daily basis as a result. This all despite EZY suggesting a double figure % rise in traffic at Belfast this year. Can't see it at the moment as caa figures show a large decline in numbers for Dec 07/Jan 08 at BFS compared with same period last year. This despite EI now operating +more EZY destinations. Massive swing since FR arrived with BHD now carrying the majority of London traffic (massive shift here) as BFS carried majority for at least couple of years back.

BHDflyer->32% equates to 56 passengers per flight. There would have been similar numbers in January in the early days of the Cork-Amsterdam service, but Aer Lingus stayed on the route and it does quite well now as regular business passengers have come to rely on the service. Of course, that was in a 737-500, so the load factor was more like 50%, but I don't think anyone will be panicking just yet.

The KLM code share has to be sorted out. That will significantly boost the numbers. I've no idea what's delaying it, but you would have to wonder at this stage.

EI is Cork's only Amsterdam route though is it not where as Easyjet also fly from Belfast..unless i'm wrong on that.

Little wonder Ryanair are picking up Stansted traffic ex BHD. I priced the first dep on 15th Feb and got it for 1p(ex tax) the return was last flight on 17th and it was also 1p(ex tax). The punters will flock to that.....not a lot of profit in it though. The tax seemed a lot less than the tax FlyBe seem to impose.....

Aer Lingus must be doing well at the moment, 757 filed for the EIN037 tonight :}. I'm guessing the 320 went tech?

I don't think Aer Lingus will be panicking just yet and I think the article in the Bel Tel which paints such a poor picture of the Aer Lingus numbers is very poor itself. Using Ryanair to verify the numbers on the BFS - LHR as they weren't available from the CAA is hardly a reliable source.
Other interesting articles today include Mr Ambrose saying they want a runway extension but no change in the hours and Mr Turner bmi, saying what they need at city is a change in the hours. Listen guys, why not get your pr people and their pr people together and get your stories straight, it will make the process with the planners, for whatever changes you have in mind, much easier if you can a least act like you're on the same side.

Just back from a weekend in London, after having used the EI service to LHR, I have to say I was very impressed with the service. There was however one drawback (hm-maybe 2, but the 2nd was the fog at LHR today...), the dire state of the lounge at LHR, was not impressed, but meh, an airport's an airport.
Flew out on EI36 on THU 24th, LF of 120ish I would say (may be wrong here...)
came back today on EI35 and the flight was nearly full, maybe about 160 on board.
Cabin crew were great, skycafé offered good choice, and was reasonable too. Speaking of reasonable, I booked exactly 2 weeks before I went, and worked out at £65 for everything, all charges, luggage, etc - great!
Will happily use EI again, and will recommend them to others!

Spoke to someone about EZY cancellations-due to poor loads, must be across the board as out of at least 4 cancellations today one of them was BRS, and there is currently no competition on that route. BD have been cancelling flights even up to yesterday possibly same reason.