BIRMINGHAM - 5
 

So, I'll start the new BHX thread. With a question for the mods really? Why do you close the old threads, and what is the threshold?

On another note, CentreCities seems to imply in both this and the CVT threads that it wil be more than Atlantic abandoning BHX. Anyone else heard any more rumours?

I love that bit at the end. He'll be lucky, at this rate we'll be lucky to see a bandarantie or two at the rate the aiport is loosing carriers.

Bless PK and his delusion spin. It's always the same old statements, clinging onto the vain hope that BHX will overnight attract a whole raft of long haul airlines and destinations because of a bit of extra concrete whilst under his nose the reality is that BHX continues to lose pax and routes. I want some of what he is taking please! :O

OK not BHX's fault, but looks like the airport has lost Onur Air due to the collaspe of Holidays 4 U. Do they operate on behalf of any other tour operator?

Onur Air
 

I believe at least one of the flights operates for another tour operator and is not affected.

Centre cities

Gayfriendly:

All airports, when extending runways suffer from dillusions of grandeur! Think only of EMA, Cardiff - even Manchester with their 2nd runway - they could have operated perfectly well with the volume of traffic they presently have, and the 2nd runway must be 10 years+ old now!

When will we ever read anything remotely positive about BHX in your postings? I think perhaps some of what PK is taking might help you be slightly less negative! :-)

Delusions na never
 

Ein folk, Ein runway, Ein world !

Now I wonder who said that

CAT III

Negative, moi?
 

AT, be fair, I think I wrote something mildly positive about the Pier and other upgraded terminal facilities once, mind you I think I then had a rant about it turning into a shopping mall so I guess that balances it out ;)

BHX has got a lot going for it and yes it does have a good range of flights and carriers and the changes to the terminal facilities and infrastructure have greatly improved it IMO from the pax perspective (see, positivity!). I do however get frustrated at the one step forward two steps back situation with route development, both short and long haul. I know this is not the fault of BHX and its management but looking at the direct scheduled timetable now and comparing it to 10 years ago, there is little difference apart from increased frequencies on a number of routes, TK and a few FR routes to East Europe. This does not comapre well with other airports who have, in some cases, greatly expanded their destination offerings.

But, you are right, I should be happy for what we do have at BHX and will leave on a positive note - great news about AF changing to all A318 ops in the autumn and SK (I think?) upgrading their flights to M80's :ok: I will now go lie down in a dark room, all that positivity has quite taken it out of me......

GF I'm with you on all this. I remember working at the airport in the 80's and seeing Wardair fill 4 x 747's a week to YYZ. Then came BA to JFK, AA to ORD EK to DXB and PIA to LHE & ISB, plus all the proper European schedules to top destinations. Now what's left? If pax travelled on those routes in the 80's & 90's, why aren't they travelling now? I suspect prices rises, govt taxes on airfares have a lot to do with it.

The along came the locos and with it a complete devaluation in service all round. I'd love to know whats's happened to all those loyal supporters of Business Class. perhaps they've retired or decided on MAN & LHR?

I suppose if there aren't the routes the next best thing are shops that bring in a rental comparasion to the landing fees of a widebody.

Crewmeal:

I was thumbing through a copy of Airport Timetables UK for one of the late 80's summers last weekend, and you're right, there were several YYZ services per week, not only by WD, but also Worldways, and Air Canada too at one stage. I remember being told even before then that Canada was a dying market as much of it was visiting friends and relatives over there, and literally they were dying out - that must to some extent be the reason for the collapse in the YYZ market from BHX, and I think it's mirrored at many other airports.

I also noted that there were, in the edition I was looking at, only one KLM and two BA AMS per day, one LH FRA, and generally very few high frequency services to Europe's main hubs.

I think the front end passenger nowadays uses the main alliances and rather than driving to LHR to get to heaven knows where, they use BHX, via FRA, AMS, CDG, BRU, ZRH, CPH, IST, DXB and EWR to get to where they need to. Those passengers haven't stopped doing it, they just do it differently.

As you said, unfortunately the arrival of the LoCo phenomenem has killed off some of the legacy carriers regional operations, and in my opinion is generally bad for the industry (where employees now have to work ever harder, for less) and the passenger that is stung by spurious charges for everything from plastic Bags and trolleys to car parking to pay for the fees that the airlines are no longer prepared to.

Just a re-distribution of costs. The passengers have to pay which-ever way.

TSR2

Absolutely right, but a dishonest one from the passenger's point of view, as are the myriad add-ons to basic headline fares that wind up making a LoCo little different in price to a legacy carrier.

Spot on ATN. Not just the front end either. Living now in Bedfordshire I have a direct train to Gatwick that takes 1hr 20mins after a 10 minute drive. Or a 15 minute drive and then a 40 min journey by rail to BHX. Besides the rail it is almost always quicker to drive the 80 miles to BHX than the 70 miles to LGW. I have found that routing through a European hub is often cheaper than a direct flight from LHR/LGW. Also, I can sit in relative comfort and have a beer at BHX where if I was going from London then one of the lounges is a must for a bit of peace. :ok:

apd
 

Chamber Urges Government To Reduce Air Passenger Taxes - Financial News | Financial News Distribution | Financial News PR | Financial News


Manston calls for 'congestion charge' at London's busiest airports

Profits up and revenue down
 

Birmingham Airport increases profits despite fall in revenue - Other UK business news - Business News - Business - Birmingham Post

These look okay but not too difficult to see through these figures. However will PK be able to reduce costs much more without disrupting the business?

I went through BHX this last week and for the middle of summer it was just about the best airport experience I have had for ages for "peak travel".

Outbound, 12 security scanners working and was through at 6am in 5 minutes despite having my bag searched. Got upgraded once again as Long Stay 1 was full, which meant Multi Storey 1 for me although by this time I had paid my £1 to drop the family off closer to the terminal.

Other than the depressing low-roofed departure lounge which had few spare seats we boarded early and orderly at Gate 56 and the pier looked great.

On our return (16.40 Wednesday) we were about the eighth arrival of 15 that hour but all passport gates were working, although we did not use them (I am sure I heard no under 16's to go through but could be wrong). Only two "EU" Border Agency staff working but because the passport gates were working we sailed through. Baggage was about 25-30 minutes - more than acceptable.

The Cork flight landed 10 minutes later and the pax walked through 10 minutes after landing and they had their bags waiting.

Had a quick look at the new Duty Free arrivals and so did a few others but I didn't witness any purchases.

Overall it was a good experience and although with apparent lack of pax the new pier looked good (parked Gate 54) and the terminal had the feel of an "International Airport"

Back to the above article, PK is right about city breaks but poor examples used. Budapest - never had a flight, Biarritz - never performed well and Barcelona finished over a year ago more to do with Baby not been able to fit it into their schedule and is back next summer. City Breaks are going to hit if you don't fly to the likes of Madrid, Berlin, Venice, Rome, Stockholm but I suppose it is the "chicken and egg" syndrome.

Note about long-haul, if that is a good news area then BHX is in trouble. PIA 77W's to 772's, Thomson chop Punta Cana, Mahan Air was going one weekly and more worrying Emirates passenger numbers are heading south or should I actually say heading north (Manchester ;))

Although it appears BHX is not to blame for the downturn and I can only point the finger at the Manchester increases. However we need to get through Ramadan and see the September, October and November figures to get a better idea of how things really are. More and more three-class low density Emirates triples are now been seen but as mentioned above this is usual for Ramadan.

Pete

BHX Results
 

Given the financial results PK is clearly doing what he's paid to do, that is giving the shareholders increased profits, even at a time of difficult trading conditions. Thye'll be more than happy with that, even though most contributors to this forum wouldn't be.

However you can't go on relying upon cost reductions to deliver profit, as Pete has said and at some stage new business is going to have to be forthcoming if he (PK) is to deliver improved figures in the years to come.

Policy does appear to be to work "smart not hard" so I reckon any new business is going to come from airlines that actually want to pay to use the airport, rather than just chasing passenger numbers.

Malta ex BHX
 

Does anyone know what is happening to the Ryanair flights to Malta this winter? I heard a rumour from some Air Malta pilots that KM were asked to start operating BHX again due to Ryanair stopping operating MLA from BHX. Any info anyone?? I commute between UK/Malta so very interested. Thanks!!

Malta
 

tom775257

The summer Ryanair BHX-MLA schedule was released late and I can only hope the same is going to happen in respect of the winter. The trouble is that airlines, especially Ryanair don't come out and say "we are not operating this route" due to reason "A, B or C", often or not it just disappears quietly.

As it stands the Malta based aircraft has a spare slot on a Wednesday morning exactly at the times the BHX-MLA operated last winter. Also one of the Birmingham based aircraft has a spare slot on a Sunday afternoon at a very similar time to the last winter.

This does give a bit of hope but I believe MLA - EDI and MLA - LBA are both not bookable as well. Maybe FR are negotiating with Malta airport or perhaps they just can't make any money from the routes.

I can't say how long BHX has had a continuous air service to Malta but I would not be surprised if it was 25 years plus. Even in winter the IT airlines used to plough the route if my memory serves me correctly.

Pete

Thanks alot Pete!

That is very interesting information. I have my fingers crossed, I have a BHX staff carpark pass so it will be very useful if the BHX-MLA flights continue.

It makes sense regarding MLA airport negotiations, I believe that the LTN-MLA route is about to run out of the period with preferential rates from the Maltese government plus KM is suffering near bankrupcy so I expect many talks are underway.

Thanks for taking the time to reply, I have my fingers crossed. All the best, Tom.

RE: Canada
 

Have noticed a few of Air Transat's YYZ flights have been A333's rather than the scheduled A332's. Is this just because of aircraft going tech or due to an increase in demand?