VY

BCN is on sale next spring up to 19th June.

I agree wholeheartedly. I have tried to support my local airports on transatlantic routes but its not possible at the crazy prices they charge. I have got myself a business class seat to Washington for the price they are charging economy. Not really worth it especially with a family.

That's a rather stark difference, especially considering United are exempt from APD in BFS. Are they deliberately trying to tempt people down to DUB so they can justify pulling out of BFS or are their loads so good they can get away with those prices?

It depends where you are going. If its only NYC its about £500 which is cheaper than Dublin but if its anywhere else it starts going up quickly.

They are very cheap in March and April but not in summer. Virgin Atlantic is absolutely rediculous!!

Does anybody know anything about the C-Series coming to Belfast City tomorrow? I believe it is due tomorrow from the Paris Air Show to show the Bombardier team. If anybody knows the time etc. of its arrival etc. the detail would be appreciated.


EI-BUD

Ncl
 

Is the winter schedule now confirmed?
Quite surprised after all these years that they decide to drop NCL surely this must be a popular route with frequent flyers.

Is there any gaps left in the schedule for possible new routes then?
Or has belfast lost an aircraft?

Here she is

Thanks for the info, do you know when it leaves? Be nice to see it since I didn't make it to Paris this year ....!

Between 09:00 and 10:00 Saturday 20th.

Volotea B712 due in shortly after that so perhaps worth hanging-around.

BELFAST CITY AIRPORT (BHD)
 

Does anyone have any thoughts on what EI's position in bhd will be after relinquishing slots on lgw as part of the IAG takeover?

BA are giving up slots at LGW not EI

J636,

It is quite irrelevant who is theoretically giving up the slots, if they come from BA, once the integration to IAG is complete, EI could end up relinquishing LGW slots in favour of BA, though that would seem unlikely.

Be interesting to see who applies for LGW Belfast or Dublin. I cant see anybody looking at Dub, but I could see DY giving Belfast a shot ...

EI-BUD

While I agree I cannont see a reduction in EI services, BHD freq could easily be shifted.

I would be shocked if DY took on a dometic, what makes Belfast so special over routes to Scotland. They have the good slots.

Only thing is it could provide a feed to their long haul service but beleive its a long shot.

Will be suprised if any takers take the route. Belfast to London dosnt need the capacity if you judge the loads EI carry. Is BHD-LGW-XXX available to book on BA site currently?

J636,

While your theory is sound that Norwegian could enter the domestic market if they so choose, in this instance slots for free in effect could make such a route attractive and allowing them to use existing slots on more financially attractive routes. The fact that they haven't done to date could make it tempting to test the domestic waters. They have been known to launch surprising routes albeit often at low frequencies and moving in on easyJet's patch has never been a concern for them...

If easyJet is deemed a suitable carrier for the route , it would make sense for them to launch it. Again scarce slots made available for free, they get to seal the LGW Belfast market for themselves and in the process keep the likes of DY away. Though they deemed BHD of no material benefit before, things could be looked at through a different lens now. They are also about to ramp up activity on Belfast London from the winter season so they are quite serious about maintaining market share.

Yes you can book BA connecting services on BA.com using Aer Lingus flights with codeshare. But for long haul, example Orlando!

I guess we'll have to wait and see, again nobody will touch DUB but Belfast I think we may be surprised...

I agree with all of the above. If you are getting free slots why not give it a go. I don't think BE would try again. DY mite have a go but I would suggest the options are very limited unless sone rank outsider tried like VLM or even FR and they airlines could not be IAG so BCAF not an option. Maybe they may just not bother trying to get the LGW route covered to BHD someone mite give BFS a go.

Stab3.5up

You do realise it is spelt 'might' and NOT 'mite' or is that an Irish way of spelling it 'not'.

SEAN

I would appear that the slots will not be free, but rather made available to the airline that wishes to avail of them (as per comments in the Irish Times or links to same posted on this forum). I cannot see Ryanair paying significantly for slots. That said I reckon as a result of the sale of the slots to IAG, FR will certainly take the gloves off where EI is concerned and challenge EI more significantly than hitherto.


Routes like Ireland to Spain, and general sun routes that deliver significant revenue would be obvious targets for increased capacity by FR in a bid to lever its position and make life a more difficult.


EI-BID

FR have said in a press statement they are interested in LGW-Belfast flights

BFS or BHD i wonder? :confused:

Mart 901 when was this statement made?

I would presume BHD as with the current route expansion of EZY at BFS I'm sure management wouldn't want to annoy EZY