I'd say the only way EI would move to the city would be to do the lhr route. The runway in BHD is too short for the aer lingus med and canary routes and would not make sense. They may have one a/c in bhd having a code share with BA and the other aircraft operating holiday destinations out of bfs

Well the question is where will the third base aircraft from BFS go during winter when its reduced to 2? Could be going to BHD with very little base costs.. or it could operate from LHR as EI-BUD suggested

I cant see BFS letting EI move the whole operation to BHD without offering a better deal (however i guess it depends how desperate BHD's offer could be) as its one of the airports goal to get EI to do long-haul in the future (as far fetched as that sounds).. after all if all goes to plan this will be the best year for the airport passenger number wise since the downturn.

No doubt it'll be an interesting few weeks

Its not possible to move all BFS ops to BHO as LPA,TFS, ACE could not operate and they are strong routes for EI at BFS as they are competing with nobody. I think EI-BUD post about an aircraft from LHR operating would be most lightly. EI already have 2 aircraft overnight in LHR as it is.

If the routes were profitable these cost would be covered and they would of stayed until September. Would think forward bookings were a high part of the choise to close BHO in June.

Totally agree with EI-EIDW on this one, it would be a HUGE risk for EI to move all their ops to BHD. Why would they bother when they are already doing a great job at BFS?? If they have free aircraft i doubt they would be concentrating on BHD anyway, only if BA tells them to the LHR route. If they are told to do that then i think this is the only route they will do.

WW moved and until shut down i think they did better?

He was getting better right up until he died...........:ugh:

Bet Wise Guy will be snapping strip holders on Friday afternoon any way.

I agree, here hopes BHD pushes forward!!. Mind you it would be even better if they wold reduce there landing fees for GA operations.

Happy flying. :}

Well not easyjet unsurprisingly: Belfast Telegraph

It says 17 routes in the article, last count I thought it was 22. Does telegraph ever get any facts right?

If Brian Ambrose has given a committment (??) to give an update, it would feel like he must be very confident, as can hardly see him giving a negative update as it were.

To my mind, Flybe is his only hope, and if they do commit to European fligths, they would be for 2013, I would imagine. Definately no Ryanair unless they bring back STN, LPL or potentially add LTN. The costs required and given the strong bargaining position they would be in with BHD, the price would be far too high so definately think we can rule Ryanair to Europe out.

However, I stand firm to my instinct that EI will appear and will be the successor to bmi on LHR working closely with BA. BA coded many international routes with BA flight numbers and that was announced today, nothing on the domestics yet, in my view still work to be done and that will include EDI, ABZ, BHD and interestingly no changes to DUB flight codes. I would expect BA to withdraw completely and EI enter stage at BHD with a 319. EDI and ABZ come on board too.

EI-BUD

Just off a BMI baby flight and travelling over to Sydenham train halt chatted with driver. He seems to think announcement today and rumour of some Scottish firm!? Only passing on what he said so don't shoot me! :)

Regards

After speaking to a Flybe Station Manager, Flybe have no interest in European Routes from BHD.

What time is the press conference taking place at the City?

Belboy, I don't recall that anyone said there would be a press conference today. Brian A said he would confirm today if one of the four airlines they were speaking to, would be ready to take over the baby routes from June.

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Is that it? I thought that it would be more positive than that.

Surely the airport would have been trying to lure new business before now. Does the " week of intensive negotiations " not smell a little like desperation?

I'm sure someone here is a professor of business management. Would they care to share how they would play this hand?

Is it possible he's hoping BA will operate a Heathrow service from BHD, while Aer Lingus will move in, and bring some Aer Lingus Regional Services with it.

I thought we were to find out today if they had got a replacement, not to be told to wait until June for an annoucement, by that stage everyone will have re-booked with other airlines, by June the bulk of the summer seats will be sold with EI and moving operations this year is unlikely, im going to take a guess that EI is going to use this invitation as a good excuse to get a better deal off BFS.