...and it seems that today is the day that one will be announced, according to the the bmi baby thread.

I assume the German route has been put on the 'back burner' as its a little late to announce it for Summer 12. Anyone have any info?

German route !
 

There will be no German route from BHD this year.

But BFS are looking for a NEW airline to do Germany they are also looking for NEW airline'S' to do Canada and Scandinavia ,

Quote from BFS website-http://www.belfastairport.com/en/news/8/125/airport-tells-government-not-%E2%80%98to-sell-us-short%E2%80%99.html

''Belfast International called for a Strategy to open up markets to Canada, Germany and Scandinavia served directly from the airport. An all-out effort to attract new international carriers with the help of a properly resourced Air network Development Scheme was also urgently required.''

Calling=we cannot manage to do it. So lets go up the hill and ask them for taxpayers money again:E

Now now Dog. The folks on the hill are there for everyone to use and City do so as much as Aldergrove. Don't be radical in your postings or you know what will happen!

Hardly radical. Has any other company asked for a new 20mile road or train link in NI? or ........ ?

The road system to BFS and the surrounding area is a joke, if the roads were sorted out it would be more than the airport that would benefit and it would make it safer... once farmers start driving on the roads in their tractors it brings the idiot side of drivers out and dangerous overtaking starts.. I doubt be will see it happen anyway

As always Tigger is 100% right. It wil take 15years to buy the land off the tractor owners to build the new road

Contact at BHD said that a team from Germanwings were over last week talking to airport management, and that MO'L was also having meetings with the airport. Can anyone confirm, or have further details... Think Germanwings would be an excellent option reinstating a direct NI Germany scheduled service. But an FR return, oh good God, please no!!

Well bmi baby's BHD AMS drops to 4 weekly from next week and loads seem to be improving nicely a few flights now seeing over 130 paxs and most in the 70 & 80s so they seem to be turning the route around at least in terms of numbers which is always the start point.

I heard mention yesterday of a possible 3 rd night stop aircraft this coming winter and also a few extra med flights on odd days this Summer apparently some routes are all but sold out.

Just need to see the ownership issue resolved now, can't be long but how many time have we said that!!!

I think this has been brought up before, but what are the chances that the new owner of baby would move back to BFS? Surely a new owner would soon want to replace the old 300's but anything bigger than this couldnt fly from bhd and I'm sure that BFS wouldn't mind negotiating with new people behind baby. Only a thought so don't shoot me down

BHD's declared distances look to be marginally longer than Southend's and easyJet seems happy enough to send their A319s into the latter...

That's true but why would they choose airbus and have to retrain all pilots, choosing a NG aircraft would save alot of time and money

BBC Newsline are tweeting that BHD have cancelled their planning application for a runway extension. Make of that what you will......

Belfast City Airport withdraws runway extension plan

BBC News - Belfast City Airport withdraws runway extension plan

I would say in a few years time if the industry improves and hasn't been taxed to death anymore than it already is then they will submit an updated plan. The best plan at the minute is to focus on other needed infrastructure especially when you have an operator who can fly the sun routes without needing a longer runway

Anybody know how the load factors are on the 1st baby sunshine routes?

Quote from latest iag press release-

"We have already announced that British Airways will re-start flights from Belfast to Heathrow, maintaining important economic links."

Which Belfast? And what happens to bmi?

Would imagine BHD: BD are there at present, EI are at BFS.

BHD2BFS
 

bmibaby loads to sunshine seem to be around 125, but i understand this weekend are full, AMS over 130 again yesterday, must be doing something right, good luck to all at baby

While i hate to quote The Sun newspaper.. this is mainline related, not WW

1,200 jobs to go in BA takeover of bmi | The Sun |News|Sun City

Sad news, wish those involved the best of luck relocating

Sad day for all BMI staff at BHD, know a few that work their and they've just basically been told today when they started work there's no jobs their for them.

On another note Menzies have been up and around BHD talking with management, possibly to do with BA seem they do not Self Handle outside London.

delays
 

What a day we had today thanks to international arrivals at bhd bmibaby. Due to immigration the arrivals corridor is closed leaving all other departures and arrivals having to wait for the international to clear. Totally unfair to our flybe passengers being delayed for no reason other than the airport stucture.

Dan

I have no detailed knowledge of what went on today but presumably when you state 'ALL other departures and arrivals' you mean 'All' those not on stands 1 through to 5?
How bad was it?
Current situation isnt ideal but I know that Ops are doing their best to manage stand planning to minimise the issue and the airport is building a new facility which will further alleviate the issue.

Bmibaby announced over 12 months ago they were going to operate international routes and the planning for which didnt happen overnight, things should have been sorted long ago. Out of interest does anyone know what kind of loads are coming on/off these new flights?

Mart

I note that location is in Cambridge - believe me when I tell you that for anyone to start building anything in less than a year after the 'flag is dropped' is pretty good such is the state of the NI planning service

the loads off the new flights look very promising, many of them hitting the hundred mark, some almost full too. Even the Amsterdam route seems to have picked up, though not sure whether thats related to the reduction of weekly services??

What is genuinely happening on the bmibaby front?

Over a period of months we've heard everyone linked as interested suitors, from Toyota to Proctor & Gamble!

Are any of the £3 million weekly losses quoted by BA in respect of bmi mainline flying attributable to bmibaby?

Is there a good business reason for NO bmibaby routes being offered for sale currently beyond October 2012?

Perhaps the defined BA/bmi deal completion deadline of 20 April will unravel some facts????.....................

They probably didn't expect 148 passenger inbound!

Losses? Probably very little at the minute, but who really knows? Mainline is bleeding cash hence the urgency to get a grip with costs whilst regional and baby are left for now to continue.

Rinty

Mart might well be in Cambridge but he knows more about the real reason why the work at city is not completed already. In this instance it has been nothing to do with the planners, who I agree are on the main part, to quote their previous Minister 'not fit for purpose'. Check the planning servive website to confirm the dates, it's available to the public. It's more to do with the fact that the airport, or more likely its owner, had hoped that there would be no need for a new arrivals hall, but UKBA thought differently and told them so. A competition then had to be organised with contractors and architects to get the best possible price, which in the end was still alot higher than the airport wanted to pay. This process was only completed a couple of months ago, thus the late start.

Sarcon - as you quite rightly point out the dates are on the planning website -
International routes announced April 11
PLanning permission submitted June '11
Planning permission approved Feb '12
Works commenced in March '12

Perhaps you are suggesting that BCA should have started work before planning permission was granted???

Not at all RInty........I mean they wouldnt promise anything daft like a runway extension would they.....oh wait!:E

Apparently there is to be a big announcement on Monday, any ideas?

Possibly something to do with the German route rumours that have been circulating?

Big Announcement; not many gaps on the domestic front that would be significant, unless Ryanair coming back with STN and LPL..
If Euro routes doing well and with uncertainty around Bmibaby, perhaps another airline to commence EU flights.... Or
New application for runway extention....???

Or the end of BMI Baby after all BA/IAG has on their website that they will not be holding onto them in the future..

Whats the construction work going on in the arrivals/baggage reclaim area?

Not expecting anything Monday.
And its the new international arrivals/ UKBA area.

i can also confirm that i have heard that there is an announcement on monday also.

So no new baggage carousels beng added?