airport66
 

Take it the construction workers who are building that extention have been told not to come back won't need it this year anyway. Wonder what airline will be offered come to are airport for free deal next.

So where does Bhd go from here? Fr went in to Bhd for all the wrong reasons and failed, as did WW. How many have tried Bhd - Stn and failed? There are not that many airlines left in the UK that they could go after to offer volume. Lets not get into discussion that Ezy will move, it will not happen for a host of reasons in my opinion. Ei operate long hours and sectors, so Bhd would not suit either. Jet2, have night ops at Bfs. Monarch, if they ever come to N Ireland, it would be a big surprise if they didn't go to Turkey, and in that case Bhd would not suit. In my opinion, there is a real danger for Bhd that the Lhr route will move up the road as well. Bhd/Flybe now seeing increased competition from Ezy on the likes of Man and Bhx for the first time. I think I am right in saying that on every route out of Belfast that Ezy and Flybe compete, Ezy is the largest carrier, on some routes by a long way. If that was to happen on Man/Bhz, then Bhd face the loss of more pax to Bfs. When Fr left Bhd, Mr BA said that it nearly resulted in the closure of the airport. I think WW carried about 400k pax at Bhd in 2011. Is it that dangerous for Bhd now? It will be very difficult to recover from this, where now for Bhd?

TB

Next lemming for the cliff face???

Stark truth is that flybe in their numerous guises are the only airline which has ever made a successful fist of operations from BHD:hmm:

Any truth to the rumour that IKEA is now offering long term parking on 22/04?
:E

According to Airbus Takeoff and Landing Performance Calculators an A320-200 of MON's can operate DLM from BHD no problems using flaps 3 for dep. This was tested a while back.

Worth mentioning Loganair who were a pioneer from Belfast Harbour, who are of course now flying as flybe !

I feel for all the good baby staff who are in this horrible position due to the mismanagement of the airline and for all the people who will now not get the flights they booked. I also feel for the airport staff who fell again, for the total c*** from Mr A that the baby move from Aldergrove would make city a true international airport and secure thousands of jobs. baby were a basket case before they moved to city, the pathetic attempt to sell them by both the airport and the airline as something new and exciting for NI, was the greatest pile of b******* I've ever witnessed. The low loads they were getting, even at the low fares they were charging, showed clearly this was a doomed venture. The airline and airport management and the contributors on here who constantly claimed everything was rosy should be ashamed of themselves.
If there are any threads left in the relationship with Flybe the airport should be begging them to pick up some of the lost routes, if any of them are viable. Its probably more likely that they are talking to other airlines at Aldergrove and try to sell them the same bull they sold to baby, higher yields at city, closer to the population centres, high level of civil service and other government traffic, better weather record etc, etc.
Perhaps if FR are offered a even greater incentive than they received the last time they might come back, but to remember how successful that venture was the first time look at the 2009 accounts.

The airport have tried twice to grow with baby and with Ryanair.

They need a dedicated airline who will grow slowly and surely. baby were sure to fail in City. Too much competition. belfast needs one strong low cost leisure carrier, and not four - easy, Lingus, jet2, baby.

In the first instance my sympathies to the decent hard working people in BMIBaby who have been treated shamefully through this debacle of an airline sale.

Secondly also my sympathies to the thousands of customers who have booked summer holidays with BMIBaby and now face extra expense and hassle rebooking with other airlines.

Thirdly I have been disgusted to read some of the self satisfied, smug nonsense above. Some of you do yourselves a disservice and are a long way from displaying the 'professional' in the webiste name. Real people have lost their jobs in the middle of a recession. They have mortgages to pay, children to feed and jobs to find!!!!! Your jokes, inuendo and sideswipes are ill advised and unwelcome.

Things will be difficult moving forward for BHD but I have no doubt that other arlines will come lured by higher yields (fact), closer to city (fact), preference of civil servants (fact), better weather (??? dont know) and yes probably lower airport fees.

Also a fact is that BMIBaby loads were very good for the summer with load factors typically in the 70's and 80's. To suggest that BMIbaby leaving was some reflection on BHD is ridiculous - THE AIRLINE HAS BEEN WOUND UP - or maybe its a reflection on all of the other airports that Baby also fly to. Look out Schipol - Baby left you so you must be rubbish.

Baby brought competition, for the first time, on international routes (excluding CoD) and the loads that they have carried before the school holidays even started have demonstrated that there is an appetite for this with the NI public.

When baby moved to city they were an off-shoot of one of the biggest airlines in the world - funny that all of you experts didnt say then that they were a basket case.

Enough - rant over.

If a good offer was there from BHD, I don't see why Aer Lingus couldn't operate to both Belfast Airports from Heathrow, especially if it does win additional slots that have restrictions on where they can fly too.

If Aer Lingus doesn't win the slots, and Virgin do, their new airline is another option. I wouldn't be too worried.

Appalled by some of the barely disguised glee by some of the posters on here ref the news of Bmibaby ceasing to operate from BHD, people have lost jobs still more have had their travel plans thrown into chaos. This is as a result not of their move to BHD but from the years of mismanagement which latterly had been turned around with some good routes & loads which were very respectable. BHD was turning into a good base for them with strong demand which hopefully another carrier will step in to pick up where Baby left off.As for comparing it to when Ryanair left , this was mainly due to there being no sign of the much needed runway extension being agreed. Also lets not forget FR do seem to have a penchant for leaving airports/drastically reducing routes , Liverpool & Bournemouth being prime examples.

NEWS!
 

BBC News - George Best Belfast City Airport hopes to replace BMI Baby

AS always good luck to all.

Ambrose says

My bold.

Now who on earth can he mean begorrah?

Insert Manx2 joke here....

To be completely honest I can't see anyone coming in at the 11th hour especially when there is rife competition at BFS, and BHD can't really offer any more rock bottom deals as their current bank balance is not very rosy

Ryanair ?
 

The only candidate I can think of is Ryanair. I think they may have planes parked up at Marana & Prestwick. I believe they cannot fly a fully loaded 738 (fuel & pax & luggage) to Palma / Faro etc????
They can fly them at a restricted payload but is it profitable to these destinations?

However, it simply doesn't make any sense (to me).
We shall hear next Friday.

Finally, my thoughts are with the unfortunate staff Baby & BHD ground, I flew with Baby many times and no less than a month ago to Faro. Such a shame as you were always the first site I visited when booking. I will miss you.

Ryanair can fly to these places full providing they spend £30,000 approx per engine getting up un de-rated.

Fingers crossed they can sort something out, not really bothered about peoples holidays being cancelled... they can be re-booked or skipped without it being the end of the world, more concerned about those who work at the airport keeping their jobs..

Im with carlrsymington on this one, the only airline i can think of is FR.. EZY and LS sales are doing well and no doubt have increased dramatically with people re-booking to BFS as it was the only alternative and on the news people were urged to re-book straight away..

Rinty, if all your facts were reality - BA would not have closed the WW BHD base until the summer was over.

Its a pity that BHD got the short straw here, but it is down to base profitability. Civil servants don't fly to PMI, etc very often, so even if yield is higer on Heathrow (would have to be to cover the extra costs of the BD service over EI), the leisure routes are still low yield - and Easy have that market...

Thank you
 

I have already expressed my thanks to the bmi Baby team & BHD ground crew. I really do wish them well but when I look to the future, it only has two colours ... orange & green. (Sorry Jet2). Hopefully all of the baby team can get work with one of the three carriers. On a different note, I could not figure out how they would ever be profitable with cheap fares, well paid & professional crew, BHD as a base & 737-400's. Great while it lasted. I really did appreciate whoever subsidised my trips on WW to BHX & FAO. Finally, I see a future of more expensive but sustainable fares from BFS (or BHD) but I see the heat moving on to Jet2.

Why not look further afield; Air Berlin have operated into the city before. Norweigan air shuttle are expanding aggressively. But I agree FR are the only ones in my eyes.

First off sorry to the Baby staff everywhere and to those also being affected at BHD. Still have friends there and hope things turn up for them.

I've been regular traveller on the BHD-EMA routes with Ryanair and now Baby, still have some before the June 11th cancellations. FlyBe may be offering doubling their flights but have never been to offer the fares! The only companies I see BHD re-engaging with would be Air Berlin or Ryanair but would see this more as taking over when the winter schedule kicks inn.

Regards

They could try monarch,wizz,transavia,germanwings,iberia express,veuling,lot?

airport66
 

Think quite obvious what they are going to do offer the free landing to AerLingus and Jet2 the way they done with the others.Easy are not interested.

I don't know......moving to BHD seems to impart the kiss of death. Let's be fair who HAS made a success of it ?

Air UK? Gone
Air Berlin? Gone
Ryanair? Gone
BMI/BMI Baby? Gone
Easyjet? Gone

I am sure there are others

To be fair though Manx2 has made a reasonable effort.....:hmm:

:zzz: Tool..

FlyBE operate to some European hotspots from Exeter and Southampton, maybe a chance these will be introduced from BHD. It would appear that BHD and BE have had a fairly long and generally stable relationship. Would management risk this (again) by luring back FR et al with substantial incentives??

The other carriers mentioned certainly could be an option from their respective countries to BHD, Germanwings, Air Berlin, Wizz, Norwegian, etc, but none of these carriers appear to offer Spanish destinations ex any UK airports.

Very sad news regarding the job looses at baby and mainline. Thoughts are with all affected.

Aer lingus can't move due to the late arrivals of their aircraft, and jet2 are the same plus they have cargo at bfs. If BHD get a new airline in the next 7 days which I doubt it will be a new one to the market. But good luck to the management they have been left in a bad position with a half built intl arrivals hall

BHD have egg on their faces and the first person to lose their job should be Mr Ambrose IMO.

Ryanair pullot
Easyjet pullout
Cancelled runway extension
Half built European arrivals hall

Disastrous.

panpanpan +1

A rare voice of reason on this thread.:ok:

Likely hood of any of them operating into BHD is null. Belfast City's best bet I think is to work with Aer Lingus - example of timtable below:

A/C 1 - A320:

LHR-BHD 0630/0745 MTWTFSS
BHD-LHR 0825/0940 MTWTFSS

LHR-BHD 1030/1145 MTWTFSS
BHD-LHR 1220/1335 MTWTFSS

LHR-BHD 1425/1540 MTWTFSS
BHD-LHR 1620/1735 MTWTFSS

LHR-BHD 1830/1945 MTWTFSS
BHD-LHR 2025/2140 MTWTFSS

A/C 2 - A320:

BHD-LHR 0630/0800 MTWTF-S
LHR-BHD 0845/1000 MTWTF-S

BHD-GVA 0830/1140 -----S-
GVA-BHD 1220/1345 -----S-

BHD-AMS 1045/1320 M-W-F-S
AMS-BHD 1400/1440 M-W-F-S

BHD-AGP 1430/1835 -T-T-S-
AGP-BHD 1915/2125 -T-T-S-

BHD-BCN 1525/1900 M---F-S
BCN-BHD 1940/2130 M---F-S

BHD-GVA 1535/1845 --W----
GVA-BHD 1925/2050 --W----

A/C 3 - A320:

BHD-TFS 0700/1130 -T-T-S-
TFS-BHD 1220/1645 -T-T-S-

BHD-ACE 0715/1145 M-W-F-S
ACE-BHD 1230/1650 M-W-F-S

BHD-LHR 1735/1850 MTWTFSS
LHR-BHD 1945/2100 MTWTFSS

Summary:
Amsterdam | Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays
Barcelona | Mondays, Fridays, Sundays
Geneva | Wednesdays, Saturdays
Lanzarote | Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, Sundays
London Heathrow | Six Daily (ex Saturdays)
Malaga | Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays
Tenerife-South | Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays

All this resting on Aer Lingus getting near enough those slots at London Heathrow which would be difficult to say the least. Also the Geneva flights could be say Alicante or Faro up until December as the Ski Season comes online.

Blimey, a lot of time on our hands have we Jack? I dont see how Tenerife would work out of BHD to be honest. Stick to closer European hubs of mixed business and leisure pax

Reported on a Cabin Crew website that FR to retrun to BHO with a base. Anyone any info?

Haha find scheduling easy being honest :O

Can't see FR starting a base from Raja Bhoj Airport (BHO) if I'm honest! I also don't see them returning to BHD for the simple fact of the runway. FR left because they couldn't get the extension they wanted therefore had to run with load restrictions, are they willing to go back to that again? As far as I see nothing has changed at Harbour international?

As I also stated on the LDY I think FR should be focusing on Derry as there main NI Airport for the minute with the City of Culture year etc.

I wouldn't be quick to rule FR out. Initially when they started flights they were restricted to 156pax but after a while this increased to 186. Yes performance wise the bigger runway would be useful but for the routes they operated to mainland UK it worked. During the period they operated the loads on the flights increased to good levels with exception of prestwick.

Now yes if the runway was extended great they would operate sun routes etc but now just throwing an idea out there, would perhaps the runway extension issues be a great excuse to blame/use when initial airport deals run out?

Only a suggestion/idea.

Regards

The FR engine 'derate' was supposedly nothing more than a paperwork exercise...with a minor modification in the engine control system. I think it's a case of a selectable plug setting somewhere. So removing the derate is easily achieveable. No doubt, with FR, there is a cost implication somewhere though.

It is £30,000 per engine according the my friend who is a pilot for RYR.

I see alot of the blame for RYR pulling out of BHD was the delay in the runway extension.Lets be honest RYR 3 year deal was over so MOL was going to have to pay,so away he goes somewhere else for free.So now a window of opportunity, another free 3 year deal.

Straightahead

Exactly what my opinion over the whole FR leaving BHD was and still is to this day. If the runway was extended at the time great but it also allowed and excuse to pull out of BHD after the initial basing deal was up for renegotiation.

As for BMI mainline I'm dubious of Willie Walsh's comments to keep the heathrow link, I've no doubt we will still have the LHR route but that it will be Aer Lingus from BFS. No need "wasting" capacity/slots when your alliance partner flies from BFS. Transfer over pair of slots, EI increase daily flight to LHR others allow BA to increase their important long haul portfolio.


Regards