Guys/Gals, this debate about BHD V BFS has been done to death... with 2 clear sides, 1 for each airport. There is no winner in the debate. Ever.

Amsterdam
 

In response to the question about Amsterdam being an Air UK route, KLM or NLM as it subsidiary was then, flew F28's from Amsterdam to BFS. Air UK was much later split in to Buzz ((which was taken over by Ryanair) and KLM UK some of which was absorbed into KLM.

I can find no record of Air UK itself operating Amsterdam from either Belfast airport but would be keen to hear if anyone else has details.

Parish pump discussions
 

Well said EI BUD. The exchanges on the Belfast Threads are pathetic. Some people should get out occasionally instead of staying in to listen to The Archers.
Please everyone focus on the big picture instead of participating in schoolboy exchanges about UK domestic traffic.
Was in Dublin last month to greet friends from USA and noted 11 [eleven] scheduled arrivals from US on that particular Friday morning.
For 30+ years successive EGAA managements have been obsessed with EGAC competition and TOTALLY ignored competitive opportunities which have been snapped up by ROI and West of Scotland airports.

This criticism is addressed to both civil and military traffic. e.g look at amount of NATO traffic through EINN over the years.
Look at the corporate traffic using EIDW/NN for oceanic crossing logistics.

It was telling that Emirates selected Dublin for its base when Etihad was already well established there. Surely a strong argument based on product differentiation backed by an attractive financial package would have given Belfast an edge.

We have become an economic backwater and the failure of BIAL to have a strategy for building medium/long haul ops has contributed to this.

City is an excellent airport with the ability to serve destinations within 3+ hours range but BIAL with its strategic advantage of unrestricted operational hours etc must become proactive in developing routes to destinations beyond.

airport66
 

Amsterdam was never an Airuk route from Belfast they used to fly from Bfs to Exeter,Southampton,Jersey and Leeds for a short time before moving to Bhd to fly to Stansted i think.

EIBUD - well said, two commercial operations, neither has the right or justification to demand the other one is closed - end of story!:ugh:

Incidentally I was through Dublin a few months ago, if EGAA think they have a snowballs chance in hell of ever competing with them or if they think they could attract airlines up on the basis of comparable facilities they are delusional.:rolleyes::rolleyes: EGAA is a backwards hovel in comparison, bit like comparing a 2 star B&B with the Europa.:}

Apparently the first EI flight into BHD will be this Saturday evening. Positioning from aldergrove for starting operations on sun.

Looking at the timings of the first flights to LHR and LGW, there will need to be two Airbuses at BHD on Sunday morning. Presumably, one will position in from BFS and another from DUB possibly. Will be interesting to see where they will park three Airbuses on the ramp at BHD on Saturday night.

Resumably where they used to park Bmi baby and shift a flybe aircraft over to the old terminal

Both Airbus' will position in from BFS. BFS has 2 319 & 1 320 based. The 2 319 will position to BHD & the 320 will go to DUB.

Yes one 320 will head for Dublin.
The 2 319s will head for BHD but I would suggest that one will position to BHD on Saturday night when off loads its LHR BFS flight at 2040.

The second 319 will be coming up from Alicante and while it is normally due to land at BFS at 2150 it will be 2250 due to a stop in DUB on the outbound BFS ALC flight on Saturday. Most likely outcome is that it will position out on Sunday morning at 0630(due to curfew at BHD) or just before to touch down at BHD just after 0630 in order to do LHR first flight Sunday. The aircraft that comes in on Saturday will be able to do LGW first flight.

So Saturday night I would expect one 319 will be there.

one 319 arriving sat afternoon other arriving sun morning

Belfast City Airport (BHD)
 

Looks like DND is going :-(

http://ripassetseu.s3.amazonaws.com/www.hial.co.uk/_files/documents/oct_12/hia__1351091756_Dundee_Airport_Routes_Press_Re.pdf

samsara,
I see Lanzarote and Heathrow on Saturday are operated by 320, so you are quite right a 319 available to go to BHD on Sat!!

EI-BUD

I have been told, one will go down Saturday night as predicted, the other will depart BFS in time to land at BHD for opening, the last EI will depart for DUB round 7.

Logs air stopping Dundee schedule from 2nd December

A few less at BHD good job EI are arriving !!

BA landing at 23:00
 

BA enroute LHR BHD and it is expected to land at 23:00 - nice and flexible on the curfew I see. And EI running v late to BFS, and in the new schedule when EI is based at BHD will be interesting when these LHR arrivals are late, what a great welcome EI will get at BFS if they need to divert!

EI-BUD

EI BUD
Have to agree with yours comment. I think BHD is making a joke of the 9.30 curfew. In exceptional circumstances yes let the odd aircraft land but 1.5 hours later? When the winter sets in I think there could be a few diversion to BFS by BA, but EI will divert to DUB........

I see the the 20.50 still has not left BHD and its 22.50 now....yes bending the rules. maybe they should just totally ignore the 9.30 deadline!!!!!

At last 23.06 departure !!!!!

While it may be a general curfew it means hat here can't be any scheduled flights operating after that time however things happen, especially now with fog and cold weather delays such as de-icing snow etc if and when it happens this year, look at it this way, if it was you on one of those flights would you rather have your flight cancelled or get home sometime that evening. No matter what though there will never be a flight departing or arriving after midnight as its just not allowed. Yes I understand people in the area of bhd point but they should also be aware that the airport employs a lot of local people, why not give the airport the runway extension and bring more jobs to the area and more choice for locals as to where they can fly to. But that's a totally different topic. First Aer Lingus plane lands tomorrow as flight EI2035 at 17:40.

Irishlad

if Bhd got their runway extension, which destinations would suddenly become available that cannot be offered now if any airline wished to fly there? I am really curious at what it is we are missing because Bhd didn't get that extension. Where could we be going to that is not available now and will only become available if it is from Bhd?

TB

True blue have to agree

Probably nowhere different

Yes it would be nice to see a few more European destinations , Prague, Venice, Warsaw, Budapest, Milan etc..........however they have been tried and numbers and yields were not good or just ok

Those who want an extension at BHD will not get any new destinations that are not currently served at BFS

Looking at the summer when WW could operate three hour flights from BHD......it was only the bucket and spade routes