160 sounds a bit high, but could that have included staff that worked in, for example, the old BA ticket office in the city centre?

I think the way WW is wording his statements is significant. If they were going to operate to BHD, why not say so. I have not read any statement that refers to anything other than Belfast, no mention of which airport. Options are being kept open here, I think.

TB

Would Willy risk going to BFS is the question? EI could then go to BHD and get the high paying business passengers on LHR and run european flights away from easyjets home.

I doubt that bhd would be a beneficial move for EI, as they operate a canary island flight with another european flight each day, resulting in a late arrival back in the uk. The bhd curfew would pose too much a hurdle I'd imagine!!

While some articles such as the NI Travel News one seems to assume that by Belfast they mean BHD, everything else has stated just "Belfast" which could either be BHD or BFS, he has also not stated that it will be BA aircraft, just saying that the link would be retained.. so to me these are the 4 options.. there could be more but these are the ones i can think of

1. BA moves to BFS and alongside EI operates X amounts of flights per day, allowing an early arrival into BFS from LHR on BA aircraft

2. BA pulls out of BHD and EI increases flights from BFS under codeshare, however another aircraft would have to be found, unless a sun destination gets the chop or the 3rd base aircraft remains in Winter.

3. BA pulls out of BHD, EI puts an aircraft in BHD for the start of Winter when one is normally removed from BFS operating LHR from both BFS and BHD

4. Nothing changes at all and BA continues to fly BHD-LHR in their own aircraft

Tigger2K8
 

I wish I'd done a MBA in business studies:rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes:

Why would BA commit their own metal to Bhd when they can get Ei to do the same job, probably for less money? Or, Ba operate from Lhr, Ei from Bfs, what I mean here is Ba operate first out of Lhr and last to Lhr, out of Bfs. This way, comprehensive service on one route, but no night-stop costs for either airline. Each do say 3 services a day, good service but BA only using 3 of those very valuable slots they have just got. Too much emphasis being put on this idea it has to be Bhd, BA will be quite happy to fly to Bfs, as there will never now be competition to them by any other airline from Bhd to Lhr. That time has come and gone.

TB

Facelookbovvered
 

You don't do an MBA "in Business Studies"... MBA stands for a Masters in Business Administration. :rolleyes:

No need for the sarcasm!

Hang on. Big Willy said Belfast, not Antrim, therefore BHD it is!

Aye, get EI to do it "for less money" as they're a charity. WW said BA are committed to the route, not that they'd get someone else to fly it for them.

Shame BMI are seemingly going. They're an excellent outfit, from a customer perspective at any rate.

I'm struggling with the 'cutting & pasting' technology but in todays Newsletter, WW is quoted as saying that the BHD / LHR route will be maintained. He was in L/Derry yesterday and was questioned about it. To my knowledge its the first time that he has been specific beyond 'Belfast'.
Admittedly nothing to say that he wont change his mind.

Thanks for the sarcasm, just highlighting what could happen, sharing my view point as we are all entitled to, open forum isn't it?

Wikipedia
 

I see that someone has put on the Belfast city airport wiki page that Bmi BHD-LHR is ending in summer & that BA start it from October. Also it shows that the Bmi Baby flights to Palma and Malaga are ending in the summer.

PMI + AGP where never planned to operate during the winter months.

FLYBE Stands up for the Ulstermen
 

Just read copy of press release on BHD website saying Flybe are providing extra capacity for HC Final.

On reading detail it consists of one additional flight to...SOUTHAMPTON!!!

Michael O must be green with envy.

This is shameful and a total embarrasment to all concerned

So BMIbaby are leaving Belfast city on 11th June. That will be interesting and will only really leave Flybe in a monopoly. Very sad day for competition.

David, See bmibaby thread. The airline is to be shut down in September with certain routes inlcuding all of those from Belfast ending mid June. Sad day for all. Good luck to any baby staff here.

belfast might pick up some passengers on the eastjet flight to southend,

I wonder will BE step in to fill the gap left by WW or will they remember how WW was welcomed with open arms to compete on already existing domestics.

Are FlyBe able to pick up the slack?

Might be quiet there this summer....mongrel will enjoy his deck chair in the park...

not seen the new picknic benches then?