US preclearance would be used for about an hour a day at BHX, EDI or GLA. It's not nearly as efficient as MAN/DUB. Even LGW has little business case for preclearance.

Was thinking that physically BHX and GLA would be suitable from the point of view of one terminal. Did question whether the airlines would pay for it (i.e. weak business case), and the fewer the airlines, the more it will cost them. In all cases, it would be a morning operation.

You're right, MAN is definitely the best option for the UK, LHR probably the worst (too complicated to organise).

Gayfriendly
 

It seems Spain is a very important market for DY the problem with using Spanish based aircraft is that whilst the flight times South from the UK tend to be good the return flights back from Spain can be very very early and Brits are not fans of getting up at 3-4 am to travel to the airport.

There's only going to be one facility per airport if it comes to MAN / BHX or wherever. This would mean that all airlines wanting to use it would have to use the same terminal or have passengers bussed and alliance synergies would be compromised. So not an easy one to solve on a multi terminal airport.

I expect its a very weak business case and not sure the US would even consider such airports. While DUB is a much larger scale and not a fair comparison airlines will pay €16 million just to use it and this doesn't include standard USPC charges which they will pay either clearing in DUB or the US.

As for LHR unlikely BA would even benefit unless they were to move terminals. US airlines will be top of the queue, the US don't want a repeat of what happened in the UAE.

Can you enlighten us what happened there please?

The facility at Abu Dhabi seems to be expanding the number of flights going through it next month; looks like extended operating hours

EK 3rd daily announced
 

EK have today announced the 3rd daily flight. Great news although long expected!!!

Emirates Adds Third Daily Rotation to Birmingham :: Routesonline

Barry

Fab news :D:ok:

No US carriers use the facility as they don't serve Abu Dhabi. There has caused problems in the US side, if they don't benefit then there is a problem.

The US approached the UAE and wanted to have it in Dubai but they were told Abu Dhabi.

Just back to costs the US cover 20% of staff costs and Abu Dhabi 80%

I've never used the pre-clearance facility at DUB but I have between Canada and the US. The problem is that the area must be physically separate from the rest of the terminal so that, once through immigration and customs, the passengers are isolated from other passengers. Short of having a portacabin on the tarmac, I don't see how BHX could host such a facility and, as has been pointed out, it would only be for an hour or so a day - not worth paying US staff to relocate.

EK @ BHX
 

More good news! Morning departure to DXB added! :D Link http://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/m...e-article.aspx
First class too!! Heres to all those doubters that said Birmingham couldn't fill first class seats!
Daza

EK
 

Fantastic news!! And finally EK offering First Class from BHX. This is a big vote in confidence of BHX by EK. Only slight downside I guess is that I highly doubt we will see QR or EY at BHX for the foreseeable future (unless EK know something we don't and have got in there first....). Summer 2015 shaping up to be a good one. Will this extra frequency help offset (on paper at least) pax lost by the BE route cull?

Daza
 

I wonder how long some here will find something to moan about with this announcement? :ugh::ugh::ugh:

AA flight prices from BHX
 

I've just booked a flight to JFK from BHX on American. Very impressed on competitiveness of fares.
I've paid £521 for a direct return - the cheapest I could get from any London airports for the same dates was £45 more expensive.
I don't mind paying £45 more to fly from BHX, as it's so convenient, but to actually be paying less is fantastic - especially as this is over the school half term period.
I hope people make full use of the long haul offerings at BHX - it's a case of use it or lose it!

I'd say it is more likely to make EY and QR sit up and take note that there is a significant market ex BHX, and why are they not getting any of it ! It's very unusual that one of the ME3 has such a large market to themselves.

Brilliant news for BHX. If the loads hold up there is no reason not to change one of the flights to a 380 in the future. Well done EK for your investment in BHX.

and mayhem at security during the morning rush perhaps? :{

Emirates third daily...
 

With the Emirates new of this morning it is pleasing to be able to transfer some of what were rumours into the confirmed bracket.

About this time last year there must have been considerable work being done behind the scenes to set up the ground-breaking China Southern flights from Beijing. So, are there any rumours abounding on this front?

If they are going to return, i would assume that details are being worked out as we speak... Remember it is not long to March when the announcement was made early in 2014.

Here's hoping...

Daza, since when did you become self-appointed judge and jury on what can and can't be said on this thread? Sure, you are entitled to your thoughts and opinions and to interpret posts as you read them, but then again so am I. It's called freedom of speech, right? I would have far more respect for you if you actually engaged in debate or put your ideas forward (as eggc has done) rather than stamping your feet like a kid and using pointless smilies when someone dares to write something you don't like.


And do me a favour, please can you explain exactly HOW my post has, in your words, 'found something to moan about' when it begins, as it does, with the words 'Excellent news!'


P.S You're a bit slow responding to Hotel Tango.....

Huh? Where exactly was Daza criticising your post GF?