QR
 

chinapattern

The 02.00 ex Doha would arrive BHX early morning and depart about 9-10am arriving back in Doha around 7-8pm local their time. If this happened tomorrow it would connect with Amritsar, Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Goa, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Kochi, Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Bangkok, Dammam, Dubai, Bahrain, Yangoon, Kuala Lumpur and Colombo.

An afternoon departure from BHX would connect with Melbourne, Maldives, Mahe, Jo'burg, Shanghai, Singapore, Bangkok, Delhi, Narita, Dhaka, Nairobi, Perth, Hong Kong. Seoule and Manila plus others.

Most are covered by EK, TK, KL, LH and LX but I could see QR eventually taking a share.

Peter

Monarch has reduced BHX-MUC to 3/7 (Sunday flights are gone) for the May-October period.

insuindi

There are lots a small changes going on at present, Sunday has seen quite a few changes with GIB moving from Saturday and then is out all day 06.35 back at 21.35.

Rome changes to morning, the second AGP after ACE.

This explains how they have added an extra SSH on a Saturday by sifting GIB to Sunday.

Flybe

Three daily on Amsterdam in the week

SAS

Mainly 738's

FR

Extra Malaga a week in August and Faro I believe but will confirm

Pete

QR connections
 

"Yangoon"
QR have increased their flights to Yangon (RGN) from 3 flights a week to daily as they have been filling their onward 319ER.
Myanmar is seen as the "must see" destination and currently they are the only European/ME carrier flying into Yangon.
Their 09.40 LHR flight connects, as would a BHX morning flight, with less than a 2 hour connection in Doha.
(maybe EK will jump in next)

Turkish
 

TK are in the process off negotiating existing bi-laterals with the Indian government to increase services; if all goes well BOM and DEL will go double daily and there are plans to add five more Indian destinations including ATQ. Would be good for BHX to be linked to ATQ with a legacy carrier.

BURMA (MYNAMAR
 

A bit off aviation topic but if you can visit Burma soon do so before it gets busy again. It is a wonderful country and the people are so friendly and welcoming. Was there end of 2011 but on a cruise!

Myanmar/QR
 

I will keep it on aviation topic-I have been visiting for 15 years and have flown some 50+ sectors in ATR's with most of the airlines in the country-loads of fun flying into tiny exWW2 airstrips.Great people,lovely country & I hope that QR start up from BHX before my next trip in early 2014 so I can try the airline and the connection to RGN.

Went down BHX today to see someone off - they do need an indoor viewing area which both passengers & non-passengers can use.

And regarding the runway works, couldn't really make out much progress but I'm sure they would be getting somewhere.

Planeaddict

Whilst I absolutely agree it would be good to have such a viewing area, that just isn't what we do in the UK - look at all the indoor viewing areas, or land side terminal views there are in the UK - I'm struggling to think of many, certainly any which are any use.

Contrast with Germany and Switzerland.

If BHX has the money available to spend, I would say there are plenty of more worthwhile projects that could be undertaken to improve the passenger experience.

ATNotts

If you remember, before they merged the two terminals together, there was an area upstairs (which is now part of departures) where you could view aircraft from the windows - I remember them being quite crowded. I know the aviation experience was very underused.

On another note, it appears Air Transat which was operating a flight from Calgary enroute to LGW diverted into BHX this morning. It was heading towards the south then circled back to BHX looking at Flight Radar.

BHX Viewing Area
 

I remember the original proper viewing area at BHX from the 80's. As I recall it was on the 1st/2nd floor, was long and narrow with a very 80's black and orange colour scheme. The room may well still be there, but presumably was rendered useless when the terminal was expanded towards the apron.

It's a pity there's no such facility available now. I remember going with the family to events at the NEC and my dad taking me on Maglev to the viewing gallery for a bit when we had had enough of the NEC. Happy days...

You're right, but I think you'll find that was essentially the connection between the two terminals, which, if it hadn't been glazed front and back would have been pretty dingy. The effect of providing a viewing area was more an accident of architecture than a deliberate attempt to provide a veiwing area, and that spotted glass made it awful to look through, and impossible to photograph through!

Bring back the buffet in the old terminal (that's the 1939 one) but leave out the terrible catering. Planeaddict, you won't remember that!!! :=

January 2013 Passenger figures down 1%
 

Source: CAA

Without snow closures these would have probably been up: -

2013 496324 (plus Enfidha to be added) - rolling year 8911205 +3.8%
2012 501583
2011 522765
2010 521185
2009 561604 :ooh:

ATM's 5391 -4.1% Rolling year 83830 +.4

Some of the routes look poor but various reasons for this, mainly reduced frequency of course.

Pete

Helsinki?
 

Any ideas?

Reported that fares are being loaded into GDS.

As far as I can see Finnair don't normally offer anything to BHX although in theory the BE/BA Dusseldorf is possible as an alternative to the usual Star and Skyteam offering I think.

Pete

Planeaddict.

1. Runway extension work... they are now laying the concrete base for the road, very slow process.

Also digging out a new carriageway close to the old clock pub. This forms part of the dedicated lane for centro into the airport.

2. BHX viewing. Unfortunately UK airports are all about making a profit. The viewing facility at BHX,had many of the views blocked by the new pier. It was often pretty deserted towards the end,and cost more to keep open and didn't make anything.

If there was big demand and such a facility could make money they would open one.Sadly I think those days are over.

Nigel

I certainly will not!

So laying the concrete base for the road, is that going to take the most time? From what I have read, the A45 diversion will be done by July/August time. As for the runway, it'll be completed by autumn but operational next year.

Yeah - I remember a while back someone had an idea of a viewing area in Sheldon Country Park but got rejected. I think somewhere near the runway at the end of the Long Stay Car Park would work as a special facility, or somewhere near that TriStar Hotel. As with inside, unless there is a suitable area which is good for viewing, without the pier blocking most views, it probably won't happen. It makes sense why they closed it now.

Nigel

It's probably best to ignore the ramblings of this Plane Addict character as many of us on this forum do.

He doesn't make sense and serves only as an irritant.

David

BHX-DUB

Just looking at Ryanair's schedule going forwards and I'm struggling to see how they will stand up to 6 daily rotations from Aer Lingus. If your not an early bird and 0755 is no use to you then your next option is 1650 (what happened to the rest of the day!), next option 2225 which doesn't hit DUB till 2330. Its perhaps good for day returns, but coming back from DUB at 2035 is rather late for business users, between 1700 and 2030 Aer Lingus will offer 3 options back.
The bargain hungry customer will always put up with a certain amount time wise but they don't seem to be helping themselves.

Laasjet,

Yes must admit a bit baffled by Planeaddicts comments, not quite sure the points hes trying to make ?

Nigel

Nigel

There is a new building going up to the right of the Tristar Hotel which would make an excellent viewing platform ?

No one including you has mentioned it !

Any idea what it is ??

BHX5DME

I'm not trying to make a specific point - I'm just offering my views. Don't see the problem.

And BHX5DME, I could answer that if satellite imagery showed a new building to the right of the TriStar hotel but those images appear to be old.

An airport electricity substation.

A bit of detail will help
 

Generalised phrases like

"There is a new building going up to the right of the Tristar Hotel which would make an excellent viewing platform ?"

Do not really convey the context of the situation at all - detail is everything - Scale, how far, what size from what perspective + a snap from a phone (if you are not in imminent danger of being shot) - I'm not being ironic.

I suspect from the wording that it's part of the new tower/ATC complex but context & detail is needed, otherwise it seems like "Kite Flying"

In all honesty as a SLF (Who has flown an aeroplane) - Please advise the poster to google BHX on a suitable browser will help.

For the professionals please be patient. - For the "watchers" and we can be useful, please provide a positive feedback, it's what you are paid for.

In JB I'm as bad as the rest, but as long as it's not a wind up, please cut some slack (Yes I miss Plot-dropper, Slott spotter or what ever he/she was called on another thread) - It was "Fun" to read but I suspect that the quality of the thread discussion (NB Jobs) was damaged.

CAT III

Air Malta
 

All quite confusing......flights are bookable on the KM website, a range of fare options are available (Promo, Econmy Saver etc), BHX appears on their drop down list of scheduled destinations and these flights have a 20KG baggage limit and in flight service as per their existing scheduled flights to LGW, MAN. However, a press release on the KM homepage clearly states that these are charter flights (to seven UK regional airports this summer including BHX) and when you get to the final booking screen flights are listed as 'Air Malta Charter Flight'. So is it in all but name really a scheduled flight, the only difference being there is no business class on offer? Come to think of it isn't that what in effect TOM and TCX flights are aswell? The old style BHX online scheduled timetable used to include TOM flights.

Whatever, it's nice to see KM back, twice a week and in daylight hours!

RE: Air Malta
 

Taken from the BHX photo blog; hope this clears things up a bit.

Air Malta are to increase their Birmingham service to twice weekly for the summer 2013 season and move the Tuesday service. These flights operate as a quasi scheduled service - while many of the seats are taken by Tour Operators they are also bookable direct via the Air Malta site

But like you say, nice to have them back. And on a side note I think their new colour scheme is fantastic.

@ Planeaddict - There is no problem, the forum seems to have gotten a little stuffy in some areas of late. If people knew how to edit their ignore lists they wouldn't have to try and be superior.

I remember a few years ago that someone was enquiring about the old 'Skyways' restaurant, in the Elmdon terminal, to use as a spotters/visitors area....No idea what happened over that, but it would have made a good site...
I'm not into the spotting thing personally, but in all my years at bhx I found them to all be decent people...

Call100 A response
 

I have to agree with your comments but I realise that I too, have been guilty of "Historic reminiscences" on this thread.

It all stems from those "Let's go watch the plane(s)" Sundays that was about all that the rate payers got for their money, in days long past.

We all have to remember, that we a discussing the elements of operation of companies now.

CAT III

What a lot of airports in the UK (with a few exceptions) seem to forget is that it is not just the plane spotters who like to spend time at airports. Joe Public and his kids love it too. Provide decent facilities (with reasonably priced parking charges) and airports can provide cost effective spectators facilities. When one considers the excellent facilities provided by such airports as Amsterdam, Zurich, Frankfurt (and in fact the majority of German airports), it's amazing that no such facilities exist at either LHR or LGW. BHX has a number of potential spectator spots but I suspect that they just don't care.

Hotel Tango

You're right, and what is really ironic is that spotting and general interest in aviation is probably higher in the UK than any other European country, yet in the UK the airport operators, and the authorities generally (in the name of security) just seem to want to put barriers (both metaphorical and actual) in the way of the general public, many of whom have to suffer the inconvenience of living close to major airports and would welcome getting something in return.

I believe it is down to the profit imperitive that exists within the UK, to a greater degree than it does in other European countries, where public service enjoys a higher priority.

Whatever, we're in the UK, and stuck with it!

Sorry, when did this change then? The threads are full of historic elements and always have been.
I see no reason why the past, present, and future can't be discussed. I see nothing in the rules to preclude any aviation based subject. Certainly the forum is not here just for those who think they are special in some way. If a subject doesn't interest them they can place people on an ignore list or just not comment at all...

Changes in attitudes
 

"Sorry, when did this change then?"

( I don't mean on PPRuNe, but there is a parallel meaning and call100, I think linked with the slight increase in "Stuffyness" I'm not manipulating your meaning but borrowing from it)

Its not a sudden thing but gradual. As soon as Airports ceased to have a civic role and became primarily profit centres, the viewer became secondary to the business of extracting as much as possible in an efficient way from the passengers travelling through the facility.

The advent of Lo-Co carriers has also played its part, but is I think a later factor - Remember the privatisation of Airlines would have been an imperative to reduce handling costs.

I do not mean municipal ownership in this way, per say. A council or councils could operate in exactly the same way. Likewise a company could if they wished, provide spectator facilities; as marketing plus to emphasise the value their facility to the (at the time) non travelling public.

Sadly the utilitarian premise of maximising the cash-flow from a facility prevails.

@CATIII-NDB.
Apologies, I misunderstood your meaning........
Of course, if BHX could find a way to make it pay, I've no doubt they would develop facilities. That said, the only facility in the old building was at the top of the side steps. That is why most spectators gathered in the the buffet, which was not an official spotting area. So, the only people that made money from spectators was THF!!
The problem of trying to make it pay is that most people don't want to pay for the privilege (?) of looking at the planes. :)
Onward and upward.....

Most airports nowadays have no part in the community like say Schiphol does, or even FRA-Port. LHR is a little bit better than it was with T5 but the central area and T4 are designed to get you in, dropped off and away ASAP. You won't even see an aeroplane.
The worst is Edinburgh, there are *no* facilities worth mentioning landside, much like GLA. Both have a WHS and a pub in a far corner. New terminals in recent years have been at best tin sheds. They are now people processing centres in the UK whereas abroad they are often a proud part of the community, public spaces of a sort.
Given BHX's problems of not being on the radar of the nearby travelling public, turning the clock back a little might not be bad idea.

I remember having a discussion with one Paul Kehoe, when he was CEO at Luton about spectator facilities. His view was that they were mainly used by people who brought their own drinks/food and would not spend on parking/entrance fees. So they were of no commercial use to an airport.

If anything, airports have become more commercial over the intervening ten years, so I expect Mr K has not changed his opinion.

Monarch 320 Sharklet
 

Hopefully see one of these bad boys in bhx shortly.

Photo Monarch Airlines Airbus A320-214 F-WWBZ

Regards

Barry

Monarch 320
 

Never mind the sharklets, look at that amazing blue sky, something we sadly so rarely see in the UK :( I want to go on holiday now!

I'm not a spotter but the pier provides brilliant views of the airfield and close up of planes, shame you need a boarding card to make use of it! To be fair not great in winter but what's wrong with Sheldon Country Park for plane spotting?

The question is would the general public use an indoor viewing area if there was one? The last time I was in the old spectator gallery there was hardly anybody in there; and that was at the height of summer. I know that the pier developments blocked a lot of the views and it wasn’t ideal from a spotters perspective, but for everyday joe public it still offered a decent view of the planes landing and taking off.

I think PK was probably right in what he said as you would often see spotters in there with their own flasks and sandwiches which is fair enough; but that’s not going to make any profit and sadly in today’s economic climate that is what it’s all about.

Besides, there isn't anywhere suitable for an indoor viewing area anyway so the best one could hope for would be something along the lines of the viewing park at Manchester.

Chinapattern

The viewing terrace doesn't need to be covered. I used to use Nürnberg a great deal, and after checking in, if I had time, often went up to the viewing terrace, which is open to the elements, and has glass frontage, which doesn't make photography ideal but viewing / spotting is fine. For the less hardy there is a viewing available inside, where there is also a quality Movenpick cafeteria serving decent food and drink, including beers, at not ridiculous prices.

Special events are help on the terrace year round, including an ice rink in winter!

Entrance is free, and the terrace and cafeteria well patronised, with both enthusiasts and the general public, who use the place because it's a fairly cheap afternoon or evening out for the family.

So, why wouldn't it work here in UK? I guess the first thing is that the catering would be p**s poor, as it normally is, and our stupid licencing regulations would preclude sale of alcohol in areas frequented by youngsters, making it less attractive for dad. Undoubtedly the airport would insist upon charging an entrance fee which would also put off families, but still the airport would benefit from the rake offs from parking and catering.

I honestly think that UK airport management lives in a UK bubble, and never looks at what happens elsewhere in Europe - a problem which I have to say is pretty widespread among our population and I don't suppose for a moment that Kehoe is about to open his eyes, broaden his horizons, and think outside of the "UK box".

BHX runway extension works - mid-Feb 2013

The road is coming along nicely :ok:

January International route figures
 

Passenger figures from the CAA, average per flight and load factor estimated by using a BHX blog and libhomeradar for movements (2012 in brackets).

Hard work this lot due to the weather and seasonal reductions - please take them with a huge pinch of salt.

A lot of 70% -80% load factors and quite similar to last year. The one that would bring the biggest smile to the beancounters face is Frankfurt with a loss of just 454 pax but a cut of 25% of flights and they added 25% on load factor.

BRUSSELS...7970...(8519)...38 PAX...43%

LARNACA...2635...(2888)...165 PAX...78%

COPENHAGEN...5012...(5478)...63 PAX...61%

GRENOBLE...3250..(1833)...135 PAX...78%

LYON...NIL...(2257).

PARIS...25517...(25907)...82... PAX...68%

BERLIN TXL...3594...(nil)..76 pax...55%

DUSSELDORF...10528...(11402)...47 PAX...55%

FRANKFURT...17187...(17641)...99 pax...75%

HAMBURG...2165...(1046)...52.pax...60%

HANOVER...2887...(2967)...55 pax...65%

MUNICH...4045...(13064)...77 pax...57%

STUTTGART...1275...(2126)...26 pax...33%

CORK...5147...(5354)..42 pax...59%

DUBLIN...35647...(36634)...102 pax...57%

KNOCK...1333...(2614)...30 pax...53%

SHANNON...1765...(2201)...36 pax...66%

WATERFORD...298...(NIL)...50 pax...64%

BERGAMO.....2948...(NIL)....105 PAX...56%

MILAN...1179...(1238)...31 pax...35%

ROME FCO...2645...(nil)...102 pax...58%

VENICE...1818...(nil)...91 pax...45%

MALTA...2300...(2310)...153 pax...81%

AMSTERDAM...32237...(33866)...86 pax...75%

FARO...5135...(5758)...160 pax...82%

Funchal...1289...(nil)...129 pax...63%

ALICANTE...10579...(13332)...176 pax...87%

BARCELONA...4389...(nil)...129 pax...68%

GIRONA...nil...(1143)...

MALAGA...9753...(9652)...155 pax...77%

PALMA...2501...(0)...137 pax...72%

ARRECIFE...5225...(7370)...154 pax...77%

FUERTEVENTURA...2587...(3096)...162 pax...79%

LAS PALMAS...3105...(4678)...155 pax...78%

TENERIFE...11941...(13545)...171 pax...82%

STOCKHOLM ARN....1197....(NIL)...60 pax...50%

GENEVA......9468....(11496).....141 PAX......89%

ZURICH...9468...(11496)...71 pax...67%

ISTANBUL...6413...(4547)...103 pax...65% (based on 155 seats for the A320/738) - 2012 - 103 pax 65% load factor!

PRAGUE...nil pax...(3104)...

BUDAPEST...859...(nil)...143 pax...77%

KAUNAS...NIL...(2542)

BYDGOSZCZ...4635...(3898)...155 Pax..82%

GDANSK/NIL...(2653)...

KATOWICE...2903...(2453)...145 pax...77%

KRAKOW.....2764.....(NIL)...142 PAX...75%

RZESNOW...4144...(2628)...148 pax...78%

BRATISLAVA...3217...(3661)...161 pax...85%

ASHKHABAD...4654...(5084)...120 pax...67%

DUBAI..39446...(42834)...318 pax...78% -

ISLAMABAD...7345...(7794)...204 pax...55%

NEWARK...6379...(6376)...129 pax...75%

Pete