Tui to operate 4 peak season Orlando Melbourne flights from BFS, summer 2023. First flight 22nd June.
Source from SeanM1997 on Twitter

Was slightly surprised they weren't already operating that route. Seems to be just a few peak high season services, perhaps a taster.
Melbourne seems to be getting mixed reviews.

All your eggs in one basket comes to mind...


https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....5fd0cac61e.png

easyJet
 

EZY
 

Looks like EZY putting extra flights on to LBA

Was 2 X Weekly from September
Now 3 X weekly in December and 5 X weekly from January 2023

SmartLynx Latvia
 

For all you spotter types at BFS, the Bristol flight tomorrow night at 2140 will be operated by SmartLynx Latvia using an A320. Ah for the glory days when a sub would mean something exotic like a Coronado, IL-18, Caravelle. Now it’s just another A320.

And probably an all white one...

it was and we departed over 2 hours late. Something about Thursdays on BRS-BFS always a rolling delay. Too tightly scheduled earlier in the day.

Being reported(speculation) that Ryanair, on Thursday, could be announcing a return to Bfs this winter. Credit SeanM1997 on twitter.

Would be great to have some low cost flights back in BFS

TFS, AGP, ACE, ALC, and LPA
​​​​​

So 3 years of FR before they leave in a huff again. Rinse and repeat.

At least it should help keep EZY honest.

Three year low cost / zero cost deal then find an excuse to leave?
or
Maybe keep EZY on their toes

is that what’s expected ? Or what they always start with ? 😂

On another note an Italian destination would be great

Belfast Telegraph now reporting this as well.

https://m.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/bus...-41818983.html

They'll not walk away if there is money to be made - past performance might be more of an indication of demand from BFS?

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....bafbaeedb5.jpg


Surprised to see a few domestic legs there, and currently no Canaries.

Ryanair
 

New Routes - from Summer 2023
France - Paris Beauvais (2 weekly)
Italy - Milan bergamo (2 weekly)
Poland - Gdansk (1 weekly) and Krakow (2 weekly)
Portugal - Faro (3 weekly)
Spain - Alicante (3 weekly) Girona (3 weekly) and Malaga (2 weekly)
UK - East Midlands (4 weekly), Manchester (2 daily), Stansted (2 daily) & Edinburgh (1 daily)

Incredible. So what's different this time.
they've not had much success on domestic services, I think lately due to their discomfort with not having sold seats very far in advance.
They had filled for slots to the airports I had mentioned yesterday. Not all came through. Very different strategy this time. More secondary airports and totally a cat among the pigeons on the likes of MAN and EDI. They drive easyJet out of STN eventually.. Sad if so.

APD reduction for domestic services from April 2023.
UK government sets new APD rates for 2023 | Business Travel News Europe

I doubt very much if U2 will budge anywhere. I'm not the biggest U2 fan in the world but to be totally fair to them they've stuck very loyally to BFS and seen FR off a number of times, I can't see anything different this time.

Looking at the frequencies on international routes and the destinations, with the exception of BVA its all safe known routes with low frequencies, minimal risk.

A321 on the SleazyJet to BRS tonight. Big bugger. What was the Swearingen Metro doing on the cargo stand?

Stuff & things from Antwerp, don't know what exactly. Metro and SAAB340 have been doing runs recently.

Pharmaceutical things as a result of ……….. across the water and NI unique status within the single market 😉

Provided they don’t touch England they are cheaper , subject to fewer realms of paperwork and associated cost and arrive in Belfast a sight quicker !

And the English Tories are determined to jeopardise this to maintain the support of the DUP .

And I have spoken to a number of businesses where the new arrangements are playing havoc with their trade with Europe.

There are trade issues to the EU and currently that is of transport AND the friction that is the English border on the Land bridge and the subsequent paper work and delays in the South East and Humberside going that way, THE RESULT OF THE “B” word and yes that’s a problem and consequence, NI can’t somehow avoid by dint of geography.
You can of course route down the N1/M1 and take advantage of the direct sailings, through they are far more expensive , much longer steaming and rather less frequent 😉

NI businesses certainly aren’t entirely immune to the self harm of ……………….. and the unilateral changes to the protocol WONT ADDRESS any of this and will jeopardise the integrity of GF agreement .

I have family that run a business manufacturing in Antrim and Poland and sending finished goods into the UK (Manchester, Glasgow and Essex) yes the effects of B…….. are a mare for such trading arrangements that were once simple. Load a forty foot trailer each week out of Poland on Monday arrive in Belfast Wednesday morning , load same lorry with finished goods off to Larne ( park overnight) catch ferry drop off in Glasgow, drive down to Manchester drop off back to Warrington to collect electric parts park overnight drive down to Essex off load some of the electrics and finished goods and back to Europe to get out of France before the weekend truck curfews.

Simply impossible now to do this and just one truck every ten days is all that can be achieved if you are lucky AND the cabotage use is no long available.

Result more costs on separate deliveries of finish goods on GB trucks , massively increased lead times and prices to customers across the UK.

Brexit reality’s Nothing great about it 🤕

Jet2 Summer 2023
 

Bourgas no longer available to book beyond 23rd September. Looks to be dropped for next summer.

BOJ still served twice weekly with Balkan Holidays and once weekly with TUI. Surprised Jet2 couldn’t make it work and the other two can.

Jet 2
 

Airline Jet2 announce expanded winter destinations from Northern Ireland in 2023 - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

Jet 2
 

Based on August flight departures for next summer Jet2 only employing 3 based aircraft

Looks like a fourth aircraft is needed from at least Winter 23/24, not sure if it will be the whole winter, but in March some days need four aircraft.

Has Virgin Atlantic pulled Orlando non-stop from Belfast International for Summer 2023?

Can't seem to see any flights or holidays bookable, Only flights from Belfast City via Heathrow appear to be showing.

Maybe TUI starting Orlando-Melbourne from next year as made Virgin Atlantic pull out?

Just messaged VS and they said the BFS route is currently suspended so unsure if they are returning

If there was any doubt think you would have got ‘we are reviewing our services’ - so I get feeling its a goner. Some of the loads from UK have been dire.

Winter flights to Salzberg 23/24 on sale

Get a Piste of the Action as Jet2.com Launches Ski Programme for Winter 23/24 | Northern Ireland Travel News (nitravelnews.com)

New Route
 

TUI has put on sale a new route to Heraklion for Summer 2023 from Monday 15th May. Once a week until September.

Departs 17:30 and arrives back at 03:55

Replaces Burgas (BOJ)

Jet2 and TUi both dropping BOJ, just left with Balkan tours. Always thought Bourgas was a popular holiday destination.

No doubt the Russia/Ukraine situation is hurting bookings to that part of the world. I for one wouldn't be choosing to holiday in Bulgaria at this present time.

The Donbas region of Ukraine where the majority of the military action is taking place is 1,669km away from Burgas, Bulgaria.

The Crimean Peninsula is 1,252km from Burgas, Bulgaria.

The Ukrainian border to Burgas, Bulgaria is 903km including two border crossings.

In comparison the distance by air from Donetsk in the Donbas region of Ukraine to Antalya Turkey is 1366km and Dalaman, Turkey is 1460km.

I'm sure that the war in Ukraine has obviously had an affect on bookings to Bulgaria and the nearby region but I wouldn't necessarily put it down to the situation. Although it's been popular in the past I think that the majority of people who have holidayed in Bulgaria have decided that multiple visit's are not going to happen. You get far more for your money elsewhere as it definitely doesn't have the appeal as the likes of Greece or Spain.

For plane Spotters

World’s largest cargo plane touches down in Belfast - BelfastTelegraph.co.uk

I had the pleasure of travelling on the first 747 to fly from Belfast (to Toronto, Ulster Maple Leaf Club charter). Later I was dispatching the things, standing under the nosewheel, headset plugged in, all four turning, middle of taxiway, lonely place, until you hear, "that's great thank you, see you next time" and you can run for the pier.