Not a lot to transit on to with them so it is pretty pointless trying to tell people youa re something that you are not. Their long haul fleet consists of 8 x A330's - one of which is stored and one in MAN for maintenance. Their newtork is tiny with few transit opportunities.

I don't think the numbers of full fare passengers spending other people's money on junkets for EU related business should be under estimated, but as you say Lufthansa group really hasn't looked to build up BRU as a transit hub.

Maybe tiny, but don't they go to a few less well visited African destinations?

Brussels Airlines fly to various destinations in Africa which are unserved by the rest of the Lufthansa Group. With the amount of African destinations served by Brussels Airlines and many of them being obscure from the rest of the group it is surprising that Brussels Airport hasn't had more attention. Brussels Airport should be more of a hub airport than it currently is. Lufthansa Group in my opinion should take full advantage of Brussels Airlines African network.

Brussels Airlines flies from Brussels to the following long-haul destinations in Africa.

Abidjan
Accra
Banjul
Bujumbura
Conakry
Contonou
Dakar
Doula
Entebbe
Freetown
Kigali
Kinshasa
Luanda
Monrovia
Nairobi
Ouagadougou
Yaounde

For BHX originating passengers most of those (if not all) destinations are served by Air France and Turkish Airlines. No idea what kind of transfer numbers Brussels carried, I’d imagine not a huge amount, but their loss should be AF and TK’s gains.

So 46 years ago in 1978 BHX-BRU transferred from British Midland to British Airways in a route swap, not sure how long it had been operated by BMA until then. I take on board the many comments but am still surprised given the absolute perfect road and rail access to BHX and a huge population within a 2 hour journey time that after 46+ years such a key route is lost. It beggars belief that the UK's second largest city is after all this time losing a link to Brussels a key EU city. I think it reflects very badly on BHX. London has an excellent train service which beats air hands down.

I think that as others have alluded to the final nail in the coffin is the Belgian legislation on short flights.

I can easily drive to Brussels, including the Eurotunnel car shuttle in 6h30m without breaking any laws. I suspect from South Birmingham its nearer 6 hours. It really isn't that far, and though I haven't explored the option I reckon East Midlands Parkway to Brussels by rail could be even quicker.

Edit: Just checked, 5 hours from EM Parkway to Brussels Midi.

Yes you have a good point. When I lived in Warwickshire I drove to Brussels too and it's not so far and on motorway too.

BHX apparently turning away Air China Cargo so they've gone to MAN instead? Any truth to this rumour? Be an absolute shocker if true: surely the airport wants all the business it can get and this was premier league stuff. Is it a handling / space issue on the Elmdon apron?

Very difficult to see Air China being turned away. Purely speculating here but perhaps they have a national cargo handling agreement with Swissport who declined the work at BHX for staffing reasons?? Sounds ridiculous but no more so than the airport turning business down.

I did a search on the Air China Cargo website and theres nothing showing from CAN to either BHX or MAN in April.

BHX (the airport) has not turned them away it is the cargo operations at the airport that are stretched due to near daily 744's plus ad-hoc freight, warehousing also an issue.
Cargo has gone from to strength at BHX which is fantastic to see bearing in mind EMA is up the road.
Air China have looked at STN, BHX (flights on screens for months) and now turned to MAN

Shame perhaps that business aircraft handling has sucked up so much space on Elmdon side. Is there a case for demolishing H2 and building a new transit shed? Not a short term fix, but if cargo is something BHX wants to see develop then something needs addressing.

As I genuinely do not know (in case any one thinks I'm being sarcastic) what is H2 used for?
In my day it had the fire service housed outside at the western end, with British Midlands bond store located internally at the eastern end and selective light a/c. (GKN? and the BSR HS125 G-ASSM)

Hangar 2
 

Isn't there an asbestos issue with demolition thus adding to the cost and hence lack of interest?

I remember G-BGKN HS125, BE90 and Bolkow 208 all GKN in hangar 2 - crikey how old does that make me feel. Remember G-ASSM as well

Pete

Whatever the cost of asbestos removal were H2 to be demolished the equation is surely how much benefit there might be medium to long term of redevelopment of the land. Were the current cargo 'boom' to be something BHX wants to build on then surely the cost may be justifiable. If nothing is done, eventually H2 will reach the end of its life and need pulling down anyway.

EZY9002 A20N due BHX Sunday at 2215 for the base launch on Monday

Yes amid this disappointing Air China debate, let's be positive, the EZY base opens on Monday, a huge (and IMO) long overdue achievement for BHX - after all it's the first UK EZY base opening for over 10 years! Here's hoping it's a success and we see continued growth from EZY at BHX over the coming years.

Maybe George Osbourne put a word in? 🤣 And before anyone starts, it’s a joke!

On it's way from LGW.

easyjet
 

EZY9002 aircraft is believed to be for the PR event G-UZHE A20N

EZY9001 which landed earlier G-UZHJ A20N is down to operate BHX-BCN-BHX-AYT-BHX - both outbounds show full and the inbound Barcelona.

Only one based until 31 March and next weeks schedule is below and hopefully the start of something big.

Monday

EZY6619 BCN 06.35 EZY6620 11:50 fully booked both directions
EZY6633 AYT 12.40 EZY6634 22.35 full outbound 49 seats taken inbound

Tuesday

EZY6603 ALC 07.00 EZY6604 13.00
EZY6607 TFS 14.20 EZY6608 00.25 (Wed)

Wednesday

EZY6619 BCN 07.00 EZY6620 12:15
EZY6609 LCA 13:05 EZY6610 23:30


Thursday

EZY6627 AGP 07.30 EZY6628 14:15 Full outbound
EZY6617 NBE 15.00 EZY6618 22:25 Full outbound

Friday

EZY6633 AYT 07.30 EZY6634 17:15

EZY6619 BCN 18:00 EZY6620 23:15


Saturday

EZY6603 ALC 08.15 EZY6604 13.45 full outbound
EZY6607 TFS 15.5 EZY6608 01.20 (Wed) 1

Sunday

EZY6627 AGP 07.10 EZY6628 13:55
EZY6617 NBE 14.50 EZY6618 22:15

Pete