Is there a Flybe announcement to be made at Belfast City this week? A return is what we all expect the question is when?

Has anything opened up at Belfast City ? Whem I came through a few months ago every single facility landside was closed up, and airside almost just the same, with the sole exception of Starbucks, which was doing good business with a substantial queue - and no wonder.

Cafe nero is moving into randox and wh smith is open the odd time landside. Harvest Market still not open airside rest is.

Announcements
 

Has anyone heard of any announcements due regarding new routes/operators?

We are getting very close to the start of the summer season and we should expect an announcement regarding who or what will be operating or covering the Aer Lingus regional flights once the current set up (Aer Lingus mainline and Cityflyer aircraft and crews) stops operations.

Heard murmurings new BE besides BHX, MAN etc going to target old traditional monopoly regionals from BHD like Aberdeen, Inverness, Southampton, Exeter, Cardiff. Wonder how that might be greeted by new operators established onto these routes now!

There is going to be a bun fight at BHD this year. Regardless of plans the reality is something is going to give with all this competition and not forgetting BFS and Easy. Just remember all the told you so gang. At the core of this are people and there jobs if and or when it falls apart.

Emerald Airlines/EI flights being loaded with some on sale. Usual thing with the prices being bonkers. I assume they’ll come down once they get things sorted properly.

https://cimg1.ibsrv.net/gimg/pprune....4ecc798fc8.jpg

Please have the courtesy of crediting these source. It's bad manners not to

Apologises for that. I've just realised the original source was cut out from the screenshot. This was done in error in my haste to copy and share. No deliberate intention on my part to not share the source

Given we are now into March is it fair to assume that we wont be seeing a return of the golden harp adorned 737s at the city this summer??

Or has anyone heard anything contrary??

I would assume never say never, but BCA have new toys to play with so possibly not...but then again who knows.

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Sean M on twitter is suggesting that Flybe 2.0 may be planning to operate the BHD to LHR route??

Given the competition and capacity provided by Aer Lingus and British Airways, is there demand or scope for a third operator on the route?

Not to mention BACFE to LCY. Good money after bad, but there choice. They will spin it somehow to make it sound like a great idea.

Flybe
 

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Flybe routes from BHD
Belfast City (BHD) to Birmingham (BHX) From 13th April up to 4x Daily

Belfast City (BHD) to Glasgow (GLA From 14th April up to 4x Daily

Belfast City (BHD) to Leeds Bradford (LBA) From 28th April up to 3x Daily

Belfast City (BHD) to London Heathrow (LHR) From 28th April up to 2x Daily

Belfast City (BHD) to Edinburgh (EDI) From 23rd June up to 3x Daily

Belfast City (BHD) to East Midlands (EMA) From 7th July up to 2x Daily

Belfast City (BHD) to Manchester (MAN) From 7th July up to 4x Daily

Belfast City (BHD) to Southampton (SOU) From 28th July up to 2x Daily

Aberdeen (ABZ) to Belfast City (BHD) From 25th August up to 4x Weekly

Belfast City (BHD) to Inverness (INV) From 25th August up to 4x Weekly

Belfast City (BHD) to Newcastle (NCL) From 25th August Daily

They're either very smart...or incredibly stupid; competition is always interesting to see and I wish them the best of luck.

The only routes that they're not going up directly against another operator will be EMA & NCL.

I think a Cork route could generate some good interest. Pre financial crisis and Manx2 crash, the route had good numbers, though I guess the challenge is that an early morning rotation may be utilised on a UK business type route.

I wish them well but I'm quite sure IAG and even Loganair will mount a significant response.​​​​​

The Manx2 accident aircraft had 10 passengers (of 19 seats), although operating at prime business times, and the route had become established. Seems in fact a bit thin for a Q400 operation.

In passing I recall maybe 15 years ago substantial numbers on business time Dublin-Cork flights; that market seemed to fallen right away, even pre-Covid, as well.

Hi WHBMIn the better times Are Arann used to get good support on an ATR72. The banking and financial crisis which was particularly acute in the Republic of Ireland hit the BHD ORK route hard.

Regarding DUB ORK. This route was once substantial, however a new Dublin Cork motorway renders it unattractive.