Why are there any questions about EasyJet's permanence at BHD, who ever suggested the BHD - LGW was a temporary measures? I am hearing that we could see more services from BHD though cant establish if it's more Gatwick rotations or other routes.

MAN has been mentioned as possible EZY route from BHD. Not heard chat of anything else

Aer Lingus look to be increasing EDI up to 11x weekly for the winter.
MAN also increased to 2x Daily.

How are they managing to operate UK domestic routes with EI registered aircraft? I could be missing something but their website suggests that they are operating BHD - MAN, BHX etc with EI A320's.

Indeed - all very strange indeed. Particularly as this issue of appropriate registering of aircraft was the very issue which Ryanair had a spat with the UK authorities about around the start of the year!

Possibly like Brexit Northern Ireland has some kind of Aviation protocol in place as well covering EU registered aircraft and airlines.

Are they operating them on behalf of BA?

Legally now they could probably operate them on behalf of Aer Lingus UK…

Cozy F]Indeed

I believe the issue with Ryanair was scale, they wanted single token aircraft on their UK AOC and then have all the other UK Domestic and UK Non-EU flights operated by wet-leased aircraft running to hundreds of flights a week. The Secretary of Sate can, and will, approve temporary waivers, for short-term capacity, but the type of operation planned for Ryanair UK was way outside this scope.

Only the routes being operated by CCFE seem code-shared with BA. The BHD - EDI / MAN / BHX appear to be Aer Lingus only and are not bookable on the BA website. These three routes appear to be UK domestics operated by a third country airline and this doesn't seem to fit within the TCA agreement with the EU.

My understanding was Stobart operated EIR routes on behalf of BA to get around this - I'm thinking this would be a temporary continuation as a rescue?

LGW with U2 on sale up to 06/02/22.

BHX with EI showing off sale from NOV, not surprisingly in a way.

Looks like cityflyer are replacing EI

EasyJet
 

Very respectable traffic on easyJet's LGW route for August. 20,439 pax in the month. That would look like 164 pax per flight (based on 2 flights each way daily). Assuming 180 seat 320 on each flight, a load factor of 91%. There didn't seem to be particularly low on pricinh, so I'm guessing the result will be satisfactory to them. 12k was the number for August, but that wasn't a full month from memory.

VY shifting up to BFS to operate to ORY from November

With Flybe Mk2 announcing their return to the skies today from early next year and the expectation that Bhd will be on their radar, how does Bhd manage their relationship with EI and EI regional going forward, considering EI has done so much to restore business to Bhd over the past few months? Would it not be natural for EI to feel a bit miffed should Flybe be welcomed back to compete on the same routes?

Potentially interesting times with IAG re-appearing again back up the road at BFS with Vueling flights. Could open up the channel for an Aer Lingus return from there too!

True Blue

Depends how you define ‘welcomed back’, doesn’t it? Would flyBe Mk2 be competing on EI/BA served routes, or on routes which are served by other airlines, or not served at all? I don’t know if new airlines would be eligible for discounted handling or other route supports, but these are generally not available if the route is already served. So while EI might not be thrilled about it, they probably wont have much cause for complaint either.

Since they have announced Bhx as their first base, it would be surprising if Bhd was not on their list of routes. Obviously, I have no idea, but it is interesting, if they start Bhx-Bhd, do both operators stay on the route, or is one forced off? I cannot imagine them using Bfs. I suppose time will tell.

I see EasyJet are keeping the BHD LGW going next season as well, wonder will we see more orange tails as time goes on?

True Blue,
I think that Aer Lingus/BACF/IAG have clearly signalled their interest in BHD and have invested a lot to maintain the services that were operated (and closed) through the early pandemic by Stobart Air. Emerald will appear and I have a degree of confidence that it will fight its corner. Remember it is a clean sheet airline with strong backers and it's leader has skin in the game and is ex Ryanair. I'd suggest Flybe might be better investing its start up funds in other markets. Just my reading of the situation. A popular aviation journal only this week called out the routes that Emerald would operate, the BHD routes are included.

I agree I think Flybe might be better just leaving BHD alone until W22/23. I would think that a blood bath would ensue if they arrived all guns blazing. The domestic market from there is pretty much sorted now. Yes a few gaps but they probably covered from BFS. BE probably better to stick to BHX and build up there reputation again with not only the public but the aviation industry.

See that Aer Lingus are recruiting cabin crew for Belfast City, perhaps to continue operating the current routes out of BHD?
Or more routes planned? Also, could be an agreement , to use Aer Lingus Cabin Crew on BA Cityflyer from Belfast?

https://apply.workable.com/nobox-hr-.../j/8BE0951B76/

I suspect a bit of both tbh hardly need to recruit extra crew if only operating 3 x LHR a day. Possibly doing some of the routes FR did this summer or continuing what they are doing but with BHD crew. Cant be cost effective the current sending by taxi all the crew to and from Dublin and hotac costs

Rumour has it the taxis are covered by the airport authority. The Dublin based ccms mostly position up and back that day, pilots have both day return and overnight duties. BHD ccms were never replaced when they left in the past 4-5 years with gaps being filled by Dublin crew. Hopefully this is a sign that EI is committing to the base.

I did hear they "contribute' not cover the cost in full but yes it would seem a good sign non the less that they staying put at BHD.

As a carrier with a UK license doesn't EI UK (based in Belfast) have to have UK crews predominantly? It may have been accepted as an interim rescue situation but longer term may be difficult.

I notice when you look at transatlantic flights from Dublin they also show you the price from MAN now, I'm thinking if this is going to be a heavily promoted set of routes they may want to hang on to MAN and provide feed in house.

You are nearly right, post Brexit foreign National would require a work visa. An exception is that Irish citizens retain the unrestricted right to live and work in the U.K. So Irish citizens are fine, other EU citizens would require a work visa.
People born in NI can choose to identify as Irish or British, so even stickier.

of course, see what you mean.

Technically although Ryanair use Irish employment contracts they use agency crews sourced directly from outside of UK and Ireland and this is how they came unstuck.

Flybe 2.0
 

Just checking if anyone has heard anything about Flybe's plans and how that may include Belfast as a base?

there is already staff hired for the based. I personally know of a number of cabin crew who have just completed their training and also according to LinkedIn they have a cabin crew base manager appointed already. Looks like BHX and BHD will be their two initial bases.

I had seen the same on LinkedIn to be honest.

Any idea when they might start up? Will be interesting to see if there will be capacity for a Flybe base once Emerald start operations....(and I suspect that will be before summer 22)

So have they rehired cabin crew who used to work for them out of interest. I guess that would save on the amount of training required and cost.

Flybe haven't flown for nearly two years.

All Cabin Crew will need to go thru full training and first aid and SEP and fire fighting course. All courses must be CAA approved.

Do you think it's like just putting on a spare pinny and become cabin crew?

If what is stated is true (not doubting your commentary Irishlad06), re Flybe having a base at BHD, we can only conclude that this relaunched airline is commercially suicidal. Emerald will fight tooth and nail for the business ex BHD, they also have significant backers and a broader operation feeding AerLingus' Dublin hub. easyJet is very much in the picture too.

Sounds surreal that they'd look to go into such hottly contested markets from the get go. They need a niche, this is not it.

Its as if Flybe think they just paused flying and nothing else in the world changed and then one day they thought, lets have another go at this airline running idea again. Its bound to make pots of money this time.

Alteagod, I think that’s exactly right on every count. It is as if they think nothing has changed, but Emerald have other plans and much more sales and distribution presence under the Aer Lingus franchise.

Indeed it is a very different situation now with IAG backed Emerald in the mix. What aircraft are the new Flybe using this time around? The Q400, whilst fast for a turbo-prop is a guzzler vs the ATR, that's why nobody buys them anymore and the line is gone. IAG happily capacity dumped on Norwegian via Level and the densified BA 777s at LGW enough to drive them out of business, they're doing the same to Virgin with EI-UK at MAN. One can only assume they'll do the same to Flybe mk2 via EI/EIUK/Emerald/BA etc

Do you really think this is all just worked out on the back of a fag packet and Flybe think let’s have a bash at this - what could go wrong…..
Why don’t you look at the CEO of Emerald and what other business he runs and how that could link into Flybe, I’ll give you a clue it’s in Exeter.
32 Dash flying around working hard is a lot of aircraft……… (if they reach that number)

Why not Just be happy that the City of Belfast is getting better connected to the rest of the UK and more jobs are being created for the locals - that’s a good thing right 👍. Don’t stress about the business side if things - it’s not your cash.

If you think there is any wider relationship beyond customers for a maintenance facility then I think you’re misguided. They’ll compete like hell in Belfast until there is a winner and it’s already clear who that will be. Good luck for 2022 Jamie, but don’t keep the rose tinted spectacles on for too long.