BRISTOL - 4

[crackling jet]

I believe 3 new stands (737-800 size), coming this winter. to the west in the area up to Cooks Bridal Path

[MerchantVenturer]

Re recent posts about congestion at BRS, both with aircraft parking and passenger volume within the terminal, I've looked at tomorrow which is fairly typical of most days this summer especially since mid June. The departure pattern illustrates clearly the disproportionality of the clutch of early departures which seems to give rise to most complaints of terminal overcrowding.

Mn-0529 nil
0530-0759 27 first departure 0530
0800-0959 7
1000-1159 8
1200-1359 17
1400-1559 11
1600-1759 17
1800-1959 12
2000-2159 4 last departure 2120
Total 103

75 of these departures feature aircraft with between 156 and 223 passenger seats. There are also half a dozen Airbus and BAE corporate shuttle departures (and arrivals) but they operate from the South Side apron and passengers use the Bristol Flying Centre lounge. I've not included them in these lists.

By contrast, tomorrow's arrivals seem more evenly spread throughout the 24-hour period, although there is not always an even spread within each two-hour segment which is probably why complaints do arise at times about delays in baggage retrieval and immigration formalities.

Mn-0559 6
0600-0759 3
0800-0959 7
1000-1159 13
1200-1359 12
1400-1559 13
1600-1759 13
1800-1959 11
2000-2159 10
2200-2359 12
Total 100

I suppose that BRS is not that different from many smaller regional airports in having these peaks and troughs, although the fact that it's one of the bigger smaller airports (in terms of passenger numbers) probably throws the situation into sharper focus.

[fanrailuk]

BRS S17 Ryanair flights currently loaded for the beginning of the summer season.

www.ryanair.com

[MerchantVenturer]

Bristol Airport is applying to the local authority today for a variation in its planning consents re car parking. It is already allowed to build an extended car park for 5,500 vehicles on green belt land on the south side (ie next to the current Silver Zone car park) but only after a multi-storey car park has been built (on the north side).

Because of rapidly increasing passenger numbers the airport wants to be allowed to develop the green belt car park before it builds the multi-storey car park which the airport CEO, Robert Sinclair, told local radio this morning would be in 2018.

There was a lively debate this morning on the local radio between the CEO and a long term opponent of unrestricted BRS development who made the not unreasonable point that the airport should have already built the multi-storey car park by now as they had long been aware of the need for more parking space. The CEO replied that they would have been “providing a facility our passengers would not want”. It was not made clear why this situation would change post 2018 - presumably because the numbers of car users would be such that there would be nowhere else.

The local authority is being recommended to approve the airport’s application today but elected councillors on planning committees don’t always follow the advice of their professional planning officers.

My wife and I used the airport on Monday last week for the first time in several months. We arrived at noon having pre-booked the long stay car park on the north side which has spaces for several thousand vehicles. We drove to the far (western) end looking for a space and, after driving around for a couple of minutes, eventually found one. Usually, even at this time of the year, there are a fair number of spaces available especially at the western end. Some drivers had simply abandoned their vehicles on the side of the car park roads.

Apart from that the airport experience was good. We used the new greatly expanded security area in the partially open western extension of the terminal; there were no queues and the two members of staff who dealt with us were polite and professional.

The airport was busy with the lunch time peak in full swing and more passengers arriving for flights in the afternoon. There were probably at least 2,000 passengers in the terminal with some leaving for their gates and others arriving for later flights. I walked around the entire airside area and there appeared to be plenty of space for people to sit or visit ‘eateries’ with no queues at the counters so far as I could see. There was certainly no feeling of over-crowding and the building itself is modern.

It does suggest strongly that for most of the time the terminal building with its recent extensions is large enough. The problem is in the early mornings when there are up to 30 departures in the first two hours of the day. That’s when airport facilities can often creak and lead to justifiable complaints.

We returned the following Thursday evening and as we were on a domestic flight (from Glasgow) and had no hold luggage our exit through the airport was swift, despite being taken by bus (first time in a while for us at BRS) to the terminal from an aircraft stand near the old terminal. We were home (just under ten miles from the airport) within 50 minutes of our aircraft wheels touching the runway.

[MerchantVenturer]

Cagliari

A new charter service to Cagliari is available for booking next summer. It will operate on Saturdays departing 0700 as BM9358, arriving back at BRS at 2040 as BM9359. In the interim the aircraft will fly Cagliari-Manchester-Cagliari.

It's a charter service although it's possible to book seat-only via at least one specialist charter website, as it is with the MAN-CAG route.

Ryanair tried Cagliari for a short summer season in 2009 but didn't continue it the following year. BRS's only other Sardinia route is easyJet's 2 x weekly summer service to Olbia.

New aircraft stands

I believe 3 new stands (737-800 size), coming this winter. to the west in the area up to Cooks Bridal Path

It appears that work commenced last week on building these stands. Quite a lot of levelling of the ground seems to be necessary.

[Welshtraveller]

"It's a charter service although it's possible to book seat-only via at least one specialist charter website".


Does anyone know the name of the specialist charter website to book a flight only?


I know Just Sardinia is offering package holidays with this flight.


Thanks.

[MerchantVenturer]

I'll PM you.

[Keyvon]

It's Sardatur Holidays.

[Wurzel72]

Bristol / Cagliari on 08 Jul 2017 at 0700 flight BM9358 arriving 1050 - Economy
Cagliari / Bristol on 15 Jul 2017 at 1850 flight BM9359 arriving 2040 - Economy

[Wurzel72]

Teleticket, the agent friendly flight consolidator, has announced departures from Bristol Airport to Cagliari in Sardinia for Summer 2017. Operating from 8th July to 9th September 2017, there are 7 and 14 night durations available.
David Crawforth, Aviation Manager at Teleticket said, "Our Sardinian programme from Heathrow and Manchester has been hugely popular and we are delighted to be able to add the Bristol to Cagliari route for next summer. As the second largest island in the Mediterranean, Sardinia has a range of accommodation to suit all budgets, from private villas to all-inclusive hotels."
The direct flights depart on Saturday mornings at 7am and arrive in Sardinia in less than three hours. Prices start from £425 per person for 7 nights return including baggage and soft drinks onboard. Visit Teleticket Travel; low cost holidays and charter & scheduled flights (http://www.teletickettravel.com) for more information.

[Welshtraveller]

Thanks all.

[MerchantVenturer]

A second Corsica route is in the booking engine of a well-known tour company that features Corsica.

It will be operated by bmi regional that has operated the Bastia route for this company for the past few summers. As with Bastia the service will be on Sundays with the Figari route departing BRS at 1010 and arriving FSC at 1350. The return departs at 1435 and arrives at BRS at 1600.

It seems there will be no additional flights. Figari will replace Bastia for part of next summer.

[MerchantVenturer]

The BRS CEO, Robert Sinclair, said this week that the airport is expected to handle more than 8 million passengers in 2017. 2016 is on track to finish in the region of 7.5 million, which is an increase of nearly 1.2 million in the past two years.

Currently the only signification addition for summer 2017 over the summer just ended appears to be another based easyJet aircraft (no 14), although Ryanair’s 25% winter increase and new winter routes from easyJet mean that January-March 2017 ought to be busier than the same period in 2016.

Nevertheless, another half a million passengers for 2017 means that something more will be needed.

It's to be hoped that the greatly expanded security search zone recently opened and the new much larger immigration area due to be in place in the next few months will ease the queuing problems that were evident at peak times this summer.

[caaardiff]

Just looked at the last week of July 2017 for FR.
118 flights, looks like 4 based aircraft next year instead of 5 in 2016.
In total 41 flights are operated by non-based aircraft. Not sure how that compares to 2016.

[MerchantVenturer]

This seems to be the current total for weekly rotations, month by month, through the main part of the summer season.

May 2017 113 weekly rotations, the same as May 2016

June 2017 112 weekly rotations, 7 fewer than June 2016

July 2017 118 weekly rotations, 2 fewer than July 2016

August 2017 129 weekly rotations, 3 fewer than August 2016

September 2017 119 weekly rotations, 1 more than September 2016

There are 30 routes which is one more than last summer with Bucharest the new one (it starts this winter), although the Treviso route has been moved to Marco Polo (it was actually switched several weeks ago and operates there now), no doubt to compete directly with easyJet.

Ryanair has been adding frequencies since the first draft appeared in its booking engine a few weeks ago. July for example only showed 108 weekly rotations originally - Reus and Bergerac had been left out, as they were last year initially, and extra frequencies have been added on one or two sun routes.

Sun routes actually make up most of the shortfall from last summer. I would not be surprised to see Ryanair add further frequencies on some before the season begins. They did this through last winter prior to summer 2016 and in past years. They will have to do something if they are to justify their claim of a 5% increase for 2017.

A poster in another forum also suggested that more flights will be operated by non-based aircraft meaning a reduction to 4-based aircraft, which so far is BRS is concerned ought to help with the morning rush a bit. In 2013 the base was reduced to two aircraft after a reported disagreement with the airport over charges but no flights or destinations were lost and it led to about half a dozen Ryanair aircraft arriving and departing in the relatively quiet period of early/mid evening.

[sinbad73]

The Complete Idiot's Guides | How to Articles for everyone, everywhere (http://www.idiotsguides.com/education/elementary-high-school/how-to-use-there-their-and-theyre/)

[Bristol_Traveller]

Skyscanner's Underserved Route of the Week is Bristol - Zurich (http://www.anna.aero/2016/11/09/bristol-zurich-skyscanner-unserved-route-week-60000-searches-last-year-destination-8-bmi-regional/)

And I agree with their analysis of the best solution:

"In the humble opinion of our data elves, a double-daily Zurich connection with a SWISS code on the service would be the perfect addition to [bmi regional's] current network portfolio."

I suspect the challenge for BM, given recent information, would be finding an aircraft and crews to run another double-daily route from BRS.

[fanrailuk]

It appears as if WOW air are to withdraw their BRS>KEF service at the end of the winter season - nothing on sale beyond 24 March 2017.

Guess they were expecting a great number Transatlantic connections...and that didn't transpire?

[SWBKCB]

Interesting - people have been looking at the WOW model as a possibility way of getting transatlantic flights out of regional airports, but if it ain't working at BRS...

Have to wait for Norwegian and the MAX :O

[marko1]

Where has this wow information come from. That is different from the information that a poster on another forum received via social media from Wow

[skyloone]

Anyone know how big the new western apron extension is going to be. What's the deal with the house? Getting seriously close!

[yeo valley]

the house to be converted to holiday cottage for the nimbys lol.

[BHX5DME]

709,770 pax in October up 11.26%

[bycrewlgw]

New route to punta Cana from march 2018

[canberra97]

I'm assuming that's with TUI?

Any link to this as March 2018 seems a long way off to release details, plus as much as it would be a new destination I wouldn't call it a 'new route' more like a 'new destination' as I should imagine there will only be a couple of flights at most.

But why Punta Cana before Florida!

[yeo valley]

florida and mexico already announced,for 2017/2018

[canberra97]

Good news for Bristol then with three long haul destinations provided by TUI for 2018, I am pleased they have faith in flying 787s out of Bristol.

On another note when will airbridges be added at Bristol as I know they are in the master plan?

[bycrewlgw]

I'm assuming that's with TUI?

Any link to this as March 2018 seems a long way off to release details, plus as much as it would be a new destination I wouldn't call it a 'new route' more like a 'new destination' as I should imagine there will only be a couple of flights at most.

But why Punta Cana before Florida!

Brochures were released this week for winter 2017/2018.

Route/destination all the same thing.

[crackling jet]

Canberra97.


Doesn't seem to close, but apparently the east extension to the terminal and walkway has the fittings already fitted on the walkway so just the actual airbridge required. it is located adjacent to Stand 6-7, presently where the passenger holding lounge is located near the Fire Station

[canberra97]

Well it's good know that Bristol is going to get airbridges installed, even Luton with its cheap looking expansion isn't going to have any!

[MissBHive]

New here! Sorry if it has been asked before, I was wondering if there are any books that can be recommended about the history of Airports in the Bristol and Bath Areas or aviation in general in this area.

[MerchantVenturer]

New route from 28 March: Zadar in Croatia, 2 x weekly, Tuesday and Saturday.

This will be the airport's third Croatia route with easyJet operating to Split and Dubrovnik - summer only as no doubt will be Zadar.

Thomson also operates a weekly charter to Dubrovnik in summer.

MissBHive,

Re your query, Bristol Airport is not well catered for in terms of books although an airport manager who retired last year was proposing to write a book about the airport. I don't know if that is still his intention and, if it is, how it is progressing.

A book that is available in the local libraries that was published several years ago is Somewhere In The West Country by Ken Wakefield. It traces the history of Bristol's first airport at Whitchurch from its inception through the 1930s, through WW2 (when it was the principle land airport from the UK with routes to neutral Portugal and the Republic of Ireland), and concludes with the post war operations before the city council transferred its airport to Lulsgate in 1957. It's a detailed history, very readable, with many photographs.

I have a slim volume with the title Whitchurch Airport, written by Gerald S Hart in 1997 which takes a look at this airport in the 1930s from the perspective of one who worked there briefly at that time.

Also in the Bristol Central Library are at least two books about Filton Airfield, lavishly illustrated with pictures, and of course books about Concorde invariably feature Filton.

[marko1]

Bristol also has pula charters every summer. It's going twice a week next summer with Thomson giving a total of ten weekly flights to Croatia.

[MerchantVenturer]

Thanks marko. I'd forgotten Pula.

[MissBHive]

MerchantVenturer,


Thanks for the reply, I was hoping for something covering the 1990's when I worked in the area. I will look for the book "Somewhere In The West Country" as it sounds interesting to find out about the origins of the Airport.


Once again thanks for the help and quick reply.

[yeo valley]

caught the back end on bbc breakfast this morning. it was about disabled pax and the training staff had been given.1 guy said brs is the top airport in yhe uk for disabled pax requirements.

[j636]

Easyjet to start:
Pula x1 weekly from 27 May
Olbia x2 weekly from 13 May
Kefallinia x1/2 weekly from 22 April

[MerchantVenturer]

Olbia has actually been operated in summer at BRS by easyJet for several years including summer 2016.

[MerchantVenturer]

Someone with close links to BRS posted on another forum yesterday that the airport passed through the 7.5 million passenger barrier this week. This means that the airport will have progressed from 6.3 mppa to 7.5 mppa in the past two years.

The poster went on to say that the airport is on course to exceed 8 mppa in 2017 and that there are 'many exciting developments in the pipeline'. There are strong rumours of a new scheduled airline, although there is no hint as to whether it will be based at BRS.

Knowing the identity of the poster on that other forum I can say that he is in a position to know what he talking about on this subject.

[yeo valley]

wish everyone a merry Christmas and a happy new year. hope everyones wishes comes true in 2017.

[Bristol_Traveller]

There are strong rumours of a new scheduled airline, although there is no hint as to whether it will be based at BRS.

Let's have some fun speculation around that new scheduled airline.

BE has to be a strong contender, looking to take on BD on the German routes. I wouldn't be terribly pleased about that, as it would put the LH interline/codeshare at risk in favour of point to point traffic.

Or maybe BE will establish a 3x daily to their hub at EXT :)

Other, more helpful, possibilities:

LX to ZRH
SK to CPH
IB to MAD
OS to VIE
TK to IST

That list gets pretty unlikely, pretty quickly. Completely off my even wildest suggestions would be AF, AZ, TP, LO. BA doesn't get a mention because whilst Bristol is *British*, it can't have a route to LHR or LGW. So BA are out.

Didn't BE say they'd done very well with their temporary/lashed up CWL-LCY route whilst the Severn Tunnel was closed?

Looking forward to another busy year's flying from BRS. Happy New Year.

[marko1]

I quite fancy Flybe coming to brs to be honest. I think France should be their target tho. Lots of unserved or underserved markets there notably Lyon , Biarritz and Rennes for example.

[MerchantVenturer]

I'm not sure about Flybe. Their experience at BRS in the past has not always been positive, not least because easyJet came onto their French routes in the past leading Flybe to abandon them. easyJet seems set on further growth at BRS and Flybe might be concerned that lightning would strike again.

Anyway, they have bases at EXT and CWL although I don't know how successful they are in attracting passengers from the BRS core catchment.

Some of the airlines that B_T suggests would be in competition with easyJet to such cities as Vienna, Copenhagen and Madrid. I'm not sure that there would be sufficient demand for competition on these routes - maybe Madrid.

If the 'strong rumours' have legs then all sorts of airlines are possible, some obviously less likely than others: Jet2, Vueling, Norwegian, Eurowings are a few of perhaps the more unlikely ones but, outside these airlines and the airport, who knows?

Turkish Airlines were rumoured strongly to be looking at BRS a couple of years ago with one or two serious aviation analysts suggesting that the airport was on the airline's radar. That seems to have gone quiet. Qatar is also being talked about again in the BRS 'chattering classes' but that may be wishful speculation at the turn of the year coupled with a report a year or so ago that the Qatar UK chief said that they were looking at the South West.

As we keep saying, for an airport with such physical limitations, poor surface connectivity and unhelpful weather at times (although perversely BRS has seen a large number of inbound weather diversions this week from other temporarily closed UK airports) its continual passenger and route expansion shows the potential market that exists.

[caaardiff]

Let's have some fun speculation around that new scheduled airline.
BE has to be a strong contender, looking to take on BD on the German routes. I wouldn't be terribly pleased about that, as it would put the LH interline/codeshare at risk in favour of point to point traffic.
or maybe BE will establish a 3x daily to their hub at EXT

Other, more helpful, possibilities:

LX to ZRH
SK to CPH
IB to MAD
OS to VIE
TK to IST

That list gets pretty unlikely, pretty quickly. Completely off my even wildest suggestions would be AF, AZ, TP, LO. BA doesn't get a mention because whilst Bristol is *British*, it can't have a route to LHR or LGW. So BA are out.

BE - Doubtful given their operation at CWL. Much of which competes with BM (BD no longer exist)
LX - Would be a nice Star Alliance addition, but given Helvetics history on the route, granted not supported by LX, I can't see it. Although ZRH is one of the major cities not served from BRS.
SK - CPH. ARN didn't perform hence them not returning for Summer 2016 and EZY already operate, whereas no-one currently operated to ARN
IB - MAD. Doubtful given Iberia Express starting CWL-MAD
OS - VIE. Definitely a good suggestion. Austria does well during the Winter.
TK - IST - Perfect operator to test the East Long Haul market, otherwise maybe QR?

LO - Could be a wild card. There's lots of Poland flights, so could work.
BA - They do operate summer flights from other regional Airports With Cityflyer EMB's. So I wouldn't completely discount them.
AZ - Probably not in any position to be trying new routes
AF - Tried and tested. Could effect the KL flights, but could work.

It wouldn't surprise me if Norwegian were considering BRS - NYC. A low cost operation would probably work better than CO who relied more on J cabin sales.

[bobsyerunlce]

What about Air Baltic, Pegasus, Monarch or Finnair

[yeo valley]

happy new year to all on brs thread.

[Bristol_Traveller]

Hello all,

MV - I can't shake off the years of BM being BD!

VIE - I put VIE lower on my list because it's a long block time from BRS, and not very useful for Western European hubbing. It would really only make sense for flying into Eastern Europe (which might go into decline) and onto OS' modest long-haul network. I'm not sure BRS-VIE point-to-point traffic is sustainable, even when VIE is looking gorgeous in the wintertime. They're taking delivery now of their new E195 aircraft, but I think they're pretty much 1:1 for the F100s.

ZRH - my thinking behind ZRH is that LX have a strong hubbing operation out of ZRH, a pretty attractive long-haul network, and they're taking delivering of their C-Series aircraft which would be "right-size" for BRS-ZRH (and less gas-guzzling than the Jumbolinos). They're also not afraid, bizarrely, of undercutting LH on fares ex-UK.

BE - quite happy for them to stay at CWL and EXT.

LO - they're up to their eyes in problems, and UK-Eastern Europe traffic is low-margin and likely to get under a lot of pressure in a few years. They can't possibly go head-to-head with FR and W6.

DY - would certainly be a wildcard. They have a base at LGW from which they operate TATL flights - MAN, BHX and EDI are pretty much all bucket-and-spade out of Spanish bases. If WW fold from BRS in March, then I think it's very unlikely we'd see a DY 787 trying to do TATL out of BRS. Even at the very limits of possibility, it still only makes sense (IMO) for an airline with connecting opportunities into the rest of the US - UA / AA / DL.

TK and QR - I just can't see the available traffic flows to fill a 737 or 330 to IST/DOH. It's a long block time, and they both already fly from BHX and LHR. Maybe I'm being harsh on TK.

EW - I think EW might arrive, but only because LH have said they're going to wrap SN into the EW business unit (which has the SN fliers up in arms about what it means for the future of SN, although many have pointed out that SN's service levels are already pretty EW-orientated). Otherwise, why put EW onto DUS/TXL/HAM etc. against EZY and "partners" BM?

It would be good to see a new scheduled airline arriving that isn't primarily leisure focused, not least because it feels like discretionary leisure travel is going to come under pressure in the coming years. As someone travelling fairly regularly to the US and Europe, the decline in the pound has had a painful effect on costs.

[SWBKCB]

TK and QR - I just can't see the available traffic flows to fill a 737 or 330 to IST/DOH. It's a long block time, and they both already fly from BHX and LHR. Maybe I'm being harsh on TK.

TK seem to be re-trenching and cutting back on existing routes rather than adding new ones. Also, given recent events in Istanbul, can't see it.

[MerchantVenturer]

Hello again B_T. Happy New Year.

MV - I can't shake off the years of BM being BD!

Neither can I. Wasn't me who pointed it out. ;)

VIE - I put VIE lower on my list because it's a long block time from BRS, and not very useful for Western European hubbing. It would really only make sense for flying into Eastern Europe (which might go into decline) and onto OS' modest long-haul network. I'm not sure BRS-VIE point-to-point traffic is sustainable, even when VIE is looking gorgeous in the wintertime. They're taking delivery now of their new E195 aircraft, but I think they're pretty much 1:1 for the F100s.


Do you mean OS point to point traffic? easyJet seems to be doing pretty well with loads on VIE (last winter and last summer) - don't know yield of course. They continue at 2 x weekly through this winter and through summer 17.

ZRH - my thinking behind ZRH is that LX have a strong hubbing operation out of ZRH, a pretty attractive long-haul network, and they're taking delivering of their C-Series aircraft which would be "right-size" for BRS-ZRH (and less gas-guzzling than the Jumbolinos). They're also not afraid, bizarrely, of undercutting LH on fares ex-UK.

Helvetic used to operate into BRS with no connectivity at ZRH unlike the routes they operate for Swiss. Passenger numbers were rising steadily when they pulled the plug with regular monthly load factors into the 60s% - obviously not to the airline's liking for all that.

easyJet at up to 6 x daily in part of the ski season (plus some winter charters) has made BRS-Geneva the busiest UK GVA route outside London airports for the past few years (in terms of annual passenger numbers). When easyJet began BRS-Basel just over a year ago I thought that 4 x weekly was an overkill and initially the loads didn't seem that great (by easyJet standards). However, they persisted with 4 x weekly throughout last summer, the current winter and into next summer. Loads rose and, importantly, don't seem to have affected the easyJet GVA loads.

As both routes are point to point only there is a persuasive argument that a Swiss airport with connectivity would bear serious consideration.

DY - would certainly be a wildcard. They have a base at LGW from which they operate TATL flights - MAN, BHX and EDI are pretty much all bucket-and-spade out of Spanish bases. If WW fold from BRS in March, then I think it's very unlikely we'd see a DY 787 trying to do TATL out of BRS. Even at the very limits of possibility, it still only makes sense (IMO) for an airline with connecting opportunities into the rest of the US - UA / AA / DL.

I too have doubts that a transatlantic point to point airline would would succeed at BRS especially if it operated into the New York area secondary airports. Bristol area travellers are notoriously difficult to prise away from LHR for their long haul scheduled travel at any time, although the CO BRS-EWR loads were good until the recession began to bite but seemingly not the yield.

Interestingly, articles have appeared in both the Bristol and Plymouth press in the past week telling readers of the Norwegian operation from EDI to the USA. The articles suggest that people from the South West could reach EDI by easyJet from BRS. There is no indication that easyJet and Norwegian are in any way embarking on a code share so, presumably, anyone trying this would be on their own if the easyJet flight was cancelled or seriously delayed. I don't know who initiated these articles - I would assume Norwegian - but the idea does seem (as Americans would say) a bit out of left field.

TK and QR - I just can't see the available traffic flows to fill a 737 or 330 to IST/DOH. It's a long block time, and they both already fly from BHX and LHR. Maybe I'm being harsh on TK.

Of the two, Qatar seems to me the more likely, although how likely is still a moot point. As SWBKCB points out, the Turkish market is not what it was even a year or two ago.

I've found a link to the report that Qatar was looking at the South West although that doesn't necessarily mean BRS.

http://www.arabianbusiness.com/qatar-airways-said-eye-new-flights-gatwick-ireland-612899.html

[yeo valley]

I remember when lx tried zrh back in the 80s I think. it was classed as their first uk route at the time. cant remember how long it lasted, but the reason said was low load factors.that was before the loco started and made flying in reach of most every one.

[Bristol_Traveller]

I've seen a few rumours of airlines like FR and EZY acting as feeders into DY, but I rather feel that these have been put out by DY to test the water rather than being active discussions. I can't imagine anything more nightmarish than FR and DY both strenuously denying that it wasn't their fault that your bags didn't make it to their destination.

If LX turned up, it would be a turn up. They're already at LHR and BHX, so adding BRS would make them quite concentrated in this corner of the UK. Maybe they'd get BM to wetlease, as SN does?

Would Jet2 want to operate out of BRS? Maybe in a W from one of their European destinations, but against EZY/FR, it feels like a long shot.

I look at my rough estimate of daily pax between the point-to-point airlines and the hub routes, and I think it's about 10:1, maybe a bit more. It feels like there's still opportunity in the European business/hub destinations.

[MerchantVenturer]

WOW has now put summer 2017 into its booking engine for BRS-KEF, plus transatlantic connections.

The timetable starts on 14 June at 3 x weekly (as last summer) which means there will be a break of service from the end of March.

[MerchantVenturer]

BRS has now published its own passenger figures which show that 501,585 passengers were handled in December 2016 an increase of 22.31% on December 2015.

The airport also reports that 2016 saw 7,532,298 passengers, up 11.3% on 2015.

[MerchantVenturer]

New route commencing this winter. Cologne 4 x weekly. It will be BRS's sixth German route but the first by Ryanair.

[caaardiff]

The routes keep coming....
https://www.bristolairport.co.uk/about-us/news-and-media/news-and-media-centre/2017/2/british-airways-flights-return

[MerchantVenturer]

It's BA (presumably BA CityFlyer) with weekend routes commencing in May to Malaga, Palma, Ibiza and a brand new route for BRS to Florence, using Embraer 190 aircraft.

[BAladdy]

Below are details of BACF planned S17 schedule for BRS. All flights will operate on a Saturday. FLR will be operated by a 76 seat E170. IBZ/AGP & PMI will be operated by a 98 seat E190SR, All flights will offer both Club Europe and Euro Traveller products.

Florence

BA7017 BRS 13:10 FLR 16:25 E70 6
BA7016 FLR 11:05 BRS 12:25 E70 6

Ibiza

BA7019 BRS 15:25 IBZ 18:50 E90 6
BA7018 IBZ 13:10 BRS 14:40 E90 6

Malaga

BA7021 BRS 16:00 AGP 19:40 E90 6
BA7020 AGP 13:30 BRS 15:15 E90 6

Palma

BA7023 BRS 16:30 PMI 19:55 E90 6
BA7022 PMI 14:15 BRS 15:45 E90 6

[MerchantVenturer]

When I checked recently I found this to be the programme for the coming summer. There is a Saturday Paris Cdg for the first time and Milan Malpensa has increased to 5 x weekly (I think from 3 x weekly last summer). There may also be an increase in Hamburg from summer 2016 with a second rotation on Mondays.

Milan Malpensa 5 x weekly - M, W/Th (out W, back Th), F, Sa and Su
Paris Cdg 12 x weekly - daily Sa and Su; 2 x daily M-F;
Dusseldorf 9 x weekly - daily, M, F and Su; 2 x daily Tu, W and Th
Frankfurt 18 x weekly - daily Sa, 2 x daily Su; 3 x daily M-F
Hamburg 7 x weekly - daily T-F and Su; 2 x daily M
Munich 13 x weekly - daily Sa; 2 x daily M-F and Su
Aberdeen 11 x weekly - daily Su; 2 x daily M-F

Ontario Teachers to sell minority stakes in two British airports - source (http://www.4-traders.com/news/Ontario-Teachers-to-sell-minority-stakes-in-two-British-airports-source--23897671/)

There are reports that Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan (OTPP) the sole owners of BRS are looking to sell a minority stake in the airport and a minority stake in BHX in which they have an approximate 50% interest.

The reports suggest that OTPP wants to remain invested in BRS and BHX but are 'looking to take advantage of strong demand from pension funds and other long-term investors for the often-attractive returns on offer from high-quality infrastructure'.

[canberra97]

Ive tried searching online for pictures of the proposed jetways that are either in place or intended to be at Bristol Airport, can anyone confirm that they are in place and if there are any photos available.

[MerchantVenturer]

None in place although planning consent has been given. The popular theory amongst followers is that they won't be installed until the airport hosts long haul scheduled flights, if it ever does.

This video gives a general idea but it's for illustrative purposes only and any jetways won't necessarily be installed in the places shown on the video. The video is around six years old and a substantial part of the expansion shown is now in place.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJfHPHuR1oQ&feature=youtu.be

[canberra97]

I have already seen the YouTube video when it was first released and all the images online but I was curious if they had gone so far as installing any jetways but obviously not.

The reason I ask is because of post 3029.

Thanks for the update.

[crackling jet]

Hi Canberra97.


If you look at the far eastern end on the open air balcony area, there is a small spur just behind the temporary coaching/holding lounge, Stand 6-7 area apparently that is where it is supposed to be attached when required. no official statement announced.

[lfc84]

Is there a cheaper alternative means of transport for two adults from BRS in to the city centre - other than walking :-) £7 each for the express bus seems quite expensive.

[Buster the Bear]

About a 30 minute journey between the airport and the city centre.

[Heathrow Harry]

Most places you pay over £ 2 each for a single bus ticket anywhere in the city -

Bristol Apt is out of town and you're a glamorous international-jet-setter just off your Gulfstream G.650 from Barbados with a couple of carrier bags full of duty free booze............. Just be thankful it isn't run by Heathrow Express..........

[Severn]

From CH-Aviation:

PowdAir (Sion) is a virtual carrier looking to offer direct flights from various UK, Dutch, and Belgian airports to Sion located in the heart of Switzerland’s most popular winter sports region, the Valais.

The start-up said in a statement that effective December 17 onwards, it will offer flights from Sion to each of London Southend, Bournemouth, Southampton, Bristol Int'l, Manchester Int'l and Edinburgh in the UK as well as Brussels in Belgium, and Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Operations are on-board two Fokker 100s chartered from Croatia's Trade Air (C3, Zagreb).

Transfers from Sion to the ski resorts of Verbier, Zermatt, Crans-Montana, Zinal-Grimentz, Leukerbad and Anzère will be available.

[canberra97]

crackling jet

Thanks for the feedback I've noticed now where you mean.

[MerchantVenturer]

Last night there were strong rumours that Bristol (BRS)-Bucharest (OTP) would be one of seven new routes that Blue Air said would be announced today.

When the announcement came this morning on the airline's social media site there were only six new routes announced, but BRS-OTP was not one of them.

However, BRS-OTP appeared in the airline's website booking engine this morning (but with no booking availability) as did details of flights in the airline's website schedules section. Flights were to operate 3 x weekly on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with timings shown. By lunchtime BRS-OTP had been removed from both the booking engine and schedules section.

Someone asked the airline about all this on the airline's social media site later today and received this reply: this route is not part of our flight schedule but keep following us, we might surprise you!

That comment might suggest the details were entered into the booking system etc prematurely but, if so, what happened to the seventh route (whatever it was) that Blue Air said would be announced today?

Bucharest would be a surprising choice to some people, including me. Ryanair only began it in the current winter - the first time OTP was operated from BRS other than odd one-off flights - and it's no doubt still building. Larnaca might be thought a better bet. Currently there are charter flights to LCA but no scheduled service. The only scheduled service from BRS to Cyprus is that of easyJet to Paphos.

[Bristol_Traveller]

Anyone know why 4 inbound bmi flights diverted to EXT last night (13MAR)?

It's causing a fair bit of chaos this morning, as it was the aircraft running the BRU, FRA, DUS and CDG flights that ended up too far down the M5, so the outbounds are being similarly delayed.

[TCXBoi]

Bristol Traveller - it was due to dense fog last night. Down to 50m at one point. Lots of aircraft holding over-head for a while - guess BMIR made the decision to divert.

[crackling jet]

Just an interesting little conversation piece !, with the addition of 3,500 new parking spaces on the south side, this is said to make it the second largest open air car park in the world, only outdone by a shopping mall in Canada. How true this claim is, I don't know

[MerchantVenturer]

I thought that was Royal Portbury Dock.:)

I was surprised the local authority approved the application to extend the south side car park which the airport said was necessary because of increased passenger numbers, with the first multi-story car park not yet built to assist with the increased numbers.

Airport consultative committee meeting minutes show that the first multi-storey car park which will be on the north side will see work on it commence this coming October with a completion date in spring 2018.

Incidentally, the airport published its own passenger figures for February this week. They show a rise of 11.4% over February 2016 (which was a leap year of course) meaning that the first two months of this year have seen over 100,000 more passengers than the corresponding period last year which itself was another record. Currently the 12-month rolling total is in excess of 7.7 million with over 8 million seemingly nailed on for the calendar year of 2017, unless some unexpected calamitous event occurs.

This summer is unlikely to see the sort of double digit percentage monthly rises of last summer. There will be one additional easyJet aircraft which will help the airline provide 6.7% more seats this year to a total of over 4.86 million. In 2016 two million business passengers used easyJet at BRS.

Increases in non-easyJet traffic are expected to be relatively modest, especially in terms of the additional 820,000 passengers seen in 2016. Nevertheless, these figures demonstrate the need for extra car parking and other facilities. It's likely that the airport will have gone from 6.33 mppa in 2014 to over 8 mppa in 2017.

[Severn]

Quick TOM Summer 2018 summary:

Summer 2017 - 51 ShortHaul / 2 LongHaul
Summer 2018 - 55 ShortHaul / 3 LongHaul (+4 SH / +1 LH)

Extra flights to
BOJ (up to 2x weekly) (+1),
CFU (up to 3x weekly)(+1),
DBV (up to 2x weekly)(+1),
ZTH (up to 3x weekly)(+1),

New flights to
SSH (1x weekly)(+1),
FNC (1x weekly)(+1),
PUJ (1x weekly)(+1),

Dropped routes:
AYT (1x weekly in Summer 2017)(-1),
EFL (1x weekly in Summer 2017)(-1),

B788 will operate
SID on Wed afternoon, (upgraded from 757 operating on Fridays in Summer 2017)
PUJ on Thurs, (NEW)
SFB on Fri, (operated on Sunday in 2017)
CUN on Sat

[MerchantVenturer]

EFL wasn't included in the release earlier this week but will operate in summer 2018 - on Sundays.

[caaardiff]

Isn't AYT being operated by Freebird this summer?

[MerchantVenturer]

Yes, Freebird is operating Antalya for TUI this summer, commencing next month.

Thomas Cook is also operating to Antalya 2 x weekly this summer and 3 x weekly in summer 2018, so that might be one reason why TUI has pulled its flight next year, that and the problems in Turkey.

[MerchantVenturer]

BRS has been overshadowed in recent days with the Cardiff Qatar news. The only bits of 'news' from the airport this week are that the local authority and the airport are investing £650,000 into looking at ways of improving surface access to the airport, and the new A3 Weston-super-Mare Flyer will commence operations at the end of this month.

Back to Qatar and CWL, I'm not aware of any public reaction to the news from the senior management of BRS, although I suppose there is nothing they could say beyond expressing disappointment that Qatar didn't choose them coupled with a vow to try to land a ME carrier themselves, which of course has become that much more difficult (and unlikely?).

There has been a good deal of speculation as to why Qatar decide to go to CWL when BRS has an undeniably larger and more affluent core catchment with easier access to peripheral catchments such as the South West in general.

I wonder if it's simply a matter of operational requirements. The B787-8 should have no trouble with Doha from BRS - TUI starts flying them to Mexico and Florida from BRS next month. However, if Qatar had decided that a narrow-bodied Airbus was the appropriate equipment for a Severnside route can anyone say whether any of that type operated by Qatar could reach Doha non-stop from the BRS runway (2011metres at 190 metres AMSL) with a 'typical' passenger load? It might not be that typical actually as BRS has no cargo facilities.

Many thanks for any authoritative replies.

[Harry Wayfarers]

BRS has been overshadowed in recent days with the Cardiff Qatar news.Don't post in the CWL thread, 'toys out of the pram' and all that!

[fanrailuk]

Couple of round-ups that haven't yet been mentioned on here:

- EZY are not operating RAK for Winter 17/18; last flight operates 24 October
- WZZ are dropping KSC; last flight operates on 16 June
- WOW to KEF is not on sale for Winter 17/18 yet...whereas EDI & LGW are?
- BMI are now allowing scheduled passengers to buy tickets on their CAG route starting 8 July (originally it was a charter)

[SWBKCB]

It might not be that typical actually as BRS has no cargo facilities

Might that not be the answer? ME3 aren't all about PAX.

[MerchantVenturer]

It might be a consideration and there are other possible ones too, but I was particularly interested in the operational capabilities of the narrow-bodied Airbuses flown by Qatar in respect of operations from the BRS runway to Doha. Thank you for responding.

Round-up

- Marrakech was originally missing from the booking engine for this summer but was put back on sale not long before the season began. Will have to wait to see if a similar thing happens for winter

- Kosice has struggled a bit especially in winter. Wizz was only operating to DSA, LTN and BRS from KSC but following the cessation of the BRS service in June new flights will be commenced from KSC to Tel Aviv and Cologne-Bonn. Last summer the BRS-KSC loads were reasonable (from May to September the monthly load factors were respectively 84.7%, 91.4%, 92.1%, 94.9%, 87%). Presumably the yield was unacceptable or the airline believes it can better them on its new routes

- WOW was very late in putting BRS back into its booking system for this summer and in fact is currently taking a break on its BRS-KEF from the end of March until early June. Cork-KEF is also not yet bookable for next winter. BRS might not see WOW next winter if this recent comment from a WOW spokesman is anything to go by: "The UK has not done itself a favour by voting for Brexit - it's not as hot as it used to be. I'd say the US is the most attractive market at the moment, then Canada, then the European countries."

[darren1]

It might be a consideration and there are other possible ones too, but I was particularly interested in the operational capabilities of the narrow-bodied Airbuses flown by Qatar in respect of operations from the BRS runway to Doha. Thank you for responding.

Round-up

- Marrakech was originally missing from the booking engine for this summer but was put back on sale not long before the season began. Will have to wait to see if a similar thing happens for winter

- Kosice has struggled a bit especially in winter. Wizz was only operating to DSA, LTN and BRS from KSC but following the cessation of the BRS service in June new flights will be commenced from KSC to Tel Aviv and Cologne-Bonn. Last summer the BRS-KSC loads were reasonable (from May to September the monthly load factors were respectively 84.7%, 91.4%, 92.1%, 94.9%, 87%). Presumably the yield was unacceptable or the airline believes it can better them on its new routes

- WOW was very late in putting BRS back into its booking system for this summer and in fact is currently taking a break on its BRS-KEF from the end of March until early June. Cork-KEF is also not yet bookable for next winter. BRS might not see WOW next winter if this recent comment from a WOW spokesman is anything to go by: "The UK has not done itself a favour by voting for Brexit - it's not as hot as it used to be. I'd say the US is the most attractive market at the moment, then Canada, then the European countries."

Completely fair and honest WOW comment.

[MerchantVenturer]

Turnover at Bristol Airport for the year ending 31 December 2016 was £89.9 million (up from £78.9 million in 2015) with a pre-tax profit of £35.9 million (up from £31.2 million in 2015).

https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/southwest/revenue-soars-at-bristol-airport

[supermarine]

The Ontario teachers must be really chuffed. Great results.

[yeo valley]

In to days evening post they are saying flights to Chicago via Iceland at £139. Has wow confirmed flights then from brs.

[canberra97]

WOW commences BRS to KEF on 14 June 2017.

[SWBKCB]

31 December 2016 was £89.9 million (up from £78.9 million in 2015) with a pre-tax profit of £35.9 million (up from £31.2 million in 2015).

£36m profit on £90m turnover??

[Buster the Bear]

What has Brexit go to do with UK-Iceland flights apart from exchange rates?

[MerchantVenturer]

I can only imagine that he's alluding to a perceived reduced propensity to fly between the UK and the USA which is what WOW's BRS flights are mainly aimed at. easyJet concentrates on the point to point BRS-KEF.

[skyloone]

As it's the rumour mill. Was told recently that SR Technics have been told to prepare for 737 based maintenance next year. Any ideas of potential operators?

[AirGuru]

As it's the rumour mill. Was told recently that SR Technics have been told to prepare for 737 based maintenance next year. Any ideas of potential operators?

Most airlines have their own MX operators set-up so find it odd with that rumour. Unless FR are going to use them for the couple of based B737's there ?

[Flitefone]

As it's the rumour mill. Was told recently that SR Technics have been told to prepare for 737 based maintenance next year. Any ideas of potential operators?

Jet2 seems logical to me

[marko1]

It would be logical but then so did Qatar .

[AirGuru]

Jet2 seems logical to me

Jet2 conduct their own maintenance since they have their own EASA Part145 license.

[Cloud1]

MOnarch take delivery of their B737 max next year. Could be them or Norweigan

[HarrytheDog]

Norwegian is my guess..seems logical fit for BRS. Also saw a tweet from Norwegian recently in reply to someone asking if they were looking at flights from Bristol, the reply was along the line of "we are getting there". Make of that what you will. EZY and FR too dominent for Jet2 to try plus they are expanding their recently opened BHX base so wouldnt imagine BRS on their radar.

[canberra97]

But surely Monarch would use their own facility at Birmingham for any maintainance rather than out source to SR Technics!

[commit aviation]

Any based aircraft would require daily checks - a maintenance base at BHX would be used for heavier maintenance checks but wouldn't help with the daily stuff.

[MerchantVenturer]

The airport is going to consult widely amongst local interests later this year as it looks to update its master plan that was published in 2006. The local news media were talking of an eventual target of 15 mppa. The first obstacle will be the current 10 mppa limit imposed by the airport’s planning consents. Given that 2017 is on track for over 8 mppa, up from 6.3 million in 2014, it’s not inconceivable that 10 mppa will be in sight within the next five years.

In an aviation magazine article this month Robert Sinclair, BRS CEO, said that the long-term commercial operations development would take place on the north side of the airfield. The current master plan looks at the need for a second terminal on the south side.

He also reiterated in the article that the airport doesn't see a need to extend the runway (various options for so doing are included in the current master plan). The maximum extension possible whilst remaining entirely within airport land would be 389 metres, giving an overall length of 2,400 metres but that would entail dropping the A38 into a 150-metre long tunnel, and part of adjacent Felton Common would be required to position the localiser and possibly some approach lighting.

Last week saw the celebration of the 60th birthday of Lulsgate Airport following the city council moving their airport from Whitchurch. It received a lot of local news coverage and the central point seemed to be the difficulty of making the sort progress envisaged with the current inadequate surface connectivity. The airport is paying the lion’s share of a £650,000 study in conjunction with the local authority into ways of improving airport access. There are no easy options.

Bristol Airport could get a station or dual carriageway link to city centre - Bristol Post (http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bristol-airport-could-train-station-46511)

Finally, as part of Lulsgate’s 60th birthday celebrations, a 1942-built DC3 flew in and the easyJet country manager announced the naming of one of her airline’s A319s Spirit of Bristol. She told local radio that she hoped to announce some new routes in the coming weeks.

[LAX_LHR]

Powdair will link Bristol to Sion 3 weekly from December, it has been announced via their social media.

[flybeboy]

Maybe the get ready for 737s is the replacement for the tui 757s. Understand 3x 737 800 .

[MerchantVenturer]

That would be a reduction in available seats then. Currently the summer based complement is 2 x 757 and 1 x 737-800.

[marko1]

There is rumours of three 757s and even four based short haul aircraft.

[flybeboy]

6 more new routes for summer2018 from bristol out today. With 4 on A320 not A321. So is one 321 being replaced from 2 A321 based this summer or are we getting a A320 making 3 based in summer 2018

[yeo valley]

Think you will find 2 A321 and 1 A320. been spoken about for quite some time now.

[skyloone]

When do the new stands open?

[jon01]

Slots for the Champions League Final on 3rd June were allocated on 18th May

Bristol has 125 movements booked during the main period - all day Sat 3rd June and Sun 4th June morning. Some of these are positioning flights and some may be cancelled nearer the time

[MerchantVenturer]

When do the new stands open?

Nothing in the recent airport consultative committee meeting for which the minutes were published today. There was a section in the minutes that discussed capital projects recently completed and others that will begin soon, but nothing about the stands. It seems that a small hill was removed to make room for them.

The huge extension to the southside car park (Cogloop) will be completed soon and work will start later this year on the first multi-storey car park, on the northside, according to the minutes.

On a different topic, bmi regional is using a Maleth-Aero Boeing 737-300 for its afternoon Paris Cdg rotation. The morning rotation was cancelled so it's likely that some passengers from it were accommodated on the afternoon rotation which is actually running about five hours late, per the BRS website.

[Bristol_Traveller]

Robert Sinclair to become CEO of LCY

https://www.bristolairport.co.uk/about-us/news-and-media/news-and-media-centre/2017/6/ceo-steps-down

I wonder if they'll consider any of the armchair CEOs here :-D

[yeo valley]

Robert Sinclair to become CEO of LCY

https://www.bristolairport.co.uk/about-us/news-and-media/news-and-media-centre/2017/6/ceo-steps-down

I wonder if they'll consider any of the armchair CEOs here :-D

Well there is 3 ex brs management just out of work. Who knows might have some of them back.

[Bristol_Traveller]

What should be top of a new CEO's "To Do" list?

Delivering the new immigration hall would be great. I've been queuing the steps a few too many times now. But what else? More routes? Fewer shops in the terminal? Airbridges?

[MerchantVenturer]

Hello B_T.

Nine years in post is a decent innings and with the root and branch look at the way ahead due to take place in the next year it's an opportune time for a new pair of eyes to take a fresh look at things, assuming that there is not a promotion from within which has happened at least once in the past with BRS's top job.

I suspect that things like air bridges, the runway, coping with ever increasing passenger numbers on a small site will all come under the microscope.

I doubt there will be shops taken out of the terminal as it's one of the revenue streams that airports like BRS look to these days and the airbridge for which planning permission is in place is not likely to eventuate until there is a long-haul scheduled route or two which might mean a long wait.

New easyJet routes were strongly hinted at by a senior member of the airline when visiting BRS a few weeks ago but they might well be more sun routes already operated by other airlines.

There are still lots of complaints about the queues for security outbound and the queues for immigration inbound as you will know from first-hand experience far better than me. Most undoubtedly occur at the peak times outside of which transiting BRS can still be a pleasant experience in so far as travelling through any airport these days is pleasant, but the huge sums expended on trying to improve the passenger experience (£160 million since 2010 and not much less - at today's values - in the decade before that) have not addressed matters completely successfully.

Moving from 6.3 mppa to around 8.3 mppa in three years - the anticipated figure at the end of this year - is a big ask with even all the new infrastructure being sorely tested at times.

[SWBKCB]

I wonder if they'll consider any of the armchair CEOs here :-D

Very droll :ok:

:D:D:D

[MerchantVenturer]

As mentioned in the easyJet thread, there will be two new routes commencing this winter:

Athens (Mon and Fri)
Stockholm (Mon and Thurs)

Stockholm is particularly welcome as currently no airline serves Sweden from BRS.

[HarrytheDog]

Reading with interest the BHX thread about low BA loads on their flights, possibly due to the poor timings from BHX and how late they released seats, I am due out on BA to IBZ in few weeks and wondered if anyone had any info on the BRS loads, given that BRS has better timings are they busier?

[MerchantVenturer]

CAA stats out today show that BRS has handled over 8 million passengers for the first time in a 12-month period: 8,004,995 is the rolling 12-month total at the end of June with a 10.2% (852,405) increase on the monthly figure.

The 8 million milestone comes just 14 months after the airport breached 7 million for the first time in April 2016.

At the rate it has grown in the first six months of this year BRS is on course to handle in the region of 8.4 million passengers in 2017 as a whole, which would be an increase of over 2 million in three years.

BACF

HarrytheDog

I don't know how IBZ (or PMI or AGP) are doing but it's possible to work out the Florence loads from today's CAA stats.

In June the route carried 422 passengers, average load 52.75, load factor 69.4%. easyJet's BRS-PSA (Pisa) which is a sort of competitor saw its numbers increase by 43% to 7,839 following enhanced frequencies this summer.

The BACF Florence route from BHX handled 339 passengers which, as you mentioned, might reflect the different flight timings there.

[HarrytheDog]

Thanks MV, managed to find someone in the know and the IBZ is over 3/4 full on day I go so hopefully that bodes well for the route, also heard that BA have already expressed intrest in returning next summer with poss additional routes, only a rumour though but I guess this is a rumour forum...usually no smoke without fire so fingers crossed.

[HarrytheDog]

BA on sale for summer 18 on their website same routes PMI IBZ AGP & FLR. Great news if website is correct, can't believe this hasn't been announced by BRS.

[marko1]

BA on sale for summer 18 on their website same routes PMI IBZ AGP & FLR. Great news if website is correct, can't believe this hasn't been announced by BRS.

Harry. It's been on sale for a few months now on a rolling 12 month basis

[HarrytheDog]

Just astonished that BA or BRS have not announced it officially, surely they would sell more seats with a bit of marketing, there has been a lot of speculation whether they would return for 18 and when I flew last week with them the crew said they didn't know. Anyway positive news

[Reversethrustset]

BA or BA Cityflyer?

[marko1]

[QUOTE=HarrytheDog;9871927]Just astonished that BA or BRS have not announced it officially, surely they would sell more seats with a bit of marketing, there has been a lot of speculation whether they would return for 18 and when I flew last week with them the crew said they didn't know. Anyway positive news[/QUOTE

The airport promotion of news seems to be non existent these days with many news worthy topics often failing to be mentioned by the airport at all or announced days after being released

[AirGuru]

I must admit that BRS's marketing/social media department are worlds behind some other UK airports. Not exactly a difficult thing to invest in, one of the existing marketing staff should be actively manning the FB/Twitter pages and feeds, constantly putting news out there where it's due.

[MerchantVenturer]

We've discussed in another forum the poor performance of the airport's publicity machine in the past year or two, Marko, as you will no doubt recall with the consensus amongst members there that they were in agreement. A few years ago BRS was very good at publicity. When Grayling, the Transport Secretary, visited BRS a few months ago he told the CEO he had no idea how busy the airport was.

I suppose the airport will point to the fact that they quietly get on with things and, poor publicity machine or not, they will be looking at around 8.3 mppa at the end of 2017, up from 6.3 mppa at the end of 2014.

The place makes handsome profits for its owner, even though some don't like the idea that the beneficiary is an overseas pension fund. That said, the owner and previous partners have invested £160 million since 2010 and a similar amount in the decade before that. They might say they put their money where their mouth is rather than bellowing empty air.

Perhaps in its search for a new CEO the airport should be looking for a Les Wilson figure. Les never stopped telling people about his airport, whether they wanted to know or not. Les Wilson-types might be in short supply these days - he was a born showman - and anyway today's corporate approach would probably eschew his like.

[AirGuru]

Suppose you're right MV, why spend to unnecessarily market things that don't need marketing ? Fact is, BRS is doing very well.

[marko1]

I totally agree MV as we have discussed many times before. It just doesn't cost anything to put a few new stories on the website. Don't forget that a vast majority of the public would have no knowledge of what is available from their local airport . I guess what I'm saying is that brs has been incredibly successful but it just needs to shout it out from the rooftops how successful it has been