BIRMINGHAM - 5

[Planeaddict]

It's nothing to do with BHX specifically, AI have been in financial dire straits for ages, so it could be that the 'valuable slots' at LHR have been sold off or leased out longterm.

At LHR, they used do several daily flights to/from Bombay, with one extended to New York, plus a daily to/from Delhi, and at one time, even direct to Calcutta. Now it's just one flight/day each to/from BOM and DEL!

It's not just BHX, AI has withdrawn from most of Europe, most of Africa and the Mideast, all of Australia, and much of Asia. Only the Gulf appears to be a growth area for them. That once great airline is a shadow of its former self.

Quite simply, they are suffering from bankruptcy? That seems to be the state Kingfisher is also in. As far as Indian carriers go, it seems Jet Airways is the only one which are operating smoothly.

They've started on that Monarch hangar: BBC News - Monarch starts Birmingham Airport hangar construction (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-21040717)

Expected to be operational by the end of the year.

[Skipness One Echo]

Same age as BALHR(!) Have they been seen together I wonder, or one and the same? Aaargh

Emirates Fleet Details and History - Planespotters.net Just Aviation (http://www.planespotters.net/Airline/Emirates)
Details of Emirates here, worth a look and will answer your questions better than repeatedly asking on here.

Air India are using three daily slots at LHR, two DEL and one BOM.

[chinapattern]

Anyone else experiencing deja vu lately....? Can someone please put a stop to it? I'm all for free speech and everything but this is getting a bit tiresome and it's starting to spoil what is normally an enjoyable thread.

[Laasjet]

Skipness and Chinapattern

Do you know, I was having the same thoughts about this individual and our friend with the tag BALHR. The main difference is that the latter had a better level of literacy.

Great minds think alike!!

David

[Monty Gordo]

I have to agree with you and other Ppruners, it has started to spoil what has been up till now a vibrant and informative forum; frequently touching on fresh issues which in turn sparks fresh debate. Either this individual cannot grasp the advice he is being given or, and I hope I am not being unkind, he is incapable of doing so. But each and every time he returns to the same questions which have been answered ad-nauseum.

Accepting, as I hope, that he is a normal 22-year-old lad, my best advice to him would be to get out more, play football, meet other young people, find a girlfriend and try and enjoy a bit of life outside of the Bhx cocoon.

[canberra97]

Skipness I think you could be onto something, they could very well be the same person as both are equally annoying and the same age, a bit of a coincidence!!

[FR-]

Accepting, as I hope, that he is a normal 22-year-old lad, my best advice to him would be to get out more, play football, meet other young people, find a girlfriend and try and enjoy a bit of life outside of the Bhx cocoon

Why not just ban anyone who is not middle aged? Who do you think you are to say what is 'normal'.

We do not have to agree with other posters but lets leave personal attacks for the office.

fr-

[Planeaddict]

Analyst Saj Ahmad commented: "Qatar Airways decision to start flights to Birmingham is not just a boon for the airport, but it will arguably give passengers better choice and prices when flying to the Middle East and beyond. At present, Emirates pretty much Birmingham Airport all to itself using 777-300ERs. Qatar Airways plans to deploy the revolutionary 787-8 on this route, but while no dates have been announced for any inaugural flight, customers will likely be keeping close watch so they can keep their option open when flying to the GCC and beyond.

Arabian Aerospace - Qatar Airways to fly to Birmingham, UK (http://www.arabianaerospace.aero/qatar-airways-to-fly-to-birmingham-uk.html)

[crewmeal]

That article is 7 months old. Nothing new to add to previous posts about QR.

[Planeaddict]

Monarch starts Birmingham Airport hangar construction

Work has started on a new maintenance centre at Birmingham Airport which is expected to create up to 300 new jobs.

Monarch Aircraft Engineering said the new hangar would be able to repair not just its own fleet, but other aircraft.

About 150 jobs are expected to be created when it opens at the end of 2013, with the possibility of a further 150 jobs later, the company said.

Monarch Airlines has recently expanded its number of flights from Birmingham.

Chief Executive of Birmingham Airport Paul Kehoe said the decision to build the facility demonstrated a long-term commitment in the region and its engineers.

Monarch also operate maintenance facilities at London Gatwick, Luton, and Manchester airports.

Birmingham's 110,000 sq ft (10,200 sq m) hangar is expected to be able to house large passenger jets such as the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, or up to 10 narrow-body aircraft.

Work is also currently under way on a £40m runway extension at Birmingham Airport.

BBC News - Monarch starts Birmingham Airport hangar construction (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-21040717)

[Fairdealfrank]

Quote: "Air India are using three daily slots at LHR, two DEL and one BOM."

Sorry, my mistake, Skipness, had it at 2 daily slot pairs not 3. Still makes AI a shadow of its former self and running far fewer UK-India flights than BA, for example, or even 9W.

[OltonPete]

Passenger figures from the CAA, average per flight and load factor estimated by me using a BHX blog and libhomeradar for movements (2011 figures in brackets). Still quite a few routes estimated due to not knowing all cancellations and variable configs.

Swiss are probably happy with dropping nearly a third of their rotations and only losing 18% of pax. Sharm has not been included as the split is not right and I think the FNC figures might be wrong.

BRUSSELS...7873...(8405)...42 PAX...48%

LARNACA...3157...(3325)...175 PAX...82%

COPENHAGEN...6943...(7370)...76 PAX...67%

GRENOBLE...2608..(977)...130 PAX...72%

LYON...NIL...(1568).

PARIS...29752...(28444)...90... PAX...75%

BERLIN TXL...5595...(nil)...104 pax...75%

DUSSELDORF...12419...(11114)...52 PAX...61%

FRANKFURT...20160...(20639)...105 pax...73%

HAMBURG...2719...(1722)...62 pax...72%

HANOVER...4044...(3963)...67 pax...80%

MUNICH...15285...(12507)...86 pax...63%

STUTTGART...1794...(2867)...30 pax...38%

CORK...6016...(5906)...50 pax...70%

DUBLIN...41716...(41770)...130 pax...70%

KNOCK...2111...(3359)...36 pax...50%

SHANNON...2795...(2749)...47 pax...65%

WATERFORD...1158...(NIL)...36 pax...46%

BERGAMO.....3017....(NIL)....126 PAX...67%

MILAN...1729...(1468)...38 pax...43%

ROME FCO...3021...(nil)...126 pax...71%

VENICE...2003...(nil)...100 pax...55%

MALTA...2517...(2381)...157 pax...83%

AMSTERDAM...35440...(37048)...93 pax...82%

FARO...5500...(5144)...152 pax...77%

Funchal...1395...(nil)...78% pax...45% Based on what should have operated - something not right here

ALICANTE...12071...(14483)...168 pax...82%

BARCELONA...5043...(nil)...148 pax...78%

GIRONA...nil...(2322)...

MALAGA...10661...(11199)...157 pax...77%

PALMA...2501...(0)...139 pax...79%

ARRECIFE...5835...(6792)...154 pax...77%

FUERTEVENTURA...2338...(2924)...146 pax...73%

LAS PALMAS...3750...(3071)...141 pax...73%

TENERIFE...13367...(14708)...167 pax...81%

STOCKHOLM ARN....2076....(NIL)...79 pax...60%

GENEVA......6030....(6731).....131 PAX......83%

ZURICH...9470...(11550)...73 pax...71%

ISTANBUL...6663...(4616)...107 pax...68% (based on 155 seats for the A320/738)

PRAGUE...nil pax...(4668)...

BUDAPEST...2846...(nil)...158 pax...83%

KAUNAS...NIL...(1917)

BYDGOSZCZ...4430...(4125)...158 Pax..84%

GDANSK/NIL...(2506)...

KATOWICE...2442...(2148)...153 pax...81%

KRAKOW.....2764.....(NIL)...138 PAX...73%

RZESNOW...3840...(2289)...148 pax...78%

BRATISLAVA...3426...(4276)...171 pax...91%

ASHKHABAD...4654...(5084)...129 pax...70%

DUBAI...40274...(39471)...322 pax...77% - No doubt includes EK40 pax delayed from 30/11/12

ISLAMABAD...8119...(8174)...239 pax...65%

NEWARK...6997...(7568)...143 pax...83% -

Pete

[MARK 101]

Think the current political events may well put an end to the likelihood of Air Algerie starting in the near future.

[ballyctid]

Should have been on FlyBe BE 7114 from Milan, now stuck in Milano over the weekend!

Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

[cloudy1]

Olten Pete: You seem to be a man in the know.......... How is the Monarch S13 fairing up now they have added Split and Bordeux into the programme.
How are the shedules looking and how many units will be required from April/May onwards. Thanks in advance.

[ATNotts]

Think the current political events may well put an end to the likelihood of Air Algerie starting in the near future

That assumes there was any likelihood in the first place!

[Planeaddict]

EK39 is being diverted to Glasgow, have a look at it's flight path here (seems to have circled around Bromsgrove a couple of times): EK39 / UAE39 Live flight info - Flightradar24 (http://www.flightradar24.com/data/flights/ek39)

Airport has been temporarily closed for snow clearing so there are a lot of other diversions.

[MAN777]

Unconfirmed snippet from another forum.

EK 39 wanted to Divert to MAN but EK ops sent him to GLA because they wanted to keep MAN clear just in case LHR operations got worse and they needed an alternate for A380 flights. The flight has terminated at GLA with crew night-stopping

[OltonPete]

cloudy1

I will start with May as it is a lot easier.

May will start with 8 units with the 9th arriving on Wednesday 22/5/2013, which is the day Bordeaux appears to start. I haven't checked later in the summer schedule yet to see if this reduces or all 9 continue until winter.

April is unbelievably bad and I convinced myself they were waiting for confirmation of new aircraft deliveries and by the first week in January they will release a load more flights fully utilizing six aircraft.

I assume it is not about aircraft delivery but more about an early Easter, as the 4/5 based units barely do anything.

Considering last year it was four busy units plus four BMI Baby based I am surprised that they have cut it to 4/5 units doing very little even with Easter that bit earlier - my two go back to school 16/4/2013 so it is not that early. Examples of the scale of cutbacks, Malaga, Faro, Alicante have always been daily from the end of March matching FR on AGP and ALC and slightly ahead of BMI baby, as they were 4-6 a week.

This year Malaga is four a week, Alicante five and Faro three. Last year Almeria (every year), Mahon (every year), Palma (every year) and Dalaman (last year) all operated and not a single flight. Las Palmas is weekly and so is FUE. TFS when the schedule was first released was daily plus a second on a Tuesday and Friday - now it is just six a week.

Wednesday I can only find three flights all day, Monday uses four but one doesn't start until after midday.

I am sure Saturday had a Las Palmas depart in the afternoon but this has gone and the aircraft does nothing.

Pete

[chinapattern]

Olton Pete do you know what we have based this summer? Is it x5 A321's and x4 A320's? I've lost the plot a bit as the Monarch thread reported that x2 of the A321's being sourced are now going to be A320's.

[OltonPete]

chinapattern

No idea I am afraid, I have asked before but the fleet expansion change of two A321's to two A320's, as you say has probably meant readjustments.

If I have time I could do a few dummy bookings and check the seat-maps :uhoh:

Same with Thomson - is it 3 (757) and 2 (738) or 4 and 1?

At present these types could make the difference for BHX being up or down some months this year.

Snow

Six hour closure not too bad considering the amount dumped in the last 24 hours.

Update - the ZB 321's seem to coming after all

EUROPEAN AIRLINE SCENE - WEEK ENDING 19-01-13 - European Airline Scene - AirSpace blogs - Aviation & Aerospace Blogs - FlightGlobal (http://www.flightglobal.com/airspace/blogs/john_dyer/archive/2013/01/18/european-airline-scene-week-ending-19-01-13.aspx)


Pete

[groundhogbhx]

Well done to the snow team for keeping the place open so long, building up at 1mm every 5 mins towards the end. The snow had other ideas about the quick de-ice and let a few more go. Everyone landed and took off safely even with 8mm of snow over the runway:ok:

Good luck if next weeks snow does the same!

[Ioniser]

LH from FRA , EI fron SNN and SK from ARN all diverted to MAN.
Pax by road back to BHX :uhoh:

[crewmeal]

How will the poor DXB passengers get back from their diverted flight from GLA?

[cloudy1]

Thanks olton Pete! As informative as ever.

[Kazamb]

I understand that the flight is coming in tomorrow from GLA as EK 8040, along with passengers apparently and then will depart with the passengers today's delayed EK flight.

[chinapattern]

I guess we’ll just have to wait and see what Monarch serve up. Regarding Thomson it’s a pity they haven’t based one of the high density 767’s at BHX for the summer like they did in summer 2010; perhaps with the 787’s (hopefully) arriving soon there could be room for some last minute flexibility? x1 763, x3 757 and x1 738 would be been nice. It seems that even though economics are generally looking better we are still looking at lower capacity....even TCX used to send a 763 to Dalaman that year.

[getonittt]

I understand that the flight is coming in tomorrow from GLA as EK 8040, along with passengers apparently and then will depart with the passengers today's delayed EK flight

So 2 lots of 777 pax needing hotels for the night..kerching! Thankfully the evening flight got in an hour after re-opening.

[Mr @ Spotty M]

Your link with regards the A321s is a red herring.
That web site as it states, incorrectly stated that the new build A321s had been cancelled.
The 7th and 8th aircraft to be acquired are second hand A321s, this is why it is no use looking at seat plans for flights this summer.
Jethro's correctly reported that these a/c may now be A320s, as that was the case last week.
This is currently very fluid, as the airline would like A321s, but there is a lack of suitable aircraft on the market of the type Monarch wants.
However some A321s are being offered to Monarch, which are not ideal and a decision is awaited by the board, this to go with the A321s or the A320s being offered.
Other problems that have to be taken into account are delivery dates, some may be late May which gives the airline problems.

[crewmeal]

Other problems that have to be taken into account are delivery dates, some may be late May which gives the airline problems.

Ah! Eastern European sub charters again? Lets hope customers who have paid for the Monarch product get the Monarch product.

[Mr @ Spotty M]

Monarch have no plans to add 3rd party aircraft into its fleet to operate flights as it did last year.
However Monarch is looking at the possibility of adding 3rd party a/c as standby units, because of the insane EU regulations. :ugh:

[OltonPete]

Mr @ Spotty M

Certainly sounds fluid.

The site quoted and jethro's usually share information I believe but as you say things are fluid and there might some confusion.

I assume with the seat-maps, as you can book your seat in advance then the flights will be sold as A320's and if at a later date they are changed to the 321 you will get an e-mail advising of the change?

Even with all the changes I am shocked at the scale of the reduction in the April schedule compared to 2012. Although I must admit the Gatwick April schedule it not that great so maybe more to do with an early Easter than lack of new aircraft.

Pete

[Mr @ Spotty M]

My guess is the seat plans are shown as planned, i.e. A321 and will be adjusted if A320s have to be used.
Only G-ZBAA is planned to be delivered prior to Easter, it might not be in service in time for Easter, however if l was a betting man l would say it will just make it in time. :ok:

[Planeaddict]

No diversions today it seems.

[leuven1]

Any new routes for bmir?:cool:

[GayFriendly]

Interesting thought. Would be nice to see them at BHX but think they have to consolidate what they have got first before expanding, having said that BRS-HAM and FRA being launched soon. Many seem to think they won't survive unless they start code sharing with Star Alliance and get a better website......

Perhaps BHX-LYS (they already fly to LYS from MAN), maybe also GOT and RTM could be possibilities?

There is some sort of big announcement regarding major developments at BMIR according to an insider on that thread however we all know what PPRUNE big announcement rumours normally amount to!!!

[CabinCrewe]

the BMIr scottish routes will not last much longer at current pax loads, I have a bad feeling about their prospects

[BobBHX]

I was on last night's Swiss from ZRH which was diverted to MAN. The TXL was also diverted to MAN and, I think, was the 319 parked next to us on a remote stand. When we got to BHX at 22:00 the arrival screens were showing the TXL as having arrived at 21:30. Does anyone know if it refuelled at MAN and then flew down to BHX?

PS took the ground-staff at MAN 35mins to organise a bus to the terminal. However, once in the terminal they had people waiting to escort us to the coaches which were already there.

[GayFriendly]

Bob, yes the TXL-BHX did arrive BHX around 21.35 having diverted to MAN first for fuel, a friend of mine was on it.

BHX and its staff have all done a great job trying to keep things going in very adverse conditions :D The snow yesterday was far heavier and lasted for much longer than I saw forecast on the BBC, we have now got 6-7 inches in Leamington. No more snow forecast today or tomorrow thank goodness.

[Sir George Cayley]

Most airport diversion plans involve holding pax on board until the coaches have arrived.

Could you imagine arrivals if 2 or 3 extra a/c deplaned all at once?

SGC

[Planeaddict]

Do they show diversions on the BHX website?

[GayFriendly]

Yes they tend to list them on arrivals board if notified - FR Wroclaw and Dublin-EMA are both on the BHX arrivals screen. However I heard that SK CPH-MAN and TK IST-MAN were diverting into Brum aswell but these are not listed (perhaps they didn't in the end)

Info regarding diversions changes minute by minute and often the info is only passed on to BHX at the last minute making it difficult to list diversions on the website much in advance of them actually arriving. It also depends on exactly what info the relevant handling agent wishes to divulge to the public...

[GayFriendly]

I stand corrected: BA1382 and SK2547 both listed on departures screens departing for MAN at around 11.50 so must have been refuels only. No sign of TK though.

I forgot to mention that inbound diversions are normally only listed on arrivals screens if it has been decided that pax are going to deplane at BHX

[midland_pilot]

BHX is certainly missing BMIR

[ATNotts]

midland_pilot

Not quite certain what BMIR (without any codeshares or alliance membership) could bring to the table at BHX.

All the domestics are well covered by FlyBe, and the principal European business routes are covered by the majors.

OK you could suggest thinner routes, such as Warsaw, Oslo, Vienna etc, but there's probably not enough point to point business to sustain these routes, you need connections and alliances, and the ER145 doesn't lend itself to the leisure market.

[midland_pilot]

I'm sure the answer you require is in the past

[nigel osborne]

Gayfriendly re Diversions.

TK did arrive..full list;

TC-JHL 737-800 Turkish Airlines MAN snow div
G-EUYJ A320 British Airways MAN " "
LN-RPU B737-600 SAS MAN " "
D-ACNT CR9 Luftansa MAN " "
OY-SRJ B767F Star EMA snow div
OY-SRK B767F Star EMA " "
EI-DCI B737-800 Ryan Air EMA " "
EI- DWP B737-800 Ryan Air EMA " "

Our own Turkish Airlines flight produced TC-JYD 737-900 on a F/V :ok:

Nigel

[GayFriendly]

Thanks Nigel for the list :)

Might recoup a few of the lost pax from Fri and Sun snow closures although quite a few were just splash and dash I think

I remember in 2010 I was flying out with TK to IST we got out just before the runway was shut for snow at about 1700hrs (I think it was a Sunday) but before boarding I remember seeing a PK 777, QR A330 and an EK 777 (one in addition to the scheduled BHX one) plus a number of additional short haul flights all parked up after diverting in from MAN, it was quite an impressive sight

[nigel osborne]

Gayfriendly;

Looks like MAN waited to get all their lucrative long hauls in before closing for a sweep.

Still nice to see some divs..quite astonishing that we have had no LHR BA long hauls in for 2 years.. Seems new tactic of cancelling short hauls in advance to get the more lucrative long hauls in :{

Nigel

[Planeaddict]

Runway works from the air :ooh: Birmingham Airport Runway Extension on Vimeo

[Suzeman]

Looks like MAN waited to get all their lucrative long hauls in before closing for a sweep.


SNOCLO at MAN was from 0910 -1040

Apart from the SQ which was last to land before the closure, the other "lucrative long haul" arrivals were at 0616, 0643, 0655, 0657, 0703, 0706,0738 and 0813 which was before the snow started coming down hard.

You close the runway when it becomes unsafe and safety over-rides commercial considerations.

When you have had practical experience of closing a runway and clearing it whilst minimising disruption and ensuring that safety is not compromised, please share your thoughts again.

[justplanecrazy84]

Air France are going to make regular use of the A321 to BHX.

http://bhxflightguide.********.co.uk/2013/01/news-airfrance.html

[justplanecrazy84]

BMIr have launch 3 new routes from BHX.

bmi regional Launch Three New European Routes From Birmingham Airport - Birmingham Airport (http://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/meta/news/2013/01/bmi-launches-new-routes-from-birmingham-airport.aspx)

[j636]

Ryanair have also announcedPerpignan from April.

[Monty Gordo]

Just like for the proverbial 'London bus', you wait for seemingly ages for good news on route development, then four come along at once....

Would like to think there might be more from Ryanair before too long as well, possibly a re-instatement of Budapest?

[Planeaddict]

Well, it's something. Still waiting out for that lucrative Qatar announcement.

Apparently the runway will be completed in Autumn but won't be operational until spring, as the whole runway needs to be resurfaced.

[Skipness One Echo]

that lucrative Qatar announcement
Lucrative in what sense?

[Planeaddict]

Timeline here: Runway - birmingham airport runway extension - birmingham airport runway extension (http://www.hellomoreworld.co.uk/runway)

[ajfreeman]

Interesting Midland_pilot the man in the know got the Birmingham base completely wrong. Good luck to them, may even use the Gothenburg flights to visit family to avoid LHR

Andrew

[nigel osborne]

Thanks Planeaddict for the runway ext vid link.

It is quite old though, the new road base is now completely dug out and 3/4 filled and rolled with hard core.

No work this week due to the snow pushes them back another week ,so now 6 weeks behind schedule.

Nigel

[nigel osborne]

My apologies Suzeman didn't realise it was you in charge of closing the MAN runway I therefore bow to your expert knowledge.

Nigel

[CabinCrewe]

"Lucrative in what sense?"
Money spending pax through the terminal
Additional widebody airport fees
Raising pax numbers for the airport
Encouraging other operators
Increasing connecting passengers
Offering further jobs at the airport

If it was a true pending announcement, I would say it was pretty lucrative.

[GayFriendly]

Excellent news :D

Quite proud of myself for guessing LYS and GOT once I had heard the rumour they were sniffing ex BHX! Now, will BE start LYS aswell in competition, it is in their online timetable starting May but not yet bookable. Good to see French regional routes back at full strength again from BHX

FR back to BUD and the (re) launch of MAD, PRG and LIS (poss by ZB if they based another unit?), now that would be the icing on the cake! Still, it's good to have some positive route news at last!

[Skipness One Echo]

I bet a once daily Monarch A330 to the med wouldn't be described as lucrative :) but a QR one to DOH is? Do they really make any more money commercially or is it kudos? I often wonder, would be nice if someone could share numbers?

I wonder if premium pax spend all their time in the lounge rather than supporting jobs in the shops. Indeed the passenger throughput with MON would be higher. Maybe I am playing devils advocate, but a lot of this seems to be "my neighbour's grass is greener".

[Planeaddict]

Thanks Planeaddict for the runway ext vid link.

It is quite old though, the new road base is now completely dug out and 3/4 filled and rolled with hard core.

No work this week due to the snow pushes them back another week ,so now 6 weeks behind schedule.

Nigel

How did they lose the other 5 weeks?

And plus, when do you think the A45 diversion will be completed?

Would love to see a recent image of the works. Meanwhile, it seems the tower is in the final stages of being fitted out/commissioned. Also, I have heard Air Transat are doing another one-weekly service this year according to banad (a yahoo BHX group) - don't understand why when the pax numbers are pretty decent.

[chinapattern]

Quite proud of myself for guessing LYS and GOT once I had heard the rumour they were sniffing ex BHX!

FR back to BUD and the (re) launch of MAD, PRG and LIS (poss by ZB if they based another unit?), now that would be the icing on the cake! Still, it's good to have some positive route news at last!

Indeed, when I read it I thought perhaps you were psychic! I wonder if Air Europa would ever be interested in BHX (or MAN for that matter); their E-195's would be a good fit. I also wish someone would launch PSA, I think it's quite shocking that BHX is the only major airport in the UK that doesn't have a link to Tuscany.

[Planeaddict]

I also wish someone would launch PSA, I think it's quite shocking that BHX is the only major airport in the UK that doesn't have a link to Tuscany.

Just had a look at their list of destinations, they serve the likes of EMA and Bournemouth, and Prestwick if you want to include that. Spanair were to start MAD in 2010 I believe, then for some reason, pulled out. Maybe these new routes are the first of a string of further announcements? :hmm:

[ATNotts]

Skipness One Echo

I wonder if premium pax spend all their time in the lounge rather than supporting jobs in the shops. Indeed the passenger throughput with MON would be higher. Maybe I am playing devils advocate, but a lot of this seems to be "my neighbour's grass is greener".

You make a very interesting observation.

It's families with kids that are more likely to spend in the cafes and shops than business passengers, who are likely to check-in later, and be interested in little else than getting to their destination, doing their business and return home. As they are probbaly travelling for a matter of days rather than weeks, they won't need to avail themselves of baggage trolleys, and are probably the only people able to afford UK train fares, and thus might not even use the car parks! Business passengers are also more likely to use only check-in than you're family on the daily Monarch 330 to Malaga, so won't necessarily contribute to employment in the check-in hall.

[LGS6753]

Flights across the UK and Europe with bmi regional - 3 new European routes from Birmingham Airport (http://www.bmiregional.com/en/bottom-menu/media-centre/press-releases/3-new-european-routes-from-birmingham-airport)

[OltonPete]

Quite a day then!

flybe is in GDS six a week E175 from 1st May I think.

My question is why now, when the previous "high cost" airline ended nearly 12 months ago and was regularly getting 75% load factors on a base fare of £149 and last minute ones which would normally get you half way round the world ;). Sometimes flybe drive you mad, I am not saying the route will work but if there was one route to try last summer, this was the one.

They are so conservative at times and then they take the plunge and possibly get upstaged.

BMIR

Great news but some caution, the last airline to GOT with a 49 seater...........
Toulouse tried several times by flybe but hopefully BMIR can develop this one and Lyon might be up against a flybe 175.

Ryanair - Obviously French week. On the topic of Pisa, this is another route that has failed to deliver at BHX, not quite on the lines of Cologne but My Travel Lite and FR have tried it and even before we get on to yields, load factors at best were average.

SOE - I don't think there is any secret in the fact Thomson pax are the high-spenders at BHX in summer (not sure about the more sedate winter time) and taking a hard-nosed view then you are probably right that a daily A330/767/757 to the Med is likely to yield more for the beancounters although I would imagine Qatar would help in many ways as well.

Also Qatar is probably the one potentially viable mid to long-haul route, which BHX can realistically expect at present.

Pete

[chinapattern]

On the topic of Pisa, this is another route that has failed to deliver at BHX, not quite on the lines of Cologne but My Travel Lite and FR have tried it and even before we get on to yields, load factors at best were average.

I find that really surprising; I flew MAN-PSA in Sept with Jet2 and the plane was full, I think EZY from Bristol offer x5 weekly flights and FR from STN can be as many as x3 daily at peak times. Another case of pax leaking out to other airports.

[Planeaddict]

I find that really surprising; I flew MAN-PSA in Sept with Jet2 and the plane was full, I think EZY from Bristol offer x5 weekly flights and FR from STN can be as many as x3 daily at peak times. Another case of pax leaking out to other airports.

At least a year from now, BHX will be able to compete with other airports.

I'm wondering what Qatar would be waiting for - it's certainly not aircraft deliveries.

PSA would obviously be full if we're going on an airport like MAN, but maybe opening a service here would level out the pax figures. How long has it been since BHX has had a service there?

[virginblue]

Any information on the timings of the TLS and LYS flights yet?

[pwalhx]

I would think that any delay on Qatar is most definitely down to aircraft deliveries.

[Planeaddict]

Any information on the timings of the TLS and LYS flights yet?

Well, as they announced it today it can't be that far off. Maybe a few days?

[Planeaddict]

I would think that any delay on Qatar is most definitely down to aircraft deliveries.

Are they still delivering A330s?

[GayFriendly]

I agree with OP, why BE did not start this last year is most strange. Flights are now bookable at a very competitive £80 return (basic economy, no checked in bag). I think BMIR have stated that they will lead in at £59 each way (£118 return) so will be interesting to see who wins out - I am worried that from nothing to two carriers on this route it is overkill, especially if they are similar timings.

As for PSA, perhaps Tuscany is just a tad too cultured for your average Brummie ;) Right, I'll get my coat.......

[getonittt]

Really pleased to see that BMI will grace BHX once again in the form of BMIR. As OP has said BE have tried TLS many times but originally it was a daily Bae146 operating in a 'W' with Bristol and i flew it many times but when EZY started BRS-TLS BE axed the route straight away from Bristol and the BHX leg went from daily to sometimes just 2 or 3 times a week and the timetable all over the place and i gave up and flew from Bristol instead! This time BMIR state it will be 6 times a week and if its a sensible timetable i will use it for sure.
BMIR also state that they hope to reform partnerships with previous BMI partners as regards to bookings , this will certainly help with GOT if they can tie in with SAS but as for LYS they will be on their own up against FLYbe.

[Daza]

Hi all
Great route announcements!! BMIR may just have the perfect aircraft for the job on these routes GOT,LYS and TLS may be too "thin" for BE/FR/MON aircraft and BMIR do have Embraer 145s and 135s (its not clear which they plan to use on the new routes).

Lyon may be overkill!
This seems to happen at Birmingham all to often. More than one airline operate a thin route, so neither prosper and both end the service!! Maybe if one of them had decided on GVA??? Hopefully they will be well patronised? :ugh:

Some other charter news that hasn't been reported here. Olympic holidays plan three new routes (well return routes for 2013) from Birmingham. Their website seems to be a work in progress and you really have to search several pages to find these new services. They are;

Tuesdays to Heraklion
0900 1520 1620 1830 QS4982/3 28/5-15/10

Fridays to Skiathos
0830 1515 1605 1900 LLC1532/3 21/6-27/9

Saturdays to Larnaca
1055 1745 1845 2145 QS4032/3 1/6-26/10 (replaces last years Aegean flight)

No extra CFU, RHO, KGS or ZTH so far!
Maybe there is more to come?
Daza

[mart901]

The trouble with LYS was it was overpriced previously. Flybe look to be using a 175 and probability would say BMIr would use a 145. I'm sure in my memory I recall GOT being served previously, possibly maersk or duo or BAconnect? Can't remember TLS?

[Businesstraveller]

Great news about the arrival of BMI Regional to Birmingham and the new routes to Lyon, Toulouse and Gottenburg. In the recent past BHX only managed to get BMI/BMIR to fly to Aberdeen (which didn't last) and covering a limited amount of Lufthansa flights to Frankfurt.
So I wish BMIR success with it's quality addition to the BHX portfolio. I for one quite fancy a cheeky weekend in Gottenburg this summer.

[scott737]

I recall flying to Lys a fair bit back in the Maersk/Duo/BA Citiexpress and Connect days. As you may expect, the service seemed popular on a winter weekend (I remember the ERJ-145 being packed with returning skiers on one occasion) but often load factors of 50% were achieved during the week.

Unless something has changed, I can't see the route sustaining two carriers.

I recall when Duo folded talking to one of their admin team who said that they really lost out on routes that they competed with BA on (MXP and Stuttgart). I wonder if the same will happen here i.e. punters book with arguably the better known carrier in the Midlands (Flybe)?

Perhaps easier said than done, but would it be a smart move for BMIR not to launch this route and try somewhere else instead? I appreciate that begs the question: where?

Scott

[mart901]

Did flybe ever formally announce the route or was it a knee jerk reaction to suddenly put it on sale? If flybe keep selling it cheaply then it may do well for city breaks and indeed skiing, perhaps if the flights were at different ends of the day maybe day return business?

[GayFriendly]

BE haven't offically announced the new route yet it has quietly slipped into their booking engine. Coincidence? Did BMIR know before they made their formal announcement? Strange

EDI have announced a £15 million new route fund to develop new routes in 2013-2014. Can/could BHX do something like this? Why do Scottish airports benefit from route funds, is it something the Holyrood Parliament gives them? BHX would surely benefit if it was able to have such finances available as an incentive to attract new routes and carriers? No wonder EDI got AC Rouge as I assume a lot of this money props up much reduced landing fees etc.

[ATNotts]

GayFriendly

No wonder EDI got AC Rouge

They got the route because half of Canada's population believes it's Scottish - the other half thinks it's American!!!

As regards route development funds, this is a tangible benefit of federalism, a word much derided by the Daily Mail!! The Scottish Government quite rightly wants to attract passengers to it's capital city and is doing something about it.

Shame the rest of the UK isn't run on a more federal basis, we might be a bit more balanced, as is Germany - rather than tilted heavily in favour of the southeast and London.

[Skipness One Echo]

I believe that the EDI route fund is privately funded by GIP, the previous Scottish Government Route Development Fund was wound up as I believe, the EU was tending towards deeming them to be an illegal subsidy.

[Daza]

j636 wrote Ryanair have also announced Perpignan from April.

The flight is bookable now operates twice weekly from 30/4/2013
Tue Dep BHX 0705 Arr BHX 1130
Sat Dep BHX 1225 Arr BHX 1650

Looks like Birmingham now has France well covered this Summer :}

[Planeaddict]

Ryanair have also announced Perpignan from April.

Flybe already serve there from BHX seasonally, and Ryanair serve Stansted (also seasonal). So that'll probably make it the first service to a major UK airport out of Perpignan.

[Planeaddict]

Air Transat have released a timetable outlining changes for their transatlantic services for Summer 2013. Comparison is July & August 2013 vs the same period in 2012.

Toronto – Birmingham Airbus A310 replaces A330 in S12, 1 weekly service.

:rolleyes:

[Daza]

Planeaddict wrote,
Flybe already serve there from BHX seasonally, and Ryanair serve Stansted (also seasonal). So that'll probably make it the first service to a major UK airport out of Perpignan.

This post doesn't make sense :confused:
Did you mean,
.......for Ryanair its the first service from Perpignan to a major city outside London?

Daza

[Daza]

It looks as if SAS have updated their Summer 2013 timetable ex BHX. SAS BHX-ARN service has been revised now six flights a week (daily ex Sat) this is up from the planned three per week schedule!!
Service changes to and evening arrival and departure from Birmingham with a mix of 737-600s and 800s.

Mon-Fri SK2553/4 1945 2310 1730 1905
Sun SK2553/4 2035 2355 1820 1955

More good news :ok:

Daza

[mart901]

Correct me if I'm wrong but haven't flybe flown there from BHX for several years, albeit seasonally? Ryanair will do well on this because looking at flybe they have numerous seats already booked and for summer and fares coming out in excess of £200 without baggage. Have Ryanair produced this twice weekly route out of Budapest?

[Daza]

Hi mart901
You are right! Flybe have operated PGF for some years. I think they did have a break in service and haven't operated this every year....I might be wrong?
Daza

[Planeaddict]

Did you mean,
.......for Ryanair its the first service from Perpignan to a major city outside London?

I guess you could put it like that. They serve Stansted which apparently is a major airport, my bad :O

[chinapattern]

They serve Stansted which apparently is a major airport

Err, STN handles over 18 million pax a year. There is no 'apparently' about it!

[Suzeman]

My apologies Suzeman didn't realise it was you in charge of closing the MAN runway I therefore bow to your expert knowledge.


No don't work at MAN, but I have been involved in runway snow clearances at airports in the past. Times for the SNOCLO and arrivals came from an enthusiasts' board.

[pwalhx]

IIRC BMI Baby flew Manchester to Perpignan as well.

[Daza]

We have had FR to Perpignan before, I had forgotten this it was one route that FR operated year round when they first opened their BHX base. :}
Daza

[Daza]

pwalhx wrote
IIRC BMI Baby flew Manchester to Perpignan as well.

Why have you mentioned Manchester Airport in the Birmingham thread? If you read the listed posts 2322 and 2324 you will see that contributers were talking about Ryanair operating to PGF to my knowledge FR have not operated MAN-PGF.
Daza

[OltonPete]

PGF

I think flybe have stopped and started at times and of course what I had forgotten it was one of Ryanair's first batch of the new "based aircraft" routes in July 2008.

Here are some passenger stats, I must admit I thought the original flybe figures were better and probably why it stopped when it was the 146. Ryanair operated in winter as well - those were the days they were content to fly empty aircraft before APD and fuel rises.

Source: CAA
Flybe
May 2004 2724 pax - 45 per flight 41% (based on 110 seats BE 146-300)
Jun 2004 3566 pax - 59 per flight 54%
Jul 2004 4240 pax - 68 per flight 62%
Aug 2004 4454 pax - 72 per flight 65%
Sep 2004 3395 pax - 57 per flight 51%
Oct 2004 2431 pax - 43 per flight 39%
Ryanair
Jul 2008 2340 pax - 130 per flight 69%
Aug 2008 2857 pax - 159 per flight 84%
Sep 2008 2022 pax - 126 per flight 67%
Oct 2008 2067 pax - 115 per flight 61%
Nov 2008 1255 pax - 70 per flight 37%
Dec 2008 1298 pax - 93 per flight 41%
Jan 2009 1051 pax - 66 per flight 35%
Feb 2009 1605 pax - 100 per flight 63%
Mar 2009 1300 pax - 72 per flight 38%
Apr 2008 1847 pax - 103 per flight 54%
May 2009 1845 pax - 103 per flight 54%
Jun 2009 2319 pax - 145 per flight 77%
Jul 2009 2537 pax - 141 per flight 75%
Aug 2009 2803 pax - 156 per flight 82%
Sep 2009 2407pax - 134 per flight 71%
Oct 2009 1135 pax - 95 per flight 50%

Pisa

It was mentioned that Pisa would be a good route and perhaps another FR could try again?

My Travel Lite

May 2003 5142 pax - 83 per flight -46% (based on 180 seats)
Jun 2003 6046 pax - 104 per flight - 58%
Jul 2003 6264 pax - 101 per flight - 56%
Aug 2003 7277 pax - 117 per flight - 65%
Sept 2003 7112 pax - 119 per flight - 66%
Oct 2003 7126 pax -115 per flight - 64%
Nov 2003 1009 pax - 101 per flight - 56%

Ryanair

APR 2008 3029 pax - 117 per flight - 62%
May 2008 2980 pax - 115 per flight - 61%
June 2008 3292 pax - 127 per flight - 67%
Jul 2008 3466 pax - 133 per flight 71%
Aug 2008 4506 pax - 161 per flight 85%
Sep 2008 3392 pax - 141 per flight 75%
Oct 2008 3389 pax - 121 per flight 64%
Nov 2008 2674 pax - 103 per flight 54%
Dec 2008 1773 pax - 93 per flight 49%
Jan 2009 1970 pax - 79 per flight 42%
Feb 2009 2533 pax - 106 per flight 56%
Mar 2009 2508 pax - 96 per flight 51%
Apr 2008 2006 pax - 125 per flight 66%
May 2009 2158 pax - 120 per flight 63%
Jun 2009 2186 pax - 121 per flight 64%
Jul 2009 2178 pax - 136 per flight 72%
Aug 2009 2862 pax - 159 per flight 84%
Sep 2009 2509 pax - 139 per flight 74%
Oct 2009 2343 pax - 130 per flight 69%

When Ryanair operated I did check fares during the school holidays (Honestly GF some Brummies do know where Tuscany is ;)well one or two) and they were never basement bargains including Feb half-term but as you can see they are below Ryanair average.

Good news re SAS Arlanda

Pete

[Planeaddict]

OltonPete, on the CAA website, where did you go to get those figures?

[Guest 112233]

Daza.

Looking at OP's figs I was beginning to think that SK had a potentially successful new route on their hands. Those timings look absolutely terrible. When is the route cut to three a week ?

Not a traveller but just out of interest.

CAT III

[nigel osborne]

Plane addict, re Air Transat,

Unfortunately they have amended it further th season also finishes earlier as well.

There are now only 4 UK airports left that Air Transat operate from, MAN,LGW,GLA,BHX.

All the others apart from BHX are now daily to Toronto,and also operate 2 flts to Calgary and Vancouver. LGW has other destinations like Edmonton too.

BHX therefore just has the 1 piddly flight with no TS base station, so a TS add on.

Therefore unless we get flts to Vancouver and Calgary once our runway extension is opened, to add to Toronto,think BHX is very vulnerable now to getting the chop. :{.

Nigel

[chinapattern]

Pisa

Obviously my memory isn't as good as it used to be as I was quite surprised to see that FR operated PSA year round. It would be good to have it back on a seasonal basis, perhaps a route for MON to pick up.

TS

The other concern is that the A310's are going soon and if they're already pulling the A330 off the route then I have to agree the future doesn't look good. As the loads are always high I can only assume the yields don't match up.

[OltonPete]

Planeaddict

CAA link

UK Airport Statistics | Aviation Intelligence | About the CAA (http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=80&pagetype=88&pageid=3&sglid=3)

The passenger figures are to the right accessed by clicking the year/month you want and this leads to a list of various stats and passenger figures are under the heading "Intl Air Pax Traffic Route Analysis" link.

The number of rotations are found on the first link above under the heading "UK Punctuality Statistics". This leads you to each year and after that you select your chosen month.

UK Punctuality Statistics: 2012 | Aviation Intelligence | About the CAA (http://www.caa.co.uk/default.aspx?catid=80&pagetype=88&sglid=12&fld=2012)

If you want September 2012 you click the link headed - "201209FullAnalysisArrDep"

For load factor you go to various sources for seat plans such as planespotters.net seatgure etc.

Of course any airline using moveable business class curtains can only be estimated as often the middle seat is left empty and in theory not bookable on some short-haul full service routes.

CATIII-NDB

Originally summer 2013 was released at three a week starting the end of March - Monday lunch, Wednesday lunch and Sunday late evening, which doesn't need me to explain how bad this schedule was before it changed in the last few days to show six a week from the end of March albeit a rather late arrival time in Stockholm.

However it is currently operating at three a week, Sunday, Monday and Friday, then Thursday is added back in the first week in February and Wednesday in the first week in March.

It has been a mess of a schedule since late December but I assume bookings have been light but at least they seem to be giving it time. Still a pity that they don't have the CRJ9 based in Stockholm as going from nothing to a 737 is quite a leap for such a destination.

Pete

[Planeaddict]

Nigel

The airline must think lowly of BHX if they are offering GLA daily flights and year round and seasonal flights to Vancouver and Calgary. I presume the demand is there - I'm sure many other services at BHX don't perform as well yet are Xx weekly rotations. As mentioned, future doesn't look good unless another airline possibly pitches in (not sure how it would help the airline though...). Maybe it's all down to the lack of business passengers.

[Guest 112233]

No criticism. Pete. Daza I mean you too.

My ignorance more like:

The whole thing underlines the fragility of the traffic base - both ways.

Really for a lot of reasons a city of 1 million should support a daily connection to a 1st world nation like Sweden.

Thanks

CAT III

[nigel osborne]

Planeaddict re Air Transat.

We need to remember that historically it was a mostly northern company ,Canadian Affair took over from Globespan which had operated many Canadian and US flights.They were based in Scotland.

Many years ago they even started doing a series of charter flts from Elmdon to New York using TWA 707s.Remember them coming in and us not having steps big enough at first for a 707, a crate was added on top of the steps.

Then Fly Globespan came along based in Scotland.They went bust. Canadian Affair then came along and followed the same formula.

Im really not sure about yield being an issue. The A310/330s they use only have a small number of Premium economy seats and nothing more glamorous. Their economy seat prices if you look are the same as other airports,so if you are filling the plane not sure where the extra yield would kick in ??

More like no crew base at BHX with just 1 flt a week.

Nigel

[kgoodall]

Out of interest, what date was their last flight in 2012? Did they carry on into November?

[chaps2011]

Planeaddict the TS flights are not business flights as they are aimed at the tourist
market

[Planeaddict]

Out of interest, what date was their last flight in 2012? Did they carry on into November?

I believe it finished near the end of October.

[davidjohnson6]

Flybe fly Birmingham-Perpignan on summer Saturdays. Ryanair plan to fly twice per week on Tuesday and Saturday - presumably also summer only. On Saturday the 2 airlines have flights barely 2 hours apart. Is there really sufficient demand for 2 airlines on the route at such similiar times on Saturday, or could it be that Ryanair are trying to push out a rival from the route ?

[OltonPete]

davidjohnson6

In this instance I doubt it and I don't think I am nieve in saying that.

Both seem to do their own thing at BHX and I think the new Ryanair Bergamo service was more aimed more Monarch than flybe.

If they really wanted to hurt flybe they would have done double daily on EDI for a couple of seasons. Since Baby came off the route flybe has virtually doubled the fare on the first two departures ex BHX although fuel and APD has not helped in recent times. I still imagine this is a nice little earner but good for them if it helps the bottom line - the Spring Fair prices in early Feb on EDI-BHX-EDI are eye-watering.

Even with the French flights, PGF is the only one where they have got in each others way.

Other news - quite a few AF & LH A321's due over the next few weeks no doubt Spring Fair has influenced these upgrades.

Pete

[Planeaddict]

If we take how AI did on the YYZ route in October 2008, they carried 2784 pax (I don't really know how this excel document works when it comes to the pax per flight and percentage). Meanwhile, the TS service in August this year (using this as an example) carried 2675 pax.

[chaps2011]

Sorry don`t quite understand what you are saying?
How many flights a week did AI do in 2008 and does it incl transit pax or
are those BHX only ?

Chaps

[nigel osborne]

Planeaddict Re AI BHX YYZ

You just can't compare..AI carried mostly Sikhs to visit relatives in Canada with a fair few in Business Class.

Air Transat carries holiday makers on holiday charter flts in economy and a small premium economy cabin.

Nigel

[Planeaddict]

Chaps

AI used to have six weekly flights and I'm sure it did include transit pax.

Nigel

Is there any other YYZ service out of BHX which you can compare to?

[bhx bod]

Hi guys,
Didn't PK operate flights to YYZ ex BHX before concentrating all it's trans-
Atlantic flights through MAN.
I'm also sure they operated to one other North American city as well but I can't
remember.Was it ORD?
I do know A310s were used and they didn't last long!:
Also I seem to remember UZB operating to JFK shortly before pulling out of BHX altogether and that was down to AI coming in.
So we went from 4 operators providing Trans-Atlantic flights to just 1.
How frustrating is that?:{

[chaps2011]

Planeaddict so you are saying they averaged about 50 pax a flight

Chaps

[Planeaddict]

Planeaddict so you are saying they averaged about 50 pax a flight

If that's what the figures show. It was mentioned on another forum a while back that AI averaged around that number. Air Transat probably did average more being once-weekly, but have they ever operated more than once a week out of BHX?

[bhx bod]

TSC did operate twice weekly for a time.A mix of TriStar and A310s were used on Tuesdays and Saturdays.I think 9/11 Was the main reason for the initial axing of the service.It was re- introduced round about 2006/7 if memory serves
But am happy to be corrected.

[Planeaddict]

TSC did operate twice weekly for a time.A mix of TriStar and A310s were used on Tuesdays and Saturdays.I think 9/11 Was the main reason for the initial axing of the service.It was re- introduced round about 2006/7 if memory serves

They used to operate for a period in 2003 with A333s via Glasgow.

[nigel osborne]

Plane addict.

Re YYZ comparison,


sadly not any more, BHX is a pale shadow now of the barmy days.


We used to get 2 Wardair 747s Two Air Canada ( for a while a 747 and Tristar), and also a Worldways Tristar every week to Toronto !:eek:

I certainly hope that BHX marketing are working very hard to try and secure flights by AC low cost Rouge which start into the UK this summer.

Nigel

[Planeaddict]

We used to get 2 Wardair 747s Two Air Canada ( for a while a 747 and Tristar), and also a Worldways Tristar every week to Toronto!

I certainly hope that BHX marketing are working very hard to try and secure flights by AC low cost Rouge which start into the UK this summer.

Wardair used to serve many UK airports, like Cardiff, Newcastle, Leeds-Bradford even. Turns out the runway was less of a big deal then.

AC Rouge would be their ideal airline to use on a YYZ service, being leisure and low-cost. They are already starting flights to Edinburgh, Athens and Venice this year, so BHX looks better to be the next destination considering the lack of transatlantic services out of here. I hope that the marketing team are working on other services as well - and that we get some announcements soon about those already being discussed.

[groundhogbhx]

Nigel. AC only ever operated the 767 and Tristar to BHX.

Planeaddict - Air Transat operate for Canadian Affair, for anyone else to operate they will need to find their own customer base. Do you not think that if there were that many people wanting to go to YYZ that someone else would be doing it? Thomas Cook didn't stick on the route as the 757 couldn't carry enough passengers to make it pay for them, so how do you think anyone else would make it viable? You can dream all you want about this airline or that starting services but until their research shows that there is a big enough market for them to come to BHX and make it pay they won't be coming.

[Skipness One Echo]

planeaddict I have to say BHX is not likely for Rouge. It's not even on the radar, they'd restart MAN long before they look at BHX again.

EDI got Rouge for two reasons, over GLA where AC flew for 17 years and PIK where they flew for about 50. EDI gave them a great deal and Edinburgh has a relatively good inbound tourist market and a higher profile than Glasgow.
The reason BHX doesn't have a daily summer transatlantic service to Canada is the market is dying out, literally. This was all discussed and covered qiute recently surely? Did you read it, on the Birmingham - 5 thread *cough*

Worldways also had the smaller DC8 as well at BHX.

[chinapattern]

It's really getting like Groundhog Day on this thread :ugh:!

[StoneyBridge Radar]

It's really getting like Groundhog Day on this thread

Round and round we go....... :bored:

[GayFriendly]

Round and round we go as there is simply nothing concrete to talk about long haul wise from BHX right now (or even in the near future despite the runway extension) so nostalgia and wishful thinking is all that's left......ONLY for sake of completeness, I am amazed that no one has mentioned that BA also used to fly BHX-YYZ (admittedly via JFK) on a 757 for at least a year if memory serves me right......along with Nationair and Canada 3000 at some point and Globespan to Toronto Hamilton.

The vast majority of AI and PK pax on BHX-YYZ were in transit, they used to pick up a handful of pax at BHX, normally single figure loads. PK in particular were only ever allocated one or maybe two check in desks for transit flights as there were so few BHX originating pax to check in.

[OltonPete]

Per the OLT thread no more flights after midnight and BHX tomorrow evening is now listed as a Swiss A319.

Dresden and Munster OLT flights showing cancelled so it is not looking good.

The summer schedules have always shown Swiss RJ100 and Helvetic F100 operating the BHX flights.

Pete

[canberra97]

Gayfriendly

Although not flying to Canada alot of people seem to forget about Highland Express that briefly flew a single Boeing 747-100 on a three x weekly service from BHX to EWR via Prestwick from Sat 04 July 1987 untill the airline went bankrupt in November of 1987.

Initial plans were for the airline to fly to Toronto as well as Newark but a route license was not forthcoming from the Canadian side.

The flight numbers were ex BHX VY211 and ex EWR VY210

The airline also operated a similar route from STN to EWR via Prestwick four x weekly.

I am only mentioning this for nostalgic reasons.

[Guest 112233]

GF:

I have a feeling that VY cut the B747-100 rotation from Brum very quickly and replaced the segment with a 1-11 initially and in the final stages by a minibus/coach to Prestwick for onward to EWR.

[Edit; I'm beginning to think that the RWY extension is a "cunning plan" to a) alter the boundary of the site by altering the right of way of a major trunk road (Success) and b) increase the resale value of the site when flying activity finally ceases and c) provide a source of hardcore needed for the extension/upgrading of the A14 which is urgently required; again on cessation of flying activity.]

These HI speed rail links will have a huge impact on travel. Birmingham will become another Tewkesbury after the demise of the stage coach. Lots of signs pointing to the place but when you get there, you wonder why you came.

CAT III

[Skipness One Echo]

I have a feeling that VY cut the B747-100 rotation from Brum very quickly and replaced the segment with a 1-11 initially and in the final stages by a minibus/coach to Prestwick for onward to EWR.

They launched very late in the season, 4th July 1987, VY211 BHX-PIK-EWR on G-HIHO (the return flight was VY212) once the summer was over, G-BNIH of London European operated to PIK as VY411 / 412 and G-HIHO operated STN / LGW-PIK where both sets of feeders re-boarded the B747. A few weeks later they went bust alas.
Actually that's one of my earliest memories, a B747 load of passengers in domestic arrivals at PIK. The domestic leg was sold at £19 to BHX or STN.

[simoncorbett]

i have just noticed a moving advertising truck with Flybe flights to Lyon driving up A45.. so i think we they are going ahead with the service

On the Highland express theme.. they also used Air Mauritius schemed 707 and i seem to remember 1-11's to PIK only !

Simon

[future_pilot17]

Well according to the BBC News report I was reading about the second planned phase, the planned layout clearly shows the first stop as 'Birmingham Airport'

http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/65547000/gif/_65547703_uk_rail_hs2_464.gif

BBC News - HS2: High-speed rail route phase two details announced (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21221828)

Tom

[Daza]

Thanks future_pilot17, in the articles I was reading (Sky News, Yahoo News) the station labelled Birmingham Airport on the BBC map is labelled as "Birmingham Interchange." I hope that the BBC are correct. :ok:

[PPRuNe Pop]

We have had enough of the complaints and ineffectual debate and this thread is now closed. PPRuNE is NOT a base for anyone to post trivia and the like. It is for fact - stick to it please.

The topic is BIRMINGHAM - not MAN, NOT LPL, NOT EMA just BHX if it goes off again....................be careful. Enjoy but stick to the topic.

Someone can start BIRMINGHAM - 6,

AR&R mods