BIRMINGHAM - 6

[Boeing737-8]

https://mobile.twitter.com/easyJet/status/785943807309348865

[ATNotts]

https://mobile.twitter.com/easyJet/status/785943807309348865
That looks suspiciously like an automated response triggered by algorithms recognising words like "seasonal".

Whether or not the route is being chopped by EZY we shall see, but if it is, then I would expect Ryanair to waste no time in jumping on to it, and even if they didn't, then Jet2 may also be interested. Can't see the BFS route being lost whatever happens.

[Centre cities]

If I remember correctly Belfast was not served for some time from BHX before Easyjet took up the route. This could happen again.

Any way Flybe will be happy I should think.

Centre cities

[LandingConfig]

If I remember correctly Belfast was not served for some time from BHX before Easyjet took up the route. This could happen again.

Any way Flybe will be happy I should think.

Centre cities
Maybe a good fit for Ryanair's BFS base?

[chaps1954]

I agree with Centre Cities

Ian

[FRatSTN]

I'm not sure BFS would be jumped onto by another airline should EZY pull out.

BE offers actually a very competitive and high frequency service to BHD that appeals to both BHX and BHD originating passengers.

From the BHX end, the first BE flight arrives in BHD by 8am, the first EZY however gets to BFS not till around 9:30am and isn't normally that much cheaper than BE. I'm surprised actually it lasted is long as it has.

Unless FR pick up the route and commit to at least 3 or 4x daily and can regularly offer £19.99 fares as an example, I'd struggle to see anybody else picking up this route.

[EZYA319]

Can anyone tell me how many aircraft and what types Thomson and Thomas Cook have based at BHX and also how mahy routes both carriers offer?

I'm writing an article on BHX and i'm struggling to find much info on their ops and BHX.

Thanks in advance.

[RealFish]

In a tweet, Laura Kuenssberg, the BBC's political editor is reporting this story from New Civil Engineer, this evening.

Heathrow, Gatwick and Birmingham set to get go ahead

'New Civil Engineer understands that the government is poised to give the go ahead to additional runway capacity at Heathrow and Gatwick.
It is believed that the announcement will be made on 18 October, with government giving the green light to a third runway at Heathrow immediately and also allowing Gatwick to expand with a second runway within the next five years....'

'...It is also understood that government will urge Birmingham airport to advance its proposals for an additional runway.'

'...Birmingham airport was the only non-London based airport to not be entirely discounted by the Airport Commission’s report. The interim report stated that: “It would offer the largest catchment of people within two hours of the airport of all options. This is largely dependent on the journey time assumptions of HS2, which also makes the London airport system easier to access for passengers from Birmingham’s core aviation market.”

https://www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/heathrow-gatwick-and-birmingham-set-to-get-go-ahead/10012673.article#.V_4AbstVKdp.twitter

[canberra97]

EZYA319

You say your struggling to find info on Thomas Cook and Thomson flights from BHX and how many routes each carrier serves from the airport!

Well Wikipedia would have at least given you the information regarding routes if you haven't tried looking there first you must be struggling or even the BHX website.

[OltonPete]

EZYA319

Summer 16

Thomas Cook 4 based all summer - 3 x A321 & 1 x Smart Lynx A320.

Fights are now reducing and winter 2016/7 will see 2 x A321

Thomson

Summer 16 - May - 3 x 757, 1 x 738 & 1 x 788 5 days a week.

June 16 - September 16 - 3 x 757, 3 x 738 one of which Sunwing.

787 5 days a week* was 3 days in late June early July

October 16 - 3 x 757, 1 x 738 and the 787 5 days.

Winter 16/7 - Long-haul is around 1 to 1.5 aircraft split between the 787 and 767. 3 x BGI, 2 x MBJ, 2 x CUN 1 x DWC plus other one-offs such as Jordan and New Orleans

Short-haul normally 2 x 757 & 1 x 738.

As for destinations go to TC and Thomson flight only and their timetables are pretty good especially TC.

Summer 17

Thomas Cook - record 5 based 3 x 321 & 2 x A320

Thomson - the 787 operates at least 6 days long-haul (2 x CUN, MBJ, SFB & 2 x PUJ). Short-haul unknown but looks like 6 again with a possible 7th Thursday -Sunday.

Pete

[nigel osborne]

Be interesting to see if our ski flights survive with Easy Jet now or if its just Belfast that isn't making enough, which I assume is the reason to put the plane elsewhere if true .

[crewmeal]

It is also understood that government will urge Birmingham airport to advance its proposals for an additional runway.'

Why does BHX need a second runway when the current one is under used? Surely with all the complaints about over crowding in the terminal and baggage problems a brand new terminal should be the priority before any thought of a second runway.

[jon01]

Summer 17

Thomas Cook - record 5 based 3 x 321 & 2 x A320

I'm sure that the 5th based T.Cook aircraft for s17 was dropped some time ago after the Jet2 announcement

I think that this and the fact that Ryanair have added 'W' rotations on away-based a/c and scrubbed the 5th based aircraft for s17 is to reduce the pressure on the airport during the peak times

[BHX5DME]

Thomas Cook S17 is
3 X A321
2 X Smart Lynx A320

[EZYA319]

Thanks for your help everyone. Appreciate it.

Oh and canberra97, I have looked on wikipedia but it's not the most reliable source, nor is the airports website sadly, but thanks for the advice.

[jfy1999]

Reported on another forum that all UK-DWC cruise flights won't be returning next winter.

[Centre cities]

If the cruise company position the ship elsewhere there is no point.

Centre cities

[nigel osborne]

Re BHX expansion, plans for a 2nd runway.

Certainly will be good to see BHX getting some recognition from the Govt if true.

However we have to bare in mind when BHX was bidding to be LHRs 3rd runway in 2013, the expected date we would need a 2nd runway was 2050 !

Gatwicks handling over 40 million off just 1 runway so that's 4 times more nearly than us so many years before we cwould need a 2nd one.

Also has to be said that the Govt has already said it will not provide any money for a 3rd runway at LHR or 2nd at LGW or both. Same for a 2nd BHX runway you would assume.

The current BHX site can grow for another 25yrs only after that we start running out of room.Thats according to the last masterplan.

New master plans out next spring, see what changes are built in should BHX appear in the Govt statement.

Will await that statement expected on 18th Oct with interest.

Nigel

[jfy1999]

Thomas Cook
The schedule has had many of the additional flights mentioned in the S17 press release dropped from the timetable which means we're back to 4 based aircraft again for next summer. Malta, Naples and Comiso all survive and Mytilene returns on Saturdays after being dropped for S16.

Norwegian
BCN is now available for S17, only Thursday and Sunday flights are showing. The S17 timetable is still missing the following flights which operated at various times this year:

Tuesday MAD and BCN
Wednesday AGP and TFS
Thursday MAD
Sunday MAD and LPA

[ssflyer]

Beech B200 Super King AirF-GJFA out of Deauville I assume this aircraft, which spent 90 minutes circling over Birmingham this afternoon,was taking photos before returning to Deauville?.

The history can be tracked on Flightradar24

SS

[OltonPete]

ssflyer

I just assumed in readiness for tomorrows half marathon. I am sure I have seen this aircraft do this kind of thing before as well as a Belgium B200. Mind you if it was for that you would have thought it would be cheaper to night-stop and go again in the morning.

Aegean

Back again next year to Athens, twice a week Tuesday & Saturday similar times and short season 20/6-23/9.

Qatar

The second Saturday service which was bookable from April has gone again, I doubt due loads as they are despite despite what the CAA figures show but maybe be yields or still aircraft shortages still.

Thomas Cook

Indeed scaled back to 4 based but only a loss of 7 or 8 flights as it was the aircraft that was due to go to Luton on 3 or 4 days and this just means it is similar to summer 16.

Pete

[ZULUBOY]

ssflyer

I just assumed in readiness for tomorrows half marathon. I am sure I have seen this aircraft do this kind of thing before as well as a Belgium B200. Mind you if it was for that you would have thought it would be cheaper to night-stop and go again in the morning.

Aegean

Back again next year to Athens, twice a week Tuesday & Saturday similar times and short season 20/6-23/9.

Qatar

The second Saturday service which was bookable from April has gone again, I doubt due loads as they are despite despite what the CAA figures show but maybe be yields or still aircraft shortages still.

Thomas Cook

Indeed scaled back to 4 based but only a loss of 7 or 8 flights as it was the aircraft that was due to go to Luton on 3 or 4 days and this just means it is similar to summer 16.

Pete

We're due back from Sydney on the lunchtime Qatar Saturday flight.Hope it's just a glitch as we have a 94 year old with us and booked this flight for the excellent connection. Not sure if they send you with another airline or just offer a refund??

[ssflyer]

Currently circling central Birmingham at 27000Ft
Doubt it following the run.
Anybody any idea what it is up to?
https://planefinder.net/data/aircraft/F-GJFA
SSF

[ATNotts]

Currently circling central Birmingham at 27000Ft
Doubt it following the run.
Anybody any idea what it is up to?
https://planefinder.net/data/aircraft/F-GJFA
SSF
If you research the aircraft's operator, you'll find that Aero Sotravia specialises in TV relay, so one would assume it is in connection with an event, such as the Birmingham Half Marathon; though I'm surprised if such a low profile local event would justify the expense.

Check the website TV signal broadcast - Our exclusive fixed wing RF system (http://www.aero-sotravia.com/en/our-activities/television-relay/)

[ssflyer]

Thank you-problem solved.
SSF

[FRatSTN]

Birmingham now showing in the drop down menu on Cobalt's website - though no flights appear bookable at the moment.

[OltonPete]

https://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/media-information/news/2016/10/birmingham-airport-celebrates-another-record-month-of-passenger-figures/

Very strong figures in terms of the actual increase and September 2015 wasn't that bad. On a daily average they are actually higher than July due one less day in the month and only around 13000 difference.

Pete

[BHX5DME]

Rolling 12 months = 11,231,356 up 11.91%

September at 1,207,796 up 15.8% which is BHX’s second ever best month

11.5m for 2016 should now be reached ....

2016 % +/-

January 666,681 9.03%
February 724,187 14.98%
March 831,174 13.72%
April 873,965 13.28%
May 1,005,861 11.21%
June 1,118,452 13.07%
July 1,221,212 14.00%
August 1,285,911 12.95%
September 1,207,796 15.84%
October 1,045,000 13.53% est
November 765,000 10.48% est
December 755,000 10.51% est

Total 11,500,239 12.91%

13m predicted for 2017 !!

[Seljuk22]

Air India is planning more flights to the continent, by launching routes like Delhi-Birmingham-Toronto Fares to North America may fall as Air India expands wings - The Economic Times (http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/54911906.cms)

[crewmeal]

Haven't they tried YYZ before?

[bhx bod]

Yes,YYZ has been operated before by AI,and it was fairly successful.
The reason the flight got axed was because AI were given an ultimatum by the powers that be to use LHR slots or lose them.If you remember the flight was effectively transferred from BHX to LHR,although if memory serves it didn't actually last very long.
Whether the slots were retained by AI after that for another service at LHR,I can't remember,but as we all know AI returned to BHX and the rest is history.
What most people would like to know is whether the YYZ service is extra to what we have now,so 2 flights a day on the days of operation,or whether it is a tag on to the current service.DEL-BHX-YYZ-BHX-DEL on a daily basis.I am guessing a lot will depend on aircraft availabilty,but we do know some more 788s are due in the coming months.

[ATNotts]

Yes,YYZ has been operated before by AI,and it was fairly successful.
The reason the flight got axed was because AI were given an ultimatum by the powers that be to use LHR slots or lose them.If you remember the flight was effectively transferred from BHX to LHR,although if memory serves it didn't actually last very long.
Whether the slots were retained by AI after that for another service at LHR,I can't remember,but as we all know AI returned to BHX and the rest is history.
What most people would like to know is whether the YYZ service is extra to what we have now,so 2 flights a day on the days of operation,or whether it is a tag on to the current service.DEL-BHX-YYZ-BHX-DEL on a daily basis.I am guessing a lot will depend on aircraft availabilty,but we do know some more 788s are due in the coming months.
I find these articles in Indian journals perplexing. So often they turn out to be completely without foundation.

However, with this one, I could see a scenario where Amritsar is served directly to BHX, as a "new route", freeing up capacity on the DEL-BHX for it to run through to YYZ.

I know nothing, this is pure conjecture on my behalf; and anyway, as with anything involving Air India, a significant part will be played by the Government, at both national, and state level. Notable the "M" word (Manchester!) didn't appear.

[bhx bod]

That's not a bad shout ATNotts.
However my concern would be for those pax transferring onto flights from DEL.
More and more people are using this service as a transfer point not just to other Indian destinations,but also to other points in Asia and beyond.
If we only have Amritsar direct,then are AI going to guarantee a number of seats on the DEL service for those wishing to either stay in DEL or transfer to another flight from the BHX end.
If memory serves,not that many passengers used the flight to get to YYZ from BHX,but very often it was full going back to DEL,which included pax joining the service at BHX.
My point is,I am not sure there is sufficient demand for 2 daily flights to DEL from BHX,let alone YYZ.I know there will be demand from India to Canada,it is a case of what seats are going to be made available to and from BHX in both directions,if that makes sense.

[azz767]

Landed in BHX after a week in FUE last night. The airport really needs some money spending on it. Leaving last week, in the middle of October, hardly peak time and two weeks before half term and the security queue was terrible and the design of the whole security system is really poor IMO. Got back last night and the pram/wheelchair belt wasn't working, and so the handlers very kindly threw the prams through the door (And I mean threw) not a care for damage.


On a side note, there was a white 737 parked up on remote last night when I landed, couldn't tell the series, judging by size i'd guess at a 300 or a 700, anyone know what it is? I couldn't read the reg from our bus

[ATNotts]

That's not a bad shout ATNotts.
However my concern would be for those pax transferring onto flights from DEL.
More and more people are using this service as a transfer point not just to other Indian destinations,but also to other points in Asia and beyond.
If we only have Amritsar direct,then are AI going to guarantee a number of seats on the DEL service for those wishing to either stay in DEL or transfer to another flight from the BHX end.
If memory serves,not that many passengers used the flight to get to YYZ from BHX,but very often it was full going back to DEL,which included pax joining the service at BHX.
My point is,I am not sure there is sufficient demand for 2 daily flights to DEL from BHX,let alone YYZ.I know there will be demand from India to Canada,it is a case of what seats are going to be made available to and from BHX in both directions,if that makes sense.
Thinking laterally, were ATQ to operate as a stand-alone service, then perhaps AI could use BHX as a hub for passengers from ATQ wishing to connect onward to YYZ - with arrivals from DEL and ATQ timed to offer a fairly painless connection.

Obviously this raises a number of questions. First, could the terminal and transit area cope? Second, are AI reliable enough from a timekeeping perspective to make it a viable option? Third, what are the visa requirements for Indian passengers transiting UK?

With regard to No.3, you wouldn't pick up many passengers from ATQ transferring at BHX if they had to clear immigration, and thus have to have a UK and Canadian visa - a la the USA with PAX transfering at Miami onward to South America.

In the scenario I have suggested, I would imagine DEL-BHX-YYZ would be a 777, and ATQ-BHX a 788.

Nothing like a bit of kite-flying!!

[bhx bod]

It will be interesting to see what AI decide to do if this YYZ link goes ahead.
A number of options are available,but as you say,ATNotts,reliability is an issue.It has improved in the last year or so,but then again the B787s are still fairly new,so the aircraft themselves may not be the problem.
Also the 777s that were used previously are no longer in the fleet.They were second hand,leased but used by United before AI.All sorts of issues were had with them.
We await further news.


azz767 the only 737 I am aware of is 9H-OME. Air Charter X.It is chartered by the MOD for the Wednesday service to Paderborn.

[azz767]

Thats the one thanks

[cornishsimon]

Some flybe summer 17 would seem to be on sale.


cs

[number1delta]

Baggage carrier firm Aviator pulls out of major UK airports including Gatwick | Daily Mail Online (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3850572/Travel-hell-feared-Christmas-fliers-baggage-carrier-firm-pulls-four-UK-airports-including-Gatwick.html)

Surel BHX wont allow this to happen. If so looks like a messy winter period at bhx

[tubby linton]

They will let it happen as the staff have read the writing on the wall and have left.Those that have stayed will probably transfer to Swissport or whoever else moves in.

[Fairdealfrank]

That's not a bad shout ATNotts.
However my concern would be for those pax transferring onto flights from DEL.
More and more people are using this service as a transfer point not just to other Indian destinations,but also to other points in Asia and beyond.
If we only have Amritsar direct,then are AI going to guarantee a number of seats on the DEL service for those wishing to either stay in DEL or transfer to another flight from the BHX end.
If memory serves,not that many passengers used the flight to get to YYZ from BHX,but very often it was full going back to DEL,which included pax joining the service at BHX.
My point is,I am not sure there is sufficient demand for 2 daily flights to DEL from BHX,let alone YYZ.I know there will be demand from India to Canada,it is a case of what seats are going to be made available to and from BHX in both directions,if that makes sense.

If AI go to double daily at BHX, it could be:
(1) DEL-BHX-YYZ-BHX-DEL;
and (2) DEL-ATQ-BHX-ATQ-DEL.

If not, it could be 4 days/week of one option and 3 days/week for the other.

That would eliminate backtracking and changing planes for pax between BHX and ATQ.

Again, pure kite flying.

[jfy1999]

6 weekly Ibiza (daily ex Sat, same as Jet2) and 10 weekly Palma (2 daily on Tue, Thu, and Sun) have now been loaded for July and August. Looks to be back to 5 based on some days at least, a couple of gaps still remaining with PMI still one short of the frequency mentioned in the press release.

Vilnius is closed during July/August for runway work, perhaps RYR will follow Wizz and move all their flights to Kaunas during that time. Wouldn't be the first time they had to shift operations temporarily, as they are currently flying to Rome/FCO while CIA is closed.

[Fried_Chicken]

Flyone are showing in OAG as operating Chisinau to Birmingham 3x a week from June 2017

FC

[LGS6753]

FlyOne
Tues, Thurs, Sat arr 1225 dep 1320.
First flights: 6.6.17.
Equipment: A320

[jfy1999]

Now bookable on the website. Starts December and operates Wednesday and Saturday.

Times:
LCA 12:45 BHX 16:05
BHX 17:05 LCA 23:50

[111KAB]

Thomas Cook launches Cape Verde flights from Birmingham (http://www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php?news_id=2024352&c=setreg&region=2)

[jfy1999]

New routes for W17/18 now on the website. Funchal (1 weekly), Geneva (3 weekly), Grenoble (1 weekly), Kraków (2 weekly), Prague (2 weekly), Salzburg (1 weekly), Turin (1 weekly).

[OltonPete]

Source: CAA 1,208,581 up 16%

The routes are generally good and long-haul much better.

Route...............2016......2015...avg pax..load factor
ASHKHABAD...... 2004.....3016...... 59.....31%
DOHA...............12904.........0.....215.....85%
DUBAI..............61898...58808.....352.... 74%
AMRITSAR..........6141.........
DELHI................6218...10556.....206.... 81%
ISLAMABAD........8169.....4692.....272.....76%
TORONTO...........2425.....2075.....303.....89%
NEW YORK (JFK).7765.....6966.....144..... 82%
NEW YORK (EWR) 7852....8374......145.... 86%
ISTANBUL.........12904...13115......122....78%

American found out how to improve load factors alas I assume at the expense of profit but lets hope Norwegian are doing their research and take a serious look at BHX rather than go into crowded markets.

The Emirates has been adjusted for the time EK41 never operated and some low density A388's on EK39.

Qatar at BHX posted a higher figure than EDI and I still believe the two previous months figures reported by the CAA at BHX were wrong. Still no sign of the second Saturday service returning though.



Pete

[crewmeal]

I wonder how long the Ashkhabad route will last with figures like that.

[nwoody2001]

... you ask that Crewmeal but I think that is pretty standard for Turkmenistan....


They operate 3x weekly out of BHX and carried 2,004 pax for September (-34%) which equates to 59 pax per flight. They operate 2x weekly from LHR and carried 830 pax for September (-43%). As there were 9 flights in September, that equates to 46 pax per flight!!!


I cant think of any other situation where BHX carries more pax on a route that LHR!!!!

[getonittt]

I cant think of any other situation where BHX carries more pax on a route that LHR!!!!


You are right but I hate to be pedantic (which I will ) but Palma and las palmas to name but 2

[FQTLSteve]

Heard from someone on the first Vueling flight BHX-AGP yesterday evening, a grand total of 18 pax! Oh well I'm sure it will get better...using the same flight on Sat 5 Nov so it will be interesting to see what the load is like on that one. I guess it takes a little while for a new service to settle in, I hope so because they're quite a good airline.

[ATNotts]

Heard from someone on the first Vueling flight BHX-AGP yesterday evening, a grand total of 18 pax! Oh well I'm sure it will get better...using the same flight on Sat 5 Nov so it will be interesting to see what the load is like on that one. I guess it takes a little while for a new service to settle in, I hope so because they're quite a good airline.
Perhaps 18 was the inbound leg, though that doesn't make it much better! Vueling must be hoping a decent number of northbound as well as Brits flying south.

[FQTLSteve]

ATNotts no it wasn't AGP-BHX, he was on the return BHX-AGP VY1263 17:40. I'll be on the same flight this Saturday which will be the second service. I'm sure it will pick up.

[OltonPete]

FQTLSteve

No idea of the outbound load but over 150 in.

The reason for the 150+ inbound was due to the fact it was the second flight not the first. It operated for half term departing Sunday 23 October VY1271 which was bookable on their website.

I have to say it was a bit odd as the next flight was 1st November, which didn't give much scope on the return. On the plus side three Vueling flights Tuesday.

ILS 33 and night closures

No glideslope on runway 33 until 21-12 and runway closures extended to 5 weeks this year including Friday night in a bid to solve the CAT 111 problem once and for all I believe.

https://pilotweb.nas.faa.gov/PilotWeb/notamRetrievalByICAOAction.do?method=displayByICAOs&reportType=REPORT&formatType=ICAO&retrieveLocId=EGBB&actionType=notamRetrievalByICAOs

Pete

[FQTLSteve]

Oh great good news then. I only posted out of interest, as I'm sure they will do well, BHX has been underserved IMHO for a long time.

[Hotel Tango]

Wednesday evening EW1339 BHX-DUS: 40 pax on A320. Only 65 on a Friday evening,same flight, a couple of weeks ago.

[BFS BHD]

I don't see BFS-BHX loaded yet for EasyJet??

[FRatSTN]

No it isn't, no flights available after 24th April 2017.

[BFS BHD]

Hopefully its them loading the flights into their system and will will put them on sale soon. :)

[jfy1999]

Apparently BHX have been in negotiations with easyJet so hopefully there will be a positive outcome.

[ATNotts]

Apparently BHX have been in negotiations with easyJet so hopefully there will be a positive outcome.
Are BHX in negotiation with EZY? is that pure conjecture, or has someone got factual confirmation of such a negotiation.

I find it hard to believe that EZY would be consuming time on negotiations on purely one route; and equally whether BHX would be swayed by having a metaphorical gun held to their heads over a city pair that is already well served.

[jfy1999]

I can't confirm the above, it's just what I read on another forum.

[ATNotts]

I can't confirm the above, it's just what I read on another forum.
Ahh. The pitfalls of the internet, where rumour far too quickly become fact.

For my money, if BHX are in negotiation with EZY, it's over far more than a few weekly flights from BFS. I don't see threatening to kill off one route is a particularly good bargaining position for EZY to take in any wider negotiation, as it would do nothing but create an atmosphere of mistrust in the minds of BHX from the outset.

[crewmeal]

Additionally LS/ZB/FR have all the Spanish and Greek routes sown up so where else would EZY operate to? Me thinks it will be down to a weekend GVA service during the winter.

[ATNotts]

Additionally LS/ZB/FR have all the Spanish and Greek routes sown up so where else would EZY operate to? Me thinks it will be down to a weekend GVA service during the winter.
Exactly.

For me there's better things for the management of BHX to be negotiating about than a few flights between BHX and BFS, and a winter ski season to GVA; both of which another carrier would pick up were EZY to expel their corporate teddy from the cot.

[chinapattern]

Additionally LS/ZB/FR have all the Spanish and Greek routes sown up so where else would EZY operate to?


The same could be argued for LGW, MAN, EDI and GLA and that's before throwing Vueling and Norwegian into the mix.


For whatever reason EZY just have no interest in serving the Midlands which is a shame as they could still offer a great deal. There's a whole number of un/underserved destinations that could keep a few based planes busy - just look at what they offer from BRS!

[FQTLSteve]

Very fast journey BHX-AGP with Vueling yesterday on VY 1263 the second outward flight about 30 pax.

[Fried_Chicken]

In addition to the two recently transferred cargo flights from Coventry, there's now a nightly flight from Karlsruhe using a Metro. I know it's not going to be a huge increase but every little helps.

On the subject of freight, It looks like the UPS operation ran smoothly Sunday Night/Monday morning.

FC

[jon01]

In addition to the two recently transferred cargo flights from Coventry, there's now a nightly flight from Karlsruhe using a Metro

The aircraft operating this flight is Birmingham based:

Mon-Fri
15:50/22:00 FTL8871/8872 SW4 to/fr EDSB/FKB

[BHX5DME]

Birmingham Airport has seen over a million passengers pass through its terminal for another month making October its twentieth consecutive month of record breaking growth.

In total 1,074,242 passengers were recorded travelling through the airport, up by 16.7% compared to the same month last year – equivalent to over 154,000 more passengers.



Short haul saw the most significant passenger growth rates for the month up by 16.8% year-on-year compared to long haul which increased by 14.4%. This is due to a large percentage of travellers being those going on business trips and half term breaks.

Paul Kehoe, Chief Executive Officer at Birmingham Airport, said: “It’s great to see that we have gone through the autumn season and are entering the busy winter season still delivering month-on-month passenger records.

“October was our sixth consecutive month in which we have served over a million passengers in a single month. We expect this positive trend to continue as we enter the Christmas holiday period.”

Scheduled traffic accounted for over 91% of the total passenger volume for October and saw a 22.3% growth rate compared to the same month last year. Charter traffic accounted for 9% of the total.

Caribbean, European and Middle Eastern destinations saw the greatest increase in passengers compared to the same month last year.

Scheduled destinations with significant year-on-year passenger growth were Madrid (+323.5%), Heraklion (+135.5%), Gran Canaria (+86.3%) and Palma de Mallorca (+80.9%).

Charter destinations with significant growth were Kos (+149.4%), Fuerteventura (+119.1%) and Hurghada (+66.8%).

[BHX5DME]

CSA to go daily to Prague in 2017
12.7m pax predicted for 2017

anna.aero - IATA Slots 2016, Atlanta Daily - Departures Edition (http://cdn1.pps-publications.com/anna-aero-dailies/slots/atlanta-2016/departures-issue/index.html#20/z)

[Daza]

Thomson return to Goa fortnightly and BHX will be linked to Phuket again fortnightly throughout Winter 2017/8 :D
Daza

[GayFriendly]

Daza that's amazing news - just the other day I posted a charter wishlist from BHX on another forum and both of these destinations were on it. Phuket is a great coup for BHX and I think will do very well. It shows TOM have faith in BHX for leisure long haul. Hopefully these will pave the way for places like Cuba, Sri Lanka and the Maldives in the future?

[Fried_Chicken]

Does anybody know how the works to remove the mountain of soil from the Elmdon is going? Will this finally rectify the drainage issues?

FC

[tubby linton]

I can only wonder why the airport waited until the winter to commence work on the area in front of the Glideslope. The area looked very water logged from the recent heavy rains. Hopefully the frosts will have helped the works.

[jon01]

Vueling to Paris (Orly) from 26 Mar 2017

3pw in March/April
4pw in May
6pw June - October

A321

[jon01]

Winter 16/17 update

Condor
B757-300 to be based 27-31 Jan operating four flights to Faro

Germania
Arvidsjaur, Sweden - Weekly Mon & Fri A319/B737 09 Jan - 17 Mar (For RTTtravel 'Arctic Adventure')
Bergen - one off A321 on 25 Feb
Chambery - Weekly Saturday A319 (Operates on Fri in December)

Thomson
B763 based Fri-Tue from 06 Dec operating 5 long haul flights per week. This is as well as the Dreamliner which is based Sun - Thu

[BHX5DME]

No mention of Toronto !



Source:Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 10

After a gap of eight long years, national carrier Air India has announced to resume the Amritsar-Birmingham direct flight from April 1, 2017, meeting the demand of the diaspora in the United Kingdom.

Conveying the decision of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Rajya Sabha MP Shwet Malik, who is also Aviation Consultative Committee member, said: “I conveyed the demand to the Union government, which rectified the mistake committed during the reign of the previous UPA government.

Malik accused the UPA of diverting this “extremely profitable flight from Amritsar to IGI in New Delhi to provide financial benefits to its private operator”.
After Jet Airways discontinued its Amritsar-London flight on August 6, 2006, Air India filled the void with a Amritsar-Birmingham flight the same year. However, it lasted till October 24, 2009.

In between, Air India launched its Amritsar-New Delhi-Birmingham flight on the hub and spoke model from Amritsar airport on August 1, 2013, with limited success.

[ATNotts]

No mention of Toronto !



Source:Tribune News Service

Amritsar, December 10

After a gap of eight long years, national carrier Air India has announced to resume the Amritsar-Birmingham direct flight from April 1, 2017, meeting the demand of the diaspora in the United Kingdom.

Conveying the decision of the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Rajya Sabha MP Shwet Malik, who is also Aviation Consultative Committee member, said: “I conveyed the demand to the Union government, which rectified the mistake committed during the reign of the previous UPA government.

Malik accused the UPA of diverting this “extremely profitable flight from Amritsar to IGI in New Delhi to provide financial benefits to its private operator”.
After Jet Airways discontinued its Amritsar-London flight on August 6, 2006, Air India filled the void with a Amritsar-Birmingham flight the same year. However, it lasted till October 24, 2009.

In between, Air India launched its Amritsar-New Delhi-Birmingham flight on the hub and spoke model from Amritsar airport on August 1, 2013, with limited success.

Indian politics interfering with "commercial decisions" that could be made by Air India - that is if Air India is a commercial organisation was we know one.

As for the source, we've all seen enough Indian press reports that have come to nought over the past few years.

And does this mean that BHX will have direct ATQ 4 x weekly, and DEL 3 x weekly, or perhaps daily from both??

About as vague an announcement as "Brexit means Brexit" and needs a deal more flesh added to the bare bones.

[crewmeal]

About as vague an announcement as "Brexit means Brexit" and needs a deal more flesh added to the bare bones.

Believe it when it happens with AI marketing if there is such a dept.

[BHX5DME]

In total 779,583 passengers were recorded giving an increase of 12.5% compared to the same month last year - equivalent to 86,550 more people.
Both long haul and short haul saw similar levels of growth with long haul up by 13% and short haul up by 12.6% year-on-year.
Paul Kehoe, Chief Executive Officer at Birmingham Airport, said: “November tends to be one of our quieter months and so it’s fantastic to see such a healthy rate of growth in the volume of passengers.
“We are now celebrating our twenty first consecutive month of record breaking growth this year which is great news for the airport and the Midlands region.”
Scheduled traffic accounted for 94% of the total passenger volume for November and saw a 13.8% growth rate compared to the same month last year. Charter traffic accounted for 6% of the total.
Caribbean, African, Asian and Middle Eastern destinations saw the greatest increase in passengers compared to the same month last year.
Scheduled destinations with significant year-on-year passenger growth were Madrid (+350.2%), Banjul (+109.8%), Sal Island (+90.8%), Marrakech (+86.9%) and Budapest (+73.6%).
Charter destinations with significant growth were Montego Bay (+38.9%), Tenerife (+36.5%) and Fuerteventura (+19.1%).
Estimated passenger figures for December show that it’s expected to be another record breaking month and the busiest festive period on record for Birmingham Airport. Between Friday 16th December 2016 to Tuesday 3rd January 2017 we expect to see over half a million people giving a predicted increase of 21.2% compared to the same period last year.
Popular destinations for passengers jetting off to visit family and friends over Christmas include Scotland and Ireland. Those seeking a bit of winter sun are jetting off to Dubai, Madrid, Montego Bay, Cancun, Tenerife and Lanzarote. The airport will remain open throughout Christmas and New Year, with an estimated 13,590 passengers travelling through on Christmas Day, 82.2% more than last year.

[getonittt]

with an estimated 13,590 passengers travelling through on Christmas Day, 82.2% more than last year.

What a funny estimate.

[Daza]

Monarch add BHX-OPO three times weekly Tue, Fri and Sun from 28th April. Bookable now.
Daza

[chaps1954]

Probably not an estimate but twhat have been informed by the airlines, Manchester has some
equally strange figures so they are probably very close as not much will change for
Christmas day

[tubby linton]

The notam regarding the non availability of the glideslope on 33 has been extended until the end of January. I was hoping that they would have repaired it by now

[chinapattern]

So Porto follows the recent trend at BHX where routes go unserved for years and then all of a sudden we have two or more carriers on the route. In the past 18 months or so the likes of Barcelona, Madrid, Prague, Warsaw, Bucharest, Sofia and even Reykjavik have gone from nothing to at least two airlines operating with varying degrees of success. While it's great to see all these destinations being ticked off the list it's a tad disappointing that it takes someone like Wizz or Jet 2 coming in to shake life into the likes of Ryanair and to some degree Monarch. Why wasn't Birmingham-Porto announced when Luton and Manchester was I wonder?

[FRatSTN]

I don't know why people get their feathers ruffled over this sort of thing. That's just competition, it's one of the most common aspects of any business or market. When you have a varied traffic mix with no real dominant player, as in the case of BHX, they all want a bit of the action.

[ATNotts]

I don't know why people get their feathers ruffled over this sort of thing. That's just competition, it's one of the most common aspects of any business or market. When you have a varied traffic mix with no real dominant player, as in the case of BHX, they all want a bit of the action.
I tend to agree with your sentiments; and it's one of the problems with "the market".

Airports have no control over who can and can't operate what routes at what frequency, so what often happens is that a carrier starts a new route, another jumps in, neither makes a profit and in the worst case both carriers blink at the same time and the result is a route disappears completely.

Still, that's the lesser of two evils, the other being the bureaucracy of licencing and capacity regulation that used mainly to do the bidding of nation, usually state carriers, and stifled the development of regional airports for decades.

[BHX5DME]

I know that BHX were concerned having four airlines on Madrid and were not too disappointed when Norwegian dropped it.

[tubby linton]

Aircraft have been diverting tonight due to fog. The resumption of LVP capability on both runways ends cannot come soon enough.

[Guest 112233]

I just had a deco - in FR24 -Also looking at the METARs's on line

It was 3 Kt from the south with scattered at 600 AGL but at 100 scattered. Is 15 CAT I/11 ! Only.A KLM flight managed an approach & landing. The rest utilized the various selection of holds inc DTY VOR at FL160 or above.

Things for the last 40 Mins have improved.

CAT III (an unfortunate handle for a Brummie)

[tubby linton]

15 is the only end you can autoland on at the moment. If both ends were available and with virtually no wind you would use the end with the best RVR. I am very surprised that the airport chose the autumn, winter to work on the glidepath for 33. The lowest RVR recorded on the metars was 225 which should have been manageable for the Airbus and Boeings ,so I wonder if something else was going on to stop them getting in?

[oceanhawk]

Cat 3B requires 75m
Cat 3A requires 200m.
Cat 2 requires 300m.
Cat 1 requires 550m ( LTS at some airfields now can be reduced further to 400m ). I think.

If the wind was from the south , then RW 15 if perfect. A tailwind is also fine, how much is down to various criteria .
If the lowest RVR was 225 m, then it's the aircraft needs cat 111 A or B. Nothing to do with the airfield . However, it's about time runway 33 was restored and in any event it is being restored.

[tubby linton]

My point oceanhawk was that despite the RVR being adequate for 3B operations flights were not getting in. This could be because the actual RVR was less than the metar or there was a problem with the ground equipment which raised the minima.

[BHX5DME]

The problem was all the FlyBe Dash 8 and a couple of Stobart ATR's were holding low i.e. below FL100 and the RVR's were up and down.
The true Cat 3 aircraft came in high i.e over FL100 and it was an ATC nightmare trying to get them down hence a couple went to Manchester (MON & RYR)

B-KQZ Cathay in BHX this morning - nice !

[Guest 112233]

As the traffic levels have increased, is it worth looking at establishing different Holding Areas within the CTA to cater for differentiated STARS for CAT1/2 and CAT 3 equipped/crew validated aircraft. (not just Brum by the way).

I bet this is going to be unpopular; Airspace limitations, ATC complexity issues etc (lots !) ; but last night's complications illustrate a capacity problem re organisation of controlled Airspace around this airfield and Brum is not that big yet.

Luton & Stansted "seem" as stated earlier,to have services predominantly provided by B738 & Airbus; a relatively homogeneous selection of equipment. Economics of course.

I bet the situation applies more widely: Do the likes of MAN,FRA or AMS have differential routings for aircraft related to landing minima. (LHR is not typical of what I have in mind - Minimum size of traffic.)

CAT III

[tubby linton]

BHX does have quite a few holds that it can use, and the problem of different aircraft having different minima cannot be new.Without having all of the traffic replays to hand it will be difficult to determine what the problem was but I am sure the operators will be having a talk to the atc unit at the airport to see what can be improved on. Does anybody know the maximum number of aircraft that were holding and where they were holding? Perhaps a bit of stack swapping would have helped?

[jon01]

On Fri 16th Dec between 20:00 and 21:45 there were up to 15 aircraft holding at one time, split between GROVE, CHASE and WELIN.

The Met Office failed to put any mention of fog on the BHX TAF for the early part of that night, which could have warned crews in advance to carry more fuel for holding and could have pre-warned ATC

The fiasco was caused by a combination of; fog not forecast, a large number of inbounds, full ILS only available on the one end that had the worst RVRs and a mix of aircraft in the hold requiring a range of different minimum RVRs. At one point there were two aircraft diverting away due to low fuel, with one aircraft diverting in from East Midlands who got a fairly quick approach! Also, Manchester and London were not very co-operative when BHX aircraft requested diverts away, probably because they were at full stretch too

London and Birmingham ATC did their best, but were clearly struggling at times with the situation, a situation that has probably never occurred before

Lots to be learned from this and hopefully this situation will not happen again

[spannersatcx]

B-KQZ Cathay in BHX this morning - nice !
for the spotters maybe, bit of a recovery nightmare, but it got sorted!

[OltonPete]

I won't comment on Friday night too much as I am simply not qualified but I am sure lessons will be learned and I can sort of echo what jon01 has said that I have never come across an event quite like it.

As for last night and today in general - wow. Yes some negative aspects but on the whole absolutely brilliant - diversions from 10 different airfields including military encompassing a C5 Galaxy, C17, C130, 747, B77W, A332 and the same airliner diverting in twice (Air Moldova) plus several bizjets.

It was clearly a stretch at times but overall it was sorted, quite a day.

It is often said passenger wise BHX suffers due to the proximity of London and Manchester but occasionally it also gains from its location and today was one of those days. Simply fascinating all day long and beats Christmas shopping any day.

Pete

[Guest 112233]

I can only echo your comments about Friday Nights events. I too am unqualified to comment. I only very intermittently looked at FR24 to get an idea of what was happening at about 22.00 (See my previous post 16/12/2016).

Thanks to Jon01 for his explanation of events. I have used the Airport as a passenger 20-30 times over the last 30 years (not the last 18 I might add) and I feel as a professional,(not a Pilot or infrastructural Engineer) that technical infrastructure support and development at this facility (amongst others I might add ), has not kept place with the increasing demands placed upon the facility. All credit without reservation, to everyone involved for maintaining a safe outcome.

The lengthening of the Runway and BHX's geographical location: as well as the weather (poorly forecast) and the total UK Air traffic load; make situations where those holes in the Cheddar, line up; more likely. Think about Jan and Feb to come.

Friday 16th was a warning: The prolonged loss of the ILS at the 33 end may have made things a lot worse.Operational input by someone better informed than me is needed here.

It's legitimate to ask if the timing and scale of the remedial work was [unduly] influenced by commercial income to the Airport company.

The "Lessons will be learned platitudes" seem to be inadequate in the circumstances.

[Seljuk22]

Eurowings will launch 6 weekly flights to VIE next summer

[BHX5DME]

Now showing in google flights from Sunday 26th March :-


EW5892 VIE-BHX 1300-1430 Sun
EW5892 VIE-BHX 1715-1845 Mon, Wed-Fri
EW5892 VIE-BHX 1735-1905 Tue


EW5893 BHX-VIE 1510-1830 Sun
EW5893 BHX-VIE 1930-2250 Mon, Wed-Fri
EW5893 BHX-VIE 1945-2305 Tue


good news great to see Vienna being served

[Lassie]

Is their any truth in the rumour of BHX direct to Austria's second city Graz with British Midland?

[OltonPete]

Lassie

A possibility, especially if search Graz & JLR - could be 2 + 2 = 5 or could be something in it.

Good to see Vienna back and at a decent frequency as long as you don't mind getting into Vienna late.

Hi CATIII-NDB

Nothing more to add re the ILS 33 but hopefully things will become a bit clearer in the New Year.

Pete

[Guest 112233]

Thanks OP - A Msg that the NOTAM Dates Re the 33 ILS GP O/S have been extended: posted elsewhere. I hope its resolved soon.

Not to mention the LUT restrictions as well ? CAT IIIB downgraded to CATIIIA

Thanks

CATIII

[OltonPete]

Second new Austrian service in two days BMIR to Graz bookable.

Twice a week Monday & Friday from 27 February.

BM1401 0730 departure BHX arrives back 12.40 Monday ER4
BM1405 11:25 departure BHX arrives back 16:35 Friday ER4

So BHX based and three and a bit days on the ground!!!! Only joking.

I think we can determine from these schedules a sponsored service me thinks.

Bookable for a kings ransom.

Pete

[davidjohnson6]

Pete - the bmir website doesn't list Graz as a destination (yet). In the past I've seen that the first day routes go on sale, the cheapest fares quoted are stupidly high (essentially a fully refundable fare only someone desperate would buy), only for more realistic fares to appear a day or two later - presumably down to some sort of IT systems issue. Is it perhaps possible that BHX-GRZ appears with more sensible fares in a few days time ?

[BA318]

I believe the Graz flight is being operated for Jaguar Land Rover as it connects two facilities they have.

[GayFriendly]

BA318, you are absolutely right, my neighbour works for JLR and goes to Graz at very least once a month. I hope some decent 'leisure' fares do become available, as it's a lovely city to visit.


Very happy VIE is finally back on the routes served from BHX, this used to do very well in terms of loads (no idea of yield) when served by BA/Maersk (albeit on a much smaller aircraft....I hope this route can sustain an A320 long term).


HEL and RIX would be nice now but in terms of European capitals, BHX has currently got nearly all other realistic ones covered, a huge improvement on the situation even just 5 years ago.

[BHX5DME]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezAQ3GoYXeQ#action=share

[jon01]

HEL and RIX would be nice now but in terms of European capitals, BHX has currently got nearly all other realistic ones covered, a huge improvement on the situation even just 5 years ago.


Oslo is the big one that's missing

Also Geneva year round, plus Valencia would be a nice addition too

[OltonPete]

GayFriendly

How about Rotterdam...........oops poor taste as flybe have chopped it from early January and Manchester as well.

Didn't see that one coming............oh wait a minute.

Quite severe cuts from Flybe this January, happens to a certain extent each year but this one is up there as a bad one.

DJ6 -Cheers it was a bit tongue in cheek and I am sure they will calm down a little in due course

Diversion day last Saturday

With permission of the photographer a link to some pictures - note the C5 on taxyway T and the use of the remotes. Pretty good day for an airfield not that blessed with a lot of space.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/antonov22/sets/72157676694109660/

Pete

[OltonPete]

Another diversion day and although BHX didn't quite accommodate all it was another good effort. Three BA City Flyer went to Manchester at least two to East Mids and one to Bristol which I am sure would have possibly come to BHX.

This time diverts from London City, Southampton, Gatwick, Stansted, Luton, East Mids, Exeter, Cardiff in the last 24 hours, possibly as many as 30 counting bizjets although some of these seem to have filed direct BHX and might not get listed as such.

Nothing as taxing as C5's or 747's but still with the holiday period, only one airline handler it could not have been easy.

Does anyone know if BHX did limit the numbers due coaches or staffing which of course would be understandable.

Emirates

Just one more day for the switch between EK39 and EK37 with the A388, it will be interesting to see how this affects the overall figures but on the face of it, a smart move as EK37 is still consistently showing the higher load factor.

Pete

[insuindi]

Eurowings

HAM-BHX 3/7 (A319/A320) in summer, previous summers were 6/7 (CR9, removed from fleet).

[OltonPete]

Some more tinkerings

Newquay starts at 8 a week with two on a Sunday and then goes 9 a week when a second Saturday starts high season.

Bordeaux starts at daily quite an increase with an early morning departure on the 175. BHX now showing 4 x 175's in the morning.

Aberdeen has two of the four flights operated by the BHX based aircraft.

Last Dusseldorf inbound 19.05 which is odd.

Jersey departures 07.00, 13.45 and 14.20 which seems a strange spacing of flights.

Seems to be at least 13 based but the schedule is far from complete.

Pete

[111KAB]

https://www.traveldailynews.com/post/birmingham-named-the-worlds-most-punctual-airport-in-the-world-for-2016

[ATNotts]

https://www.traveldailynews.com/post/birmingham-named-the-worlds-most-punctual-airport-in-the-world-for-2016
I would suggest that, as usual, there are lies, darned lies - and statistics!

Not a bad accolade to get anyway - all good for the PR / spin machine.

[Hotel Tango]

TBH I'm quite surprised considering that Flybe, with their frequent cancellations and delays, is one of their main operators!

[darkbarly]

TBH I'm quite surprised considering that Flybe, with their frequent cancellations and delays, is one of their main operators!

HT, on the basis that you posted the following yesterday...

Here we go yet again! Posters making statements without knowing any FACTS at all. It really is getting bad on PPRuNe and the moderators should put a stop to it!


...would you care to post your facts in support of this claim re Flybe.

Thanks.

[Hotel Tango]

Certainly. Of my last 5 flights with Flybe, 4 were delayed, from 30 minutes to just over 2 hours. Quite a high average for 1 passenger, hence my post. Not only that, but flying often from DUS (on Eurowings - having given up with Flybe) I like to keep an eye on the Flybe flights and again have (in the past 3 months) noticed hefty delays. Of course, I might just be the airline's jinx!

Btw, I didn't post a FACT! I expressly stated that I was surprised. And I base that "surprise" on my personal experience flying with the airline.

Nor was I commenting on an aircraft accident on which there were no confirmed details about at the time of my post.

[darkbarly]

Of all the destinatinations I fly to I look forward to DUS with Flybe, in my experience its 99% on time or early. Trouble is that is subjective and I cannot support that with data or advise whether this is better or not than other airlines, and I, like others, have flown with many.

Rather, the posts in this thread are usually of a calibre that make them valuable in terms of making better informed choices. Therefore it remains difficult to understand how one of brums biggest operators did not manage to impair their punctuality if these 4 flights are typical of its performance.

I have not used eurowings on this route yet, perhaps I will. Or perhaps I will check the UK CAA and deutsche LBA data first.

[OltonPete]

American Airlines have flown the nest with the last flight departing earlier. Inbound loads remained good right until the end and outbound was not too bad until today. Looks a pretty straightforward case of high fares, few pax, low fares and lots of pax and the net result insufficient yield.

I assume BHX will be in the fray eventually for Norwegian to NYC, along with Belfast, Bristol etc.

Only Delta left out of the big 3 to try their hand and thus far, nearly but not quite. However Jetblue will be worth watching if they do take the 321 NEO LR.

Monarch/Flybe - part of the most punctual airport article was some good reading for Monarch and they probably helped BHX having a spare aircraft and nil cancellations.

Flybe is a difficult one as they seem to have phases with the Dash 8 where they have a run of issues but cancellations seem to have reduced. The Flybe website has a 3 month check for flight status and anyone with time on their hands can go back through it.

One thing that has disappointed me is the use of the 175 on certain routes. Dussledorf is a prime example with Eurowings adding shiney new A320's and Flybe's response is to make the BHX all prop yet you check fleet wide and there are 175's on ridiculous routes and that includes BHX-GLA and EDI although they do become all prop next summer. However the 175's are still not showing next summer on the likes of DUS or AMS, just more Dash 8's.

BMIR - Possible more to come other than Graz.

Pete

[Hotel Tango]

darkbarly, yes it is subjective and it can depend on a number of factors. I used to fly the DUS route both with BEE and EWG (in their various guises over the years). After having a series of poor experiences with lengthy delays on BEE I switched to using EWG exclusively (on this route). Of course EWG's time keeping is not 100% but I certainly and genuinely perceive it to be on average (for me) better than BEE. I'm not anti BEE or anything like that. It's just the way things evolved on my regular travels between DUS and BHX (average of 24 rotations per annum).

[Daza]

Being reported elsewhere two new routes ex BHX Gothenburg and Nuremburg both 6x week with BMI regional from April 2017. More great news
Daza

[crewmeal]

American Airlines have flown the nest with the last flight departing earlier

At least Jet2 are doing their Christmas shopping trips from BHX for a shade under £400 return.

[Daza]

Graz, Gothenburg and Nuremburg ex BHX is now in the BMIR website drop down menu hopefully flight numbers and timetable will follow shortly.
Daza

[Guest 112233]

Thanks for your as usual informative post

With reference to the chances of another American airline starting services from BHX they are essentially nil for the foreseeable future.

United may! I hope: Consider increasing their services from the airport but as said a multitude of times - its down the motorway(s) (very slowly) to LHR or up the M6 again quite slowly to MAN.

I hope for more "Niche" services from Brum aka MAN to American tourist Cities in the future (I would use SFO for example) so AA leave the facility for the 3rd time. (Yes I was a regular to ORD with them.)

Its time to be realistic about growth prospects. Eastern Europe obviously holds promise as does India by the looks of things to come.

CAT III

[tubby linton]

Does anybody have any info on what is going on with the remedial work in the area in front of the 33 glideslope? Everytime I look at it the more I think that it looks like a flooded Flanders battlefield. I haven'r seen any work taking place but the puddles just seem to get bigger. Why is the runway classified as wet when it hasn't rained for days? Answers on a postcard please to stand 74.

[BHX5DME]

I have a visit to BHX ATC on Sunday am so I will ask about the work to restore the Cat 3

[tubby linton]

Restoration to Cat 1 would be a start. It is incredulous that the airport would plan these works in the winter.

[GayFriendly]

CATIII-NDB

I think you have hit the nail on the head - with multiple daily departures to a huge range of US gateways from LHR and increasingly MAN I don't see any new US services front BHX for the foreseeable future, they just don't seem to work in terms of high yield front end traffic and cannot compete in terms of frequency. The unfortunate withdraw of AA and lack of response from UA will hardly have other airlines rushing in to start US flights from BHX.

As for Norwegian, perhaps we're in with a chance as they're already brand aware in the Midlands but I should imagine they're pushing hard for a deal and BHX are not known for that - I can see BRS getting a flight over BHX if this is the case.

I think we have to be thankful UA still operate and that we also have excellent one stop connections to many US cities with Aer Lingua and Icelandair.

India - is there something new in the pipeline?

And what's happened to China, it's all gone very quiet after so much high profile PR in 2016 about the importance of getting a BHX - China route....

Daza

I don't see anything on the BMI Regional website for any of these destinations? The only flight bookable is Brussels (SN codeshare).....am I missing something?

[Waldo1]

HT, on the basis that you posted the following yesterday...



...would you care to post your facts in support of this claim re Flybe.

Thanks.

WTF....its a rumours forum....fecks sake ....are up that stupid, u didn't read the name of the site u were signing up to?

[jon01]

India - is there something new in the pipeline?

I don't see anything on the BMI Regional website for any of these destinations? The only flight bookable is Brussels (SN codeshare).....am I missing something?


Air India are due to announce extra services, with some going on to Toronto

The three new destinations are showing on the British Midland Regional timetable search

[jon01]

s17 Update

Cobalt
Have added 2 x weekly A319 to Larnaca on Wed & Sat (a 11:55/d 12:55)

Flybe
New weekly charter to Preveza on Sun (a 18:40/d 11:05)

[getonittt]

Cobalt
Have added 2 x weekly A319 to Larnaca on Wed & Sat (a 11:55/d 12:55)



Is that just a continuation of the current schedule albeit different times?

[jon01]

11,639,738 passengers travelled through the airport over the course of 2016, an increase of 14.2%

https://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/media-information/news/2017/01/birmingham-airport-celebrates-its-busiest-year-and-december-in-history/#5874baab6579a

[jon01]

Cobalt
Have added 2 x weekly A319 to Larnaca on Wed & Sat (a 11:55/d 12:55)

Is that just a continuation of the current schedule albeit different times?

Yes, some thought it was not going to continue into the summer, but good to see it will carry on

[Daza]

BHX December passengers up an amazing 23.7% 2017 should be even busier.
Daza

[ZULUBOY]

http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/business/business-news/birmingham-airport-talks-over-new-12451779

[crewmeal]

Birmingham Airport talks over new China flights - Birmingham Post (http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/business/business-news/birmingham-airport-talks-over-new-12451779)

Just to make it easier to link up.

[eggc]

This will cheer you up...not...

http://www.traveldailymedia.com/245682/manchester-airport-plans-chinese-new-year-event-in-birmingham/

[hammerb32]

Just underlines how much demand there is from Gtr Birmingham for flights to China.

[rutankrd]

Just underlines how much demand there is from Gtr Birmingham for flights to China.

When talking of Scheduled Long Haul you must view a much larger market than the 7 boroughs.

In planning the airlines consider many things including proximity of alternate Hubs and their accessibility.

When the operators of Birmingham Airport begin to square and identify the relevant markets and catchment is when they might begin to draw the attention of appropriate business.

Chasing a China connection worse seemingly thinking an irregular tourist service might suffice is imho a recipe for failure.

Think what is the regional demand (both ways) - does it differ from a few tourists going to Stratford, Bicester Village and onto the metropolis

Is the demand driven by boxes or organic blobs.

Is there much in the way of VFR to fill the back of the bus.

Etc.....

Then you have to look at the arbitrary and legislative barriers being imposed by state agencies.

Right now there remain some pretty high hurdles to climb particularly in Sino-UK aviation.

Whilst the number of available slot pairs have been increased by both sides, the effects on the ground appear to have stalled quite significantly.

BA have actually pulled a China service, Tianjin have had their application for additional flights declined !

Access/slot restrictions mean any further LHR flight awards may be difficult and Hainan appear to be considering adding a tag on the Manchester service with a slight frequency increase but possible drop in overall capacity on the Man- PEK sector.

Air China are engaged in domestic territorial warfare with China Eastern and local government agencies in Shanghai specifically around the Central Government One Airline One route policies.

Central government preferred operator for high yield premier routes is Air China whilst China Eastern has been allowed to build a significant regional network out of Shanghai in support of the local development agencies.

Current standoff Air China has been award a number of international routes from Shanghai including one to the UK and another to Spain but can't get local slots

Compound all this with the difficulty (As opposed to ease of a Schegan VISA) for the middle class Chinese tourist outside of Beijing in getting a UK tourist VISA, whilst the student VISA processes become even more arduously scrutinised and its little wonder Paris gets more Chinese visitors than the whole of the UK today is it.

Summarisation perhaps Birmingham Airport from an economic perspective would be better looking a little more widely than focusing on a Chinese link at the moment.

Think Air India and the proposed return of the Toronto tag - That would give the airport a real advantage over Manchester in two important markets when the UK leave the EU.

Right now Manchester has just one weekly winter quasi charter service to Canada and continues to struggle in winning any scheduled direct connections to India what so ever.

[Sholto Douglas]

An interesting and informative post rutankrd.Many thanks.

[ATNotts]

rutankrd

Indeed very interesting, and the point regarding visas is especially well made, and despite government rhetoric a few months ago isn't likely to get better anytime soon.

However, where I differ is that BHX is that much closer to London than Manchester, so, especially for leisure passengers, BHX is a viable option for Chinese operators as an entry point to service Stratford, the Cotswolds, Bicester Outlet and the honeypot that is London.

Whether BHX actually gets a Chinese service, well my glass is half empty on that one, and I too think that expansion of the AI offer may prove more lucrative, given the demographics of the Midlands, and also the large Punjabi population in and around Toronto.

[BHX5DME]

DUBLIN 81,490 up 6.77 %
AMSTERDAM 51,159 up 9.38 %
DUBAI 50,596 down-4.34 %
TENERIFE (SURREINA SOFIA) 33,281 up 33.70 %
PARIS (CHARLES DE GAULLE) 32,534 up 4.92 %
EDINBURGH 24,271 0.00 %
BELFAST CITY 23,017 up 12.00 %
DUSSELDORF 22,902 up 14.94 %
ALICANTE 21,979 up 5.92 %
MALAGA 21,503 up 8.35 %
BELFAST INT 21,343 up 3.00 %
GLASGOW 21,128up 8.00 %
FRANKFURT MAIN 19,537 down -0.24 %
ARRECIFE 18,110 down -2.08 %
BARCELONA 16,240 down -0.12 %
MUNICH 14,317 down -1.20 %
FUERTEVENTURA 12,055 up 13.48 %
BRUSSELS 11,666 down -2.07 %
ABERDEEN 10,536 up 22.00 %
DOHA HAMAD 10,243 0.00 %
LAS PALMAS 9,714 up 18.84 %
MADRID 8,838 up 350.23 %
FARO 8,789 up 5.32 %
ISTANBUL 8,615 down -19.99 %
COPENHAGEN 8,483 down -2.86 %
DELHI 7,028down -42.25 %
ZURICH 6,583 down -7.27 %
MILAN (MALPENSA) 6,556 down -11.69 %
ISLAMABAD 6,551 up 11.28 %
BERLIN (TEGEL) 6,532 up 47.62 %
AMRITSAR 6,458 0.00 %
STUTTGART 6,328 up 8.36 %
BRIDGETOWN 6,264 up 7.76 %
CORK 6,191 up 8.33 %
SOFIA 5,925 0.00 %
CANCUN 4,937 down -1.87 %
NEW YORK (JF KENNEDY) 4,779 up 4.80 %
NEW YORK (NEWARK) 4,741 down -35.08 %
BRATISLAVA 4,671 up 21.96 %
MALTA 4,464 up 46.31 %
BYDGOSZCZ 4,298 up 2.04 %
WARSAW (CHOPIN) 3,936 up 55.08 %
ROME (FIUMICINO) 3,889 down -8.86 %
PALMA DE MALLORCA 3,883 up 9.60 %
INVERNESS 3,556 up 16.00 %
BUDAPEST 3,507 up 62.51 %
FUNCHAL 3,468 down -14.45 %
KEFLAVIK 3,445 up 23.17 %
PRAGUE 3,322 0.00 %
LISBON 3,282 0.00 %
HANOVER 3,266 down -36.11 %
LYON 3,264 down -4.76 %
GDANSK 3,261 up 7.55 %
PAPHOS 3,255 up 4.66 %
KRAKOW 3,231 Up 1.25 %
ILHA DO SAL C.VERDE 3,152 up 90.80 %
MURCIA SAN JAVIER 3,143 up 1064.07 %
PUNTA CANA 3,120 0.00 %
WARSAW (MODLIN MASOVIA) 3,1110.00 %
VERONA VILLAFRANCA 2,979 0.00 %
MONTEGO BAY 2,972 up 38.88 %
ROTTERDAM 2,944 0.00 %
JERSEY 2,848 Down -10.00 %
ISLE OF MAN 2,800 up 5.00 %
KATOWICE 2,788 down -11.94 %
ASHKHABAD 2,730 down -25.51 %
BANJUL 2,725 up 109.13 %
SHANNON 2,696 up 7.84 %
VILNIUS 2,695 0.00 %
GUERNSEY 2,681 down -13.00 %
BUCHAREST (OTOPENI) 2,642 0.00 %
LARNACA 2,610 down -36.60 %
TOULOUSE (BLAGNAC) 2,359 0.00 %
WROCLAW 2,285 0.00 %
POZNAN 2,229 0.00 %
GIBRALTAR 2,117 down -40.92 %
BOA VISTA (RABIL) 2,044 up 35.99 %
IRELAND WEST(KNOCK) 1,915 0.00 %
LUXEMBOURG 1,875 0.00 %
HURGHADA 1,659 Up 13.55 %
MARRAKESH 1,473 up 86.93 %
HAMBURG 1,442 down -23.58 %
NANTES 1,021 up 3984.00 %
PADERBORN 1,003 down -35.79 %
VENICE 676 up 271.43 %
DALAMAN 676 up 220.38 %
CORFU 199 0.00 %
IBIZA 188 0.00 %
MUNSTER-OSNABRUCK 151 0.00 %
ALMERIA 135 0.00 %
OSTEND 130 0.00 %
NEWCASTLE 55 down -94.00 %
SOUTHAMPTON 55 0.00 %
PARIS (LE BOURGET) 45 0.00 %
MILAN (LINATE) 25 0.00 %

[BHX5DME]

Dublin 80,281 up 13.5%

Dubai 69,485 up 14.4%

Amsterdam 50,376 up 11.%

Tenerife 35,446 up 37.2%

Dusseldorf 22,787 up 27.95%

Delhi / Amritsar 13,479

Malaga 20,302 up 28.1%

Barcelona 16,503 up 20.7%

Doha 12,408

Delhi / Amritsat 13,479

[OltonPete]

United - Newark

Back to daily for the whole of summer rather than just mid-May to Mid - September. EDI also getting small United increases as well.

Swiss

Some booking engines showing Swiss Airbus flights on a regular basis from September on some days. Although the published new CS300 routes did not include BHX (LHR-GVA the only UK route) I wonder if BHX will get them as some show the operating aircraft as A319's yet some if not all are being replaced by the CS300. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday are the main days for the 319/320 in October.

STATS

December are stunning and November not too shabby. You can see why the rumours of Air India increasing and I realise the Indian press can be somewhat unrealistically enthusiastic at times and it is also peak season, they are very good/promising.

Pete

[chaps1954]

I always feel that Swiss could operate any aircraft any day as they seem to change so often
Up hear in Manchester we seem to of had everything and there seems no pattern so I just believe
it when I see it so I don`t see BHX being any different, makes it interesting I guess

[Daza]

Comformation of the new base fr BMIR at BHX. More Graz flights too.
https://www.flybmi.com/press-release/bmi-regional-announces-new-birmingham-hub-three-new-routes/
Daza

[All names taken]

Olton Pete
With the greatest of respect for one of the best posters on Pprune (ie you)....

STATS
December are stunning and November not too shabby. You can see why the rumours of Air India increasing

The passenger numbers posted by BHX5DME just above, show Delhi with a whopping 42.25% reduction over the same month last year.
Air India may or may not add services for whatever reasons south Asian airlines employ but extra demand is unlikely to be one of them.

[chinapattern]

The passenger numbers posted by BHX5DME just above, show Delhi with a whopping 42.25% reduction over the same month last year.

I wondered this to but I seem to recall previously that the Delhi and Amritsar figures all being added together so perhaps that explains the anomaly if indeed it is one?

[BHX5DME]

DELHI 7,028down -42.25 %
AMRITSAR 6,458 0.00 %

=13,486 IN TOTAL

[OltonPete]

All names taken

Thank you and it is just one of the many vagaries of the CAA figures, some months Delhi and Amritsar are sometimes shown as all Delhi and other months they give the split (Not as bad as counting every Thomas Cook pax as scheduled).

November 2015 was 12170 pax and the combined figure posted by BHX5DME for 2016 was 13486. Therefore an increase of around 11.5% averaging of 225 pax or 88%.

Now I don't for one minute regard AI as a normal commercial operation but you still have to get bums on seats and it was in a month when Emirates cut EK41/2 which of course might have boosted AI as that flight does have superb connections to India. It did drop in December to 85% load factor but the figure was actually up 12.5%



Pete

[BHX5DME]

Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA hopes to sell one-way tickets to Europe for $69 as early as 2017 by flying from US airports that have low fees, Chief Executive Officer Bjørn Kjos said in an interview last year.
Europe’s third-largest budget airline is considering flights to Edinburgh and Bergen, Norway from US airports that have little to no international service today, such as New York’s Westchester County Airport and Connecticut’s Bradley International Airport, just north of Hartford, Kjos said.
Average prices on such routes are likely to be closer to $300 round trip, Kjos said, compared with many of Norwegian’s fares that run more than $500 today because of higher fees levied by busier airports.
The potential plans are part of Norwegian’s broader move to cut prices and take share from traditional flag carriers that dominate trans-Atlantic flying.
While airlines such as Deutsche Lufthansa AG offer travelers hundreds of destinations via connections in airport hubs, Norwegian is aiming to make nonstop service to small cities that straddle the Atlantic more common, which keeps costs low.
“I think you will see a lot to that effect within five years’ time,” Kjos said. “What will happen to (Lufthansa) when everyone starts to fly direct?”
Norwegian has 100 737 MAX jets from Boeing Co on order and expects to receive five in 2017. These planes are equipped to traverse the Atlantic but are smaller than most jets that currently do so, making them a better size for international flights to cities such as Birmingham in Britain, Kjos said.
Regulators will have to agree to set up customs stations at US regional airports to handle international traffic, although Kjos said he is confident this can be arranged.
Norwegian is not the only airline to market cheap fares across the Atlantic.
Iceland’s Wow Air recently offered one-way fares between Boston and Paris for $99. Lufthansa’s low-cost subsidiary Eurowings is also starting cheap long-haul flights.
Kjos downplayed the competitive threat of Eurowings, saying, “I don’t believe in their being able to operate low cost with a Boeing 767,” in part because the widebody planes save less fuel and have smaller range than planes such as Boeing Dreamliners in Norwegian’s fleet.
Norwegian separately reported Tuesday that it filled 96 percent of long-haul plane seats in September, helping the airline post better-than-expected results.

[crewmeal]

If Norwegian start a service to the New York region you can kiss goodbye to United's EWR route.

[EastMids]

If Norwegian start a service to the New York region you can kiss goodbye to United's EWR route.

BHX-EWR is carrying a lot of connecting traffic beyond New York that Norwegian wouldn't be able to take.

[Skipness One Echo]

True but to make money, United need both connecting traffic and point to point. Norwegian would easily take a swathe of the p2p from United albeit growing the size of the market willing to fly BHX-NYC direct. They are VERY aggresive remember, their previous growth plan was predicated on killing off SAS stone dead. They make MOL look Mother Theresa IMHO but so long as the consumer saves a few more bob, no one cares.
United have dropped BRS and more recently BFS and NCL, careful what you wish for.
btw Norwegian's (loss making) business model makes the Virgin Group look like a model of transparency!

[ATNotts]

True but to make money, United need both connecting traffic and point to point. Norwegian would easily take a swathe of the p2p from United albeit growing the size of the market willing to fly BHX-NYC direct. They are VERY aggresive remember, their previous growth plan was predicated on killing off SAS stone dead. They make MOL look Mother Theresa IMHO but so long as the consumer saves a few more bob, no one cares.
United have dropped BRS and more recently BFS and NCL, careful what you wish for.
btw Norwegian's (loss making) business model makes the Virgin Group look like a model of transparency!
Absolutely right - chasing reggies and pretty colour schemes might not necessarily result in the best business outcome for BHX.

[SWBKCB]

pretty colour schemes

Norwegians is an awful scheme! :E

[jon01]

easyJet Belfast (BFS)

Operating into summer 2017 and now bookable

[GayFriendly]

Great news to see EZY staying on the route and as a year round airline at BHX - they must have struck a late deal to get them to stay. Looks like 3 x daily from July, no Sat flights until then.

[ATNotts]

Great news to see EZY staying on the route and as a year round airline at BHX - they must have struck a late deal to get them to stay. Looks like 3 x daily from July, no Sat flights until then.
Yes, but then at no stage did the airline, or either BHX or BFS ever say the services were in any way threatened. This was a story created by rumour, though, of course, there may have been some manouvering behind the scenes.

[xflyer]

Evening All! , I was encouraged tonight to read a headline in a local paper about Jet2 starting New York flights – however reading on it looks like there’s only going to be 2 flights. One on black Friday and another closer to Christmas. Still , I guess its good news!

[canberra97]

xflyer

Already mentioned in post 4373 dated 7 January 2017.

[cheesebag]

Great news if you fancy 8 hours on a holiday configured 757 with no IFE !!!!

[Hotel Tango]

Great news if you fancy 8 hours on a holiday configured 757 with no IFE !!!!

Ever heard of books, magazines etc? ;) I can remember many a crossing over the pond without IFE. Don't use it all that much these days either.

[AerRyan]

Ever heard of books, magazines etc? ;) I can remember many a crossing over the pond without IFE. Don't use it all that much these days either.

Yeah no thanks, nowadays it's nearly a must.

I thought 5 and a half hours on an old 737-300 was hard, wouldn't fancy 8!

[Hotel Tango]

Yeah no thanks, nowadays it's nearly a must.

New generation of softies! :E;)

[AerRyan]

New generation of softies! :E;)

Ah generation snowflake is what you're thinking too?

Possibly the worst argument I've ever heard for the downgrading of services. Sure why would we expect standards now when they didn't have them when Old man John was a child?

[Hotel Tango]

:( I think you're taking my comments a tad too too seriously AerRyan!

Tell you what though, knowing this new generation as I do, if JET2 fares are considerably lower than the competition they WILL sell, IFE or not!

[ATNotts]

:( I think you're taking my comments a tad too too seriously AerRyan!

Tell you what though, knowing this new generation as I do, if JET2 fares are considerably lower than the competition they WILL sell, IFE or not!
Rarely a truer word spoken - and it's proven by the phenomenal success of Ryanair who's business has been built on "pile it high and sell it cheap", certainly not on customer service, or service quality.

[AerRyan]

You can do cheaper fares in Europe, there's no taxes and fees and like there is crossing the Atlantic. Much easier to slap an extra €50 on a fare to the US than the UK to improve the service.

[crewmeal]

American?s new 737 MAX won't have seatback screens (http://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/todayinthesky/2017/01/25/american-737-max-seatback-monitors/97043462/)

If AA decided to come back to BHX then there won't be any IFE on the 737's. I have to say that I always use my iPad and use the aircraft screen as a map.

[compton3bravo]

Good god, read a newspaper, magazine or book and learn something new, what is the world coming too!

[22/04]

C3B it's probably coming to the fact that there will be few printed magazines or newspapers in 20 years time. iPads ok but you'd still want a charging point ideally.

[ATNotts]

C3B it's probably coming to the fact that there will be few printed magazines or newspapers in 20 years time. iPads ok but you'd still want a charging point ideally.
When I used to fly long haul I found IFE a pain, as you couldn't sleep for the flickering drop-down screen. OK, now with seatback screens that could be less of an issue but if someone next to you is watching a flickering, and very bright screen for the duration of an overnight flight I would imagine that could be even worse.

It was an absolute joy to fly an a British Airtours 707 to LAX many years ago, with no entertainment - shame, in some respects, that we can't go back to that era - but perhaps AA may take us back there!

As for printed books and mags. disappearing, reports of their downfall have been exaggerated for years.

[pwalhx]

It is interesting to note that even though IFE is common nowadays I increasingly see people with their ipads (other tablets are available) watching their own choice of entertainment.

I myself am flying on a certain MEB3 airline tomorrow and despite them having a good in flight entertainment system I am armed with a usb full of things to watch of my own choice.

I don't see the lack of IFE as a red line when choosing a flight and suspect many others agree.

[crewmeal]

iPads ok but you'd still want a charging point ideally.

Then take a battery pack fully charged with you. They're permitted in hand luggage.

[AerRyan]

Yeah, I'd still pay an extra few quid (if they even charge a premium) and fly a proper carrier.

[rutankrd]

aerryan the days of back seat and a huge box constricting your feet what ever the pitch are numbered imho American are removing it in all there narrow bodies right now as are others
The reduced weight and fire risks those boxes create are major factors

You will have to live with either a carrier hire tablet or byo and pay for access in the not to distant future like it or not

This is a bean counters dream scenario new revenue stream and operating cost savings including maintence on the horrid boxes

It is like only those coffins up front will retain some sort of IFE Long term

But just get a good read and an anolog book a bit of imagination and you might actually expand your mind

Btw those anolog paper thingys are so much easier to navigate!

Final with regards to the Jet2 tax avoidance /seasonal smuggling service I wonder if you are the target audience

[kgoodall]

Ealier on in the summer I flew on WestJet from St John's to Gatwick on a 737-700 that had been fitted with new seats without seat back TVs. You used their app to access the IFE or purchase Wifi access, it did look pretty slick. I did notice however that the movies were free for a trial perdiod only so I expect i'll have to pay next time if I want to watch anything!

Getting back to Birmingham, with WestJet announcing it was keen to expand flights to Europe hopefully we'll see some here.

[xanda_man]

Does anyone know why a Condor 753 D-ABOA came in to BHX this evening from FAO? Wouldn't normally ask on here but it's a very rare type and airline for BHX.

[Hotel Tango]

Might have been on a TCX flight. They do interchange aircraft. Saw a TCX A330 on a CFG flight the other day.

[BHX5DME]

The Condor 753 is at BHX for a few days doing Faro charters

[xanda_man]

Thanks, assumed so. Don't suppose you know who the charters are for?

Alex

[jon01]

I did post about the Condor 757-300 coming a while ago

http://www.pprune.org/9597529-post4324.html

It's the time of year when new cars are launched in Europe

Skoda and Volkswagen are having launches in Spain & Portugal at the moment for their dealers and charter flights from B'ham to Alicante and Faro are currently operating to take out 2,500 dealers. I believe the Condor is staying for longer than originally planned now and should be around into February

[xanda_man]

Thanks, I must have missed that somehow. Anyway thanks for the info, that's my curiosity satisfied 😀

[tubby linton]

The notam regarding the ILS glidepath being out of use on 33 has been extended until the end of March. There was meant to be some recomissioning work a couple of weeks ago, but the weather was too poor to undertake it.

[Beatts]

Hello all,

Is it true that EK are to be reducing some of there services around May time enabling an extra 777 flight at MAN?

[BHX5DME]

Where did this rubbish come from ?

[Beatts]

MAN facebook page, small talk at the moment but he should have his confirmed schedule in 3-4 weeks.

[Centre cities]

It should be noted that there were reductions last year in June the low season and the morning flight did not operate for November at all.

Centre cities

[OltonPete]

Beatts

May and June are low season and as BHX gets regular 3 class 77W's and A388's in high season it must be a possibility that come May and June EK41/2 will see some reductions if not completely suspended in June, which would be totally reasonable based on last years figures.

What would be amazing if was for Manchester for anything other than to replace an A388 on their morning service. Manchester Dubai May 2016 66328 pax 72% load factor and June 61409 69% load factor, better than most but certainly not anywhere near the need for extra flight, nobody is that stupid or............. July/August might be a different story but BHX is also fine in those months.

Pete

[eggc]

MAN's next service and 4th daily will be a 77W, arriving MAN mid afternoon. I've seen flight numbers and times along with possible start date, but, as we clearly know, nothing confirmed. Lots of cargo currently leaving MAN on trucks to other UK destinations due to the lack of 77W these days. Cargo does not mind where it flies from, but removing road shipping must be economically favorable for EK.

[OltonPete]

eggc

Without doubt Emirates 4th service at Manchester is only a question of when and not if. The suggestion that it is at the expense of BHX;s morning service is ludicrous as the timings are completely different.

I am not saying EK41/2 is safe as I certainly have no access to yields and loads at times have been poor although they appear to be improving a bit.

As I said I would not be surprised if there is at least a temporary suspension but as to adding extra capacity at Manchester in low season seems far-fetched but stranger things have happened.

Pete

[eggc]

Thats what I was trying to get across Pete, the timings do not match. You dont often see EK reduce services, I'd be surprised if BHX did not end up with another service at some point rather than any reduction.

[HH6702]

Rumours of NCL getting a second flight also

[canberra97]

Which of course it is a rumour, very much so, plane spotter rumour obviously!

[Fried_Chicken]

Whilst looking on Blue City Aviation's website under the latest news section, it mentions there are discounted fees being offered by BHX for large all-cargo aircraft (above 30T MTOW). There's no date on the report so I'm not sure if its new news or not. Thisisnot an easy market with EMA just up the road (and DSA also seem to be attarcting quite a lot of pure cargo ad-hoc traffic).

FC

[jon01]

January 2017 Pax

Up 16.1% to 775,176


https://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/media-information/news/2017/02/record-breaking-passenger-growth-rates-continue-for-birmingham-airport/

“More airlines and routes are to be announced in the near future and so we expect the airport to continue to grow and be successful over the next 12 months"

[EGYPT1]

British Airways to return to Birmingham https://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/media-information/news/2017/02/british-aireturn-to-birminghamrways-flights-to-/

[111KAB]

BA to relaunch flights from two regional airports (http://www.travelmole.com/news_feature.php?news_id=2025851&c=setreg&region=2)

[jon01]

More info and times on the four BA CityFlyer Saturday evening flights here:


https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2017/02/09/british-airways-launch-new-summer-routes-birmingham-bristol/

Malaga, Ibiza and Palma are by E190

Florence is on an E170

1 per week to each destination

[Guest 112233]

I'm sure the flights are welcome and the one way promotional prices are very attractive, but the BHX outbound timings are very late in the day. (Returns are nicely timed).

The BRS schedule gives the traveller the chance for an evening out (with luck) on arrival.

CAT III

[I forgot: Fly BE Tried late evening departures to holiday destinations inc Reykjavik - did the services last more than one season ?]

[Evanelpus]

More info and times on the BA City Flyer Saturday evening flights here:



https://www.businesstraveller.com/bu...ngham-bristol/

Link doesn't work for me.:confused:

[ssflyer]

Care-the Bus trav link showed a virus warning on my PC
SS

This link however, works cleanly
https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2017/02/09/british-airways-launch-new-summer-routes-birmingham-bristol/

[OltonPete]

Hi CATIII-NDB

Flybe KEF and FLR both lasted for two seasons.

Just found the press release which stated KEF started as a twilight flight in summer and then went to daytime in winter.

FLR was beset by problems, I was delayed over an hour on the 175 due lack of tow-bar and nothing to do with the Captain constantly on the phone to ops, one third of the pax were held at the gate and then some bags didn't travel.

It ended up with the 195 on the route in place of the hairdryers.

BA

Also worth noting not the first time City Flyer have operated from BHX to Palma but the last time was a short season a few years back although not schedule.

Ryanair

I can't believe BHX was over-looked for Cologne - they could have joined the Hall of Shame of failed attempts. Must be close on double figures ;)

Pete

[Skipness One Echo]

Without doubt Emirates 4th service at Manchester is only a question of when and not if.
At four daily, would MAN be their biggest European destination outside LHR, even beating Gatters?

[jon01]

HOP! Embraer ERJ-190s will be operating the Saturday lunchtime Air France Paris service from 01 April 2017

[wowzz]

How many passengers want to arrive in Palma or Malaga at 02:30 ? Not exactly an easy time of night to get taxis, arrange car hire etc.

[darren1]

Plenty of taxis and car hire open 24/7 not a problem at all.

[Hotel Tango]

Hey wowzz, we are talking Palma, not darkest Lincs! ;) At weekends it's almost as busy during the night as it is during the day.

[wowzz]

I must get out more!

[azz767]

How many passengers want to arrive in Palma or Malaga at 02:30 ? Not exactly an easy time of night to get taxis, arrange car hire etc.
Anyone going to Magaluf who will drop their case off and go straight out

[airworld]

Winter 2017 Thomson are doubling there long haul?
BGI X 3 PUJ X 3 CUN X 2 MBJ X2 LRA, GOA AND THAILAND.

[Centre cities]

To be honest I can not see a 100% increase in flights here.

The BGI has been 3 per week for some time in winter with 2 of the flights dedicated cruise flights.

The Thai and Goa flights are fortnightly.

Centre cities

[cheesebag]

WOWZZ Plenty of taxies about in Majorca at 2-30am.... that's early evening :)

[Daza]

Being reported elswhere MON to start Valencia 2 x week, Split 2 x week, Naples 2 x week and a weekly flight to Rhodes ex BHX all commence late June 2017 these new services just keep stacking up! Link to press release Monarch launches new flights for summer 2017 from Birmingham Airport - Monarch Blog (http://blog.monarch.co.uk/monarch-launches-new-flights-for-summer-2017-from-birmingham-airport/?utm_source=t.co&utm_medium=referral)
Daza

[FQTLSteve]

SMS received from Monarch 20 mins ago new routes from BHX to include Valencia and Split.

[canberra97]

FQTLSteve

Already stated by Daza one post before you!

[GayFriendly]

Great news about this latest expansion from ZB and shows an even stronger commitment to BHX - it is easy to forget they operate to a fair few key European capitals from BHX now as well as some major secondary cities. I think NAP in particular will do well as it offers a nice holiday option to combine with Rome.


The one Spanish city I personally would like to see served from BHX is Seville. FR are starting this from EMA in Oct, so come on Monarch - you know you want to!

[chinapattern]

The one Spanish city I personally would like to see served from BHX is Seville. FR are starting this from EMA in Oct, so come on Monarch - you know you want to!


Well I think we can forget Ryanair doing anything spectacular at BHX - Seville is just the latest example of MAG cutting FR a deal and launching routes from MAN and EMA.

[GayFriendly]

chinapattern - I have long given up on FR doing anything spectacular at BHX - but being fair to them, last year and S17 have both seen a number of new (or re-introduced) routes and frequency increases on others to give the biggest number of weekly flights this summer they have had at BHX for a long time. So, we have to be happy they are still at BHX and not stagnating completely as they did for a year or two. I think the arrival of Jet2 has woken them up a bit.


In terms of a launch of 13 new routes in one hit as at EDI this week, well I don't think we will ever see that but I'm fairly sure we will see a couple of new routes in the next 12 months, just like over the last couple of years.


Reported on other threads cuts to Vueling schedules - NCL-BCN, MAN-AMS and EDI-ORY all canned for S17, it is reported due to crewing shortages and in the case of MAN-AMS slot restrictions at AMS. Hopefully their BHX ops will remain intact, including the new ORY route. I flew BHX-ALC-BHX in Jan and the aircraft was about a third full both ways (low season I know but even so). I was very impressed with aircraft and crew both ways, they're a good airline.

[FQTLSteve]

GayFriendly, I've used Vueling ex-BHX to BCN/AGP and AGP-BCN and TFN-AGP, and I agree they are very good. I flew BHX-AGP 07.01.17 and there were only 10pax, but I got talking to the handling agent and he said it was quite normal at that time of year and that it had 155pax on inbound. He said that this was common with most sun destinations and airlines at specific times, so I wouldn't worry too much, on my other VY flights there have always been good loads. I hope they expand at BHX I note that AGP goes x6 weekly from March.

[nwoody2001]

I believe APG remain at 3x weekly throughout summer, the other routes are via BCN when they go from 3x weekly to 5x weekly in march!

[BAladdy]

At IAG's last Capital Markets Day back in November, the boss of VY stated that there are some markets that VY want to expand in so they will set up a route they will operate it for a certain period of time. If after that period of time they route fails to be profitable it will be discontinued. Think that's what happened with the routes dropped by VY across the network in recent days.

[ATNotts]

At IAG's last Capital Markets Day back in November, the boss of VY stated that there are some markets that VY want to expand in so they will set up a route they will operate it for a certain period of time. If after that period of time they route fails to be profitable it will be discontinued. Think that's what happened with the routes dropped by VY across the network in recent days.
That's pretty well what all the so-called lo-co carriers do, which is why FlyBe find themselves lambasted for opening a route, then closing it at short notice.

The days of giving a route 2 years to develop are long gone.

[OltonPete]

nwoody2001

I believe you are right re BCN and it has now been reduced to 3 a week all March and all Aoril except Easter Week. It then goes 5 a week in May as planned and then Daily June onwards.

Alicante also appears to have been cut early season with April showing twice weekly Monday and Friday with Wednesday delayed until May.

No change to AGP - 3 a week all summer and Tenerife 2 a week.

Orly seems to be the same as first released 3 in April and 4 in May and 6 a week by the third week in June.

The Malaga and Alicante loads over winter are basically backed up by what FQTLSteve has said.


[B]BMI Regional

Graz already increased with a second Monday service starting 13 March and a Thursday service. NUE and GOT on course for 8 May.

Flybe Preveza

Finally found this with a bit of guidance and good to see even if prices are eye-watering. However the summer schedule flights still a bit odd with the even Milan showing as "full" which is fair enough for time changes but for a month? Jersey schedule still odd with all 3 departures before 14.20 and two within 45 minutes and last inbound DUS 19.05 - you have to worry.

Pete

[BHX5DME]

Only words but good to hear

http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/west...continued-support-for-birmingham-airport.html (http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidlands/news/746077-us-airline-pledges-continued-support-for-birmingham-airport.html)

Bob Schumacher (left), United’s managing director sales – UK & Ireland, said Birmingham was an important destination for the airline and it had no intention of abandoning it like its rival had.

“United is proud to have served Birmingham Airport for almost two decades, and we thank all of our customers who have chosen to fly with us during this time,” he said.

“Birmingham is an important airport for us and we think that with the onset of the Midlands Engine then it is only going to grow in prominence.

“The West Midlands is such an important part of the UK economy and the ability of businesses in the region to have good access to the United States is vital. Our non-stop service offers customers in the Midlands access not only to New York City but also to hundreds of other destinations throughout the Americas.”

[BHX5DME]

BHX Close to a getting a Chinese service ??

British regional airports go on the hunt for direct China flights - Chinadaily.com.cn (http://m.chinadaily.com.cn/en/2017-02/21/content_28277866.htm)

[rutankrd]

Utter fluff piece with absolutely no evidence of any near/pending new flights.

Its hardly new news of the desires of both BHX and EDI Airports on this matter is it ?

Its also rather demeaning when read in full as said journalist quoted

"Airports such as Edinburgh, Birmingham and Manchester are not hubs, so it's very difficult to convince airlines to fly direct into their region. They have to rely on local traffic rather than transfers and the local market may not be big enough."

They are plain wrong on this when looking at CAPA numbers !

And already misses to success of both Cathay and Hainan from Manchester in particular -AND the fact substantial traffic is FROM the Eastern end whilst the transfers new also largely of the Eastern end

[ATNotts]

Utter fluff piece with absolutely no evidence of any near/pending new flights.

Its hardly new news of the desires of both BHX and EDI Airports on this matter is it ?

Its also rather demeaning when read in full as said journalist quoted

"Airports such as Edinburgh, Birmingham and Manchester are not hubs, so it's very difficult to convince airlines to fly direct into their region. They have to rely on local traffic rather than transfers and the local market may not be big enough."

They are plain wrong on this when looking at CAPA numbers !

And already misses to success of both Cathay and Hainan from Manchester in particular -AND the fact substantial traffic is FROM the Eastern end whilst the transfers new also largely of the Eastern end
I wouldn't agree entirely that it's complete fluff.

The article does say that BHX is in negotiation with a Chinese carrier - doesn't say which, and you wouldn't expect it to, and we don't know, not should we, whether those negotiations have gone beyond sharing a glass of bubbly on an exhibition stand!

I'm always slightly cautious when comments are made by this, that or the other academic. Not to say that we shouldn't listen to experts - which is fashionable these days, but there are so many academics who claim to be experts, you just don't know how expert or influential they really are.

Fingers crossed it's more than froth.

[ssflyer]

In case you have not picked this up, this video shows how hairy Doris was at BHX
Funny that everything ,large and small, got in except the Qatar 787 which went flyabout over East Anglia...
https://youtu.be/fdi6cHeqcEE
SS

[FQTLSteve]

Interested in hearing views of the new Ryanair base at FRA, note that they've chosen MAN to go against LH and not BHX as well...given that they are the only two UK airports where this exists (ex-LHR obviously) I can understand other UK points with no LH service......any thoughts? I'm not sure I'd want to see any attack on LH service at either.

[chaps1954]

I don`t think it will cause LH much lost sleep as most of their business is either flexible return or
connecting whereas RYR tends to gain new business

[inOban]

FQTLSteve LH also fly to EDI, which presumably why Fr have chosen GLA. But FR must be looking for some business traffic, otherwise they might have chosen LPL?

[FQTLSteve]

Hi InOban yep I knew that, what I meant was that LH fly 4 Daily all year round as they do at MAN so it's quite different to the EDI service plus 3x Daily to MUC as well. If they were looking at business traffic why did they not include BHX then a far bigger market than either GLA or EDI? I think chaps1954 is probably right LH carries a lot of business and connecting pax so very different model.

[inOban]

Frankfurt is the financial centre of Germany, so it is logical that it has links to other financial centres such as Edinburgh. It makes more sense for our remaining industrial areas to be linked to the industrial areas of Germany such as DUS.

[hammerb32]

Frankfurt is the financial centre of Germany, so it is logical that it has links to other financial centres such as Edinburgh. It makes more sense for our remaining industrial areas to be linked to the industrial areas of Germany such as DUS.

You do realise Deutsche Bank's main UK base is in Brum?

[BHX5DME]

And HSBC Retail Bank will have its HQ in Brum in soon

[FQTLSteve]

Another new airline at BHX. FlyOne of Moldova will commence three weekly service to Chisinau using A319 from June 2017.

[chaps1954]

Very strange one that, not sure I can see that lasting

[FQTLSteve]

chaps1954 I thought exactly the same myself but it's on the BHX website and latest news with all the press details etc. Time will tell.

[GayFriendly]

This has actually been bookable for quite a few months now - but it's only this week BHX put the press release out. I agree it's a strange one but one can only hope they've done their research and the demand is there. I hope they don't join the BHX failed oddball airlines gallery - with Mahan, Aerosvit, Armavia, Krygyzstan, Air Slovakia and so on....

[ATNotts]

This has actually been bookable for quite a few months now - but it's only this week BHX put the press release out. I agree it's a strange one but one can only hope they've done their research and the demand is there. I hope they don't join the BHX failed oddball airlines gallery - with Mahan, Aerosvit, Armavia, Krygyzstan, Air Slovakia and so on....
It's a bit unfair to include Mahan in the "rogues gallery" as they were forced out by politics rather than by failure to capture a market.

[chaps1954]

Thought they had a few safety issues as well

Ian

[tubby linton]

Mahan had this incident at BHX https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5422f806ed915d1374000691/7-2007_F-OJHI.pdf