Birmingham Airport - General Thread

[Aceshigh]

And in other road news

I know corporate punters who travel from Telford to Manchester but they don't use the M6 at all.

At least 2 reliable fast roads usually clear that run you up to Whitchurch then the M56 in 1hour 15 at most.

20 min difference to the toll.

Plus as has been said most large companies that have their main HQ in London tend to have their next base in Manchester and will funnel traffic through either LHR BUT increasingly through Manchester on corporate tickets.

 

[Jon Dempsey]

The M6 between Birmingham and Manchester is just a god awful motorway.

Seems to have never ending roadworks with a 50mph limit, and most days, all it takes is for a pigeon to sneeze and the thing grinds to a halt.

In comparason, the M40 is a breeze. It's clear why people see no issue heading down it to LHR from the Birmingham area.

Bloody awful, User. I make the occasional trip to Pendlebury and take the M6 Toll, which is great until it joins the M6 car park.

 

[jfy1999]

The leading WMCA mayoral candidates are divided over the issue of a second BHX runway...what do we think of this? Surely terminal capacity on the existing site is a more pressing issue, certainly more deliverable in the short term?

http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/news/regional-affairs/west-midlands-mayor-candidates-clash-12933395

 

[Ray Finkle]

I'm certainly no expert but I'd say that terminal expansion must be an immediate priority? I also think that taxiway improvements are going to be needed in the near future, along with some new stands.

Long term though the current site just isn't big enough. You may be able to squeeze LGW level pax numbers through the runway but to do that you need LGW sized terminals and the current site just isn't viable. My concern is that the Arden Cross scheme may plough ahead, using up land that could otherwise be used for airport growth, leaving us high and dry in the medium to long term future.

In the short term focus on the current site but I hope that land around the HS2 stop will be earmarked for future airport expansion.

 

[Brummiegem]

The current site is desparately in need of expansion and improvement.There are also still issues with baggage reclaim,the sooner that project is completed the better.
As for the HS2 site,I think we will have to wait for the master plan for news on that.I just wonder though how much land will be given over for the airport to use over there.More importantly,how are the 2 sites going to be linked,and the disruption when work begins.

 

[Coathanger16]

Agree that the priority needs to be terminal capacity on the current site - although this has issues. With regards to space on the current site, I don't think terminal capacity will be a problem - more apron capacity. The image below shows a terminal the size of T5 at Heathrow superimposed on BHX. T5 handles (processes) around 35mppa (comfortably) so would easily be big enough for BHX needs.
View attachment 5021
The problem then is apron capacity. Even now there is problems with not enough parking being available for aircraft, especially in the summer. Even with terminal extensions to allow direct boarding to aircraft at remote stands, new stands will be needed. Whilst some could be created by the fire station (far left of the image above) and over some of the car parks (right of the image above), would this actually provide enough apron capacity for an expanded BHX?

If the answer is no, then where else can BHX expand to? I imagine the developers of Arden Cross wouldn't be happy allocating land to BHX that they'd like to develop but BHX wouldn't necessarily use for years to come.

There have also been rumors circulating the last few days that the Conservatives are considering scrapping HS2 (either wholly or partly) to "pay for Brexit". Is Arden Cross dependent on HS2 or is it just a bonus? If HS2 were to be scrapped, would there be as much of a desire to expand eastwards or may we see a return of the old second runway plans out towards the southwest of the existing site.

Considering the master plan was planned on being published in Spring this year, might we assume that BHX management have ideas in place but want to get views from whomever is elected as Mayor before releasing those plans for consultation?

 

[jfy1999]

From BHX Twitter - the BHX team won the Marketing Award at Routes Europe

 

[Ray Finkle]

From BHX Twitter - the BHX team won the Marketing Award at Routes Europe

Now on the BHX website.

Airlines have awarded Birmingham Airport the Routes Europe 2017 Marketing Award in the 4-20 million passenger category for its marketing activity over the last 12 months.

Stefanie Bowes (Travel Trade & Corporate Relationship Manager, Birmingham Airport), William Pearson (Aviation Director, Birmingham Airport) and Steven Small (Brand Director, Routes) are pictured celebrating Birmingham Airport’s Marketing Award win at the Routes Europe 2017 Marketing Awards, in the 4-20m passenger category.

The awards, voted by a panel of senior airline executives, are an annual event and highly regarded in the aviation industry. They recognise the outstanding marketing services that have supported the launch of new air routes or the development of existing services.

The ceremony held last night (Monday) in Belfast, Northern Ireland, saw the Midlands’ largest airport beat stiff competition from Warsaw Chopin, Budapest, Cologne Bonn, Marseille Provence and Larnaca Int’l Airports in its category.

Paul Kehoe, the Airport’s Chief Executive, said: “I’m delighted for the team on receiving this accolade which has recognised our airline marketing campaigns as well as business development and sales activities over the last year. The team have explored innovative new ways to engage with global audiences through traditional and new marketing channels and they should feel very proud of this award, as do I.”

In 2016, the airport saw a 14.2% increase in passengers and has celebrated more than two years of consecutive monthly record growth. Despite this boom, the airport managed to get more flights in and out on time than any other airport, becoming the world’s most punctual airport in 2016.

Following on from the launch of nine airlines in 2015, last year the airport launched six new carriers – Blue Air, Qatar, CSA, Iberia, Cobalt and Alba Star. So far in 2017, it has welcomed Jet2, bmi regional and has announced British Airways and Fly One, both due to launch this summer.

Steven Small, brand director, Routes, added: “Congratulations to Birmingham Airport on the winning the award. It’s not surprising due to the dedication and enthusiasm of the team, and the creativity and hard work put into the submission.”

https://www.birminghamairport.co.uk...gham-airport-scoops-aviation-marketing-award/

 

[BHXsupporter]

A reward well deserved in my opinion. Who knows what else they are working on but I trust that they are there beavering away on our behalf and on behalf of all in the Midlands and further afield.

 

[Paulsstrange]

Here here well done to one and all and I'm sure the hard work continues...

 

[Butty]

Well done team marketing.

As for a second runway: I agree with ray, terminal and apron space is far more important. Need that abandoned remote pier or expand the exiting pier along to railway. Plus need to grow the old eurohub. Long term, I am not sure the new runway/terminal aligned to HS2 will work if UK Central comes off. Need to think outside the box. I will get me cap on.

 

[David_itl]

Slight indulgence of the General Election here... Lib Democrats "would not allow any new runways to be built in the south-east and will instead concentrate on improving Birmingham and Manchester airports, if they win the General Election."

https://buyingbusinesstravel.com/news/1727223-lib-dems-promise-no-new-runways-uk

 

[jfy1999]

I was just wondering if we could make this thread into a "sticky" so it's easier to find? It can sometimes get pushed a long way down the list or even onto another page if there is lots of interesting airline news, for example.

 

[Ray Finkle]

I was just wondering if we could make this thread into a "sticky" so it's easier to find? It can sometimes get pushed a long way down the list or even onto another page if there is lots of interesting airline news, for example.

Certainly.

It was 'de-stickied' because a sticky thread remains in the same place (at the top) with no real prompt to a new post, other than a change in date, making it easy to miss. Without it being a sticky new posts bring the thread straight to the top of the page.

I'll do it and see how we get on, I can always change it back if people prefer

 

[nwoody2001]

A bit of a random point I appreciate but this screenshot off my phone really does but a few things in perspective with regard to how far BHX has come recently.

In readyness for the Sumer peak, see the screeenshot below showing that 'wave' of canary island flights heading down south at the moment. 8 flights (4x MON, 3x Jet2 and 1x TOM) all took off within an hour of eachother!

Impressive to see!!

 

[Ray Finkle]

It kind of hits home just what Vueling and Norwegian were up against, especially as there is not even anything from Ryanair or Thomas Cook there.

 

[jfy1999]

I wonder if BHX had started discussions with Jet2 by the time Norwegian and Vueling launched their first flights?

I don't know how such things work but if that was the case, could BHX route development have warned Norwegian and Vueling "look, we're in talks with Jet2, if they start BHX it will be a base and they will be most likely to operate the following routes, so you need to take this into account if you're planning new routes out of BHX"? Or would that kind of information be confidential to Jet2?

 

[Seasider]

That information should remain confidential to Jet2.

 

[Ray Finkle]

I wonder if BHX had started discussions with Jet2 by the time Norwegian and Vueling launched their first flights?

BHX were in discussions with Jet2 for around 5 years before they were announced.

Although only those involved in the talks would know for sure I'd imagine that the content of those discussions would remain strictly between BHX and Jet2.

 

[Ray Finkle]

BHX W17 capacity declaration.

https://www.acl-uk.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/BHX-Capacity-Declaration-W17.pdf