Primera Air

[nwoody2001]

Great and encouraging article....

 

[flymetothemoon]

You can say that again!!

 

[thunderchild]

I’m always a little dubious of such articles and statements; a venture such as this is hardly going to release anything saying “bookings are below what we expected” are they?

 

[nwoody2001]

Of course not, but if not posed the question directly, why say a statement at all?

Don’t get me wrong, without the stats to back anything up, statements should be held with a certain degree of scepticism, but equally, if information direct from the horses mouth isn’t good enough, what’s the point of having the horse at all?! #alternativefacts #fakenews

 

[User001]

I suppose with Icelandair stating via social media that they were not pulling the Birmingham route, and then the next day confirming the route had indeed been pulled, I guess it’s that sort of thing that makes people sceptical.

As said, regardless of the question was asked or not, an airline is going to ‘big itself up’, it’s hardly going to say ‘sales are not quite where we expect them to be yet’ when they are trying to build confidence of the route.

 

[Aviador]

I think this isn't necessarily a just Birmingham problem. I believe flights across the pond are under threat from a number of regional airports. We know just by looking back that these kind of flights are always the first to go when the economy falters. The continuing uncertainty surrounding Brexit is having an effect whatever the eventual outcome is. Let's face it, nobody like uncertainty.

As for Primera, they will have little or no competition from BHX and as @Seasider has pointed out, people from further afield such as Yorkshire will be more than willing to travel to Birmingham if they can fly cheaper than from their usual alternative airport.

 

[nwoody2001]

I suppose with Icelandair stating via social media that they were not pulling the Birmingham route, and then the next day confirming the route had indeed been pulled, I guess it’s that sort of thing that makes people sceptical.

As said, regardless of the question was asked or not, an airline is going to ‘big itself up’, it’s hardly going to say ‘sales are not quite where we expect them to be yet’ when they are trying to build confidence of the route.

Hold on ...

Before we get into the world of silliness here, can we please clarify that a direct quote from an airlines vice president and chief commercial officer offers greater weight than a call centre operater posting over twitter/Social Media?

 

[User001]

How is it a world of silliness?

I appriciate you want to remain upbeat Woody, and there is nothing wrong with that, but people are allowed a difference in opinion you know, without calling their opinions ‘silliness’.

A social media centre is an official source of info, issuing press releases and advising customers of changes, they have to stick to the company line for info. A quote from a CEO is also official, but, is also a sound byte, a fluff piece and a means of gaining confidence for routes.

As said, a CEO is NOT going to state if thisngs are not going well, it’s just not going to happen. Whether things are going well or not is irrelevant, they may be, they may not be. But if a route was struggling behind the scenes, I would not trust everything that comes out of a CEO’s mouth until financials are released.

As an example, shall I direct you to Powdair. Days before they pulled the plug on W17, they were as positive as anything, and even pulling the plug, they said they had a new backer. They are not going to admit they messed up, are they?

 

[nwoody2001]

How is it a world of silliness?

I appriciate you want to remain upbeat Woody, and there is nothing wrong with that, but people are allowed a difference in opinion you know, without calling their opinions ‘silliness’.

A social media centre is an official source of info, issuing press releases and advising customers of changes, they have to stick to the company line for info. A quote from a CEO is also official, but, is also a sound byte, a fluff piece and a means of gaining confidence for routes.

As said, a CEO is NOT going to state if thisngs are not going well, it’s just not going to happen. Whether things are going well or not is irrelevant, they may be, they may not be. But if a route was struggling behind the scenes, I would not trust everything that comes out of a CEO’s mouth until financials are released.

As an example, shall I direct you to Powdair. Days before they pulled the plug on W17, they were as positive as anything, and even pulling the plug, they said they had a new backer. They are not going to admit they messed up, are they?

Im sorry User001, if you refer back to my original post, I clearly suggested there is always spin, and without the stats to back statements up, an element of scepticism is always likely...

But alas, comparing a virtual airline which is yet to fly a commercial flight with Primera, a company of over 300 employees flying to 70 destinations, it seems my warning fell on deaf ears, welcome to the world of silliness!

Anyway, back to Primera.

 

[User001]

Well aren’t you a pleasant soul tonight Woody.

What’s even funnier is that you are actually, in a roundabout way, agreeing with me in my view that people are sceptical, it’s just that you see, to have taken issue as to one of the reasons why people ,at be sceptical.

But hey ho, Christmas is around the corner so you may just lighten up in time.

 

[Aviador]

Please conclude the discussion there guys and agree to disagree or whatever you need to do to move on.

 

[finchy168]

https://www.forbes.com/sites/martin...l-for-next-transatlantic-routes/#1f8410ab7fa3
Another article on some possible North American routes

 

[Brum X]

Washington would be a great coup for BHX, still not sure about Montreal though

 

[Coathanger16]

Washington would be a great coup for BHX, still not sure about Montreal though

From the interviews that Primera have done it sounds as though Washington is more likely than Montreal.

As you say, not sure about Montreal - though I think if Primera try Montreal and it doesn't do well, they won't hesitate to pull the plug on Montreal and give somewhere else a go rather than fly to one less destination.

 

[DaveBham]

I just hope when we get new routes they are sustainable ones.
For example - why are we not flying several times a week to Florida?!! Someone with the right planes and an understanding of tourism is going to make a killing on this route.
And what about Las Vegas? I can't stand the place, but it's a year round popular destination for weddings, stag do's, not to mention connections to neighbouring Arizona and the various National Parks. You would fill planes no problem. All it takes is an operator with the right business model.

Washington? I'd really like to go, and would definitely use the route if it came up. Would it be sustainable? I'm not so sure.

 

[Seasider]

You can only assume that the reason you can't fly BHX-MCO several times a week, is because no one has the right planes or an understanding of tourism!
To be fair, there are probably quite a few reasons, but no one is prepared to say. It's a funny business flying passengers and making money.

 

[User001]

I think Primera need to wait until widebody ops become possible.

Washington will struggle if they launch it. On the other hand, Orlando, Las Vegas and possibly Cancun (The only issue with CUN is that it’s more of a full package type of destination) could do well.

 

[Jerry]

You can only assume that the reason you can't fly BHX-MCO several times a week, is because no one has the right planes or an understanding of tourism!
To be fair, there are probably quite a few reasons, but no one is prepared to say. It's a funny business flying passengers and making money.

Well TUI do Orlando once a week so i'm surprised they haven't increased it to twice weekly.

 

[rollo]

Well TUI do Orlando once a week so i'm surprised they haven't increased it to twice weekly.

Jerry, I am more than amazed at only one rotation a week summer only more like gobsmacked/amazed /dumbfounded etc, a while back I pointed out that MAN will have approx 25 departures a week to Orlando next summer about the same as BHX will have over the whole year given the catchment areas of both cities it's laughable.
The airlines that do have the right equipment ie TUI, Thomas Cook, Virgin and Norwegian have a vested interest in the current ops at Gatwick and Manchester and I can't see them changing while people are prepared to travel up the M6 or down the M42.

I feel like a stuck record on this subject but their must be an opportunity for someone.
Jet2 anyone?

 

[BHXsupporter]

I feel like a stuck record on this subject but their must be an opportunity for someone.

No you're not, no you're not, no you're not, no you're not