Primera Air

[rollo]

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

Yes I am, I am, I am, I am.

 

[Ray Finkle]

According to the anna aero analysis Washington is the 7th largest unserved market from Birmingham, incidentally Chicago is 5th, sandwiched between SFO (4th) and LAX (6th).

I could see Washington doing very well over the summer months but I'm not sure about there being a year round demand. As others have said, Baltimore could also be an option for travellers heading on to Philadelphia which could boost numbers. It may also have the added advantage of being cheaper to operate into than Dulles. Whether Chicago would be a better option than Washington I guess is up to Primera to decide.

I'd better not get started on Orlando as it's Friday and I want to enjoy the weekend.

 

[58terminus]

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.

Probably not.Mind you if they started a Moscow route as well with with good transit times it might work for a couple of years

 

[Ianbutty]

Probably not.Mind you if they started a Moscow route as well with with good transit times it might work for a couple of years

Washington to BHX to Moscow. Great for Trump and Putin followed by the FBI and Mueller. Should be a winner.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Primera have been mentioned in quite a few articles recently aimed at travellers from Philadelphia.

Although the airline isn't flying out of Philly, Newark's proximity to the city – about 90 minutes away by car and roughly two hours with Amtrak – makes it a viable option for Philly-area travelers.

http://www.phillyvoice.com/philly-travelers-could-soon-fly-europe-99/

 

[Ray Finkle]

It seems as if Primera may be planning ORD and MCO when the A321LR arrives.

Both would be most welcome from Birmingham

 

[Jerry]

It seems as if Primera may be planning ORD and MCO when the A321LR arrives.

Both would be most welcome from Birmingham

Will the LR have the range for Florida?

 

[IanFarquharson]

Looks like the Primera advertising is going well and BHX fully behind what could be our real opportunity to at last fill those gaps to destinations across the pond.
One casualty of Primera looks to be Icelandair who were not happy with the limelight going to Primera.
I really believe that the operation could lead into Primera becoming a major player at BHX in the near future.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Will the LR have the range for Florida?

It appears so.

The article linked below suggests that the LR could do Miami to Buenos Aires which is 3829 nautical miles. Birmingham to Orlando is 3710 nautical miles and Birmingham to Chicago 3366 nautical miles.

Florida may well be towards the outer limits of range but it appears as if it could be doable, notwithstanding other influencing factors such as winds etc.

https://airwaysmag.com/industry/analysis-looking-at-potential-routes-for-the-airbus-a321lr/

 

[Jerry]

It appears so.

The article linked below suggests that the LR could do Miami to Buenos Aires which is 3829 nautical miles. Birmingham to Orlando is 3710 nautical miles and Birmingham to Chicago 3366 nautical miles.

Florida may well be towards the outer limits of range but it appears as if it could be doable, notwithstanding other influencing factors such as winds etc.

https://airwaysmag.com/industry/analysis-looking-at-potential-routes-for-the-airbus-a321lr/

I'd guess on days that the headwinds are strong they could look at stopping at Shannon for fuel.
MCO could be interesting with the LR version as it could potentially open up smaller markets as well without having the cost of a wide body.

 

[Coathanger16]

I'd guess on days that the headwinds are strong they could look at stopping at Shannon for fuel.
MCO could be interesting with the LR version as it could potentially open up smaller markets as well without having the cost of a wide body.

Depending on what yield they would manage to achieve, I expect limiting the load would be preferable to sometimes stopping at an airport on the way to refuel - bear in mind the latter isn't free either...

 

[Ianbutty]

I'd guess on days that the headwinds are strong they could look at stopping at Shannon for fuel.
MCO could be interesting with the LR version as it could potentially open up smaller markets as well without having the cost of a wide body.

Or buy a longer range plane.

I agree with Ian. I think Primera will be a major player. To BHX what Thomas Cook is to MAN. Gap filler

 

[IanFarquharson]

I suspect they may get A330s

 

[Brum X]

It would be really great if Primera started Chicago and Orlando (SFB/MCO) or Miami

Only 5 months to go for the big Primera Air launch, cant wait.

 

[Ray Finkle]

A daily Barcelona is now in the drop down menu starting Oct 1st but only showing until Dec 9th 2018 and an error message appears when you try and book. Interestingly Palma now finishes at the end of September so it could be that it switches to Barcelona for the winter?

Malaga is now bookable through to Dec 9th, still daily.

One to keep an eye on.

 

[nwoody2001]

Indeed ...I’m hoping they will be releasing the TATL winter schedule soon also. Be interesting to see what they have in store as all routes to have been announced as year round?

Interesting times ...BCN could also do with some summer capacity. Only RYR and VY fly direct atm and one day a week there is only 1x flight a day

 

[Brum X]

Indeed ...I’m hoping they will be releasing the TATL winter schedule soon also. Be interesting to see what they have in store as all routes to have been announced as year round?

Interesting times ...BCN could also do with some summer capacity. Only RYR and VY fly direct atm and one day a week there is only 1x flight a day

How times have changed in quite a short space of time, this time last year I was thinking BCN had over capacity and now we have under capacity. And I suppose with the current political situation in BCN, its going to be a uncertain period in BCN history and could put some travellers off from visiting ?

 

[Brum X]

Interestingly at the moment BCN does not appear on the STN drop down or any other additional destination. As others have said one to watch over the coming days/weeks.

I have a feeling Primera will start BHX-Keflavik. Im sure another poster said that Icelandair left BHX because they didn't like all the publicity Primera Air were getting but why would you be annoyed at that if the airline doesn't fly to Keflavik ?

I think BHX could support at least 2 flights per week just for BHX-Keflavik traffic without any USA/Canada connecting flights which Icelandair provided.

 

[IanFarquharson]

If I was a betting man I would say WOW to start KEF

 

[Ray Finkle]

Nothing is yet bookable past early Dec but as it stands STN will see both their ALC and AGP flights extend into winter.

What's interesting about Primera is the frequencies. New routes to Malaga and Palma both come straight in at daily and now it looks like a winter Barcelona also coming in at daily. They could have opted for a 4/3 split and had ALC, AGP, PMI and BCN from both BHX and STN but I'm sure that they have their reasons why it's being done this way.

Not that I'm complaining in any way about daily flights as it leaves and interesting prospect for S19 as to whether BCN continues alongside PMI and AGP, meaning another aircraft.


On social media Primera mentioned to someone that W18/19 long haul would be on sale early in the new year so hopefully not long now.