Route Development & Rumours

[HPsauce]

We badly need North Atlantic routes back. Fingers crossed then, but i fear the usual suspects will be in with their bids, i.e. LGW, MAN etc.

 

[Nethercote2019]

I personally would love icelandair to come back...
Nors/Norwegian 2 ? What are they going to do differ this time for it to be a success ?

 

[LichfieldBlue]

The article did say they’ve been able to lease 7 former Norwegian 787s at half of their normal lease costs so maybe they’re onto something, starting ops in September

 

[jfy1999]

I’ve just read an article about Norse Atlantic Airways a “new” low cost carrier born out of the demise of Norwegian’s long haul network. Maybe one to watch with interest

We badly need North Atlantic routes back. Fingers crossed then, but i fear the usual suspects will be in with their bids, i.e. LGW, MAN etc.

They have already mentioned LGW is the main priority. BHX was rumoured to be getting Norwegian long haul back when they got the 737 MAX but we all know how that turned out

So I’m not going to hold my breath unless we hear something straight from the Norse’s mouth.

(couldn’t resist, sorry)

 

[LichfieldBlue]

I wonder if an Orlando or Fort Lauderdale a couple of times a week would be feasible?

 

[IanFarquharson]

I wonder if an Orlando or Fort Lauderdale a couple of times a week would be feasible?

Not going to happen !

 

[Coathanger16]

Sorry but I can't see any US routes launching to BHX this side of 2025 (or even 2030). The days of BHX getting wide bodies "across the pond" are long since over, and the big 3 US airlines aren't getting any A321LR/XLR delivered until 2022/23/24 respectively. BHX won't be near the top of their list I'm sure.

JetBlue will go after the London market first, then most likely branch off to The North/Scotland before looking to BHX - 5 years away minimum IMO.

Can't see any other US airlines going into long haul, and I doubt there'll be anything from this side starting either.

Unfortunately, bar maybe TUI to a new Caribbean destination, I just can't see BHX getting any new long haul routes in the next 5 years.

On a more positive note, Wizz opened bases in Milan (MXP) and Larnaca at the same time (or were at least announced at the same time). With Wizz having just launched LCA - BHX, hopefully MXP will appear soon as well.

 

[mullion]

Following the comments this morning re the virus in Europe I very much doubt there will be any european holidays this summer from anywhere in UK

 

[Nethercote2019]

I agree unfortunately, It’s not looking good at the moment for international travel ...
But lets hope for flights to NQY anyway
Also i do remember as a kid we had flights to Bournemouth a couple of times a week a dan air 748 ? I was very intrigued as they often used to unload pax without stopping the engines !!!
Them we’re the days

 

[HPsauce]

I agree unfortunately, It’s not looking good at the moment for international travel ...
But lets hope for flights to NQY anyway
Also i do remember as a kid we had flights to Bournemouth a couple of times a week a dan air 748 ? I was very intrigued as they often used to unload pax without stopping the engines !!!
Them we’re the days

That's quite right about Dan Air. HS748 used on what they marketed as a 'bus stop' route. From BHX it carried on to MAN and further on to NCL if i remember correctly. Advertised as a 10 minute turnaround.

 

[Coathanger16]

Following the comments this morning re the virus in Europe I very much doubt there will be any european holidays this summer from anywhere in UK

The summers still quite a long way off.

Schools don't break up for the summer for another 4 months - 4 months ago was the end of November, before we had our surge in cases.

With much of Europe now heading into lockdown (although Spain and Portugal have around the same infection level that we do), I doubt international travel will restart in May, but it would still be possible for a late summer (August/September) rebound for travel.

The comments about no international travel were made in regards to concern about importing new strains. I think we all know now that Covid will be around for good now, and it will mutate into new strains yearly. If we shut borders every time a new strain appears, we'd never open them. From detecting a new strain, it will take up to 6 months to "tweak" the vaccine to target it. After that it will likely take a minimum of 6 months to give everyone the updated vaccine - so thats a year from detecting a new strain to everyone having protection. Open our borders and a couple weeks later "new strain found. Borders closed" and the cycle starts all over again.

We were told repeatedly that vaccinations are our way out of this. With the government still insisting we'll hit the July target for offering all adults a vaccination, if there is still a need for restrictions after July, then WHAT is our way out of this? Because by definition then it can't be vaccinations.

 

[superking]

Its looking like we will have a covid jab every year. The covid jab will be added to the flu jab.For the flu jab there is 5 different things mixed in with it,so the covid bit added will be a good thing.

 

[mullion]

Coathanger16 The UK is not the problem it is the likes of France, Germany even if they are going to Spain and mix with the British some will get through

 

[Coathanger16]

Coathanger16 The UK is not the problem it is the likes of France, Germany even if they are going to Spain and mix with the British some will get through

So the assumption is that even though we might close our borders to France, Germany, etc, other countries won't?

 

[Seasider]

Not if they are in the EU.

 

[Coathanger16]

Not if they are in the EU.

EU countries closed their borders to each other last year and still do I believe.

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there all, just been reading in a Sunday newspaper that the administrator of flybe are trying to win a legal situation, to allow the airline to become insolvent, at present, although the caa revoked their licence to fly, its licence is still valid apparently, which means if it wins this legal situation about bankruptcy to become solvent, it will be a first airline to reamerge from administrator and trade again, what a story that will be to get back in and continue back in the domestic market.. AndyC

 

[HPsauce]

Flypop a British-Asian start up Long haul low cost carrier are looking to start routes from July if Covid allows. They are looking at Amritsar and Ahmedabad initially, and are looking for good deals from LGW, STN, BHX and EMA. LHR is ruled out on high costs. Up to 10 wide body aircraft will be leased, with 2 initially. Further aims are to serve New York, Toronto, Chicago, Puna, Calcutta, Goa and The Caribbean and Africa.
Let's hope that BHX make a good offer and this gets off the ground. Time will tell.

 

[andrew.clarkson]

That's up to bhx management not to mess it up, long haul and transatlantic is what Birmingham Airport needs....AndyC

 

[IanFarquharson]

That's up to bhx management not to mess it up, long haul and transatlantic is what Birmingham Airport needs....AndyC

Why do you think BHX Management would 'mess it up' ?