Route Development & Rumours

[Brum X]

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.

No thanks HPsauce, lets stick with Air India, at least they have stayed around unlike these start up asian airlines.

BHX has had it's fingers burnt too many times, I'd rathger stick with who you know.

Up to 10 wide body aircraft, Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

 

[thunderchild]

FlyPop?!?! FlyPoop more like! Seriously, who comes up with these ludicrous ideas?

 

[KJAY 786]

I do hope FLYPOP will fly from Birmingham International Airport demand is high they also have Pakistan flights planned aswell as Bangladesh aswell so these will be a very successful airline to USA and CANADA as-well from Birmingham UK fingers crossed. (Hope everyone are ok Keep Safe)

 

[Ray Finkle]

Flywho.......Air Sylhet.......Hellenic Imperial.......Africaada...... space for one more?

Agree with Brum X, lets get Air India back up to a daily DEL/ATQ and then, in time, add BHX-BOM-AMD. In the future if Indigo and/or Spicejet would like to join the party then so be it

In the meantime I hope that the RD guys are not getting distracted and are working hard on MXP, BER, HAM, STR, HAJ, KEF and the countless other routes that are un- or under-served.

 

[Matt995]

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

actually Andrew, I don't agree, what the airport actually needs is good connections to the major European cities, give me Oslo, Helsinki, Gothenburg, Reykjavik, Moscow, Kiev, Tashkent, Berlin, Hamburg, Hanover, Seville, Milan, Lisbon, Lyon, Luxembourg, Toulouse, the list is end less, once or twice daily flights would be far more important that a daily transatlantic flight, with half the seats empty, and very little demand to the USA for example.

We need to buld up the airports short haul routes over the next few years as priority to get the airport back on its feet, and get the passengers back, can you really see demand at present to New York, Chicago, even Toronto at present daily from Birmingham? Aviation has changed since the 1990's/2000's, demand it not their for these flights, even the US carriers into Heathrow will cut back, and use smaller aircraft to save costs. The world has changed, and airports have to adapt to stay competitive!

 

[Matty_85]

actually Andrew, I don't agree, what the airport actually needs is good connections to the major European cities, give me Oslo, Helsinki, Gothenburg, Reykjavik, Moscow, Kiev, Tashkent, Berlin, Hamburg, Hanover, Seville, Milan, Lisbon, Lyon, Luxembourg, Toulouse, the list is end less, once or twice daily flights would be far more important that a daily transatlantic flight, with half the seats empty, and very little demand to the USA for example.

We need to buld up the airports short haul routes over the next few years as priority to get the airport back on its feet, and get the passengers back, can you really see demand at present to New York, Chicago, even Toronto at present daily from Birmingham? Aviation has changed since the 1990's/2000's, demand it not their for these flights, even the US carriers into Heathrow will cut back, and use smaller aircraft to save costs. The world has changed, and airports have to adapt to stay competitive!

I think we need both equally! The demand is definitely here in the region for direct US connections as long as the price/ flight times are good and it’s not a crack pot airline like Primera or whatever next comes along like Flypoop. Just because transatlantic won’t happen in the next few years doesn’t mean energy/time shouldn’t be invested now in persuading airlines to serve BHX

 

[Jerry]

Realistically any flights from regional airports to the USA are a long time away.

 

[Matty_85]

I’m not disputing it’s a long time off but when only 5/6 years ago we had twice daily flights to NYC I think it’s definitely worth investing resources in regaining all lost routes not just prioritising/focusing on the European ones

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there Matty_85, I agree you look at Birmingham Airports European destinations, not as big as you think, but could be better, no limoge, poitier, or any other small Airports that help build the small to medium size market in Europe, but of course I forgot, we are not now in Europe, but when you look at our domestic routes in the UK from Birmingham Airport, not very good, so how many airlines fly to other UK airports from Birmingham, easyJet do a couple of routes from Birmingham to Scotland, thsts it....AndyC

 

[kfs]

Realistically any flights from regional airports to the USA are a long time away.

I read much online about how the A321XLR (and the 737 Max if the resumption of flying proceeds without further issues?) will change transatlantic flying, but I fear that in the first instance it may lead to retirement of older widebodies and the 321 being used on major airport routes due to reduced demand post-Covid. Perhaps in due course if demand returns to 2019 levels we may see routes being added, fingers crossed.

 

[Coathanger16]

Hi there Matty_85, I agree you look at Birmingham Airports European destinations, not as big as you think, but could be better, no limoge, poitier, or any other small Airports that help build the small to medium size market in Europe, but of course I forgot, we are not now in Europe, but when you look at our domestic routes in the UK from Birmingham Airport, not very good, so how many airlines fly to other UK airports from Birmingham, easyJet do a couple of routes from Birmingham to Scotland, thsts it....AndyC

Erm Andy, where else exactly in the UK do you think BHX should have flights to?

As of this summer, this will be the domestic and common travel area network from BHX:

Belfast City
Guernsey
Jersey
Belfast Int.
Edinburgh
Glasgow
Aberdeen
Inverness
Isle of Man
Cork
Dublin
Shannon

Several posters have mentioned Newquay which would be welcome, but other than that I can't think of any other unserved viable destinations, and I think our domestic network is actually very good.

Airlines that fly domestically from BHX include Aer Lingus, Aurigny, Blue Islands, easyJet, Jet2 & Loganair

Also as a pedantic side point, the UK is still very much in Europe unless continental drift has exponentially accelerated since I last checked! It is the European Union the UK is no longer a part of. Other non-EU European countries have just fine aviation networks (Norway and Switzerland being prime examples).

 

[KJAY 786]

It would be ideal and beneficial with global connections if a a airline like British Airways same as Manchester start a London Heathrow flights to link the world - no more to say except stay Safe everyone i do care Birmingham international airport the most beautiful hub in UK

 

[JENNYJET]

We are frequently told on here that there is little likelihood of a BA presence at BHX, a Cold reality of past failure and big business. We had a good domestic offering but they went bust leaving BHX with a white stick looking to fill a gaping hole that refuses to be filled. Is it so hard to replicate other successful regional airports both here and overseas?

I earnestly hope BHX have been using the current hiatus to plan for or adapt to the new regime of air transportation. There can be no excuse for a continuation of the drift of airlines and routes to other airports. I say these things because I care so much that BHX succeeds!

 

[rollo]

The only realistic prospect I can see to replicate the BA/Maesk/Flybe networks is in a word EasyJet in combination with a large commitment of support from BHX. The USA is really a pipe dream at present except with maybe a glimmer for Orlando.

Progress is being made but only scratches the surface in these difficult times.

 

[LichfieldBlue]

It would be ideal and beneficial with global connections if a a airline like British Airways same as Manchester start a London Heathrow flights to link the world - no more to say except stay Safe everyone i do care Birmingham international airport the most beautiful hub in UK

There’s no way BA are going to offer LHR flights. As ever geographically it just doesn’t make sense.

 

[LichfieldBlue]

The only realistic prospect I can see to replicate the BA/Maesk/Flybe networks is in a word EasyJet in combination with a large commitment of support from BHX. The USA is really a pipe dream at present except with maybe a glimmer for Orlando.

Progress is being made but only scratches the surface in these difficult times.

I suggested earlier about the possibility of increased MCO flights or Fort Lauderdale for the cruise market but others gave the idea short shrift.

 

[HPsauce]

BA are not interested in BHX. They burnt their bridges years ago and Flybe who took most of their routes on, have gone for good. Our only chance for a decent range of European destinations lies with Easyjet, Wizz or to a limited level Jet2. Otherwise we are looking at overseas based airlines to include BHX in their plans in the future.

 

[rollo]

I suggested earlier about the possibility of increased MCO flights or Fort Lauderdale for the cruise market but others gave the idea short shrift.

I'm sure TUI announced that all UK to Florida flights would be going to Melbourne on the East Coast to allow more convenient connections to their in house cruises and BHX would increase to 3weekly hence my glimmer of hope comment, then came covid.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Anadolujet - Antalya and Dalaman

Corendon - Antalya and Dalaman

Eastern - Gibraltar

easyjet - Amsterdam

Eurowings - Palma

Jet2 - Amsterdam, Paris, La Rochelle, Chambery, Athens and Barcelona

Loganair - Isle of Man

Ryanair - Poznan and Rhodes

Wizz Air - Larnaca


I make that 17 new services announced in the last few weeks and it sure is great to see the likes of Athens and Gibraltar back.

Wouldn't it be nice if one of those added even more very soon?

 

[IanFarquharson]

Anadolujet - Antalya and Dalaman

Corendon - Antalya and Dalaman

Eastern - Gibraltar

easyjet - Amsterdam

Eurowings - Palma

Jet2 - Amsterdam, Paris, La Rochelle, Chambery, Athens and Barcelona

Loganair - Isle of Man

Ryanair - Poznan and Rhodes

Wizz Air - Larnaca


I make that 17 new services announced in the last few weeks and it sure is great to see the likes of Athens and Gibraltar back.

Wouldn't it be nice if one of those added even more very soon?

Before Easter - maybe