We are up to G-RUKM so far so could any of them or they could place more under the G register before they start

The only problem with UK A/C is if anything happens no one can take the a/c whiles EI- and 9H can take over from all crew part from buzz and the UK which minimises delays
 
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We are up to G-RUKM so far so could any of them or they could place more under the G register before they start

The only problem with UK A/C is if anything happens no one can take the a/c whiles EI- and 9H can take over from all crew part from buzz and the UK which minimises delays
Most likley they will be switching over like TUIs planes do
 
Hello All

I have been away from this board for some time but find it awesome. Its actually where we learn about Brum news before it becomes real.

I wanted to get peoples views of why Manchester keeps on winning long haul business compared to BHX. Is it costs are cheaper, better loading, its distance from LHR, bigger catchment etc?

We have Andy street who is doing a great job in making Brum more global and I cannot understand how we still dont have any USA flights, canada or flights to asia / mumbai etc with the large contingent of people wanting to holiday there or do business. This has been proven with the growth of qatar, saudia and emirates so demand is there !!!
 
I think it's mostly geography. Manchester is further up the country and too far for many from Heathrow. That's why BA runs flights from MAN to LHR to feed into its hub.
Personally I will always do whatever it takes not to have a 2 hour drive either end of my flight, which is why although I've been to the USA and numerous other destinations in and outside Europe over the last few years, I haven't actually set foot in Heathrow since 2014. My car will do 70, while a plane will do over 500mph. Heathrow for me makes no sense whatsoever, and nor does Manchester for the same reason. I can't be the only person who thinks this way, and there must be untapped markets here in Brum, that an airline with foresight and deep pockets could capitalise on.
 
I totally agree. I have been flying globally for 20 years and for the last 6 years based in Brum. I dislike going to heathrow or Manchester but flights are so limited from BHX and prices are much higher. Heathrow has so much choice and volume, the lounges are real lounges (Except emirates at BHX), the long haul flights are real business class and not older A380s or 787s (no qsuites etc).

I see BHX management always claiming they are talking so many airlines but apart from Air india and Mid East, there is little progress with any other major airlines. It can't just be down to the LHR being too close factor ... I think they need new negotiators or even subsidies to bring new airlines to the airport. Once things start and as can be seen by load factors, people want to fly. We have a catchment of over 5m in the area alone and HS2 is too far away to rely on that so I think there needs to be some real analysis on why BHX is still not being looked at as the 2nd CITY of the UK !!!!
 
Draw a circle with a radius of 100 miles from LHR then draw one 100 miles from MAN and there is very little overlap. A 100 mile radius circle from BHX overlaps both and unfortunately LHR offers infinitely more choice of frequency and destinations for the catchment area to our south, quite often at a cheaper price.

If I was an airline boss looking for my first UK long haul service outside of London I'd probably go to MAN where I could capture the markets in the whole of the north, rather than BHX where a large part of the catchment area would effectively be competing with my own services at LHR.

It was always said that BHX was an expensive airport to fly from with rumours of higher fees (although that info isn't freely available to just anyone). We now have Wizz Air, a growing presence from Ryanair and an easyjet base coming soon, all airlines that are very shrewd operators so I'm not convinced that fees are an issue, although that kind of commercially sensitive information will only be known by those involved.

I really want that departure lounge extension to start again once the security area has been completed. It's been uncomfortably busy in the main area during the last couple of times I've been through, although T2 and the pier are both much calmer. With 3 easyjet aircraft confirmed and potentially another 2 from Ryanair and a 17th Jet2 for peak season, seating for breakfast could well be at a premium next summer.
 
We've been through BHX twice this Summer, on TUI and Jet2. When you choose the Jet2 flights, it shows flight cost comparisons by toggling different days or airports. Manchester very rarely show as cheaper, so I think Birmingham is competitive for these type of flights at least.
It is true that we overlap the catchment of 2 major airports in MAN and LHR, but it hasn't put off Emirates, Qatar or Saudia. A US connection would be very useful, but it would have to be done properly, with a comfortable aircraft like an A350 or 787 - even a A321NEO would fit the bill nicely. Midlands travellers are just as demanding on quality as anywhere else. The 757's American were using out of BHX were rather tatty to say the least.
 
It is true that we overlap the catchment of 2 major airports in MAN and LHR, but it hasn't put off Emirates, Qatar or Saudia.

When you consider the population within reach of it's central location it would be easy to think that BHX is under performing. Yet when you take into account that a huge chunk of that population is within the catchment area of one of the worlds largest international airports you suddenly realise that BHX isn't doing too badly.

I think BHX is doing okay. The recent loads on Qatar, Saudi and Emirates have been spectacular but it has been the school holidays so we need healthy numbers to continue into winter, if they do then we may see a little more next year.

I think the USA will come but maybe not for a while. I don't follow it myself but I keep hearing that the pound against the dollar is not favorable at the moment for UK based travel to the US so we may need to wait until things level out a bit.

When you choose the Jet2 flights, it shows flight cost comparisons by toggling different days or airports. Manchester very rarely show as cheaper, so I think Birmingham is competitive for these type of flights at least.

I wish it did for me, looking for Feb half term came up £700 cheaper from MAN :(

I did have an early look for Oct 2024 though and MAN was £400 more expensive so swings and roundabouts I guess.
 
We've been through BHX twice this Summer, on TUI and Jet2. When you choose the Jet2 flights, it shows flight cost comparisons by toggling different days or airports. Manchester very rarely show as cheaper, so I think Birmingham is competitive for these type of flights at least.
It is true that we overlap the catchment of 2 major airports in MAN and LHR, but it hasn't put off Emirates, Qatar or Saudia. A US connection would be very useful, but it would have to be done properly, with a comfortable aircraft like an A350 or 787 - even a A321NEO would fit the bill nicely. Midlands travellers are just as demanding on quality as anywhere else. The 757's American were using out of BHX were rather tatty to say the least.
More to do with the seating configs.For example Jet Blue 321Ns would be a perfect fit for BHX. Yet they have a relatively high number of MINT business class seats for a narrow body, probably too many for BHX to fill.
 
The JetBlue A321 LR/XLR is probably too business heavy, but the A321NEO should be okay. They have switched LGW-JFK to the NEO this winter I believe.
 
The problem seems to be that UA and AA see more money currently in outbound tourist flights than in feeding UK regional passengers into their hubs. Until the pound strengthens, I fear that the only hope for UK regional airport US flights lies with UK based airlines.
 
The article linked below is mostly about Birmingham and I'll post it in the Urban Forum for any further discussion about the city region.

This from Mr Barton did stand out for me and thought it worth posting. It's good to see that they are looking to up the lo-co network to enhance the city connections.


The airport is currently working to strengthen routes to European cities, and sees low-cost carriers as a key part of the plan. Ryanair recently set up a base at the regional hub, and more recently easyJet announced it would be parking aircraft at Birmingham, which Barton says is good news for business travellers.

“Of course we’ve got the business make-up. Birmingham is well known for its dense SME profile and at the other end of the scale you’ve got the likes of Goldman Sachs and HSBC. So you couldn’t ask for a better diversity of operations, particularly from a business travel perspective.

“What we want to do is offer almost timetable-less operations for key city connections, where people can almost just turn up, which really suits the business market. We want to make sure that the low-cost network is growing fast to cover those big city pairs,” says Barton.
 
This article and your other one about EasyJet are food for thought. It's better late than never to go claw some passengers back. The figures are quite astonishing so EasyJet landing next year couldn't come too soon or soon enough. It's a great start, but more work is definitely needed in clawing back passengers who go south or north. Just for one instance, my niece was flying to Budapest and lives in Coventry. She went with Wizz from Luton. I asked her why didn't she fly from BHX with Wizzair and the reply was the fares were extortionate from BHX as opposed to Luton. Too often I hear this kind of reply. Another lady from my optician in Coventry (who lives in Birmingham), said she hasn't flown from BHX in years...far too expensive and mostly uses Wizz from Luton and Gatwick. It's something you also touched upon for next year Ray. Hope you got booked up from BHX 😀👌
 
I asked her why didn't she fly from BHX with Wizzair and the reply was the fares were extortionate from BHX as opposed to Luton. Too often I hear this kind of reply. Another lady from my optician in Coventry (who lives in Birmingham), said she hasn't flown from BHX in years...far too expensive and mostly uses Wizz from Luton and Gatwick.

I've lost count of how many people I've spoken to over the years who use Luton when there are flights to the same destinations with Wizz and/or Ryanair from Birmingham. The reason is always the same, it's so much cheaper.

It's good that the airport are aware of it though and trying to do something about the situation. Hopefully they'll be successful although it won't happen overnight.

It's something you also touched upon for next year Ray. Hope you got booked up from BHX

Not booked anything yet. Daughter is doing her GCSE's next year so we may have to wait until the summer for a proper holiday. I'll try and get a weekend somewhere before that though.

It will be from Birmingham but the prices I'm seeing on packages deals may mean we go back to a build your own holiday.
 
Maybe Ryanair might add some more citybreak destinations....like CPH, FCO and CRL et al. Those two extra units gotta go somewhere 🤔

If it's true that they're going after easyjet then I wouldn't be surprised to see Belfast, Berlin and Beauvais, maybe also frequency increases on some of the overlapping sun routes?
 
Typical......instead of starting routes that the airport needs and doesn't have, it just loads up on what it's already got. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing. Do Ryanair really think they'll run EasyJet out of BHX...madness
 
I seem to remember them adding capacity onto the routes when Norwegian started out of Birmingham?

It's just pure guesswork and may not happen, we shall see.
 
Typical......instead of starting routes that the airport needs and doesn't have, it just loads up on what it's already got. Not sure if that's a good or bad thing. Do Ryanair really think they'll run EasyJet out of BHX...madness
It's what O Leary likes to do Forget the Passengers rather than being cheaper than easyJet just try to force out competition. The only thing I can compare this is to is a bus route by me for years NX ran the 333 from Walsall to Wolverhampton via Darlaston, Lodge Farm and Willenhall, Arriva had the 9 that ran to Willenhall and did a different loop of Stroud Aveune (Lodge Farm) went Left instead of right, then there was Sandwell Travel who followed the NX 333 as far as Willenhall. Arriva, Sandwell and Thandi also competed with NX on the 334 now 34 from Bilston to Walsall. Sandwell had to give it up as they got banned. Arriva got took over by Diamond and NX changed the number to the 34 Thandi kept the 334. Sandwell would still Operate the 333X and for a time where the only Operator between Walsall and Willenhall Via Darlaston. NX withdrew years ago. Now when I went to school I knew most of the drivers who all told me they would be leaving to join Thandi to operate the 311 which was competition with NX. Thandi then however or NX first ran the 37 to replace the 40 from Walsall to Willenhall Via Darlaston and Lodge Farm the 37 replacing the 40 most people caught the Sandwell bus as it was cheaper and NX were replaced by Thandi. Who using the former Sandwell Drivers and were accepting Sandwell Tickets and would run in front of them. For a while I would remain the only kid on the 333 most of my mates caught the 37. Until eventually both operators raced with each other and Sandwell went bust. Thandi remained the solo operator. Still Operating the 334 with NX running thee 37 Evening and Sunday Service. Eventually Thandi went bust and NX now have the 37. But my point is Airlines much like that whole Bus battle don't care about Passengers they want to make money. If one of them operators had decided to extend to serve Wolverhampton or serve the unserved part of Stroud Aveune and even Walsall Manor Hospital they may have made more money but they didn't it wasn't great for passengers because neither Thandi or Sandwell ran to time. NX did but were only brief both operators used Battered old Buses whilst NX used 11 year old at the time but refurbished buses. Ryanair are like the annoying competitor an airline starts a route say BHX to Oslo and Ryanair suddenly sends it's brand new MAX8-200's offers More flights and lower at first fares. More people will fly with them say taking EasyJet or SAS of the route. Ryanair has it all to themselves so out go the MAX's in go the older 737-800's, the fares become more expensive and Frequencies or Times change. So the Passenger is inconvenienced. Ryanair whilst Good for BHX are also invasive. If the route to say Oslo just had SAS and for some reason didn't work then Ryanair could try there hand at it. But it is the way O'Leary has and will always do things.
 
What you portray is standard Ryanair practice and most, if not all of us here in this forum, know it only too well. We've seen FR do it time and again over the years. They don't always get it there own way and there are some airports that FR & EZY live quite happily together. Happily is said very loosely btw
 

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survived a redundancy scenario where I work for the 3rd time. Now it looks likely I will get to cover work for 2 other teams.. Pretty please for a payrise? That would be a no and so stay on the min wage.
Live in Market Bosworth and take each day as it comes......
Well it looks like I'm off to Australia and New Zealand next year! Booked with BA from Manchester via Heathrow with a stop in Singapore and returning with Air New Zealand and BA via LAX to Heathrow. Will circumnavigate the globe and be my first trans-Pacific flight. First long haul flight with BA as well and of course Air NZ.
15 years at the same company was reached the weekend before last. Not sure how they will mark the occasion apart from the compulsory payirse to minimum wage (1st rise for 2 years; i was 15% above it back then!)
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Welcome to the forum, I was born and bred in Southampton.

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