Route Development & Rumours

[Ray Finkle]

So what's this I've read on the dried fruit forum about Air India restarting BHX -YYZ, possibly in 2025 ?

Ian F ?????

It's on the cards but this is AI so it may not be 2025.

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

Do Wizz air still have Aircraft issues because I’m just thinking they might remove flights from Birmingham in the next few years if new routes are added or available.They seem to be increasing in Latin Europe

 

[Matt995]

Do Wizz air still have Aircraft issues because I’m just thinking they might remove flights from Birmingham in the next few years if new routes are added or available.They seem to be increasing in Latin Europe

Ant, engine issues at Wizz are expected to continue into 2026 at least!

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

Feel like bhx needs an eastern airways route like HUY-BHX-NQY and I really think they could profit from that route especially Newquay and Humberside in the summer

 

[RichL]

Feel like bhx needs an eastern airways route like HUY-BHX-NQY and I really think they could profit from that route especially Newquay and Humberside in the summer

I was looking at train fares and yes I know you can often get a better deal if you book weeks in advance but an open ticket (any train any day) return to Newquay was £400+ takes over 6 hours and includes 2 changes.

Beggars belief.

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

I was looking at train fares and yes I know you can often get a better deal if you book weeks in advance but an open ticket (any train any day) return to Newquay was £400+ takes over 6 hours and includes 2 changes.

Beggars belief.

A flight is 1hr from Humberside and 40+ minutes from bhx probably less so your talking 2 hour journey.Works out more time of ur day and probably more cheaper.I think Birmingham needs Newquay and Inverness back

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

Good evening and merry Christmas to all.

With PIA possibly coming back early 2025(STC for CAA Approval)
Could we expect another international airline in time for summer or is it a case of deal with what we got till terminal is fixed?

Oh and I also went past diamond house on the way to moors and it looks huge.

 

[HPsauce]

Good evening and merry Christmas to all.

With PIA possibly coming back early 2025(STC for CAA Approval)
Could we expect another international airline in time for summer or is it a case of deal with what we got till terminal is fixed?

Oh and I also went past diamond house on the way to moors and it looks huge.

Merry Christmas.
I don't expect to see PIA anytime next year.
The only possibility of another long haul airline at BHX was rumoured to be from next Autumn according to posts on here a couple of weeks ago.

 

[Scania1800]

Good evening and merry Christmas to all.

With PIA possibly coming back early 2025(STC for CAA Approval)
Could we expect another international airline in time for summer or is it a case of deal with what we got till terminal is fixed?

Oh and I also went past diamond house on the way to moors and it looks huge.

PIA not returning next year, aircraft shortage and crew is far too less yet

 

[IanFarquharson]

Breeze Airways continues to pursue its goal of establishing transatlantic routes, with flights to Ireland or the UK its most likely initial destinations. While this has been on the cards for some time now, the carrier is inching closer to receiving regulatory approvals and could launch new international routes before the end of 2025.

Breeze hopes to launch transatlantic flights next year​

In an exclusive interview with Airline Geeks, Breeze Airways CEO David Neeleman said the low-cost carrier would ideally want to launch international flights by next summer, but this would likely prove "a little bit tight."

"Announcing flights for late fall next year would probably be the most prudent way to do it because we do have a lot of routes that are doing well."

Breeze expects to receive its flag carrier status—a prerequisite for operating international flights—in early 2025. While the carrier has not specified which airports would be involved in its transatlantic operations, Dublin [DUB] has been touted as a likely destination. Given the Airbus A220s range, the airline would have to fly out of an East Coast airport, most likely Boston or New York, given their sizable Irish populations.

Where Else Should Breeze Airways Fly?​

In November/December, Breeze will fly to 65 airports with 172 routes involving 30 states. For now, the carrier's entire network is domestic. Some 29 of the 65 airports are brand-new to its network this year. As everyone knows, Breeze mainly begins routes without direct competition when it takes off, and there are numerous examples of airport pairs that have never been served before. A whopping 81% of routes do not have direct competition. Fort Myers—where it opened a base at the start of October—will have the most flights, followed by Orlando, Charleston, Providence, and Hartford. Fort Myers ranked fifth in November/December 2023, and Charleston was first. Rankings would change based on other measures. Where else would you like Breeze to fly with its A220s or Embraer? Let us know!


Neeleman also suggested secondary airports in the UK, adding that the airline would likely operate on a seasonal basis, such as "Cancun all winter and Ireland all summer." In June, the airline was given approval for International Supplemental Operations by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and had hoped to commence international operations by the 2024 winter season.


Its plan was initially to begin flying to destinations in the Carribean before a transatlantic expansion. Breeze is also looking to establish flights to Hawaii, another popular destination within the A220s range. However, despite it being a domestic route, the carrier must receive ETOPS (Extended-range Twin-engine Operational Performance Standards) certification to operate overwater flights to Hawaii.

Transatlantic A220 flights​

With a total of 35 airframes in its fleet, Breeze now ranks among the top five A220 operators worldwide, joined by fellow US carrier Delta Air Lines and JetBlue, as well as Air France and all-A220 operator airBaltic. Since firming up another 10 aircraft with Airbus earlier this year, Breeze has another 55 airframes on order which would take it to 90 A220s overall.

Breeze Airways To Expand Fleet With 3 Airbus A220s Through Aviation Lease Deal​

The aircraft will join Breeze Airways' already-sizeable fleet of Airbus A220-300s.
1


As the airline inducts new aircraft into its fleet, its possibilities for expansion grow considerably. With a range of up to 3,400 NM (6,300 km), the A220-300 is well within reach of Ireland, the UK and other Western European destinations. International certification would also open up a host of South American possibilities from Breeze's Florida bases, including most of the major airports in Brazil.

The growing Breeze fleet and network​

Breeze launched its inaugural flight - a service from Tampa to Charleston - in May 2021 with a small fleet of Embraer 195s before welcoming its first A220 later that year. By the end of 2022, Breeze had 11 A220s in its fleet, growing to 20 airframes the following year - its expansion has picked up rapidly since then, with the carrier welcoming another 15 A220s to its fleet this year.

Aircraft	In Service	Seat Capacity
Airbus A220-300	35 (55 more on order)	137 (12 first, 125 economy)
Embraer 190	10	108 (economy)
Embraer 195	3	124 (economy)

The carrier now serves around 60 destinations within the US and has built its network around flying from secondary and tertiary airports on underserved routes. Its current bases are:

• Charleston, SC [CHS]
• Hartford [BDL]
• New Orleans [MSY]
• Norfolk [ORF]
• Orlando [MCO]
• Providence [PVD]
• Provo [PVU]
• Tampa [TPA]

 

[gulftraveller]

Like other US airlines, Breeze would be looking at outbound US tourism routes, so I doubt they would provide the long awaited breakthrough on UK regional/US routes. Transatlantic demand from the UK side is just too soft.

 

[IanFarquharson]

As it stands in my opinion Breeze is probably BHX's best chance of securing a US service. We know we are talking to airlines and have NYC alongside HKG as priority destinations for BHX.

So could we see both coming to fruition ?

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

I would to see another low cost airline here.Maybe sky express seasonal as Greek holidays have expanded over the years.Cyprus airways I’m also thinking of aswell as holidays are year round to paphos.Just a suggestion

But yeah like you said Ian.America and China are two important destinations for bhx

 

[Hassaan]

Surely there is quite a decent amount of demand for JFK (from BHX)? Unless that has fallen away quite a bit, I don't know what kind of numbers United was doing in its last few months.

 

[Iron Duck]

Exactly what JetBlue said and look where we are, nearly 5 years on

 

[Karl C]

I'm sure the demand is still there, if not more. However airlines seem to want to coagulate at Heathrow.....so to Heathrow we go. Unless you fly via AMS,CDG or FRA.
Tbh If I have to fly from another airport then it would be Heathrow and a very distant Gatwick. That is the limit of other airports I will use now. BHX will always be no. 1

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

if it was me working in the route development department my aims would be Wizz air routes(Aircraft issues I know) and bringing Austrian back.Breeze probably is a shock that they want to go international but fair play.Open a Norse base

 

[Brum X]

Nah, not convinced these "Not known" US Airports will work from most UK airports, let alone BHX. Norweigan tried a one season wonder out of Edinburgh and that failed, yes from Edinburgh.

Id rather wait for a serious contender to come along and offer BHX what it needs.

It's a no from me. Sorry Breeze, maybe the winter gales will blow you into la la land.

 

[LichfieldBlue]

As it stands in my opinion Breeze is probably BHX's best chance of securing a US service. We know we are talking to airlines and have NYC alongside HKG as priority destinations for BHX.

So could we see both coming to fruition ?

I spoke about Breeze back in December 2023 and was shot down in flames on here. They would be an ideal fit IMO with the A220-300 and business model. Breeze already serve EWR and have connectivity to Orlando so maybe?

Nah, not convinced these "Not known" US Airports will work from most UK airports, let alone BHX. Norweigan tried a one season wonder out of Edinburgh and that failed, yes from Edinburgh.

Id rather wait for a serious contender to come along and offer BHX what it needs.

It's a no from me. Sorry Breeze, maybe the winter gales will blow you into la la land.

Not sure EWR is a "not known" US airport

 

[Brum X]

I spoke about Breeze back in December 2023 and was shot down in flames on here. They would be an ideal fit IMO with the A220-300 and business model. Breeze already serve EWR and have connectivity to Orlando so maybe?


Not sure EWR is a "not known" US airport

But on an A220 and they don't have a hub like UA ??