Route Development & Rumours

[ethanegcc]

Jet Airways have recently opened a hub in Amsterdam specifically for transatlantic flights as I believe they are quite closelt affiliated to skyteam so I can't see them launching tatl flights from anywhere else - it says in the article that they will focus on developing their AMS hub.

 

[Hassaan]

Didn't Air India used to serve Mumbai from BHX previously (during their first reign) or am I imagining things? Either way it'll be a great coup for the airport. I imagine it's more likely for Air India to do it, via Delhi or something like that.

 

[Brummiegem]

Didn't Air India used to serve Mumbai from BHX previously (during their first reign) or am I imagining things? Either way it'll be a great coup for the airport. I imagine it's more likely for Air India to do it, via Delhi or something like that.

Yes it did,the flight used to route via Moscow of all places using RR Conway powered B707-437s.

 

[JENNYJET]

They used Elmdon because the new airport had not been built yet.

It was noisy and smoky but a wonderful sight as I always walked along the runway fence on the golf course to the R15 landing lights and sat on the grass as it screamed over us.

The same with Cyprus Airways and their B720.

 

[Brummiegem]

Don't want to sound pedantic JENNYJET,but it was Air Malta using B720s.CypusAirways had early B707-100s.
You are right though,they were noisy and very smokey!!

 

[JENNYJET]

Don't want to sound pedantic JENNYJET,but it was Air Malta using B720s.CypusAirways had early B707-100s.
You are right though,they were noisy and very smokey!!

Your pedancy is justified as I must admit my memory failings owing to Stroke damage etc....

I only recall clearly the 4 engined Boeing's of Cyprus Airways. I also witnessed B707 of British Midland and the occasional Spanish DC8's and the cherry top of the cake, the Spantax CV990.

As to Air Malta, I admit to only seeing with certainty a B737-200 but please Brummiegem, I was just a youngster that took photographs on Film camera's and those images have been lost. I still own 3 Nikon Film cameras but no film or any prospects of getting any or worse, having them developed.

Furthermore, I also recall Pakistan using A310 and B747-300 and had pictures, I may still have them, but they are prints from Film.

The point is that I have been a watcher of Birmingham Airport for most of my life, I see much, and remember as best I can, even with Brain damage from Stroke.

Some things are genetically gifted from parents as Father served with RAF.
When I was working as a vehicle courier, Heathrow was a second home, serving contracts for British Airways when BA Regional was in operation at BHX.

I accept your observations and remarks.

 

[Aceshigh]

If there was a rumour of Chinese flights is there now the danger any BHX flights are now a pipe dream given the major row that is developing re Hinkley Point ?

Other than Hinkley the implications re Chinese investment be that in property or routes seem to be in the regions.

 

[Paulsstrange]

There had been rumours (on this forum) a Chinese carrier had applied or was due to apply for 3 weekly BHX-PEK for 2017, however this has since gone quiet so who knows !

 

[richard winterbourn]

I hope we can differentiate between investment and trade. Yes, the Chinese are likely to be annoyed if, at the 11th hour, Hinkley Point does not go ahead. Who wouldn't be after so much time and effort has been put into this project already?
But on the question of trade, i don't think the Chinese would want to cut themselves off or re-trench; there is too much to lose, and although news on BHX-PEK flights has gone quiet i both hope and think that this is very much a work in progress.

 

[Butty]

Whilst I am grateful that our new PM wants to revisit the disastrous hinckley point contract, I don't think it will break Chinese and UK relations. The Chinese are just blustering a bit if they don't get their way, the same that the UK would do if it was the bother way round. Whatever the outcome there is plenty of other trade to justify cancelling flights etc. If they do, then there would be significant and damaging world wide trade implications for the Chinese.

 

[richard winterbourn]

My attention was drawn to a TAP posting on another site and which intimated that the airline may not be doing as well as expected and hoped for on MAN - LIS. Fierce competition from both RYR and MON may see a reduction in both service and aircraft type and, even on the MAN site it was suggested that TAP might be drawn to BHX.

Oh, how i wish! We all have our drums to bang and mine has always been in trying to get better connectivity with Brasil and South America.

TAP into Terminal 1 at LIS would cut about 2 hours flying time from those wanting to go to Rio de Janeiro Sao Paulo or Brasilia from BHX. As good as the KLM service is via AMS cutting about 2 hours off the journey time would be a great step forward.

As i have said before, i travel this route frequently and i have always been surprised at how many pax from BHX on the early morning AMS flight are bound for South America.

Are you listening TAP?

 

[thunderchild]

As much I'd love to see TAP at BHX sadly I don't think it will be anytime soon. Brazil is in economic and political turmoil and with major airlines cutting capacity to the likes of Rio and Sao Paulo and dropping other cities altogether I can't see TAP launching BHX when MAN capacity is being cut.

Have you looked at Iberia? They offer significantly more flights to South America than TAP do - outside Brazil I think the only other destination the fly to now is Caracas?

 

[ethanegcc]

TAP is great for south american connections but if they are struggling at MAN a destination they have served for years, making cutbacks accross their network why would they be expanding anytime soon to BHX which would inevitabely see the same sort of competition as MAN. I do kind of second what thunderchild said also.

 

[Jerry]

Does BHX have Iberia flying to Madrid? That could be better for South American connections maybe?

 

[ethanegcc]

Yes - it has IB Express - the same as MAN.

 

[Ray Finkle]

And the same as Edinburgh and London Heathrow and London Gatwick...

 

[ethanegcc]

Well Heathrow has IB full service, the only reason I only stated MAN was because we were discussing TP's chances of starting a BHX route and the only regional airport TP operates to in the UK is MAN - it was a direct comparison.

Also IB Express have Cork and Dublin in Ireland...

 

[Ray Finkle]

Iberia Express do also serve Heathrow, not to Madrid admittedly but they do operate there.

Anyway back to Birmingham.......

 

[ethanegcc]

I understand that IB Express operate to LHR but not MAD which was the destination in question.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Air India have said that they are looking to lease an additional five Dreamliners on top of the ones that they already have on order.

Maybe there is hope of Mumbai and/or Ahmedabad yet?