Bristol Airport - General Thread

[TheLocalYokel]

I've just read that Flybe is cutting back slightly on its (mainly) domestic services from CWL next winter compared to last winter.

Well, easyJet and Ryanair are either much more optimistic about a quicker economic recovery or they are just competing against other to 'prove' their dad is bigger than the other dad. They've been doing that sort of thing with Bristol-Milan for the past two years (with mid-winter loads on both well under 50% on occasions), albeit I note that this summer easyJet has weakened slightly with the axing of its Saturday rotation to Malpensa and the axing of its Thursday rotation for the main school holidays - with Ryanair persisting with its daily flight to Bergamo it still leaves 13 or 14 rotations a week to Milan.

This summer for the first time since the route commenced easyJet reduced its 3 x daily (fewer at weekends) Bristol-Belfast International route to 2 x daily. Ryanair commenced a daily Bristol-Belfast City this summer, so Bristol-Belfast were still connected with three daily flights.

Next winter easyJet has returned to 3 x daily (except Tue and Wed which are 2 x daily) on BRS-BFS and Ryanair has increased its daily BRS-BHD route to 2 x daily seven days a week.

That's 846 seats available each way between Bristol and Belfast for three days of each week.

Hmm!!

 

[Aviador]

Many airports have, or appear to have over capacity on the routes between the mainland and Northern Ireland. I can't understand why airlines are so keen to be the dominant force on routes flying to Belfast.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I've had a look at the Belfast figures for April, the first full month of the Ryanair Belfast City service.

In April 5384 passengers used the route, average load 90, load factor 47.5%. 14,413 used easyJet's Belfast International route, average load 129, load factor 82.5%.

This is a total of 19,797 on the Bristol-Belfast route. In April 2008 16,862 flew between the two cities but then only the easyJet route to BFS was available.

The Ryanair figures are poor but can be expected to improve as the route works up - a similar poor start happened on the daily Shannon when that began a few years ago but it grew to daily average loads of around 160, albeit that one has dropped back a bit in recent months because of the economic situation.

Recent history tells us that there is scope for growth, although not to the extent available for next winter. For example, in April 2004 nearly 27,000 people flew between Bristol and Belfast - just over 20,000 with easyJet to BFS, nearly 7,000 with Flybe to BHD.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Councillor's airport purchase plan

A radical plan for North Somerset Council to buy Bristol International Airport (BIA) has been thrown out.

A proposal for the unitary authority to try to purchase the Lulsgate site was rejected at a town hall meeting on Tuesday night.

Two weeks ago the Mercury reported that BIA's Australian parent company Macquarie Airports had fallen into financial difficulty and was seeking a buyer.

But the company has refused to comment on the matter, fuelling speculation it could be open to offers.

Councillor David Shopland, who put the motion to the meeting, said: "I was told not long ago that the future of the district relies on the future of the airport and we were told that the district had almost no future without the airport.

"If we had a share in the control we could help to shape its development.

"Let's be positive and let's consider something that may enhance the future of North Somerset."

He was supported by Councillor Tom Leimdorfer, who questioned whether it was logical for the airport to be owned by companies based in Australia and Ontario, Canada.

Bu the proposal was not welcomed by members of the Tory executive, who claimed it was unworkable.

The unitary authority's deputy leader Elfan Ap Rees said: "We couldn't afford to invest in it if we did own it.

"But if we had a minority shareholding, how much say would we have in the airport?

"Even the cost of investigating it would mean a great deal of money down the drain."

Environment chief Carl Francis-Pester said the proposal was taking time away from other 'important council business' and said it was 'not far from an abuse of democracy'.

In January, BIA bosses revealed the scheme to double the size of the terminal and increase passenger numbers to 16million by 2016.

But the plans have proved a divisive topic among nearby residents, with 56 per cent of respondents to a public consultation saying they were against the idea.link:

http://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/conte ... 3A39%3A537

This proves what many have long believed - you need no brains, and even less common sense, to be a councillor.

Where does he think a local authority, especially a tiny one like North Somerset, will find money to purchase an airport, still less stump up cash to develop it and run it?

 

[Aviador]

In the light of happenings at Whitehall, one could presume the councillor was thinking of slapping the bill on his expenses claim. Hmm, all those discounted holidays... think about it?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Now there is a thought.

The deputy leader of North Somerset, Cll Elfan Ap Rees (Conservative), runs the Weston-super-Mare Helicopter Museum and when interviewed on telly about this invariably appears in a captain's uniform, replete with four gold rings round the sleeve. I assume he is a qualified helicopter pilot.

He is also the spokesman for most things concerning the council. The leader, unusually for a councillor, a breed that normally like the sound of their own voices, is strangely reticent to appear before the news media, although he did this morning regarding the rebuilding of Weston's Grand Pier, but that's another matter.

Elfan Ap Rees, despite his name (I believe it means Son of Rees in Welsh but stand to be corrected), was brought up in Somerset. I was at school with him in Weston in the 1950s but I don't know him well.

He used to be an implacable opponent of Bristol Airport, despite his aviation credentials, but now appears more ready to get behind the airport's expansion. He is a rarity amogst North Somerset councillors in this and perhaps he is just doing it to spite political opponents.

I remember what Dr Johnson is supposed to have said about women preaching: like a dog walking on its hind legs it's not done well but one is surprised to see it attempted.

The same applies to local authorities owning and running airports. I have no view on women's ability to preach - not in a religious environment anyway :bomb: .

 

[Aviador]

VIPs help BIA passengers

PASSENGERS using Bristol International Airport (BIA) will be able to find out more about the South West thanks to some new workers.

Volunteer information patrons (VIPs) have begun operating at the site to welcome passengers and give them details about hotels, tourist attractions and directions for onward travel.

Jane Churches from Highbridge is the first to don the VIP uniform, with more volunteers set to follow.

She said: "I have always enjoyed working with people and, during a career break, found that this was something I really missed.

"The VIP role is a great way of meeting people while providing a valuable service to visitors to the region."

The number of inbound passengers at BIA has increased by 161 per cent to over 850,000 a year since 2003.

To find out more about a VIP role log on to www.bristolairport.com

Source

It seems the idea of BIA to get people to work for nothing hasn't exactly taken off in a big way after their latest 'free advert' in the Weston Mercury newspaper.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

The airport did advertise the initiative for a second time on its website recently which gave me the idea that they were short of takers.

However, it seems some people have already been appointed with others 'in the system'. At least one member of BISON has applied - not me, I hasten to add.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Consultative Committee Minutes

The minutes of the Airport Consultative committee Meeting held on 29 April 2009 have now been published.

Much of the meeting seems to have been taken up with a presentation regarding the airport expansion pre-application consultation process. The full expansion would lead to a further 800 jobs at the airport during the next decade to add to the current number of over 3,000. Expansion plans are expected to be submitted to the local authority in the next few weeks.

Other matters that took my eye include the following comments from Robert Sinclair, airport CEO.
I have appended my comments in italics.

Passenger Numbers

The fall in passenger numbers and aircraft movements during the first quarter of 2009 were in line with what was anticipated. The airport expects an increase in passenger volume as the summer unfolds with peak season passenger numbers set to exceed those of 2008.

Any passenger increase in the peak season will be mainly the result of the expanded Ryanair base commencing in the first week of July.

Passenger Flow

The airport is conscious that at certain times overcrowding occurs around the security areas, the check-in desks and at border control regarding inbound travellers.

Management has taken this up with the security company and airline handling agencies with a view to effecting improvement. Border control has agreed to put in two more desks, making seven in total, but there is no guarantee they will always be fully manned. If three international flights arrive at the same time the queues to border control can be long and unacceptable.

Passenger Leakage

Since the opening of Terminal 5 at Heathrow leakage of passengers to that airport has become more prevalent. Leakage to both Gatwick and Stansted has also increased. In order to avoid this escalating it is important to improve facilities and passenger experience and to retain and expand the route network.

For years Bristol reckoned it lost between 60% and 70% of its potential passenger numbers to the London airports. Some of this is inevitable because Bristol cannot sustain routes or frequencies that are viable from LHR with scheduled services and LGW with charters. I'm surprised about STN though.

Frankfurt

The airport hopes that Lufthansa will resume the route in the future but has had a number of enquiries from other airlines looking to replace LH on the route.

It was a great shame that LH pulled out. The route was building in passenger number terms. In April this year, the last month of operation, passenger numbers, at 8,695 for the month, were up 9% on April 2008 when there were a third more rotations. I'm not sure what airline might step in because LH's great plus was its interlining connections around the world.

Western Walkway

Construction is set to commence shortly.

The walkway will form part of the huge expansion that is planned. It doesn't need planning permission, being general permitted development, and will stand alone if the major expansion is eventually rejected by the planners.

Sale of Airport

The CEO, in answer to a question, denied the airport is up for sale. He said ownership is 'diverse and international' with only one Macquarie listed fund being a shareholder. Macquarie funds have been undertaking initiatives to enhance shareholder value. Single shareholders are always able to dispose of their share in the airport if they believe it is in their interest to do so.

Probably a slightly ingenuous response from the CEO because, as can be seen from below, ownership of the airport is complex but Macquarie in its various guises plays the leading role.

Bristol International Airport is 100% owned by South West Airports Limited (SWAL), a joint venture holding company owned by Bristol Airport (Bermuda) Limited (BABL) and Macquarie European Infrastructure Fund (MEIF). BABL is 71% owned by Macquarie Airports, a fund listed on the Sydney Stock Exchange, and 29% owned by Ontario Teachers Pension Plan, a major infrastructure investor. Both BABL and MEIF are managed by Macquarie Capital Funds (Europe) Limited (MCFEL), a subsidiary of Macquarie Group Limited.

Since acquiring an initial stake in Bristol International Airport in January 2001 Macquarie has increased its portfolio of airport investments through its specialised funds and now has stakeholdings in Sydney, Copenhagen and Brussels Airports, and a long term strategic investment in Japan Airport Terminal.

MEIF is an investor in major infrastructure assets and its current holdings include Thames Water, Wales & West Utilities and the Arlanda Express rail link.
.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Bristol Balloon Fiesta

Hot air balloons lifted off the main runway at Bristol International Airport for the first time today.
More than 20 were launched just after 5am - a time chosen to ensure there was no disruption to flights - as part of the Bristol Balloon Fiesta 2009 at Ashton Court.

Event director Susan Tanner said they wanted to do something special to launch the event.

"We are delighted to showcase it to a wider international audience," she said.

link: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/ne ... nrise.html

Some superb photos embedded in the linked report. View from aloft of all overnight aircraft parked at BRS.

20 aircraft parked on the main aprons: 4 easyJet 319s, Thomas Cook A320, KLM F 70 and Titan Bae 146 (one of the mail aircraft) on the western apron; 7 easyJet 319s, 2 Ryanair B 738s, 2 Thomson B 757s (in FCA livery), Thomas Cook A320 and Air France (Alinair) ATR 42 on the eastern apron.

The edge of the southern (GA) apron is visible at the bottom of one of the pictures.

Gives an idea how restricted BRS is for aircraft parking space and why they want to knock down the old terminal, now offices with big car park, at the east end to provide more apron space.

The Bristol Balloon Fiesta has been running over thirty years and takes place every August over four days - Thursday to Sunday. They always have a launch event some time before the actual fiesta, often with balloons taking off from the city centre, but this year they managed to get the airport.

The setting for the fiesta is the beautiful Ashton Court grounds on the southern edge of Bristol and features mass ascents with up to 150 balloons at a time twice each day. There are also two wonderful balloon glows on two evenings with the balloon burners synchronised with music after dark.

This year the Red Arrows will be returning after an incredible display last year in far from ideal weather.

The event can attract up to half a million people if the weather is good - there are all sorts of the usual type of fair entertainments that go on all day and into the evening. It is one of the biggest events of its kind in Europe with Bristol being heavily into balloons, not least because the Cameron Balloon Factory is situated there.

 

[Aviador]

|Sounds fun. Is it this display where they tend to come in all shapes and sizes like Coke cans etc? (if ya know what I mean?)

 

[TheLocalYokel]

There are always a fair number of the special shapes though many are standard design balloons, like those shown in the photos.

The special shapes are the first not to fly when the wind is marginal. The last couple of years have not seen the best of weather for the fiesta and not all mass lift-offs took place.

When the weather is fine and the wind out of the south west the balloons all drift across the city which is a fantastic sight.

Bristol, and to a lesser extent Bath, see numerous balloon flights right through the summer when conditions are good. In fact, as I type this I can see four balloons away over the city on a lovely summer's evening.

I once knew a local balloon pilot and noted that his maps were not only clearly marked with the controlled air space to avoid but also those areas where land owners had previously made it clear that balloons were not welcome to touch down. The balloon pilots used to carry bottles of Scotch to give to farmers in whose fields they landed. I don't know if they still do. Perhaps it's just a cheap bottle of plonk these days.

 

[Aviador]

Thanks Local Yokel, I understand that many of the balloons carry a transponder these days so that they are more visible on radar.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

The Gambia

It's good to see Bristol's winter link with The Gambia will continue next winter.

There have been weekly charter flights to Banjul for probably the last ten winters.

First Choice used to operate the route with its B 757s along with flights for The Gambia Experience by other airlines. The Tui Group has opted out since acquiring First Choice leaving the field to The Gambia Experience.

Last winter Hamburg International operated A 319s on Tuesdays and Fridays, replacing Astraeus B 737-700s that had been used in the previous year or two.

For the coming winter there will be only a Friday flight - not sure of carrier - which is a pleasant surprise because I anticipated the route ceasing altogether in view of last winter's poorish loads and only one tour operator left.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Animal Reception Centre to handle pet passengers

A new Animal Reception Centre at Bristol International is set to open next month (1st July), enabling dog and cat owners across the South West to fly their pets in and out of the region's airport.

Animals with a Pet Passport are allowed to enter the UK without the statutory six months quarantine. However, facilities are required at the airport to enable checks to be carried out on pets before and after flights. Bristol International will become only the fourth airport in the UK with such facilities (following Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester), reducing road journeys for local dog and cat owners looking to transport their animals overseas.

Any dog or cat returning to the U.K. who has a full Pet Passport and is travelling
a) on a flight destined for Bristol
b) on a flight approved to carry livestock
is now able to take advantage of the Animal Reception Centre facilities to enter the U.K.

It will also be possible for dogs and cats to depart the U.K. to destinations available from Bristol International Airport through the Animal Reception Centre.

The Animal Reception Centre at Bristol International will be operated by Overhill Kennels. Established for 30 years, the Bristol-based business specializes in boarding and exports

link: http://www.bristolairport.co.uk/news_an ... entre.aspx

 

[Aviador]

I wouldn't have thought that there was such a big call for this sort of thing from regional airports. I can understand airports such as Heathrow having one of these centres but Bristol? Presumably they have done the research into viability of having a centre.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I suspect there is quite a big call for this type of service in the UK generally but, as you say, how many people would use the new Bristol facility is open to question.

The biggest problem will probably be getting it publicised because it is likely that most people requiring this facility, even from the Bristol catchment, will probably assume they would have to go to Heathrow.

Overhill Kennels are situated in a tiny hamlet rejoicing in the wonderful name of Norton Malreward, about two miles from where I live and about six miles from the airport. I know that it is often used for quarantine purposes in respect of animals entering the country, sometimes via BRS, so perhaps they believe there is a need to be able to offer the the non-quarantine service locally.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Glastonbury festival-goers swamp Bristol Airport

Bristol International Airport has seen a huge influx of passengers heading to the Glastonbury Festival.

For the past couple of days passengers have been flooding in from around the globe.

The airport says it has been busy preparing for the influx and a similar rush after the festival finishes on Sunday.

It has even taken steps to keep the terminal clean of the infamous Glastonbury mud by installing a 'welly washer'.

The device is described as a 'big vat of water' with brushes along the sides which revellers are asked to use enthusiastically.

Alison Roberts, general manager of the airport terminal said: "The week of Glastonbury is always a busy but enjoyable one."

"While we hope the sun shines this time, we have learned from previous years to be prepared for an influx of muddy passengers following the festival."

"If it does rain, the welly washer will help keep them and the airport clean."

The airport is a transport hub for the Festival, which attracts 175,000 people from across the world, and Bristol International's Flyer bus service has received online bookings from customers in 48 different countries in recent months.

In addition, National Express is operating a direct service from the airport to the Festival site for the first time. Services will run every four hours, running until Monday 29th June.

http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk/clevedo ... ticle.html

I was at Bristol's main central station at Temple Meads yesterday afternoon and there were hundreds of festival-bound revellers waiting at the station approach road for buses.

Normally, local bus companies supply ancient double deckers to run a shuttle from Temple Meads to Glastonbury* (about 25 miles) but yesterday the traffic was so heavy it was taking up to eight hours to cover the journey with the result that the buses were marooned at the Glastonbury end. In the past I've seen festival goers return to the station after the event and some look as though they have spent the time rolling in mud. The inside of some of the buses has to be seen to be believed.

I can fully understand the concept of the welly washer at the airport. I don't think the likes of easyJet or Ryanair would be thrilled if the insides of their aircraft were inches deep in sticky mud.

That said, I shouldn't be keen on being the next passenger to sit in one of the aircraft seats following a Glastonbury visitor in inclement weather. There is no suggestion they have a trouser seat washer.

* The festival is actually held at the hamlet of Pilton and the nearest large town is Shepton Mallet, not Glastonbury, but I suppose it does not have Glastonbury's cachet or mystique.

 

[Aviador]

Oh dear, I can completely sympathise with Bristol airport workers, especially it's cleaners who's endurance must be tested at times like this! LBA turns into a smelly mud cesspit during the Leeds Festival, so basically we've still got all this to come.. :nea:

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Flew from Bristol yesterday on the 0710 EZY to Glasgow and was pleasantly surprised at the swiftness of the security procedure.

Twenty-six departing flights were scheuled between 6 and 9 and past years has meant a very long queue to security, sometimes taking up to half an hour to get through.

Bearing this in mind we reached the terminal around 0545 and found almost no queue. We were through within a couple of minutes.

I'm not sure how much this has to do with the greatly expanded security area or whether fewer people are travelling. In my surpise I forgot to see how many security stations were open but it was probably in excess of six or seven.

The expanded airside area seems to have made a difference for the better as well as there was plenty of space - again it might be down to fewer passengers.