Air India

[tompo]

That is more or less correct. Nevertheless, one should bear in mind that less is often preferable to more.

 

[adamak1]

I apologise in advance for the amount of questions you are about to see.

What are the chances of BHX seeing the a350s once they start operating?
Is demand high enough for the a350? Or will they stick to 787s?
Correct me if I’m wrong but aren’t they still below 2019 capacity?
How important is BHX to AI? Would they prioritise London airports or do they also know that the West Midlands has a large Indian presence and consider BHX an important market?

 

[IanFarquharson]

I apologise in advance for the amount of questions you are about to see.

What are the chances of BHX seeing the a350s once they start operating?
Is demand high enough for the a350? Or will they stick to 787s?
Correct me if I’m wrong but aren’t they still below 2019 capacity?
How important is BHX to AI? Would they prioritise London airports or do they also know that the West Midlands has a large Indian presence and consider BHX an important market?

Loads are nearly always 240+, so yes they could will a A359 but I am sure LHR will be the first destination and destinations further afield.

 

[Scania1800]

I apologise in advance for the amount of questions you are about to see.

What are the chances of BHX seeing the a350s once they start operating?
Is demand high enough for the a350? Or will they stick to 787s?
Correct me if I’m wrong but aren’t they still below 2019 capacity?
How important is BHX to AI? Would they prioritise London airports or do they also know that the West Midlands has a large Indian presence and consider BHX an important market?

BHX is a very important market for Air India, and may use A350 if demand increases, but so far it will be used on LHR routes and possibly Australian Routes however Subject to Change

 

[Timberwolf]

I apologise in advance for the amount of questions you are about to see.

What are the chances of BHX seeing the a350s once they start operating?
Is demand high enough for the a350? Or will they stick to 787s?
Correct me if I’m wrong but aren’t they still below 2019 capacity?
How important is BHX to AI? Would they prioritise London airports or do they also know that the West Midlands has a large Indian presence and consider BHX an important market?

Probably too much capacity on an A350 fotmr regular flts unless they go onwards to the USA.

Would also depend on if they are to be 2 or 3 class layouts.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Apparently the first six AI A350s (originally destined for Aeroflot) will be 28 business, 24 premium economy and 264 economy, compared to the 787 which is 18 business and 238 economy.

It could be a way to increase capacity without increasing frequency but I wouldn't be surprised to see them on longer routes.

 

[Scania1800]

Apparently the first six AI A350s (originally destined for Aeroflot) will be 28 business, 24 premium economy and 264 economy, compared to the 787 which is 18 business and 238 economy.

It could be a way to increase capacity without increasing frequency but I wouldn't be surprised to see them on longer routes.

USA routes, LHR and Australia are what they are planning. All the Configuration is ex Aeroflot so I wonder if that premium economy will be sold

 

[Timberwolf]

If they restart ATQ, it might make a little more sense but I do not think there is much point in BHX chasing them when AI and QR can adeq

If we can keep hold of Air India.Their CEO said yesterday Manchester would be there main focus after Gatwick expansion..

 

[Coathanger16]

If we can keep hold of Air India.Their CEO said yesterday Manchester would be there main focus after Gatwick expansion..

I'd be surprised if after 10 years of operating from BHX, they'd up sticks and move those flights to MAN. It's not exactly slot constrained at MAN, so its not like they were waiting for slots and serving BHX in the meantime.

For a brief time, MAN had Jet Airways to Mumbai before the airline went into administration. I assume that would be the direction Air India would go at MAN, and arguably launching a new route to a new airport will be more of a focus than increasing frequencies on an existing route at BHX.

 

[Timberwolf]

For a brief time, MAN had Jet Airways to Mumbai before the airline went into administration. I assume that would be the direction Air India would go at MAN, and arguably launching a new route to a new airport will be more of a focus than increasing frequencies on an existing route at BHX.

MAN is not a new destination for Air India. They have quit BHX twice in the past at short notice and gone to MAN.Only to return to BHX.

Birmingham has a large community with links to ATQ, Delhi, which is why we have the Air India here.

However it's been rumoured they are looking at 6 new routes ,and Manchester has bigger communities from other places in India.

I feel this is BHX to lose.Absolutely critical with the AI seemingly looking at another UK hub outside London we do not lose them to MAN.
Can be done if BHX are dynamic and other a good deal to become that hub bearing in mind they are already here.

 

[Brum X]

If we can keep hold of Air India.Their CEO said yesterday Manchester would be there main focus after Gatwick expansion..

Bloody typical, operate from BHX all these years and then overnight will launch flights from MAN to DEL and BOM

You know it's going to happen , the writing is on the wall

However an article in The Times says this, I can't show the whole article as you need to be a subscriber

Air India looks to Britain with $80bn aircraft order

British airports, international businesses, tourists and the Indian diaspora are set to be beneficiaries of Air India’s record-breaking $80 billion order for 4

www.thetimes.co.uk

"The former state airline now controlled by the Tata family, whose British interests include Jaguar Land Rover and Tata steel, also confirmed flights in and out of Birmingham. Future expansion could include services at Manchester"

 

[jfy1999]

I’ve moved these posts over from the Turkmenistan thread as they’re becoming more focused on Air India.

I’m not too concerned about Manchester, after all their increases on DEL-LHR haven’t affected BHX, my only concern is the possibility that our last chance of getting a route to Mumbai might go if and when that happens.

 

[nwoody2001]

Can anyone genuinely answer the following:

A) Why is anyone shocked an airline flying to BHX/LHR/LGW is looking at MAN for future UK growth?

B) Why does an airline looking to launch at MAN automatically mean they are withdrawing from BHX?

You would have thought the recent announcements by QR/SV have proven that of an airline has global aspirations an want to grow into the UK, they have to look beyond London and Manchester

 

[Timberwolf]

I'd be surprised if after 10 years of operating from BHX, they'd up sticks and move those flights to MAN. It's not exactly slot constrained at MAN, so its not like they were waiting for slots and serving BHX in the meantime

Why, they have done it twice before both at short notice..

 

[gulftraveller]

I do not think AI will drop BHX when it starts flying to MAN. It is, though, an anomaly that MAN does not have a connection to India, particularly considering Mumbai lists it as one of their top three unserved routes.

More generally, AI seems to base its business model on chasing VFR traffic. It is notoriously low yield but given the stories about poor service, can they reposition themselves in the market?

 

[Kevin Farnell]

More generally, AI seems to base its business model on chasing VFR traffic. It is notoriously low yield but given the stories about poor service, can they reposition themselves in the market?

I don't think it will stay like that for long. With TATA now the owners and Singapore Airlines a large investor, I believe that they will want Air India to regain the high class reputation it has had in the past. Their decline seemed to co-inside with their take over by the government (isn't that always the case!). Now in private hands and with the backing of SIA (who know very well how to provide a top class service in all classes), their reputation should improve. A daily DEL - BHX - DEL service would boost the passenger numbers, by offering yet another convenient way to get to Australia.
The recent huge Air India aircraft order could provide some challenges, such as crew training, but yet again, SIA can give advice on this.

 

[Timberwolf]

I don't think it will stay like that for long. With TATA now the owners and Singapore Airlines a large investor, I believe that they will want Air India to regain the high class reputation it has had in the past. Their decline seemed to co-inside with their take over by the government (isn't that always the case!). Now in private hands and with the backing of SIA (who know very well how to provide a top class service in all classes), their reputation should improve. A daily DEL - BHX - DEL service would boost the passenger numbers, by offering yet another convenient way to get to Australia.
The recent huge Air India aircraft order could provide some challenges, such as crew training, but yet again, SIA can give advice on this.

Yes interesting.Perhaps its already started.Air India are to reintroduce their B77Ws into LHR on some flts this summer and adding back first class seating.

However not sure they will want to operate from both BHX and MAN.Suspect they are after a new hub outside London for 6 routes.

The only thing that might go against MAN is lack of large stands.A number have been closed and about 10 downgraded to take just code C (320/737s) Due to the start of preparatory work on the 2nd new pier.I won't list the stand numbers concerned.

 

[mullion]

Not a problem unless possibly early morming which I don`t think it will be

 

[Silvercity]

Can anyone genuinely answer the following:

A) Why is anyone shocked an airline flying to BHX/LHR/LGW is looking at MAN for future UK growth?

B) Why does an airline looking to launch at MAN automatically mean they are withdrawing from BHX?

You would have thought the recent announcements by QR/SV have proven that of an airline has global aspirations an want to grow into the UK, they have to look beyond London and Manchester

Colleague of mine has flown AI a number of times BHX - DEL found it very convenient

 

[Nobby63]

Good afternoon folks.
I've been considering commenting on this forum and others for several months but held back until today.
Am I missing something here as when I started spotting over 50 years ago it was about the excitement of seeing new and unusual aircraft and schemes. Going down to London, to the Midlands, Scotland plus luckily enough and never was concerned or jealous about which airlines go to which airport.
There seems to have been an increased trend on the Birmingham blog and others comments that certain airports should have the device right to be serviced by certain airlines but not others...why?
Airlines are businesses who in general will plump for the prestige slots at Heathrow then if the rest of the country are lucky they may get the scraps.
Unfortunately in our country the news outlets,government etc think that everyone wants to fly from London which isn't the case so any increased capacity or new routes outside of the South East should be seen as a positive for all the other airports rather than be turned into a childish complaint that other non London airports are out to steal operators from other regional airports.
Believe it or not there are big Indian,Pakistani,Bangladeshi,Chinese and other ethnic communities all over the UK who should have better access to direct flights so please stop quibbling and having paranoia and just enjoy our hobby.