Air Blue

[Hassaan]

Air Blue have 'suspended' BHX for the time being due to 'shortage of aircraft', flights are no longer bookable. I know the A340 had issues with freight off the runway, there has been a couple of in depth conversations with ATC, so if they do return I wouldn't expect it to be before the extension opens, I wouldn't hold your breath that they'll be back at all though.

What a shame but at least it's better than them copping out over poor loads.

The fact there's a shortage of aircraft suggests they really won't be back very soon. I did assume it could really make it off the runway easily.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Whilst it's not nice to lose any airline I don't think this one is the end of the world, hopefully PIA will react and reinstate the Sunday flight and it's as you were.

 

[Ray Finkle]

The Air Blue statement.

"We wish to inform all our business partners that Airblue is suspending its flights from Birmingham to Pakistan w.e.f 1st December 2013. The suspension of flights is applicable till further notice and is being done in light of Airblue's expansion plan into Saudi Arabia and was a difficult decision in light of successful operation of flights from Birmingham. We are making all possible efforts to adjust our valued passengers on alternate flights wherever possible. However if any passenger would like to cancel their flight and demand for refund, please be assured that the full amount will be refunded to the passenger. The flights from Manchester will continue to operate as per normal schedule. We would like to thank all our business partners for their valuable support for Birmingham Sector and would again like to highlight the fact that it was a difficult decision, but was made in the larger interest of the Organization. Thanking and assuring you of our cooperation. Regards Management Airblue Ltd "

Unfortunate victim of circumstance I think. Time to draw a line under it and move on.

 

[Hassaan]

Is this a similar situation to when AI had to pull out of BHX to 'protect their LHR slots'?

It doesn't seem in good taste, that they've just come and gone. I would put it down to poor forward thinking.

 

[Ray Finkle]

In fairness to Air Blue I imagine it will have taken a lot of hard work to get access to Saudi and when they started BHX they probably still had no idea if it would happen or not and they can't have an aircraft sitting around doing nothing on the off chance. It's an unfortunate situation but that's the way it goes sometimes.

 

[Aviador]

In fairness to Air Blue I imagine it will have taken a lot of hard work to get access to Saudi and when they started BHX they probably still had no idea if it would happen or not and they can't have an aircraft sitting around doing nothing on the off chance. It's an unfortunate situation but that's the way it goes sometimes.

Firstly I haven't participated in discussions regarding Air Blue on any other forum and I haven't read any of it either ,thankfully by all accounts.

What I would say though is Air Blue wont have started operating into Birmingham on a whim, I am sure the route will have been well thought through beforehand. Is it just possible that operating costs exceeded profit. As a private company operating flights generally cheaper than state owned PIA which is already a loss making company wont have earned them any money.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Firstly I haven't participated in discussions regarding Air Blue on any other forum and I haven't read any of it either ,thankfully by all accounts.

You're lucky, some things said really were quite disgraceful. I'm all for defending your corner and respect peoples opinion who do, but referencing a plane crash where people lost their lives just because an airline stops flights to your local airport is quite disgusting.

Is it just possible that operating costs exceeded profit.

You could well be right. One would assume that the sums had been done beforehand and a timeframe to get the route profitable drawn up, maybe it just wasn't on course. Their statement seems perfectly reasonable but it could just be that the flight was losing money and the forward bookings weren't what they expected. I guess we'll never know.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Well the airport seem to think they will be back in the spring. I'm not sure I share their optimism, but if they do return they may have a long way to go to build up passenger trust.

Air Blue suspends Birmingham to Pakistan flights

Flights between Birmingham and Pakistan have been suspended by operator Air Blue after just over two months.

The twice-weekly service started at the end of September, but was later cut back to just one flight a week.

Air Blue said it had now been forced to stop flights due to its expansion into Saudi Arabia and a lack of aircraft.

Birmingham Airport said it was disappointed by the decision but had been assured the services would be reinstated in the spring of next year.

In a statement the airport said: "Since commencing services at the end of September this year, Air Blue's operation has been very successful, carrying more than 4,500 passengers and reaching 100% load factors on many flights into Birmingham.

"We reiterate that the decision by Air Blue was driven purely by aircraft availability issues, not passenger demand."

It said that despite the cutbacks, four direct flights would continue to operate to Pakistan with others offering a range of connections.

Air Blue said services from Birmingham would be suspended from 1 December although flights from Manchester would continue as normal.

It described the move as a "difficult decision" and said Birmingham passengers would be offered a full refund on tickets

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bi ... m-25040700

 

[Hassaan]

They said that with Air India after they pulled out, and look how that turned out. I wouldn't read too much into it.

 

[Brum X]

Well it appears it isnt just BHX getting the chop, Air Blue are pulling out of MAN from March 2014.

 

[Ray Finkle]

As said on the MAN thread I've heard a couple of interesting things about Air Blue's exit from BHX and, if true, it appears they could well be in a bad way financially.

 

[Hassaan]

Well it appears it isnt just BHX getting the chop, Air Blue are pulling out of MAN from March 2014.

Financial issues it seems.