Birmingham Airport - General Thread

[Ray Finkle]

Welcome to the forum Ryan

I am a big fan of your work and often spend an hour or two watching your videos. We have a BHX video thread so anytime you feel like adding any clips I am sure they will be greatly received.

 

[Ryan Kirkpatrick]

Welcome to the forum Ryan

I am a big fan of your work and often spend an hour or two watching your videos. We have a BHX video thread so anytime you feel like adding any clips I am sure they will be greatly received.

Thank you very much Ray I am glad you like my work & I am sure to add videos on the thread along with photos. I hope being on theses forums will keep my up to date on any news, movements or general conversation about BHX

 

[Seasider]

It will also keep you up to date of what is happening at other UK airports.

 

[Otisblue]

A bit out of the blue, but we have a new CEO.....

Nick Barton, previously at Luton and Stansted

https://www.insidermedia.com/inside...nds_news_tracker&utm_medium=top_story_article

Good news and a long time coming

 

[smithy108]

At last a CEO appointment, ex Luton and Stansted

Birmingham Airport names new chief executive
Birmingham Airport has appointed Nick Barton as chief executive.
View attachment 11657

Barton, who was most recently chief executive of London Luton Airport, will take up the post on January 7
The appointment comes as the airport revealed its ambitious draft master plan covering the next 15 years.
Barton will be implementing a £500m programme to upgrade and expand the capacity of its terminal operations, aircraft stands and support facilities.
This will support further growth from its current 13 million passengers a year to an expected 18 million passengers over the life of the plan.
In addition to his four years at Luton, Barton was part of the senior management team at London Stansted for eight years, latterly as managing director, as well as holding previous executive roles at BAA. In his career he has 27 years’ experience of managing and leading infrastructure and property operations.

Barton said:: “I am thrilled to be joining Birmingham Airport to deliver the Board’s vision and strategy for this critical piece of national and regionally significant transport infrastructure. Birmingham Airport is on the threshold of a very exciting chapter in its development and I am delighted to have been given the responsibility to lead and shape the future of the airport.”
Tim Clarke, chairman of Birmingham Airport, added: “We have carried out an extensive search of the aviation sector for a new chief executive. The board is delighted to have secured such a proven and experienced individual to execute our ambitious vision for the development of the airport. His record in generating strong growth brings the quality of leadership needed to fully realise the potential of this vital asset for the West Midlands economy and the region as a whole.
“I would also like to thank Simon Richards, chief financial officer, who has acted as managing director over the last year, and the executive team, for the excellent progress that has been made in developing the draft master plan for the airport’s expansion and for achieving strong improvements in customer service and operational effectiveness.”

 

[richard winterbourn]

Welcome news indeed. It has been my feeling that without a CEO the airport has experienced difficulties in presenting itself to the airline industry and, in particular, being able to attract the airlines that it wants.

Nick Barton comes with an impressive CV gained through his work at Stansted, Luton where was CEO, and in the financial world as well. In addition he is, i believe, a chartered surveyor.

I hope we can now look forward to a period of stability at BHX through which the airport will look to address the lack of routes which a major international airport such as BHX will want to secure. It is also very interesting that Barton is coming from an airport where one of the major players is --- Easyjet. Tantalising....

I for one wish him well and can't wait to see put his stamp on operations and developments at BHX.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Finally!

I don't know much about Mr Barton but if he has held similar positions at Stansted and Luton he will hopefully have gained valuable knowledge of the loco airlines, lets hope that he can utilise that experience at BHX and bring us some much needed growth.

I'm sure things won't happen overnight but hopefully he can steer the airport back to better times.

Welcome Mr Barton

 

[Ryan Kirkpatrick]

Maybe he help will add more EasyJet routes. There is only so many time I can take EasyJet to Belfast.

 

[Brum X]

Great news at last and a nice early christmas present

I wish him well and too hope he brings the good times back to BHX

 

[Brum X]

Maybe he help will add more EasyJet routes. There is only so many time I can take EasyJet to Belfast.

You could always fly to Geneva with Easyjet Ryan for a bit of spotting im sure you could do a great video of planes at GVA

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there Ray and all, let's hope that the new Chief Executive Mr Nick Barton will bring the freshness and imaginative ideas to birmingham airport with him, so he can start to get some kind of deal with easyJet, British Airways, either virgin, delta, United Airlines, American Airlines and to get birmingham airport moving in the forward direction that it needs to go and either stalling or losing airlines like it has been. Needs to get back to the negotiation table with the above and get concrete deals done... AndyC

 

[jfy1999]

I wonder how much of a say the CEO actually has in route development? We've heard numerous reports on the RD team's activities of late, looks like business as usual for them since the departure of Mr Kehoe - they even seem to be close to securing a few airlines!

 

[Jerry]

I wonder how much of a say the CEO actually has in route development? We've heard numerous reports on the RD team's activities of late, looks like business as usual for them since the departure of Mr Kehoe - they even seem to be close to securing a few airlines!

I wouldn't be surprised if the new CEO has been in contact with them but they couldn't announce him until his contract with Luton was due to expire or a certain date set by LTN if he's leaving early.

 

[Ray Finkle]

With Tom Screen currently in an 'acting' role hopefully one of the first appointments will be a Director of Aviation. Even if it just ends up being conformation of Mr Screen it will hopefully bring some stability so they can then focus on the job in hand.

 

[Coathanger16]

I wonder how much of a say the CEO actually has in route development?

I was wondering the same thing. Was it a coincidence that we lost so many airlines and had what seems to be a rather poor master plan all in the time that BHX didn't have a CEO?

 

[Ryan Kirkpatrick]

I am just hope that they finally add a route to Hong Kong. Cathey A350, Dragon A330, HK Airlines A350 would love any of them to come. If he can pull it off he be in my good books.

When I read this report about - 190,000+ people want Birmingham to Hong Kong connection
https://www.anna.aero/2018/12/04/birmingham-to-hong-kong-is-skyscanners-unserved-route-of-the-week/

Even with a daily route between Birmingham & Hong Kong I don't think it would affect Emirates, Turkish & Qatar growth at BHX. Most of there contecting flights are to places like India, Bangladesh, Pakistan & Thailand.

 

[Ryan Kirkpatrick]

Tommrow Turkish A330-300 due in at 3:25pm TK1969

 

[Brum X]

Tommrow Turkish A330-300 due in at 3:25pm TK1969

Are you going Ryan ?

 

[Ryan Kirkpatrick]

Are you going Ryan ?

Yes I do plan to go dispite the rain

 

[David_itl]

Never underestimate the DXB hub. Prior to the CX service, the market leader for MAN-"somewhere else"-HKG was Emirates with something like 38% of the market. The other thing to bear in mind that though there were 190.000 searches, it only translated into 20% booking BHX-"somewhere else"-HKG. Tme for a concerted effort of doing what MAN did and promote the one-stoppers...so blitz the market with "Birmingham to the wold"