Birmingham: General Airport Discussion & Updates

[nwoody2001]

March 2015 Passenger Figures

March 15 = 736, 735 (+12.6%)
Year to Date = 9,896,134 (+7.1%)

This would make us the 3rd fastest growing airport of the month, and I suspect this will be the busiest March on record???

To compare with other airports....

1. HEATHROW – 5,950,209 (+3.4 %)
2. GATWICK - 2,959,233 (+9.3 %)
3. STANSTED - 1,671,298 (+24.4 %)
4. MANCHESTER - 1,571,570 (+9.7 %)
5. LUTON – (figures not released)
6. EDINBURGH – 791,088 (+9.7 %)
7. BIRMINGHAM - 736,735 (+12.6 %)
8. GLASGOW – 606,233 (+14.0 %)
9. BRISTOL - (figures not released)
10. NEWCASTLE- 298,691 (+5.6 %)

 

[Ray Finkle]

I see BHX have been a little cheeky with the destinations guide on the website.

Beijing now appears but I suppose that's fair enough as there are direct flights available for two months.

Chicago has now joined Miami as a 'direct' destination. Having just checked the AA website it seems that AA131 which originally continued on to Miami now continues to Chicago, although it would be classed as a domestic flight so pax would have to leave the plane and go through security.

Taking into account even the most broadest of thinking I think it's slightly deceiving to advertise Chicago and Miami as 'direct' when it's obvious they both are connections, I know Chicago is high on the agenda but I wonder if they are maybe getting slightly ahead of themselves.

 

[Aviador]

Perhaps so but the airport maybe using this to establish how many people show an interest by clicking onto the destination links. At least this way the airport can forward the information to prospective airlines?

 

[User0001]

I would imagine most, if not all UK airports are guilty of 'cheeky' destinations.

MAN has Pittsburg and Boston as 'direct flights', despite the former being the Delta to JFK flight continuation and the latter the AA JFK continuation.

Liverpool has just started a campaign of '70 global destinations from LJLA' despite the fact all 70 destinations are via AMS.

Leeds had a period of advertising 'Dubai from Leeds' despite the fact it was via AMS.

So, BHX is not alone in the club.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Good to see Business Cornwall do a piece about BHX on their blog, although they seem to have used a skyline photo of Birmingham, Alabama 🙄

In order to help you arrive at your destination full of enthusiasm, we’ve found the perfect formula for a fast, stress-free business trip.

Firstly, we’ve got speed and convenience in hand. Travelling from Newquay to Birmingham is around a seventy-minute flight and passengers carrying only hand luggage can arrive just 45 minutes ahead of boarding time. Because we’re a small regional airport, there are less than 100 steps (yes, we’ve counted) from the departure lounge to your plane, making boarding a gentle stroll.


And what about those early morning pre-coffee trips to the train station? Our daily Birmingham flight leaves Newquay at 5.35pm, so you can come to us straight from work.

The return flight from Birmingham departs at 3.40pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday or 12.20pm on Tuesday and Thursday. For a Thursday morning meeting, you need only leave on Wednesday evening, and by the following afternoon you could be back in Cornwall.

For those venturing further afield, Birmingham International Airport is a perfect hub for onward travel. The airport offers flights to over 110 destinations worldwide, including Dubai, New York, Paris and Zurich.

There are a host of facilities to make your journey even easier, including a 24-hour, 365 days a year black cab service from directly outside the arrivals area, meaning that you can quickly be on your way to meetings after getting there.

Alternatively, if you’d rather not leave the airport at all, or have attendees arriving from many locations, you can hold your meetings there. Regus Express, next to the main terminal building, offers rooms and business facilities for quick and convenient gatherings.

For your return journey, make the most of what Birmingham International has to offer: three Executive Lounges, with the Aspire Lounge offering a quiet zone, free WiFi, and charging facilities. To fill the energy gap, there’s a selection of food and drink providers, including All Bar One, Pret a Manger, Deli Hub and Caffé Nero.

Full blog: http://www.businesscornwall.co.uk/blogs ... -308896729

 

[Ray Finkle]

I've put this here rather than the retail thread as it's not in the airport itself but it's definitely good news for the area, although I can't help but wonder why they didn't open in Resorts World?

Marco Pierre White lands at Birmingham Airport

21st April 2015

CELEBRITY chef and restaurateur Marco Pierre White is to open a new venue at a Birmingham Airport hotel.

Located at the 239-bedroom Holiday Inn, the new restaurant will be a Marco’s New York Italian to replace the venue’s existing Grill Room restaurant. With 120 covers, the venue is expected to open mid May 2015 and will serve the famed chef’s take on American-Italian food.

Jason Hiley, General Manager at the hotel said: “The opening of Marco’s New York Italian is perfect for our hotel and is one of the last pieces of the jigsaw in the hotel’s development.

“It follows a series of improvements at the venue over the past two years, which has made the hotel a real hub for the community, as well as the ideal place to stay for those travelling from the airport.

“The presence of a Marco Pierre White restaurant will bring an exciting vibe to the hotel and will sit well with those looking to do business in a relaxed setting, as well as visitors to the NEC.”

http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/westmidl ... ily_E-mail

 

[Ray Finkle]

I took the little one to the viewing area this afternoon and I must say it seems to be proving very popular indeed. Along with the usual spotters/photographers there were lots of families, some of which had spread blankets on the floor and alot of occupied cars parked along the fence. It's such a great location I'm sure it could be something quite special if BHX were interested.

The airport itself was very busy, I think in coming years, if growth continues, not only will we need more check in desks but the arrivals area will need to be extended too as it was very crowded.

I took the opportunity to have a wander across through the NEC and take a look at Resorts World and I have to say the scale of this is immense, I had no idea how huge it is. When everything is open and in full swing I can see this becoming a very popular destination. I know it's being promoted heavily in China and Malaysia so hopefully it will be beneficial for the airport too.

It was good to hear several Yorkshire accents both ways on the rail link all with BHX tags on their luggage, hopefully a sign that BHX is extending it's grasp 🙂

 

[Jon Dempsey]

Hi Ray,

Friend of mine works for Genting. Apparently, they have permission to drive onto the apron to pick up clients, subject to UKBA & HMRC.

Flew in today on ZB971. I am always disappointed with baggage reclaim. IMO, this is an area the company should be looking to invest in as it is visitors' first impression of the city.

 

[Aviador]

I think baggage reclaim at most UK airports is far too inadequate. Sadly baggage carousels don't make any money which is why UK airports don't invest enough in this area.

 

[juliet-fox-9]

Aston Villa are in the FA Cup Final, does this make them elgible for the UEFA Cup or do they have to win it? I ask because if Villa made Europe then that would bring football charters into BHX once more.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Friend of mine works for Genting. Apparently, they have permission to drive onto the apron to pick up clients, subject to UKBA & HMRC.

Sounds great if you've got the cash 🙂

Do you know if this would be in conjunction with Marshalls?

Flew in today on ZB971. I am always disappointed with baggage reclaim. IMO, this is an area the company should be looking to invest in as it is visitors' first impression of the city.

BHX can be very hit and miss when it comes to baggage. I've done aircraft to car in 15 mins before yet on other occasions it's been a never ending wait, I guess it's just luck on the day.

There were quotes from the Consultative Committee meeting that baggage capacity is to be doubled in size by 2017 so hopefully there will be an improvement.

Aston Villa are in the FA Cup Final, does this make them elgible for the UEFA Cup or do they have to win it? I ask because if Villa made Europe then that would bring football charters into BHX once more.

Aston Villa will have to win the FA Cup if they are to qualify for next season's Europa League. Uefa introduced a new rule in July that if the domestic cup winners had already qualified for the Champions League, the spare place would revert to the league.17 Apr 2015

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/32358581

Looks like there will be no Euro footy charters then :spiteful:

 

[Ray Finkle]

Also forgot to mention that Waterford is back on the boards as of tomorrow with flight VG423 due at 13:10 🙂

 

[Jon Dempsey]

Do you know if this would be in conjunction with Marshalls?

It would make sense to use a specialist, but it was mentioned 12-18 months ago. Maybe they have a smaller contract lined up with DiamondAir or the likes.

 

[juliet-fox-9]

Also forgot to mention that Waterford is back on the boards as of tomorrow with flight VG423 due at 13:10 🙂

Fantastic! great to see a route back so soon, hope it's a big success for VLM although this is BHX of course... :drinks:

 

[Ray Finkle]

It would make sense to use a specialist, but it was mentioned 12-18 months ago. Maybe they have a smaller contract lined up with DiamondAir or the likes.

Thanks for the info, it's definitely a very good service to offer and I'm sure certain types of client will make full use 🙂

Fantastic! great to see a route back so soon, hope it's a big success for VLM although this is BHX of course... :drinks:

Yeah it's very un-BHX like to replace lost routes so quickly so lets hope this and Shannon both do well.

 

[juliet-fox-9]

I looked at the passenger figures for each month in 2014 at the BHX photo blog, and lots of the destinations that had the best growth in 2014 included Londonderry, Oporto, Knock, Tolouse, Florence and most of the other routes that we now don't have in 2015. I've also noticed that when Flybe and Ryanair published their summer 2015 route schedules, with the usual blurb about great choice from the Midlands and so on, they very conveniently left out the fact that they'd reduced their Midlands package by seven or eight flights. Very frustrating for any BHX follower.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Don't get me started on BHX's ridiculously thin Euro network, I could type all night. I think we've all on here vented our frustrations at one time or another :aggressive:

We've been waiting for LIS and PRG since Bmibaby went bump and I can't remember when Warsaw and Budapest were last served? Scandinavia hasn't really worked with Stockholm and Oslo both coming and going, Florence and Porto both showed great loads with prices hardly rock bottom but both were dropped and it's now looking likely Madrid will be yet another one season wonder.

For me the biggest failure was the stubboness when it came to the LOCO's and the lack of vision to move with changing times after BA left. MAN was in a similar boat but seems to have changed it's outlook and is now reaping the rewards and when you get Mr Kehoe saying 'we have no flight to Prague as airlines have our market already covered' it paints a very grim picture. I think BHX have well and truly missed the boat with Easyjet and Ryanair.

As for the future it remains to be seen how committed Norwegian are to making BHX work, I guess we'll find out soon enough. There is also an outside chance of Vueling doing something more than just BCN but these are both unknown in the region and whereas Easyjet could come in and hit the ground running Norwegian and Vueling are going to need lots of marketing to get the name out there. Do they have the time and do BHX have the money?

 

[juliet-fox-9]

Madrid another one season wonder? Well, if we can't make the glamour routes work then I have little hope for Bastia, Biarritz, Deauville, etc. What was it that tipped you off that Madrid might be dropped?

 

[Ray Finkle]

I'm just working off the fact that Norwegian are replying to people that winter routes are generally on sale 9-10 months in advance yet October is only 6 months away and MAD is still not on sale. As a point of interest the LGW winter routes have been on sale for some time now.

I do hope I'm wrong though and it'll carry on through along with Malaga and a couple of new routes :s_yes

 

[juliet-fox-9]

What I want to see NAX do more than anything else is start 787s into MCO, but that's unlikely so I have Oslo, and Stockholm, and possibly another Scandinavian route (I think MAN still has Bergen) or else a flight to the Canary Islands on my wish list. Arlanda did well at first with SAS: do you think Norwegian would have success there?