Birmingham Airport - General Thread

[Coathanger16]

It'll be interesting if Qatar does come back to BHX with the current planned capacity - a daily 787 would mean Qatar operating more capacity than Emirates into BHX which would be a first! (Only 4% more mind you)

Qatar did some PR during the peak of the pandemic about keeping countries connected - I think at one point they were carrying more passengers than ANY other airline.

Things are changing on an almost weekly, sometimes daily, basis in aviation at the moment. Currently LHR is showing 6x daily, and MAN is showing 3x daily from 25th October - the day Winter 20/21 starts - so I think its a case that Qatar haven't updated their system yet.

I'd be very surprised with a daily 787, but I'm hoping for something. Qatar have "deep pockets" and I can't really see them surrendering passengers to their competitors. Pre-Covid, they had a smaller market share from BHX than Emirates or Turkish - this gives them an opportunity to at least match those competitors.

A 4x weekly service from each of Emirates, Qatar and Turkish would represent a capacity drop of 73% vs pre-Covid. Without Qatar that figure would be an 81% drop.

Even if Qatar don't come back this winter, I'm hopeful they'll be back for Summer 2021.

 

[nbdm]

Things are changing on an almost weekly, sometimes daily, basis in aviation at the moment. Currently LHR is showing 6x daily, and MAN is showing 3x daily from 25th October - the day Winter 20/21 starts - so I think its a case that Qatar haven't updated their system yet.

Is the slot waiver (as was the case for S20) for W20 confirmed yet? I know there were some rumblings recently about it being extended, but that could be the reason for such a high schedule being 'planned' now.

 

[Coathanger16]

Statement by Commissioner Adina Valean on the Commission's intention to extend airport the slot waiver

Mobility and transport

EC Transport Home page

ec.europa.eu

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there all, why was the word International removed from Birmingham International Airport for, because that word means alot, without it ,it puts Birmingham in a lower category all together, making International travellers less likely to want to travel in or through..Andyc

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there all again, if Birmingham Airport meets all the criteria needed for an international status, then the word international should be put back into Birmingham International Airport, and then leave it at that, so that everyone around the world can see its name...Andyc

 

[IanFarquharson]

Hi there all again, if Birmingham Airport meets all the criteria needed for an international status, then the word international should be put back into Birmingham International Airport, and then leave it at that, so that everyone around the world can see its name...Andyc

It really does not make any difference not many airports in the UK have the word International in any more

 

[nwoody2001]

Hi there all again, if Birmingham Airport meets all the criteria needed for an international status, then the word international should be put back into Birmingham International Airport, and then leave it at that, so that everyone around the world can see its name...Andyc

Plus any airport that flies out of the UK in theory meets the criteria of "international!"

on this basis, if we add International to all airports names that could legitimately use it, then you see how silly it becomes!

Teesside International Airport (flies to AMS)
City of Derry International Airport (flies to PMI)
Humberside International Airport (flies to AMS)
Newquay International Airport (flies to a number of international airports)
Norwich International Airport (flies to a number of international airports)

I agree... Birmingham Airport is the way forward, we are the airport that services the second largest city in the UK and the 3rd largest airport in the UK outside London flying circa 12,500,000 pax (in normal times) ... anyone who knows the industry we'll know BHX is an international airport

 

[HPsauce]

I always understood that 'International' could be included in a UK airports title for a limited period only ( provided they held international routes). We were one of the earliest to take that up. In more recent times we have seen Bristol, East Midlands and Glasgow for example. I believe it was an idea brought in to raise awareness of other UK airports to overseas airlines.

 

[JENNYJET]

Here is a thought, Birmingham International railway station, is it because of direct services to Europe or possibly because it links with an airport that once had international in it's title?

 

[HPsauce]

Birmingham International railway station carried the ' International ' name from it's opening. Probably because of the nearby airport, and newly built NEC. That would be early '70's.

 

[Ray Finkle]

I believe that when he was CEO Paul Kehoe tried quite hard to get the name 'Birmingham International' dropped from the station as it was deemed confusing for visitors who may not know the area.

I also seem to remember him saying that National Rail Enquiries showed "Sorry, no station found" when typing in 'Birmingham Airport", which is what the vast majority of people would most likely search for (that was then, no idea if it still does).

I think as well as the estimated £1 million price tag for rebranding the signs and changing the IT systems there was also an issue with the NEC over naming rights. They wanted NEC/Birmingham Airport whereas BHX wanted Birmingham Airport/NEC

Speaking of CEO's can anyone remember the name of the guy who replaced Mr K?

 

[JENNYJET]

On that will be Dick Barton, special agent!

 

[Matt995]

Speaking of CEO's can anyone remember the name of the guy who replaced Mr K?

or remember what he looks like!!! ... maybe he furloughed himself until the end of October to save the airport money!

 

[Ray Finkle]

Car Park 6 to be used as a 'Brexit lorry park' for up to 200 lorries.

HMRC expect the site to be in use for 'up to 2 years' but permissions will last for up to 5 years. Should be gone by 2040 then

Full details of 200-space 'Brexit lorry park' site unveiled

Further details of 24/7 facility published with consultation underway

www.birminghammail.co.uk

 

[JENNYJET]

I have seen everything now, a BHX car park helping out Dover?

 

[Coathanger16]

I have seen everything now, a BHX car park helping out Dover?

I "think" the idea is that rather than carry out all custom checks at ports of entry (and cause total gridlock in Kent), lorries will arrive in the UK and then drive to a checkpoint local to their final destination.

 

[JENNYJET]

Thus turning a BHX parking facility into a Dover annex and a port of entry for HM EXISE and CUSTOMS for road transport at an airport. The idea of locality clearance is a good one so I can expect one at Old Trafford for Trafford Centre deliveries and at Gateshead for Newcastle area etc.....

 

[HPsauce]

Canaries , Mykonos and Denmark amongst destinations taken off the quarantine list tonight

 

[JENNYJET]

Denmark troubles me because of the EU open border laws, Schengen means no chance of preventing a traveller from UK infecting Europe from Madrid to Helsinki.

 

[nbdm]

Denmark troubles me because of the EU open border laws, Schengen means no chance of preventing a traveller from UK infecting Europe from Madrid to Helsinki.

I believe the Denmark changes aren't reciprocal and the UK is on their 'banned' list - https://coronasmitte.dk/en/entry-into-denmark/is-my-country-open-or-banned