Birmingham: General Airport Discussion & Updates

[Ray Finkle]

I think somebody recently asked if BHX has transfer facilities, well it does now :good:

Birmingham Airport has announced the completion of a new purpose-built transit and transfer facility, providing passengers with the UK’s fastest and most efficient option for onward connecting flights. The new facility delivers an airside connection that allows passengers to transit and transfer within the airside environment in under 45 minutes.

The Airport has invested £200 million on airfield and terminal facilities in recent years, to attract more long haul flights. The new facility means airlines now looking to fly into the lucrative centre of the UK’s booming manufacturing region can also benefit from the domestic and European markets served by Birmingham’s network.

Birmingham Airport’s chief executive officer, Paul Kehoe, welcomes the new facility and believes it will prove to be a huge asset for the airport. Speaking to The HUB at last night's World Routes pre-event reception in Chicago he said: “The completion of our new passenger transit facility is another string to our bow in terms of what we can offer passengers and airlines focussed on long haul travel and better connectivity.

“This valuable piece of infrastructure means long and short haul passengers now have the choice of flying to and from a range of domestic and European destinations connecting through Birmingham, allowing them extra time to relax and enjoy the excellent facilities we have available in the departure lounge.

“The timing of this new facility couldn’t be better. The airport recently recorded the busiest month in its 75 year history and over the past five months, we’ve achieved consecutive growth and seen records smashed, including our long haul traffic. This demonstrates the strong demand that exists for passengers who want to fly further afield on long haul services or are looking for other options to connect within the UK. The arrival of this new facility means we are ideally placed to deliver this demand.”

“Our aviation development team, headed up by William Pearson, stands ready to talk with airline partners about codeshare and through-ticketing opportunities to open up new and existing direct and transfer connectivity. Our region is the fastest growing inward investment region in the UK and the largest net exporter of goods to China. If you combine this demand with domestic and European connecting markets, Birmingham has an enormous amount to offer airlines for routes to the UK. This airport is set to service its region and is centrally located, just an hour from the capital city and able to service this demand well.”

Full article including a short interview with Mr Kehoe although there's not much content in amongst the usual spin: http://www.routesonline.com/news/29/bre ... m-airport/

 

[thunderchild]

Surely this could benefit Flybe? Could we see them start offering connections through BHX?

 

[Ray Finkle]

Flybe was my first thought too. I wonder if this has been added speculatively or whether there has been comments from existing or potentially new airlines. From the article I get the impression this has been added in anticipation of expanding the long haul offering over the coming years, if any potential new carriers could organise through ticketing onto the Flybe network it can only help. As ever time will tell.

 

[thunderchild]

Given that this new transfer facility is located on the international pier I'm not sure how this would work for connecting Flybe passengers from the old Eurohub?

 

[Ray Finkle]

Given that this new transfer facility is located on the international pier I'm not sure how this would work for connecting Flybe passengers from the old Eurohub?

It's a good point, dedicated busses for the transfer pax maybe?

 

[Ray Finkle]

We know BHX can be an expensive place to fly from at times, but.......

A Midland traveller looking to fly to Birmingham Airport to Portugal got slightly more than she bargained for when she searched for a flight through eDreams - when the website quouted her tickets for £23 BILLION.

The flight price comparison website quoted horrified Marion Sessions, from Derbyshire, a whopping £23,659,382,125.95 to fly from the West Midlands to Faro.

😆

Full article: http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/mi ... rt-7836398

 

[thunderchild]

Given that this new transfer facility is located on the international pier I'm not sure how this would work for connecting Flybe passengers from the old Eurohub?

It's a good point, dedicated busses for the transfer pax maybe?

Possibly; perhaps if/when the old Eurohub is replaced a similar facility will be included.

 

[Ray Finkle]

There used to be a transit facility back in the day when BA had the Eurohub, I've never used T2 but I assume it's long since gone?

I know we're talking many years into the future but it'll be interesting to see what replaces T2. Apparently a feasibility study was done for a complete refurb and extension but it was ludicrously expensive, so it seems it will eventually be demolished.

 

[thunderchild]

Been a while since I've flown out of what was T2 - 2006 was the last time using KLM so arrivals has probably changed a lot since then (I recall the Eurohub signs were still in place by the baggage claim).

Seems to me that the "one terminal" idea really only works flying out - sharing the same security zone, duty free and departure lounges. Returning is a different matter; two separate immigration and baggage reclaim areas meaning that the new transfer facility will only benefit airlines using T1 (Star Alliance could benefit) unless there is some system in place.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Good to see local MP's trying to promote the airport.

Karen Lumley ‏@karenlumleymp 23h
Productive meeting with @easyJet. Discussing air passenger duty & future of UK airports. Banging the drum for @bhx_official as ever #CPC14

 

[Ray Finkle]

Hardly surprising that BHX are supporting Gatwick for extra capacity in the South East, an expanded Heathrow would make an already difficult job near impossible, especially with BHX trying to get more long haul up and running.

Birmingham Airport Backs Gatwick Expansion to Deliver Greater Competition Across UK Airports

The CEOs of Birmingham Airport and Gatwick Airport have for the first time joined together to call on the Airports Commission to ensure any new runway developments promote competition and choice across the UK.

The two airport CEOs stood side-by-side at the Conservative Party Conference to deliver the message.

Full article: http://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/meta ... nsion.aspx

 

[Ray Finkle]

Of all the photo's of BHX they could have used they chose one of the Aurela 737 being towed to stand after it's journey into the mud. Even for the Birmingham Post that's poor :s_no

Birmingham Airport chief calls for new approach to air travel

Birmingham Airport’s chief executive has told a Government minister he can boost business in the regions by simply re-designating city airports.

Paul Kehoe argued that by making Birmingham Aiport, and others such as Manchester, as national airports they would begin to lever in more direct flights and more inward investment.

He said that currently Government and civil servants regard the country’s airports as feeding a single major hub at Heathrow and this message is picked up abroad.

But recently other airports have begun to expand direct long-haul services, such as the recent increase of direct services between Birmingham and India.

The airport boss was speaking at a Conservative Party fringe event, where he shared the platform with transport minister Robert Goodwill.

Full article: http://www.birminghampost.co.uk/news/re ... ew-7872396

 

[Brum X]

Re: Birmingham Post AND Mail

I am not surprised, both of these newpapers are "shambolic" to say the least.

No wonder they give the Mail "Free" on a friday in the city centre and i still refuse to take a copy. It is utter S-IT.


:bomb:

 

[Aviador]

There's a fair few photographers on this forum in the BHX section. Why don't you all send in some royalty free photos for them to use in future columns?

 

[justplanecrazy]

Quick question does anyone know of any good restaurants in the solihull area that has good views of approaching/taking off aircraft?

 

[Ray Finkle]

It depends what you are after but the Sreepur on the Coventry Road has/had views across the airfield although the MAEL hangar may well have blocked a chunk of it, I've not been in myself but I've heard good things about the food. There's also the Boat pub in Catherine-de-Barnes where you can see arrivals/departures from the beer garden but you need the weather.

I'll try and have a think of some more.

 

[Ray Finkle]

There's no new info but it's a fairly interesting read if you've got a minute or two to spare.

A compelling market: the future of Birmingham Airport

The recent unprecedented growth at Birmingham Airport serves as evidence of the changing environment. April’s 16% month-on-month passenger increase at the beginning of this financial year would be the first in a series of record breaking months that continued into May, June and July – which was its busiest month since 2008. At the availability of the latest figures, August 2014 is now the busiest month in the airport’s history with just over 1.1 million passengers, while the 200-millionth passenger also flew from the facility – coincidentally in the month of its 75th anniversary. The prospering market has also prompted growth amongst the airport’s legacy carriers, and along with increased frequencies is stirring stimulation once again in its route network.

Full article: http://www.airport-business.com/2014/10 ... m-airport/

 

[Brummiegem]

Lots of coverage in the media today regarding compensation being given out by airlines for delayed flights.This is all well and good if you can prove the airline is at fault.
What happens when the airline or airport is not to blame??
ATC computer failures,freaky weather and bomb scares have all contributed to delayed flights recently.Who do you make a claim to in these situations??
There was a situation @ BHX last Thursday when the AI flight was delayed due to the aircraft going tech.A part had to be brought in and the flight was rescheduled for departure the following day.
In Air Indias' situation at the moment a compensation claim from all and sundry could bring down an airline already with lots of problems.And what of the wider consequences?If an airline is already strapped for cash where is the payout going to come from.
Yes airlines have a responsibility to keep to their schedules,but there are times when this is not possible and as long as they do their best to keep their customers informed of the ongoing situation and look after them properly then I do not know what else they are supposed to do.
Sorry if this sounds like a random rant but this compensation culture really winds me up.
You pays your money and you take your chance.
Besides more people worldwide suffer delays through road congestion on a daily basis but you never hear of other road users being sued or the councils for that matter.
Rant over as you were!!!

 

[TheLocalYokel]

ATC computer failures,freaky weather and bomb scares have all contributed to delayed flights recently.Who do you make a claim to in these situations??

If a flight is cancelled due to extraordinary circumstances compensation would not be payable and the examples you give would almost certainly be considered within that bracket unless it was a faulty computer on the aircraft.

The latest legal decision deals with technical problems on aircraft where airlines have sought to argue that these are extraordinary circumstances. The Court of Appeal ruled in July that aircraft technical problems are not extraordinary circumstances and the Supreme Court has now denied two airlines the right to appeal this decision.

It's a finely balanced argument and in truth airlines don't always help themselves because they invariably use the expression 'delayed for technical reasons' whether it's a problem with an aircraft or the captain oversleeping and being late at the airport.

All of us will finish up paying more on our tickets to enable airlines to pay out compensation when due.

Incidentally, some years ago I pitched up at Penzance railway station to catch a Virgin Cross Country train to Bristol to find the station in chaos. Someone had jumped in front of a train near Taunton many miles away with the result that all long distance trains west of that town were many hours late or cancelled. We were handed compensation forms at Penzance without asking (I hadn't given compensation a thought) and in the event I arrived back at Bristol less than two hours late but Virgin still paid me about £11 in compensation. So it's just not airlines.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Driving past BHX today I noticed 5 or so Monarch aircraft parked up (along with the Hifly A310 and a Thomson). I assume we're due to get the usual Ryanair arrivals over the coming days/weeks to stay for the winter?