Birmingham: General Airport Discussion & Updates

[Ray Finkle]

It's a very good point and I think it's a combination of reasons, not least having the likes of LHR with it's wealth of destinations and frequencies and LTN with it's cheap flights in such easy reach.

The interview with Mr Kehoe posted by Brum X was the first time I've heard him admit BHX has failed big time with the LOCO's and that airlines have avoided them because of their high prices. Hopefully admitting it is the first step towards sorting it out.

We've seen positive signs with the arrival of Vueling and Norwegian (I'm still concerned that their winter routes are now on sale but BHX ends in Oct) but it remains to be seen if BHX have actually turned a corner and will now be more realistic about pricing. I have my doubts.

I meet many different people on a daily basis and often talk about holidays, it's amazing how many travel from other airports either because the destination isn't available from BHX or it's vastly more expensive.

Firstly BHX need to get a decent route network sorted out, plugging the huge gaps with flights that are competitively priced against our rivals. Once this is done I think they need a serious hearts and minds campaign to try and change peoples perception. This will take time though, LHR is often the default choice for long haul and for short haul and holiday flights many believe 'BHX is an expensive place to fly from'! It needs to be a complete change in attitude which won't be easy.

I was reading an article in the MEN recently about something or other and one particular quote really stood out to me:

“What we have seen is a strong demand for long haul flights in Manchester. It really has changed beyond recognition.

“People’s mindset is now they don’t need to go anywhere else to fly long haul.”

I know we don't have anywhere near the long haul route network that MAN has but there is enough available to make BHX a viable option.

People’s mindset is now they don’t need to go anywhere else to fly long haul.

This is exactly what BHX need to be aiming for!

 

[Brummiegem]

Andyc makes some good and interesting points.I also agree with much of what Ray has said.
Luton is a predominantly a loco airport,so are we saying this is the type of operation we want for BHX.Not entirely,but greater choice would be nice.
MAN and LHR are more like what BHX is trying to be but the major flaw is our geographical position
In relation to the both of them.
We all know that there is demand for certain long haul routes from BHX,and we all want more European cities added.To remain competitive pricing has to be right.BHX is currently in a good place regards profits and the future is looking bright.
Surely now is the time for Mr Kehoe and his team to give the hard sell to the world.Even if it means giving some freebies or whatever they do in this industry,to make BHX attractive to all comers.MAN has stolen a march on us but the situation is not that bad as they always had a head start.
I think we will know soon enough if the route planning team is worth it's weight in salt,but the next few months will be interesting to say the least.
Finally I think there is some concern regarding Norwegian.They have taken a hit in recent months and they may well be looking at cutting back.I just hope they give the BHX routes some time to settle,and not having the winter schedule printed yet might just be that they are looking at the forward bookings before making that decision.
As for long haul the American stance on NOS recruiting policy may be a factor,but that is out of our hands.We just have to hope it can be sorted out and just maybe NOS will expand it's presence at BHX,then we will all be happy.

 

[Brum X]

The full Norweigan Winter schedule is still not been confirmed and not forgetting that there BHX summer programme was only announced 2 months ago. Also as the BHX schedule is still small atm, im sure they will find some space over the coming weeks/months for BHX. Hopefully.

 

[Ray Finkle]

To remain competitive pricing has to be right.BHX is currently in a good place regards profits and the future is looking bright.
Surely now is the time for Mr Kehoe and his team to give the hard sell to the world.Even if it means giving some freebies or whatever they do in this industry,to make BHX attractive to all comers.

Totally agree. We are well served by the full service carriers linking into their hubs what is needed now is a based airline to cover the sun routes, city break destinations and maybe a business route or two. Who could/would though? Ryanair haven't done anything for years, Monarch have their own problems to sort out, Flybe have proven unreliable and wouldn't be right anyway, it looks as if BHX have burned their bridges regarding Easyjet and Jet2 seemed to be all up for it but quickly got cold feet. It seems as if everything now rests on the success of Vueling and Norwegian, two relatively unknown brands in this area. As said, it should be an interesting 18 months.

The full Norweigan Winter schedule is still not been confirmed and not forgetting that there BHX summer programme was only announced 2 months ago. Also as the BHX schedule is still small atm, im sure they will find some space over the coming weeks/months for BHX. Hopefully.

But EDI's programme is also only three routes and their Malaga flight, which was released the same time as BHX, is now bookable right through winter. I have a nasty feeling that given their recent financial reports they may have had a rethink about BHX.

 

[Brum X]

Remember Ray, NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS.

I have another good feeling about this, remember in November when i also had a good feeling in my stomarch about Emirates etc etc


How do you know a bigger announcemnt wont be due Re: Norweigan at BHX in winter 2015/2016.

I heard LPA and TFS were being propsed for winter ?????


Only time will tell i guess, but lets not panic yet.


And on the plus point Vueling and American have both continued into winter 2015/2016. Thats really good news

 

[thunderchild]

Given the number of billboard advertisement that have gone up I'd be very surprised if Norwegian weren't planning on sticking around.

 

[Ray Finkle]

How do you know a bigger announcemnt wont be due Re: Norweigan at BHX in winter 2015/2016.

I heard LPA and TFS were being propsed for winter ?????

I'd heard LPA, TFS, ALC and OSL were all in the pipeline, but things can change.

Remember Ray, NO NEWS IS GOOD NEWS.

I have another good feeling about this, remember in November when i also had a good feeling in my stomarch about Emirates etc etc

I remember it well, lets hope it's right again. By the way I've been having one of those feelings recently too but not about Norwegian.

Only time will tell i guess, but lets not panic yet.

I'm not quite ready to go and grab the razor blades yet, but, after years of following BHX my default position is expect the worst, anything else is a bonus 🙂

Hopefully we'll hear something soon.

Given the number of billboard advertisement that have gone up I'd be very surprised if Norwegian weren't planning on sticking around.

Good point.

Norwegian have recently signed deals to operate flights for the likes of TUI and Thomas Cook. I wondered if this could have anything to do with the delay at BHX and if we may possibly see Norwegian doing some flying for these ex BHX next year.

Time will tell but this is BHX and things like this make me nervous 🙄 😀

 

[BHXsupporter]

Re 757

Interesting Flightglobal article picking up a previous theme:

ANALYSIS: What are 757s used for?
Washington DC
Source:
2 hours ago

Boeing has closed the door on long-running speculation that it might be prepared to revive its veteran 757 with a re-engining, conceding that there is just not enough of a market.

Capable of carrying some 240 passengers on routes up to 3,700nm (6,850km), the 757 sits between the largest and longest-range single aisles and the smallest widebodies. American Airlines and Delta Air Lines, for example, use 757s on routes between the USA and western Europe – just outside the reach of the next-generation Airbus A321neo and Boeing 737 Max 9 – and have been pushing for a replacement.

But Boeing earlier this year scotched hopes of any short-term move to develop a new aircraft in this segment, and now has declared that it will not re-engine the existing 757, either.

Asked to respond to a report in the Wall Street Journal that cited a source within Boeing saying a re-engined 757 was one option being considered as the company’s answer to a recently launched long-range Airbus A321neo, vice president Randy Tinseth was unequivocal: “No, no.”

Re-engining, he told the Pacific Northwest Aerospace Alliance conference in Seattle on 11 February, had been looked at a couple of times but the economics don’t make sense: “It just doesn’t work.”

Boeing has concluded that the 757 market is too small to justify investment. Tinseth said there are 550 passenger-carrying 757s still in operation, but only about 50-80 flying transatlantic routes. And, he added, the 757 production system was very expensive, ruling out reviving it for a re-engining.

Airbus in January 2015 launched the long-range version of its A321neo, capable of carrying 206 passengers over 4,000nm – surpassing the in-development 737 Max 9’s 180 seats and 3,600nm range. Toulouse believes there is enough demand for an aircraft on long thin mainly transatlantic routes – too far for other next-generation narrowbodies, but without sufficient passengers for a widebody – to justify its albeit modest investment.

While Boeing might eventually come up with a clean-sheet aircraft in this category, any such move seems a decade away. The manufacturer, says Tinseth, wants eventually to fill the space between the 737 Max 9 and the 787-8 widebody with a new aircraft: bigger than the 757 with about 20% more range. But with the KC-46 tanker, 737 Max, 787-10 and 777X still in development, Boeing’s research and development resources are occupied at least until 2022, Tinseth adds.

Flightglobal data below shows that the vast majority of 757s are being flown on routes of under 3,000km, with only 18% flying over 4,000km. In addition, most carry fewer than 200 passengers, which would seem to back Boeing's claim that the market to replace 757s with a more fuel efficient, longer-range narrowbody is small. Instead, most 757s could, according to these figures, easily replaced by 737 or A320 family aircraft.

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Delta 757-232, in its natural environment

AirTeamImages

 

[Ray Finkle]

An interesting read, thanks for posting it.

The 757 sure has been a fantastic aircraft over the years, with Icelandair, United, Turkmenistan and American I think we'll still see them at BHX for a good few years yet.

 

[Brum X]

An interesting read, thanks for posting it.

The 757 sure has been a fantastic aircraft over the years, with Icelandair, United, Turkmenistan and American I think we'll still see them at BHX for a good few years yet.

And THOMSON :rockon:

 

[Ray Finkle]

How could I forget Thomson! :fool:

 

[Ray Finkle]

March is finally here and we've got a few things to look forward to at the end of the month.

The 29th sees Turkish Airlines increase services from 10 up to 12x weekly.

The 29th also sees the return of Aegean Airlines 2x weekly service to Athens.

Norwegian Air Shuttle also start two of their three routes this month with Madrid starting on the 29th and Malaga starting on the 30th.

One negative is we lose several Flybe routes at the end of the month but we do have Bastia and Biarritz both arriving.

This week we're due an announcement of the summer flights to Beijing so hopefully it's the start of a very good summer :good:

 

[Brummiegem]

Something else for BHX to look forward to http://www.airports-expo.com/?utm_sourc ... e-89649977

 

[Ray Finkle]

Radisson Blu to open a hotel at BHX, will post details when I get home.

 

[Ray Finkle]

220 rooms with restaurant, cafe/lounge bar, 1300 sqm meeting and events space with ballroom and health club.

The article mentions shuttle buses taking people to the NEC, station and airport terminals. If this is to be situated next to Diamond House as suggested then it'll be a 30 second walk across to T2?

Look forward to seeing the plans.

Carlson Rezidor, one of the largest and most dynamic hotel groups worldwide, further strengthens its network in the United Kingdom by announcing the Radisson Blu Hotel, Birmingham Airport. The property, featuring 220 guest rooms, is scheduled to open in early 2017, and is Carlson Rezidor’s 15th Radisson Blu in the country. Radisson Blu – Europe’s largest upper upscale hotel brand – is known for stylish and sophisticated design and personalized services following the philosophy “Yes I Can!”

“Birmingham is one of the UK’s most important markets and a key travel hub in the country. The Radisson Blu Hotel, Birmingham Airport will ideally complement the existing Radisson Blu hotel in the city centre, create potential for operational and marketing synergies, and enforce our presence in town”, said Wolfgang M. Neumann, President & CEO of Rezidor.

Full article: http://www.rezidor.com/phoenix.zhtml?c= ... ID=2022230

 

[Brum X]

This is another exciting development for BHX and a upmarket hotel too. Looking forward to seeing this built.

 

[Ray Finkle]

It'll be a great addition for both the airport and the NEC.


Just to get people in the mood for the summer this will be the long haul arrivals for Fridays in August. It's a shame PIA or Air Transat don't operate on a Friday, we'd have been in double figures.

06:00 TOM631 Orlando Sanford
07:05 UAE41 Dubai
07:10 UAL26 New York - Newark
07:10 AAL130 New York - JFK
08:00 HU7949 Beijing
11:25 TUA425 Ashgabat
12:50 UAE39 Dubai
17:00 AIC113 Delhi
19:35 UAE37 Dubai

Not too shabby for little old BHX :smile:

 

[Aviador]

That's pretty impressive.

 

[Ray Finkle]

On Fridays in August BHX could possibly see an Emirates 77W, American Airlines 757, United Airlines 757, Hainan Airlines 763, Thomson 787 and Turkmenistan 77L all on the pier at the same time, amongst the usual regulars. It's been a while since we've had a line up like that, I hope arrivals can cope :smile:


In other news there is some stand reconfiguration happening on the shorter pier, stand 61 is being lost to allow larger aircraft to be able to use 59 & 60.

 

[Aviador]

That's an impressive line up Ray Finkle! How many carousels does BHX arrivals have out of interest?