Birmingham Airport - General Thread

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there nwoody2001, yes I realised that I missed typed it with out the word Airports.... Andyc

 

[Ray Finkle]

2011 - 2015

Heathrow 69 391 000 - 74 979 871
Gatwick 33 644 000 - 40 269 223
Manchester 18 807 000 - 23 140 221
Stansted 18 047 000 - 22 560 000
Luton 9 510 000 - 12 263 357
Edinburgh 9 384 000 - 11 115 204
Birmingham 8 608 000 - 10 185 755
Glasgow 6 858 000 - 8 714 565
Bristol 5 768 000 - 6 787 009
East Midlands 4 208 000 - 4 451 151
Belfast International 4 102 000 - 4 375 311

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Can anyone confirm (or refute if I've got it wrong) that Paul Kehoe, BHX CEO, will respond personally to emails regarding the airport? I seem to recall a number of such examples on this website in the not too distant past.

 

[Ray Finkle]

He has in the past. I've contacted him once and believe others on here have also. The replies seem to be genuinely from him.

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there ray, yes I can confirm with you ray, that he has replied to me personally, regarding when I congratulated him and his team in late January this, about reaching the ten million passenger... Andyc to you

 

[stevepayne]

A couple of friends of mine are off on a round the world trip this month booked through a city centre
travel agent.The first and last legs of which are from and to Dubai,the agent (i cant remember which one)
has booked these for them via Manchester! I asked why and they said that was the closest airport that
has flights to Dubai... unbelievable but it seems that is what we are still up against
Regards to all Steve

 

[Jon Dempsey]

I heard similar from a friend in Kenilworth going to Melbourne, so she flew from Heathrow.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Sadly it doesn't seem to be uncommon. It shows what a massive job the airport have got.

It's not like Emirates haven't been advertising as they've really been pushing the arrival of their A380 recently.

 

[IanFarquharson]

People going to London or up to Manchester has always been an issue and still is.

This is why BHX only captures just 40% of its catchment area

BHX really need to get the message out there that you can fly almost anywhere from BHX with a one stop in DXB / DOH etc.

Things need to change to ensure we dont loose any airlines bearing in mind so much hard work has gone into getting them in the first place.

Hopefully the message about BHX is slowly getting out there ?

Ian

 

[Ray Finkle]

There has been plenty of advertising in recent months, probably more than I've ever seen before.

I think as Paul Kehoe said, it's going to take time to change peoples behaviour.

For so many years BHX underperformed and passengers really had no choice but to go elsewhere. I'd say there are still many, many people who are just used to doing it now. I could list numerous examples of people using others airports when exactly the same was on offer from BHX but they just didn't know about it.

Lets hope enough of a change has happened already to keep our new airlines happy.

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there ray and all, have been trying to find out what Birmingham Airports landing fee charges are for aircraft take off and landing, but unable to find the information, I did find one saying £10:00 or per part ton, don't understand what that means, unable to locate any basic info on how much for an aircraft to land and take off at all, or even how much it charges per passenger to land and take off... Andyc

 

[Ray Finkle]

https://birminghamairport.co.uk/media/1 ... t-2015.pdf

That is a link to BHX fees and charges.

Don't forget that those are only the published fees and each airline will have their own deal wit the airport. That is also something that would be commercially sensitive information and not in the public domain.

 

[Brum X]

A couple of friends of mine are off on a round the world trip this month booked through a city centre
travel agent.The first and last legs of which are from and to Dubai,the agent (i cant remember which one)
has booked these for them via Manchester! I asked why and they said that was the closest airport that
has flights to Dubai... unbelievable but it seems that is what we are still up against
Regards to all Steve

Id go back and politely ask the travel agent to book me on BHX flights as they gave me incorrect information. No harm in trying.

 

[richard winterbourn]

While no doubt this story is true, it really does take some believing. Can there really be travel agents in the West Midlands who do not know that Emirates serve BHX?

I pose the question because BHX currently has three flights a day, and from later this month, one of those will be a A380 service!! If we catered for our region's actual needs it makes me think we might need a fourth daily service...

But agree, the clients should go back to their TA and complain, and no doubt, embarrass them as well.

 

[Ray Finkle]

I too find it hard to believe a travel agent didn't know that Emirates fly from Birmingham.

I don't know the full facts but could there be a situation where there were incentives at that particular time to push particular flights? Or could it be a situation where that particular flight on that particular day was coming up cheaper and the travel agent offered it to clinch the deal?

I think I agree that I'd be going back and having a word.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

I'd be very, very surprised if any Travel Agent was unaware of the BHX services, The Travel Agent, however may have other objectives - namely commission.
If the customer doesn't ask specifically for a certain departure point, they may well push the service that best suits their own interests.

A similar example in a different industry, involved a friend seeking a mortgage. She went via an 'independent' advisor, but found a better deal online. When she basked why the 'independent' advisor had nor recommended this particular Building Society the reply was 'I get no commission from them'.

Kevin

 

[stevepayne]

:diablo: Firstly I can assure you that it is true and also that cost would not remotely
come in to it (lucky them) I am trying to get a message to them to speak
to the T/A as i think it is disgraceful they should be herded up to MAN
when it is completely unnecessary :diablo:

 

[Kevin Farnell]

cost would not remotely come in to it (lucky them)

If they're travelling First Class, then that service is not available from BHX.

Kevin

 

[stevepayne]

Thats a good point but I asked them and they arent

 

[Ray Finkle]

I think Kevin has hit the nail on the head.

It's been quite a while since I've used a travel agent but even booking a package deal to Tenerife she put in LGW and MAN, I had to specifically ask for a BHX flight.

Whilst we're on the subject of Emirates they have a nice big print of an A380 in there check in area welcoming it to Birmingham :smile: