Birmingham: General Airport Discussion & Updates

[Ray Finkle]

New business hub for foreign investment set to be based near Birmingham Airport

A NEW business hub tasked with creating 1,400 jobs and bringing £15m of foreign investment into the Midlands over the next three years, is set to be based near Birmingham Airport.

http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/west...ail&utm_campaign=_4th_Jul_2016_-_Daily_E-mail

Good to see Sajid Javid doing his bit for our region 👍

Firstly, North America will welcome the first major Midlands Engine trade mission in September, with Business Secretary Sajid Javid leading the delegation.

 

[JENNYJET]

Perhaps we may get the Washington route!

 

[Ray Finkle]

So, Wales are about to exit the tournament (with heads held very high) and Mr Saunders will now soon be heading home to a rather hefty car parking bill.

As BHX have got themselves a nice bit of publicity out of this story I think it would be a nice gesture if they could donate the amount to a local charity?

 

[Kevin Farnell]

So, Wales are about to exit the tournament (with heads held very high)

Yes, huge congratulations to Wales for their performance at the Euro2016 championships. I saw on the news tonight, that all the Welsh fans had wanted, was an appearance at a Championship. The Welsh team delivered that and a lot more!
I'd also like to congratulate the Welsh fans, for their conduct, throughout the tournament.
Hold your heads high!
I only wish I'd bought a shedload of shares in Brains Brewery, I'd have made a fortune.

As BHX have got themselves a nice bit of publicity out of this story I think it would be a nice gesture if they could donate the amount to a local charity?

Totally agree! Perhaps split 50:50 between charities nominated by BHX and Dean Saunders, or in agreement between them.

Kevin - a very downbeat England fan (nothing new!).

 

[Ray Finkle]

Well done Mr Kehoe 👍

http://www.itv.com/news/central/update/2016-07-07/birmingham-airport-dean-dont-worry-about-the-fee/

 

[juliet-fox-9]

Went to BHX this afternoon to pick up a friend arriving on Flybe from Bergerac. There was a more or less continuous stream of landings and the terminal was crowded everywhere with long queues at the Flybe desks. PIA and Qatar were parked next to each other on the International Pier which was unusual. Other highlights were the Sunwing 737, Cello 737 and an all-white E145.

Used the station car park and the fee turned out to be £12 for a stay of roughly an hour

 

[Jon Dempsey]

Went to BHX this afternoon to pick up a friend arriving on Flybe from Bergerac. There was a more or less continuous stream of landings and the terminal was crowded everywhere with long queues at the Flybe desks. PIA and Qatar were parked next to each other on the International Pier which was unusual. Other highlights were the Sunwing 737, Cello 737 and an all-white E145.

Used the station car park and the fee turned out to be £12 for a stay of roughly an hour

Try the pick up car park at the station mate. Supposed to be a limit of 25 mins, but I've not been ticketed yet when picking up. Oh, free as well.

 

[richard winterbourn]

The imminent arrival of Jet2 and seemingly no base for Easyjet at Birmingham does identify completely different attitudes to airline development.

Variously quoted i have seen it said that Easyjet do not believe there is sufficient 'yield' from BHX, while Jet2 have plumped for BHX because of its significantly large and growing catchment area. Indeed, the West Midlands catchment area is beaten only by the London area according to figures by the ONS (Office for National Statistics).

So, if Jet2 's approach were to be followed by other major national and international airlines, BHX COULD see further significant developments.

Many of us have thought that BHX was a 'sleeping giant' just waiting to realise its potential. And now, from under 10m pax to possibly 12m pax next year, we could be witnessing that awakening.

 

[nwoody2001]

I suppose the main difference between EZY and LS is that fact they LS have always accepted they are a northern airline and that therefore there has always been an acknowledgment that the south is an untapped catchment. The most southern airport they operate is EMA. Anyone further south of tgat catchment (ie a majority of the UKs population) is therefore not served by LS and as such, the second they want growth, that is where they will look.

EZY on the other hand has LTN, LGW and BRS all serving the south, with MAN, LPL and NCL in the north. To them, they have all catchments covered and as such, a base at either BHX/EMA will compromise the yield of any such existing base.

We know this is bollocks, and in my opinion, the likes of LS setting up a base at BHX is likely to be a lot more detrimental to EZYs bases at LTN/MAN than if they had just set up their own base at BHX. Who knows, maybe LS coming to BHX will make them notice us more???

 

[Ray Finkle]

There was a time when I would have walked barefoot across hot coals for an Easyjet base, now I'm not so sure that we need one.

Monarch have been great for BHX and are still adding bits here and there. Ryanair have finally noticed we're here, although after the EU vote we don't know what they have planned for next year. Wizz and Blue Air have opened up lots more of Eastern Europe. Jet2 have come in with more than I expected they would and I can only see them growing from here. We also have Norwegian and Vueling offering away based flights alongside the full service carriers and Flybe.

I don't see where Easyjet would fit in now.

 

[Bhx_fifteen]

I'd also like to add that a key difference between LS and EZY is that LS tends to operate as a hybrid carrier. Whilst they are technically scheduled and low-cost, they operate like a charter company in the sense that many routes are seasonal and operate at low frequencies alongside their partner company J2H. Take the example of their EMA base - there will be 41 routes from there as of S17, yet FR carry more passengers with fewer routes.

EZY on the other hand tend to operate at higher frequencies, which they clearly don't see as a viable option from BHX.

I do however agree with Ray - I'm not too fussed about having an EZY base right now, and I'm delighted with the Jet2 news. It's also great that our 4 based aircraft will be new 738s, as their overall fleet are pretty old with more 733s than any other aircraft.

I do believe they are the perfect fit for BHX - I would compare them most to Monarch in terms of business model, and they have been a consistently key player at the airport.

 

[Ray Finkle]

It's been interesting reading various forums since the Jet2 announcement. For years we all moaned (with some justification) that nothing was happening, yet now BHX is having probably it's best period ever I'm hearing moans that we may now have too much! Is it just a Brummie thing where we feel the constant need to put ourselves down, rather than shouting about our successes?

I think Jet2 have made some cracking choices, no doubt in conjunction with the RD Team. FUE, RHO, HER, PFO are all underserved and Reus and Girona are currently only offered on IT. ACE, MAH and LPA I'm convinced will benefit from extra frequencies and as for the core routes of FAO, ALC, AGP, PMI and TFS, I've outlined the numbers below.

When you look at some of the historical numbers then daily flights to PMI, FAO and ALC and 6x weekly flights to AGP doesn't seem so crazy after all.

Yes the building will be busy but it's the price we pay for success, other airports have been that way for years. I think it's about time that we started celebrating what is the best period in the airports history, rather than looking for any negatives to moan about 👍

2004

Faro 207 260
Alicante 312 884
Malaga 289 560
Palma 389 855
Tenerife 319 520

2005

Faro 194 266
Alicante 332 703
Malaga 379 859
Palma 396 622
Tenerife 336 858

2006

Faro 175 013
Alicante 272 525
Malaga 308 639
Palma 315 243
Tenerife 296 303

2007

Faro 189 181
Alicante 260 024
Malaga 288 107
Palma 359 649
Tenerife 274 668

2008

Faro 188 056
Alicante 251 960
Malaga 277 604
Palma 358 199
Tenerife 273 035

2009

Faro 177 075
Alicante 313 233
Malaga 303 492
Palma 305 938
Tenerife 247 578

2010

Faro 196 199
Alicante 293 507
Malaga 280 250
Palma 233 425
Tenerife 276 874

2011

Faro 208 446
Alicante 290 034
Malaga 295 043
Palma 242 286
Tenerife 316 357

2012

Faro 212 251
Alicante 312 356
Malaga 306 690
Palma 285 272
Tenerife 313 898

2013

Faro 177 387
Alicante 294 332
Malaga 251 838
Palma 258 959
Tenerife 275 317

2014

Faro 203 982
Alicante 301 859
Malaga 242 881
Palma 265 025
Tenerife 276 432

2015

Faro 208,693
Alicante 301,301
Malaga 290,778
Palma 254,763
Tenerife 273,380

Source: CAA Stats

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Thanks, Ray. I hadn't realised how underserved BHX was on some of these sun routes. In 2015 BRS carried 34,000 more on the Palma, 9,000 more on the Malaga and 64,000 more on the Faro, although Alicante and Tenerife South saw more passengers from BHX than from BRS: 30,000 and a whopping 100,000 respectively.

As you suggest, plenty of scope for expansion on these.

 

[Daza]

Ray Finkle wrote

I think it's about time that we started celebrating what is the best period in the airports history, rather than looking for any negatives to moan about 👍

Couldn't have put it better myself! When other airports see expansion we don't get this wave of "we wont cope or they will never fill those seats" seems unique to BHX. I will certainly talk about the positives of which there are many at the moment.
Daza

 

[Ray Finkle]

TLY, EMA has also outperformed BHX on the main sun routes for a good few years, by a considerable distance on some. I think the main concern is that Monarch failed with their attempt at EMA and quickly came back to BHX. For that reason I can understand that some may be worried about the reverse happening with Jet2.

As can be seen from the numbers there is definitely room for growth and awful as they are, the issues in Tunisia, Turkey and Egypt can only boost numbers to the Costa's.

Daza, 👍

 

[IanFarquharson]

I think Jet 2 will go from strength to strength at BHX.
BHX will be their most Southern airport so anyone living South og BHX and wanted to go on a Jet 2 holiday should choose BHX which is exactly what we need not a week goes buy without me hearing of someone travelling to LTN, MAN or LGW to fly to somewhere alraedy avaialble from BHX.

 

[Ray Finkle]

The differences between the attitude and outlook of those in the Midlands and those in the North West seems remarkable.

Someone drops a crisp packet in Birmingham.

- The street cleaners moan about excessive work load and cuts to their department.
- The locals all look at each other and complain about how they never did such things and write to the council to complain.
- Birmingham City Council issue a statement about how we once had the 'finest street cleaning services in the world' but government spending cuts have meant there is now nobody left to do it.
- Birmingham sees race riots on the streets with each side blaming each other for excessive littering.
- The government start an immediate enquiry and ponder taking over control of the council as they're not fit for purpose.
- West Midlands Police find themselves at the centre of a national scandal for daring to try and keep law and order.
- The BBC send some Z list nobody to interview the thickest people they can find wandering about and show a clip of Eanus saying "Ar, it wor loyk tha in arr day, but they ay now body left since ve credit crunch!"
- The BBC follow up with stories about shameful child neglect and Muslim terrorists running wild on the streets.

Someone drops a crisp packet in Manchester.

- The street cleaner picks it up and goes about his/her business.
- The locals write to the council stating that Manchester has the best street cleaning services in the world.
- Manchester City Council release a statement praising their 'world class' street cleaning facilities and announce a government grant of £977,868,595,000.59 for research into street cleaning and how it can bring about world peace. George Osbourne is pictured holding a giant cheque.
- The BBC disband their London office and move everything to the North West doing hourly reports of 'street cleaners at work' and ' the class of '62, street cleaners back then'.
- The BBC cancel Last Night of the Proms and instead show full coverage of Manchester's International Manchester Festival of Manchester, with a special supplement of how their street cleaners have changed the world.

🙄

 

[Ray Finkle]

It seems as if we may hear something of the new master plan by the end of the year. This is a snippet from an interview with Mr Kehoe.

Looking further ahead, Birmingham Airport is also, at this moment, launching the optioneering exercise on its updated master plan to 2030, which Kehoe adds “will give us the direction of travel we need to consult on with the community towards the end of this year, and also enable us to inform and support HS2.”

http://www.airport-business.com/2016/06/direct-connectivity-powering-birminghams-engine-of-growth/

 

[JENNYJET]

It seems as if we may hear something of the new master plan by the end of the year. This is a snippet from an interview with Mr Kehoe.

Looking further ahead, Birmingham Airport is also, at this moment, launching the optioneering exercise on its updated master plan to 2030, which Kehoe adds “will give us the direction of travel we need to consult on with the community towards the end of this year, and also enable us to inform and support HS2.”

http://www.airport-business.com/2016/06/direct-connectivity-powering-birminghams-engine-of-growth/

I understand that on occasion I may waffle in legalese but sometimes I weep when I encounter management speak...'optioneering' if you please!!

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I understand that on occasion I may waffle in legalese but sometimes I weep when I encounter management speak...'optioneering' if you please!!

JJ, you beat me to it.

I take it this gobbledygook means they are to launch a review to see what if any alterations are needed.

I'm mindful though that gobbledygook was received with horror by many traditionalists when it first appeared but somehow its sound fits perfectly with what it's meant to convey. It's said, with a sound basis, that English is a continually evolving language so maybe we won't even blink at optioneering in a few years' time. My word censor doesn't like it yet though as it awards optioneering a red squiggly (another apposite sound) line.