Longhaul from Bristol

[alphagolf]

Many thanks for the detailed reply :smile:

The taxi routings for the 787 are published which suggests it is at least physically possible, I guess it comes down to airline preference.

Many thanks again.

(g) B787 available taxi routes:

Departure

Runway 09: Taxiway Z to Taxiway G, enter Runway at GX.
Runway 27: Taxiway Z to Taxiway A, enter Runway at AX.

Arrival

Runway 09: Runway to vacate either BX (Taxiway B) or AX (Taxiway A) to Taxiway Z to allocated stand.
Runway 27: Runway to vacate GX, Taxiways G and Z to allocated stand.

(h) B787 aircraft will not be able to backtrack.

What I find really interesting is that until now there was a supposition that the B787 would not be able to use the parallel taxiway due to wing overhang of the fence on Winters Lane so there would be a need to backtrack.

The taxi routings noted above obviously suggest otherwise so it is really pleasing to finally see the categorical data confirming B787 operations to and from Bristol can take place.

Really hope we will see B787 operations in the not to distant future :good:

 

[ezy_brs]

Big G the link appears to be broken sorry! Any chance you could post a new one? Many thanks!

 

[ezy_brs]

For all who may have had previous links broken I have found it under the current textual data info for BRS. it is

http://www.ead.eurocontrol.int/eadbasic ... -10-15.pdf

Hope this works!

Kind Regards

EZY

 

[TheLocalYokel]

What I find really interesting is that until now there was a supposition that the B787 would not be able to use the parallel taxiway due to wing overhang of the fence on Winters Lane so there would be a need to backtrack.

The taxi routings noted above obviously suggest otherwise so it is really pleasing to finally see the categorical data confirming B787 operations to and from Bristol can take place.

Really hope we will see B787 operations in the not to distant future :good:

I wonder what's changed. The master plan has always spoken of the problem of the Winters Lane wing overhang with aircraft larger than the B 767 and suggested turning circles as an interim measure with the goal of moving Winters Lane to the north in the long term. I could never see Winters Lane being moved - imagine the outcry from the protest industry.

I have a vague recollection that one of the BRS posters mentioned some months ago that the turning circle issue had been resolved and they would not be needed. I can't remember who the poster is or when and in which BRS thread he (I am presuming it's a he but of course it might be a she) posted this information.

 

[tpm]

I vaguely remember that it was deemed fine as long as some vehicle accompanies the movement to make sure there are no problems. Don't remember the source for that, I'm sure it's been mentioned in this forum though.

 

[Aviador]

You will be referring to a "follow me" vehicle. Some European airports use them for all movements.

 

[big g]

Thy this link.

http://www.ead.eurocontrol.int/eadbasic ... -10-15.pdf

 

[TheLocalYokel]

NYC

I wonder if yesterday's WOW announcement means that a direct NYC link has now become less likely, at least in the short term. As has been mentioned more than once in recent weeks the airport seemed very confident about a route starting in 2016 having, they said, narrowly missed out on one that would have begun in summer 2015.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

APD

I read on another forum that today's Sunday Times discussed the tax reforms outlined in last week's Autumn Statement that are being transferred to Wales.

The newspaper is said to have reported that it believes that a deal to transfer APD powers to Wales has collapsed. I cannot verify this report and, if it was made, obviously no-one outside the government will know if it's likely to be true.

What I can say is that if it is true the chances of BRS gaining some long haul routes have improved considerably as a £73 tax saving (the long haul from next April with premium class tickets being double that amount) per passenger over 16 would be a major incentive for airlines

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Varying APD rates within England is one of the three options the Westminster government is considering as a way of mitigating the effects to English airports of devolved APD to Scotland and Wales (Scotland is getting the power whilst Wales wants it). There would have to be specific criteria with one suggestion that it be linked to levels of airport congestion.

However, the government is not certain of the legality of this under EU rules and has written to the EC seeking clarification.

Another option being considered is to devolve APD to English local authorities or combined authorities but the snag here is that the amount raised by APD would be reflected entirely in a reduced grant to the authorities. If they decided to reduce APD they would be out of pocket. I can't see the local authorities in the West of England being interested in this and, anyway, they would have to come together at least in the form of the former county of Avon and have a metro mayor, something the local authorities outside Bristol itself are dead set against.

The Wales Assembly can reduce their APD to nil (which they say they would do) because their budget is massive in comparison with the West of England's local authorities and anyway CWL only brings in about £10 million APD each year. BRS is at leat six times this figure.I can't see the local authorities giving that up in order to reduce the BRS APD to nil.

The third option relates to the Regional Connectivity Fund which is no good for BRS as the fund only deals with airports under 3 mppa and anyway any help it can give to smaller airports is limited.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I was listening to BBC Radio Bristol this morning when they had a short interview with Robert Sinclair, the BRS CEO. The programme presenter had already alluded to BRS seeing the return of direct US flights in the near future so the interview was something of an anti climax.

Mr Sinclair said that he was very hopeful of direct transatlantic services returning within the next year or two. He then slightly muddied the waters by speaking about flights to US holiday destinations (charter/IT flights?) and it was not absolutely clear whether these would be in addition to any scheduled service or instead of.

He did give a plug for WOW whilst he was on. From the presenter's remarks it seems that the ubiquitous Simon Calder had been interviewed earlier in the programme (before I began to listen) and had cast doubt on BRS's ability to attract scheduled long haul flights because of the proximity of LHR. He had also apparently questioned some of WOW's transatlantic fares.

Returning to the CEO's remarks, they are something of a disappointment given that last April a BRS spokesman said this in connection with a potential New York route, “We believe we came very close to securing the route last year for this summer but missed out to another airport. We are very confident that this year will be different and we will be able to bring non-stop connectivity to the New York and wider US market directly from Bristol Airport in 2016,”

Discussions were said at that time to be at an 'advanced stage' for the return of a NYC service in 2016.

Those who suggested that the arrival of WOW meant a direct transatlantic scheduled route was not imminent may well be shown to have been correct.

I'm sure that the airport management remains committed to a direct NYC service and is working very hard to achieve it.

 

[Marko1]

While I would dearly love to see the return of non stop New York service returning , I somehow cannot see it returning any time soon. Maybe the focus should now be on building up the short/medium haul routes and gaining more choice both in terms of airlines and destinations

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I understand entirely what you are saying and in itself I wonder how much a daily NYC route helps the airport or the economy of the region. With LHR just up the road (as that nice Mr Calder apparently pointed out this morning on the local radio) the Bristol region is well served by air in terms of intercontinental services. BRS makes an enormous contribution to the provision of short haul for the region.

Matters go beyond that though. Many people and businesses don't think that an airport is a proper airport unless its has some intercontinental services (perhaps if local business people had made more use of the CO EWR service it might not have been axed - although I rather think it would have been anyway once CO had gained access to LHR).

Just reading comments on the local paper's website whenever the airport features in a report shows how people (most of whom have little interest or knowledge of aviation for its own sake) believe that BRS is a small airport on a windswept plateau with few services to speak of whilst they clearly think that other regional airports around the country have much better services including transatlantic scheduled routes. In their eyes a NYC service would put BRS much further up their airport league table.

That's certainly not a reason for getting a NYC service but there is apparently some evidence (I can't find anything that I find completely convincing) that such a route is good for the health of the economy as it would encourage more business links across the Atlantic. If that is the case why weren't local businesses falling over themselves to use the CO service when it was operating?

When the CO route was operating our son used it for business. He worked for a large US conglomerate then and, although the EWR route was good if he was visiting the New York area, it was often more efficient to drive to LHR and use a direct service to other parts of the USA.

Having said all this, I'd be delighted if a NYC service was reinstated as it would clearly be of use to many even though I'd not use it as my wife and I have no wish to visit the USA again. Being selfish I would love one of the MEB3 to set up at BRS. Qatar seems the most likely if any of them do. I'd certainly be very likely to use that.

 

[kraktoa]

It was announced yesterday at a meeting that they are hoping for US long haul flights from 2017. I distinctly felt that this was an acceptance of defeat that nothing will happen this year and the hope is it may happen in 2017. There is no airline interested it appears. Although Bristol will continue to attend fairs and trade shows to raise their profile.

 

[User001]

Well, it's probably a bit late for this year now anyway.

The US majors like a bit of lead in time, and being in the summer season, a route could probably start June at the earliest which is still just about 2 months lead in time.

I doubt any service would start in the winter. I'm struggling to remember the last time any UK-USA route started in the winter season?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

When Continental began its five and a half year (in duration) Bristol-Newark route in May 2005 the announcement was made in the previous September.

Maybe we shall have a reverse of the situation of recent times when the BRS management said last year that they were confident of a NYC route beginning in 2016 with negotiations said then to be at an 'advanced stage'.

I know I keep on saying it but I'm convinced that airlines will await the outcome of the APD devolution to Wales issue before making a decision which is why I'm surprised that Thomson appears to have decided to resume Florida and Mexico next summer with an announcement strongly rumoured for this coming Tuesday.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Apologies if this has been discussed but I noticed this from an article about the TOM 787.

Talks are already well advanced to bring back direct flights from Bristol to New York. The management team at the airport are quietly confident that the deal could go ahead within the space of 12 months.

From the CEO

"This is a real step-change for us ad the arrival of the plane opens up new markets and destinations for us.

"In many ways the 787 is the perfect plane for the New York market.

"At the moment the market will be for people going on package holidays to Florida and Cancun in Mexico.

"But we are looking at lots of different markets and propositions."

If they're after a Dreamliner to NYC I wonder if they're in talks with Norwegian? Although both United and American have them.

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Arriva...-age-Bristol/story-29138733-detail/story.html

 

[Marko1]

I read that article too and thought it was very interesting. Clearly there must be some scope in a return of a nyc service. I wonder if mention of a new airline earlier this year tallies with that

 

[tpm]

Wondered the same when I read that comment, but point-to-point with such a large aircraft, without onwards connections? Must be fairly low frequency then?

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I'm hoping that the ME is also being discussed seriously. Qatar crops up and they operate 787-8s although their most recently announced routes include some that will use their A 320s on some western European secondary/tertiary routes to Doha. I don't know whether the A320, or the A320neo which I believe that Qatar has on order, could reach Doha non-stop from the BRS runway.

Their 787-8s appear to have 254 seats. I'd hope this would not be too many to fill from BRS should the airline start services and use this type. I don't suppose it would be a daily service initially anyway.

As for NYC, United and American seem to be the most rumoured with 757s the aircraft. At least they would have connectivity at NYC.