Turkmenistan Airlines

[gulftraveller]

It currently would make no economic sense. ASB-DEL operates once per week on a Sunday, requiring two rotations per week to/from BHX just to provide connections with that one return DEL flight. Other than the connecting traffic, I doubt there would be many passengers flying with them from BHX for a short break in Ashghabat.

If they restart ATQ, it might make a little more sense but I do not think there is much point in BHX chasing them when AI and QR can adequately handle ATQ passengers.

 

[JENNYJET]

It is well documented that the Gas business is booming and that Turkenistan ( the country ) has a huge Gas field beneath, the reason for the airlink presumably. I am delighted that BHX is developing into a hub for destinations east of suez!!

 

[gulftraveller]

It never was the reason for the link in the past. Amongst my contacts in the oil industry I have rarely if ever heard Turkmenistan mentioned as the Russians are the country’s main hydrocarbon partners. I recall the LHR route to Ashghabat was almost 100% transfer passengers, presumably an attempt to earn foreign currency.

 

[rollo]

Firmly in the rumour department but on the other forum a regular poster states Turkmenistan on twitter are saying that an announcement is immanent of their return to BHX with flights due to start in May which seems incredibly short notice if true.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Firmly in the rumour department but on the other forum a regular poster states Turkmenistan on twitter are saying that an announcement is immanent of their return to BHX with flights due to start in May which seems incredibly short notice if true.

Could that be the 'Big News' to be announced?

 

[Brum X]

Do we really need Turkmenistan back at BHX diluting our passengers even more. Not feeling it anymore for T5. I would rather the likes of QR and SV and of course AI/EK/TK establish themselves and to continue to be a success than a little old 738 spoiling the party ?

 

[JENNYJET]

If they add frequency to Asia, then yes please!

 

[mullion]

You have to be careful if you get to many operators doing same route as sometimes the airline you really need to stay drops and you are left with poor option which cannot survive and also goes

 

[DarloPlaneBoy]

Anyone know if they do return if it will be a 737 or a 777 or could they use a 737 then if Demand picks up a 777 if I'm right it was a 777-200LR they used very rare aircraft is the 200LR at least to the UK I may be wrong and maybe EK send one occasionally to the UK or Qatar if they have any. Air India have the ex Delta ones but I think it was only Delta, EK, Qatar and T5 who have the 777-200LR

 

[Timberwolf]

I believe the 777 was used for freight,reasons, a lot of tyres I was told on a number of occasions.

 

[Scania1800]

I believe the 777 was used for freight,reasons, a lot of tyres I was told on a number of occasions.

Demand wasn't their best since Air India was flying the same route, 777 was only used because cargo was a major thing that air India limits

 

[DarloPlaneBoy]

I believe the 777 was used for freight,reasons, a lot of tyres I was told on a number of occasions.

Ah I see so the chances of it returning depend on Cargo.

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

I’ve just looked and demand between Turkmenistan and stansted has really increased capacity which has increased the aircraft from a normal B737 to a B772
Could we be getting the airline back to bhx next month?

 

[rollo]

I've seen it commented elsewhere that the 772 was always the plan from Stansted due to its freight capacity.

 

[gulftraveller]

I’ve just looked and demand between Turkmenistan and stansted has really increased capacity which has increased the aircraft from a normal B737 to a B772
Could we be getting the airline back to bhx next month?

Freight maybe, but if so, why would they have two departure points? The airline currently has weekly Beijing and weekly Delhi flights for connections. Visas are unavailable for tourists entering the country - it’s an unattractive destination anyway. So exactly what demand is there?

 

[Glenn Eldridge]

When I worked for Aviator at BHX, the 777 was used mostly for fuel reasons, T5 had a lot of issues not paying fuel bills on time, they started to use the 77L and used to fuel it for both sectors without uplifting fuel at Birmingham.

 

[kfs]

Visas are unavailable for tourists entering the country - it’s an unattractive destination anyway.

Turkmenistan tourist visas are now available again, albeit the process is involved, but that was always the case. It’s a very attractive destination for those who are interested in the history of the Silk Road, has much natural beauty, the crazy Darvaza gas crater, and Ashgabat is surreal. I’ve never seen so much Italian white marble. Not one for the sun, sea, and sand brigade, but definitely attractive to some.

 

[Scania1800]

Freight maybe, but if so, why would they have two departure points? The airline currently has weekly Beijing and weekly Delhi flights for connections. Visas are unavailable for tourists entering the country - it’s an unattractive destination anyway. So exactly what demand is there?

Investment in that airline is lacklustre, and using the 777 meant they didn't need to fuel at places where that aircraft landed.

 

[gulftraveller]

Turkmenistan tourist visas are now available again, albeit the process is involved, but that was always the case. It’s a very attractive destination for those who are interested in the history of the Silk Road, has much natural beauty, the crazy Darvaza gas crater, and Ashgabat is surreal. I’ve never seen so much Italian white marble. Not one for the sun, sea, and sand brigade, but definitely attractive to some.

It is considered the second most repressive regime in the world after North Korea. As of now visas remain a major problem. If there are 777 loads of brummies looking at it for a long weekend, I wish them good luck. My point is simply that without a regular ATQ connection, who exactly is flying from STN or, possibly BHX to Ashghabat? Even here in the Gulf, connectivity to Turkmenistan is very limited, in comparison with e.g. Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan etc.

 

[JENNYJET]

I have always believed that BHX could be a niche airport for the obscure destinations that the likes of MAN or LHR would not touch. They have form undoubtedly, Air Blue, Primera and probably others that offered much but failed to deliver. I maintain my dislike of the current regime that run the airport business and I no longer accept pandemic excuses for lack of activity. Inviting Turkmenistan airlines back is fine but will BHX support them? e.g., why did the mainline American carriers pull out, and the little ones like AirArabia?