Biman Bangladesh

[User0001]

Airlines come and go all the time, I would suggest that most airports would have a sizable list of airlines no longer serving (the one for Manchester is enough to make me weep). Therefore no reason for BHX to feel bad there.

However, its all about balance (getting more in than going), and its about dusting yourself off and getting back out there.

To me, I would be interested to see what BHX actually does offer airlines. Paul Kehoe is excellent at talking the talk, but walking the walk seems much harder.

For example, I don't think anyone here doubts that Biman were offered a freebie, but obviously you cannot offer that to every airline as you would soon run out of money. So, the question is, what are airlines being offered.
On one hand, the published fees are higher than average, with airlines such as Easyjet saying BHX just isn't viable as a base for them. But, you then have airlines like Ryanair, notorious for getting a good deal, basing 4 aircraft and also using BHX for winter parking. That's 2 extremes really.

Air India really seem to have got their act together at the moment. Both LHR and BHX see good OTP compared to how bad they used to be, and maybe this is one airline that really has turned a corner.

 

[andrew.clarkson]

I think that while Keogh is charging these high fees for airlines to use the airport. It makes me wonder that if he charges more than Heathrow charges, maybe he thinks that Birminghams a hub airport and not a region it will always be, and maybe he thinks that chargung these high will bring in these airlines and not scare them away...Andy c

 

[Ray Finkle]

I would suggest that most airports would have a sizable list of airlines no longer serving (the one for Manchester is enough to make me weep). Therefore no reason for BHX to feel bad there.

CSA pulled out of the UK, Air Blue have their problems and US Airways never really took the route seriously, those three aside look at the state of the list Thunderchild posted, it makes you wonder how many times BHX will get their fingers burned before it finally sinks in.

I don't think anyone here doubts that Biman were offered a freebie, but obviously you cannot offer that to every airline as you would soon run out of money. So, the question is, what are airlines being offered.

Exactly, if there is a freebie to be offered then why was it offered to Biman rather than the likes of Delta? Is it a situation where BHX think the likes of Delta would make good money through their connections and so want a piece of that pie or were Delta actually offered a deal and weren't interested, even if it's a freebie, so they went running to Biman instead? If it's the latter then it's not a good sign for the new tarmac being laid.

I've used Delta purely as an example, it could well have been any airline.

On one hand, the published fees are higher than average, with airlines such as Easyjet saying BHX just isn't viable as a base for them. But, you then have airlines like Ryanair, notorious for getting a good deal, basing 4 aircraft and also using BHX for winter parking. That's 2 extremes really.

My guess is Ryanair get a good deal on the winter parking to keep them there, the base has stagnated at four aircraft and is pretty much down to Polish cities and sunshine routes where it's hard not to make money. Easyjet would offer that little bit extra but it seems it's not to be.

Correct me if I’m wrong but in the past six years BHX has only seen one airline start up and last more than a year and that’s Turkish....

It must come as a big surprise to them that the one airline people actually want to fly with is the one airline that is flourishing :nea:

 

[User0001]

Exactly, if there is a freebie to be offered then why was it offered to Biman rather than the likes of Delta? Is it a situation where BHX think the likes of Delta would make good money through their connections and so want a piece of that pie or were Delta actually offered a deal and weren't interested, even if it's a freebie, so they went running to Biman instead? If it's the latter then it's not a good sign for the new tarmac being laid.

I've used Delta purely as an example, it could well have been any airline.

I agree with your sentiment entirely. I would hope BHX went to others first, but, if BHX went to Delta with a freebie for a JFK or ATL route or any other airline, and they still said no, then what does that say about BHX? A freebie and it still was not viable for them?!

I know its been talked to death, but why BHX and the huge city attached cannot sustain more than 1 daily to the USA, but a town in Western Ireland (Shannon) can support multiple flights to multiple destinations. Even with LHR/MAN as competitors, it genuinely confuzzles my head at how well SNN does, its like putting an airport next to Llandudno and then attracting multiple US routes. Bizzare!

 

[thunderchild]

Well I SNN has more historic ties with the US but when airports like EMA, BRS and LBA can support flights to destinations still on BHX's wishlist it makes one wonder.

 

[User0001]

But historic ties can only account for so much.

Why SNN can support 2 daily JFK, daily EWR, 5 weekly ORD, 5 weekly BOS and daily PHL but BHX support just 1 flight to EWR, Ill never know. I don't believe just historic ties can fill all of those SNN flights in the summer but a big city like Birmingham cannot fill even another B757 across the pond. Its just weird.

 

[Ray Finkle]

I think the US is one area where BHX really suffers due to it's proximity to Heathrow and the range, frequency and lower prices of the flights offered there. How can an airport with 1x daily flight to New York (5/6 weekly in winter) compete with an airport about an hour away with a choice of multiple destinations served by multiple airlines with New York alone more or less hourly at some points during the day? I do agree though that another US destination should be viable and with something more substantial than a 2x weekly Biman.

 

[Aviador]

I question that theory because Glasgow and Edinburgh sustain year round flights to the states?

 

[Ray Finkle]

It's an interesting point but can you compare having GLA or EDI in close proximity to having the world's busiest international airport an hour away? GLA and EDI cater for a whole country with massive inbound tourism from the USA, one of them is a capital city and even so routes have come and gone over the years (as they have at BHX) although EDI does seem to be on the crest of a wave at the moment but didn't the owners say they intended to build the airport up to then sell it, if so is it sustainable long term? You could count up all the daily routes to the USA from the regions and they probably wouldn't even cover what Heathrow sees departing in the first hour, add to that the prices are generally a lot cheaper then it's a no brainer for a short journey down the M40.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

I agree with Ray's point about proximity to LHR and long haul. The same applies to Bristol albeit it has a smaller catchment than BHX, and indeed the South West and South Wales generally.

Not only that but I fly to Australia once a year and use Emirates. I used BHX once when there was some sort of EK promotion for the airport and would prefer to do so again, but fare prices have pointed me the way of the two main London airports in recent years.

 

[Aviador]

Fair comment.

There's no reason why things can't change in the future. Heathrow and airports in the South East generally are just about full. BHX is the next best thing so there is every chance Birmingham will pick up a number of previously unserved routes as Heathrow and Gatwick become more slot constraint. In any case, Heathrow is becoming more and more expensive these days so it's possible some airlines will look at BHX as a way of bringing down costs. Time will tell I guess?

 

[andrew.clarkson]

I couldn't agree anymore what aviador says, if only keogh would reduce his rediculos high costs charges, he would get those extra airlines coming in wanting to sign up, this is his golden opportunity to act normal and realise that there is a great business opportunity to try and take some of the load off heathrow and gatwick...and bring that urgently needed business back to birmingham and not let any other airport take it from under our noses while we have this chance....thanks andyc

 

[Ray Finkle]

According to a link from the airport website Biman will have a gift shop onsite from 22nd-24th Feb, no doubt selling DC-10 memorabilia.

 

[thunderchild]

Noted that BHX now appears in the drop down list of destinations on the Biman website but the only flight bootable is the DC10 flight DAK-BHX

 

[bummieboy]

Resumption of Dhaka-New York operation via Birmingham using wet leased B777-200ER aircraft till upgradation of CAAB status to Category-2 is also on the card.

It may be noted that Biman is trying to revise the draft lease agreement with EgyptAir by converting first year of the five year into wet lease and the rest dry lease. However, it is learnt that if EgyptAir do not agree to split lease into wet and dry, Biman will go ahead with agreed dry lease and deferred resumption of New York operation further.

All these programmes are not expected to be implemented before April.

We are adding several new destinations this summer_ Frankfurt, Birmingham/New York (two-thirds of one aircraft for this alone), Guangzhou and Kunming.

 

[thunderchild]

An "update" on Biman/JFK - it's still very much as you were;

http://www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com/2014/02/23/20054

 

[User0001]

What a shambles.

Still no USA authority for BHX-JFK but then this paragraph shows the ineptitude of the airline:

If Biman wants to resume a New York flight, it has to take on a wet lease, not a dry lease. The agreement with Egyptair is a dry one which provides the aircraft but does not provide the management

This means if Biman has to 'manage' the aircraft, they do not have the category licence to serve the USA from Bangladesh, whereas if another airline 'manages' the aircraft then Biman can use them to start USA flights.

So, basically, the Egyptair lease is unsuitable for the New York flights but they are going to go ahead with it anyway. Says it all!

 

[thunderchild]

I did wonder if the reason BHX was chosen as the destination for the final flight - when there are no historic ties between either the airports, airline or aircraft - that it was going to be an opportunity to officially confirm DAK-BHX-JFK and put tickets on sale. But I guess not; really don't see the point in announcing such routes when nothing has been 100% signed and sealed.

 

[Ray Finkle]

The DC-10 flights look to have been a big success with approx. 1300 people from 52 different countries travelling on the 9 flights, all I've heard is good things so a big pat on the back for all concerned.

A couple of videos. The first is the whole flight and shows the runway works at 12:30 as they taxi past.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ozCZ7zGveUQ[/video]

Shot from Sheldon Country Park, love the sound of those engines.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KlYu9Y54Zwk[/video]

And this video has a few words from Paul Kehoe and Kevin Steele where Mr Steele clearly states that "their future is brand new 777-300ER aircraft which will be the ones that will operate through Birmingham"??? It's a great video anyway, I like how the pax were able to walk around the aircraft for photographs and you can see the crowds gathered in Sheldon Country Park as they turn on to the runway.

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1V-CaUHuRlE[/video]

 

[Ray Finkle]

A very nice article about the DC-10 flights, it's quite long but makes for an interesting read.

http://airchive.com/blog/2014/02/24/fol ... er-flight/

There is also this info on why it went back to Dhaka for scrapping.

Tomorrow, the airplane will be ferried back to Dhaka to be scrapped in a last minute twist of fate. Originally destined for the Museum of Flight in Seattle, the plan was mothballed when the museum did not have the space to house the airplane for six months. Unfortunately the airplane was due for service in only two months and Biman’s license to fly it expires at the end of the month, making it financially unsustainable to wait. A UK museum had offered to take it, but the airline wound up receiving a substantial offer for the parts, particularly the GE CF-6 engines and understandably caved to finances. In total, the airplane, which first flew on January 9, 1988, completed over 22,000 cycles and over 80,000 hours in flight.