American Airlines

[Aviador]

They have frequently been referred to as "London Airways" by various users here on Forums4airports.

 

[thunderchild]

I always think it's a bit silly when people refer to BA as 'London Airways' - by that logic KLM would become 'Netherlands Airways', Air France 'Paris Airways', Iberia 'Madrid Airways' and even the mighty Emirates would be 'Dubai Airways' - but because these airlines serve the regions they are somehow forgiven for doing exactly the same thing BA is doing at Heathrow!

 

[User0001]

I always think it's a bit silly when people refer to BA as 'London Airways' - by that logic KLM would become 'Netherlands Airways', Air France 'Paris Airways', Iberia 'Madrid Airways' and even the mighty Emirates would be 'Dubai Airways' - but because these airlines serve the regions they are somehow forgiven for doing exactly the same thing BA is doing at Heathrow!

Ive had this debate time and time again.

There seems to be a certain breed of enthusiast, particularly in the Manchester and Birmingham areas that feel BA have betrayed them for leaving, despite the fact BA is a private company and looks for the best return on their investment.

There are still some who claim 'BA don't serve the regions', despite the fact they serve Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow, Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Belfast. Just because BA doesn't send the big, shiny B777's and A380s to the regions, but can send A320's, they are somehow seen as 'fainiling the regions'.

Its worth noting that without the joint ventures, AA would not be serving BHX, unlikely to be serving MAN, and very unlikely to be serving EDI.

And don't get me started on those who say 'Sun Air is not BA'. Its a BA livered aircraft, with BA staff, with BA flight codes and their booking website is BA.com. If Sun Air is not BA, then by that definition, McDonalds does not have a single restaraunt in the UK.

Rant over........

 

[DaveBham]

Fair point. As far as BHX is concerned however, BA are part of our history, not our future.

 

[Ray Finkle]

A Tweet from Mr Kehoe regarding BHX being back on the BA map

Paul Kehoe @Paul_Kehoe · 5h 5 hours ago
"Football's coming home" BHX back on The map. BA High Life magazine March 2015. Thanks BA, AA and oneworld

 

[User0001]

Is it just me or does Paul Kehoe seem more excited at the fact BA are codesharing on the flights than being excited about the airlines actually serving the routes?

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there ray and all, if kehoe was that desperate to get BA back rather than a codeshare agreement what he's got coming then he should have negotiated a lot harder than what he's achieve. What Birmingham needs is a mixture of major, medium and small airlines and not the bits and pieces that Birmingham has at present....andyc

 

[User0001]

What Birmingham needs is a mixture of major, medium and small airlines and not the bits and pieces that Birmingham has at present

Im not sure what you mean here, as you contradict yourself in your statement.

You say BHX needs a mixture of carriers, but then go on to say it doesn't need 'bits and pieces'.

I think BHX has got the mixtur about right, for now.

They have legacy carriers (Lufthansa, KLM, Air France, SAS etc), has low cost (Ryanair, Vueling, easyjet etc), Charter (Thomson, Enter Air) and lond haul (United, American, PIA etc).

To be honest, I don't see what BHX is doing wrong by your assertion?

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi to user001, in your reply to my assertion about what Birmingham airport is doing wrong, simply if you want to play in the big leagues with other airports like heathrow, Gatwick or Manchester, then you have to think big and not what the airport is achieving at present. If you look at Luton airport for example, smaller runway than Birminghams, yet 900,000 more passengers last year than Birminghams, Birmingham has way double the amount of summer holiday destinations than Luton does, yet Birmingham still unable to overtare Luton last year. Luton managed ten million, five hundred thousand passengers, compared to Birminghams nine million, six hundred and seven thousand passengers...that's what I am referring to....andyc

 

[User0001]

But Luton has a rather large city attached to it, London.

You really cannot compare London to Birmingham, they are totally differebt leagues.

 

[Brum X]

And Luton is a "dump" they havent thought "big" about the investment in the airport.


Id rather have BHX with its 9.8 million pax and have passengers boarding Emirates, United and AA and Air India, than Luton 10.5 million all boarding Easyjet and Ryanair.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Hi to user001, in your reply to my assertion about what Birmingham airport is doing wrong, simply if you want to play in the big leagues with other airports like heathrow, Gatwick or Manchester, then you have to think big and not what the airport is achieving at present. If you look at Luton airport for example, smaller runway than Birminghams, yet 900,000 more passengers last year than Birminghams, Birmingham has way double the amount of summer holiday destinations than Luton does, yet Birmingham still unable to overtare Luton last year. Luton managed ten million, five hundred thousand passengers, compared to Birminghams nine million, six hundred and seven thousand passengers...that's what I am referring to....andyc

Take a look at the last post on THIS page. Twelve months ago if anyone had suggested even half of that we'd have thought no chance, yet it's happening and there's a possibility of still even more to come. Sure there are still issues with the lack of long haul leisure and holes in the Euro network but these things take time. I'm not sure about anyone else but I've not felt this positive about BHX for a very long time?

Luton may see more pax but I'd take BHX over it any day of the week :good:

 

[Ray Finkle]

Good to see some advertising

 

[Ray Finkle]

Three weeks on Friday

It’s take-off for new Birmingham to New York flights

“Our extensive network beyond New York City will provide tremendous access between key business and leisure markets and Birmingham,” said Chuck Schubert, American’s vice-president (network and schedule planning).
North America is a significant export market for the West Midlands and the American Airlines service, which operates from 8 May, is seen as a major opportunity to develop new business links.

The new service has been welcomed by Chamber policy adviser Stephanie Wall, who said: “The introduction of flights by American Airlines demonstrates the rise of Birmingham as the place ‘to-do-business’.
“With exports equalling £4.8bn in Q4 2014, the West Midlands has the third highest trade surplus with North America aside from the regions of London and the South-east. The new flight paths will certainly help to increase transatlantic business, including exports/imports between the two regions.”

Full article: http://www.birmingham-chamber.com/BCCG/ ... &StoryID=0

 

[Brum X]

Digbeth Today

 

[Ray Finkle]

Looks like it's somewhere in Digbeth?

 

[Ray Finkle]

Loving this :s_yes

Courtesy of BHX Twitter.

 

[Aviador]

Very apt now the Americans now own Cadbury's chocolate. Many would argue the Birmingham bit will be a collectable in more ways than one in the years to come.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Flights selling well

From Mr Kehoe

Great evening for local travel trade teams - @AmericanAir offered great prizes to the agents. Flights selling well. V pleased.

 

[jfy1999]

Wonder what United will think of that.