Birmingham: Emirates Flight Status, Hub News & Discussion

[User0001]

Glasgow reduces to once daily during the runway works.

Not anymore, its 2nd daily has been fully re-instated throughout the works.

I think the only thing it shows is an airport that wants the minimum of disruption to it's operation and I'd be very surprised if Birmingham was the only airport in the Emirates network to request any cuts don't affect them.

No, there is a distinct difference. Normally an airport would say 'we have received assurances from Emirates that BHX services will not be affected during the runway works'. (or to that effect).
The fact BHX has worded the phrase 'we have told them not to reduce BHX flights' says to me that they were either given a credible cause for concern, or, the fact that a reduction could have actually been threatened by Emirates.
Of course we will never know what has happened behind the scenes, but sometimes its interesting when a choice of words is used, and to me, the words used by BHX are indicative that something had given them cause to use that choice of wording.

 

[Ray Finkle]

EK39 will be arriving into BHX at 06:25 from 01/05/14 for a couple of months due to the DXB runway works. A nice 7 hour turn around but no frequency reduction, yet!

http://airlineroute.net/2013/09/21/ek-s14update3/

 

[User0001]

Will be a nice little earner for BHX parking a B777-300 for 7 hours. Seems the EK strategy is to have some aircraft 'parked' away from base as long as possible to ease congestion.

However, going off my previous post, I do find this move interesting.

If you remember, BHX used some very strong words a few weeks ago, 'telling' EK not to reduce frequency. At the time I said EK must have threatened something for them to make such a statement.

The fact the EK39/40 now spends 7 hours at BHX shows that something must have indeed been threatened by EK, and the 7 hour layover with an early arrival looks to be a compromise.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Arriving so many hours earlier than normal is going to affect a lot of long haul passengers changing at DXB for BHX.

A few years ago I used this flight when it arrived at its normal time around midday at BHX having started my journey at Melbourne which meant just over two hours at DXB to change aircraft.

That would be impossible during the period the flight arrives at BHX at 0625, meaning I would have had a much longer stay at DXB to await the teatime arrival into BHX.

Ergo, BHX might lose some passengers during the period in question. Conversely, it might draw in other passengers who might find the new timings more attractive than the normal timings.

It will be interesting to see if the loads are affected during this time..

 

[Ray Finkle]

Australia connections look to be hardest hit. I've connected onto EK39 from Sydney and Perth and with this change the connection goes from 2-3 hours to 11 hours and 25 minutes. It would be easier to take the later flight from Sydney and connect onto EK37 in a little over 9 hours, far from ideal though. The only other option is the late afternoon Qantas connecting on to EK39 but with only 1hr 20mins it's cutting it fine.

Hopefully the Asian connections won't be affected too much, the likes of Beijing and Shanghai generally connect onto EK37 anyway and the new timings give a nice connection of 3 hours from Hong Kong. As you say there will be winners and losers but I'd be very surprised if the loads didn't suffer even slightly.

The whole thing must be a real headache for Emirates and I'm sure there will be plenty more changes across the network over the coming months.

 

[Hassaan]

Interesting. Of course, as mentioned, it may cause trouble for connections but does this account for all flights usually leaving at around 8am from DXB? Meaning, do Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow, Heathrow and Gatwick all see the same effect?

 

[User0001]

Meaning, do Manchester, Newcastle, Glasgow, Heathrow and Gatwick all see the same effect?

Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester will not see the same change as they run at 3 times a day and already see early morning arrivals. Therefore Emirates would be running 2 flights into these airports less than 30 minutes apart.

 

[Hassaan]

I believe it's been rumoured that the third daily flight would start at the end of next year.

 

[User0001]

Emirates have again changed the timing of the EK39/40 for summer 2014 runway works.

EK39 arrives BHX 0625 and EK40 now departs 1115 instead of waiting at BHX until the normal departure time. For all intents and purposes BHX now just has an early (morning) flight and a late (evening) flight. BHX is the only UK airport to have its flight into the busiest connection bank at DXB removed, which I find quite a strange move and wonder why BHX is the only UK airport to have to have this action?

 

[thunderchild]

I wonder if EK will be monitoring the loads/connections for the morning flight to see how well a 3rd daily and a morning departure would do?

 

[User0001]

I think it would prove difficult to monitor for a 3rd morning flight as it would be hard to decipher if those passengers connecting on earlier flights are doing so out of necessity rather than choice due to the midday flight not being an option.

To me it does indicate BHX still has the 2nd lowest yield of the UK routes, as to me, it looks like the BHX flight possibly has the lowest paying passengers and therefore easier to shift them about, or make them wait longer to connect.

It does strike me strange that BHX is the only UK point to see any changes during this period.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Or maybe Emirates are confident they can adjust the BHX schedule without compromising too much on the profit. As said LHR, LGW and MAN already have a morning service so won't see another moved to the same times, Glasgow is hosting the Commonwealth Games, of which Emirates are a major sponsor, would they really change the service during the run up to this (the initial decrease was soon reinstated)? That leaves BHX and NCL, NCL being a single daily operation would most likely be more difficult to adjust as it leaves less options. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion but I don't see an issue, it may well have been much easier for Emirates to just drop the service for a few weeks and do daily but it seems to me they are doing whatever they can to keep BHX twice daily.

 

[Hassaan]

I made a few points about the following on other threads but I thought it should go here.

90% load factor for Emirates which is good, but I don't think the yields are as impressive. Emirates still seem to operate 2-class 777's into BHX - as a result I don't think they are very promising. The route development team were in Dubai a while back presumably discussing opportunities. It was mentioned on the thread a few months back about time changes for EK39/40 - any idea when this'll be taking effect?

 

[Ray Finkle]

EK39/40 will change times from 01/05/2014-20/07/2014.

 

[Hassaan]

EK39/40 will change times from 01/05/2014-20/07/2014.

Oh right - thanks. It would effectively be the same as having a morning flight, wouldn't it? Could be used as a test to see how viable it could be. Better connections etc.

While we won't see the A380 for some time yet, the A380 will be able to take off the runway fully-laden, no?

 

[Ray Finkle]

While we won't see the A380 for some time yet, the A380 will be able to take off the runway fully-laden, no?

It'd have no problem down to DXB.

 

[Hassaan]

It'd have no problem down to DXB.

If they were to start it once the runway extension is operational for example, do you think they'll have trouble filling the A380 based on the current load factors?

 

[Ray Finkle]

I've no doubt Emirates could fill economy and business but first hasn't been tried from BHX before and 14 seats is a lot to fill when the three class 773's have between 8 and 12. You're also going to see less space for cargo on the A380 which is a real revenue generator. My guess would be the introduction of a morning flight with the lunchtime flight changing to three class once another 773 is established, if first sells well then an A380 may be considered.

 

[User0001]

The EK A380 in my opinion is a far too heavy premium aircraft for BHX.

Not only does it have the 14 First Class seats to fill, but also 76 business class seats. When you consider Emirates only send 84 J class seats per way into BHX currently, to add 2/3 more J capacity in one go is no small ask. I have heard on many occasions that premium demand at BHX is very low, typically the J class cabin will fill 1/4 to 1/2 normal fare and then any extra is either reward travel, upgrades or discounted fares. As it stands, EK has no intention of operating a 3 class aircraft into BHX unless something miraculous was to happen.

I honestly think BHX has more chance of 3 daily once the runway works at Dubai are done (no chance of added flights during this period given they are having to cut back on capacity as it is), and then maybe an A380 once the demand has been proven. Either that or wait for a less premium heavy or 2 class A380.

 

[thunderchild]

I doubt that BHX will see an Emirates A380 until the 2 class variations arrive. I'd hope for a third daily (AM departure) and perhaps a trial run with first class product.