Emirates

[Deleted member 8277]

Whats done is done and hopefully it'll open the door to a second A380

My guess would be september

 

[Kevin Farnell]

I've often wondered why Emirates no longer use anything smaller than the 777-200. It may be because DXB is so constrained that they want to utilise each runway slot with the highest amount of seats.

Kevin

 

[Coathanger16]

As far as I'm aware, Emirates are reviewing a potential order for either the A350-900 or B787-10. Whilst these would offer less seats to fill, I personally think they're still to large for certain routes. Emirates is certainly at a disadvantage compared to Qatar and Etihad who both have narrow body aircraft in their fleets (not that such an aircraft would be suitable for BHX).

As has been noted before, the traffic BHX has experienced recently exceeds that of the planned capacity that will result from the cutting of the morning EK flight. This will certainly encourage QR to think about expanding at BHX.

Whilst this news has of course be disappointing, if it say leads to a double daily A380 offering from EK, and either an increase in frequency or larger aircraft from QR, I'll be very happy. Who knows, with Emirate's scaling back, it may even give Etihad enough of an incentive to launch flights to BHX.

On the subject of Etihad, I'd expect big things to come in the next few years. The new terminal at Abu Dhabi airport will open later this year providing an airport on par with Doha, allowing Etihad to expand their operations. Their current wide body fleet stands at 78. They have almost 150 wide body aircraft on order. The numbers for Qatar are 122 and 171 respectively, so again, I'd expect big growth from Qatar (obviously some of these will be for fleet replacement, but even if both airlines were to replace their entire current fleet with new aircraft, they'd still grow their fleets by 92% and 40% respectively).

 

[Jerry]

As far as I'm aware, Emirates are reviewing a potential order for either the A350-900 or B787-10.

They'd probably be better swapping for the A330 800 and the 787 8. Those size aircraft would suit some airports more and free up the 777s.

 

[Coathanger16]

They'd probably be better swapping for the A330 800 and the 787 8. Those size aircraft would suit some airports more and free up the 777s.

Fully agree - as has been said though, I think whats stopping Emirates getting smaller aircraft is capacity constraints at Dubai. It surprises me that they aren't getting a move on with the new airport - according to Wikipedia, completion isn't due until 2027.

 

[Jerry]

Fully agree - as has been said though, I think whats stopping Emirates getting smaller aircraft is capacity constraints at Dubai. It surprises me that they aren't getting a move on with the new airport - according to Wikipedia, completion isn't due until 2027.

DWC does get used though by some airlines so i wonder if DXB could get some flights transfered over to create more room.

 

[thunderchild]

Blimey, I go away for a few days and come back to all this doom and gloom. Shall I go away again???

Regarding Emirates I wonder if BHX might have kept the 3rd daily if it wasn't for the A380? I should imagine the airport would have wanted some assurances before investing all that money in accommodating the whale? Perhaps it was keep the A380 but lose the morning service?

Either way I shouldn't imagine QR have lost any sleep over it.

 

[Butty]

I am not that worried about emirates. They seem to be cutting back a lot of services. Good opportunity for us to seek more direct flights or expand Qatar or even attract Etihad.

It is easy at the moment to think this growth will not suffer any setbacks, but it will. They may decide to run two 380s each day.

The important thing is it remains a very attractive service and the long term looks positive.

 

[JF57]

Rather annoying we were booked on EK 41/42 in September now on the lunchtime flights. No notification so far from either Emirates or travel agent but itinerary has changed in Emirates App.

 

[Deleted member 8277]

Rather annoying we were booked on EK 41/42 in September now on the lunchtime flights. No notification so far from either Emirates or travel agent but itinerary has changed in Emirates App.

Plenty of room on the big bird

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Plenty of room on the big bird

Are you hinting that EK39/40 will be operated by A380?

I'm not so sure that there would be 'plenty of room', if both services were operated by A380.
The CAA figures for Jan and Feb 2017 (2 x 777 and 1 x A380 daily), give 68307 and 67742 pax respectively.

If these pax had been on a 2 x daily A380 operation (with 31 days in Jan and 28 days in Feb), the available unsold seats would have been -

Jan 17

615 x 4 x 31 = 76260 seats available

68307 seats sold

68307/76260 = 89.6 %

89.6% of 615 = 550.9 (say 551)

615-551 = 64 empty seats per flight

Feb 17

615 x 4 x 28 = 68880 seats available

67742 seats sold

67742/68880= 98.4%

98.4% of 615 = 602.7 (say 603)

615-603 = 12 empty seats per flight

Kevin

 

[Ray Finkle]

Are you hinting that EK39/40 will be operated by A380?

Keep an eye out for changes

 

[JF57]

Plenty of room on the big bird

The itinerary shows 777 planes on both dates so no additional A380. The early flight really suited us getting into Dubai in the early evening allowing a good sleep before starting first full day in Dubai.

Lunchtime flight arrives after midnight which is not good for us.

On way back from Sri Lanka change has added over 4 hours to transit time.

This cancellation will probably increase passengers for Qatar flight if people are just passing through to more distant destinations.

We will be asking for a swap to flight the evening before on the way out which will be the big bird . On the way back we will have to accept longer transit time.

 

[IanFarquharson]

I would habe BHX would have 'demanded' a 2nd A380 as a result of loosing 33% of the daily flights and bearing in mind the huge expense the airport have gone too in adding the airbridge etc.
The problem is EK have not got many HD A380s !
I do agree this move by EK will help QR and may lead to more capacity from them.

 

[Matt995]

Emirates have 9 HD A380s in service at present, A6-EOP, A6-EOQ, A6-EOR, A6-EOS, A6-EOX, A6-EOY, A6-EUN, A7-EUO, A7-EUP, not sure if they have any more on order?

Maybe with the planned cutting back of the USA flights, could this free up an extra A380 for us? But surely, if they plan to upgrade the EK39/40, this would have made sense to announce it at the same time at the demise of EK41/42 so as to soften the blow!!

Mind you, have EK actually officially announced the cancellation of the EK41/42 flights yet?

 

[Ray Finkle]

I don't think that flight cancellations usually get official announcements, they generally just slip away quietly.

If it was me, I'd wait for the dust to settle, then in a few weeks I'd make a big fuss about 'bringing a second daily A380 to Birmingham'. It would be sure to grab the headlines.

We'll see what happens.

 

[Brum X]

However Route's mentioned the EK USA cutbacks straight away, no mention of BHX ?

Has anybody heard anything from handling agents at the airport etc etc, otherwise i think another email to Mr K is needed.

 

[JF57]

However Route's mentioned the EK USA cutbacks straight away, no mention of BHX ?

Has anybody heard anything from handling agents at the airport etc etc, otherwise i think another email to Mr K is needed.

Definitely not available to book on website and our booking in September moved to lunchtime flight so pretty certain it has been cancelled.

No email from Emirates about the change which is poor.

When Monarch cancelled first Monday flight back from LCA in March this year they sent an email and asked whether we wanted to fly on Sunday or Wednesday instead - just as it should be.

 

[Brum X]

Definitely not available to book on website and our booking in September moved to lunchtime flight so pretty certain it has been cancelled.

No email from Emirates about the change which is poor.

When Monarch cancelled first Monday flight back from LCA in March this year they sent an email and asked whether we wanted to fly on Sunday or Wednesday instead - just as it should be.

Yeah that is how it should be, and you would expect Emirates to be on the ball with stuff like this. Especially as BHX passengers are important to them.

 

[nwoody2001]

i think its probably more a point of northing being formally announced or finalised... once that is the case, passengers will be informed!