Emirates

[TheLocalYokel]

Impressive looking machine for its sheer size but quite an ugly aircraft IMHO.

I'm with you on that one. Mightily impressive but blooming ugly.

If there is ever a stretched version the looks might be improved. The Boeing 737-200 was a dumpy machine but as stretched versions were produced so, in my opinion, the 737 became a not bad looking aircraft with the 800 and 900 series the easiest on the eye.

Seeing about 20 A380s lined up at the 380 concourse at DXB doesn't do a lot for the aesthetics of the type.

 

[User001]

Congratulations on joining the A380 club

Soon it will be commonplace and the view of 'oh it's an A380 again'. Not a bad position to be in though!

 

[Aviador]

View media item 3806View media item 3805
A couple of images I uploaded for CL44 earlier.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Great pictures CL44.

I wish the view from my office was that good

 

[wolfheze]

If there is ever a stretched version the looks might be improved. The Boeing 737-200 was a dumpy machine but as stretched versions were produced so, in my opinion, the 737 became a not bad looking aircraft with the 800 and 900 series the easiest on the eye.

Seeing about 20 A380s lined up at the 380 concourse at DXB doesn't do a lot for the aesthetics of the type.

Think your probably right about a stretched A380, would be more in proportion. 100 series 737 was even shorter!
What time is it due on Sunday?

 

[jfy1999]

What time is it due on Sunday?

From Sunday onwards EK39 will arrive at 11:20. The current 777 flight arrives at 11:35.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Don't forget that the clocks change this weekend

It's in at 12:20.

 

[wolfheze]

Okay thanks. Might come down if the weather's not too bad

 

[Brum X]

Great footage of the EK A380, they leave it a little late for the ryanair 738. That was close.

 

[wolfheze]

Watching that reminded me to say I now know how people have managed to get a clear view down the centreline from the footpath at Bickenhill. If you keep walking past the first one (from the church ) there's a second path that runs across the top of the ridge. The extra couple of metres in height let's you see over the bushes and trees. Sorry if I am preaching to the converted!

 

[jfy1999]

Great footage of the EK A380, they leave it a little late for the ryanair 738. That was close.

I imagine Gatwick has a situation like that every two minutes. It's good to see BHX so busy.

Off topic, I can't identify that 737 at 7:22 in the video.

 

[Brum X]

I imagine Gatwick has a situation like that every two minutes. It's good to see BHX so busy.

Off topic, I can't identify that 737 at 7:22 in the video.

Maybe it was a "ghost" plane jfy1999 ????

 

[BHXsupporter]

This was her flight path earlier today.
https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/f-wwsj/#92c5ea4
She did a large circle over Smethwick just west of the Indoor Arena and via Dudley, Walsall and in. Was this something to do with the B'ham Airport marketing in the centre of B'ham? Must have been an impressive sight at 6000'.

 

[jfy1999]

Changing topic slightly, I wonder if Etihad are taking notice? Qatar start at 8 weekly, forward bookings are said to have exceeded expectations, and they have the potential to go double daily. Emirates as we know have the potential for a second daily A380. The demand is clearly there.

 

[nwoody2001]

well it would appear that Etihad serve smaller markets than the one which appears to be present at BHX. If you look at EDI and GLA as the same market (which personally I believe they are)... then they have the following:

14x weekly 773 (3 class) through EK = 10,080 seats
7x weekly 788 (2 class) through QR = 3,556 seats
5-7x weekly 332 (2 class) through EY = 3,668 seats

Total MEB3 weekly seat capacity from Scotland to Middle East = 17,304 (899,800 Annually)

ON the other hand, BHX has the following:

14x weekly 773 (2 class) though EK = 11,900 seats
7x weekly 388 (2 class) through EK = 8,610 seats
8x weekly 788 (2 class) through QR = 4,064 seats

Total MEB3 weekly seat capacity from BHX to Middle East = 24,574 (1,277,850 Annually)

The question is, do the likes of Etihad think that level of seats exhausts the market that exists, and is so, the liked of EK and QR will not increase their frequencies, however, rumours would suggest otherwise. The only other query is yield! BHX is not great at filling the front end of flights to the ME so maybe this is what is putting them off for the time being, but hey, surely its just a case of when and not if EY will try their luck at BHX???

Anyway, sorry I realise now this is the EK thread...

 

[Ray Finkle]

I'd argue against BHX being not great at filling the front of the aircraft. Business Class on Emirates is usually full, or very close to being full and this A380 offers an extra 16 Business Class seats each way over the 77W. Some of Qatar's flights are also starting to sell out.

Even United and American get decent Business Class loads.

I can accept that there may be a limited market for First Class though but to be honest I prefer the higher density version bringing greater loads

Midlands Today report

A different angle

 

[BHXsupporter]

I agree Ray. Business seats and BHX is an ingrained theme and a bias which I feel simply reflects what has been provided hitherto. I believe that 'our' business passengers travelling to LHR etc for long-haul flights would have been taking a similar proportion of business seats than any other region's passengers travelling via London, unless truly there are data to show that Midlands firms fly in fewer business seats than others per 100 long-haul passengers. When I used to ply to and fro on business from BHX far more frequently than I do now, European business seats were usually filled. For the US I had to go elsewhere but I would have been in a BHX business seat otherwise.

Business people need the flexibility of these tickets and despite the 2008 downturn, and declines before then in businesses willing to pay the additional premium, if the business folk can get their long-haul flights from BHX then I would say that they will use business and even first class seats.

 

[hammerb32]

Anecdotal but re Emirates business class. A relative of mine is lucky enough to make use of it on a regular basis, on Sat 13th March he arrival into Dubai was delayed meaning he missed his connection to Brum. The next available business class seat into BHX they could offer was on Tuesday 15th, the next available economy seat was the AM flight on Monday 14th. He ended up taking a business class seat into MAN on Sunday 13th.

 

[nwoody2001]

just to stress, when I meant 'font end' I was referring to EK first class with BHX being the only other airport in the Uk other than NCL not offering first... but as others have said, our business class track record seems perfectly healthy!

..and in the context of EY, I would suspect in the event they start from BHX, they would only operate a 2 class unit anyway...

 

[Hassaan]

I saw it from my window, briefly (low cloud yesterday meant it wasn't greatly visible), but plenty of pictures on the flyintobhx page. I know we'll see it every day and it won't be as exciting anymore but it's a novelty for us who've been following BHX for many years, so might as well enjoy it while we can!