Route Development & Rumours

[hammerb32]

Graz, big business links between Brum and Graz would be a ripe route for cheeky daily E175

 

[rutamkrd]

I think 2017 will herald many surprises for all of the U.K. We are already starting to see it, it will only snowball from here.

I predict BHX will see up to 8 long haul routes/increases, along with around 30 new short haul routes. This is how big 2017 will be.

I am not so sure especially with that stupid disruptive vote next week. The economy has actually been weakening for some months already and i think we could see some scaling back of some of the potential short haul growth actually.

Manufacturing the basis of the midlands economy is already in recession according to some statistics

 

[Brum X]

I am not so sure especially with that stupid disruptive vote next week. The economy has actually been weakening for some months already and i think we could see some escaping back of some of the potential short haul growth actually.

Manufacturing the basis of the midlands economy is already in recession according to some statistics

Simples then Vote REMAIN on the 23rd June 2016

 

[rutamkrd]

Simples then Vote REMAIN on the 23rd June 2016

Politically and my business absolutely relies on remaining so there you have It - Why do you think my own distribution network is in Kent and Manchester !

BTW with Badajoz and Turin and Lisbon being supply points

 

[hammerb32]

I am not so sure especially with that stupid disruptive vote next week. The economy has actually been weakening for some months already and i think we could see some scaling back of some of the potential short haul growth actually.

Manufacturing the basis of the midlands economy is already in recession according to some statistics

Manafacturing's doing really well in Midlands some massive investments just coming on line and coming up. The financial sector is also booming in the city. Ecomony wise i do think Brum and the North West are bucking the doom and gloom forecasts, of course if we Brexit all bets are off.

 

[User001]

Apparently even if we vote out, the referendum was not legally covered so parliament (who are 89% remain) can over-ride the referendum result.

I personally think we are staying in regardless, but, that's another debate all together.

 

[Ray Finkle]

4 flights a day using a320/738 is far more beneficial than a single 788 going to Timbuktu in every way and more so on those rather less glamorous sun resorts. Those travellers WILL spend more in the retail than the business man with his company paid J seat and their visit to the subsidised lounge for "Free sandwich/gateaux and drink"
Simple reality.

Totally agree. We now have Vueling, Wizz, Blue Air and Norwegian all growing, along with Monarch and Ryanair adding new routes and upping frequencies. There are the rumours of Jet2 and word of one other taking more than a passing interest in recent events. Europe is (almost) covered now with one or two more additions to come.

The next step is regaining market share in long haul. I've mentioned a few of the targets in recent posts but anyone who attended the recent Airport Expo event will know the rest. Obviously long haul is a tougher nut to crack but the signs are positive.

 

[richard winterbourn]

In reply to my posting which set up a plethora of replies, User001 said:

The main issue with that is, yes, BHX is doing great this year (and into next year), but MAN is equally if not more so, especially on long haul.

I was not talking about MAN, i was talking about BHX and how it has developed over the past two years and possibly how it can develop to take account of developing destination opportunities, particularly as the West Midlands is the second largest economy outside of the South East.

How MAN is doing , in my humble opinion, is a subject best aired on the MAN thread. Let those who want to talk about BHX and the West Midlands enjoy their own thread without feeling they have entered a war zone...

 

[User001]

Richard,

Sorry to disagree, but, you were indeed talking about MAN, below is a direct quote with MAN mentioned no less than 4 times in what seemed to be a comparison style post. Not sure why you are now saying you were not trying to bring MAN into the equation?

When you start off a post with 'not trying to take a pop at MAN, then obviously it's going to peak some interests and you must have known it would cause some degree of debate to cover the post with an errata in the first place. It's a bit like saying 'I don't mean to cause offence, but your fat.' Obviously will be met with some offence!

This is no way intended to be taking a 'pop' at Man, but the playing field is certainly different to what it was five years ago. Man was able to build up EK and other ME routes and the US before BHX even got started. But since then, BHX has battled to the point when, in some cases, it is debatable whether the next development will be to either Man or BHX.

I say this because while Man has secured a route(s) to China, it is clear that BHX will not be far behind. Setting the fiasco of CCA to one side, the growing economy of the West Midlands, the largest economy outside of the South East, is proving to be the place to concentrate on.

And given that BHX can moved from under 10m pax to over 11m pax in a year is testament to the growing stature of the airport, the city, the region and and its importance to UK.

As Ray has intimated, there is a lot to come - and before too long....

 

[hammerb32]

I think there's been some good debate on this thread tonight, no issues with discussing MAN or LHR if pertinant to BHX surely?

 

[Paulsstrange]

Can the MANCs go to bed please they are boring ..

 

[richard winterbourn]

I was writing on the BHX thread, if i had wanted to rattle Man's cage i would have put it on the MAN thread. And just for the record, i have never, ever looked at the MAN thread.

No doubt you will reply User001, but it will not provoke a response from me.

 

[route66]

Apparently even if we vote out, the referendum was not legally covered so parliament (who are 89% remain) can over-ride the referendum result.

I personally think we are staying in regardless, but, that's another debate all together.

I'm not sure where you got your facts from, but a referendum enables the population to vote, not parliament. If the referendum is not legally covered then there cannot be a referendum.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Ideally, it would be great for a neutral ground thread where we can discuss the merits of BHX vs MAN all day.

Or better still, why don't you guys who want to rant about BHX v MAN just swap mobile numbers and continue your debate by text.
I have no problem with rational, sensible and respectful discussion regarding and comparing each airport (or any other for that matter), but this has largely descended into an ugly tit-for-tat rhetoric. I joined this forum specifically because I saw so little of this, which was present elsewhere.
Please don't drag Forums4Airports down to the 'gutter level' posts seen on other forum.

Kevin

 

[Ray Finkle]

I think there's been some good debate on this thread tonight, no issues with discussing MAN or LHR if pertinant to BHX surely?

No issues at all. I welcome reasoned debate, it's just when things sometimes get a little pathetic silly (yes Mr W I can still see the posts you attempt to delete)

The main issue for me is that regional UK is booming and with London (finally) being full the rest of the country gets it's chance.

As cities you can argue till the cows come home for Birmingham and Manchester, supporters of both could pull out endless statistics arguing their cause but both are doing well in their own way.

When it comes to airports though, MAN is light years ahead. The reasons are historical, geographical and down to the fact that Birmingham sat with it's thumb up it's a%$ for 30 years whilst Manchester was pushing ahead. Fast forward to today and, in BHX, we finally see an airport with vision, a clear plan for the future. Manchester has had it's own way for so long now that I'm not surprised that a few feathers are being ruffled with Birmingham's new ambition. Mr Kehoe isn't everyone's cup of tea but there is no doubt that BHX is unrecognisable from when he took charge.

The MAN vs BHX debate will always rear it's ugly head from time to time, understandably so. Manchester Airport has a larger realistic catchment area than Birmingham (in that it doesn't overlap London) and it doesn't have the huge gravitational pull of LHR, the world's busiest international airport, offering cheaper prices at an unrivalled frequency.

Manchester is the litmus test for new routes out of regional UK. Mr Kehoe can quip all he likes that their 'flights are empty', if they genuinely are then we stand no chance. What works out of MAN eventually filters down to BHX, that includes China. If Hainan are a success at MAN it will give other airlines a reason to look at regional UK, and with China's one airline, one route policy, BHX has a good chance. If Hainan fail then I'm afraid that LHR it is.

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there ray, regarding Birmingham having talks with Virgin, that sounds good, even if they are content in what they already have, also the same with delta, air china and jet2 too, Mr Kehoe and co need to hold out an olive branch and quite frankly say to all that they are having talks with " name your price and conditions and see if we can meet half way at all, and see if we can come to a good deal, and if they do, well that what a cracker of a deal it can and could be, for Birmingham and the local area. This will then hopefully wake up all the other airlines that have snubbed and ignored Birmingham in going to other airports...Let's hope that all these current talks can agree in some success and hopefully some announcement can be made about when initial summer or winter flights will and can commence....lets hope and pray that the lucky is going to finally start to begin at Birmingham from now on.....Andyc

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Hi there ray, regarding Birmingham having talks with Virgin, that sounds good, even if they are content in what they already have, also the same with delta, air china and jet2 too, Mr Kehoe and co need to hold out an olive branch and quite frankly say to all that they are having talks with " name your price and conditions and see if we can meet half way at all, and see if we can come to a good deal, and if they do, well that what a cracker of a deal it can and could be, for Birmingham and the local area. This will then hopefully wake up all the other airlines that have snubbed and ignored Birmingham in going to other airports...Let's hope that all these current talks can agree in some success and hopefully some announcement can be made about when initial summer or winter flights will and can commence....lets hope and pray that the lucky is going to finally start to begin at Birmingham from now on.....Andyc

Hi Andrew

I think 'Lady Luck' has certainly smiled on BHX over the past 18 months and in many cases, this has been followed up with success.
Long may this continue!

Regards

Kevin

 

[thunderchild]

The question is with all this expansion to the regions what happens if LHR gets it's third runway?

 

[Ray Finkle]

I shudder to think.

Paul Kehoe has long campaigned for a network of airports across the whole of the UK, recently the boss of MAN said this:

"That is particularly pertinent in the context of a congested South East, with no new capacity due to be delivered for at least 15 years, regardless of where a new runway is built. The best outcome for business and leisure passengers in the short, medium and long term will be to create a strong network of competing airports across the entire UK," he said.

Manchester is booming, Birmingham is going from strength to strength, Scotland is growing and Bristol is getting it's long haul back. Maybe it's time for them all to join forces?

 

[David_itl]

The key, of course, is to try and get the pointy end of aircraft filled with passengers who haven't been upgraded so that there is no "easy" option for airlines to go to LHR/LGW citing the lack of premium demand be it first, business or premium economy class.