Route Development & Rumours

[laviation]

Jet2 to Tel Aviv is certainly interesting. I'm of the opinion they'd serve Eliat (or) Aqaba over TLV.

 

[thunderchild]

Jet2 did used to operate to TLV - can’t remember when they pulled out but I think it was well before they opened BHX. If they are planning on returning to the likes of Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco in the future then I guess TLV shouldn’t be ruled out but given the ongoing political strife in Israel I doubt it’s under consideration at the moment.

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

If Jet2 did serve Israel then it would be for international travel purposes,Religion and even business purposes.

 

[IanFarquharson]

Now I know I’m not no genius my destinations and airlines but I’m gonna predict next summer.And yes it’s just a prediction.

Singapore airlines:Only see This happening in end of August only with it 2 weekly flights using A350

Qatar airways:10 weekly .3 out of 10 will be 787-9 and 787-8 will be 7/10

Turkish airlines:Operate 3 daily flights using A21N

Saudia:4 weekly flights

Air India:Amritsar 4 weekly and delhi 3 weekly. Both destinations using 787-8.

Aer lingus:New route to Cork 2 weekly using ATR72

Jet2:New route to Tel aviv and Valencia 3 weekly

Loganair:14 weekly flights to Isle of Man,2 weekly flights to Newquay and 9 weekly flights Inverness and 1 weekly flight to Dundee

Eastern airways:3 weekly flights to Humberside

Singapore and Cathay - I wouldn't rule out in the long term
Qatar - Loads are incredible so double daily or larger aircraft not too far away ?
Turkish - Loads are high so yes a third daily flight is possible.
Saudia - Well above expectations, so a 4th weekly flight cant be too far away ?
Air India - Have promised Bombay and others - lets see !
Jet 2 - I would imagine Marrakesh and Endifha next
Newquay - I agree someone should fly the route

My guess at next two airlines - Play & Pegasus

 

[gulftraveller]

Tel Aviv is a specific case. Jet2 operated from MAN as a flight only. It apparently did well but it was just at the time the company decided that the airline should operate as part of Jet2 holidays and not as a point to point provider. Tel Aviv does not fit in with the city break model so it will not be back.

Tel Aviv flights are used almost exclusively as VFR for members of the Jewish community. That community is huge in north London, very large in the northwest (also large in the northeast) but comparatively smaller in the Midlands. With Luton easily reachable from much of the BHX catchment, I think this will be a difficult destination for BHX to secure. But who knows.

 

[nwoody2001]

Turkish are not even double daily yet on A321s, its one A321 and one B737-8.

So it will likely go double daily A321 next summer not three daily.

Well according to google flights, the TK Schedule from BHX-IST is 2x daily 321's from October onwards throughout the entire winder season.

Google Travel

www.google.com

Subject to change as ever but already a step up in capacity over Summer'23

 

[RichL]

Singapore / Cathay- more chance of winning the lottery.

 

[mullion]

Cathay are finally getting more A35X but seem to be not in expansion mode except adding flights on routes they already operate

 

[IanFarquharson]

Singapore / Cathay- more chance of winning the lottery.

If I had said six months ago that Saudi were starting and some flights would be full then I would have probably been locked up !

BHX have certainly been talking to Cathay and Singapore for ages and I can recall their logos on a presentation by PK a few years ago.

 

[mullion]

Oh I wish that every airline that talk to the airport bosses were converted to services we would all be laughing you have Finnair and MAN has Thai both have been talking for about 30 years and nowt has happened, i suppose when one day the flights are bookable we can have a laugh

 

[Silvercity]

If I had said six months ago that Saudi were starting and some flights would be full then I would have probably been locked up !

BHX have certainly been talking to Cathay and Singapore for ages and I can recall their logos on a presentation by PK a few years ago.

I would have thought with BHX's very good rail connection in the form of Birmingham International, it provides a really good draw for passengers from afar. Indeed I've used it from Cheshire when I've not found what I want from Liverpool, the train down is fast.

 

[laviation]

If it helps, MAN were talking (and still might be) to JAL and ANA for about 10 years, lol

Cathay are not in very much expansion mode at the moment. Hong Kong is declining and they don't even have the crews to even upgauge existing routes.
Singapore I won't comment in detail but seems unlikely (would they want to go up against expanding EK and QR?)
Hainan seems the best bet for any Far Eastern flights IMHO

Of course there can be (welcome) surprises but Singapore is a different kettle of fish to Jeddah. Around double the flight time I think

 

[Brum X]

Hainan would be most welcome x 4 weekly to Beijing or Shanghai ;-)

 

[Scania1800]

Hainan would be most welcome x 4 weekly to Beijing or Shanghai ;-)

Didn’t China southern come to Birmingham and ended due to low demand?

 

[route66]

Didn’t China southern come to Birmingham and ended due to low demand?

There were summer charters from China, which I think ended controversially and politics was involved.

 

[RichL]

If I had said six months ago that Saudi were starting and some flights would be full then I would have probably been locked up !

BHX have certainly been talking to Cathay and Singapore for ages and I can recall their logos on a presentation by PK a few years ago.

I get that and it wasnt to rain on your parade I just do not think we will attract either of those airlines. They are happy in to and out of MAN and LHR.

 

[gulftraveller]

The problem is that airlines can email an airline or even send a delegation, then justifiably claim they are in discussions with them, even if the airline has zero interest.

There were also unconfirmed rumours that Hainan may have taken fright over the Beijing Capital Hangzhou charters because Kehoe announced they were scheduled flights which could have caused them major problems at home.

 

[HPsauce]

Didn’t China southern come to Birmingham and ended due to low demand?

We had a series of summer charters from China about 10 years ago?.
Despite them being well supported, and looking like a permanent route go-ahead, the then Chancellor, George Osborne, asked PM Cameron to switch the flights to MAN for a permanent service. MAN was in Osborne's constituency in Cheshire!.
The rest is history!!.

 

[mullion]

Manchester was already on the cards so I am not sure that is correct as Manchester University has a very large chinese market.

 

[route66]

Manchester was already on the cards so I am not sure that is correct as Manchester University has a very large chinese market.

The Chinese Premier, who was expecting to visit BHX due to the successful charters, was most definitely encouraged to visit MAN by Osborne but that ground has been gone over a number of times.