Route Development & Rumours

[User0001]

Re: Birmingham Airport Rumours

Whilst I have no doubt the 3rd daily will materialise this year, April is too soon, its more likely to be June or September.

Also, Emirates have no intention of adding an A380 to BHX at this present time.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Re: Birmingham Airport Rumours

April sounded rather soon to me also. This year the traditional low season and Ramadan blend in to one long period so June wouldn't give much time before then, I'd imagine early May at the latest although I'd expect an announcement in the next couple of weeks if that is to happen. If it doeshappen this year then late September/ early October would be my bet.

I've heard one or two things re: the A380 but everything will (or won't) be revealed in due course.

 

[Luke 77]

Re: Birmingham Airport Rumours

Just read a very slight rumour on another forum (pprune) regards Helsinki. This is one of the routes I'm desperately waiting for, got family in Finland but weekend catch ups aren't the easiest when your looking at 14 hours door to door - this would help!!

Has anybody heard anything?
Here's the snippet uplifted from the other forum

Helsinki?
Any ideas?

Reported that fares are being loaded into GDS.

As far as I can see Finnair don't normally offer anything to BHX although in theory the BE/BA Dusseldorf is possible as an alternative to the usual Star and Skyteam offering I think.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Re: Birmingham Airport Rumours

Just read the same thing. Can only think of possibly Finnair/Flybe Nordic? Maybe a very outside chance of Norwegian? Be good if true :s_yes

 

[Luke 77]

Re: Birmingham Airport Rumours

I did hear rumours about a year ago of norwegian but turns out it was just a rumour as didn't hear anything else, in fact have they not based at Manchester now as well as gatwick?
In my simplistic mind I thought there was a possibility when flybe Nordic was formed what with our links to flybe, but turns out flybe Nordic not doing much/anything into uk (yet). ?

 

[Hassaan]

Re: Birmingham Airport Rumours

Isn't the runway still an issue for the A380 (with a full load)? I think it had issues with the turning off at the end of the runway last time it was here. I don't think that'll be here until next year.

Third daily I can see happening this year. If it was April wouldn't we have heard any confirmation by now? I would have also thought it'd be initially with an A330 but I take it those don't exist in the fleet anymore. The early morning flights will allow for good connections however.

Regarding Qatar, considering they've actually left it 7 months since they announced it, it does seem pretty likely it won't go ahead. As Shaheen Air now have their A330s, it's no doubt they have probably been looking at BHX but what are the chances of an actual service?

 

[Ray Finkle]

Re: Birmingham Airport Rumours

Emirates 3rd daily won't be April now, if it starts this year I'd say Oct/Nov at the earliest.

No runway issues for the A380. The chap from Emirates did say one of the taxiway turns was tighter than they'd like but as it meets CAA regs I don't think there are plans to widen them, although this would be an ideal time to do so.

Qatar announced Helsinki in Nov 2011 and that's still not happened. They have a shortage of aircraft at the moment and the 787 saga will not be helping, even if BHX isn't down for a 787 it'll be from an aircraft displaced by one. Alot of patience will be needed for this one, don't give up hope just yet

Shaheen have apparently been doing the rounds at UK airports so I guess they'll go where they get the best deal.

 

[Hassaan]

Re: Birmingham Airport Rumours

Interesting. So the April start was a rumour and has been denied? And the main issue with an A380 operating here is that it seems that they couldn't even fill a First Class cabin on a 777 (which is what some people have gone with). In the past when American Airlines operated here, I heard that they had to leave behind cargo on hot days and that was on a 767.

I think Qatar would start with A330s but I think we would need an announcement in due course about Emirates and Qatar to clear this up. I've contacted Emirates regarding that rumour and it'd be interesting as to what their response will be.

I would have thought Shaheen Air would be best off operating to JFK via Birmingham rather than any other airport as the Asian population is rather large here in the Midlands, though I presume not as large as the likes of London or Manchester. We'll just have to see

 

[Ray Finkle]

Re: Birmingham Airport Rumours

The April start date was indeed just a rumour and neither confirmed or denied but if it were to start in April flights would be on sale already. The fact is only Emirates and possibly BHX know if/when a 3rd daily will start so although rumours are good fun don't get your hopes up on anything until there is official conformation.

BHX has never had F class offered so it would seem Emirates don't think there is enough of a market for it at the moment. The A380 has twice as many F class seats than the 773 so seeing it become available on the lunchtime service will happen before an A380.

Until it's announced nobody knows what equipment Qatar will use. The 787 would be about the right size and is made for routes such as BHX but the A330 would have more cargo capacity so may be needed to boost yields.

I think we would need an announcement in due course about Emirates and Qatar to clear this up

Exactly. Rumours are good fun but can go round and round in circles. I know it's a pain waiting but until there is an official announcement anything could happen.

Birmingham has the 2nd largest Pakistani population after London but in the BHX catchment area there is only Nottingham, Derby, Leicester and Coventry with mentionable numbers. Bradford is third and Manchester fourth but if you add the sizable populations of Leeds, Sheffield, Rochdale, Oldham, Blackburn, Bolton etc then 'The North' far outweighs 'The Midlands'. If Shaheen come back to the UK they will most likely go where they get the best deal and with the BHX fees normally I wouldn't have given them a hope. That said, Air Blue are doing very well up at MAN, so much so even PIA are dropping a service and shifting others to Shannon, and Leeds will be seeing an upgrade to the 777 next month which will no doubt generate much good publicity so if Shaheen don't fancy too much of a fight BHX may well be in with a shout.

 

[Hassaan]

Re: Birmingham Airport Rumours

Regarding Shaheen Air, I would think them beginning an operation at BHX would give PIA the kick-up the backside that they need as they don't seem to be taking the operation seriously enough nowadays - they've stuck to three/four flights a week for a number of years. They had a big operation in the early noughties with up to eight flights a week on an A310 and this includes the transiting flights to ORD and YYZ. I don't know what the Pakistani population is like in Wales but there's a chance some of those would use BHX. PIA also operated a once-weekly link to Peshawar, another city in Pakistan back in 2004 but have no idea whatever happened to that. They were doing 5x weekly by 2007, then dropped it to 3/4x weekly when they introduced the 772 in July of that year.

BHX has quite a reputation for having rather high landing fees and that's one of the factors that turns away airlines (those who wouldn't have any issue flying here as far as the runway is concerned). Looking at other candidates, MAN already have numerous services offered by PIA and Airblue, and LBA need to build up on their service as apparently, they still serve 2x weekly despite having quite a large Pakistani population and having served there for well over four years. They could offer something new to BHX when it comes to long-haul operations and they could actually stand out here (when they start here if they do) so if i were them, BHX would be the best option.

Emirates are expanding at MAN - they are starting a FOURTH daily flight later this year, just about 2 years since the third daily commenced. It's one of their busiest EU routes so there's no surprise there. It apparently needs the cargo and premium uplift already.

I think the QR 787 will be perfect for BHX - it's smaller than the A333, so less seats to fill. Also, it's more economical so less cost for a new route so its perfect for Birmingham but not needed for its capabilities at MAN where the A333 can carry more cargo. Looking at images, they seem to operate a mix of A346, 773, A332/3 and 787 at LHR.

Another thing that hasn't exactly been made clear over a while is a direct service to India. It was mentioned a while back that they were back to square one for some reason.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Re: Birmingham Airport Rumours

Things have changed at PIA since then and the world is a very different place now. Personally I'm happy with 4x weekly 772/3, although it would be nice to get Karachi/Lahore back on the route map.

It's not even certain Shaheen will enter the UK market yet, they've been seen doing the rounds but that's about it. Don't forget they operated briefly into LBA some time back and were by all accounts a bit of a shambles (I'm sure LBA forumers will elaborate) and announced flights to DSA which never happened.

It's one of their busiest EU routes so there's no surprise there. It apparently needs the cargo and premium uplift already.

Really??? At the moment it is, for want of a better word, war at MAN. Etihad, with their acquisition of Manchester City and investment in the area, want to take over at MAN, Emirates obviously don't want that to happen and as a result MAN has seen the aggressive expansion in recent years. Qatar seem to be clinging onto their coat tails but all three have deep enough pockets to see it through. The bad news for BHX is it interferes with it's growth, the guy from Emirates not too long back almost apologetically said that the turf wars at MAN have affected BHX by as much as 10%.

I think the QR 787 will be perfect for BHX - it's smaller than the A333, so less seats to fill. Also, it's more economical so less cost for a new route so its perfect for Birmingham but not needed for its capabilities at MAN where the A333 can carry more cargo.

What's to say a healthy cargo load isn't required at BHX to supplement the start up and the potentially low yielding South Asian passengers in the early days? Nobody knows what equipment will be used if/when the service starts.

Another thing that hasn't exactly been made clear over a while is a direct service to India. It was mentioned a while back that they were back to square one for some reason.

BHX signed the deal for Air India to recommence it's BHX service. Unfortunately that boss then got the sack and it seems the deal is done with the man rather than the company so it's back to square one. BHX have teams going to India early this year with more meetings planned after that, they hope to have something in place for when the runway opens.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Birmingham Airport Rumours

Not strictly BHX but as it seems that MAN has a bearing on Emirates at BHX (from reading earlier posts in this thread) is EK really going 4 x daily to DXB from MAN as stated by a poster on here yesterday?

I use EK for long haul and BHX is my most convenient airport in this regard (used it for one trip to/from Australia with EK) though I've found better deals from LGW in the past two years and have flown from there.

I tried a test booking for MAN for both August 2013 and November 2013 (the winter schedule) and only three daily EK rotations to DXB came up which is why I am querying the 4 x daily comment.

 

[User0001]

Re: Birmingham Airport Rumours

I think the QR 787 will be perfect for BHX.......

Do you, are you sure you are not copying what someone has wrote on another forum (skyscrapercity)?

Really???

Yes, its currently 3rd for loads and yield behind LHR and CDG.

is EK really going 4 x daily to DXB from MAN as stated by a poster on here yesterday

Yes. EK23/24 has its flight times, equipment and cabins loaded into their systems ready for when they want to start it. It will happen shortly after the EK19/20 has been upgraded to the A380, and when the cargo uplift of the B77W is really really needed.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Re: Birmingham Airport Rumours

Yes. EK23/24 has its flight times, equipment and cabins loaded into their systems ready for when they want to start it. It will happen shortly after the EK19/20 has been upgraded to the A380, and when the cargo uplift of the B77W is really really needed.

Many thanks for that, user001.

 

[Hassaan]

Re: Birmingham Airport Rumours

I've heard that Air Transat are operating once a week again from YYZ from May, on an A310. What were the loads like last year? Do they warrant a second weekly flight at least?

 

[Ray Finkle]

Re: Birmingham Airport Rumours

I've heard that Air Transat are operating once a week again from YYZ from May, on an A310.

It's not a rumour, the timetable is on their website.

What were the loads like last year?

As said before the flights were full throughout the summer with I think it was a 97% LF overall. Loads mean nothing though it's yields that make or break a route.

Do they warrant a second weekly flight at least?

Obviously not or there would be one.

 

[Hassaan]

Re: Birmingham Airport Rumours

I recall there was a rumour about 2 years ago that Air India were to start daily to MAN and 3x weekly to BHX from DEL I believe. I wonder if another Indian airline could pitch in instead.

Whether or not Qatar are actually going to operate from BHX, they still need to make an announcement about it to clear things up and prevent any further rumours, as with EK. An April start for a third daily, as it's high season, they maybe wouldn't want to put up booking details too early but they don't always announce flights months before it commences.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Re: Birmingham Airport Rumours

I recall there was a rumour about 2 years ago that Air India were to start daily to MAN and 3x weekly to BHX from DEL I believe.

It was just that, a rumour, and like many Internet rumours it didn't happen.

I wonder if another Indian airline could pitch in instead.

The only other airline in a position to do so would be Jet Airways but outside of LHR they seem happy to funnel pax through Brussels. It appears BHX are after Air India and only time will tell if (another ) deal can be done.

Whether or not Qatar are actually going to operate from BHX, they still need to make an announcement about it to clear things up and prevent any further rumours, as with EK.

Why do they need to make an announcement and what possible announcement could they make? They've already said they intend to serve BHX as well as two other UK airports when they have deliveries of new aircraft. Those deliveries have been hit by the 787 technical issues which as far as I'm aware don't have a time frame to be resolved yet, so there's a possibility even Qatar Airways themselves don't know when the exact start date will be. If so I fail to see what more Qatar could say.

An April start for a third daily, as it's high season, they maybe wouldn't want to put up booking details too early but they don't always announce flights months before it commences

Emirates third daily is again nothing more than a rumour, there has been nothing confirmed by the airline. It's widely thought it will be happening soon and it's something the airport are pushing for but only Emirates know for sure. If it does happen then Emirates will make a press release when they see fit and give the start date that they have chosen.


You can read alot of things on the Internet, some will turn out to be true, some may have been based on the truth but things can and do change, others will be a load of rubbish based on spotters fantasies, idle hearsay etc.... Rumours are enjoyable to read but until you see an official announcement then don't get your hopes up.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Re: Route Development

From the minutes of the Nov consultative committee meeting.

Castle Bromwich Parish Council (Cllr J Whelan) – asked the Airport Company if they could
provide an update on any new routes to North America. The Airport Company (Paul Kehoe)
gave a general update to the Committee on the present commercial and economic position,
noting that it was not good news at the present time.


Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council (Cllr B Cotterill) – sought reassurances from the
Airport Company that they were actively seeking new holiday markets. The Airport Company
(Paul Kehoe) gave an overview of the business strategies for Birmingham and reassured the
Committee that dialogues were on-going with a number of low cost airlines.

 

[Hassaan]

Re: Route Development

Looks like a new link to the US isn't going to happen in the near future.