Route Development & Rumours

[MJH]

How about SAS? They were indicating earlier in the year that they wanted an operation similar to Norwegian..

 

[Brum X]

If a polish airline can launch flights from Hungary, why not the UK ?
LOT Polish Airlines yesterday (07JUL17) announced planned service launch between Hungary and the US, on board its Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner aircraft. From May 2018, the airline will offer flights from Budapest to Chicago and New York JFK, 2 and 4 weekly flights each.

This marks the restoration of nonstop US service for Budapest, for the first time since 2011.

Budapest – Chicago O’Hare eff 05MAY18 2 weekly
LO031 BUD1135 – 1450ORD 788 26
LO032 ORD1635 – 0855+1BUD 788 26

Budapest – New York JFK eff 03MAY18 4 weekly
LO033 BUD1155 – 1540JFK 788 x236
LO034 JFK1815 – 0850+1BUD 788 x236

 

[User001]

Whatever the new airline turns out to be, Birmingham needs to really get behind it, and give it all they have.

The reason I say this is because Birmingham has been given a potential lifeline, and it's not wise to look a gift horse in the mouth. Newcastle wasn't given this lifeline, neither was Bristol, but Birmingham has, and if the people don't get behind it, it could be a long time before someone comes knocking again.

Now, this next bit is going to be very controversial, and I'm expecting a lot of flaming, but here goes.

Birmingham needs to be less snobby when it comes to airlines. Yes, I said it, but let me explain.

As soon as an airline either starts or ends a service, there are a lot of rather odd comments.

For example, when AA pulled JFK, people were quick to jump on the inferior service and outdated plane. Yes, the B757 is old, but, it's good enough for Amsterdam, it's good enough for Manchester, it's good enough for Dublin and so on, but it wasn't good enough for Birmingham. Yes, the planes are not as flashy as the ones at London Heathrow, but Birmingham is not London. London is an aviation powerhouse, it's like walking into Asda and complaining it doesn't have the same range as Waitrose.

Then United announced their pulling out, and again, the excuses of sub standard services came out. Again, the B757 used is good enough for Dublin, Shannon, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hamburg, London Heathrow, Manchester and more, yet, it's apparently not good enough for Birmingham. What's suddenly made the travelling public from Birmingham decide after 20 years 'nope, not doing this whole B757 thing anymore?'

We also had it with BA. 'Nope, these times are not great, it's sub standard'. BA offered a service, the best it could given the aircraft utilisation, and a fair few people have said 'thanks but no thanks BA'. I get that people have a preference, but, an airline offered a service they best they can, as best tailored to the market they can. No airline starts a route thinking 'people won't like this but we will give it a go anyway'. It just doesn't happen. Months, sometimes years of research goes into new routes.

These 3 examples and then people wonder why a route didn't work, or why airlines are reluctant to try new flights? I'm sorry if the above sounds harsh, I tried to word it the best I could, but I think sometimes the mood can be self defeating. Negativity breeds uncertainty and so on.

Now, when this new airline starts, let's not do the usual 'oh the frequency isn't right' or 'that's not going to work' or 'the aircraft is sub par'. Let's show what Birmingham can do. Let's look at the airline and think 'thanks for giving us a chance, let us reward you for the risk you have shown'. Let's show the airline exactly why they chose BHX and get behind the route with all its might,

 

[Brum X]

USER001 do you know who it is ?? You dont need to tell us, im just curious to know.

 

[Brum X]

Whatever the new airline turns out to be, Birmingham needs to really get behind it, and give it all they have.

The reason I say this is because Birmingham has been given a potential lifeline, and it's not wise to look a gift horse in the mouth. Newcastle wasn't given this lifeline, neither was Bristol, but Birmingham has, and if the people don't get behind it, it could be a long time before someone comes knocking again.

Now, this next bit is going to be very controversial, and I'm expecting a lot of flaming, but here goes.

Birmingham needs to be less snobby when it comes to airlines. Yes, I said it, but let me explain.

As soon as an airline either starts or ends a service, there are a lot of rather odd comments.

For example, when AA pulled JFK, people were quick to jump on the inferior service and outdated plane. Yes, the B757 is old, but, it's good enough for Amsterdam, it's good enough for Manchester, it's good enough for Dublin and so on, but it wasn't good enough for Birmingham. Yes, the planes are not as flashy as the ones at London Heathrow, but Birmingham is not London. London is an aviation powerhouse, it's like walking into Asda and complaining it doesn't have the same range as Waitrose.

Then United announced their pulling out, and again, the excuses of sub standard services came out. Again, the B757 used is good enough for Dublin, Shannon, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hamburg, London Heathrow, Manchester and more, yet, it's apparently not good enough for Birmingham. What's suddenly made the travelling public from Birmingham decide after 20 years 'nope, not doing this whole B757 thing anymore?'

We also had it with BA. 'Nope, these times are not great, it's sub standard'. BA offered a service, the best it could given the aircraft utilisation, and a fair few people have said 'thanks but no thanks BA'. I get that people have a preference, but, an airline offered a service they best they can, as best tailored to the market they can. No airline starts a route thinking 'people won't like this but we will give it a go anyway'. It just doesn't happen. Months, sometimes years of research goes into new routes.

These 3 examples and then people wonder why a route didn't work, or why airlines are reluctant to try new flights? I'm sorry if the above sounds harsh, I tried to word it the best I could, but I think sometimes the mood can be self defeating. Negativity breeds uncertainty and so on.

Now, when this new airline starts, let's not do the usual 'oh the frequency isn't right' or 'that's not going to work' or 'the aircraft is sub par'. Let's show what Birmingham can do. Let's look at the airline and think 'thanks for giving us a chance, let us reward you for the risk you have shown'. Let's show the airline exactly why they chose BHX and get behind the route with all its might,

But then would you travel on a UA 757 ?

 

[User001]

I have travelled on a UA B757 and would do so again. I have no issue with TATL B757's.

This is the rub, it seems people have no issue with Jet2 running Xmas flights from BHX to EWR using nearly 30 year old B757's proclaiming how great it is, yet UA with younger B757's, seat back TV's, reasonably good OTP is somehow not good enough?

 

[Coathanger16]

But then would you travel on a UA 757 ?

United use them out of Heathrow on certain routes.

Whilst I'm not denying what User001 has said is true, I think the reason why people do it is because they've been let down in the past.

When BA started from BHX, people complained that the times weren't right - an attempt to not commit in case the routes fail.

When AA pulled out and people criticized the 757 - an attempt by people to justify why AA pulled out.

Nobody likes it when things go wrong. It human nature.

This is the rub, it seems people have no issue with Jet2 running Xmas flights from BHX to EWR using nearly 30 year old B757's proclaiming how great it is, yet UA with younger B757's, seat back TV's, reasonably good OTP is somehow not good enough?

Is this because a B757 is all Jet2 have, whilst United have better aircraft than the B757 in their fleet?

 

[Brum X]

Back to LOT Polish airlines, any reason why only LHR/BHX/EDI are listed as airports in Great Britain ? Or have we discussed this before via somewhere with Flybe ??

 

[User001]

Is this because a B757 is all Jet2 have, whilst United have better aircraft than the B757 in their fleet?

But the UA B757 is similar internally to the B767 and B777 fleet. The B787 has a newer cabin but even LHR doesn't see that many of those yet.

 

[Deleted member 8862]

Got it, easy when you rule out all the others.

MID_FLY with the new Cessna 172ER (NEO)

Now we can all sleep easier tonight...

 

[thunderchild]

We'll be hitting 25,000 posts soon at this rate!

 

[Ray Finkle]

When BA started from BHX, people complained that the times weren't right - an attempt to not commit in case the routes fail.

Or it could be that some do not want to arrive at their holiday destination at five to three in the morning. Especially those with young families.

I guess for those with properties in Spain it wouldn't be too bad as you can go straight to bed but if you are in a hotel you are left with two choices. Pay for a room for an extra night, even though you'll only be in there for a few hours, so that you can go straight to the hotel, or arrive in the wee small hours and hang around for god knows how long until you can check in. Either way you are knackered for the first day of your holiday.

When there are so many other options to the same place offering extremely friendly flight timings I think people have the right to question them.

Other than that I largely agree

 

[hammerb32]

Is it a new airline to BHX, if so I'm frazzled, if not than it's Jet 2 no?

 

[BHXsupporter]

Sleep easy tonight mate!

 

[thunderchild]

Given all that's been ruled out and BHX's notorious history with oddball carriers I'm beginning to wonder if passengers booked on these flights should be advised to carry an extra couple of dollars in case they have to pay the fuel bill on arrival!

 

[TM3]

I don't think it's about people in Birmingham being snobby - they just aren't mugs.

The United 757 was fine but the AA one was poor. If you are regularly traveling to Heathrow to fly in business and getting a lie flat seat you aren't going to want to pay the same money for what is basically a recliner seat. Also you aren't going to want to organise your journey around the days the airline flys.

It's one thing to support the connection, I've used both of these services, but you can't give people a happy meal and tell them it's steak.

 

[hammerb32]

Agreed TM3, the UA 757 offering bettered that of the UA 767 and was a different league to the AA 757.

 

[Barry Beeth]

I'm in the pub and have been for a while so apologies if this isn't too coherent but there was something somewhere about 6 weeks back, Jet 2, leased 330s to, er, not sure, thinking Florida, Mexico, Cuba?
Maybe?

 

[Brum X]

I'm in the pub and have been for a while so apologies if this isn't too coherent but there was something somewhere about 6 weeks back, Jet 2, leased 330s to, er, not sure, thinking Florida, Mexico, Cuba?
Maybe?

Its not Jet2

 

[Barry Beeth]

Tilt.