Route Development & Rumours

[David_itl]

As for the the other route, why would it need to be BHX v MAN. There are eastbound routes with sufficient passenger numbers which would suggest both BHX and MAN could handle them without either doing the other route harm. China is one such country. With Hainan seemingly having a love-in with MAN, BHX may want to go for China Southern (hubs Beijing and Guangzhou, secondary hubs include Shanghai).

 

[jfy1999]

If they get this right and are a hit with passengers then I don't see anything stopping them from going bigger and further - I think this livery would look great on a 767 or A330, a bit like the TCX/Condor look...oh well, we can dare to dream...

 

[User001]

Well, I've just said this to someone on a private message, but this could put the Primera news into perspective.

A few years ago, a local charter carrier approached Manchester Airport and said 'we have a plan, what do you think'.

It seemed a crazy plan, bonkers almost, but MAN said 'OK, we will give it a go'. Analysts thought TCX were mad. Enthusiasts poo pooed the ideas, and people were sceptical.

5 years later, MAN has routes to Seattle, San Fransisco, Boston, JFK. Miami, Las Vegas, Cape Town, Los Angeles and more to come.

What if Primera is BHX's version of this. It could just be the smartest thing BHX has done in a long time.

Give it hope guys.

 

[Coathanger16]

Big airlines (going west) have continuously either overlooked Birmingham or offered sub par products to Birmingham, so maybe its about time a complete outsider gave it a try. Regardless of which airline it is, surely having an airline operating these flights is better than none?

Are we to assume these flights will be operated by A321neo's rather than the A321LR's? If so, by the time Primera Air gets their A321LR's, these new routes will have had time to bed in and the airline should be in a good position to know how they are doing. If they are doing well, the A321LR could be added which have the range to fly to Orlando...

Well, I've just said this to someone on a private message, but this could put the Primera news into perspective.

A few years ago, a local charter carrier approached Manchester Airport and said 'we have a plan, what do you think'.

It seemed a crazy plan, bonkers almost, but MAN said 'OK, we will give it a go'. Analysts thought TCX were mad. Enthusiasts poo pooed the ideas, and people were sceptical.

5 years later, MAN has routes to Seattle, San Fransisco, Boston, JFK. Miami, Las Vegas, Cape Town, Los Angeles and more to come.

What if Primera is BHX's version of this. It could just be the smartest thing BHX has done in a long time.

Give it hope guys.

Thank you for that insight User001 - I had no idea thats how TCX started out. Fingers crossed the same thing can happen with Primera at BHX.

 

[ethanegcc]

Got it with the first Prime comment, although was too late to post.

Will the new routes be seasonal or year-round? I can't see BOS doing too well in winter, but EWR and YYZ could run decently.

 

[David_itl]

Got to also bear in mind that for any US based airline, they would funnel passengers in to an east coast airport (perhaps central USA at a stretch) and distribute on their regionals. BA and VS would go to the AA and DL hubs. Getting Primera will allow them to go for more routes and they won't be too proud to turn up their noses at economy passengers, and given a decent product, may encourage some SMEs to use them as a reduced price version of flying legacy business.

 

[Coathanger16]

Just found this:

For some reason I can just picture a TV ad for these new routes with the music from the video in the background. Advertising and getting the word out there will be the deciding factor for these flights. From the video their product looks pretty good actually.

 

[elmdon74]

Erm,(needs to translated when viewed !) https://www.svt.se/nyheter/inrikes/primera-air-vi-ar-verkligen-ledsna

 

[Ianbutty]

Get behind it folks. As User001 has brilliantly pointed out from the courage of one airline and their faith in a city and airport they have created a broad TATL network. Let it happen. I would rather have a enthusiastic relatively unknown airline having the guts to take on a big challenge putting their faith in the city they serve than a tired one running a route because it is there, with poor aircraft and sloppy 'we know best service.'

The US airlines are dropping routes in spades across Europe. Their time is up. The gaps are being filled by the Europeans. Great news.

 

[58terminus]

This is exactly the pick-me up BHX needs. What needs to happen for Primera is to get busy with BHX and go all over the place to showcase these routes. If there are any events in the area, throw some money sponsoring them and putting banners up broadcasting the routes. Even stuff like sponsoring local weather reports. They'd have to do this anyway being a very unknown brand over here compared to United.

Get your name on Villa's shirts. Nobody knows where Primera come from either.Two negatives can make a plus.

 

[hishaq96]

When is the new airline to Asia going to be announced?

 

[DaveBham]

Legacy airlines are often bloated and complacent. In any industry it takes an upstart to challenge preconceived ideas and business models to improve the industry and offer customers what they want. Look at virgin, Norwegian, or Uber, apple etc.

It's great that Primera is going for it. They've spotted a niche and I hope it works out for them.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Have to say, that I've never heard of Primera Air (and neither has the spellchecker), but I wish them every success.
I think that a lot of advertising will be necessary to build up brand awareness and I hope BHX will contribute to this to make these routes work (both in the UK, US and Canada).

Will the new routes be seasonal or year-round?

The same thought occurred to me.
I also wonder if there will be a business class option and any possibility of onwards connections particularly from EWR?

Kevin

 

[hammerb32]

It's easy to compare this service to those AA and UA flights and see it as their replacement, in fact it's not, it's the latest evolution in air travel, a lo cost airline entering the TATL market. We're at the start of it, that can only be a good thing, 20 years ago who would have predicted what Easyjet, Ryanair et al would become.

Can't wait for the product detail and hopefully the future expansion.

 

[Creguk]

I'm really excited for this. Great news and I wish them luck. I would definitely be interested in all 3 destinations. I wonder what prices will be like.

 

[GliderPilot]

Would love to know something about the potential asia route aswell, the press release saying BHX was in talks about this was back in January!

http://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/business/birmingham-airport-talks-over-new-12451779

 

[TM3]

New York, Toronto and Boston are all big cities so at the right price surely they will sell some seats there and from further locations to budget travelers.

It the risk of getting flamed I don't think they are going to make much of an impression on regular flyers already traveling through Heathrow to North America and not just because of advertising, the following will play a major part:

• Not a part of a recognised FF/status programme
• No onward connections beyond the direct destination
• No biz cabin
• No contracts with any business travel management co

If they can sell tickets good luck to them. The routes development team have done sterling work delivering growth but if there were any area I had a question mark about it's these prestige long haul routes where some of the additions in my opinion have looked a bit desperate and then subsequently fail. I hope we aren't going to see this here but I also hope this isn't a panic measure designed to fill the gap of United leaving that messes up our chance of getting a full service airline in the future or maybe one of Jet Blue's first transatlantic links.

 

[nwoody2001]

How does the Norwegian Max services from the UK to US differ from the above?

 

[nwoody2001]

How does the Norwegian Max services from the UK to US differ from the above?

 

[DaveBham]

- nobody is offering low cost flights to the US from Manchester
- it's amazing how far people will travel for a cheap fare - look at midlanders heading to MAN or LHR. Now it's our turn to pinch a few passengers back!
- Birmingham has the highest population by proportion of 16-25 yr olds in the uk, and one of the highest Europe.
- air transat is going to get the kick up the backside it's for so long needed through the competition this brings.