Route Development & Rumours

[Ray Finkle]

As I said, my opinion is that it's not one to get too many hopes up for.

See below.

I heard this morning (part 2) would be an add onto another European city then tonight I heard that it was just a couple of one off rotations. But the destination and airline would be great either way.

 

[JENNYJET]

Ah! BIMAN. Now then, whatever became of their JFK service following the retirement flights of the DC-10?

To current matters, BHX would gain a big feather in the Trilby if they could secure a year round even if not daily service to Dulles . With the Dreamliner and A321LR, more options for direct city pair's are opening up.

On a personal note, I could not ever feel comfortable on a single aisle transatlantic flight. Unless of course if it happens to be on an exclusive NetJets type of service.

 

[Frankie4]

EVA Air?

 

[User002]

EVA Air?

Close !

 

[hishaq96]

Vietnam Airlines?

 

[thunderchild]

Close !

China Airlines then.

 

[ronnoc1k8]

Thai? They are close enough.

 

[Glenn Eldridge]

My guess is ANA for the new Asian route we are supposed to be getting

 

[BHX22]

I would say its Cathay Pacific using the A350.

 

[GliderPilot]

I would say its Cathay Pacific using the A350.

I would love to see an A350 Service into BHX, would be great!

 

[Glenn Eldridge]

I would love to see an A350 Service into BHX, would be great!

I've heard Qatar looking to upgrade equipment on BHX flights, maybe we will see an A359 from DOH

 

[nwoody2001]

With Qatar, its all about aircraft availability. if they have the aircraft available, I'm sure they will expand. With such growth from BHX and emirates having cut seats by going 2x daily A388, now is the time to Qatar to take the opportunity....

 

[GliderPilot]

With such growth from BHX and emirates having cut seats by going 2x daily A388

So EK dropped the amount of seats availible by upgrading the aircraft but reducing the flights? almost like a compromise in a way...

 

[Coathanger16]

With Emirates going from 1x A380 & 2x B777 down to 2x A380, Qatar could upgrade to an A350-1000 and there'd still be less seats per day than now. Even by adding a 2nd daily B787, the total number of seats would only increase by 26 per day from now.

With Emirates having downgraded capacity, I'd hope/expect Qatar to increase capacity if they have the available aircraft. Failing Qatar taking any action, perhaps this might finally give Etihad a big enough incentive to serve BHX.

 

[nwoody2001]

Current MEB3 Situation

Emirates
1x A380 = 615 Seats
2x B77W = 856 Seats

Qatar
1x B788 = 255 Seats

Total = 1,726 seats or 3,452 seats in/out

Future MEB3 Situation as of 29th October

Emirates
2x A380 - 1,230 Seats

Qatar
1x B788 = 255 Seats

Total= 1,485 seats or 2,970 seats in/out (13.9% reduction of capacity)

the interesting point to make is that last summer, of the 3,452 seats available, LF across both EK/QR at summer peak was approximately 88-90% which is approx. 3,100 passengers. Assuming pax will be growing this year through natural growth we can assume an even better situation. therefore, after October, if nothing changes, there will be more pax than seats in summer 2018.. a great opportunity for QR if you ask me!!!

 

[58terminus]

With Emirates having downgraded capacity, I'd hope/expect Qatar to increase capacity if they have the available aircraft.

I might be being a bit naive here but do airlines downgrade capacity if there is potential future growth?

 

[Barry Beeth]

That's a mighty fine question!
I think the general opinion is that there was too much growth too quickly with EK going 3 daily and putting the 380 on in the same time-frame as QR got going. Is there going to be too little now instead?
Not sure personally in the short term but I can see QR maybe going to 10/11pw with the morning service daily.

 

[rollo]

I might be being a bit naive here but do airlines downgrade capacity if there is potential future growth?

Normally they wouldn't but they might try and raise prices to increase profits.

 

[Coathanger16]

As much as it would be great to see Qatar operate a different (larger) aircraft type to Birmingham, I think increasing the frequency would be a better approach for growth. I don't know which Qatar flight (morning or afternoon) is better for connections/growth, but I would expect them to increase either the morning or afternoon flight to daily to make 10 flights per week.

Anyone got any insider knowledge (that they can share) about Qatar's next moves for BHX?

 

[GliderPilot]

I'd still love to know what airline this far east route is supposed to be with