Route Development & Rumours

[Timberwolf]

From what im told the decision to move the Orlando flights once again further away from International drive ,this time to Melbourne was more about Cruise passengers.

Melbourne Is the nearest airport to TUIs Marella Cruises sailing port.

So may well be TUI are now making more money from Cruise passengers than families going to Disney land area.

 

[mullion]

I believe Disney is no longer the pull it used to be as it is so expensive

 

[rollo]

From what im told the decision to move the Orlando flights once again further away from International drive ,this time to Melbourne was more about Cruise passengers.

Melbourne Is the nearest airport to TUIs Marella Cruises sailing port.

So may well be TUI are now making more money from Cruise passengers than families going to Disney land area.

Marella Cruises were definitely part of the thinking but looking at the cruise schedule only one flight out of this years three weekly matches day wise. Next year's cruise shows no cruise flights available from BHX and I'm not sure if Marella are even operating from there next year.

I feel one of the reasons BHX never achieved Orlando figures remotely like Manchester and Gatwick is because the charter airlines moved from MCO which is much nearer to the attractions than SFB ( in reality its nearly a 2hr drive to Disney as you arrive at rush hour) and MLB even longer while the scheduled operators B.A. and Virgin stayed at MCO and grabbed the lions share and now the cost and inconvenience of it is definitely slowing the market with the cost definitely the main factor in my opinion.

A bit of thread drift I'm afraid.

 

[mullion]

The thing is Florida market is changing Rollo as you say

 

[DarloPlaneBoy]

I note with interest the various comments regarding the potential expansion/ introduction of specific flights from BHX to Saudi Arabia and China. The most important specific factors to be considered are currently :
1 Religion
2 Politics
For simplicity, Jeddah is a stand-alone Islamic destination which is hostile to outsiders. and therefore nearly wholly dependant on the potential of that specific market.
China is currently a political pariah to the Western economies and as a consequence, investment and two-way tourism have ‘fallen off a cliff’.
It follows that air route growth does not necessarily relate to the size of immediate population catchment. One could possibly argue that Jeddah traffic might increase as a transit destination, however, this would be a classic ‘too little too late’ scenario regarding the intense competition.

I could add regarding China that there might be some interest in the Local Football scene as Wolves and Currently West Brom are owned by Chinese Investors. If you could call Albion's that anyway that probably has some significant intrest to people of China.

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

I could add regarding China that there might be some interest in the Local Football scene as Wolves and Currently West Brom are owned by Chinese Investors. If you could call Albion's that anyway that probably has some significant intrest to people of China.

We’ve got to think about all of the reasons.
Religion-A lot of people in China who now live in Birmingham might celebrate there buddist relief

Chinese new year- Happens every year in Birmingham.People who celebrate it might want to come and watch the celebrations of new year in there belief.

Food and hospitality:Chinese culture and food has a lot of aspiration especially in Birmingham.We have to remember Chinatown,Takeaways,Bonsais.It’s a massive part of there heritage

Ownership and football-Wolves ,West brom both owned by Chinese owners and it might give fans an option to support a new football club

University and college:
Many airports like Dublin Manchester and even Edinburgh have increased or even started new flights.Educational purposes is quite popular among Chinese students .

 

[mullion]

If it is like Manchester most of the Chinese are from Hong Kong or students from the mainland

 

[HPsauce]

Mullion, what exactly is a load of tosh??. If you are talking about population, Manchester is way behind Birmingham, and is even behind Sheffield and Leeds....fact!.

 

[Brum X]

Mullion, what exactly is a load of tosh??. If you are talking about population, Manchester is way behind Birmingham, and is even behind Sheffield and Leeds....fact!.

BACK ON TOPIC HP, lets not get into a city versus city conversation on this forum.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Mullion, what exactly is a load of tosh??. If you are talking about population, Manchester is way behind Birmingham, and is even behind Sheffield and Leeds....fact!.

BACK ON TOPIC HP, lets not get into a city versus city conversation on this forum.

Exactly! The Birmingham/Manchester comparison ends here. In the past, it has led to very heated arguments, which we don't want re-starting on F4A (whether on the Birmingham or Manchester forum).

 

[Ray Finkle]

Apologies if this has already been mentioned but it seems that Southwind Airlines have been chartered to operate flights to/from Turkey in S24 using a 738MAX.

Antalya will be on Thu and Sat, arr BHX at 09:45, dep 10:45.

Dalaman is on Tue, arr BHX 10:00 dep 11:00 and Fri arr 20:30, dep 21:30.

 

[Karl C]

I'd not heard this Ray. Do you know who chartered them?

 

[Ray Finkle]

I'd not heard this Ray. Do you know who chartered them?

I believe they are for a company called 'Holiday Best'.

I'm not sure if they're exclusively for them or whether seats will be made available for others.

 

[Karl C]

I've never heard of that company. I remember there was talk Southwind were going to fly this summer to Dalaman and Antalya for Tui. Nowt came of that. I googled holiday best and couldn't find anything. It'll come out in the wash eventually.

 

[Ray Finkle]

I googled holiday best and couldn't find anything. It'll come out in the wash eventually.

www.holidaybest.com

 

[Karl C]

Thanks Ray...maybe a trip to specsavers is needed

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

So as we know
Tui are starting La romana this winter which is impressive.
Easyjet starting 15 new routes next summer
Ryanair starting Valencia and Seville this winter
Easyjet starting Paris and Lyon this winter

My question is :When will have an update on PIA coming back to brum ,Even though there on a ban from English soil.Also what about Turkmenistan airlines.The only reason I ask is because I want Birmingham to expand their international presence more easterly and westerly aswell

 

[Matt995]

Ant, La Romana is next winter (2024/2025), with regards to PIA, impossible to say, when the EU & the UK will lift the ban, and once lifted i believe Heathrow will be served first, then Manchester, then finally Birmingham. They still have 3 777's out of service, so that will also have an impact!!

I have my doubts if we will see Turkmenistan again, the demand used to be due to flight connections to India, and Amristar especially, not certain if they fly their yet again, and in the meanwhile, BHX passengers are connect their with other airlines & Air India, so maybe the demand in no longer there for them?

 

[gulftraveller]

The return of PIA appears to be stuck over the passage of legislation regarding their CAA. The speculation (no more than that) is that MAN will restart first. It is suggested LHR will have to wait, possibly because of pilot availability but I wonder what has happened to their slots. They will also restart CDG. There is, however, little firm information.

 

[Ryan Kirkpatrick]

So as we know
Tui are starting La romana this winter which is impressive.
Easyjet starting 15 new routes next summer
Ryanair starting Valencia and Seville this winter
Easyjet starting Paris and Lyon this winter

My question is :When will have an update on PIA coming back to brum ,Even though there on a ban from English soil.Also what about Turkmenistan airlines.The only reason I ask is because I want Birmingham to expand their international presence more easterly and westerly aswell

PIA still ban & still facing court hearing over unpaid checks to Hi Fly & Jordon Aviation. PIA will not be returning to the UK any time good but that is good news for Air India, Emirates, Saudia, Qatar & Turkish. Keeps the good demand for them.

Turkmenistan does not make a song & dance when they plan to start a new route. When Sean on twitter posted that they was flying into STN it was because it was on the booking site. If it not on it booking site then it's not coming. But 2024 slots will be published in October so will see BHX get anything else of interest.