Route Development & Rumours

[IanFarquharson]

Hi guys.Hope you all had a grand and summer weekendish.Anyway so at the moment I’m currently unemployed which is the reason I’m on here as per usual anyway it just goes to show how much I like planes and Aviation into context.I basically wanted to ask if theirs any jobs at the airport within the route development regime department as I have fresh ideas,Fascinating research and accelerating routes that can bolster the airports solutions to expansion the next few years which in my view must be an exciting opportunity .

Sorry for putting in this topic or thread whatever you call it however I didn’t where I was putting it.If theirs any admin jobs on here it would mean the world of goodness.

Have a great weekend
Ant

hope to get a reply

Ant

I love your enthusiasm when it comes to BHX route development.
You have to remember this is a very complex and drawn out process when trying to get airlines to come to BHX and then extended their route networks.
The job is very demanding and often very frustrating.
Knowing Tom his team have thought of every opportunity and are engaged at various stages with many airlines.
So it is not the kind of role you can walk into, the only way in would be via an apprenticeship, but not sure without looking if BHX currently have such a program.
I did secure some work experience for my youngest son via Tom but this was scrubbed as covid hit.
Tom is a very approachable person so an e-mail to him would be your starting point.

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

Ant

I love your enthusiasm when it comes to BHX route development.
You have to remember this is a very complex and drawn out process when trying to get airlines to come to BHX and then extended their route networks.
The job is very demanding and often very frustrating.
Knowing Tom his team have thought of every opportunity and are engaged at various stages with many airlines.
So it is not the kind of role you can walk into, the only way in would be via an apprenticeship, but not sure without looking if BHX currently have such a program.
I did secure some work experience for my youngest son via Tom but this was scrubbed as covid hit.
Tom is a very approachable person so an e-mail to him would be your starting point.

Yeah cheers Ian.I only hope really is to look around basically.Getting a job in 2024 is honestly tougher because it goes in stages .Applying,Sending CV off,Wait for a phone call for an interview date,Have the interview,Wait for the phone call to hear the result of the interview ,Have the phone call for good or bad news then you have to wait for the start date which could take weeks or months these days.Its a long process.Back in the day it was knock on the chippy door and ask if there’s any work and they would just say yeah.
Cheers for advice mate

 

[Ianbutty]

Hi Ant. Sorry to hear that you are out of work. I think all on the forum will route (excuse the pun) for you.

We all have a dream job, but that will take time. Having great ideas will not cut it so I suggest step back, see what else is available and if you want to work at the airport, just get your foot in the door.

I have interviewed many people who want to change the world, as I did (and still do ) but employers love the loyalist who will do the graft. But so do all airports, so if BHX does not work out try somewhere else if you can or a transport career in another form (trains, buses, local government...).

I sincerely wish you the very best. Your dream may follow a circuitous path but never lose sight of it.

Good luck mate.

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

Cheers Ian B and Ian F.I mean have an admin qualification in highfield credits but that was done in digital college course which wouldn’t be enough.I also have a planning and Allocation certificate aswell. I was gonna write some of my plans for this winter however it’s more or less been done.

 

[BHX492]

As both Ian's have said, the best way to get into it is to start from the bottom and build your way up, but while you are doing that, try and socialise with others in the right areas because, one thing in aviation, everyone knows everyone! I’ve been asked a number of times if I knew someone, and 9 out of 10 times I did. It would also help you because if they were to change companies or airports, they could sort of drop your name in the right places. Of course, you would still need to apply, but they know what names to look for. As said above, definitely contact Tom via email because he's a great person. I've had the pleasure to meet him and the team at the Ryanair expansion announcement, but also around Diamond House due to the EasyJet crew room being located there.I would also suggest getting a CV specialist to look over your CV to help you stand out from the others who are applying for the same position.

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

As both Ian's have said, the best way to get into it is to start from the bottom and build your way up, but while you are doing that, try and socialise with others in the right areas because, one thing in aviation, everyone knows everyone! I’ve been asked a number of times if I knew someone, and 9 out of 10 times I did. It would also help you because if they were to change companies or airports, they could sort of drop your name in the right places. Of course, you would still need to apply, but they know what names to look for. As said above, definitely contact Tom via email because he's a great person. I've had the pleasure to meet him and the team at the Ryanair expansion announcement, but also around Diamond House due to the EasyJet crew room being located there.I would also suggest getting a CV specialist to look over your CV to help you stand out from the others who are applying for the same position.

Cheers BHX492.I want to say thanks to you for notifying me about who I should contact and where they are based which I appreciate.Whiles I was bored earlier I was looking at possible new routes next summer which might be a bit extreme but it’s worth the try and go.Ive listed them Below.

Predictions for summer 25

Might be a year away but it’s worth the try and it’s a bit of fun.These are my selected ideas if I did have any involvement within the aviation industry or sector.

EasyJet:
Agadir:2 weekly
Rome:2 weekly
Paphos:2 weekly
Mykonos:2 weekly
Athens :2 weekly
Madeira:2 weekly

Total of 12 weekly flights

Jet2:
Palmero 2 weekly
Enfidha 2 weekly

Total of 4 weekly

Ryanair:
Reggio Calabria: 2 weekly
Thessaloniki 2 weekly
Belfast 2 weekly
Naples 2 weekly
Riga 2 weekly
Kerry 2 weekly
Athens :2 weekly

Total of 12 weekly flights

Eurowings:
Hamburg 3 weekly
Berlin 3 weekly

Total of 6 weekly flights

Pegasus
Antalya 3 weekly
Dalaman 3 weekly
Total of 6 weekly flights

So a summary of 40 weekly flights across 5 airlines going across 7 nations in Europe.
Frequency wise I would like the routes that are literally over 75% full from this summer to be increased which I’ve named a few names of destinations



Turkish to Istanbul would be 3 daily which also means Pegasus operating 5 weekly flights to Istanbul Gocken

Emirates I would look at bringing the A350 or A 787 Dreamliner (I don’t know it’s getting delivered)

Saudia with their 787-10 recently proves to me it’s looking increasingly likely next year it could operate up to 4 to 5 weekly flights

Qatar still keep it daily maybe up it towards an upgraded aircraft.A350-900 or B77W

Like I said just a bit fun.
Make you what you want to my predictions

Thanks
Ant

 

[BHX492]

Well, Ryanair has indeed asked EMA pilots if they would transfer permanently for summer 25, adding fuel to the fire of the downsizing.
Rome is definitely one to watch for both easyJet and Ryanair, as easyJet is set to receive a lot of slots because of the takeover of ITA without going into details, Easyjet is not just looking at beach holidays but city breaks too.
As for Ryanair they are said to be looking at Italian destinations and adding additional frequencies to existing routes I’ll expect Bucharest and Tenerife to go daily.
Hamburg is probably more likely be an easyjet route than Eurowings.

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

Well, Ryanair has indeed asked EMA pilots if they would transfer permanently for summer 25, adding fuel to the fire of the downsizing.
Rome is definitely one to watch for both easyJet and Ryanair, as easyJet is set to receive a lot of slots because of the takeover of ITA without going into details, Easyjet is not just looking at beach holidays but city breaks too.
As for Ryanair they are said to be looking at Italian destinations and adding additional frequencies to existing routes I’ll expect Bucharest and Tenerife to go daily.
Hamburg is probably more likely be an easyjet route than Eurowings.

What you make to the others mate?

 

[BHX492]

Ryanair-Belfast if was to operate it would need to operate minimum of four weekly. The others part from Riga would be on the lower end of the list.
Eurowings- Berlin to much competition from Easyjet and Ryanair.
Pegasus - I can’t see them doing DLM because it’s currently not a base so would require a w pattern but the flight time limitations wouldn’t allow it to happen.
Emirates- Will probably be Double A380 before 787/A350 enter the scene
Saudi- I’ve heard some of the loads were lowering but I’m happy to be corrected
Qatar- if any upgrades it will most likely be 787-9
Turkish- Maybe the odd one or two upgrades to A330

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

Cheers BHX492.I want to say thanks to you for notifying me about who I should contact and where they are based which I appreciate.Whiles I was bored earlier I was looking at possible new routes next summer which might be a bit extreme but it’s worth the try and go.Ive listed them Below.

Predictions for summer 25

Might be a year away but it’s worth the try and it’s a bit of fun.These are my selected ideas if I did have any involvement within the aviation industry or sector.

EasyJet:
Agadir:2 weekly
Rome:2 weekly
Paphos:2 weekly
Mykonos:2 weekly
Athens :2 weekly
Madeira:2 weekly

Total of 12 weekly flights

Jet2:
Palmero 2 weekly
Enfidha 2 weekly

Total of 4 weekly

Ryanair:
Reggio Calabria: 2 weekly
Thessaloniki 2 weekly
Belfast 2 weekly
Naples 2 weekly
Riga 2 weekly
Kerry 2 weekly
Athens :2 weekly

Total of 12 weekly flights

Eurowings:
Hamburg 3 weekly
Berlin 3 weekly

Total of 6 weekly flights

Pegasus
Antalya 3 weekly
Dalaman 3 weekly
Total of 6 weekly flights

So a summary of 40 weekly flights across 5 airlines going across 7 nations in Europe.
Frequency wise I would like the routes that are literally over 75% full from this summer to be increased which I’ve named a few names of destinations



Turkish to Istanbul would be 3 daily which also means Pegasus operating 5 weekly flights to Istanbul Gocken

Emirates I would look at bringing the A350 or A 787 Dreamliner (I don’t know it’s getting delivered)

Saudia with their 787-10 recently proves to me it’s looking increasingly likely next year it could operate up to 4 to 5 weekly flights

Qatar still keep it daily maybe up it towards an upgraded aircraft.A350-900 or B77W

Like I said just a bit fun.
Make you what you want to my predictions

Thanks
Ant

Forgot to say about this.EasyJet would be Rome away based and Ryanair.Reggio Naples and Kerry would be away based.
Be good to see Aer lingus operate from Shannon and cork again but with Ryanair taken over both routes we have no chance

 

[IanFarquharson]

Ryanair-Belfast if was to operate it would need to operate minimum of four weekly. The others part from Riga would be on the lower end of the list.
Eurowings- Berlin to much competition from Easyjet and Ryanair.
Pegasus - I can’t see them doing DLM because it’s currently not a base so would require a w pattern but the flight time limitations wouldn’t allow it to happen.
Emirates- Will probably be Double A380 before 787/A350 enter the scene
Saudi- I’ve heard some of the loads were lowering but I’m happy to be corrected
Qatar- if any upgrades it will most likely be 787-9
Turkish- Maybe the odd one or two upgrades to A330

Recent SV outbound loads have been good (some well over 300), inbounds a bit weak

 

[Flug]

Hi guys.Hope you all had a grand and summer weekendish.Anyway so at the moment I’m currently unemployed which is the reason I’m on here as per usual anyway it just goes to show how much I like planes and Aviation into context.I basically wanted to ask if theirs any jobs at the airport within the route development regime department as I have fresh ideas,Fascinating research and accelerating routes that can bolster the airports solutions to expansion the next few years which in my view must be an exciting opportunity .

Sorry for putting in this topic or thread whatever you call it however I didn’t where I was putting it.If theirs any admin jobs on here it would mean the world of goodness.

Have a great weekend
Ant

hope to get a reply

Hi,
I regularly read this forum but I only just signed up so I could reply with some advice to complement what others have said.
For context, I declined an offer in MAG’s development team a few years ago (given events less than 6 months later I think it was the right choice) and I now work/hire in an area completely unrelated to aviation but that a) many people want to get into and b)lots people reach out to ask for advice/if I there’s jobs available.

My three bits of advice based on the above:
1) Think deeply about the other/day to day skills and processes - Don’t just think about routes - I find often people want to do a thing and forget about what it actually is. For example a big part of what route development teams do is essentially sales, marketing, relationship building - what can you show here? Maybe give this a quick listen (

)
2) Network - don’t just go around asking for things or being too enthusiastic. Be thoughtful, curious and likeable.
3) Show potential value - this is more generally a show don’t tell piece of advice. But can you come up with something that shows how you might think about route development at BHX but take a different angle to most. Even if it’s rubbish, it’s more about showing effort and an approach to the thought process beyond what most people will do. Sure you’re probably not telling the BHX team something they don’t know (they have access to lots of data) but you are telling them you’re different. And you might get some feedback.
For example (and it’s terrible, it’s just first thing I thought of as it relates to what I was doing today), Hungary is the 4th biggest producer (ultimately tiny compared to China) of Li-ion batteries and has made a strategic play to become Europe’s battery producer. BHX is close to what little remains of the UK’s car and manufacturing industry. Is there scope to open up a route to say Debrecen on business grounds? Like the fact that Frankfurt-St Louis achieves unbelievable load factors (St Louis’s only non North America route) because of Bayer employees travelling between locations. The reality in my example is definitely no but can you find an angle with some analysis - e.g what’s the next Tirana i.e the next big city break destination, what carrier has fleet expansion plans and should be firmly in BHX’s sites, where is Peaky Blinders big lol.

It’s worth remembering that it’s not an easy area to get into as there are a lot of people who would like to do it. When I went through the process with MAG, I recall loads of other candidates who had degrees in aviation related things, people from top unis or people who had been working in operational airport roles for a few years just for exposure.

Finally, good on you for having the aspiration. I hope some of this was useful and you’re able to advance towards something you enjoy in life.

 

[Scottie Dog]

Welcome @Flug to F4A and thank you for taking your time to offer the advice that you have done. I'm sure that it will have been appreciated by the original poster.

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

So guys it’s me .The AKA Norse which I do apologise for however.
So regarding long haul translantic flights.Mainly Eastern Asia flights are we expecting an expansion on that front of the line.Especially flights to China if there’s any ongoing developments.Like to see a weekly service here from China to bhx to see if it would sell out.

 

[IanFarquharson]

Current bi-lateral agreement does not allow BHX-China flights, BHX are lobbying the government to get this amended.

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

What about expansion into Asia next summer like air India ,Qatar,Emirates,Saudia and Pegasus and even Turkmenistan

 

[HPsauce]

A short series of charter flights from Beijing a few years ago, by both Hainan and China Southern(?) were just about full loads if i remember correctly.

 

[gulftraveller]

More charters might be the answer. The market from UK to China is nowhere near as large as was predicted ten years ago. It is heavily dependent on students and Chinese tourists. MAN does ok-ish but EDI is struggling again. It is no gold mine.

 

[davecleaver777]

Ian does that include cargo flights too just out of interest

 

[tompo]

Totally agree gulftraveller. Over the last couple of years, the increased political tension between China and the outside World has resulted in much reduced tourist appeal and the development of trade issues. Naturally, this is currently reflected in the maintenance and immediate development of new routes. In my opinion, pursuing new direct links directly with China is a waste of route development resources. However, Hong Kong is a different proposition due to the established economic ties and transiting options. Cathay is still struggling to compete on the World stage following Covid and their fare structure is currently uncompetitive to other national carriers. Nevertheless, this avenue should be pursued as appropriate.