Route Development & Rumours

[Nethercote2019]

Great & eye opening info that says a lot
& if you just look at Emirates to Dubai
The number of flights & choices pax have within our catchment it’s great we have 2 flights a day ! Same with Turkish aswell
Particularly as STN now has both of these carriers

 

[nwoody2001]

Great data, thank you @nwoody2001

One thing to think about when using your list above is the number of other airport options available to those people living in the 100-mile radius. Given BHX is very central, it means anyone living around Birmingham has options of London airports to the South and MAN/LPL to the North.

Living in Bristol, BRS is the closest and most obvious choice of airport. However there’s then only BHX and LHR in the 100-mile radius to otherwise choose from.

For all those living in the large urban areas to the North and West of London, and also the likes of Cambridge, Reading, Oxford; even though BHX is within their 100-mile radius it’s now further down their list as LHR, LGW, STN & LTN would be closer.

Birmingham probably has the most “competitors” in its 100-mile radius than any other major UK airport, so given that reason, it’s doing really well for itself! All 4 low-cost/holiday airlines, the major European legacy carriers, plus a host of Middle East airlines. Certainly as someone living in the South-West it’s just as useful as any of the London airports to me.

updated accordingly. BHX has 8 other competing airports within a 100 mile radius... No other airport in the top 15 busiest in the UK has that level of compatetion.

 

[Iron Duck]

I have dates, times, flight numbers for SpiceJet

I’ve seen reports on other sites of spicejet planning Manchester Amritsar… I hope it hasn’t ‘replaced’ Birmingham service!?

 

[nwoody2001]

I’ve seen reports on other sites of spicejet planning Manchester Amritsar… I hope it hasn’t ‘replaced’ Birmingham service!?

Its possible but the BHX-Amritsar Route serves the British Punjab Sikh population. Based on the 2021 cencus, its clear where they live in the UK...

If Spicejet think MAN-ATQ is an alternative to BHX-ATQ, i'd love to see their datat...

 

[Ray Finkle]

I should have added that I was talking more in terms of long haul given the discussion above, an area where LHR has an immense gravitational pull.

It's interesting to see the competition though and what BHX is up against. It's why it is so important that they get the terminals running efficiently, there's two people in my office using EMA this year after last years fiasco at BHX.

 

[Nethercote2019]

I should have added that I was talking more in terms of long haul given the discussion above, an area where LHR has an immense gravitational pull.

It's interesting to see the competition though and what BHX is up against. It's why it is so important that they get the terminals running efficiently, there's two people in my office using EMA this year after last years fiasco at BHX.

Family I know are using jet2 from Bournemouth after last year at Brum
I’m interested into how that goes !

 

[thunderchild]

If BHX are on the cusp of getting a transatlantic service back then I hope lessons have been learned it’s not another basket case carrier like Primera they’re in discussions with.

 

[IanFarquharson]

If Spice Jet do start it will be 4pw (Mo, We, Fr, Su) - 1620-1750
SG70/71

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

If Spice Jet do start it will be 4pw (Mo, We, Fr, Su) - 1620-1750
SG70/71

From Amritsar?

 

[IanFarquharson]

From Amritsar?

yes

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

This would be icing on the cake tbh.Air India will crumble I reckon.

If and when happens what will the date of start be and when should it go on sale?

 

[Iron Duck]

I could see IndiGo giving DEL-BHX a punt maybe too?

 

[jfy1999]

If Spice Jet do start it will be 4pw (Mo, We, Fr, Su) - 1620-1750
SG70/71

SPD travels on insta is reporting that they also have Manchester slots, and the aircraft is listed as a 737.

If they have a similar plan for BHX (which i am assuming they are) then that means there will be a stopover. That is a big red flag for me. Multiple airlines tried to do BHX-ATQ with a stopover in the past, and failed. How many people would be happy to fly it in a 737?

My last concern is about how this will affect Air India. Air India already have two major problems as far as this route is concerned, firstly with the airspace closures and secondly with their 787 operations being affected by the tragedy in Ahmedabad. Another airline coming onto the route is the last thing they need.

 

[nwoody2001]

This would be icing on the cake tbh.Air India will crumble I reckon.

If and when happens what will the date of start be and when should it go on sale?

Air India is in the middle of a massive turn-around program and has visions of becoming a major global airline. It has one of the largest aircraft order in history currently agreed with over 500 plans on order....

To wish the loss of a full-service airline with which is part ownED by Tata - one of the worlds biggest and richest companies - and Singapore Airlines - one of the best airlines which currently runs two very successful routes out of BHX to be replaced with a loco-cost airline (even if it is a large and successful one) with an unproved track-record in long-haul flying is CRAZY!

BHX needs to build on it current very successful relationship with Air India and how they see BHX as a long-term growth prospect for the UK. Ideally if Indigo are instructed in BHX, i hope they launch BHX-BOM over BHX-ATQ/DEL, or ideally AI expands first. Yes the recent AI crash has set the airline back a little but lets just be hopeful tis is a temporary setback!

SPD travels on insta is reporting that they also have Manchester slots, and the aircraft is listed as a 737.

If they have a similar plan for BHX (which i am assuming they are) then that means there will be a stopover. That is a big red flag for me. Multiple airlines tried to do BHX-ATQ with a stopover in the past, and failed. How many people would be happy to fly it in a 737?

My last concern is about how this will affect Air India. Air India already have two major problems as far as this route is concerned, firstly with the airspace closures and secondly with their 787 operations being affected by the tragedy in Ahmedabad. Another airline coming onto the route is the last thing they need.

The schedule I have seen is on leased long-haul aircraft direct, not a 737 stopping service. But alas, things can change!

 

[IanFarquharson]

Air India is in the middle of a massive turn-around program and has visions of becoming a major global airline. It has one of the largest aircraft order in history currently agreed with over 500 plans on order....

To wish the loss of a full-service airline with which is part ownED by Tata - one of the worlds biggest and richest companies - and Singapore Airlines - one of the best airlines which currently runs two very successful routes out of BHX to be replaced with a loco-cost airline (even if it is a large and successful one) with an unproved track-record in long-haul flying is CRAZY!

BHX needs to build on it current very successful relationship with Air India and how they see BHX as a long-term growth prospect for the UK. Ideally if Indigo are instructed in BHX, i hope they launch BHX-BOM over BHX-ATQ/DEL, or ideally AI expands first. Yes the recent AI crash has set the airline back a little but lets just be hopeful tis is a temporary setback!



The schedule I have seen is on leased long-haul aircraft direct, not a 737 stopping service. But alas, things can change!

Aircraft type is a wide body

 

[Ray Finkle]

I could see IndiGo giving DEL-BHX a punt maybe too?

The boss of Indigo has recently said that Birmingham 'is in their sights'.

 

[RichL]

I could see IndiGo giving DEL-BHX a punt maybe too?

I don't think they will - loved up with Manchester and assume Gatwick but haven't confirmed the London location last time I read an article about them.

They'll probably upgrade Manchester to two flights but even then still don't think Birmingham gets a look in with this lot because we already have Air India.

Just my opinion. We've all got them.

 

[nwoody2001]

I don't think they will - loved up with Manchester and assume Gatwick but haven't confirmed the London location last time I read an article about them.

They'll probably upgrade Manchester to two flights but even then still don't think Birmingham gets a look in with this lot because we already have Air India.

Just my opinion. We've all got them.

If that is the case, begs the question why the Indigo MD is stating publicly they are looking at BHX lol

...granted that dosnt meant they will start any routes, but its seems confirmed that BHX IS "getting a look" lol

 

[RichL]

It does indeed beg the question. Unfortunately I can only seem to see that quote on the Telegraph website and cannot read past the headline however there was something in Apple News that said after Manchester comes London but not confirmed which airport out of the two London mains.

No mention of Birmingham or airports in Scotland.

But as I say, that is what I read.

 

[nwoody2001]

"Elbers chose Manchester as IndiGo’s first UK destination because of the large numbers of people with Indian heritage in the north-west of England but also because British Airways no longer flies long haul from Manchester, while Virgin’s and Air India’s services are from London. Birmingham is also in his sights, as are Newcastle and Gatwick."

The Ryanair of India is about to land in Britain – and its ambitious plans might just work

After dominating the sub-continent, low-cost behemoth IndiGo is taking the fight to the big European carriers

www.telegraph.co.uk

Also, and rather interestingly.... Birmingham Airport BHX is on the indigo website, alongside Heathrow, Gatwick and Manchester....?!? Also Birmingham is listed on their Destination Page

https://www.goindigo.in/international-destinations/birmingham.html

https://www.goindigo.in/airport-directory/england/birmingham-bhx.html

This call all be because of their partnership and codeshare agreement with KLM/Air France but interesting....