Route Development & Rumours

[User0001]

Re: Route Development

I think its now more important than ever to get fees down to a low level.

After all the lobbying MAN/BHX have done to get a China link, DUB looks like its secured a link thanks to no travel tax and zero fees for 5 years on any China route.
Its surely no coincidence Air China are to announce the link just weeks after the no fees announcement were made.
Its a shame really, the MAN or BHX markets are much bigger than to DUB, much much bigger.

Whilst I know we do not compete directly with DUB, it will surely fill a capacity void to some degree in North West Europe, and obviously take out a potential aircraft that could have been used for a MAN/BHX route.

I think the decision shows money does talk, and could be another case proven point that the APD is driving away some business.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Re: Route Development

I think you are spot on, in todays world every penny counts especially on long haul routes.

With reference to Andrews point I've not seen that interview but I can't see what extra infrastructure the likes of Easyjet or Jet2 would require. Give them a deal that will enable them to make the routes profitable and they'll be there.

 

[Hassaan]

Re: Route Development

I don't think it gives out a good message. Hopefully next year, we'll be lumbered with someone better than Airblue.

As I mentioned, BHX is not seen as a priority for these airlines and I think the runway extension which is preventing the airport from competing with LHR & MAN is the main cause. We might be in luck more next year, I think. I wouldn't expect anything interesting as far as long haul services are concerned to occur until next Spring.

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Re: Route Development

Hi there ray, did you see keogh interview the other evening on midlands today with mary rhodes, kept reiteraterating about monarch ultra modern multi million pound repair maintenance hanger. When asked about what major airlines the airport had signed up , " keogh replied " Biman ", anyothers at all she replied, he replied back, " wer're still in negotiating stages with someother, but can't comment at this stage ", failed to mentioned that he'd frightened off both Easyjet & Jet2 with his ridiculous high fees that have frightened them off, failed to tell mary that when these airlines land at birmingham for repair, didn't that they will be charged for landing and take off fees, which will ward off other airline from arriving. Also while keoghs in charge, he'll not only damaged any chance of birmingham expanding with any growth in the future, but keep birmingham hovering just over the 9 million to 9.5 million and no more.....birmingham can do a lot better without him....also he kept stumbling on his words when asked any questions...still goes to show that he has no clue about what hes doing...but still thinks hes doing a brilliant job....andyc

 

[Ray Finkle]

Re: Route Development

Hi there ray, did you see keogh interview the other evening on midlands today with mary rhodes....andyc

Was it this one?

[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xLxPbcvboCg[/video]

If so then I think they may have been talking with slightly crossed purposes, I'm not defending him in any way but when she asks him what new airlines are coming I think he answers with regards to the new hangar rather than to start services. She mentions BA and Virgin, his reply is they have their own maintenance elsewhere, he mentions Biman coming and says they may use the new hangar, he mentions Monarch servicing AI's 787's during the turnaround. I did notice at the start of his interview when she asks him how much money will be coming in he says they have done a deal for Monarch and the cash from their nine based planes is already spent but then looks very, very pleased with himself when he says it's the visiting aircraft that will add cash to the pot.

both Easyjet & Jet2 with his ridiculous high fees that have frightened them off, failed to tell mary that when these airlines land at birmingham for repair, didn't that they will be charged for landing and take off fees, which will ward off other airline from arriving. Also while keoghs in charge, he'll not only damaged any chance of birmingham expanding with any growth in the future, but keep birmingham hovering just over the 9 million to 9.5 million and no more.....

I won't mention that the passenger supplement charge has recently risen again from £10.71 to £11.05 then. With the charges they have you'll never see a base from Easyjet or Jet2, time and time again different airlines mention just how expensive BHX is. I think BHX will break the 10 million barrier in the next couple of years but any significant growth will need a change of thinking, even introducing a lower off peak rate, like other airports offer, might help but it comes down to profit and BHX makes them plenty of that.

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Re: Route Development

Hi there ray, you konw this APD that you have mention or air passenger duty, is this is what the airline is charged per passenger on per flight say £11.05 multiply by 300 passengers is £3,300 ,then plus luggage in hold @ say £5.00 multiply by 300 is £1,500 ,with a grand total of £5,000 per flight take off. Is that what the high fee charges are or how are they worked out...thanks ray...i look forward to your answer to know how these charges are devised......thanks andyc

 

[Ray Finkle]

Re: Route Development

Air passenger duty is separate, it's a tax levied on all passengers which is the same across all airports and one of the reasons why it's so difficult to get more long haul outside of London, both Birmingham and Manchester had interest from Air Asia X a few years ago but APD put them off.

Birmingham's passenger load supplement is £11.05 per pax, ground handling charge is £0.18 per pax, baggage reconciliation system charge is £0.14 per pax, the standard runway charge is £10.02 per tonne (75% off for empty positioning flights), NATS navigation charges are charged at £3.40 per tonne, parking charges are 2 hours free then charged per 24 hours and go from £2.80 per tonne to £137.40 per tonne, and the fixed ground power unit is charged between £15 and £30. On top of those you have the fees the handling agents charge, I've no idea what they are but apparently BHX charge the handling agents office rents that would make a prime spot on Oxford Street look cheap so they have to make it back somewhere.

Choose the aircraft of your choice, Google for the spec and apply the above charges.

There are of course new route incentives (BHX used to be first year free, second year 50% then up to full price after that, it may have now changed) and deals done with airlines but it seems other airports are able to make better offers than BHX.

More info here: http://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/meta ... arges.aspx

 

[Brum X]

United Airlines Rumour

RUMOUR RUMOUR RUMOUR

So lets not get our hopes up high but still good to discuss:
From somebody who i chat to who works for UA at BHX told me:

"I have heard a small rumour there is a spare 767 about from may when we have another 787 delivered. It's between GLA, BHX and DUB apprently"
And apparently UA now have a royal mail contract too with is helping with cargo figures
averaging about 3 tons a day which is a nice little earner for the company.
So with the extra contract and BHX with a 3003 metre runway, this could be a possibility.

 

[User0001]

Re: Route Development

There are actually 3, possibly 4 B767-300's spare in the system at this present moment in time due to equipment swaps, but apparently these are already earmarked for non-UK routes.

 

[justplanecrazy]

Re: Route Development

001 you could have let us have a bit of excitement for at least half hour lol

 

[thunderchild]

Re: Route Development

Not sure, would be a very sharp increase in premium capacity.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Re: Route Development

Definitely a big jump in the premium seats but if they are seeing strong freight loads and have a contract in place to sunstantially increase that then it could be a possibility, although, going purely from figures I can find online, then it would almost double the cargo space. Not to belittle Brum X's info in any way but I think for me it goes into the I'll believe it when I see it pile.

 

[CL44]

Re: Route Development

Hi Ray. Not just the fact of double the capacity for freight but more importantly the ability to accept pallets (both Airline pallets and normal euro pallets of cargo) which means we do not have to mess about sending freight down to LHR to connect on their wide body flights.

I remember when CO put the DC10 into BHX (both for maintenence cover and back on the schedule). At the time we were moving pallet loads of freight to the US and this helped us to get a same day connection thanks to the timings of the flight. This was a big selling point against other Companies moving their freight down to LHR and possibly getting an afternoon service. I would hope that once the runway is opened with the extension that the next step forward would be an upgrade to the flight.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Re: Route Development

Good points. In your experience what's the cargo lift to the US like at the moment on United, would an upgrade be warranted?

 

[User0001]

Re: Route Development

Cargo to the US is generally good at this time of year, I would imagine most flights from the UK will be going out with a fair payload where available.

 

[thunderchild]

Re: Route Development

TAP Portugal have long been discussed as a potential new carrier for BHX; sadly though there new expansion plans contain no new UK destinations. Really struggling to see what kind of new airlines BHX will be able to attract.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Re: Route Development

Don't worry Biman will be along to save the day

In all seriousness I too am struggling to see anything new for the future. Flybe may add a route or two but most likely at the expense of another, I thought Monarch may have added a 10th aircraft but now juggling BHX and EMA may have scuppered that, can't see anything from Ryanair and Easyjet/Jet2 seem to have been priced out of all interest. I was hoping for something from Thomas Cook after they touted long haul IT routes were up for grabs but I don't have the confidence that BHX will be able to give them a suitable deal. Turkish are rumoured to be going from 10-14 weekly next year and Air India have said there will be expansion, although they haven't said when. I've made my feelings known about the situation on this thread so won't go over it again but so far the only confirmed new route for 2014 is Monarch to Hurghada, not even a destination currently unserved.

On a more positive note it's good to have seen some aircraft upgrades. Lufthansa have been using A321's for a couple of weeks now but it was nice to see Air France, SAS, Turkish and Swiss have all using A321's on some flights.

 

[Brum X]

Re: Route Development

We also have Aegean on BHX-ATH and Thomson will be using there 787 from Mid 2014 onwards, plus all the unusual aircraft going to MAEL, so loads to look forward to Ray. :whiteflag:

 

[thunderchild]

Re: Route Development

You know your in trouble when your only long haul hope is Biman! I remember a few years back there was a whisper of Nigeria's Arik Air but nothing ever came of that either.

 

[Brum X]

Re: Route Development

Everybody is rubbishing Biman, but hey they may have turned a corner and are improving. People said exactly the same thing about Air India 12 months ago but now they have shiny 787s, people treat them with respect ????

Biman will soon have shiny 777s ;-)