- Moderator
- #501
Re: Route Development & Airport Rumours
I think Monarch could have been much worse and with MAN, LGW and BHX only losing one aircraft each it isn't the end of the world. I keep hearing there is more to come from Flybe in November so we'll see if/how BHX gains or loses.
There a certainly some great positives for 2015 but, as it stands, there are also some disappointments (for me anyway).
Positives:
American - Despite the shambles that was AA's route announcement and the fact that almost a month later the much lauded BA code share is still not bookable on the BA website it's truly great to see American back at BHX, not just for the extra US capacity but it also means that BHX now has a foot back in the Oneworld door. This route simply CANNOT be allowed fail and I expect much advertising next year.
Icelandair - Another great addition and more choice to North America.
Vueling - Always great to see a new airline, hopefully they will do well and we'll see more over the coming years.
Air India - Great to see them up to daily (too soon to be talking about 10 weekly yet?
)
Thomas Cook - After many years we now see some growth with a 4th based aircraft and some new routes.
Thomson - Finally a long haul increase with Cancun up to 2x weekly, there are a couple of new routes and rumours of a based 787 doing some short haul work.
Turkish Airlines - Lots of upgrades to A321's over the Christmas and New Year period, some days are seeing an A330-300 which is a massive jump from a 738/9. Really hoping for those extra 4 flights per week next year.
Add to the above extra flights from Aer Lingus, more capacity from Lufthansa and SAS, Aegean doing a full season and some of the new Flybe routes seeing their first summer.
Negatives (for me).
Despite all the above we're only seeing two new routes (Porto Santo and Mytilini) in 2015 and with Cologne and Florence looking like they're gone after March we don't have a net gain. JFK could technically be described as new but NYC is already served.
Route retention is still a big issue. As just mentioned Cologne and Florence are not bookable after the winter (there appears to be an operational issue with Florence) adding to the ever growing list of BHX 'one season wonders'. The likes of Berlin, Porto, Oslo, Reykjavik and JFK MUST be made to work as we cannot afford anymore losses.
2015 will be yet another season without flights to the likes of Lisbon, Madrid, Prague, Warsaw and Budapest which to me is unacceptable. With BHX seemingly continuing to bury their head in the sand when it comes to LOCO's I don't think we'll see these covered anytime soon, unless they have TAP, Iberia, CSA and LOT lined up that is. Easyjet and Ryanair bring destinations, passengers and real growth, just why are BHX so reluctant? Whilst I'm very happy that Vueling will be arriving I'm not sure an extra 5x weekly flights to an already well covered destination is really a top priority, my own feeling is that it's all about getting into the IAG good books for the future but we'll see.
2015 will be yet another season where we have a measly one weekly flight to Orlando, we've finally got more capacity to Mexico but Orlando desperately needs some too. Thomas Cook tried an Orlando flight and completely sold it out, if that can't convince them to take a chance then what will?
The same can be said for summer services to Toronto, or Canada in general.
I'm disappointed we haven't seen any extra capacity going East. Emirates are consistently generating near full flights but there is no sign of any imminent expansion. The Qatar rumour reared it's ugly head recently but I think that may be just because BHX isn't a complete Oneworld black hole anymore. If ever there was a time for a third daily EK flight or the arrival of Qatar then it certainly is now.
So, in conclusion, overall there's some good and some not so good. If we don't break the 2008 record this year then I have no doubt we will next year and there is a realistic chance that 2015 will see 10 mppa. If that happens then I'm sure there will be many great headlines and handshakes all round but for me there are some basic underlying issues that have been there for too many years and have still yet to be addressed.
At the moment though I'm edging towards glass half full :drinks:
Brum X said:
I'm a bit 'meh' about 2015 at the moment, but, there's plenty of time for more to come so we'll see on Jan 1st
Brum X said:
I think Monarch could have been much worse and with MAN, LGW and BHX only losing one aircraft each it isn't the end of the world. I keep hearing there is more to come from Flybe in November so we'll see if/how BHX gains or loses.
There a certainly some great positives for 2015 but, as it stands, there are also some disappointments (for me anyway).
Positives:
American - Despite the shambles that was AA's route announcement and the fact that almost a month later the much lauded BA code share is still not bookable on the BA website it's truly great to see American back at BHX, not just for the extra US capacity but it also means that BHX now has a foot back in the Oneworld door. This route simply CANNOT be allowed fail and I expect much advertising next year.
Icelandair - Another great addition and more choice to North America.
Vueling - Always great to see a new airline, hopefully they will do well and we'll see more over the coming years.
Air India - Great to see them up to daily (too soon to be talking about 10 weekly yet?
)Thomas Cook - After many years we now see some growth with a 4th based aircraft and some new routes.
Thomson - Finally a long haul increase with Cancun up to 2x weekly, there are a couple of new routes and rumours of a based 787 doing some short haul work.
Turkish Airlines - Lots of upgrades to A321's over the Christmas and New Year period, some days are seeing an A330-300 which is a massive jump from a 738/9. Really hoping for those extra 4 flights per week next year.
Add to the above extra flights from Aer Lingus, more capacity from Lufthansa and SAS, Aegean doing a full season and some of the new Flybe routes seeing their first summer.
Negatives (for me).
Despite all the above we're only seeing two new routes (Porto Santo and Mytilini) in 2015 and with Cologne and Florence looking like they're gone after March we don't have a net gain. JFK could technically be described as new but NYC is already served.
Route retention is still a big issue. As just mentioned Cologne and Florence are not bookable after the winter (there appears to be an operational issue with Florence) adding to the ever growing list of BHX 'one season wonders'. The likes of Berlin, Porto, Oslo, Reykjavik and JFK MUST be made to work as we cannot afford anymore losses.
2015 will be yet another season without flights to the likes of Lisbon, Madrid, Prague, Warsaw and Budapest which to me is unacceptable. With BHX seemingly continuing to bury their head in the sand when it comes to LOCO's I don't think we'll see these covered anytime soon, unless they have TAP, Iberia, CSA and LOT lined up that is. Easyjet and Ryanair bring destinations, passengers and real growth, just why are BHX so reluctant? Whilst I'm very happy that Vueling will be arriving I'm not sure an extra 5x weekly flights to an already well covered destination is really a top priority, my own feeling is that it's all about getting into the IAG good books for the future but we'll see.
2015 will be yet another season where we have a measly one weekly flight to Orlando, we've finally got more capacity to Mexico but Orlando desperately needs some too. Thomas Cook tried an Orlando flight and completely sold it out, if that can't convince them to take a chance then what will?
The same can be said for summer services to Toronto, or Canada in general.
I'm disappointed we haven't seen any extra capacity going East. Emirates are consistently generating near full flights but there is no sign of any imminent expansion. The Qatar rumour reared it's ugly head recently but I think that may be just because BHX isn't a complete Oneworld black hole anymore. If ever there was a time for a third daily EK flight or the arrival of Qatar then it certainly is now.
So, in conclusion, overall there's some good and some not so good. If we don't break the 2008 record this year then I have no doubt we will next year and there is a realistic chance that 2015 will see 10 mppa. If that happens then I'm sure there will be many great headlines and handshakes all round but for me there are some basic underlying issues that have been there for too many years and have still yet to be addressed.
At the moment though I'm edging towards glass half full :drinks:
Last edited by a moderator:
