Route Development & Rumours

[Ray Finkle]

An interview with Mr K, thanks to nwoody2001 for posting :smile:

[video]https://vimeo.com/132812685[/video]

 

[Ray Finkle]

Interesting interview.

He doesn't give much away but until things are confirmed I wouldn't expect him to.

It's good to see that they are still talking to many airlines both long and short haul, hopefully some of those talks can be turned into flights. It's also interesting that he brings up Norwegian long haul without being prompted, "who knows what that might bring" he says.

It's good to see that Wizz are planning to do a similar set up to what they do at Luton by arriving during off peak times when things are quieter. No based aircraft frees up peak morning stand space.

China - Selling out last year prompted Caissa and their sister company Hainan to put on a extended programme this year which is 'the real market test'. Hopefully it will lead to a longer charter programme or a scheduled flight.

 

[Jon Dempsey]

BA won't return to Birmingham. They are the past.

To be honest, I couldn't give a toss about BA so long as all the slots they held have been released.

Their service is below par IMO and I would only book with them again as a last resort.

 

[jfy1999]

Just to clarify, I wasn't referring to BA themselves but to Sun-Air (flying in BA livery). They were about to fly to Gothenburg from BHX but were scared off at the last minute.

I can't see BA coming back ever although I would be interested to see Sun Air as they have shown that they can make UK routes work (London City, Manchester and Cambridge) and we need more Scandinavian flights.

If Mr Kehoe thinks Norwegian Long Haul may come here, I'm very optimistic.

 

[Ray Finkle]

I can't see BA coming back ever although I would be interested to see Sun Air as they have shown that they can make UK routes work (London City, Manchester and Cambridge) and we need more Scandinavian flights.

I'm not sure about London City but the Cambridge and MAN services have contracts from a certain pharmaceuticals company which near fill the planes. The BHX service was to have this contract but as Cambridge is their local airport it ended up going there instead.

 

[DaveBham]

BA won't return to Birmingham. They are the past.

To be honest, I couldn't give a toss about BA so long as all the slots they held have been released.

Their service is below par IMO and I would only book with them again as a last resort.

I find BA's offering perfectly decent; it's just that they choose to base their business in a congested corner of the UK, so it is of no interest to me here in Greater Birmingham.
My trip next trip to the Western USA will be from BHX via EWR or JFK.

 

[jfy1999]

Mahan Air have launched a flight to a European destination, I think it was Milan. They are slowly creeping back into things.

 

[jfy1999]

Apparently TAP Portugal is being sold to new owners who have vowed to expand the airline's route network, so fingers crossed there

 

[Hassaan]

Mahan Air have launched a flight to a European destination, I think it was Milan. They are slowly creeping back into things.

If they were to start up at BHX again, I wonder just how much use they will be this time round?

 

[Brum X]

Mahan Air have launched a flight to a European destination, I think it was Milan. They are slowly creeping back into things.

If they were to start up at BHX again, I wonder just how much use they will be this time round?

Hello.

I actually think Mahan did quite well at BHX, and the only reason why they left is becouse "Western countries" fell out with them (Iran)

I think a x2 weekly schedule to Tehran on an A310 or a x1 weekly A340 would do well and pick up alot of passengers.

I hope to see them back at BHX soon.

The issue with this airline will always be about "Politics", otherwise they are very similar to Turkmensitan and actually quite reliable.

 

[jfy1999]

I don't suppose Iran Air would be interested as there seems to be a market for Iran from BHX and that's why Mahan are trying to get their flights restarted?

 

[Ray Finkle]

Mahan used to do very well with their connections to India, I'm told Bangkok was popular too.

Their route network has grown considerably since they last served BHX although whether people would be comfortable transiting Tehran is another matter. I think they'll be back at BHX once the political situation is sorted out.

 

[jfy1999]

Amazingly Mahan still have three types of A300 in operation (A300B2, A300B4 and A300-600), but the issue with sending these and A310s is that these planes are old and as we've seen with American, could be easily prone to technical problems. So I think an A340 is the best bet.

I think the controversy over Mahan possibly transporting weapons to the rebels in the Middle East is still ongoing though.

 

[nwoody2001]

whilst we have the extended runway, I was under the impression there are still operation limits when it comes for A340s .... primarily with regard to wheel bases, turning circles and taxiways? or has this been resolved???

another point is that an A310 is quite a bit smaller than a A340... we could sustain a 3x weekly A310 service, but what can we sustained with regard to a A340??? especially now Air India, Turkish, Emirates and Turkemenstan have all increased services and capacity at BHX since Mahon left....

 

[Hassaan]

I thought the taxi-way turning issue was only for A346's. I think they could do with a once weekly A343 though to begin with.

 

[Jon Dempsey]

It always struck me as strange that the vacation lanes are at right-angles to the runway. Not very efficient for runway use.

 

[Ray Finkle]

The only A340 with issues is the 600 series because of the long wheel base. The rest are fine and we've seen Air Blue and Hi Fly operate A340-300's on a regular basis before. The was some suggestion that 'fillets' were to be added to widen some of the tighter curves, I have no idea if this happened and the NATS charts haven't been update since Jan.

It always struck me as strange that the vacation lanes are at right-angles to the runway. Not very efficient for runway use.

It's not great is it? When taxiway 'Charlie' was constructed it was said to be a rapid exit taxiway but I still think the angle is too sharp to be 'rapid'.

 

[Brum X]

The only A340 with issues is the 600 series because of the long wheel base. The rest are fine and we've seen Air Blue and Hi Fly operate A340-300's on a regular basis before. The was some suggestion that 'fillets' were to be added to widen some of the tighter curves, I have no idea if this happened and the NATS charts haven't been update since Jan.

It always struck me as strange that the vacation lanes are at right-angles to the runway. Not very efficient for runway use.

It's not great is it? When taxiway 'Charlie' was constructed it was said to be a rapid exit taxiway but I still think the angle is too sharp to be 'rapid'.

Ive never really understood why at British airports, we have narrow taxiways at most airports and they are not curved from the runway so aircraft cant exit the taxiway whilst still moving at a considerable pace. At UK airports, they have to come right upto the taxiway, almost stop and make a sharp turn onto the taxiway.
I was watching some vids on youtube last night of aircraft landing at Warsaw Chopin airport and they had an EK land on the main runway still moving at a smooth pace and just "calmly" exited the runway as it just naturally curved onto the taxiway still moving quite fast. This couldnt be done at BHX .

 

[Brum X]

Another airport with these "curves" is AGP (Malaga)


View media item 3417

 

[Brum X]

Info thanks to World_Rep. :hatsoff:








Potential new airline to BHX? Egyptian charter carrier air leisure list BHX and MAN as destinations on their website.

They are operational with A340's and MD83's, but not sure what destination they could serve as they don't list the typical tourist spots of Sharm and Hurgarda on their website.

http://www.air-leisure.com/