Route Development & Rumours

[DaveBham]

Any return to BHX by BA would likely be part of a nationwide restructuring. I couldn't see them reintroducing services from BHX into Europe, and not do the same from MAN or EDI. I suppose they might throw a spoke from LHR to BHX in order to attract some of the business they're missing out on, that would seem unlikely.

Anyway, I'm conjecturing. Rather than yearn for our past, we should look to the future and embrace and use the plethora of new airlines that actually do want to fly from BHX.

 

[Jon Dempsey]

Bye bye BA. Good Riddance!

 

[Seasider]

I think IAG are going to use Veuling as their presence in the UK regions. They are building up brand awareness in all regions apart from the south west. (unless you count Cardiff as south west)

 

[nwoody2001]

I think IAG are going to use Veuling as their presence in the UK regions. They are building up brand awareness in all regions apart from the south west. (unless you count Cardiff as south west)

...but interestingly they don't feed into either IAG hubs at LHR, MAD or DUB.

 

[Seasider]

Correct, but other IAG airlines do (except LHR).

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there ray and all, I think what we need desperately is for the bhx and jet2 to announce that they will be starting up flights from Birmingham, either later this year or winter this year or from next April onwards to any unserved routes that need to be served, as quick as this comes through the better, plus any other airlines that Birmingham can attract to continue it's growth level more...Andyc

 

[BHXsupporter]

What additionally though Andyc is needed is increasing local knowledge +++. I say this since it was evident in a conversation I had yesterday with a lad in his 20s. His friend has been to Australia and is back for a while before they both might return for a working year there.

Naturally I plugged the two easy ways now of reaching oz from BHX - Emirates via Dubai, Qata via Doha. He didn't know that Emirates flew from BHX, let alone the A380 news which visibly pricked up his interest. I then threw in other facts - New York? two airlines there!!, Wizz Air, really? (he'd seen them in Poland), etc. etc.

BHX has a long way to go. Policy and strategy are nothing without implementation so the 'concluder/finishers' (Belbin) are needed to implement spreading the word. It's completely crazy coming across things like this. He's about 30 miles from BHX and has been trolling to Luton (!) - which he doesn't like - for destinations that BHX have served for a good while. Come on BHX otherwise your splendid efforts in route development will be to nought.

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there bhx supporter, I couldn't agree anymore with what you're saying, yes local knowledge is a must for people knowing as to where they can fly from bhx to, but also if someone were to put a message on twitter or Facebook stating about where people can fly from and to from Birmingham, this would also help local and further afield people, that they don't need to keep using heathrow, Gatwick or Manchester, if they can use Birmingham instead, also what people must release is that social media like Facebook and Twitter are free to use as a social local, national and international ccommunications network, but also if bhx didn't fly from where they want to fly to, all they have to do is contact those relevant persons at the airline, asking why they don't fly from Birmingham, if tens of thousands of people were to do this, then airlines would have to do something about it.... Andyc

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there bhx supporter, what I also forgot to mention as well in my last post to you was, if when looking to see which airlines fly from an airport, I always type in the airports name into Google, the scroll down to the airport name plus Wikipedia, then scroll down further to airlines and destinations, then scroll down, this will tell you, what airline is flying where and also if it's due to end flights there or just about to start up from there, I find this way more easier to use.... Andyc

 

[Ray Finkle]

It's the age old problem.

For many years (decades in fact) the belief has been that 'you can't fly there from Birmingham' or if you can 'it's more expensive than everywhere else'. Those beliefs were probably justified as it was generally the case. Locals seem to have gotten 'used' to travelling to the likes of Luton and Stansted and a change in behaviour is going to take time.

I've posted occasions when I've spoken to someone who travelled with Turkish from MAN as 'they don't fly from Birmingham', someone who went to New York from LHR because 'the BHX runway is too short to get to America' and someone who went to Amsterdam from Stansted as there are 'no flights from Birmingham'. All of those were recent.

I think we have to remember that it's only been in the last six months or so that we've seen the return of popular destinations such as Budapest, Warsaw and Madrid with Prague and Lisbon still to return. There are however still some big gaps in the network that need to be filled. The current management have also done alot to reduce the cost base which is hopefully now filtering through.

In recent months I think the airport have done a good job of advertising their new services, lots of billboards, radio ads and I'm constantly bombarded with emails. I do think a change of behaviour is needed though and that will take a very long time.

One things for sure the A380 has given Birmingham some great publicity, went to Sheldon Country Park yesterday and there was still well over a hundred people there to watch.

Hopefully the tide is turning.

 

[andrew.clarkson]

It's the age old problem.

For many years (decades in fact) the belief has been that 'you can't fly there from Birmingham' or if you can 'it's more expensive than everywhere else'. Those beliefs were probably justified as it was generally the case. Locals seem to have gotten 'used' to travelling to the likes of Luton and Stansted and a change in behaviour is going to take time.

I've posted occasions when I've spoken to someone who travelled with Turkish from MAN as 'they don't fly from Birmingham', someone who went to New York from LHR because 'the BHX runway is too short to get to America' and someone who went to Amsterdam from Stansted as there are 'no flights from Birmingham'. All of those were recent.

I think we have to remember that it's only been in the last six months or so that we've seen the return of popular destinations such as Budapest, Warsaw and Madrid with Prague and Lisbon still to return. There are however still some big gaps in the network that need to be filled. The current management have also done alot to reduce the cost base which is hopefully now filtering through.

In recent months I think the airport have done a good job of advertising their new services, lots of billboards, radio ads and I'm constantly bombarded with emails. I do think a change of behaviour is needed though and that will take a very long time.

One things for sure the A380 has given Birmingham some great publicity, went to Sheldon Country Park yesterday and there was still well over a hundred people there to watch.

Hopefully the tide is turning.

The

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there ray, I agree with what you say, I also think that with ontario teachers pension plan they have only a minority stake in the airport, I think that ontario teachers pension plan needs to increase its stake further, to then become the majority stake holder, then hopefully put further investment in where its needed...Andyc

 

[richard winterbourn]

We have to remember that Birmingham Airport, formerly Birmingham International and even earlier Elmdon, came very late to the party.... Its major competitor airport, Manchester, had a well developed international route structure well over 20 years ago - and you cannot catch that up quickly.

I like others have flown from Manchester when there were no comparable flights from Brum. And for many, this mind status remains: if they enjoyed the experience, service and flights from elsewhere, it will take time for them to change their travel plan habits. Indeed, it may well take a generation for the West Midlands population to fully utilise and realise what is now available at their 'local' airport - even despite the massive publicity campaigns they have mounted.

But it is changing and changing fast and every credit must be given to the management at Brum. This year will prove to be a watershed in the airport's development.

I am not too sure that asking for increased investment from the airport's owners to develop infrastructure and routes is really what is needed. Better, the owners receive a good return on their investment and now that the cost-basis of operations at Birmingham have been re-structured, investment be carried out from working capital.

 

[Ray Finkle]

For me S17 will be a big test for Birmingham.

I'd like to see a new based airline plus much more from some of the existing players. Not just to some of the already served destinations but some new markets also.

I have faith that the route development people are doing what they can

Changing track slightly here are the top 20 destinations for 2015. Malaga has risen two places up to 7th, Dusseldorf also rises two places to make the top ten. Barcelona rises two places with almost 38% growth and at number eighteen we have a new entry in Delhi, which makes the top 20 for the first time, knocking Ibiza off the list.

1 Dublin 780,743 +18.0
2 Dubai 610,649 +15.7
3 Amsterdam 563,915 +11.1
4 Paris Charles-De-Gaulle 402,975 +4.3
5 Frankfurt 314,685 +3.9
6 Alicante 301,301 -0.2
7 Malaga 290,778 +19.7
8 Tenerife South273,380 -1.1
9 Palma de Mallorca 254,763 -3.9
10 Dusseldorf 219,051 +10.4
11 Lanzarote 218,000 +0.1
12 Faro 208,693 +2.3
13 Barcelona 193,334 +37.7
14 Munich 185,185 +4.7
15 Dalaman 170,610 +2.6
16 Brussels 143,643 +20.0
17 Istanbul 139,296 +17.2
18 Delhi 130,092 +63.8
19 Sharm el Sheikh 127,024 +6.8
20 Fuerteventura 124,333 +9.8

Predictions for next year are Dubai to overtake Dublin in top spot and Doha to scrape in as a new entry.

 

[Brum X]

ALSO WHAT IS THE OTHER SIDE DOING TO PROMOTE BHX ????

I am very happy with the adverts that i have seen all over the city and region regarding our new flights and i think credit where credit is due, however what are the airlines doing at the other side to promote BHX and stress that you do not have to travel to London Heathrow or Manchester ??

Not to talk down American's, but they are not very well known for knowing much about the United Kingdom, except London and maybe Edinburgh. Are people in New York being told that you can fly direct to the UK's second biggest city BIRMINGHAM, or indeed the average aussie in Melbourne who does not know much about aviation. Do they know that Emirates can pick them up in Melbourne and drop them off in Birmingham (If indeed that is there intention) My gut feeling would be that the average aussie would not know about this route, unless the travel agent is well educated and as we know, sometimes they are not.

As we have said, this week has been a great marketing advert for BHX, hopefully lots of people would of seen the A380 on the local news or in the local press and hopefully will put to bed the out of date comments from so many people about the Runway being too short at BHX to have the Emirates A380. If this week isnt going to educate them, then i dont know what will, LOL.

But on a serious note, the airlines do really need to have a marketing statergy that promote regional airports in big markets like New York, Dubai and the Far East, otherwise the old reputation of only being able to fly into London Heathrow or indeed sometimes Manchester will continue and BHX will continue to be seen as a little regional holiday airport with 1 long haul route per week. As we all know the reality is very different and slowly but surely this is changing, otherwise we would not have the A380 or Qatar starting services here would we.

As Mr K pointed out in the Anna Aero interview, the flights out of BHX are usually normally nearly full, both to the USA and going East, however we also need them full coming the other way.

 

[Brum X]

DIGBETH HIGH STREET, NEXT TO COACH STATION

 

[Ianbutty]

From down here in the south

ALSO WHAT IS THE OTHER SIDE DOING TO PROMOTE BHX ????

I am very happy with the adverts that i have seen all over the city and region regarding our new flights and i think credit where credit is due, however what are the airlines doing at the other side to promote BHX and stress that you do not have to travel to London Heathrow or Manchester ??

Not to talk down American's, but they are not very well known for knowing much about the United Kingdom, except London and maybe Edinburgh. Are people in New York being told that you can fly direct to the UK's second biggest city BIRMINGHAM, or indeed the average aussie in Melbourne who does not know much about aviation. Do they know that Emirates can pick them up in Melbourne and drop them off in Birmingham (If indeed that is there intention) My gut feeling would be that the average aussie would not know about this route, unless the travel agent is well educated and as we know, sometimes they are not.

As we have said, this week has been a great marketing advert for BHX, hopefully lots of people would of seen the A380 on the local news or in the local press and hopefully will put to bed the out of date comments from so many people about the Runway being too short at BHX to have the Emirates A380. If this week isnt going to educate them, then i dont know what will, LOL.

But on a serious note, the airlines do really need to have a marketing statergy that promote regional airports in big markets like New York, Dubai and the Far East, otherwise the old reputation of only being able to fly into London Heathrow or indeed sometimes Manchester will continue and BHX will continue to be seen as a little regional holiday airport with 1 long haul route per week. As we all know the reality is very different and slowly but surely this is changing, otherwise we would not have the A380 or Qatar starting services here would we.

As Mr K pointed out in the Anna Aero interview, the flights out of BHX are usually normally nearly full, both to the USA and going East, however we also need them full coming the other way.

W

ALSO WHAT IS THE OTHER SIDE DOING TO PROMOTE BHX ????

I am very happy with the adverts that i have seen all over the city and region regarding our new flights and i think credit where credit is due, however what are the airlines doing at the other side to promote BHX and stress that you do not have to travel to London Heathrow or Manchester ??

Not to talk down American's, but they are not very well known for knowing much about the United Kingdom, except London and maybe Edinburgh. Are people in New York being told that you can fly direct to the UK's second biggest city BIRMINGHAM, or indeed the average aussie in Melbourne who does not know much about aviation. Do they know that Emirates can pick them up in Melbourne and drop them off in Birmingham (If indeed that is there intention) My gut feeling would be that the average aussie would not know about this route, unless the travel agent is well educated and as we know, sometimes they are not.

As we have said, this week has been a great marketing advert for BHX, hopefully lots of people would of seen the A380 on the local news or in the local press and hopefully will put to bed the out of date comments from so many people about the Runway being too short at BHX to have the Emirates A380. If this week isnt going to educate them, then i dont know what will, LOL.

But on a serious note, the airlines do really need to have a marketing statergy that promote regional airports in big markets like New York, Dubai and the Far East, otherwise the old reputation of only being able to fly into London Heathrow or indeed sometimes Manchester will continue and BHX will continue to be seen as a little regional holiday airport with 1 long haul route per week. As we all know the reality is very different and slowly but surely this is changing, otherwise we would not have the A380 or Qatar starting services here would we.

As Mr K pointed out in the Anna Aero interview, the flights out of BHX are usually normally nearly full, both to the USA and going East, however we also need them full coming the other way.

We run the risk of putting Brum down. Given all of the success in the last few years something must be working! Birmingham is a very major city. It is a business city which is attracting more overseas investment than any other UK city bar London. It was recently deemed the 6th best city in Europe to invest in way ahead of London, Edinburgh and Manchester, which was no where to be seen. You don't achieve that kind of success until your time has come, and it is Birmingham's time.

What the airport suffers from is the long long legacy of not being an old designated gateway airport and it's geography between London Heathrow and Manchester. It will always be the case. But as the recent point to point and new airline explosion has shown, BHX is booming. History will be very kind to the 2010's.

 

[DaveBham]

Picking up on what Ray said about people thinking that BHX's runway isn't long enough - according to wikipedia it's actually the 4th longest runway in the UK - and that's including RAF sites!
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_...ed_Kingdom_and_the_British_Crown_Dependencies

 

[jfy1999]

Predictions for next year are Dubai to overtake Dublin in top spot and Doha to scrape in as a new entry.

I'd imagine Barcelona will jump up a few more places and Madrid could make it into the top 20 too with Sharm dropping out. It's not encouraging to see key leisure markets (ALC, ACE, TFS, PMI) stagnant although hopefully Norwegian and Vueling can help reverse that this year

 

[Jon Dempsey]

I remember an excellent advertising campaign by Manchester airport.

The advert was placed on TV in the middle of holiday advertising season and comprised of a couple in a travel agent being asked where they wished to fly from and immediately replying "Manchester".

The marketing team need to come up with something equally effective, IMO.