Route Development & Rumours

[DaveBham]

Are the 767's any more pleasant to be in than the 757's? The reason I ask is that they must be getting on a bit as an aircraft. You'd think United & American would be looking to 787's for this kind of operation, but their fleets generally seem to be rather aged. Last time I went on one I think was in the 90's.

 

[Ray Finkle]

I've not been on one myself but I believe that AA have recently refurbished their 767 interiors and United are currently doing the same. Hopefully, if it happens, it will be an improvement.

 

[JENNYJET]

Dave, Sir, 767 or 757? Same vintage but the 767 have more people for same toilets so I would say 757 better for flight experience.

I agree that 787 would be a nice fit for BHX but are there enough to go around?

I could see A330 from AA if services were expanded but United may need to utilize 767-400 or 787 to compete. The experience of the flight matters more than the routes, the ticket price or the load factor.

I always choose experience above cost and the assigned aircraft matters to me above all other considerations.

 

[Jon Dempsey]

To be fair, if the 757 is decorated correctly, it is a lovely plane to fly in.

We came back from Malaga on one of the Privilege Style 757s a couple of years ago. It was more comfortable than sitting in the extra leg room seats on the Monarch 321 going out.

 

[Ray Finkle]

I always choose experience above cost and the assigned aircraft matters to me above all other considerations.

I'm with you there.

I do love the 757 though, it's still one of my favourites.

 

[DaveBham]

I've nothing against it - it's supposed to be one of the most revered passenger jets by pilots. Just depends how it's fitted out. I think it's a bit too small for long haul myself, but it wouldn't stop me from using it - and with my iPad I have all the inflight entertainment I need

 

[jfy1999]

Ryanair are going to start once weekly flights from Bristol to Bucharest for W16/17 - I would be totally unsurprised if they decided to muscle in at BHX too.

 

[Ray Finkle]

No doubt trying to get in before Wizz potentially start the route. I think it's once weekly to start with but I'd imagine that will rise as aircraft become available. I've said before that I wouldn't be surprised to see Ryanair start Bucharest, Lisbon and maybe even Budapest and Prague next year.

I looked at the Wizz set maps for the first Bucharest flight and inbound is approaching 90% with outbound approaching 80%. There's still two weeks though so I'd imagine that will change. Blue Air have more 738's scheduled (whether they turn up is a different matter) so it looks as if the route is doing well.

 

[route66]

Apparently, via another forum, Norwegian are going to be doing long-haul from BHX,EDI and MAN. The company has circulated an email today. That's all I know.

 

[nwoody2001]

haha so every UK airport they currently operate from then??

Which forum?

 

[route66]

Skyscrapercity: Birmingham thread.

haha so every UK airport they currently operate from then??

Which forum?

Skyscrapercity: Birmingham thread.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Good news if true, the poster suggests Boston, Orlando and either New York or Los Angeles.

I think it should be treated with a hint of caution though, just until we see something official. The same poster previously suggested a BHX base starting April 2016 with flights to FAO/IBZ/PMI/ALC/SPU/NCE, they were '99% certain'.

 

[jfy1999]

Well here's what User001 said on the Manchester thread:

Emails circulated, suppliers being sought, it's all good to go.

I think this one is the real deal though, past rumours of bases have never had as much detail as I'm hearing. A lot of job adverts are being changed from 'LGW' based to 'UK based' too.

 

[Brum X]

Good news if true, the poster suggests Boston, Orlando and either New York or Los Angeles.

I think it should be treated with a hint of caution though, just until we see something official. The same poster previously suggested a BHX base starting April 2016 with flights to FAO/IBZ/PMI/ALC/SPU/NCE, they were '99% certain'.

Exactly Ray with the same person advising us that staff at LGW were being offered to move to BHX ?? That didn't happen and this rumour about Long haul isn't anything we don't already know. The rumours about Norweigan have been going on for a while now and I think a lot of BHX forumers just want to know where does BHX stand in there plans. I hope we have some good news for BHX from Norweigan, some Long haul would be really great and I look forward to these rumours being confirmed very soon for a start in Summer 2017.

 

[JENNYJET]

Well here's what User001 said on the Manchester thread:

Sounds as if dear old Gatwick is nearing saturation and if Norwegian launch long haul from BHX then they save money with MAEL on site to avoid the empty rotations.

Manchester seems doubtful given TCX and Virgin are doing the long stuff to the Americas.

What would be sensible is to avoid New York but instead launch Boston or something new and unique to Birmingham such as Acapulco or restart a Chicago service.

However none of this can begin until congress approve Norwegian as a worthy airline and that seems unlikely until after November's Presidential and Congressional elections.

I would dearly love to see them open up Nairobi or Cape Town as that would rattle the BA and SAA cages! Can B787 manage that?

 

[Ray Finkle]

Apparently there is to be an article in the media so we'll see what that says. We've heard the CEO himself suggest flights from the USA and India could go into Birmingham so this isn't anything new really. It's just of they're correct we may be hearing something sooner rather than later.

As for routes I can't see South Africa just yet. The rumours I have heard were Toronto and Fort Lauderdale along with Boston. This poster suggests an email states Orlando, Boston and either New York or Los Angeles.

I guess we shall see but William Pearson did say some 'new exciting destinations'

 

[User001]

Jenny,

Manchester is happening too. Norwegian isn't shy of competition, far from it in fact.

CEO has direct quotes that BHX, MAN and EDI will see long haul.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Great news if it happens.
Looking at it purely from aircraft range perspective, I would imagine both Boston and Toronto could be operated by the 737 MAX. Surely Fort Lauderdale would require the 787.

Kevin

 

[nwoody2001]

...but we are yet to see this media quote?! Correct?!

 

[Brum X]

This is a great advert for what Norweigian want to achieve.