Route Development & Rumours

[Paulsstrange]

Yes I would say this event is a great show case opportunity for BHX and will hopefully yield some developments of some sort...perhaps dare i say it the masterplan ??

 

[jfy1999]

I've been keeping a close eye on Ryanair developments, and the latest rumour is at LBA where they may be basing a fourth or even fifth aircraft next summer. LBA is reconfiguring at least one stand to accommodate the potential growth.

Kenny Jacobs said that future expansion at BHX also depended on available stands, which suggests that they could be looking at increasing the number of based aircraft next year.

 

[JENNYJET]

Just read upon Routes Online that Jet2 have announced summer '17 routes and from established bases.

Nothing for BHX seemingly??

 

[Brum X]

Just read upon Routes Online that Jet2 have announced summer '17 routes and from established bases.

Nothing for BHX seemingly??

Still lots of time for Summer 2017 and I suppose if this is confirmed then they would want it announced as a single news storey rather than adding it onto there existing bases. After all adding BHX would be big news in its own right.

 

[jfy1999]

Just a whiff but it seems something is brewing across the pond.

Like the situation in London this [the switching of MAN-JFK to Virgin] could free Delta to introduce additional seasonal flights into the UK from other points across the US. According to industry sources, the airline is understood to be looking at flights between Detroit and Manchester among other markets under consideration.

http://www.routesonline.com/news/29...in-atlantic-in-transatlantic-route-reshuffle/

 

[Brum X]

Just a whiff but it seems something is brewing across the pond.



http://www.routesonline.com/news/29...in-atlantic-in-transatlantic-route-reshuffle/

Lets hope BHX are in the Delta Plans for Summer 2017 and not just more capacity given to the North West Airport.

 

[JENNYJET]

It is that designated Gateway that Manchester has.

Americans see Great England as having just two cities undoubtedly due to Mr. Dickens. They probably see Birmingham and think Alabama!

 

[Kevin Farnell]

It is that designated Gateway that Manchester has.

I didn't think that the 'designated gateway status' existed anymore. With the transatlantic open skies policy, airlines can apply for whichever routes they want.
In the past under the bilateral agreement between the US and the UK, Manchester was awarded a 'temporary' status, which did allow Manchester to take a lead over Birmingham. I remember reading that BMA campaigned hard to be allowed to start Birmingham to New York services with a B707, but they were denied permission.

 

[JENNYJET]

I believe it may be US policy rather than UK desire that Manchester has a status second only to London.

I may well be wrong in my thought but having seen Manchester get the growth for the North whilst the South have four options excluding BHX, why else only two US carriers operate to US and serve the same city? That in it's self suggests either a blockage or a lack of aggressive marketing.

 

[Dobbo]

Americans see Great England as having just two cities undoubtedly due to Mr. Dickens. They probably see Birmingham and think Alabama!

Some disappointed English PAX made a similar mistake when booking a trip to LAS not so long ago!

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there ray and all, correct me if I'm wrong ray, but delta do fly into bhx, but only as a stop over to Charles De Gaul or schipol or frankfurt, which is then on route back to Atlanta, is this correct or not... Andyc

 

[Brummiegem]

Delta are part of Skyteam,so may well have codeshares to Paris and Amsterdam.
Frankfurt passengers will be on Star Alliance code shares as only Lufhansa currently fly to FRA.
Strangely I don't recall seeing DL flight numbers on the departure boards to either CDG or AMS,that is not to say they don't exist.

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there brummiegem, regarding the delta flight codes, departed bhx to Amsterdam at 13:15 pm today flight no dl 9654, then another due to arrive from Amsterdam at 16:40 pm today flight no dl 9628, also ba arrival from alicante at 16:45 pm, flight no ba8071, then another one from Dublin at 19:00 pm tonight, flight no ba2116, so why are both delta, ba, aeroflot, all nippon and ethihad all using bhx as a stopover rather than agreement with the airport to start flights from bhx to Japan, Atlanta or Moscow, this would be more useful in using resources and promote bhx more with attracting those missing millions of passengers that it's wants for its business.. Andyc

 

[Brummiegem]

Not sure exactly what you are getting at Andrew.
Airlines have been sharing flight codes for a few years now.
If they believe there is sufficient demand for a direct flight from BHX for example then they would be operating said flight.Instead,as is the case for many routes they can join forces with airlines within their group to get passengers from BHX to A N Other destination.
The airport authority can provide stats to all airlines as to where interling passengers are going,but ultimately it is up to the airline as to which airports they fly from.I am sure the route developement team are working all the time to get as many new airlines/routes as they can.
However it is far better to see codeshares on some routes,such as Chinese and other Far East destinations,than having none at all.At least this shows that airlines are aware that there is a certain amount of demand for a certain route,or even testing that demand.
The good news as far as BHX is concerned is that word is getting round that Birmingham as an airport and the greater Midlands region are open for business and tourism.2016 is turning out to be a record breaking year,and hopefully this has been noticed by many more airlines who are looking to start new routes,or explore new markets.
In the meantime you can book a flight from BHX to just about anywhere in the world,with almost any relevant airline,even though you may not physically fly with that airline.
Now that is something you couldn't have done a few years ago!!!

 

[Butty]

It is that designated Gateway that Manchester has.

The designation no longer exists, but whilst it did, Manchester was the only English destination other than Heathrow and Gatwick for scheduled long haul flights. For years only Prestwick had that designation I Scotland, until Glasgow launched a legal challenge in the 1980's. Hence MAN had a head start over BHX. But credit to them for using that to their advantage and growing they way they have particularly the links to north America which I noticed on flightradar looked very impressive with a steady stream across the Atlantic.. Also remember that MAN is the Heathrow of the north, acting as the long haul hub for a huge population either side of the Pennines. BHX does very well for a much smaller catchment.

 

[User001]

It's also worth remembering that the 'long haul gateway' designation didn't make it as easy as it sounded.

American Airlines and Singapore Airlines themselves had to go through several court cases to be allowed the right to serve Manchester. They faced challenge after challenge, and eventually won out. Thank god they did, they are now 2 of Manchesters longest serving long haul carriers.

It was a different world back then, I doubt you would get many airlines nowadays to jump through as many hoops as AA and SQ did back then, they would just walk away.

 

[IanFarquharson]

Hi there brummiegem, regarding the delta flight codes, departed bhx to Amsterdam at 13:15 pm today flight no dl 9654, then another due to arrive from Amsterdam at 16:40 pm today flight no dl 9628, also ba arrival from alicante at 16:45 pm, flight no ba8071, then another one from Dublin at 19:00 pm tonight, flight no ba2116, so why are both delta, ba, aeroflot, all nippon and ethihad all using bhx as a stopover rather than agreement with the airport to start flights from bhx to Japan, Atlanta or Moscow, this would be more useful in using resources and promote bhx more with attracting those missing millions of passengers that it's wants for its business.. Andyc

Andy
Code shares they drive me mad !
But none of these 'land' in BHX in their own right - shames
Ian

 

[JF57]

Code shares are fine. We saved a fortune flying to Orlando with Virgin holidays and Virgin Atlantic by booking the same flights as Delta flight numbers through Virgin holidays!
The one thing that is annoying is on the websites for airports one flight might appear 5 times with the different flight numbers due to code shares.
It would be much better to put the flight on one line with the code share flight numbers in brackets.

 

[jfy1999]

Yes! I find myself looking at the board on the BHX website saying Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Paris, Paris, Paris, Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Frankfurt etc. and wondering why they don't arrange it like FR24 where you can only see the code of the airline actually operating the flight and have to click on a little arrow next to the flight number to reveal the other codes.

 

[Brum X]

Yes! I find myself looking at the board on the BHX website saying Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Paris, Paris, Paris, Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Frankfurt etc. and wondering why they don't arrange it like FR24 where you can only see the code of the airline actually operating the flight and have to click on a little arrow next to the flight number to reveal the other codes.

Its even worse when you are at the airport and they announce a Paris CDG flight, it takes the announcement 30 seconds to announce all the airlines on this route, LOL