Route Development & Rumours

[Ray Finkle]

Last I heard was 'it's as good as done' but as you know, I like to hear it officially before getting too excited.

I wouldn't read too much into it but the good folk from Thai Airways have been at BHX having a look around.

 

[User001]

I wouldn't hold out too much on Thai, they have been publicly 'about to start' a MAN route for nigh on 20 years.

It was possibly a visit for a diversion contract, as I know that was recently up for renewal.

 

[Brum X]

Last I heard was 'it's as good as done' but as you know, I like to hear it officially before getting too excited.

I wouldn't read too much into it but the good folk from Thai Airways have been at BHX having a look around.

Tom Screen must of given them the stats from Anna Aero which suggested BHX-BKK was one of the most unserved routes. I cant help but get excited when airlines visit.

 

[Dobbo]

I think TG have had yield issues with the backpacker crowd. Despite BKK being hugely popular with BHX and MAN (usually via Emirates) they struggle.

I think they will have a go at a UK region at some stage, but not soon.

 

[jfy1999]

RE: Delta, I've heard rumours of a 763 or a 764 to fly to ATL - which is it more likely to be?

 

[Brum X]

RE: Delta, I've heard rumours of a 763 or a 764 to fly to ATL - which is it more likely to be?

I dont care tbh, it will just be nice to have a daily 767 on a transatlantic route ex BHX. Im assuming a 764 is bigger so im going for a 763.

 

[User001]

The B767-300 is more likely. It seems to be the staple widebody of choice outside of the hub-hub routes. EDI/MAN/DUB/AGP all use the B767-300 when eqv is down as the B767.

The B767-400 is more premium heavy and primarily seen on routes like LHR/AMS/CDG.

It makes the occasional run to places like MAN and DUB but they are far and few between, I think the B767-400 has only made it to MAN about 8 times this year so far.

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there ray, regarding the delta info that you mentioned, if it's a done deal as you've mentioned, well if it's true, then that would be some announcement for bhx, because with the partnership with Virgin, this will hopefully bring them into the game plan as, we may not hear of get anything from Virgin straight away, but they will probably monitor the deal situation before they decide to make any sort of approach with bhx at all, Finnair news is great, let's is keep on getting these good announcements coming, as they say, the more, the better.. Andyc

 

[Ray Finkle]

if it's a done deal as you've mentioned

It's what I've heard but please remember that a rumour is just that, until it's officially confirmed.

I agree about Virgin, they've said there will be nothing from BHX for fear of diluting their offerings elsewhere. Should Delta start up and do well, without too much of an effect on other bases, then who knows for the future.

 

[JENNYJET]

IF Delta, a BIG IF, began serving BHX as the Prime carrier and not as part of an alliance I.e AirFrance /KLM or another SkyTeam member using their fleet, Delta have a wide array of aircraft to cover the direct route.

No need for ageing B787, B787 or even B777. They have A330-300 and have A330-900neo on order together with A350-900 on order with large numbers of fleet disposals planned.

Is it therefore not possible that Delta may be planning to introduce a new aircraft onto a new route?

The elderly Boeing's may have reliability or maintenance issues and may best be deployed on domestic services whilst brand new aircraft can be tested on potential Birmingham -UK ~ Atlanta route.

Air India and Qatar have honoured BHX with Dreamliner and if continued success may upgrade to larger aircraft. Delta may do likewise though B747-8‘s are destined for retirement leaving B777 as the largest in the current fleet.

I want a 3rd US carrier to offer direct services that ignore New York region as this may encourage existing operators to introduce more city pairings.

Failing that, maybe Emirates or Air India could use BHX as a staging post for onward 'cleared' passengers to say Chicago or Seattle with permission to allow UK passengers to board at BHX.

I do not fully understand the delicacies of airline transport politics so I hope the experts on the wider forum can educate me.

Thank you all.

 

[JENNYJET]

Correction: B747-400 and not B747-8, I so detest predictive typing software. My apologies.

 

[jfy1999]

IF Delta, a BIG IF, began serving BHX as the Prime carrier and not as part of an alliance I.e AirFrance /KLM or another SkyTeam member using their fleet, Delta have a wide array of aircraft to cover the direct route.

I'm not sure what you mean here...there's no possibility of Air France or KLM, or anyone other than Delta, flying BHX-ATL, if that's what you mean.

No need for ageing B787, B787 or even B777. They have A330-300 and have A330-900neo on order together with A350-900 on order with large numbers of fleet disposals planned.

Is it therefore not possible that Delta may be planning to introduce a new aircraft onto a new route?

I suppose you meant the B747 and B767 rather than typing B787 twice? The A330neo (replacement for the oldest 767-300s) won't arrive until 2019. Delta will actually get 787s in 2020, but for now, anything larger than a 767-300 from Delta is rarely seen outside of airports like LHR, AMS, and CDG, and upgrades are rare even at MAN.

The measuring stick for the aircraft type to be used on a new route out of BHX is to look at MAN and see what is used there, if the airline flies there already. BHX will either have the same aircraft type, or smaller.

While aircraft do get more technical issues as they get older, the performance of American and United 757s out of BHX has been perfectly fine of late (although American had a few hiccups at the start). Ironically the new American 787-8s that recently started plying the ORD-MAN route have been plagued with issues and several flights have had to be switched back to the 767-300s (most of which are 20-odd years old and aren't exactly 100% reliable).

 

[JENNYJET]

I respect your opinions and as indicated, I am no expert and the double typing of B787 is because of my difficulties with touchscreen software as I have disabilities that include my hands. I am sorry for any confusions. I would use a keyboard but my PC is on indefinite leave of absence! My PC had voice recognition software but that is beyond access at this time.

I think, rather, believe that you understand my words even if read once more in context

If my opinions do not have merit, I authorise Sir Raymond to exercise his duties and rights to delete the post, with my blessing.

I thank you all.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Everybody's opinions have merit, we are not like some other forums

In terms of Delta, if (and it's still an 'if') they do start Birmingham then I'd say that it will almost certainly be on a 767, most likely the -300 series.

Should the route prove itself then there is no reason why a newer aircraft would not be used at some point down the line, the 767's won't last forever.

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there ray, I think that in your post, you refer to if and when, I would more probably say, not this year, but from next April 2017 for a seasonal period, then see how it went on pax, then try a winter schedule for 2017, see how that goes, if both summer and winter 2017 prove to be a winner, then a full full winter and summer for 2018, then see how the pax are doing, before making any further commitments....Andyc

 

[jfy1999]

Perhaps it will happen that way as they have done the same with Glasgow.

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there ray and all, I think that if and when the announcement is made, it just shows what stops bhx must have pulled to get delta airlines to agree on any form of operation of flights from Birmingham to Atlanta, hopefully, as I said in my previous post, either winter 2016 or summer seasonal 2017, see how it goes and what the demand will be before making any further commitments... Andyc

 

[Jon Dempsey]

Last I heard was 'it's as good as done' but as you know, I like to hear it officially before getting too excited.

I wouldn't read too much into it but the good folk from Thai Airways have been at BHX having a look around.

On a junket to Leicester?, then ResortsWorld?

 

[Jerry]

Everybody's opinions have merit, we are not like some other forums

In terms of Delta, if (and it's still an 'if') they do start Birmingham then I'd say that it will almost certainly be on a 767, most likely the -300 series.

Should the route prove itself then there is no reason why a newer aircraft would not be used at some point down the line, the 767's won't last forever.

Everybody's opinions have merit, we are not like some other forums

In terms of Delta, if (and it's still an 'if') they do start Birmingham then I'd say that it will almost certainly be on a 767, most likely the -300 series.

Should the route prove itself then there is no reason why a newer aircraft would not be used at some point down the line, the 767's won't last forever.

They might decide to use a 757 just to test the waters so to speak? Could a 757 have the range?

 

[David_itl]

I reckon it's out of range - United operated Newark-Berlin which is 150 miles shorter and that was about the limit of operation (certainly in winter time!) Even the new-fangled A321NEOLR would struggle.

It's going to 763s for this route and I would hope that they wouldn't make it summer seasonal only. As the regional transatlantic routes now have a tendency to get frequency reduction in winter, perhaps we should be looking daily service in the summer with a reduction to 4 or 5 weekly in the winter