Primera Air

[Ianbutty]

Phew, Ray.

Can you imagine the media meltdown: New airline only sells 42 seats to Birmingham....conveniently forgetting London Stansted and that this is very early days etc.

 

[Brum X]

I'm not knocking Woody's work in any way as it is interesting but I wouldn't take too much notice of seat maps this far in advance.

As has been pointed out not everyone books seats in advance, I myself know of several people booked on Primera to New York and not one has pre-booked seats. We also have 6 months to go before the first flight even departs. Many leisure travellers won't start planning their trips until the Christmas season is well behind them and business travellers can often book at very short notice.

I check various seat maps from time to time and even 2/3 days before departure it's not uncommon for a huge amount of seats to appear to be available. Checking the same flight the day before departure can then reveal only 1 or 2 seats are actually free. Monarch were the prime example with many of their passengers checking in at the airport, even on the morning of departure some of their flights looked empty when in reality they were far from it.

It'll be interesting to see how/if the reserved seats fill (or don't fill) in the months leading up to the first flight but I wouldn't get too concerned until hours, rather than days, before departure.

Good valid points Ray

 

[Aviador]

Good stuff, we need more of that

Which goes to show why you do need to advertise widely. Notedly, Manchester airport advertise hugely in the Yorkshire region. A catchment area of around 5 million people with no dedicated service to Toronto, Boston or New York.

 

[nwoody2001]

Now launching BHX - Palma and Malaga both daily!

STN get Alicante and Malaga...

Interesting these are on 737-800s so additional aircraft based???

Now on-sale!

 

[paul]

Excellent news

 

[Severn]

Timings suggests a based B738 at both STN & BHX

 

[MJH]

Excellent news, great to see Primera's confidence in BHX. Could become a big player...

 

[nwoody2001]

well it is a turn up for the books from me. I had heard they were looking at some sun routes but was not expecting daily to each and an additional based aircraft!!!

As a consequence of the above, Primera will be delivering nearly 11,000 seats on a weekly basis from BHX. Ok in the scheme of things, Monarch was providing nearly 56,000 weekly seats but hey, every little helps!

 

[Ray Finkle]

Good to finally have something confirmed

There have been rumours for a while that they were examining the possibility of some IT work so it will be interesting to see if anyone has taken seats.

PF2933/4

BHX 09:00 AGP 12:50
AGP 13:30 BHX 15:50

PF2937/8

BHX 16:45 PMI 20:05
PMI 21:05 BHX 22:35

 

[nwoody2001]

Interesting that the twitter announcement say flights from BHX and STN to ALC, APG and PMI.

I have asked Primera if ALC will become available as only APG and PMI bookable and their response is as follows:

"Hello, currently from Birmingham we'll fly to Mallorca and Malaga, but follow up!"

...whatever that means!

 

[Ray Finkle]

A 'stable and high demand for transatlantic flights'.

Primera Air Announces Top Tourist Destinations from Birmingham

22nd November 2017​

After announcing direct flights to New York, Boston and Toronto from Birmingham, Primera Air is adding two more leisure destinations – Mallorca and Malaga.

Primera Air has already established a strong and well-known leisure carrier image in Scandinavia and now the low cost airline is bringing the company’s core product to the UK. Flights to Mallorca and Malaga will be operated daily, using Boeing 737-800 starting from May 2018 next year.

“We see a stable and high demand for our transatlantic flights from Birmingham to New York, Boston and Toronto. It has encouraged us to introduce more flights to leisure destinations in Spain that historically has been our core product and service in which we have an extensive experience. Flights to Mallorca and Malaga will improve the leisure flight schedule for travellers to already beloved destinations,” says Andri Már Ingólfsson, the president and owner of Primera Air.

William Pearson, Aviation Director of Birmingham Airport said: “After announcing new flights to New York, Boston and Toronto from Birmingham Airport in 2018, these new short haul routes to Mallorca and Malaga will give those looking for sun and beach holidays closer to home greater low cost choice from the Midlands’ leading airport. It is great to see Primera Air recognising Birmingham as a key strategic airport in its growth plans and we look forward to working with the airline when it launches next year.”

All Mallorca and Malaga flights will be operated by Boeing 737-800 with 189 seats in a one class configuration - full economy. Tickets with the lowest fares starting from £35 will be available on www.primeraair.co.uk.

As previously announced, Primera Air starts flying to New York and Boston from Birmingham at the beginning of May 2018. For the next two years Primera Air will increase its presence on the existing bases and open other trans-Atlantic routes, as well as open new bases, as the airlines has 20 new Boeing Max9-ER on order.

https://www.birminghamairport.co.uk...r&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=SocialSignIn

 

[thunderchild]

Is this the new based aircraft that has been aluded to in recent weeks?

 

[IanFarquharson]

Yes a new based B738 and maybe another one to follow ?

 

[davecleaver777]

I'd love to see more Scandinavian routes to connect on to the long haul , these 2 new routes are great to bring brand awareness to the airport and what the airline will offer.

 

[Ianbutty]

Great news and the start of a good hub. Shows confidence.

 

[Ianbutty]

For the next two years Primera Air will increase its presence on the existing bases and open other trans-Atlantic routes, as well as open new bases, as the airlines has 20 new Boeing Max9-ER on order.

Can this be BHX? Is there more long haul in the offering? '.....increase its presence in existing bases and open other transatlantic routes...' No comma between 'bases' and 'and'. Why mention that in a press release such as this one, unless I am reading too much into it.

 

[Brum X]

Some good news at last and 2 routes that would of seen a big reduction in seats in S18 due to the Monarch collapse.

Good work BHX and Primera

 

[davecleaver777]

Even if it doesn't work ( I really hope it does) at least someone has had the balls to try. I guess with the Monarch story it was make your own luck for Primera but why stop here.....

 

[thunderchild]

I still have my doubts about Primera - Boston, Malaga, Newark, Palma and Toronto aren’t exactly your typical route portfolios but I’ll keep my fingers crossed that it all works out well. 2018 is certainly going to be challenging - there could be at least one more destination dissapearing from the departure boards so any new route/expansion is welcome.

 

[Brum X]

I still have my doubts about Primera - Boston, Malaga, Newark, Palma and Toronto aren’t exactly your typical route portfolios but I’ll keep my fingers crossed that it all works out well. 2018 is certainly going to be challenging - there could be at least one more destination dissapearing from the departure boards so any new route/expansion is welcome.

I can understand your doubts thunder, really i can but look at Norweigan at LGW, they have a similar portfolio from that airport even though on a much larger scale and all operates fine, they have sun routes that mingle with long haul routes so why not Primera ?

You say there could be one more destination going but then in the same breath we are saying BHX could have a new long haul destination before christmas so i suppose its all ifs and buts on both sides. But yeah i agree im very nervous about 2018.