Primera Air

[Brum X]

Anyway hope you had an enjoyable time away from the UK

I’m with purebeef...

...only in BHX can you find supporters of the airport vowing publicly not to use a brand new a very important service because of initial teething problems! Are they perfect, no. Has all gone to plan, no. But does that mean we should not support them ...NO!

Schedule changes happen all the time at lots of airports. Look at Norwegians TATL schedule or Ryanair having to delay routes due to pilot issues. You don’t see people at those airports wishing Norwegian or Ryanair to fail! Yet at BHX we think we’re above Primera?!

Luckily for us, in today’s price driven world, the memories of customers are short and as ever, price is key. Yes Primera will have pissed some people off but a vast majority of the market will be completely unaware of these issues and will be no more the wiser. And if we are lucky enough to have Primera around in 2019 with a hopefully expanded network, these issues will be a distant memory!

Yes they have had issues, yes their operation at BHX is less than they initially hoped, but if Primera launched today with 4x weekly NYC and 3x Weekly YYZ, we’d all be very happy. If reducing the TATL schedule to that level is necessary to making the routes profitable in the first year then so be it.

Consequently it’s about time BHX and it’s supporters get back to doing exactly that and support its airport! Primera sees an opportunity at BHX and I for one will support them however I can! I wish them all the success possible and hope this is the start or a fruitful relationship for all involved.

Apologies for the rant but lord, only in Birmingham do you see people reacting like this.

So would you book with them ?

And for the record I am booked with them but only to Barcelona.

 

[Matt995]

I came across a post on social media at the weekend from a former Monarch Air Crew Member living in Birmingham, who was excited at just landing a new job at Primera Air as Long Haul Cabin Crew. When I questioned her that they were only flying long haul from BHX May to October, she told me it was a load of rubbish and she has signed a permanent contract flying long haul all year around, so unless she's flying out of Stansted, it indicates that Primera Air are planning to stick around at BHX, either that or they are not being truthful with their own staff!

 

[Brum X]

It now seems prices on all flights in May to EWR are back to normal so it looks like my
flight on the 26th WILL be OK after all!!!

Thats great news mate, im just as happy as you are about this.

 

[58terminus]

Far from a robust source I know but I asked the customer service guys at Primera when the winter schedule will be on sale from BHX ..they said they planned to release these dates in March so hopefully more clarity provided then!

Their planning has not been confidence inspiring so far.

 

[nwoody2001]

Anyway hope you had an enjoyable time away from the UK


So would you book with them ?

And for the record I am booked with them but only to Barcelona.

I have not booked them myself but I’ve got 2 of my best mates booked on it to come visit me from nyc in June ...so have enough riding on it!

 

[Ianbutty]

Not long ago we were writing off Cotterill at the Blues...now look. Primera have made so pretty awful mistakes. A simple sorry would have been wonderful. I am not a subscriber that social media represents the view of the masses, so the unspoken ones and the squllions who who at present were most likely not aware of Primera the routes or the cancellations, have not been heard and will be more than happy to use them in the future.

But although I have reservations about the sustainability of too many UK to US routes - look at Norwegian cuts from EDI - and I would love a full service non-loco service, but if a loco is that is all the region can generate demand for, then that is what it will be.

I remain confident that given the choice of a long trip to MAN or even linger trip to LHR and other London airports locals will chose primera from BHX.

 

[nbdm]

Not long ago we were writing off Cotterill at the Blues...now look. Primera have made so pretty awful mistakes. A simple sorry would have been wonderful. I am not a subscriber that social media represents the view of the masses, so the unspoken ones and the squllions who who at present were most likely not aware of Primera the routes or the cancellations, have not been heard and will be more than happy to use them in the future.

But although I have reservations about the sustainability of too many UK to US routes - look at Norwegian cuts from EDI - and I would love a full service non-loco service, but if a loco is that is all the region can generate demand for, then that is what it will be.

I remain confident that given the choice of a long trip to MAN or even linger trip to LHR and other London airports locals will chose primera from BHX.

I agree, I'm not going to dismiss Primera from my future travel plans despite this fiasco but will give it a little extra thought before booking

However, brand recognition and loyalty are important. Countless local people will still travel with BA/VS from MAN/LHR for one reason or another - price, service, frequent flyer, brand loyalty.

I think Primera have a good chance of success, there is definitely a market available from BHX
They have their work cut out promoting themselves though, nothing like Jet2 last year. I haven't seen or heard any TV/radio adverts just the odd billboard and newspaper ad. On the flip side within an hour of turning the TV/radio on I could see one, maybe two Jet2 ads.

 

[Otisblue]

http://***Links to other forums are not permitted***/thread/2202/primera-air-a321neo

Build of first A321n for Primera progressing

 

[BHXsupporter]

Wow, how many best mates do you have nwoody2001? Popular or what?! You made me wonder though what the average is.

 

[Matt995]

email reply I go back from Primera this week regarding their BHX flights:-

Q: Paris and Stansted Long Haul flights are still bookable into November and the winter period 2018/19, but Birmingham Long Haul is not bookable after October? Are you dropping Long Haul flights from Birmingham for winter 2018/19?
A: Our flight schedule planning is based on various factors and the fact that there aren’t loaded flights now doesn’t mean they won’t be later. Especially for further departure months. For example we just recently additionally announced short haul flights in this summer from London Stansted and Birmingham to PMI, CHQ and BCN.

Q: Will you be operating Long Haul Flights out of Birmingham for Summer 2019?
A: Birmingham is our new base and we have long term plans to establish a strong flight network and offer people holiday destination and transatlantic travel possibilities.

I'm not reading much into it, I'm sure the Customer Service Dept have no idea about future schedules!!

 

[Ray Finkle]

So for Q2 there was no 'yes' or 'no' just that they have 'plans'?

I suppose that you wouldn't expect customer services to commit to something that they probably don't know.

We shall see what happens, or doesn't happen, in March.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

So for Q2 there was no 'yes' or 'no' just that they have 'plans'?

I suspect that is the answer you would receive from any business. Imagine the field day that stocks and shares traders would have if said business was to reveal it's plans simply to a query from a member of the public.

I suppose that you wouldn't expect customer services to commit to something that they probably don't know.

As tou say Ray, I doubt the Customer Services Department are any more enlightened than the rest of us. Basically, 'tow the company line' until we tell you otherwise.

Regards

Kevin

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there Ray and all, regarding Primera Air situation, as I have said in my previous post on this, Primera Air have completely scored a massive own goal with there situation regarding route announcements, by not leasing before ordering new aircraft will cost them very dearly. The Boston route will hit them very hard, buy saying, not enough demand on sales. Primera Air professionalism on this matter regarding Boston will cost them dearly. I personally don't think that they did enough research at all, your prime example is what Jet2 did on a mass scale, and look to what there rewards were, a massive response from the public and now that is why Jet2 are where they are at Birmingham airport, whereas with Primera Air, before they realised what a mess had happened, then axed it, which was a bad move for them, don't get me wrong with them, we all want new low cost and big airlines to succeed at Birmingham, but first of all, do your homework, then lease before announcing anything. I think that only time will tell with Primera Air at Birmingham airport, I do very much hope that they do succeed at Birmingham Airport, because this is what Birmingham wants and needs success stories and not failures, this will then show other low cost and other big airlines that it is possible with advertising in all areas will succeed if you try.Let's just hope for Primera Air... AndyC

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Hi Andrew

Whilst I share your hope that Primera Air are a success with regard to their long haul operations from BHX, I think we need to look further into their business model.
You suggest that they lease prior to ordering new aircraft. Their business model is based around the newest, most fuel efficient A321NEO's and B737 MAX's. These aircraft are only just starting to enter service. It is therefore impossible to lease this aircraft type. The nearest type possible, is probably the B757. These aircraft are now ageing and Primera Air do not have any qualified pilots, cabin or maintenance crew to operate them. This means that Primera Air would have to undertake a full 'wet lease' (that being lease of aircraft along with flight, cabin and maintenance crew - very expensive! as opposed to a 'dry lease', where only the aircraft is leased and the leasing airline provides all other requirements).
There is also a big difference between Jet2 and Primera Air. Jet2 have mostly targeted popular tourist destination and with the demise of Monarch, have been handed many of those 'on a plate'. Primera Air are venturing into unknown territory. They are looknig at low cost trans-atlantic operations - this is very different from the legacy carriers (AAL, UAL), who whilst accepting economy passengers, were also targeting business class and particularly guaranteed business class bookings (a particular business guaranteeing to book a certain number of seats per month).

Regards

Kevin

 

[jfy1999]

In this interview with RoutesOnline the Primera Air CEO identifies Cape Verde, Kenya, Gambia and India as markets that are on their radar.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Great news for STN

 

[Brum X]

Great news for STN

And 3 of those 4 destinations are already served from BHX, Kenya would be a nice addition though and i dont think TUI will lose any sleep on competing with an A321 to GOA

Some additional options to Cape Verde would be nice though.

 

[Coathanger16]

an A321 to GOA

Could an A321 make it to Goa? Even the LR variant?

Good to see Primera are considering routes that are different from the typical low cost carriers. Lets just hope they bring them to BHX and they're a success!

 

[mullion]

Primera worry me a great deal as their route planning is very shall we say
"off the cuff" sounds if they go down the pub and then come up with a list
which is rather vague and random and the UK is a very different market
to Scandinavia

 

[GliderPilot]

I agree with mullion, I feel like they don't properly assess their routes, instead just decide any route they think is underserved can be profitable for them if they operate it.

A very ambitious airline to say the least!

BUT they must be BLIND not to see the potential in a route to Orlando from BHX.