Primera Air

[Jerry]

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

But they don't have the aircraft to serve it. It's doubtful even the A321neoLR would have the range especially if it has a headwind.

 

[rollo]

I think Jerry is correct no airline operate to Orlando with anything but a widebody direct these days from thr U.K.back in the day some operated with 757s with a stop at Bangor Maine or wherever but things moved on ages ago. The A321LR maybe a possibility at some point but it looks a bit of a push at best..
Personally I think Jet2 are the best hope mid term for BHX, I've given up at present trying to work out Primera and their thinking.

 

[Foxlimayankee]

How many people were actually affected by the cancellations? In the grand scheme of things, I can't see it doing that much damage. Given the right price, people will forget about it.

 

[58terminus]

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

I stand to be corrected but isn't Orlando heavily reliant on family package holidays on routes from the UK?
I would think it is a none starter for a low cost airline without a tie up with a large holiday company and i imagine Primera are a long way from that.
One of the first tasks for the new CEO is to ask TUI and Thomas Cook what the **** is there problem?
Maybe a bit more politely.

 

[GliderPilot]

Well put 58Terminus, reflecting on my previous comment and yours, package holidays would be essential to making that route a success as you’ve said

But also as you say, i think the guys at TUI and TCX need their heads wobbling

 

[58terminus]

It smacks of a Cartel.The 2 mentioned plus Virgin.

 

[Jerry]

It smacks of a Cartel.The 2 mentioned plus Virgin.

With TUI they may feel that they can make more money having Cancun, Punta Cana and Montego Bay 2 weekly and not Orlando.

 

[58terminus]

With TUI they may feel that they can make more money having Cancun, Punta Cana and Montego Bay 2 weekly and not Orlando.

And if you live in the West Country,Midlands or North East and want to take your family to Disneyland without paying through the nose you can fly from MAN or LGW from where we all offer multiple flights at reasonable prices.

 

[nwoody2001]

With all recent statistics showing the demand for package holidays, especially to developed nations, appear to be in terminal decline. With families being ever more price concious and willing to either shop around or arrange their own packages, I believe requiring packages to make Orlando viable being a bit of a myth!

Afterall, the reason why TUI flies more to the carranbean and Mexico is because they are after the more affluent older markets or cruise markets, not the younger family on a shoestring!

Plus, don’t forget that Primera is promoting its routes through travel agents. Yes they won’t be in TUI brochures but travel agents are still able to use them!

Only speaking from personal experience but having been to Florida twice, both have been personally arranged and not through packages!!

 

[Matt995]

Primera latest video :-

and prices are dropping too, is this good or bad news??

Birmingham

New York
£199 £169*
one-way
Book now
Birmingham

Toronto
£199 £149*
one-way
Book now
London

Málaga / Alicante
£65 £35*
one-way
Book now
Birmingham

Málaga
£65 £42*
one-way
Book now
Birmingham

Mallorca
£65 £49*
one-way
Book now

 

[mullion]

They seem very low to me which I find a tad worrying at this time of year

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there. Mullion, I agree with what you're saying about the price drop, but remember, up till recently Primera Air weren't saying about any issues or problems that were happening, just cancelling flights then announce that due to fall in sales demand for Boston, they decided to withdraw the route, this is Primera Airs way of trying to keep passengers happy after they're not admitting they have screwed up...,we shall see...AndyC

 

[mullion]

They are there to make money not give it away

 

[Brum X]

Just booked my seats 33F outbound and inbound on BHX-BCN, however if you look at there promotional offers and the video above there is NO mention of Birmingham-Barcelona.

Oh well maybe i will get an email soon advising of my cancelled flights. I will just re-book with Vueling or Ryanscare if this happens.

 

[58terminus]

Just booked my seats 33F outbound and inbound on BHX-BCN,

Hope you booked with a credit card

 

[Brum X]

Hope you booked with a credit card

 

[Coathanger16]

Prices are a funny one - they go up: people get concerned. They go down: people get concerned.

I imagine as its happened around the time they've put out this promotional video it'll likely be just an "unofficial" sale to attract customers.

 

[Ianbutty]

Noone bats an eyelid when Ryanbare or Squeezeyjet have promo prices.....Primera have a PR job to do so maybe this is the way. They would also only drop the prices if the finances stack up or to use up seats and recover any losses through overpriced sarnies.

 

[Seasider]

They'll have to sell a lot of overprice sarnies to make up for the fares.

 

[nwoody2001]

Could be a load of old spin or truth but some very encouraging quotes from this mornings Primera Airs marketing event....

Primera Air Prepares for Take Off from the Midlands
27th February 2018

Just two months away from launching its new base in Birmingham, Primera Air has been given a warm welcome by the Midlands’ business community.
Birmingham Airport’s newest carrier will launch direct low-cost services to New York, Toronto, Malaga, Barcelona, Palma and Crete, from May.

(from left to right): Councillor Bob Sleigh OBE, Councillor Brigid Jones, Anastasjia Visnakova, Chief Commercial Officer of Primera Air and Tim Clarke, Chairman of Birmingham Airport

It has also announced that 50 jobs have already been created in flight crew and operational positions and the airline plans to keep expanding from Birmingham.

Speaking at a business event today (27/2/18) Anastasija Visnakova, Chief Commercial Officer, for Primera Air, said, “We are proud and excited to place Birmingham on our route map for 2018. With two transatlantic and four short-haul destinations we are opening our operations here and looking forward to further development of this Primera Air base.

“This is an important first step for us and significant development for Birmingham Airport and region. With the technology that our brand new fleet offers expensive transatlantic travel becomes a thing of history”.

The carrier will operate brand new Airbus A321 Neos, configured with 16 premium economy seats and 182 economy seats.

These new-generation fuel-efficient aircraft are allowing airlines like Primera to fly on routes usually only accessed by wide-body jets, serving customers with low cost fares but a high-quality product and service. Passengers can also use Wi-Fi on board and the aircraft has full charging facilities for their devices.

There is much demand for transatlantic services from Birmingham. In the last year, the West Midlands exported £6.2bn worth of goods to the USA, second only behind the South East, and exported £778.5m to Canada, the highest of any region in the UK.

Chairman of Birmingham Airport, Tim Clarke, said, “Primera has seen the enormous opportunities available in the Midlands thanks to its strong trading and cultural links with the US and Canada, and the leisure travellers’ desire to escape to warmer Mediterranean climes.

“Primera is able to offer low fares due to its brand new fuel efficient Airbus A321 Neos which means that these services are accessible to all pockets - whether travelling on holiday, visiting loved ones or flying for business.”

Primera Air is also the partner airline for a three-year campaign working with Birmingham Airport, the West Midlands Growth Company, Shakespeare’s England, Marketing Peak District & Derbyshire and Visit Britain.

Together, the organisations will market Birmingham and the surrounding areas to a global audience, convert inspiration to visit into bookings, and promote direct flights to the area.

Its first flights will be on the 14th May to Malaga and Palma, with New York launching on the 18th May and Toronto on the 23rd June. Crete will start on the 30th July and Barcelona on the 1st October. Flights will operate to New York four times weekly and to Toronto three times per week. Malaga, Palma and Barcelona will operate daily and Crete each Monday.

Tickets are available on sale via www.primeraair.co.uk New York and Toronto fares start from as low as £149.00 (one way, all taxes included). Malaga, Palma and Barcelona start from £35 and Crete from £54.

https://www.birminghamairport.co.uk...-air-prepares-for-take-off-from-the-midlands/