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Greek airline planning new flights from Birmingham airport

A GREEK airline is to launch its first services from Britain – with direct flights from Birmingham to Athens and Jeddah.

Hellenic Imperial Airways is so confident of the demand for both destinations it will be operating four flights per week to the Greek capital using a 456-seat Boeing 747 jumbo jet.

Two of the weekly flights will have onward connections to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.

The new service is expected to start in early June with prices from £199, plus taxes, to Athens and from £299, plus taxes, to Jeddah.

The airline’s Birmingham-based UK representative, Ahmed Chowdhury, said he believed there was a large market for the Athens service among the Greek community in the West Midlands, and within a 100-mile catchment area of the airport.

The connection to Jeddah would also be attractive to Birmingham’s Muslim community as the Saudi Arabian city was the gateway to Mecca, which Muslims are required to visit once in their lifetime.

“This service to Jeddah will make it so much easier for Midland pilgrims attending the Haj,” he said.

“Too many people have had bitter experiences of travelling to Heathrow and are anxious to have direct services from their local airport.”

Mr Chowdhury said Hellenic Imperial would soon be starting new services to Casablanca in Morocco from Athens and the Birmingham flights meant Midland travellers would be able to make an easy connection to Morocco’s largest city. The 747s will operate with a mixture of economy, premium economy, business and first class seats every Sunday, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday.

“We are a quality airline not a budget carrier and we plan to go out of our way to look after our passengers,” said Mr Chowdhury.

The new services will appear on the airline’s website, www.flyhellenic.com from next week.

A spokeswoman for Birmingham airport said it was in negotiations with Hellenic Imperial but no dates for the start of the service had been confirmed

Source
 
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747 ops. That will be a sight to see with most airlines tending to opt for 777, 330 and 763 operations these days.
 
My previous post regarding Hellenic Imperial Airlines was lost when my system crashed on me before I had a chance to submit. I am of the opinion that this operation will go the same way as Akal Airways. I cannot see how much business there will be for such an operation (apart from enthusiasts wanting a trip on a classic 747). They appear to be basing the requirements around the potential for traffic to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (probably for the Hadj). The problem is that the main pilgramage only happens once a year and everyone who goes on it MUST have the correct visas and permissions. These are normally granted to passengers travelling on approved carriers (and if you look at the listings of carriers undertaking these operations the aircraft are temporarily re-registered as Saudi aircraft). I cannot see how such an operation will actually make any money for the Airline.

Please do not take me as a nay-sayer (every Airline that opens up from BHX makes my job a whole lot easier) but I for one will not get too excited about this one until it has been operating for at least a season.
 
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Yes I am sure you're right CL44. It's hard to see how they can make the service work on a 4 x weekly basis to Athens with a twice weekly onward service to Jeddah. I hope we are both proved wrong here but the idea seems some what 'pie in the sky'. Time will tell as they say!
 
It would appear that the start date for this service is now being advised as July. I have been on their website and the earliest flight they showed on there was for Mid June (also showed as Sold out!!!). It will be interesting to see how this one pans out.

I wonder if they have received a short term ACMI deal whereby they did not have a spare frame free to make the May start date.
 
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Sold out already? :reallyshocked: Maybe we've underestimated the routes catchment on this one? Either the first flights are full of dignitaries etc, ...you know, local councilors and MPs etc! :smile:
 
From what I have heard they are looking to source a 767 for this route. This I think would be a good choice for them (both economically and space wise) subject to which model they go for. I am still of the opinion that until the service lasts over at least one season (and makes money) that this route is somewhat of a mistake for this Airline.

As I have previously mentioned I am happy to see new Airlines come into BHX (it makes my job a hell of a lot easier) but Airlines that operate for a short period of time (can anyone say Akal Air or even Highland Express) only raise hopes and expectations only for them to be dashed when the accounts stay red and not black.
 
CL44,

Any updates on this service?
 
The latest I have heard is that the slots for this service appear to have been cancelled. Somehow or other I think anyone wanting to fly on a classic 747 out of BHX might have to bide their time.

Unless of course we get the freighters back in (as per the Jaguar contract from a couple of years ago) :D
 
That's a shame but I think many people did question the concept even from an airport with such a large catchment as BHX.

Thanks for the update.
 
I dunno. I go away on leave for a week and they go and operate the first flight without me. I didnt even get a chance to dust off the camera. I have heard that the load was not brilliant (but then again they had supposedly released their slots). I am happy that they have had their innaugural flight, however I will not be convinced that this route will continue unless they operate for at least a season. I am still thinking that they will go the same way as Highland Express (for those of you of a certain age or very good memory) or Air Sylhet (for those with shorter memories).
 
Did I read somewhere over the weekend that they now intend to operate once a week - to begin with anyway - or was I dreaming?
 
[textarea]Arabian markets open up with new flights from Birmingham

Business deals with emerging Middle Eastern nations may become easier after a new flight to Saudi Arabia began from Birmingham.

A new weekly service will fly from Birmingham International Airport to Athens, with onward connections to Jeddah in Saudi Arabia, started on Saturday.

Operator Hellenic Imperial Airways said it hoped to increase the service to twice-weekly if there was demand.

The route opens the door to more business transactions between firms in Birmingham and Arabian businesspeople.

It comes just two days after Wolverhampton construction firm Carillion sealed a £275 million deal to build the new parliament building in Oman and after Coventry Airport completed work on its new Executive Jet Centre.

Talal Abureya, chairman of Hellenic Imperial Airways, said: “Birmingham is our first UK airport and we are very excited about launching services in the Midlands. Athens, which is our headquarters, is not currently served from Birmingham so we expect that our flights will be welcomed by those travelling for business and leisure, in particular those visiting friends and relatives.”

The Greek-registered scheduled airline will operate a Boeing 747-200 aircraft with 450 seats. It will arrive into Birmingham on Saturdays at 7pm and depart back to Athens and Jeddah at 10pm. On Mondays, the airline will arrive into Birmingham at 5pm, departing back to Athens and Jeddah at 10pm the following day. Return flights will cost from £199 before taxes to Athens and £399 plus taxes to Jeddah.

Marc Watkins, Birmingham Airport’s market development manager – aviation, said: “We welcome this development, particularly in today’s challenging economic climate. There is a market for Athens in the Midlands and the convenient schedule will suit those flying on business and leisure to both Greece and the Middle East. We urge those who would normally travel to other UK airports outside the region to choose Hellenic from Birmingham to support this new venture.”

Helenic’s commercial manager Theo Silvestros said: “As the principal gateway to Mecca, the Jeddah flights to be used by many pilgrims wanting to access Islam’s holiest city, and with such competitive prices Midlands people will be able to start this important journey from their doorstep.”

Source[/textarea]

This was in the local rag yesterday.
 
Well, I have heard that the first loads on this flight were not brilliant (unless you were on board that is!). I believe that there were 51 passengers (of whic about 28 were guests of the Airline) so if you fancied stretching out on a full row of seats this was the flight to go for. The flight is due into BHX for today in about two hours time. It will be interseting to see what type of PAX figures there are for this one!!!

Once again please do not get me wrong I am not slagging off this service. The more Airlines come into BHX the better as far as I am concerned. However, I am not certain the business plan for this service has been thought through enough. If they had announced a narrow body or smaller wide body (757 / 767 / 320) then I would be more hopefull of success. With a 747 (and the required PAX load to make it worthwhile) I am firmly of the opinion that this service will struggle. One thing that is in their favour is the decision to make the service weekly until loads improve. If they do not advertise the service however this would seem to be unlikely. Time will tell. I will keep my fingers crossed that things work out for them.
 
It's still way too early to say just yet but like you say, if 51 passengers on the first flight is anything to go by thing's aren't looking great. Both BA and Virgin are moving away from the Boeing 747 types because they burn more fuel than the newer A330 and B777 etc. The airlines decision to start the service during a world recession is somewhat puzzling as well, but I am in no position to judge their credentials. The service may have good forward bookings, well lets hope so anyway.

Any idea how much freight the service is carrying? That could make a difference.
 
I agree that freight could make a difference on this type of service. However when you have established carriers offering direct wide body flights from LHR (BA 767's and OA A340's), combined with a lack of any information as to who is handling the flight for cargo (let alone a total lack of rates issued for cargo), I do not think cargo will be the solution for this service. I hope they do have forward bookings (if only for the fact that they can try to lease an appropriate aircraft if required) but I still have a horrible feeling that we are looking at another Highland Express.

It looks as though the flight has been delayed from 1700 hrs (Monday 10th August) to 1500 hrs (Tuesday 11th August). Not a good omen.
 
Just a little update on Hellenic. The second flight that arrived (last week) apparently had 38 passengers on board. I could not find out how many were due out to ATH on her. Also there is a number for freight enquiries (which was ringing out unanswered last week). As this weeks flight was cancelled are there any takers for odds on the next flight operating?
 
Type Rated B767 said:
Tell them to try operating into LBA, I'm sure they would be welcomed!

I'm sure they would but don't you think that BHX would have welcomed them? I just don't think the airline has done it's homework on this route, whether that be marketing or feasibility of the route, which ever, it doesn't seem to be working and cancelling flights wont inspire confidence in the airline by those who had book flights with them.
 

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