Daily Direct Link from BHX to the US

[nwoody2001]

Had me excited for an announcement with this new thread!

But pretty big news to be the only destination called out by the CEO.

Also, it would be somewhat odd for Delta to serve a UK region rather than Virgin (no Delta presence out of MAN for example).

Are all the A321neos in Delta's fleet LR variants?

Seems that the distance between BHX-ATL will be pushing it (though still possible) for the LR. Maybe JFK is more feasible?

Delta fly 3 seasonal routes from EDI, but dont fly to MAN.

 

[Iron Duck]

FWIW…
United sponsor Wrexham, not at MAN
Saudia sponsor Newcastle, not at NCL
MAS sponsor United, not at MAN

That’s not to say DL to BHX won’t happen (and I’d love it to, give us another option away from the bigger airports), but sponsorship ≠ service.

 

[Jerry]

All depends if they can get Americans to come here, which is what I think he is saying. In which case....

Yeah but for Americans the 90 minutes drive/train journey from Heathrow is nothing. Plus as well let's not forget Delta partnership with Air France and KLM who are also in a joint venture with them. Their operation into both AMS and CDG is pretty substantial.

 

[MB1]

Hmmmm.... CEO of a US airline that has a commercial deal with a UK football club, just happens to mention that city in an interview with a UK news outlet (and in the process gets the football club name-checked)

Call me sceptical... But I won't be planning any US trips out of BHX just yet!

 

[HPsauce]

Interesting that Delta are looking at Riyadh and India.
Maybe a ATL - BHX - MUMBAI would get them up and running , or JFK - BHX - MUMBAI. Likewise with Riyadh.
This would give the opportunity of a larger aircraft operating, rather than the Neo's.

 

[rollo]

Well at least it's rumour with some substance behind it as in comments are made by Delta and BHX as opposed to I think airline 'A' should start a route to 'B'.

Personally I think its pretty unlikely short term at least given the current political climate both sides of the Atlantic however given the links BCFC have with Delta maybe BHX should consider spending some of their marketing/advertising budget with BCFC and see if they can somehow get Tom Brady involved as he is just about the biggest sports star in the USA and would definitely raise awareness of the Birmingham region.

Football is a powerful marketing tool these days and the World Cup is held over there next year.

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

This reminds of someone’s post about southwest and breeze operating Birmingham.
Canny see it happening

 

[Nethercote2019]

Mr Kehoe was very hopeful of Delta to ATL by A310 when the runway extension opened….. but didn’t happen

 

[Brum X]

Delta CEO names BHX as a great market outside of London.
BHX CEO has named Atlanta as a top priority.
Lets hope something comes of this ?

https://www.thetimes.com/article/912...8727a795e39702

It was only last month you said Delta would never serve BHX ?

If BHX is such a great market, why do we 0 TATL flights ?

 

[nwoody2001]

It was only last month you said Delta would never serve BHX ?

If BHX is such a great market, why do we 0 TATL flights ?

I'm so confused....

Complain when we dont have TATL flights, and then when airline shows an interest, try and discredit any suggestions, even when they are direct quotes from the airlines.

other than the airports and airlines in questions, none of use are anymore the wiser, we can only make our best informed judgement. I too agree with Ian that if asked, i wouldnt ever have thought Delta would be interested in BHX. But then ask me 5 years ago is Saudia would be serving BHX, i would have never guessed that either.

Times change and airlines evolve. BHX is bigger than it ever been before which may catch the attention of airlines that previously may have overlooked it... who knows.

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

We can only dream

 

[IanFarquharson]

It was only last month you said Delta would never serve BHX ?

If BHX is such a great market, why do we 0 TATL flights ?

As i far as I know they have never been intersted in BHX and would have bet my house that AA, UA or JB would be at BHX before DL.
But it appears that the BCFC sponsorship and big US owners may have made Delta take a look at BHX.
To get a quote from their CEO naming Birmingham in an article which never mentioned any other airport must surely indicate talks with BHX are well in motion ?
Brum X - On this occassion I am more than happy to have got it wrong before

 

[gulftraveller]

We are used to airport CEOs announcing advanced talks on routes which will never happen. I fear that Ed Bastian is doing the same. Football sponsorships do not create a sustainable market, particularly given that UK football has little following in US. And as has been said, airlines are busy reducing capacity between Europe/US. Keep in mind DL has no XLRs.

I hope I am wrong, but I do not read very much into this. My money would be on UA, AA or JBU for BHX once the market improves.

 

[nwoody2001]

We are used to airport CEOs announcing advanced talks on routes which will never happen. I fear that Ed Bastian is doing the same. Football sponsorships do not create a sustainable market, particularly given that UK football has little following in US. And as has been said, airlines are busy reducing capacity between Europe/US. Keep in mind DL has no XLRs.

I hope I am wrong, but I do not read very much into this. My money would be on UA, AA or JBU for BHX once the market improves.

A few things to comments on based on your post....

- Airports regularly "big-up" the potential of new routes as they attract attention. On the flip-side airlines rarely do. They normally are very secretive of new routes to stay competitive.
- I don't think anyone is suggesting that Deltas sponsorship of BCFC is going to sustain a market. There are plenty of sponsorship deals that don't. However sponsorship can draw attention which seems to be the case here.
- Delta has not ordered the 321XLR, but they have plenty of 321neoLR on order which Aer Lingus use to cross the Atlantic from both DUB/MAN.

 

[Scottie Dog]

As far as I'm aware, Aer Lingus haven't used the A321 - any variant - on the MAN/JFK route for anything other then a possible one-off flight.

 

[mullion]

Aer Lingus UK did use a A321 for a while G-EILH did JFK for a few months before upgrading

 

[RichL]

At the end of it, their CEO is on record saying 'Birmingham is a great market'

Now unless he was talking about A) Birmingham, Alabama or B) that Birmingham has a great market (fish, outdoor - either one) then I'm prepared to accept the benefit of the doubt.

 

[tartan201]

A few things to comments on based on your post....

- Airports regularly "big-up" the potential of new routes as they attract attention. On the flip-side airlines rarely do. They normally are very secretive of new routes to stay competitive.
- I don't think anyone is suggesting that Deltas sponsorship of BCFC is going to sustain a market. There are plenty of sponsorship deals that don't. However sponsorship can draw attention which seems to be the case here.
- Delta has not ordered the 321XLR, but they have plenty of 321neoLR on order which Aer Lingus use to cross the Atlantic from both DUB/MAN.

How many A321neoLRs do they have on order? To the best of my knowledge, they have only disclosed that they have ordered A321neos and not specified that any are to be LRs (that's not to say that none will be). This recent SEC filing lists their orders:

https://s2.q4cdn.com/181345880/files/doc_financials/2024/q4/DAL-12-31-2024-10K-2-11-25-Filed.pdf

 

[RichL]

We are used to airport CEOs announcing advanced talks on routes which will never happen. I fear that Ed Bastian is doing the same. Football sponsorships do not create a sustainable market, particularly given that UK football has little following in US. And as has been said, airlines are busy reducing capacity between Europe/US. Keep in mind DL has no XLRs.

I hope I am wrong, but I do not read very much into this. My money would be on UA, AA or JBU for BHX once the market improves.

Ed Bastian is the CEO of Delta though - did you mean 'airport CEO' or 'airline CEO' there is a big difference.

For the airline CEO to big it up, to me, it means something else. But I'll die on that hill if needs be.

 

[IanFarquharson]

Ed Bastian is the CEO of Delta though - did you mean 'airport CEO' or 'airline CEO' there is a big difference.

For the airline CEO to big it up, to me, it means something else. But I'll die on that hill if needs be.

Delta CEO