Birmingham: New Route Development & Rumours

[Ray Finkle]

Didn't Air Transat pull out around the same time (plus or minus a few months) as United and Icelandair - in the run up to Primera launching?

Although a pull out had been rumoured for a couple of weeks prior, if my memory is correct Air Transat took Birmingham off sale on the same day that Primera put Toronto on sale.

Whether there is a connection or not we'll probably never know but this is the first time that I can remember no services to NY and YYZ. We'll see what 2020 brings.

 

[IanFarquharson]

I think BHX will be aiming to get JFK & YYZ back in S20 and is probably their No1 priority
The future for BHX LH LCC so JetBlue / WestJet ideal

 

[louis_walton]

It is becoming more and more likely that BHX will get a new route across the Atlantic as more and more airlines are receiving the max's and the NEO's. I always though Norwegian would jump in after Primeria but now their finances are weaker expansion for Norwegian is probably not very likely.

 

[Ianbutty]

I agree Ian. Write off this year for any TATL return. We were complacent over Primera in keeping what we had...not helped by the no CEO position.

Mr Barton will have a return of North American routes firmly within his sights, work programme, and targets. He no doubt likes a good challenge and when they routes do return part of that challenge will be returning the customers we have lost to MAN and LHR back to BHX in the meantime.

Fabricant raised a very valid point at PMQs yesterday. The reply from the PM was a major let down, given the strong support MAN recieved, and rightly received, from the previous PM and his Chancellor. But she has other things on her mind.....

 

[GliderPilot]

I hope we don't put all of our 'eggs' in one airline's basket though. We all know how that ended previously *coughPrimeracough*

 

[Matt995]

Indeed.

When was the last time that either New York (JFK or EWR) or Toronto weren't served from BHX?

I believe 1992 was the last year we had no direct scheduled flights to New York, (BA started in 1993, CO/UA in 1997)

as for Toronto, I guess we might be looking at early 1980s since we had no service, certainly since 1986 we have had yearly Toronto services, with 2018 being the first year without one.

 

[Creguk]

I didn't realise we had a Canada link earlier than a US.

 

[rollo]

Not sure when the first regular flights to Canada started, New York (JFK) started in 1970 with B.O.A.C. Super VC10s via MAN and later Prestwick it lasted a few years before they gave up.

Flights to Canada probably started with Canadian Pacific.

 

[mullion]

What about Wardair with B727/B707 I know they were certainly around at Manchester and for a while even Leeds

 

[flymetothemoon]

Wardair did not fly 727s or 707s into BHX. Iremember seeing both at LGW in the very early 70's. CP Air started the 1st Canadian flights with DC8's and then 747's and DC10's. ( I think)

 

[JENNYJET]

WARDAIR and the magnificent DC-10 was the highlight of my spotting life and was a regular sight when I lived in Bordesley Green. Approach to R15.

 

[ex_crew]

Never known Wardair to provide 707/747 into any UK airport . They ran 747s/ DC-10s to YYZ . They flew a DC-10 into Leeds once which was a service via Birmingham . They also went into Exeter .

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Never known Wardair to provide 707/747 into any UK airport .

Did you mean 707/727? The 747's, DC-10's and occasionally A310's were regular visitors to BHX and other UK airports. I have no recollection of seeing Wardair 707's and I doubt that the 727 would have the range for a trans Atlantic service.

Kevin

 

[rollo]

Yep Wardair definitely DC10,747 and A310. CP Air DC8 and now diddly.

 

[Kevin Farnell]

Don't forget Nationair DC-8s and Worldways DC-8s and Tristars.

Kevin

 

[flymetothemoon]

Did you mean 707/727? The 747's, DC-10's and occasionally A310's were regular visitors to BHX and other UK airports. I have no recollection of seeing Wardair 707's and I doubt that the 727 would have the range for a trans Atlantic service.

Kevin

Wardair definately flew 707's & a 727 (CF-FUN) into Gatwick in the early 70's, I saw them many times!!

 

[hishaq96]

Are we expecting any new Long haul route announcement anytime soon? Seems very quite at moment

 

[Brum X]

We even had Air Canada 767's and L1011 Tristar 😢😢😢

 

[Matt995]

I've just seen a picture of a Wardair DC10 at BHX in 1981, so our Toronto link had been going for a very long time, maybe even since the 1970's....

Lots of operators in that time, as mentioned Air Canada, Wardair, Worldways, CP Air, Canada 3000, Nationair, Zoom, Royal Airlines, Air Transat being the Canadian Airlines, and of course Air India, PIA, Caledonian, MyTravel, Thomas Cook as well ….

have I missed any?

 

[IanFarquharson]

BXH - YYZ Pax

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