I agree that Qatar was a huge surprise, probably a shock, to the airport. The 787-8 would have had no trouble from the BRS runway on such a relatively short long-haul route as Doha. The runway could not have been a factor there. Maybe the lack of cargo facilities was but it would be a surprise if cargo had been the clincher. Commercially there would seem to have been only one horse in the race, given the size and make-up of the BRS catchment, both business and leisure.
But that one horse fell. To plagiarise Conan Doyle, "Once you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth." What remained, and it wasn't that improbable really, is that CWL was able to benefit from the Welsh Government being able to speak to the Qatari government at governmental level and negotiate on matters beyond the actual air route which itself had become a driver. The local councils around Bristol are as much use as a chocolate teapot in that sort of thing. I don't blame them - they haven't the funding of a government or the high level government contacts.
Given its less than promising site, location, difficult surface connectivity and weather BRS has worked miracles in the past 15 years to get to 8 mppa. It's still growing and short of a horrendous Brexit or something similar I don't see that growth slowing down that much. With easyJet averaging load factors over 92% throughout the year on its 60-plus route network the strength of the catchment is demonstrated.
BRS might have to accept that it's a short-haul airport. Its current master plan all but accepts that, certainly in terms of scheduled flights, with less than a handful of long haul scheduled destinations reckoned to be viable. The new master plan that will be worked up over the next year might change things.
BRS isn't dong too badly with its list of airlines: Aer Lingus Regional (Stobart), Air Malta, Aurigny, bmir, BACF, Brussels Airlines (admittedly operated on their behalf by bmir), easyJet, Flybe operating for Blue Islands, KLM Cityhopper, Ryanair, Thomas Cook, TUI, Wizz Air, WOW plus the likes of Air Europa, Austrian, BH Air, CityJet, Enter Air, Freebird, Jet2, Neos, Titan operating regular charter flights according to season.
A transatlantic scheduled service would be welcome but would it necessarily increase the airport's profits (their raison d'etre) or improve the local economy to a significant degree? I've seen no evidence that the daily (less in winter) CO BRS-EWR had a major effect on the local economy during its five and a half years operation. Bristol is at the end of the M4 corridor and is able to do extremely well on the back of LHR which in truth is not that far away, particularly from some areas of Greater Bristol.
I have no doubt whatsoever that the airport is working hard to attract more airlines, more routes and increased frequencies on existing ones. They have been doing this for many years with no small success. Knowing some of those involved, I am certain they won't rest on their laurels.
