Birmingham: CAA Provisional Statistics Update

[User0001]

Emirates are in talks with the airport about a third daily service so we'll see what develops.

Id say the 3rd daily Emirates is likely before an A380, despite the business class cabins having high loads, the yield is quite low, and is a story reported to me by several people who would know about it.
I've also seen on another forum that BHX was apparently 'in the top 4 EK routes for profit'. Im sorry, but this is nonsense. If I were able to link past results on yearly performance I would, but, BHX has never been in the top 4 routes for profit.

The plan is/was to grow BHX-DEL to daily but I've heard 3x weekly to Mumbai is now being looked at. It's still early days though so we'll have to wait and see

A daily DEL is more likely for 2 reasons. 1) it is the main hub so better for connections (to Armitsar), and on that subject, 2) Armitsar accounts for around 78% of all BHX-India traffic. The demand for a BHX-BOM (Mumbai) is actually very very low, and unless it was used as another funnel point for ATQ, would not work that well.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Id say the 3rd daily Emirates is likely before an A380

Me too, the lunchtime service will need to see a permanent three class 773 before an A380.

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Me too, the lunchtime service will need to see a permanent three class 773 before an A380.

The long haul specialist travel agent I use was quoting EK charging the same fare for BHX to MEL via DXB return as LGW/LHR to MEL via DXB return, albeit the latter is first-class all the way whereas the BHX-DXB sector is of course business-class.

So BHX has lost two premium-fare passengers again this year who would consider it their primary EK airport if the playing field was level with the London airports.

If BHX did get a 380 I hope the EK premium lounge would be enlarged. When I used it in 2010 it was excellent as was the Melbourne EK premium lounge in B 777 days BUT last year I experienced a 380 for the first time to/from MEL and on the return journey the MEL lounge was uncomfortably crowded as it hasn't been extended.

I wonder what the situation is at MAN with their EK lounge now they've got the 380. It's said that premium fare passengers underpin routes and there is some decent competition on the Asian/Australasian routes, so this sort of detail can be important when the choice of carrier is being considered by a prospective passenger.

 

[User0001]

I wonder what the situation is at MAN with their EK lounge now they've got the 380

The lounge at MAN is quite large (I think it can cater for 150 at once without being over-run), but, it is being re-designed and enlarged again next year IIRC.

 

[Ray Finkle]

The long haul specialist travel agent I use was quoting EK charging the same fare for BHX to MEL via DXB return as LGW/LHR to MEL via DXB return, albeit the latter is first-class all the way whereas the BHX-DXB sector is of course business-class.

So BHX has lost two premium-fare passengers again this year who would consider it their primary EK airport if the playing field was level with the London airports.

Sadly not an unfamiliar story, the two biggest complaints about BHX seem to be lack of choice (destinations and timings) and it can often be overly expensive compared to other airports. With all the talk of clawing back pax leaving the region to travel I hope this is one area being looked at.

On the other point the Emirates lounge is 7000 square foot holding approx 120 people comfortably, if/when A380 ops start then I imagine it will be extended at some point.

 

[Ray Finkle]

CAA provisional stats show 1049862 pax in August up 2%. Rolling total 8993952 up 2.3%.

Turkish still going strong up 26%.

Emirates up 15.4%

United up 4.5%

PIA up 16.5%

Air India saw 7391 pax. I've never been great at working out load factors but it operated on 18 days in August giving 36 rotations, which works out at roughly 205 pax per flight. AI's 787's hold 256 so I make it a load factor of around 80%ish? Sound about right???

Poor Turkmenistan down 29%

 

[TheLocalYokel]

Air India saw 7391 pax. I've never been great at working out load factors but it operated on 18 days in August giving 36 rotations, which works out at roughly 205 pax per flight. AI's 787's hold 256 so I make it a load factor of around 80%ish? Sound about right???

Your maths teacher will be proud of you, Ray. You seem to be right on the button with Air India.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Thank you sir :hatsoff:

Very encouraging AI figures considering the flight only went on sale three weeks before it started. I'd assume with the introductory fares the yield for the first month wasn't spectacular, but it will get better with time. I guess only AI will know.

Emirates load factor was 91%.

Turkish slightly lower than usual at 75%.

PIA 71%.

United 95%.

Turkmenistan averaged only 117 per flight so I think it's safe to say it'll be a 738 for the foreseeable future.

BMIR are getting there slowly, Billund 53%, Toulouse 51% and Gothenburg 56%. Lyon saw 79% but is split with Flybe.

Some of the sunshine routes could have done with more capacity with EMA outdoing BHX on Alicante, Malaga, Palma and Faro.

 

[Aviador]

Superb figures for United and Emirates.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Emirates figures are especially good considering Air India's arrival.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Nice to see pax numbers get back above 9 million.

Passenger Numbers Soar to Nine Million at Birmingham Airport

 

[Hassaan]

What's the chance of us beating the 2008 record this year?

 

[Ray Finkle]

Not impossible but I'd say it's a very long shot.

Easyjet are needed, or Jet2.

 

[Ray Finkle]

So September saw 975,445 which should be around 3% up. Long haul saw less flights from PIA and only one flight from Air Blue but the second full month of Air India will of helped.

Long Haul Traffic Soars at Birmingham Airport in September


09 October 2013

Latest figures from Birmingham Airport show a 13.5% increase in the number of long haul passengers using the Airport in September, compared to the same month last year.

With a catchment of 35 million people and home to global brands such as Jaguar Land Rover, MG, JCB, Kraft and Cadbury, the Airport handled 975,445 passengers overall during the month, of which nearly 78,000 flew on one of the growing number of long haul services available from Birmingham.

Speaking from the World Routes conference in Las Vegas, the Airport’s Chief Executive, Paul Kehoe, said: “As we near the completion of our runway extension scheme in early 2014, which will give aircraft unlimited take-off range, we’re seeing more people realise the benefits of travelling from Birmingham, particularly on long haul services.”

Birmingham Airport currently serves the greatest number of passengers within two hours travel by road and rail and, with the High-Speed Two (HS2) national infrastructure project, will serve the greatest number of passengers within a one hour journey of the airport.

Paul added: “Our catchment supports half a million businesses, has the UK’s largest share of the manufacturing activity and is at the centre of the automotive industry so these businesses are crying out for more direct flights from their region to high value markets, particularly in the USA and China.

“These latest figures demonstrate the desire to fly from Birmingham rather than alternative congested airports, and benefit from our award winning facilities and easy access to and from the UK’s best connected airport.”

The current runway infrastructure has the capability of servicing 27 million more passengers. In the longer-term (from 2030), Birmingham Airport’s vision includes a multi-runway airport capable of handling at least 70 million passengers per annum.

http://www.birminghamairport.co.uk/meta ... ember.aspx

 

[Ray Finkle]

September saw 974654 up 3%, the rolling total is 9022318 up 2.1%.

Air India carried 6641 pax operating on 17 days in September giving and average of 195 pax per flight, I make that a load factor of around 77%.

Turkmenistan down 34%, they're still using a 757!

Islamabad was down 12% but PIA are now one weekly 773 down and Air Blue only had one flight in September on the 28th.

Turkish still going strong up 24%

Emirates up 10%

United up 8.6%

Faro down 16%, Malaga down 15%, Palma down 5%, Alicante was up 6% but all these were once again outdone by East Midlands!

 

[Aviador]

Another good month for the airport. It's good to see the airports long haul offering is doing well adding weight to the need for the runway extension sooner rather than later. It shouldn't be too long to wait for the magic 10 millionth mark.

 

[Hassaan]

We should be able to hit 9 million this year.

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Does anyone know what october 2012 & december 2012 passenger figures were as unable to find them..thanks...andyc

 

[Ray Finkle]

October pax up 4.3% 830233 up 4.3% rolling 12 months 9056876 +2.1%

Air India 7050 average 195 pax or 77%

Turkmenistan down 900 pax -18%

Islamabad up 41% at 9280, more than Heathrow

Emirates up 10% 43000 avg 347 pax or 83% load factor

Turkish up 19% 10368 average 117 about 76%

Newark up 13% 8073 avg 92% lf

 

[Aviador]

Thanks Ray Finkle, some good figures there with long haul showing some good growth adding weight to the need for the runway extension sooner rather than later.