Iberia

[Ray Finkle]

Some nice destinations there and having two early flights and two late flights will really help connections in both directions, even if the days are somewhat limited I think it should do well.

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there ray, now we have heard that Iberia Airways, part of BA group have now decided to start some new routes out of Bhx, as well as American Airlines profit sharing with BA, once both Iberia and American Airlines really start to take off with someone real hard marketing for Birmingham in the USA, to fly from Birmingham and not just heathrow, once those profits start dropping into BA's revenue box big time, they might realise that this refusal not to also restart routes back out from bhx, will make them think again, because since they left and sold BA connect to flyby, the whole industry and market has changed, and with Heathrow at almost 100% capacity, something got to be done to relive the pressure, remember all time proposal for a third runway is a waste of money, won't be built, if it is for at least ten years plus.Heathrow is going to get so congested, that it will come to a stand still, then there will be a major incident or accident, that will then mean that something will have to be done, before another incident or accident happens again...oh well, we'll just have to wait and see what happens... Andyc

 

[DaveBham]

It's all good, although on a personal note I am not terribly impressed with AA, as I didn't get any avios points for my flights to and fro BHX-JFK, despite registering them with my membership no.

 

[Ray Finkle]

I'd love BA bases to return to BHX and MAN but I don't see it happening anytime soon, the likes of Easyjet and Ryanair would soon see them off.

If IAG really are serious about gaining some market share in the UK regions then I think Vueling could be the answer for them. Build brand awareness with some away based flights to popular destinations then in a couple of years start adding bases. All flights would have BA code shares and would be bookable through the usual BA channels but with a much lower cost base.

It's all good, although on a personal note I am not terribly impressed with AA, as I didn't get any avios points for my flights to and fro BHX-JFK, despite registering them with my membership no.

Have you contacted them to complain?

 

[IanFarquharson]

Iberia Express officially annouced at Routes 2015

http://www.routesonline.com/news/29/bre ... gham-link/

 

[Ray Finkle]

If anyone is thinking of Madrid then there are some good prices at the moment :good:

From the link above :smile:

Speaking to Routesonline at World Routes in Durban, South Africa, Paul Kehoe, chief executive officer, Birmingham Airport, highlighted that the enhanced transfer potential this route will offer will significantly enhance connectivity opportunities.

“The West Midlands is a thriving business region which needs greater global connectivity to grow trade and open up new business opportunities. Iberia can offer this through its strong network from Madrid to many of the world’s emerging markets,” he said

"This news is perfectly timed for the 2015 World Routes conference, and follows recent announcements to Poznan with Wizz Air and Alicante with Vueling last week. This is our eighth new airline to choose Birmingham this year and with our passenger numbers breaking the 10 million passenger mark in August, we hope that further airlines that we're meeting at this year's conference will take an interest in serving Birmingham, thanks to our multi-million pound investment and excellent location," he added.

 

[juliet-fox-9]

Do we think the announcements at World Routes have fallen short, matched or exceeded expectations so far?

 

[Ray Finkle]

I think it's what comes after World Routes that is key. Hopefully any airlines that they have been working with for the last couple of years will be signed up and we'll see some announcements between now and Christmas. It was a couple of weeks after the last conference that the return of American was announced.

For what we've seen so far though I'm very happy. It was rumoured that there were to be two new routes from Vueling but I wasn't hopeful, so for me Alicante is a bonus. Iberia is a great addition and I'm over the moon with the start that Wizz have had.

We're waiting on Norwegian to see what they may bring and Flybe will release S16 in October but it could go either way with them. I'm hoping we get another long haul route before the year is out.

What do others think?

 

[IanFarquharson]

New Routes

It has been a great few days for BHX.

Would still love Qatar or Etihad - long haul

Would love TAP and Finnair - short haul

I have wanted an Easyjet base for years but in a way Wizz Vuelling Iberia & Norwegian are still making the future bright, I would not rule out Easy yet.

Norwegian 2016 short haul base or 2017 long haul base would be great.

I would also like Delta and Cathay or Singapore

 

[Ray Finkle]

Iberia Group to Launch Birmingham-Madrid Route

Starting on 27 March, Iberia Express, group’s low-cost carrier, will operate four flights a week to the Spanish capital.

The flights are scheduled to offer connections with another 34 Iberia destinations in Spain, Portugal, Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America.

The Iberia Group will launch a new Birmingham-Madrid service on 27 March 2016. The low-cost carrier Iberia Express will operate the return flights on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

On the route the airline will use 180-seat Airbus A320s with Business and Economy sections. The timetable will be as follows:

IB3709 Birmingham 10:35 Madrid 14:05 Mon., Fri.
IB3708 Madrid 08:45 Birmingham 10:00 Mon., Fri.

IB3709 Birmingham 17:35 Madrid 21:05 Wed., Sun.
IB3708 Madrid 15:45 Birmingham 17:00 Wed., Sun.

Madrid is a major destination for business travellers and tourists alike. Famous for its art museums as well as its football teams, Madrid is also a shopper’s paradise, boasting both name-brand shops and independent establishments offering the highest quality for affordable prices. Another attraction is the variety and quality of the city’s many restaurants.

The Birmingham flights are scheduled to offer the best connections in Madrid to another 34 Iberia Groupdestinations, such as Alicante, Bilbao, Gran Canaria, Jerez, Malaga, Majorca and Tenerife in Spain; Lisbon and Oporto in Portugal; Luanda, Malabo, Lagos and Dakar in Africa; Tel Aviv; and Buenos Aires, Havana, Mexico City, Montevideo, Santiago de Chile, and São Paulo in Latin America.

Silvia Mosquera, Commercial Director of Iberia Express, said “This new route strengthens our capacity in the United Kingdom, the country where we offer the largest number of flights and from which we bring many tourists to Spain. Our flights will expand connection options for people in Birmingham, Britain’s second-largest city, and the West Midlands, where the Iberia Group will be operating for the first time.”

According to Paul Kehoe, Chief Executive at Birmingham Airport, “The West Midlands is a thriving business region which needs greater global connectivity to grow trade and open up new business opportunities. Iberia can offer this through its strong network from Madrid to many of the world’s emerging markets and we are delighted that the airline has chosen Birmingham as its new UK airport, recognising our strong catchment and extensive business and leisure market in our region.”

For more information and to book flights, please visit www.iberia.com

https://birminghamairport.co.uk/media-i ... rid-route/

 

[Ray Finkle]

Madrid is now bookable until Feb 2017, the good news is that it remains 4x weekly throughout (still Mon, Wed, Fri and Sun).

Things may well change before then but it's a good early sign.

 

[nwoody2001]

indeed, great to see it as an all year round fixture..... and they have got in there before their competition

 

[Ray Finkle]

It's obvious where all of tomorrow's headlines will be going but I think that Iberia deserve a special mention.

17:00 IB3634 Madrid (MAD) Iberia 32S Scheduled

Madrid is looking to be a fierce battle this summer but I really hope that Iberia emerge unscathed. It's great to finally see them back on the boards 👍

 

[Brum X]

Yeah great to see them back, i remember when they used to operate to both MAD and BCN in the 90s using the MD81s/MD82s

 

[Ray Finkle]

No water cannon for Iberia?

I was on top of the car park so it could have been behind the bit hidden by the hangar but I didn't see any fire engines.

Got a couple of pictures but there was a problem uploading and they've been deleted 🙁

 

[Paulsstrange]

Ray i was on the carpark too for this one ...(ginger hair, blue golf GTI facing runway, suns glasses on .....)

Ive got a couple of poor pics can try upload tomoz if that helps ?

We think/hope the water canon did happen but hanger 2 blocked the view...

Can anyone confirm..

 

[Ray Finkle]

Were you with a blonde haired young lady, I think she had a dark pink top on? If so I think I was stood very close to you.

All pictures welcome 🙂

 

[Paulsstrange]

Correct it was a dark pink rain mack

My word if only we knew ...

 

[Paulsstrange]

Tried downloading iberia pic but saying its too large ????

 

[Ray Finkle]

I'm not sure what the limit is now, I think it's around 2mb maximum so will need to be reduced.

If it won't work you can PM it to me and I'll do it.