Birmingham: New Route Development & Rumours

[Llandudno]

Apparently the U.K. is aiming to abolish foreign ownership rules post Brexit, which means JetBlue would be free to buy MT (UK division) outright. So, they could buy 49% now to gain control, and the remainder once the rules are relaxed.

 

[Jerry]

Apparently the U.K. is aiming to abolish foreign ownership rules post Brexit, which means JetBlue would be free to buy MT (UK division) outright. So, they could buy 49% now to gain control, and the remainder once the rules are relaxed.

Only thing I would question is why? They are completely different types of airlines.

 

[Llandudno]

I wasn’t talking about the rationale behind a buyout, just answering the questionmark over foreign ownership.

I don’t know why JetBlue would want Thomas Cook either, makes no sense to me, but then, a few things in aviation fall in the ‘don’t make semse’ Camp too, so you never know.

 

[mullion]

A ready built market into Manchester, also can`t you book onto Jet Blue from Thomas Cook anyway?

 

[JENNYJET]

If JET BLUE wanted a European partner they should have looked at Flyby or BMI Regional, but Thomas Cook? Great if tours and Hotels float their boat but they will have a big competitor in Virgin group.

 

[rollo]

If Jet Blue wanted a European partner I would think they would be much more ambitious than someone like Flybe etc, as mullion says Cooks have a ready made market at MAN so it could have legs as Cooks are looking to sell the airline so could be up for some sort of arrangement although personally I don't see it.

Speculation really as by all accounts the focus looks to be on London suprise, doesn't look good fot BHX but we can live in hope.

 

[Coathanger16]

Speculation really as by all accounts the focus looks to be on London suprise, doesn't look good fot BHX but we can live in hope.

Give it time. It would be crazy to expect an airline new to TATL flights to serve BHX as one of its first destinations. Just look at what happened last time an airline did that!

 

[JENNYJET]

Okay, does London honestly need another operator serving the UK-US Market? Perhaps London Luton or London Southend or heaven forbid London Oxford could facilitate an A321 to EWR?

Birmingham could use it but possibly thrice weekly until it beds in.

I personally think a triangular service to Toronto and Boston with Westjet could be popular! Something that PR***** could not manage.

 

[smithy108]

Article of Interview with JetBlue CEO in the Independent from Simon Calder pretty much confirms recent speculation of A321LR operations to London most likely Heathrow

 

[Brum X]

Rumours are JetBlue are looking at buying Thomas Cook Airlines which as it stands would again benefit the place up the road !

Yes as usual BHX has everything stacked against it.

I dont think anybody expects anything of our airport these days, when and if anything happens which is significant to enthusiasts of BHX im sure we will be happy. 🤔

 

[Coathanger16]

Okay, does London honestly need another operator serving the UK-US Market?

A large part, if not entire goal of JetBlue is to disrupt already established markets through lower economy fares and a reasonably priced business product. The legacy American carriers have had to seriously up their game because of the likes of JetBlue.

Does London (any airport) need another airline serving New York? Not really. But its almost certainly the best market for JetBlue to use to test if their business model will work on the TATL market. If they can't make London work how likely is it they'll be able to make other European destinations work?

I'd personally rather JetBlue start with London, then when the brand is established expand to the likes of BHX, than start with airports like BHX, risk a lower performance and eventual cancelling of the route.

I personally think a triangular service to Toronto and Boston with Westjet could be popular!

Not sure Westjet (or any Canadian or American airline) has the rights to fly such a route. Previous airlines have shown there is sufficient demand for both routes to be operated independently, but perhaps they need to not start at the same time as to avoid 'flooding' the BHX - N.America market?

Rumours are JetBlue are looking at buying Thomas Cook Airlines which as it stands would again benefit the place up the road !

Yes as usual BHX has everything stacked against it.

I think that would entirely depend on what JetBlue would plan on doing with their share (or possibly in the future full ownership) of TCX. Predicting that is even harder than predicting what Virgin is going to do with Flybe/Virgin Connect!

Depending on if your a glass half full or glass half empty person right now, you could view Virgin's purchase of Flybe and any potential purchase of Thomas Cook by JetBlue as positive for the future status of BHX. Both Flybe and Thomas Cook have a significant presence at the airport. Its unlikely Virgin will completely close the Flybe base, so even a reduced presence would still mean the Virgin brand having a presence at BHX - something many if not all of us thought would never happen! Likewise, unless JetBlue are just interested in the long haul arm of Thomas Cook, a takeover of Thomas Cook by JetBlue (depending on whether the TCX brand remained or was replaced by JetBlue) could see a JetBlue presence at BHX.

 

[Llandudno]

The Thomas Cook rumour has no foundation at all. Apart from Thomas Cook airlines being up for sale, there has been absolutely nothing to suggest JetBlue are looking to buy anything.

And the fact that buying Thomas Cook makes no sense. Let’s not forget, this airline doesn’t even serve trans Atlantic yet, but all of a sudden they want to buy a U.K. company that currently doesn’t fit anywhere in its strategy? Not buying it.

As for Birmingham. As said by someone above, we need to be realistic. If JetBlue enter trans Atlantic operations, it was incredibly unlikely Birmingham would have been in the first, second or even third wave of routes. Those accolades would have been given to London, Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris and probably Madrid first. JetBlue will want to make a name for itself, as well as being profitable. That means we won’t see this huge explosion of routes, but instead, a more cautious, calculated and strategic approach.

Birmingham is in a strange paradox at the moment. On one hand, the lack of scheduled trans Atlantic could mean an open market. But on the other hand, it’s could put off some airlines as they question why no one can currently make it work with no one operating said flights. Something has to break this cycle, but I fear JetBlue are not the ones to do so. They seem to have their sights set on the big, bright light airports, and as harsh as this may sound, that’s not Birmingham right now.

 

[Jerry]

I do personally think that in the future if airports like Birmingham want trans Atlantic services and the local government think it'll benefit the area then they are going to have to pay airlines to operate to them like what quite a few of the smaller US airports do.

 

[Creguk]

I'm happy for JetBlue to disrupt at Heathrow. If it forces healthy competitive prices then I'm all for it.

 

[Ianbutty]

I do personally think that in the future if airports like Birmingham want trans Atlantic services and the local government think it'll benefit the area then they are going to have to pay airlines to operate to them like what quite a few of the smaller US airports do.

It probably happens here also.

 

[Ryan Kirkpatrick]

Yes as usual BHX has everything stacked against it.

I dont think anybody expects anything of our airport these days, when and if anything happens which is significant to enthusiasts of BHX im sure we will be happy. 🤔

I hope TUI will now add BHX to NYC

 

[IanFarquharson]

I hope TUI will now add BHX to NYC

More chance of Jet Blue than TUI

 

[David_itl]

Anna Aero has done a feature on the top 10 unserved routes from the top 10 ranked airports in Asia. BHX is linked to only the one but it's encouraging to see them featured for a couple of them:

Beijing - 23.600 passengers (19th in the list)
Hong Kong 37592 passengers (8th in the list) - the European airports above BHX are Geneva, Berlin, Prague and Lisbon

https://www.anna.aero/2019/03/06/100-routes-asias-top-10-airports-non-stop-service/

 

[Coathanger16]

Anna Aero has done a feature on the top 10 unserved routes from the top 10 ranked airports in Asia. BHX is linked to only the one but it's encouraging to see them featured for a couple of them:

Beijing - 23.600 passengers (19th in the list)
Hong Kong 37592 passengers (8th in the list) - the European airports above BHX are Geneva, Berlin, Prague and Lisbon

https://www.anna.aero/2019/03/06/100-routes-asias-top-10-airports-non-stop-service/

Just beat me to it!

Splitting hairs, but I made BHX 18th of the Beijing list.

I seem to recall Anna Aero doing a piece on either Hong Kong Airport or Cathay Pacific and BHX featured second highest in Europe just behind Geneva. Hope its just a case of Berlin, Prague and Lisbon overtaking BHX rather than demand falling from BHX.

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there all, so if birmingham airport has a demand issue, who is to blame, certainly not the passengers, because if you can't fly from your local airport, where do you from, well from an airport that does. And if bhx management is to blame, then it's there problem to sort it out. But unfortunately, this issue is nothing new, this issue relates to an ongoing problem that bhx management won't resolve, landing charges and deals with airlines. And until bhx resolve it, this is going to affect the demand that causes lack of growth and as someone has already previously pointed this out, birmingham airport is becoming the fastest shrinking airport with airlines pulling out, and until it's resolved with the new boss Mr B, then it will with another airline, then another until it's resolved. Birmingham airport needs a straight forward charging policy for landing fees, that is to work out. You have only got to look at the Manchester airport policy of any aircraft any size policy of about £2,000 to land or take off and not birmingham airport ridiculous £13.00 per tonne or part.. AndyC