Birmingham: New Route Development & Rumours

[Iron Duck]

52K Algerians currently live in Birmingham so that’s 1000 passengers per week on the route so you’re likely to get an A330-200 219 passengers X 3 weekly = 657 passengers per week

If your operating a 737-800 then it’s 132 passengers X 4 weekly = 528 passengers per week

Who came up with that figure? Diane Abbott? There are 31k Algerians in the UK as a whole

 

[Seasider]

I have just done a "google search" and it says that there are 30k Algeria born residents, 40k if you include descendants born in this country.
I would like to know where the info of 52K living in Birmingham, comes from?
Over to you @Birmingham Aviation.

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

I have just done a "google search" and it says that there are 30k Algeria born residents, 40k if you include descendants born in this country.
I would like to know where the info of 52K living in Birmingham, comes from?
Over to you @Birmingham Aviation.

Yeah your right😂

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

Review on Summer 2026 so far:

• Tui Airways:Firstly we found out when Tui announced its Summer 2026 schedule we also discovered Tui announced a new city break route to Budapest.A lot of expansion has gone into Budapest served by Wizz ,EZY,FR and LS.Increasing in most popular summer sun destinations,Enfidha,Hurghada,Sharm el sheikh and Alicante and other places on tui airlines regime.
• Jet2:Pretty impressive with jet2 they know how to lay out a timetable and a schedule and organise new routes carefully and that’s why they have added Samos and palmero both weekly next summer with increased routes on Italian,Spanish and big capacity summer routes.
• EasyJet:Again the plaudits have to go to them bringing in a 6 based aircraft and 6 new routes with increased frequencies elsewhere across mainland Europe.Bringing in Hurghada year round and new routes to Scotland France and Italy I’ve gotta say they’ve done decently well.
• Ryanair:Bringing back RK Aircraft with Agadir,Marrakesh,Tirana brought back to life and with that there 9th based aircraft at bhx they’ve done pretty well.Increasing majority of their routes to Alicante,Krakow,Palma Malaga and increasing Eastern Europe routes.Also bringing back Warsaw and adding Rome is a big boost for city breakthroughs and connections is pretty important to bhx and the city itself.
• Wizz Air:Sucueva,Sibiu both new to this winter join Rome which was announced last summer.Wizz have more or less been expansive only from Romania and feel like they could do better.Anyway I’m happy with what bhx has got and hope for more from wizz in the not so far months

Hopefully some more routes

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

Overall.Are people satisfied with how bhx summer will go next year more expansion from LS,U2 and FR?

Do you or we expect more because IATA Summer season?

 

[Ray Finkle]

Overall.Are people satisfied with how bhx summer will go next year more expansion from LS,U2 and FR?

I think so.

Three new routes from easyjet with a 6th aircraft that doubles the initial base and a 7th hotly tipped for S17.

Jet2 have 6 new destinations and 17 aircraft based for peak summer season.

Biggest Ryanair programme to date.

Saudia increase.

Decent new F&B offering on the way.

Masterplan due in the summer.

Wizz will do more but it seems as if BHX will have to wait it's turn.

Obviously this is BHX so there are disappointments such as no Florida for the first time that I can remember and Qatar still stuck at a daily 788 but I'm definitely positive about next year.

 

[juliet-fox-9]

Could we soon see a return of direct flights to ISB?

https://tribune.com.pk/story/258508...o-launch-direct-services-to-islamabad-from-uk

UK-based Norse Atlantic Airways has been granted permission by the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to operate flights to Pakistan.

In the first phase, the airline is expected to operate flights from London to Islamabad, with planned direct services from Manchester and Birmingham to follow.

 

[rollo]

Personally given the past record and the shambles they (PI A) have made of the re-start after their extended ban plus the never ending saga of trying to privatise I'd rather our existing carriers pick up as much of the traffic as possible and build their capacity from BHX.

 

[juliet-fox-9]

Personally given the past record and the shambles they (PI A) have made of the re-start after their extended ban plus the never ending saga of trying to privatise I'd rather our existing carriers pick up as much of the traffic as possible and build their capacity from BHX.

if this comes to fruition, it will be with Norse, who I suspect will be much more reliable…

 

[Scania1800]

Personally given the past record and the shambles they (PI A) have made of the re-start after their extended ban plus the never ending saga of trying to privatise I'd rather our existing carriers pick up as much of the traffic as possible and build their capacity from BHX.

PIA is now privatised, the airline will be private from April 2026, both airlines will serve BHX, Norse was to enhance competition between UK and Pakistan

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

Might get some slack for this comment but however yet again bhx have shot themselves in the foot by not bringing back PIA or even a route to Pakistan.Highest selling route from bhx before flights got stopped.
I know PIA have had there issues and problems with aircraft but if they’ve announced Manchester and Heathrow to Islamabad and Lahore for this summer then bhx have missed out on a big money opportunity.
I know Turkish and Saudia are the saviour for connections for Islamabad but you need context here and to read the real picture.
Norse i cannot see it happening.Look at the proposed new airline HB international that had us all high hopes.Several meetings etc have mentioned PIA and the strong connection between Pakistan and Birmingham yet we have zilch
We’ve been promised new airlines and talks have been on going for years but how long now till we have a new airline.Is it a waiting game?

 

[Matt995]

Might get some slack for this comment but however yet again bhx have shot themselves in the foot by not bringing back PIA or even a route to Pakistan.Highest selling route from bhx before flights got stopped.
I know PIA have had there issues and problems with aircraft but if they’ve announced Manchester and Heathrow to Islamabad and Lahore for this summer then bhx have missed out on a big money opportunity.
I know Turkish and Saudia are the saviour for connections for Islamabad but you need context here and to read the real picture.
Norse i cannot see it happening.Look at the proposed new airline HB international that had us all high hopes.Several meetings etc have mentioned PIA and the strong connection between Pakistan and Birmingham yet we have zilch
We’ve been promised new airlines and talks have been on going for years but how long now till we have a new airline.Is it a waiting game?

Have you been drinking too much cola again Ant? 🤣 This is plan daft!! 🙄

Birmingham has NO control over when an airline wants to fly a route out of the airport. Heathrow was always going to be PIA's next UK route, (they holds slots at Heathrow), it’s a no brainer, London will always be more popular than Birmingham, better yields, load factor, higher profile route etc for PIA, and PIA have half their fleet of 777s out of service, i believe that at least 3 will never fly again, how can you possibly announce a route from Birmingham with no aircraft to fly it??? - Wouldn’t that be a disaster for the airport if PIA had to scrap the route at the last moment due to no aircraft?

Birmingham is on PIA's radar, and will no doubt be served if or when they have enough aircraft. Personally I would rather them not serve us, with their reputation, but that’s just my view.

And what is with you and new airlines? With current world events and the economy, we have done well to keep our current airlines and routes, our main based airlines are still expanding, so we are doing ok. It's about time you realized new routes/airlines can take years/decades even to happen, you hear all these rumours i.e. Egyptair, Air Algerie, and you expect them to happened straight away, well it doesn't work like that, and these are just "rumours" they will most likely not happen this summer now and maybe not at all.

You need patience, are you expecting Birmingham to suddenly become bigger than Manchester or Heathrow overnight!! It’s never going happen. We need massive investment in the airport to expand, and who is going to fund that?

Just enjoy you aviation hobby, but please stop going on about new airlines and routes every few days, it’s not needed, we will all hear on here when a new airline or route is announced "officially" - please just chill out and don't get worked up about new airlines/routes please!

 

[nwoody2001]

Might get some slack for this comment but however yet again bhx have shot themselves in the foot by not bringing back PIA or even a route to Pakistan.Highest selling route from bhx before flights got stopped.
I know PIA have had there issues and problems with aircraft but if they’ve announced Manchester and Heathrow to Islamabad and Lahore for this summer then bhx have missed out on a big money opportunity.
I know Turkish and Saudia are the saviour for connections for Islamabad but you need context here and to read the real picture.
Norse i cannot see it happening.Look at the proposed new airline HB international that had us all high hopes.Several meetings etc have mentioned PIA and the strong connection between Pakistan and Birmingham yet we have zilch
We’ve been promised new airlines and talks have been on going for years but how long now till we have a new airline.Is it a waiting game?

I word of friendly advice @Birmingham Aviation ...and even maybe @Matt995 ....GO TO BED! Rants that seems a good idea at 12:30am or 2:00am probably could wait till the morning then you have slept and reflected lol

But in the context of this conversation, @Matt995 is bringing context, reason and balance to @Birmingham Aviation very odd and ill-informed rant!

To mirror and re-enforce @Matt995 comments:

• BHX has no say on what routes operate from the airport. Yes they can encourage and promote airlines to flying from BHX but the final say is with the airlines
• Yes there is a large Pakistani community in the West Midlands and served by BHX, but routes to LHR and MAN were always higher priorities than BHX and it should be absolutely no surprise they are serviced before BHX
• As having seen PIA operation and their social media, do we want PIA back until they are back on their feet? Passengers at MAN don't appear all that impressed!

In response to your comments:

"I know PIA have had there issues and problems with aircraft (And still do... they barely have any!) but if they’ve announced Manchester and Heathrow to Islamabad and Lahore for this summer then bhx have missed out on a big money opportunity. (Where is your evidence of this? PIA are normally a low-value and low-cost alternative. Where do you see the "Big Money")

I know Turkish and Saudia are the saviour for connections for Islamabad but you need context here and to read the real picture. (You do indeed need context because this statement makes no sense in its current form. Please elaborate what context we are missing?!)

Norse i cannot see it happening. (Based on what information? You see Norse as less likely than PIA - an airline with less functioning aircraft?) Look at the proposed new airline HB international that had us all high hopes (Did they? They were a paper airline that very few people expected to actually happen!) Several meetings etc have mentioned PIA and the strong connection between Pakistan and Birmingham yet we have zilch (...and? Who promised anything would happen?)

We’ve been promised new airlines (Have we? Who promised this and can you please provide evidence of this?) and talks have been on going for years but how long now till we have a new airline (Why is a new airline so important? The airport has had a record breaking year with record breaking growth with no new airlines.) Is it a waiting game? (Yes it is, as we have all told you repeatably, yet you don't appear to want to listen)

@Birmingham Aviation - your passion and enthusiasm is welcome and I personally would encourage you to embrace it. You are also allowed your opinion, however ill-informed it maybe. But for someone who posts so much on this forum and demands so much attention, you seem to pay shockingly little attention to anyone else who takes the time and energy to responds to you. None of what I or Matt has posted above is new, we have been saying this over and over again. If you want to be taken seriously as a positive contributor to this forum, may i suggest you actively listen and engage with what people are saying here, rather than ranting and demanding?

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

I apologize for my rant.Had a bad night.😂

However

Birmingham to Pakistan route is a significant commercial corridor for
Birmingham airport (BHX)
, driven by strong demand from the West Midlands' large British Pakistani community. In the past, the introduction of direct flights to India and Pakistan has been credited with fuelling a major increase in the airport's Asian growth sector.

Route Overview

• High Demand: The route has a significant passenger volume, with an estimated 362,000 people from the region traveling to Islamabad alone annually (prior to direct flights being established in Manchester).
• Economic Impact: The strong demand from the South Asian diaspora in the West Midlands makes this route a vital part of the airport's long-haul network and overall economic contribution to the region.
• Connectivity: Major airlines like Pakistan international airlines,Saudia,Turkish airlines and Emirates, and Qatar Airways operate connecting flights to various Pakistani cities including Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi.
• Direct Flights: While direct flights have operated in the past (e.g., by Air Blue and PIA), currently there are generally no non-stop options available from Birmingham to Pakistan, and all flights involve at least one stop.

• but direct return flights from Birmingham to Pakistan generally cost between £500 and £900 when they were in operation.
  • Typical Price Range: Reports from when direct services were available (or were being estimated for reintroduction) often cited fares in the region of £600 to £800 for a standard return economy ticket.
  • Peak Season Prices: During high-demand periods like the summer holidays (July) or December, prices for direct flights could easily exceed £1,000.

 

[Iron Duck]

Norse UK now only have 4 aircraft, no chance of Pakistan ops unfortunately

 

[Birmingham Aviation]

Norse UK now only have 4 aircraft, no chance of Pakistan ops unfortunately

Totally agree.Once aer lingus exits Manchester then I can see 2 base aircraft at there

 

[nwoody2001]

I'm going to assume the above is a ChatGPT

I apologize for my rant.Had a bad night.😂

However

Birmingham to Pakistan route is a significant commercial corridor for
Birmingham airport (BHX)
, driven by strong demand from the West Midlands' large British Pakistani community. In the past, the introduction of direct flights to India and Pakistan has been credited with fuelling a major increase in the airport's Asian growth sector.

Route Overview

• High Demand: The route has a significant passenger volume, with an estimated 362,000 people from the region traveling to Islamabad alone annually (prior to direct flights being established in Manchester).
• Economic Impact: The strong demand from the South Asian diaspora in the West Midlands makes this route a vital part of the airport's long-haul network and overall economic contribution to the region.
• Connectivity: Major airlines like Pakistan international airlines,Saudia,Turkish airlines and Emirates, and Qatar Airways operate connecting flights to various Pakistani cities including Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi.
• Direct Flights: While direct flights have operated in the past (e.g., by Air Blue and PIA), currently there are generally no non-stop options available from Birmingham to Pakistan, and all flights involve at least one stop.
• but direct return flights from Birmingham to Pakistan generally cost between £500 and £900 when they were in operation.
  • Typical Price Range: Reports from when direct services were available (or were being estimated for reintroduction) often cited fares in the region of £600 to £800 for a standard return economy ticket.
  • Peak Season Prices: During high-demand periods like the summer holidays (July) or December, prices for direct flights could easily exceed £1,000.

I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make with this ChatGPT analysis. As far as I can tell, no one is questioning whether there is demand or a market for flights between BHX and ISB — that much is a given.

You seem to be suggesting, however, that BHX has somehow shot itself in the foot, despite offering no evidence that the airport’s actions have negatively impacted the chances of this route being relaunched.

You also don’t appear to recognise the difference between demand and supply. Yes, there is demand for travel between BHX and ISB, but is that demand already being met by the existing supply from current carriers?

Having picked a random week in November 2026 and searched for flights between BHX and ISB, there are 71 one-stop flight options across four airlines: Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Saudia. Prices range from £750–£850 return, and around 25 of those flights are under 15 hours in duration.

Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Saudia are award-winning airlines with excellent reputations for product quality, service, on-time performance, and safety.

Now let’s assume PIA were to launch flights between BHX and ISB three times weekly (assuming they even have the aircraft available). Using MAN–ISB as a comparison, baseline fares are around £710 return. These flights would likely be operated by aircraft two to three times older than those used by competing airlines, with poorer service, lower food quality, and a higher likelihood of delays. While there would certainly be a market for passengers wanting a direct flight from BHX to ISB, the vast majority would likely be happy to pay an extra £40–£50 to fly with a much better airline.

To be clear, I’m not saying I wouldn’t support PIA relaunching direct flights between BHX and ISB. However, I seriously question how many passengers would choose them voluntarily — and whether that would be enough to make the route viable. I would much rather see PIA re-establish themselves successfully on ISB–MAN and ISB–LHR, iron out their operational issues, and demonstrate consistency. If they can sustain those routes for 12–18 months, I’d be happy to welcome them back to BHX. Until then, PIA remain something of a loose cannon and have yet to prove they can deliver a dependable, reliable, safe, and high-quality service.

 

[Scania1800]

I'm going to assume the above is a ChatGPT


I’m not sure what point you’re trying to make with this ChatGPT analysis. As far as I can tell, no one is questioning whether there is demand or a market for flights between BHX and ISB — that much is a given.

You seem to be suggesting, however, that BHX has somehow shot itself in the foot, despite offering no evidence that the airport’s actions have negatively impacted the chances of this route being relaunched.

You also don’t appear to recognise the difference between demand and supply. Yes, there is demand for travel between BHX and ISB, but is that demand already being met by the existing supply from current carriers?

Having picked a random week in November 2026 and searched for flights between BHX and ISB, there are 71 one-stop flight options across four airlines: Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Saudia. Prices range from £750–£850 return, and around 25 of those flights are under 15 hours in duration.

Emirates, Qatar Airways, Turkish Airlines, and Saudia are award-winning airlines with excellent reputations for product quality, service, on-time performance, and safety.

Now let’s assume PIA were to launch flights between BHX and ISB three times weekly (assuming they even have the aircraft available). Using MAN–ISB as a comparison, baseline fares are around £710 return. These flights would likely be operated by aircraft two to three times older than those used by competing airlines, with poorer service, lower food quality, and a higher likelihood of delays. While there would certainly be a market for passengers wanting a direct flight from BHX to ISB, the vast majority would likely be happy to pay an extra £40–£50 to fly with a much better airline.

To be clear, I’m not saying I wouldn’t support PIA relaunching direct flights between BHX and ISB. However, I seriously question how many passengers would choose them voluntarily — and whether that would be enough to make the route viable. I would much rather see PIA re-establish themselves successfully on ISB–MAN and ISB–LHR, iron out their operational issues, and demonstrate consistency. If they can sustain those routes for 12–18 months, I’d be happy to welcome them back to BHX. Until then, PIA remain something of a loose cannon and have yet to prove they can deliver a dependable, reliable, safe, and high-quality service.

Also don’t forget PIAs major major issue of baggage going lost…

 

[GliderPilot]

I haven't contributed for a while, but I'd like to remind everyone that there is a facility to "ignore" users on F4A, which hides their comments (for you only, not the entire site), rather than cluttering the forum entertaining the same conversation over and over again around supply vs demand, realism around route development timelines, etc. The proliferation of AI will only worsen this. It can create an argument for whatever point you want to make, whether you're right or wrong, and it won't be long before these algorithms become so advanced that it is hard to spot.

It's frustrating and has driven my use of this platform down when every time I log on, hoping to contribute to a forum that provides great value to many in the aviation community, is awash with the same low-level arguments about fundamentals that the vast majority are familiar with and understand.

Let's not let the gold that does reside here be drowned out.

 

[gulftraveller]

• The Rumor: There is persistent talk of Air Algérie launching a direct service to Birmingham (BHX) in 2026.
  
  
  
• The Debate: A user claimed there are 52,000 Algerians in Birmingham to support a 3x weekly A330 service. This was debunked by other members citing 2021 Census data, which places the entire UK Algerian-born population at approximately 31,000.
• Airline Strategy (2026): Air Algérie’s CEO has officially confirmed that Birmingham is a target destination for 2026 as part of their European expansion (alongside Budapest and Rotterdam).
  
  
  
• Expected Service: If launched, experts predict a narrowbody aircraft (Boeing 737) rather than a widebody A330, likely running 2–3 times per week to capture the "Visiting Friends and Relatives" (VFR) market.
• The Verdict: While the 52k population figure is an exaggeration, the route is strategically viable because Birmingham acts as a central hub for the Algerian diaspora in the Midlands and North of England.

---

It is really unwise, given Stansted will have 9 weekly. It does not offer connections(visa issues) . The Algerian community is larger in Sheffield/Northwest. But ALG-MAN failed. BHX should not set itself up for failure.