Birmingham: New Route Development & Rumours

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there Ray and all, as I have said in my previous posts, emirates for me would be the only choice to start up routes to the United States, as they are already at Birmingham airport and they would only have to look at their dubai service to see the demand there, and if there was a demand and it took off and proved a success, then it would be an own goal to other airlines who didn't bother to look at it, but it would be a great pr stunt for Emirates, but as you say, wait and see.. AndyC

 

[Coathanger16]

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/ryanair-takes-full-control-of-laudamotion-455363/

Laudamotion deputy chief executive Colin Casey says: "We are currently negotiating new routes and handling agreements with more than 50 new airports.

He notes the airline is also looking looking beyond Austria and Germany at a further base. "In winter 2019 we hope to announce at least one new base, which will be outside of Austria and Germany, and there are a number of new airports both in central and western Europe who are pitching to win this business."

Chances of BHX being one? Either for a new route or new base?

 

[smithy108]

I don't think that BHX would be a choice as a base as it would be a potential conflict with Ryanair given they now have 100% control but then many locations would have the same issue. Maybe some new routes or even replacing Ryanair on some routes?

 

[Coathanger16]

Yes with Ryanair now owning 100% of Lauda, there'd be no point in Lauda launching routes that Ryanair already operate. With Ryanair now operating out of almost all European airports, its going to be difficult for Lauda to launch a route that Ryanair won't in someway compete on.

 

[DaveBham]

I’d love to see Emirates do BHX-NYC. They’d get the loads, the have the deep pockets and vision to develop a route that other airlines seem to lack.
Also, it would answer one of the biggest bugbears of users of the previous BHX-NYC flights - that the planes were tired and worn, lacking comfort and modern facilities - and crap business class.

Emirates are consistently rated higher for service and cabin experience than BA and many other carriers.

There’d be little reason to travel to other airports for flights to the big Apple if Emirates provided a BHX NYC service.

 

[Jerry]

There’d be little reason to travel to other airports for flights to the big Apple if Emirates provided a BHX NYC service.

It may be for many of the UK regional airports probably their best chance in the future of getting direct NYC flights but it will depend on the 5th freedom rights they have and how much value they place on them.

 

[Jerry]

There’d be little reason to travel to other airports for flights to the big Apple if Emirates provided a BHX NYC service.

It may be for many of the UK regional airports probably their best chance in the future of getting direct NYC flights but it will depend on the 5th freedom rights they have and how much value they place on them.

 

[Brum X]

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/ryanair-takes-full-control-of-laudamotion-455363/

Laudamotion deputy chief executive Colin Casey says: "We are currently negotiating new routes and handling agreements with more than 50 new airports.

He notes the airline is also looking looking beyond Austria and Germany at a further base. "In winter 2019 we hope to announce at least one new base, which will be outside of Austria and Germany, and there are a number of new airports both in central and western Europe who are pitching to win this business."

Chances of BHX being one? Either for a new route or new base?

Neither, not in 2019 anyway.

I seriously cannot see an EU based airline opening new bases in the UK.

 

[Coathanger16]

Neither, not in 2019 anyway.

I seriously cannot see an EU based airline opening new bases in the UK.

Not until the state of post Brexit UK becomes clearer anyway.

Didn't the CEO of a certain Irish airline say he'd pull all (or a lot of) his aircraft from the UK over Brexit...? 🤔

 

[louis_walton]

Don't forget Air India fly LHR-JFK with the aircraft coming from India so they could have potential to do so also. But their finances are a lot weaker therefore if the route docent instantly work they would be very quick to evaluate its profitability but Emirates is the better airline...

 

[IanFarquharson]

Air India fly LHR-EWR not JFK

 

[rollo]

If Air India were to fly across the pond from BHX I imagine it would be to Toronto as there is a large Indian community there , they have done it before originating from Amritsar.

 

[nbdm]

Air India ended LHR-EWR last year if I'm not mistaken

 

[IanFarquharson]

Air India ended LHR-EWR last year if I'm not mistaken

Air India still fly LHR-EWR

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there all, I see Air China start flights from Heathrow in April this year to Beijing, would be nice if birmingham could get the same as it has a large Chinese community in Birmingham, so then you wouldn't have to get a flight from Heathrow just to fly China.. AndyC

 

[IanFarquharson]

Andrew

Air China fly 3 times per day from LHR-Beijing and have done for years !

Why do you think they are starting in April ?

Ian

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there IanFarquharson, my apologies to you, aparantly it to Chengdu I believe and not beijng.. AndyC

 

[IanFarquharson]

Andy

That makes more sense.

Air China in last week’s schedule update filed Chengdu – London Heathrow service, scheduled to commence on 02APR19. This route, served 3 times a week with High-Density A330-200 aircraft, will replace existing London Gatwick flight.

CA423 CTU1225 – 1645LHR 332 246
CA424 LHR2200 – 1525+1CTU 332 246

Ian

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there IanFarquharson, so when do you think that birmingham will get a direct service to China, now or never.. AndyC

 

[IanFarquharson]

Andy

China has been high on BHX's wish list for years, we did get a couple of years of charters but these fizzled out as Manchester got a scheduled service and the agent moved the seats to Hainan from there.
The loads ex MAN are not brilliant so BHX would struggle to fill a flight in my opinion.
But I hope I am wrong and BHX can eventually secure a scheduled link to China.

Ian