Birmingham: Ryanair Route Flights, New Routes & Base Updates

[Brum X]

Will we see Madrid added ???

Another forum has suggested that BHX-MAD is being shown but showing as "Sold out" flight number is a strange one too as it operated MAD-IBZ this summer as the FR2082.


Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm


Dont know what to think about this one other than Ryanair up to there old tricks if this comes off ??

 

[Ray Finkle]

Madrid is loaded at 4x weekly on the same days as Iberia, not bookable yet though.

I hope they don't see Iberia and Norwegian off then cut the route themselves leaving us with nothing again :s_no

 

[nwoody2001]

i suspect/hope those days are over. that said, if RYR do put MAD in at 4x weekly, than based on the current schedule, if they see DY off, then that is what DY deserve only having MAD served 2x weekly at the summer peak!!!

Im happy that with the onward connections, IBX are safe. IBX will be the only airline that offer onward connections onto south America and as such offer a niche product to BHX which i'm hopeful will sustain them. However, DY only offer point to point connections and as such, are prone to have another carrier (potentially RYR) fight them off!

If RYR do introduce MAD 4x weekly, I hope DY respond. Their 2x weekly at the summer peak is just not good enough, especially as they managed 85% LF average at 3x weekly in S15!!!!! why reduce!?!?!

p.s. where is RYR BHX-MAD available? I cant see it on the RYR site!!!???

 

[juliet-fox-9]

All four of our carriers serving Barcelona seem to be doing very well right now. So what is the difference between Barcelona and Madrid as destinations? Where does Barcelona hold the cards? You'd think Madrid has the biggest advantage from the start, being the capital, Iberia's main hub and hub for a few other important airlines as well, and there are dozens of connections, to South America in particular.

So why is Barcelona much more successful from the UK regions? OK, it's a huge city and an important hub as well, but surely not as important as Madrid! I have this feeling again, that I'm missing something important...

At least, if they start, Ryanair will be up against two other LCC's. Hopefully they will prove tougher nuts to crack than legacy carriers who could never offer Ryanair's sort of fares.

Mind you, even Monarch are doing well for Barcelona, up against three LCC's!

 

[Ray Finkle]

p.s. where is RYR BHX-MAD available? I cant see it on the RYR site!!!???

If you do a dummy booking then when you get onto the next page where the prices are displayed click 'modify' at the top. If you then click on the away destination loads of others come up in France, Italy, Spain etc. They all show no availability except Madrid which has a 4x weekly schedule loaded, it's just showing 'sold out' at the moment.

I agree about Norwegian, they've either hung around way too long and may now lose out, or they're playing it perfectly letting others show their hand first. We'll see soon enough I guess.

 

[nwoody2001]

I wonder why all those other destinations show up, but then equally why don't others....

that's said I saw the Madrid flights, was Verona the same???

imagine if all those routes were available from RYR, that would make BHX some base!!!

 

[Ray Finkle]

Verona became bookable through the usual channels, I believe they've had a few routes from there announced today. I noticed it by accident when checking for something else.

Yesterday and this morning whenever I clicked the 'modify' button then the away destination it showed nothing from any countries except Spain, and then only Seville. As you can see lots more are now shown. I believe it's an anomaly in the booking system and I think it's the same for most other airports. It sure would make for a spectacular base.

It's a good way of checking for potential new routes though :smile:

 

[Jon Dempsey]

So why is Barcelona much more successful from the UK regions? OK, it's a huge city and an important hub as well, but surely not as important as Madrid!

Barcelona is used as main point if entry for the Costa Brava/Dorada now that Gerona and Reus are being used less. There are increasing numbers of long haul carriers operating out of Barcelona too.

It is also point of entry for a lot of cruises. Add this to the business and city break pax and you can understand why it is busier than Madrid from Birmingham.

 

[nwoody2001]

I hope and I trust IBX and RYR are two very different offers. IBX will offer you connections between BHX and South America, whereas RYR cant! Its also worth nothing that MAD has grown significantly in recent years as a tourist destination/city break in its own right, and as such it should be no shock with regard to the increased popularity!

The reality is, taking june as an example, Norwegian (2x weekly), Ryanair (7x weekly), Vueling (7x weekly) and Monarch (6x weekly) all operate Barcelona, so 22x weekly flights operate between BHX and BCN, and as such, at present we have 6x weekly flights between BHX and MAD, and with Ryanair, maybe that will increase to 10x weekly flights, in peak summer times, I think that frequency is something BHX should be able to sustain if BHX is to prove itself as a major regional airport!!!

 

[Ray Finkle]

I think Norwegian and how they react may be key.

If they decide to concede, drop Madrid altogether and add elsewhere then as said two totally different operators and 4x weekly each should be okay.

If they stay as they are then with the lower frequency they will be the weak link. Hopefully we'll be able to handle it though, even if there will be three departures on Sundays :shok:

If Norwegian decide to fight back and increase frequency then I fear we may struggle. I think three operators at a higher frequency may be a stretch too far.

That's if they even do start Madrid, they may just be covering all of their bases.

It's a shame really as if they wanted to add more capacity to BHX then there's some great routes they could do well on. Porto, Seville, Valencia, Cagliari, Chania, Lisbon, Pisa, Zadar, Riga? I'm also surprised that we haven't seen more in response to Wizz, the only real reaction has been moving Kaunas to Vilnius?

 

[thunderchild]

BHX-MAD from 1st April.

Begs the question why release a press statement announcing the summer programme and the new Corfu and Vilnius routes only to go and add another two new routes a week later?

 

[Daza]

What a shame this happens so often @ BHX, FR do nothing for years ex BHX then just when new airlines plan service they step in. :shok: I wonder how long they would stay on the BHX-MAD route if IBX pull off? :crazy: Trying to be positive BHX seems to be supporting 4 carriers on BCN.
Darren

 

[Ray Finkle]

It's been quite a few years since Ryanair pulled BHX - MAD and there has been plenty of opportunity since to bring it back but they weren't interested. Suddenly we have Norwegian getting high load factors and IBX now offering connections and they want to come back. It stinks of the playground 'I don't want it but I don't want anyone else to have it' mentality.

Madrid seems to be getting more popular so I just hope there's room for all or them as I'd hate to lose Iberia.

 

[Daza]

I have just checked and BHX-MAD is not bookable on their website. 🙄

 

[Ray Finkle]

It's not bookable, yet, but the flights are loaded, although they are currently showing 'sold out'.

 

[Daza]

The website I looking at Ray https://beta.ryanair.com/gb/en/ doesn't show Madrid as an option from Birmingham.
Daza

 

[nwoody2001]

again, i'm still not concerned. Times have changed, MAD has grown hugely in that time since BHX was connected to MAD, both in terms of a hub and in terms of tourist destination. Manchester currently flies to MAD 10x weekly with just IBX and RYR.

 

[Ray Finkle]

The website I looking at Ray https://beta.ryanair.com/gb/en/ doesn't show Madrid as an option from Birmingham.
Daza

If you do a booking then modify it many more options become available. They all show no availability except Madrid which has a schedule showing sold out.

 

[Daza]

Ahhh got it! Well maybe its in the planning stage? I for one hope they decide not to do it. :diablo:
Daza
P.S. Loving these emoticons!

 

[Brum X]

It's been quite a few years since Ryanair pulled BHX - MAD and there has been plenty of opportunity since to bring it back but they weren't interested. Suddenly we have Norwegian getting high load factors and IBX now offering connections and they want to come back. It stinks of the playground 'I don't want it but I don't want anyone else to have it' mentality.

Madrid seems to be getting more popular so I just hope there's room for all or them as I'd hate to lose Iberia.

Maybe i will send them one of my "famous" emails just to get them thinking about this and to see there reply, LOL

Still not "officially" available just yet though so i will hold off for a while.