Birmingham: Daily Direct Link from BHX to the US

[Birmingham Aviation]

So if we’re going to get a USA direct flight.What airline would you suggest or recommend.Btw I’m trying to cause grief i just want ur opinion

 

[andrew.clarkson]

I think personally, it won't be a US carrier at all, either Emirates, easyJet, Turkish airlines. BA and Virgin are not interested. Unless Global Airlines make any announcements.

 

[RichL]

In many respects I find it hard to believe the demand isn't there. The United route lasted 20 years, after all, and it ending not long after American Airlines also withdrew is not a coincidence.

There were two Continental flights per day at one point. I used both quite a lot - it was rarely empty.

I suspect the ones that are like buses out of Heathrow I'm sure some of those come in and go out less than full too at various periods of the year.

 

[David_itl]

United is feeling the pinch at LHR. Them, AA, BA, DL, VS all operating multidaily services to the popular destinations means it's become a bloodbath. Far better strategy would have been how Continental did it, scatter far and wide so being a big LHR disruptor. You only have to look at the profits Aer Lingus UK is making from just operating JFK, Orlando and Barbados with minimal feed to see that the regions can actually be profitable,
The only issue it that all the prospective A321 operations are all based on having a premium cabin size akin to what the use on 787s, 777s, A350s and A330s whilst minimising economy. Going down the EI route on the A321LR of 16 business 168 economy makes it easier to fill the former whilst having the majority of economy filled.

 

[IanFarquharson]

United is feeling the pinch at LHR. Them, AA, BA, DL, VS all operating multidaily services to the popular destinations means it's become a bloodbath. Far better strategy would have been how Continental did it, scatter far and wide so being a big LHR disruptor. You only have to look at the profits Aer Lingus UK is making from just operating JFK, Orlando and Barbados with minimal feed to see that the regions can actually be profitable,
The only issue it that all the prospective A321 operations are all based on having a premium cabin size akin to what the use on 787s, 777s, A350s and A330s whilst minimising economy. Going down the EI route on the A321LR of 16 business 168 economy makes it easier to fill the former whilst having the majority of economy filled.

Aer Lingus would also be good fit for BHX but they said they have no plans to expand their UK arm, I think if the Dublin pax cap is relaxed they might even close the UK arm and add the capacity at Dublin.

Virgin would also be great for BHX but they have said recently they will probably re-start Gatwick ops, so I guess with London & Manchester they have the Midlands market covered.

 

[scottr]

I'm hearing JetBlue from next year from a friend in the industry nothing confirmed obviously.

 

[David_itl]

The other thing is the "know it alls" who actually dispute that anything transatlantic could ever be possibly profitable from the regions with one dismissing Aer Lingus UK registering a decent increase in profits by saying how few routes they do.... yet ignoring that only 1 of them could actually tempt business passengers with the other 2 being overwhelmingly leisure based. Perhaps they''ve forgotten how much IAG needs the regional feed (by air, rail or road) to help sustain DUB and LHR operations

A concerted middle, southwestern and northern collaboration displaying the wide socio-historic, cultural and scenic areas that lie between London and Edinburgh would be needed as I have no trust that any national based operation would actually be that bothered to do something to really promote what's on offer.

 

[gulftraveller]

I'm hearing JetBlue from next year from a friend in the industry nothing confirmed obviously.

Having just dropped LGW-JFK this seems inherently unlikely. There are several European routes they may look at before the UK regions but, as with all the other US carriers, they will be aimed at US outbound tourism.

 

[Matt995]

I think personally, it won't be a US carrier at all, either Emirates, easyJet, Turkish airlines. BA and Virgin are not interested. Unless Global Airlines make any announcements.

easyjet to the USA?? also not certain why Emirates or Turkish would want to fly Birmingham to the USA? long shot might be Jet2 with their A321neos, maybe Toronto or New York, once they have plenty of new A321s delivered!

 

[Hassaan]

What was the reason for American Airlines pulling out after returning in the mid 2010s? Was it for the same reason as United?

 

[IanFarquharson]

What was the reason for American Airlines pulling out after returning in the mid 2010s? Was it for the same reason as United?

Same as from MAN, STN BRS & NCL - all they really want is Heathrow & Edinburgh

The JetBlue LGW-JFK being re-deployed EDI-BOS daily from May 2025 giving EDI 15 daily North American departures

 

[Ianbutty]

American airlines will only fly to Europe to destinations where Americans want to visit...so London and Scotland and the Euro capitals (and Frankfurt, Barcelona...). Or where there are exceptional reliable connections through alliances i.e KEF.

Otherwise, it will be Euro or British airlines serving the US. Sorry. Harsh reality.

If BHX is to have a US airline serving, better start promoting Brum in the US as a destination on a par with, eh, London and Scotland. Peaky Blinders, Shakespeare and the Blues may be our biggest exports, and one of those is a dying export (William), then alas, they ain't gonna come even if the seats were a nickel each.

Canada may be a better prospect as the locals there must be less precious about their national airline...the awful experience still hurts.

 

[Hassaan]

What's the full history of BHX and United States operations?

BA - JFK daily (1993-1998)
AA - ORD daily (1995-2002), JFK daily (2015-2017)
UA - EWR daily (1997-2017), twice-daily (for a short while)
US - PHL daily (2009)

PIA did ORD for a while from 2003 to 2004, and I think Uzbekistan Airways did JFK as well?

Correct me if I've gotten any of that wrong.

 

[andrew.clarkson]

So let me get this right, the only way that any US airline will operate from Birmingham airport is if the US dollar were to plummet, that's like betting on the futures market, unless you can actually predict the future, no.

 

[rollo]

What's the full history of BHX and United States operations?

BA - JFK daily (1993-1998)
AA - ORD daily (1995-2002), JFK daily (2015-2017)
UA - EWR daily (1997-2017), twice-daily (for a short while)
US - PHL daily (2009)

PIA did ORD for a while from 2003 to 2004, and I think Uzbekistan Airways did JFK as well?

Correct me if I've gotten any of that wrong.

American operated a daily 757 to JFK ended around the same time as the United EWR route.

BA operated a daily 767-300 to JFK later downgraded to a757 1993 to 1998 and towards the end the service was extended to Toronto

Going way back BOAC operated a summer only VC -10 also to JFK 1969-1973 running via Manchester and later Prestwick

Plus of course over the years many airlines have operated charter flights to various airports in Florida Orlando, Sanford and Melbourne.

 

[HPsauce]

What's the full history of BHX and United States operations?

BA - JFK daily (1993-1998)
AA - ORD daily (1995-2002), JFK daily (2015-2017)
UA - EWR daily (1997-2017), twice-daily (for a short while)
US - PHL daily (2009)

PIA did ORD for a while from 2003 to 2004, and I think Uzbekistan Airways did JFK as well?

Correct me if I've gotten any of that wrong.

Sounds good to me.

 

[Nethercote2019]

Has anyone been to the US recently? It is so expensive we used to go to NY with empty suitcase & buy bargains, eating out is mega expensive particularly with all the add ons, breakfast used to be cheap - not any more. I am told bookings to Orlando have fallen dramatically it costs a fortune. I’m afraid Americans do not want to fly to BHX they only want to fly to London & then only LHR !
Oh by the way merry Christmas

 

[Hassaan]

Were AA & UA still filling up their flights before they had to pull out in 2017?

 

[nwoody2001]

Were AA & UA still filling up their flights before they had to pull out in 2017?

The fact they pulled their flights suggest the answer was no!

Has anyone been to the US recently? It is so expensive we used to go to NY with empty suitcase & buy bargains, eating out is mega expensive particularly with all the add ons, breakfast used to be cheap - not any more. I am told bookings to Orlando have fallen dramatically it costs a fortune. I’m afraid Americans do not want to fly to BHX they only want to fly to London & then only LHR !
Oh by the way merry Christmas

I’ve been to NYC twice this year and it is shocking expensive. 2x espresso martini with tip in Chelsea was $68!!!

 

[Hassaan]

The fact they pulled their flights suggest the answer was no!

Wasn't that to do with Brexit and the pound having fallen? That's the reason that was cited - UA lasted for 20 years and surely load factors weren't that bad by the end? Or maybe they were.