Birmingham Airport - General Thread

[rollo]

Aviador has posted a very interesting item on the MAN forum showing passenger figures from different catchment areas, guess which is the most popular long haul destination from the West Midlands also East Midlands and Staffordshire?

Hint it involves a large mouse like rodent.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Not the 'O' word.

It joined Las Vegas and New York to make up the top three.

I had a quick look at Orlando for next Easter. Our only flight departs on a Friday morning, no good seeing as the wife and kids will still be at school. If there was a second weekly flight 11/12 nights could be doable but as it stands the only option is for one week, which just isn't long enough.

Despite the above the flights are always full. I even recall the lack of long haul expansion being raised at a Consultative Committee meeting a couple of years ago.

There was an interview with Paul Kehoe as far back as 2012 when Orlando was mentioned as a target, I think I've pretty much given up hope now

 

[rollo]

L l

Not the 'O' word.

It joined Las Vegas and New York to make up the top three.

I had a quick look at Orlando for next Easter. Our only flight departs on a Friday morning, no good seeing as the wife and kids will still be at school. If there was a second weekly flight 11/12 nights could be doable but as it stands the only option is for one week, which just isn't long enough

Surely your wife should have left school by now!
Lol
rollo

 

[rollo]

On a more seriousness note we took our children's and grandkids to Orlando 18 months ago from BHX and had a fantastic 2week family holiday yes they lost a week out of school but to be honest I think we as a family got a awful lot out of it you just need to allow rather more spending money than you budget for.
Our first visit Florida with our 3year old son was in 1982 LHR/MIA/MCO from LHR on a BA747 no direct flight from anywhere else then back in the day so I suppose one weekly summer flight a week is a step forward but not exactly a giant leap for mankind .

 

[Ray Finkle]

L l


Surely your wife should have left school by now!
Lol
rollo

I just realised how that sounds.

Just for the record (you never know who is reading ) my wife is actually a teacher and cannot get any time off outside the school holidays, so even when the kids are grown we'll still be paying a premium

Airport firm acquisition sees change at Birmingham Airport
View attachment 8294

Menzies Aviation has acquired de-icing Airline Services, giving it a presence at Birmingham Airport for the first time.

£35m-turnover Airline Services provides de-icing and aircraft presentation services to over 60 airlines at 12 UK airports, together with ground handling operations at London Gatwick.

The acquired trade and assets takes will take Menzies into four new UK airport locations – Liverpool, Newcastle, Birmingham and Exeter.

Forsyth Black, managing director of Menzies Aviation said: “This is a significant addition to our UK business and is line with our strategy to offer the deepest portfolio of products to our airline customers.

“The deal strengthens our market position in the UK, extends our product offering and takes us into new airports where we can now offer the full suite of Menzies services and continue to grow our business.”

Established for more than 30 years, Airline Services operates in 12 UK airports to over 60 airlines, together with ground handling operations at London Gatwick.

As part of the deal, Menzies Aviation will take on 900 new employees including Nigel Daniel, managing director of Airline Services, who will take up a leadership position on Menzies’ regional team.

Andy Lord, Menzies Aviation’s Executive Vice President – EMEA, said: “This acquisition has sound strategic logic and is a significant addition to our UK service offering.

“Adding Airline Services to our existing network gives us the opportunity to share facilities and expertise which will enable us to become even more competitive, I am also excited to be taking the Menzies brand and suite of services into 4 new airport locations.

“The Menzies Aviation team are eager to bring excellence, from touchdown to takeoff, to our newly expanded customer base.”

Very interesting.

 

[Brum X]

Aviador has posted a very interesting item on the MAN forum showing passenger figures from different catchment areas, guess which is the most popular long haul destination from the West Midlands also East Midlands and Staffordshire?

Hint it involves a large mouse like rodent.

So this confirms the reason for the Midlanders lack of enthusiasm for long haul ex BHX because for lots of destinations there isn't a choice to fly from BHX.

 

[58terminus]

Just for the record (you never know who is reading ) my wife is actually a teacher and cannot get any time off outside the school holidays,

To quote you Ray "Cannot get any time off outside the school holidays" could prevok quite a response on less freindly
forums. Believe me i know.

 

[Matt995]

Just a reminder that all Birmingham ATC frequencies are changing from May 1st :-


Birmingham Approach 118.050 to 123.980
Birmingham Director 131.000 to 131.005
Birmingham Director 131.325 to 131.330
Birmingham Tower 118.300 to 118.305
Birmingham Ground 121.800 to 121.805
Birmingham Delivery 121.925 to 121.930
Birmingham ATIS 136.025 to 136.030

with the introduction of the 8.33 MHz channels!

 

[Sam1988]

Emirates new daily service to EDI in October will have a big dent at BHX as most passengers from EDI use BHX as a hub with Flybe to connect onto Dubai

 

[Aviador]

Emirates new daily service to EDI in October will have a big dent at BHX as most passengers from EDI use BHX as a hub with Flybe to connect onto Dubai

Will it though, Is it that popular?

 

[nwoody2001]

Emirates new daily service to EDI in October will have a big dent at BHX as most passengers from EDI use BHX as a hub with Flybe to connect onto Dubai

Really?! CAA statistics suggest very few people transit through BHX. I would be more worried if I was GLA

 

[Brum X]

Im sure NCL will be also be affected more than BHX with this new EDI service.

 

[Jerry]

Im sure NCL will be also be affected more than BHX with this new EDI service.

I wouldn't be so sure. I think the Newcastle flight accesses a specific area of the North East part of the North West and part of Yorkshire, i don't see people on the borders already flying with Emirates flying out of NCL to change much. The one which will be effected is GLA as i've no doubt many travel from Edinburgh to use Emirates there and they can also attract the ex Etihad passengers as well.

 

[58terminus]

I know it has been a poor few months for BHX and there has been a a bit of a Brummie pessimist feel about the forum but to be agonising about what effect a route from EDI to DXB will have on BHX going a bit to far.
One day its optimism about the 3rd daily being introduced next day its this.

 

[Brum X]

I wouldn't be so sure. I think the Newcastle flight accesses a specific area of the North East part of the North West and part of Yorkshire, i don't see people on the borders already flying with Emirates flying out of NCL to change much. The one which will be effected is GLA as i've no doubt many travel from Edinburgh to use Emirates there and they can also attract the ex Etihad passengers as well.

Actually ive heard of many people travelling down to NCL especially as the Scottish holidays are much earlier than the English holidays so people in Scotland take advantage of cheaper flights from an English airport.

Obviously this is only for a few weeks every year though.

 

[Sam1988]

nearly half of all our Flybe flights from Scotland have at least 5 pax travelling via BHX to travel onto Dubai with the new EDI route it will affect those, Cardiff is another one we have a lot of passengers using Birmingham before the Doha service

a hugely popular transit route with Flybe is Delhi and Amritsar on Air India since you can now check your bag in straight to India with Flybe its a big catch with people from different cities

 

[Brum X]

nearly half of all our Flybe flights from Scotland have at least 5 pax travelling via BHX to travel onto Dubai with the new EDI route it will affect those, Cardiff is another one we have a lot of passengers using Birmingham before the Doha service

a hugely popular transit route with Flybe is Delhi and Amritsar on Air India since you can now check your bag in straight to India with Flybe its a big catch with people from different cities

I have to say our Air India routes are a cracking success for BHX and looks as if Air India are finally realising this too which hopefully will mean more expansion very soon.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Some snippets from the recent Consultative Committee Meeting. There's lots of stuff that we already know and quite a bit of work seems to be going on to improve the customer experience.

Q1 was 4.1% down, obviously due to Monarch. Whilst ATM's are 8.6% down load factors are 5.4% up. No doubt due to Jet2's impressive load factors.

Primera held a stakeholder event attended by 60 guests to raise awareness of their offering. Digital ads are planned for the NEC, ICC and the Airport.

Qatar are sponsoring an event in Warwick Racecourse in May.

The Airport Company has appointed a permanent Head of Customer Service who will continue to take the Customer Service Strategy forward. A programme of sample passenger surveys has been initiated, asking passenger about their views of the airport experience. Passengers are being asked to score different parts of the airport service on a scale of 1 (poor) to 5 (excellent). Scores are mostly high, though areas which score less well are security queue times, information and the condition and cleanliness of airport toilets, which is why these are being given special attention as part of the customer service plans (see Planning, Development & Infrastructure below)

The new parallel loading lane installation for the security central search area, which started at the end of October, was completed before Easter, ahead of the busy summer season. The scheme aims to increase passenger throughput at each of the security lanes and reduce queue times for passengers. There are now 13 parallel loading lanes and 1 conventional lane in Central Search.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Dare we get excited about a master plan release this summer?

Other Planning, Development & Infrastructure issues:

Members may be aware of issues surrounding the Elmdon terminal building, which suffered flood damage during a significant water leak occasioned by the severe weather of late February/early March. This has required the relocation of tenants into alternative accommodation as the building became unsafe. The Airport is currently undertaking a range of surveys and assessments to understand the extent of the damage caused before any decisions about the building’s future can be taken.

Hangar 2, at the Elmdon Site, is now at the end of its life and its demolition is being actively planned. A detailed review of the programme is being undertaken due to the many operational constraints of bringing this building down so close to the runway operation. BAL has acquired a demountable temporary fabric hangar manufactured by Rubb UK to support existing operators which will be stored until required and is likely to be erected on the H2 footprint following its demolition.

Work continues on the master plan covering the period 2018-2033 with the intention to publish for consultation during the summer. The BHX Surface Access Strategy, covering the period to 2022, will be published for consultation alongside the master plan and will factor in the Airport’s resilience needs in relation to the forthcoming works on HS2 and M42 Junction 6 improvement works. Note: An update on the Master Plan is planned as an agenda item for this meeting A proposal to develop the Airside Bussing Lounge is in development, subject to confirmation from SMBC that it would fall within the Airport’s Permitted Developments rights.

Full report: http://eservices.solihull.gov.uk/mgInternet/documents/s59853/Activities Report.pdf

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there Ray and all, we have probably been over this issue or point many times about landing charges at birmingham airport. But looking at there fees, £11.22 per tonne or part, if an a380 on maximum weight take off is 562 tonnes at £11.22 per tonne or part, does this work out as £6,305.64 per tonne at maximum weight take off or part tonne at £2.80 is £1,573.60, are these the correct figures or not... Andyc