Route Development & Rumours

[Ray Finkle]

Speaking of vision I often wonder if the decision not to go ahead with a new terminal at the HS2 station played any part in Paul Kehoe stepping down.

As we know Mr Kehoe is a very ambitious man and seemed a great advocate of the move, often commenting that the current site is just too constrained for long term growth. I remember an interview with him where he said that he was due to meet with stakeholders to discuss the master plan, I can't remember his exact words but they were along the lines of 'they could go bold or they could go cautious, I hope that they go bold'. I kind of imagine bitter disappointment that his vision would have been put on ice.

I guess we'll never know for sure.

It may be possible that the person they want is in a position elsewhere and can't move yet.

Quite possibly.

A few months ago there were quite strong rumours that the CEO position had been filled. I won't name the person mentioned but they obviously haven't been formally announced yet, could it be that they had to give a lengthy notice period to their current organisation?

I suppose we'll find out in due course.

 

[Ianbutty]

The HS2 terminal won't happen because of UK Hub Central. As for CEO......see earlier comments. Weird. Just weird....is the salary too low?

 

[Ray Finkle]

is the salary too low?

It is for me

 

[58terminus]

A few months ago there were quite strong rumours that the CEO position had been filled. I won't name the person mentioned but they obviously haven't been formally announced yet, could it be that they had to give a lengthy notice period to their current organisation?

Presumably this person cannot be doing a similar job at a UK airport and serving such a long notice?
If they are its a bit of a Trump situation when you really don't know which side they are on.

 

[58terminus]

Maybe they work at MAG

 

[Brum X]

Maybe they work at MAG

Stranger things have happened

 

[Ianbutty]

Money should never be your principle reason for work Ray. Your Airport Needs YOU!

 

[58terminus]

tranger things have happened

Off subject but were back to Trump

 

[Brum X]

Off subject but were back to Trump

 

[Ray Finkle]

https://www.ttgmedia.com/news/news/birmingham-airport-looks-east-after-primera-blow-15088

Some very interesting comments.

I'm on my phone so difficult to quote the article, maybe someone could oblige?

Back to the Cruzcampo

 

[smithy108]

Here is the full article minus the shots of Primera aircraft to avoid it sticking in anyone's throat ! Tom Screen seems confident and has named some of the airlines too

Birmingham airport looks east after Primera blow
Primera Air’s uncertain future at Birmingham airport has not deterred the hub from pursuing its long- and short-haul ambitions.

The low-cost long-haul carrier, headquartered in Latvia, announced it would launch at the West Midlands airport last July after Birmingham’s 20-year partnership with United Airlines came to an end, pledging to operate a daily New York service, a four times weekly Boston service and three times weekly Toronto service.
Its Boston service though failed even to get off the ground after
the airline axed the route in January - some five months before it was due to launch - due, it said, to a lack of demand
However, Primera said in June it was suspending long-haul operations from Birmingham, citing further delays in receiving its Airbus A321 aircraft, which had already hit the airline’s transatlantic launch at Stansted.
Less than two months later, Primera said it would wind down its European short-haul operation at Birmingham in the autumn “for the foreseeable future”, this time citing “capacity restraints”. Primera also said it would reduce its Stansted-Malaga service to five flights a week and axe its Stansted-Alicante service from October 1.

Primera 'carefully considering' long-haul future at BHX
Primera initially said its transatlantic programme at Birmingham would resume in summer 2019.
However, a Primera spokesperson told TTG this week that due to reduced demand for its short-haul services, the airline would now “carefully consider” its long-haul programme at Birmingham and “take a decision early next year” on whether it would return.

A spokesperson for Birmingham said: “We regret that, for operational reasons, Primera Air is unable to continue flying from Birmingham this winter. This is disappointing, as there is so much demand for these destinations.
"We are pressing the airline to provide refunds so passengers can rebook with other carriers from Birmingham.”
They added: “The Birmingham market remains strong and we fully expect to see year-on-year growth in the next summer season.”

Going eastbound 'never a problem' for Birmingham

Tom Screen, Birmingham’s acting aviation director, told TTG the airport’s lengthy partnership with United Airlines proved there was demand for transatlantic travel from Birmingham.
He said the airport had held recently talks with JetBlue about its transatlantic and long-haul ambitions, and had spoken to other carriers about new routes to Mumbai, Hong Kong and Beijing.

“Going eastbound has never really been too much of a problem for Birmingham,” said Screen. “We do well in that field. We’re talking to those Indian low-cost carriers considering coming to the UK.

“We’ve also got Air Arabia Maroc confirmed for this winter, Turkish Airlines are increasing frequency next summer to twice daily, and we’re talking to Air Baltic.

Birmingham has also moved quickly to fill the 1.5 million passenger void left by the collapse of Monarch, with Jet2.com, Ryanair, Thomas Cook and Tui adding routes or increasing frequency.

“There’s a hell of a lot of capacity that will be coming back,” Screen added.

 

[GliderPilot]

At least its something positive, it makes for a change...

Some very bold comments to publicise. About looking to go further East, and that there is definitely potential for West-bound long haul too

“There’s a hell of a lot of capacity that will be coming back”

This is re-assuring, lets hope it isn't just waffle and there actually is new routes and new airlines in the pipeline to come to BHX

 

[thunderchild]

A few thoughts;

- Air Baltic would certainly be a good one to get
- Won’t be holding out much hope for JetBlue
- If demand heading east is strong surely Finnair are the ones to be going after?
- I seriously that hope lost capacity “will” come back!

 

[Jerry]

I find it curious that they named airlines especially Air Baltic, they must be pretty sure that they'll operate to do that.

 

[Matt995]

I find it curious that they named airlines especially Air Baltic, they must be pretty sure that they'll operate to do that.

Yes it does seem a bit strange naming airlines before anything 'concrete' has been announced, I still remember Birmingham press releases announcing airlines like Gulf Air, and Bangladesh starting services and they never did!

 

[thunderchild]

Yes it does seem a bit strange naming airlines before anything 'concrete' has been announced, I still remember Birmingham press releases announcing airlines like Gulf Air, and Bangladesh starting services and they never did!

In fairness Gulf Air (technically Gulf Traveller) was officially announced, I even remember seeing billboards advertising the new service. Emirates didn’t like it so they launched a second daily service and the rest is history.

Funny how back then Emirates perceived Gulf Air as a threat, doubt they would these days. Then again history repeated a little when Qatar announced BHX - Emirates didn’t like it so announced the A380 for the same time. Has Emirates pulled the same kind of stunts at other airports?

 

[Just Birmingham]

58Terminus

Just referencing your previous comment in late July.

I would suggest that "possibly" Manchester IS a destination whereas Birmingham has lost its lustre and is simply not a destination.

http://paper.li/f-1449692491?read=h...-five-business-travel-destinations-in-europe/

 

[Brum X]

58Terminus

Just referencing your previous comment in late July.

I would suggest that "possibly" Manchester IS a destination whereas Birmingham has lost its lustre and is simply not a destination.

http://paper.li/f-1449692491?read=https://www.traveldailymedia.com/top-five-business-travel-destinations-in-europe/

However this is just another report and the one next week will mention Birmingham.

Also how can you define a "friendly" business destination ????? What criteria do they follow to rank a city the most friendly business city.

This is the data compiled by another source for Business overnight stays in all regional cities, as you can see London is excluded so Brum must be doing something right business wise. These figures are for 2017.

Business:

Birmingham : 570k
Manchester: 390k
Edinburgh :200k
Liverpool :170k
Glasgow: 150k
Bristol :150k

But again this is just another report.

 

[Ianbutty]

The article from a few days back was very positive. The naming of airlines is odd but I am sure that Tom would have cleared that in which case no airline would want to be asaociated with route development unless they were very serious and keen. Tom is right the Monarch void has been pretty much filled. After a few years of excellent growth this year is a pause and bodes well for 2019 all things being equal whIf I I fear may not be post March.

 

[nwoody2001]

Well whilst I have no intel as such, in Toms last article, he spoke about Air Arabia in a similar way who announced their route a week or so later. Hopefully we’ll see Air Baltic bookable soon as well.

“Also comforted by the “hell of a lot of capacity will be coming back to BHX” quote. I read that to say this this has not yet arrived or been announced?