Route Development & Rumours

[nwoody2001]

oh my..... lets watch this space and see what comes from it. Seems a little odd way of announcing a flight and there is always caveat that this could just be lost in translation!!!

 

[Brummiegem]

oh my..... lets watch this space and see what comes from it. Seems a little odd way of announcing a flight and there is always caveat that this could just be lost in translation!!!

My thoughts exactly.How typical of the way things are going at BHX at the moment to gain a second airline on a new route,if WAW is the route.
If the translation is correct then giving this information on social media is unconventional to say the least,although it has been done before.
The worry is,if an announcement is due,then can 2 airlines co-exist on this route,or will it all end in tears??
However,this is not the only route where we have this problem is it?
The next few months are going to be exciting but also a little nervy in equal amounts.

 

[Ray Finkle]

I wonder if Wizz increasing Warsaw in their first week of ops was to do with this? A sign of intent perhaps? Funnily enough WAW has probably seen their lowest load factors (although admittedly only by a couple of percent).

I guess an E175 would be most likely and 82 seats isn't a huge amount to fill. Looking at their connections though they're not exactly extensive when compared to other airlines at BHX. Long haul only sees Beijing and Tokyo going east with New York, Chicago and Toronto going west. There are some interesting Eastern European destinations available but as far as Poland goes only Szczecin and Rzeszow are currently unserved direct from BHX.

I don't read too much into social media but this was their Facebook reply

about every destination we inform on our fanpage, so follow us! :smile:

As we are finding out with Wizz, Poland, and Eastern Europe as a whole, is a big market so it would be great to have yet another option available from BHX.

If they do start then I hope they do well :smile:

 

[Brum X]

Great news if true. LOT would be another flag carrier at BHX, showing again that flag carriers and low cost airlines can both survive at this airport. Another rather interesting part of this (If confirmed) would be another airline at BHX, that is not at our big rival airport up the M6.

 

[User001]

LOT have been highly rumoured for MAN too, and has been for a few months, so, BHX/MAN could be part of a wider expansion strategy, to which LOT have done in the past 12 months.

 

[Paulsstrange]

Hello all im new on here just registered last few days :good:

Looking at this Instagram the latest message translates as ... "we hope that soon is received "...

I think thd indications may be that BHX is being considered by LOT but no deal done...thats my gut feeling so far..

Cheers
Paul

 

[Ray Finkle]

Hi Paul and welcome to the forum :smile:

Going from that last message I think I'd be inclined to agree with you.

 

[whateverg]

Looking at this Instagram the latest message translates as ... "we hope that soon is received "...

I speak Polish and the actual translation is, "We hope that you won't have to wait long"

 

[Paulsstrange]

Looking at this Instagram the latest message translates as ... "we hope that soon is received "...

I speak Polish and the actual translation is, "We hope that you won't have to wait long"

Dear 'Whateverg' thanks for the actual translation, I cheated and used google translate

Knowing the language how would you translate the full Instagram conversation does this suggest just interest from LOT or more too it would you say?

 

[whateverg]

The rest of the conversation is of little consequence, just jokes about the social media team's use of English! They do mention their continuous development, however. This may be a reference to starting new routes. Generally I do get the impression that something is in the pipeline.

 

[Paulsstrange]

The rest of the conversation is of little consequence, just jokes about the social media team's use of English! They do mention their continuous development, however. This may be a reference to starting new routes. Generally I do get the impression that something is in the pipeline.

Excellant thanks for that, fingers crossed we see them at BHX soon then

 

[Ray Finkle]

I've just been having a read back through the Lufthansa thread and it was interesting to see their most popular connections from BHX over the years. I know it's only a snapshot but it makes interesting reading.

2011

Beijing currently tops the list of connections from Birmingham via Frankfurt, followed by Mumbai, Delhi and Hong Kong. The top European destination is Prague, with other popular routes including Hamburg, Nuremburg, Vienna, Dresden and Graz.

2012 (only long haul is listed)

Jeddah, Delhi, Beijing, Moscow, Johannesburg

2013

In 2013 the most popular onward destinations for Birmingham travellers included Vienna, Prague, Graz, Budapest, Moscow, Bucharest and Beijing”

2014

In 2014 the most popular onward destinations for Lufthansa’s Birmingham travellers included Vienna, Prague, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Budapest, Moscow, Graz, Hong Kong, Beijing and Tokyo.


Vienna, Prague and Budapest were consistently mentioned as top European connections. Budapest is now doing very nicely with Wizz and Prague returns next month. I hope BHX are, or have been, talking to Austrian about Vienna.

 

[nwoody2001]

VIE is an obvious gap in our route network, not only by is lack of presence at BHX, but its oversupply in other airports... I believe both MAN and LTN are having price wars over this route with 2-3 operators serving it (or I may have dreamt it)... MAN I think have Both Austrian and Easyjet operating the route for example?

Hopefully, Austrian will become present at BHX in the coming years, as Easyjet don't appear to be!

 

[Ray Finkle]

Easyjet have recently opened a Vienna base operating to BRS, EDI, LTN, LGW and MAN. Stansted has also recently seen Eurowings start Vienna.

Austrian could be a perfect fit for the route with their soon to be acquired Embraers.

 

[Brum X]

Easyjet have recently opened a Vienna base operating to BRS, EDI, LTN, LGW and MAN. Stansted has also recently seen Eurowings start Vienna.

Austrian could be a perfect fit for the route with their soon to be acquired Embraers.

Also possibly one for Monarch to try on one of there A320s ???

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there ray, emailed Virgin top boss about flights out of Birmingham, reply said that due to £50,000,000.00 per year annual service costs for daily service, credible evidence and high constant high demand needed before any flights were to start up..contact at Virgin Atlantic was Robert Moral, who is Vice President of Virgin Atlantic.... Andyc

 

[jfy1999]

Hi there ray, emailed Virgin top boss about flights out of Birmingham, reply said that due to £50,000,000.00 per year annual service costs for daily service, credible evidence and high constant high demand needed before any flights were to start up..contact at Virgin Atlantic was Robert Moral, who is Vice President of Virgin Atlantic.... Andyc

I'm not really surprised. Virgin might be looking at the number of long-haul leisure flights we have compared to say, Manchester, and concluding there's not enough demand for them here. Right now Thomson are growing at an acceptable rate, but not fast enough to suggest we need another based 787, let alone suggest to other airlines that they need to go after Thomson at BHX.

 

[DaveBham]

Hi there ray, emailed Virgin top boss about flights out of Birmingham, reply said that due to £50,000,000.00 per year annual service costs for daily service, credible evidence and high constant high demand needed before any flights were to start up..contact at Virgin Atlantic was Robert Moral, who is Vice President of Virgin Atlantic.... Andyc

Thanks for that Andrew. It's a bit chicken and egg. People from the area obviously fly to Virgin's destinations - but how can they possibly know who isn't using Virgin precisely because they DON'T fly from Birmingham?

I'm one such case. Love going to the states, and have flown in the past using BA from Heathrow. Since last year all my US flight bookings have been put through BHX. Connections are easy at JFK and EWR. Domestic flights run as regularly as buses, so going to LA from BHX is so much simpler than trecking down to Heathrow.

Virgin have got to come to me if they want my business. Otherwise good old AA & United will continue to benefit.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Thanks Andrew.

That's a hell of a lot of cash, it's probably wise of them to be cautious.

Virgin have got to come to me if they want my business. Otherwise good old AA & United will continue to benefit.

Totally agree mate and if more people come round to a similar way of thinking it will improve connecting loads, which will in turn lead to more direct flights.

 

[andrew.clarkson]

Hi there ray, as well as contacting Virgin, I also contacted British Airways and Delta Airlines, so I'm just awaiting for there replies now, then I will be brief you on their response when I get it...Andyc