Joost From Netherlands, joined Apr 2005, 3131 posts, RR: 4 Posted (5 years 9 months 2 weeks 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 3074 times:
Today, Ryanair announced to open a new (small) base at Belfast city airport. They will base one single Boeing 737-800 at the airport and start operations to STN.
They will operate a new four times daily service to London Stansted and a new second daily service from Belfast to Liverpool. The base will start October 30, 2007 (together with the VLC base).
Ryanair has decided to move to BHD after slots became available after ABs withdrawl.
Joost From Netherlands, joined Apr 2005, 3131 posts, RR: 4 Reply 2, posted (5 years 9 months 2 weeks 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 3061 times:
Quoting N272WA (Reply 1): Correct me if I am wrong, but Ryanair had decided to start flying from BHD well before AB announced their departure.
That's right, they have already announced EMA, PIK and LPL before. These flights were all operated by aircraft based at these 3 airports.
From October 30, Ryanair will base one aircraft at BHD, that will be flying roundtrips from and to BHD during the day. They will add a total of 5 daily roundtrips, (4x STN, 1xLPL) and that's where they will use the AB slots for.
Cornish From United Kingdom, joined Feb 2005, 8187 posts, RR: 55 Reply 3, posted (5 years 9 months 2 weeks 3 days ago) and read 2943 times:
and an interesting development given that the runway length is consdeirably shorter than the 2000m they normally expect in order to operate their 737-800s. I suspect they will move in and then demand a runway extension in order to expand their services - otherwise they'd be significantly payload limited....
Just when I thought I could see light at the end of the tunnel, it was some B*****d with a torch bringing me more work
KL911 From Ireland, joined Jul 2003, 4993 posts, RR: 13 Reply 4, posted (5 years 9 months 2 weeks 3 days ago) and read 2899 times:
Quoting Cornish (Reply 3): otherwise they'd be significantly payload limited....
Is that that important considering FR doesn't transport cargo, and hold luggage is limited to 15kg pp? To be honoust, on FR I normally only take handluggage anyway, as do most people ( On flight's I've been on then ex EIN and NRN.
Joost From Netherlands, joined Apr 2005, 3131 posts, RR: 4 Reply 5, posted (5 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 23 hours ago) and read 2899 times:
Quoting Cornish (Reply 3): I suspect they will move in and then demand a runway extension
Isn't that nearly impossible in the UK, to build new runways or runway extensions?
Indeed, the runway is quite short, but it shouldn't be a problem for the UK routes. Maybe they don't have more ambition than serving the UK ex BHD? Considering it's only a 1-airplane base to start with, it seems like a base like ORK.
Door5Right From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2005, 707 posts, RR: 18 Reply 6, posted (5 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 2796 times:
The real story here has to be what sort of deal has Belfast City Airport done with Ryanair. Mr O'Leary does not move into any airport unless there is a deal going!
According to UTV, Mr O'Leary stated "Once the extension is in place in the next 12-18 months, then we will be introducing sexy destinations like Barcelona, Rome and Paris."
Clearly City Airport, correction, George Best Belfast City Airport to give it the full name, is hoping the arrival of Ryanair will help put pressure on the planning authorities to seek approval for an extension. I foresee a bit of a battle with local residents ahead.
The opening offers of 0.01p plus £9.99 taxes makes a one way £10 are certainly going to sell out fast. London Stansted for £20 return is a bargain. The "applicable taxes, passenger service charge and insurance surcharge" added to any base Bmi fare are a whopping £64.10 now!
These are interesting times in the civil aviation industry in this part of the world! Take advantage and come see one of the greatest cities on earth - a pint of the foaming black velvet (that's Guinness to those who do not know) partaken in the genuine gas lit Victorian splendour of the Crown Liquor Saloon will be worth the journey alone!
OA260 From Ireland, joined Nov 2006, 25118 posts, RR: 60 Reply 7, posted (5 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 22 hours ago) and read 2796 times:
Airport's runway extension plans
The George Best Belfast City airport wants to extend its runway to allow Ryanair to fly to more destinations.
As well as three previously announced European routes, the airline said it would be offering four daily flights to London Stansted.
But Chief Executive Michael O'Leary says this is dependant on the changes.
Mr O'Leary added that residents who fear further annoyance should be aware of the new quieter aircraft his company plans to use.
"Ryanair will fly in here with the band new Boeing 737-800 series aircraft," he said.
"This is the quietest, most fuel efficient aircraft flying in Europe today."
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
Nighthawk From UK - Scotland, joined Sep 2001, 4992 posts, RR: 38 Reply 8, posted (5 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 2735 times:
Quoting Cornish (Reply 3): and an interesting development given that the runway length is consdeirably shorter than the 2000m they normally expect in order to operate their 737-800s. I suspect they will move in and then demand a runway extension in order to expand their services - otherwise they'd be significantly payload limited....
Ryanair started operating from ABZ this year, according to http://www.world-airport-codes.com the runway at ABZ is just 2ft longer than BHD. Ryanair flights to Dublin and Liverpool have been payload restricted, with the front 4 rows often cordened off.
757lgw From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2003, 152 posts, RR: 3 Reply 10, posted (5 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 2677 times:
Quoting Nighthawk (Reply 8): Ryanair flights to Dublin and Liverpool have been payload restricted, with the front 4 rows often cordened off.
This is incorrect. The flights are not payload restricted, they are far too short for that.
You may have flown with us and found rows 1-6 and 29-33 blocked off or rows 2&3 blocked off but never 1-4.
We sometimes will block off rows 1-6 and 29-33 ( rule 2 ) or we will block of rows 2&3 (rule 1) this is just for weight balance on thoose flights which are not fully booked and it is done to ensure our weight is central.
It is done to ensure people dont just get on throught the front door and take the front rows on flights that are only half full as this would make the aircraft nose heavy.
Joost From Netherlands, joined Apr 2005, 3131 posts, RR: 4 Reply 11, posted (5 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 2665 times:
Quoting Humberside (Reply 9): There will now be 2 LPL-BHD flights - but in one direction they are only 20 minutes apart
Strange indeed. I expect, however, that they will change the flight operated by the LPL aircraft, to be rescheduled to the evening. These kind of reschedulings are quite common for Ryanair after they open a base that first only was a destination.
When they opened the NRN base, the first schedule loaded had strange timings for the STN-NRN flights (that used to be operated by STN-aircraft). After a couple of days, a new schedule was loaded (with everything operated by NRN aircraft) that made more sense. I'd re-check in a week.
TOMfly From United Kingdom, joined Nov 2004, 73 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (5 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 2528 times:
Must be a first! Ryanair flying into the central city airport, and easyJet flying to Aldergrove, some 45 minutes away!! Whats the world coming to!?!?!?! I've been hearing rumours of an Edinburgh base this week, up to 18 routes being added. Its all around Edinburgh Airport, I think FR are trying to get the landing fees lowered! This would be great news for EDI!
RussianJet From Kazakhstan, joined Jul 2007, 6348 posts, RR: 23 Reply 13, posted (5 years 9 months 2 weeks 2 days 16 hours ago) and read 2500 times:
Quoting Door5Right (Reply 6): According to UTV, Mr O'Leary stated "Once the extension is in place in the next 12-18 months, then we will be introducing sexy destinations like Barcelona, Rome and Paris."
Wow, since when did FR fly to BCN, and CDG or ORY? Or does he mean 'sexy' destinations like Girona and Beauvais?
✈ Every strike of the hammer is a blow against the enemy. ✈
Cjbmibe From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2006, 108 posts, RR: 0 Reply 14, posted (5 years 9 months 2 weeks 12 hours ago) and read 2273 times:
As I mentioned in Irish 37 FR had loaded x3 STN flights by 1st September into our movements log cause thats when we found them. Then on Thursday, without warning 2 hours before they landed we got told MOL was coming in from DUB. The flight wasnt on our mayflys, yet every other scheduled, charter and positioner were.
The cameras were around and after about 5 minutes of it on the ground MOL emerged in a Northern Ireland football shirt with BEST 11 on the back and 2 big posters "Ulster Says NO to High Fares" and "OUR NEW BASE - BELFAST". Got a fair few pics of it all going on. During his time in Belfast City he announced x4 STN flights.
Quoting N272WA (Reply 1): Quoting Joost (Thread starter):
Ryanair has decided to move to BHD after slots became available after ABs withdrawl.
Correct me if I am wrong, but Ryanair had decided to start flying from BHD well before AB announced their departure.
Air Berlin pulled out as a result of the STN landing fee changes (other casulties MAN, GLA, EDI?). FR announced STN using previous AB slots and others they've got/acquired. FR had announced LPL, EMA and PIK in July.
The runway extension has been on the cards for years but nobody has really pushed for it. Terminal extension is what we really need, more lounge space, more baggage belts - even right now we cant cope. Flybe are very concerned about the impending meltdown. We've got 10 proper stands and currently 11 night stoppers - LCY is put down on the old apron, but who else is going down there???
Its on the BBC Northern Ireland news site somewhere that a resident from Kinegar has offered to let MOL stay the night in her house. Kinegar has been at the end of the runway for years but the airport was there first even if it wasnt as busy. Kinegar residents are the moaniest people about. MOL will walk all over them. They're rejects from Holywood - one of the most affluent small towns in Northern Ireland. One resident nearby has his own helipad - City Tower get complaints from surrounding residents about the helicopter, its nothing to do with the tower, they only deal with arrivals, departures and overflys of our airspace.
It was suggested that FR would serve its respective airports proclaiming to be Rome, Barcelona, Paris, Brussels and some other European destinations a long time ago. It is still very much up for talk. From BHD currently there's only RNS and JER outside the mainland and Ireland served on direct schedule flights, CDG is served via CWL - pax do not change planes, all with flybe. Flybe may start further Eurpean flights with the arrival of our 195's in October.
About the current runway - I've been told BD had the software in thier 321's modified so that speedbrakes may be applied before they touchdown as our runway is so short. Dont know how true this is.
How can I soar like an Eagle when I have to work with these turkeys?
7LBAC111 From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2004, 2566 posts, RR: 43 Reply 16, posted (5 years 9 months 2 weeks 1 hour ago) and read 2119 times:
Quoting Cjbmibe (Reply 14): Terminal extension is what we really need, more lounge space, more baggage belts - even right now we cant cope. Flybe are very concerned about the impending meltdown.
This is very true. Security in BHD is slow, very slow, with only two channels operating. The security queues regularly intrude on the terminal, which is already cramped. Airside, the facilities are not sufficient, in my opinion, for the demand that FR services will put on the infrastructure. At peak times, travelling from what was once heralded as the hassle free option for Belfast, will be far from hassle free.
BFS is by far and away, superior in facilities and is only 35-45mins from Belfast, is not really that far away, when you consider Stansteds proximity to London, and other FR destinations. There are IIRC plans to try to resurrect the rail services through Lisburn in the mid-term,connecting Belfast with the terminal.
BHD is severley space restricted, and as pointed out already, needs some serious investment to even maintain its current standard, let alone improve.
7L
Debate is what you put on de hook when you want to catch de fish.
Dangould2000 From UK - Scotland, joined Dec 2005, 172 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 2026 times:
Any idea on a BHX base??
i will start working for them soon, and they currently want me up at PIK, being able to base at BHX would be great, cause i could move close to family again,
CJBMIBE From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2006, 108 posts, RR: 0 Reply 19, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 1944 times:
There are 3 security channels, although usually there is only 2 open.
There is an old xray machine going spare - From the troubles when everyones baggage was screened entering the terminal. The xray machine was moved from the door a few months ago and put under the stairs. There is space to extend central search to under the stairs as the Cusine De France deli has closed.
There are two spare lounges upstairs past the flybe executive lounge. Strangely enough called Lounge 2 and 3, ex BA and Gill Airways business lounges.
The terminal was designed by the architetcts for 5 million pax, due to the 3 million restriction on movements they scaled it down - with no further expansion in mind.
Ryanair is going to be a real test for the airport. I think we can do it, but we urgently need money to be spent. I've been told that the old handling contracts through BCA subcontracted to Aviance are up and all we're waiting on is some signatures so that Aviance will get a direct contract with all airlines. FR and BE have both signed. Once all the airlines are signed up it shouldnt be too long before more equipment arrives, but the baggage belts are still the airports responsibility.
For now its hard enough to deliver the bags to our 2 belts arrivals and departures. Departues is madness, with only 2 staff in there most of the time its hard to keep the belts clear, when AB's STN is coming down in addtion to BE's flights the belt is full non stop.
Arrivals is just as bad, MAN, STN, LHR, CWL/CDG, VRN, ORK and GWY are delivered to Belt 1 most of the time. Our performance is monitored thourgh a computer system being told the first and last bags being delivered from each destination. On Saturdays when LHR, VRN and MAN come in around the same time its not fun as theres only space for 2 vehicles to pull up. Belt 2 has the other flights and 3 positions but doesnt take non-UK or large flights. My money is on FR flights using Belt 1 in addition to the others lasted above.
How can I soar like an Eagle when I have to work with these turkeys?
Boeing74741R From United Kingdom, joined Apr 2007, 1104 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 1944 times:
Quoting RussianJet (Reply 13):
Wow, since when did FR fly to BCN, and CDG or ORY? Or does he mean 'sexy' destinations like Girona and Beauvais?
Just my thoughts.
Here are more examples of 'sexy' destinations in Mr O'Leary's books...
Frankfurt = Hahn
Rome = Ciampino
Venice = Treviso
Barcelona = Girona or Reus (or in the case of LPL both)
Glasgow = Prestwick
Brussels = Charleroi
Copenhagen = Malmo, Sweden
Dusseldorf = Niederrhein
Stockholm = Skavsta/Vasteras
Alicante South = Murcia (although to be fair they now serve ALC alongside MJV)
Yeah right, very 'sexy'!
Wait until it starts long-haul operations and you'll get names like Miami (Fort Lauderdale), Kingston (Montego Bay), or the classic one which made me laugh when I once read it...New York (Keflavik). Until then expect something like Funchal (Porto Santo).
Well MIA (FLL) I could forgive him for as its not that far LOL....
I just hope they dont clog the security lines at BHD, hopefully they will consider a Fast track lane for BMI's J class and BE's Y+ pax. so that you pass your time in the lounges and not at the x ray machines!!
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
Rightwayup From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2001, 86 posts, RR: 0 Reply 22, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 17 hours ago) and read 1864 times:
Based on some of Ryanairs "reported" low level exploits (not to mention those that did not reach the authorities), the good people of Belfast could get some entertainment value from this base being opened.
Cjbmibe From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2006, 108 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (5 years 9 months 1 week 6 days 15 hours ago) and read 1803 times:
He's already offended the British... their first advert in the paper was of 2 notable republicans claiming that "Ryanairs fares are so low even the British Army flew home". Many people here have friends in the British Army and for they to be making a joke about the army ending its occupation here is not good for the majority of his target audience, people in Northern Ireland.
The British Army recuited from Nothern Ireland and had bases here, not just for the troubles but for training and exercises. I think theres still some soldiers left here, but they dont actually patrol or carry out any security services as the once did.
How can I soar like an Eagle when I have to work with these turkeys?
Occupation?? And there was me thinking they were there to stop both sides killing eachother ....
MOL certainly has a way with adverts...
OLYMPIC AIR - ΟΛΥΜΠΙΑΚΗ "Η ΕΛΛΑΔΑ ΨΗΛΑ" "GREECE FLYING HIGH"
25 Cjbmibe: Maybe FR might make FR181Y a permanent fixture in the future... it was the positioner that MOL came in on from DUB. Its not really a viable flight but
26 OA260: Haha well unless he or she wants to rack up some FF miles then it is totally stupid . Its only 2 hours by train city center to city center. I can und
27 Joost: Like I thought, this has just happened. New timings are: Morning flight by BHD aircraft: BHD-LPL 0955-1045 LPL-BHD 1110-1200 Evening flight by LPL ai
28 Door5right: I think you will find the business community is more concerned with Flybe's reliability! Only a question of time now I suppose before Ryanair are adv
29 Awthompson: Thanks for the great publicity for Belfast. Very well put. That was my initial thought. I flew on the A321's quite a bit and never saw that happening
30 KL911: You might not seem to find them sexy, but I do. Out of those destinations most are actually better for me then the 'official airport' . Rome-Ciampino
31 Joost: You mean the book by Alan Ruddock, or another one? I'm currently half-way the Ruddock book, entertaining to read for sure.
32 KL911: Yep, bought it too. It's a really good book about a very very smart man. Without MOL everybody would still be ripping us off selling tickets for ridi
33 Awthompson: I have returned the book now to the friend who let me read it and I cannot remember now who wrote it. I thought actually the author was a female. It
34 OA260: Very well put . Things look very promising for the future in all aspects but especially in tourism and aviation.
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