Pe@rson From United Kingdom, joined Jan 2001, 18822 posts, RR: 54 Reply 1, posted (4 years 2 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 6731 times:
Not surprised: hardly any competition (at present) and pretty strong demand from business/government and VFR (UK has 350,000-400,000 Iraqis). I wonder the freight demand. It would be interesting to see what fares the market could bear and also what the cost of operation would be.
"Everyone writing for the Telegraph knows that the way to grab eyeballs is with Ryanair and/or sex."
Humberside From United Kingdom, joined Dec 2005, 4900 posts, RR: 5 Reply 3, posted (4 years 2 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 6674 times:
Quoting Pe@rson (Reply 1): Not surprised: hardly any competition (at present) and pretty strong demand from business/government and VFR (UK has 350,000-400,000 Iraqis).
Plus the connection potential, especially from the US
Danfearn77 From United Kingdom, joined Jul 2008, 1780 posts, RR: 10 Reply 4, posted (4 years 2 weeks 6 days 22 hours ago) and read 6647 times:
This could be a smart move by BMI. Like Pearson said, there is little competition and there will be demand for Iraqi's living in the UK to travel to Iraq.
Eagles may soar high, but weasels dont get sucked into jet engines!
Behramjee From Canada, joined Aug 2003, 4439 posts, RR: 43 Reply 5, posted (4 years 2 weeks 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 6473 times:
Yields for sure will be high in both J and Y class cabins as would cargo.
Ideally a 3 weekly nonstop A 332 service should serve the demand needs of the market and if UA/AC/LH/CO code share with BD on this flight, it can become a gold mine route for them with yields being possibly higher than LHR-RUH-LHR !!!
ElmoTheHobo From United States of America, joined Aug 2006, 1515 posts, RR: 1 Reply 6, posted (4 years 2 weeks 6 days 21 hours ago) and read 6388 times:
British Airways applied for the rights to serve Heathrow - Baghdad after the fall of the regime in 2003. Thrice weekly 777 was the plan IIRC.
SurfandSnow From United States of America, joined Jan 2009, 2588 posts, RR: 31 Reply 7, posted (4 years 2 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 6273 times:
It sounds like BMI would like to serve Baghdad via a nearby city (Amman was mentioned as a likely candidate). Probably to avoid having crew lay over in what remains an active war zone.
Flying in the middle seat of coach is much better than not flying at all!
Theginge From United Kingdom, joined Oct 2006, 1110 posts, RR: 0 Reply 8, posted (4 years 2 weeks 6 days 20 hours ago) and read 6229 times:
Quoting Humberside (Reply 3): Nice to see bmi taking the initative here
Quoting SurfandSnow (Reply 7): It sounds like BMI would like to serve Baghdad via a nearby city (Amman was mentioned as a likely candidate). Probably to avoid having crew lay over in what remains an active war zone.
This idea is not new, well for BMI it is, but BA & BMED were looking at this way back when Saddam's regime was overthrown.
Im not either. This is typical bmi, all mouth and no trousers. They are currently unable to serve Iraq due to UK laws preventing it. So they have nothing to loose by speaking about this service as they have no intention of starting it. While I would love to see bmi prosper and grow, I call this as bmi bull.
Brian.
Next flights: MAN-ORK-LHR(EI)-MAN(BD); MAN-LHR(BD)-ORK (EI); DUB-ZRH-LAX (LX) LAX-YYZ (AC) YYZ-YHZ-LHR(AC)-DUB(BD)
BAW217 From United Kingdom, joined Jun 2007, 116 posts, RR: 0 Reply 10, posted (4 years 2 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 6055 times:
The UK DfT will NOT at this time nor any time in the upcoming years allow any UK Airline to operate to Iraq.
The Department for Transport will allow an aircraft to depart to Iraq, but it is not allow to return back due to security fears, only Military aircraft are allowed to operate to/from Iraq.
The DfT will not allow an aircraft to make an en-route stop on return from Iraq either, so you can't do a double drop eg LHR-SDA-AMM-LHR, it down but not back!
Last time I spoke to the DfT about this they told me they where not going to change thier minds!
I would say the security situation in Iraq will have to change significantly before the DfT revise this rule!
Richierich From United States of America, joined Nov 2000, 4022 posts, RR: 6 Reply 11, posted (4 years 2 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 6025 times:
Would they be able to get insurance to cover this? After all, as pointed out, its still a war zone. Aircraft coming into Baghdad (nee Saddam) International still have to perform the tight corkscrew on takeoff and landing, I believe. And even when on the ground, its no picnic - there are still plenty of opportunities the occasional insurgent rocket or grenade launcher.
Don't get me wrong, I wish it were safer and I hope there is a safe service. To my knowledge, no transport planes were actually shot down entering or leaving this airport (OK, there was the DHL A300 which returned only more or less intact), but still I wouldn't be thrilled flying in there.
Max550 From United States of America, joined Nov 2007, 1111 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (4 years 2 weeks 6 days 19 hours ago) and read 5986 times:
Quoting Richierich (Reply 11): To my knowledge, no transport planes were actually shot down entering or leaving this airport (OK, there was the DHL A300 which returned only more or less intact)
I don't know about more or less intact, granted it wasn't a write-off, but they did have a complete hydraulic failure and had it not been for the incredible skill of the flight crew it most likely would have been a crash.
FRAspotter From South Korea, joined May 2004, 2314 posts, RR: 10 Reply 15, posted (4 years 2 weeks 6 days 14 hours ago) and read 5695 times:
Quoting BAW217 (Reply 10): The DfT will not allow an aircraft to make an en-route stop on return from Iraq either, so you can't do a double drop eg LHR-SDA-AMM-LHR, it down but not back!
A bit off topic but this is regarding Baghdad Intl. Airport. Does the Iraqi Government have any intention in the future to change the IATA code from SDA (obvious reference to Saddam Intl. Airport) to something else? The guy's been out of power since 2003 and dead since Dec. 2006, so why would they continue to keep the name?
"Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak."
Australis From Australia, joined Feb 2009, 96 posts, RR: 0 Reply 16, posted (4 years 2 weeks 6 days 13 hours ago) and read 5301 times:
I hardly doubt we will see this route occur in the short term, considering that Baghdad and Iraq is still a hot spot and hardly doubt anyone would provide insurance incase something happens, due to increased exposure.
Sure, the demand is there, but i wouldnt be risking my airline, if i had one, flying there, thats for sure!
Kleinsim From Qatar, joined Jan 2007, 154 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (4 years 2 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 5108 times:
Quoting FRAspotter (Reply 15):
A bit off topic but this is regarding Baghdad Intl. Airport. Does the Iraqi Government have any intention in the future to change the IATA code from SDA (obvious reference to Saddam Intl. Airport) to something else? The guy's been out of power since 2003 and dead since Dec. 2006, so why would they continue to keep the name?
I could see BGW which is the city code for Baghdad. As far as I know there currently is no airport named BGW in Baghdad or anywhere else. SDA is currently the only large airport in Baghdad so it seems feasible. Interesting to ponder why they haven't gotten around to changing that yet.
Jimbobjoe From United States of America, joined Oct 2001, 640 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (4 years 2 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 5089 times:
Funny, I just read in one of the airliner's magazines about the fact that the A330 glides like a mofo--which is really great in some situations, but it's a major pain in the ass to get down to the ground quickly.
As I recall the Baghdad approach is a deep-descent corkscrew. Can the A330 do that satisfactorily?
BHMNONREV From Australia, joined Aug 2003, 1283 posts, RR: 4 Reply 19, posted (4 years 2 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 5038 times:
Quoting Richierich (Reply 11): Aircraft coming into Baghdad (nee Saddam) International still have to perform the tight corkscrew on takeoff and landing, I believe.
Quoting Jimbobjoe (Reply 18): As I recall the Baghdad approach is a deep-descent corkscrew.
This has not been done for quite some time. Occasionally you will see someone do a corkscrew descent, but it is very gradual and deliberate. For the most part all approaches are straight in now..
I still believe that in time you will find more European carriers re-start service to BGW, there is no question the demand is there. But security issues are still a big concern..
Ankaraflyjet From Turkey, joined Mar 2007, 225 posts, RR: 1 Reply 21, posted (4 years 2 weeks 6 days 10 hours ago) and read 4785 times:
BD should consider reinstating LHR-ESB and that could be extended to Baghdad. There is no safer stopover for this flight in the region other than ESB, IST or LCA.
ManchesterMAN From United Kingdom, joined Sep 2003, 1192 posts, RR: 1 Reply 22, posted (4 years 2 weeks 6 days 8 hours ago) and read 4436 times:
I guess this service would fly via somewhere else in the Middle East - most probably AMM or BEY I would have thought. In any case nothing will happen until at least this time next year and only if the security situation improves somewhat.
Pretty good at the moment. There are lots of freighters flying into BGW from SHJ/DXBAMM and a nice slice of this originates UK. Certainly more than enough to fill an A320 belly. At current rates bmi could get around GBP1.90/kg inclusive of surcharges from LHR-BGW.
Quoting FRAspotter (Reply 15): A bit off topic but this is regarding Baghdad Intl. Airport. Does the Iraqi Government have any intention in the future to change the IATA code from SDA (obvious reference to Saddam Intl. Airport) to something else? The guy's been out of power since 2003 and dead since Dec. 2006, so why would they continue to keep the name?
Just took a look at their website, had a look at the Fleet, and i dont quiet get the advertisment for discovery channels Air Crash Investigation! what airline would honestly want to advertise that in that section of their website?? Also it says a part about how most their A/C ar still grounded all over the world!
So what will the equipment be on the LHR route?
Next Trip: PER-DPS-LOP-CGK-KUL-PVG-LHR, LCY-MAD-VLC, BCN-LYS-TLS-IST-JED-KUL-SGN-CAN-MEL
25 MillwallSean: Demand might be there to Iraq, but I am not so sure about Baghdad, most ethnic travellers can already fly direct to Kurdistan and the security compan
26 OTOPS: WHY? What initiative? They applied for a route big deal. I guarantee none of the top brass at BMI will fly to Baghdad but they will be happy to send
27 Manfredj: I'd say it's much safer than the media would like you to know...if not safer than before the original (Gulf) war. Anyone can shoot down an airplane a
28 OTOPS: You keep telling yourself that. Understatement of the year!! Lemme guess, Fox News?
29 Skyhigh: Any Airline from either Britian or America would be a prime target for the insurgents. Until the Country stabilizes it is probably safer and better fo
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