I’ve seen many threads about other airports but haven’t seen any on Barcelona airport so I decided that my first post would be about it. What new routes and airlines do you think Barcelona Airport will see in the future? Also, what do you think about the new satellite terminal which will be built?

The most logical additions to BCN network from my point of view are:

MEX
BKK
DEL
NRT

Also I’ve seen somewhere that Saudia wants to launch RUH-JED-BCN

Luisvalero wrote:

The most logical additions to BCN network from my point of view are:

MEX
BKK
DEL
NRT

Also I’ve seen somewhere that Saudia wants to launch RUH-JED-BCN

Very much agree on that list, maybe I'd just alter the order: NRT, MEX, DEL, BKK. Likely Mexico to be the first one.

Does someone have a link for the Saudia launch?

The route shop has some relevant statistic on unserved and underserved routes from BCN:

http://www.therouteshop.com/profiles/barcelona-airport/

a350lover wrote:

Luisvalero wrote:

The most logical additions to BCN network from my point of view are:

MEX
BKK
DEL
NRT

Also I’ve seen somewhere that Saudia wants to launch RUH-JED-BCN

Very much agree on that list, maybe I'd just alter the order: NRT, MEX, DEL, BKK. Likely Mexico to be the first one.

It depends on how interested AM really is in starting the route. They recently said they are now that EK has abandoned plans for DXB-BCN-MEX https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/aeromexico-eyes-barcelona-after-emirates-cancels-mex-452141/, but I'm sceptical on what this will translate into in the short term. It's also worth pointing out that MEX is already over capacity and slot restricted, which makes opening a new route more costly since it's taking away from another operation (I think that back when they hastily opened reservations in spring they used resources that they later redirected to their MEX-PVG route, but I might be wrong on that).

On the other hand, NH has already been dipping their toes on NRT-BCN by doing a few charter flights this summer. That's how both KE and OZ started their services to ICN, and now there's scheduled service on both of them. Fingers crossed.

As for other airports, the management of Tocumen is apparently pushing hard for the opening of PTY-BCN https://twitter.com/tocumenaero/status/1044237495511273472. While there is almost no O/D traffic between Panama and Barcelona, it would open up a ton of 1-stop connections to Central and South America. However, that might take away from AM's business case.

It would be neat if BCN got a monthly traffic stats thread, especially since Twitter users like @aeropuerto_bcn already do an amazing job turning the raw data into charts. For example, here are the ones for August 2018:

Airline and long-haul route numbers: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dm5NIcwXcAAblem.jpg:large

Long-haul load factors: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dm6AHyQWwAMzRJV.jpg:large

Ethical is launching BCN in November and I wonder how they will do in the route, given that both Emirates and Qatar serve BCN several times a day

Aic97 wrote:

Ethical is launching BCN in November and I wonder how they will do in the route, given that both Emirates and Qatar serve BCN several times a day

It'll have loads probably lower than rivals at first, but good enough. Demand to the Middle East remains equal. The core there is in connections to Asia, Africa, and the East, which are for sure more than the 80% of Qatar, Emirates and Etihad market. It could run fares even more down.

J4YC3 wrote:

It would be neat if BCN got a monthly traffic stats thread, especially since Twitter users like @aeropuerto_bcn already do an amazing job turning the raw data into charts. For example, here are the ones for August 2018:

Airline and long-haul route numbers: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dm5NIcwXcAAblem.jpg:large

Long-haul load factors: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dm6AHyQWwAMzRJV.jpg:large

Totally agree, that account is great.

I could also see DFW added by american

PlymSpotter wrote:

The route shop has some relevant statistic on unserved and underserved routes from BCN:

http://www.therouteshop.com/profiles/barcelona-airport/

True, but I got a feeling the route shop is always a bit outdated. It often lists "unserved" routes that were indeed unserved a couple of years ago, but have since been filled in. They just don't catch up with that.

Main issue that Barcelona should address ASAP is OTP.

French ATC strikes, Staff strikes, ATC regulations, works underneath the runways, heavy seasonality, some of the least punctual airlines of Europe with heavy presence there, they all are items which have affected the on time performance of the airport. Barcelona needs to work on that A LOT!

PatrickZ80 wrote:

PlymSpotter wrote:

The route shop has some relevant statistic on unserved and underserved routes from BCN:

http://www.therouteshop.com/profiles/barcelona-airport/

True, but I got a feeling the route shop is always a bit outdated. It often lists "unserved" routes that were indeed unserved a couple of years ago, but have since been filled in. They just don't catch up with that.

Yes it's one of those cyclical issues - you only get out what you put in, and when airports don't update their stats, it becomes stale.

PlymSpotter wrote:

PatrickZ80 wrote:

PlymSpotter wrote:

The route shop has some relevant statistic on unserved and underserved routes from BCN:

http://www.therouteshop.com/profiles/barcelona-airport/

True, but I got a feeling the route shop is always a bit outdated. It often lists "unserved" routes that were indeed unserved a couple of years ago, but have since been filled in. They just don't catch up with that.

Yes it's one of those cyclical issues - you only get out what you put in, and when airports don't update their stats, it becomes stale.

The most up-to-date data on BCN's unserved routes comes from the Barcelona Air Route Development Committee, the airport's agency that lobbies foreign airlines to get them to start operating there. http://barcelonalinks.org/en/b2b/routesOpportunity

Thank you - a very interesting resource.

a350lover wrote:

Aic97 wrote:

Ethical is launching BCN in November and I wonder how they will do in the route, given that both Emirates and Qatar serve BCN several times a day

It'll have loads probably lower than rivals at first, but good enough. Demand to the Middle East remains equal. The core there is in connections to Asia, Africa, and the East, which are for sure more than the 80% of Qatar, Emirates and Etihad market. It could run fares even more down.

I was just asking as everyone is saying that Etihad will go bankrupt and are cancelling so many routes, so I wondered if they where really going to make the route work. Also, according to the BARDC Kuwait is a big hole in BCN’S route network, and given that they already serve AGP in Spain, I was wondering if they might as well start flying to Barcelona.

http://www.therouteshop.com/profiles/barcelona-airport/

Thanks for the link! I would say BKK is a perfect route for BCN but is way overserved by EK & QR (They offer good prices and conections so as a tourist you don't need a direct route), I don't think DEL will ever do to BCN. NRT & MEX are possible options, I think.

http://barcelonalinks.org/en/b2b/routesOpportunity

Thanks for this link, didn't know it. Will take a look.

There's another one I know just in case... http://www.aerobarcelona.com/

Let me throw a question, according to that last link, OZ was to take an A380 but it finally came with 777, what happened? ('m sorry if discused before, I only take a look from time to time lately)

mighluss wrote:

http://www.therouteshop.com/profiles/barcelona-airport/

Thanks for the link! I would say BKK is a perfect route for BCN but is way overserved by EK & QR (They offer good prices and conections so as a tourist you don't need a direct route), I don't think DEL will ever do to BCN. NRT & MEX are possible options, I think.

http://barcelonalinks.org/en/b2b/routesOpportunity

Thanks for this link, didn't know it. Will take a look.

There's another one I know just in case... http://www.aerobarcelona.com/

Let me throw a question, according to that last link, OZ was to take an A380 but it finally came with 777, what happened? ('m sorry if discused before, I only take a look from time to time lately)

The link states that Asiana will be sending their A380 to BCN during the mobile world congress instead of the usual 777. During this congress many airlines increase their capacity to BCN.

In the last two years, Barcelona has gained many international destinations, including ICN, ORD, BOS, IKA, PVG, HKG and many more. This november Etihad is starting service to AUH which will be competing with Emirates (double 380 daily) and Qatar (2/3 daily flights). What new interntional routes do you guys see being added from BCN in the next couple of years?

This winter season 23 long haul destinations will be served from BCN, an unimaginable number 5 years ago

North and South America : IAD, ATL, DFW, MEX, CUN, HAV, PUJ, PTY, SCL, GIG

Middle East: RUH, JED, MCT, KWI

India: DEL, BOM

Rest of Asia: BKK, KUL, MNL, TPE, CAN, NRT

J4YC3 wrote:

a350lover wrote:

Luisvalero wrote:

As for other airports, the management of Tocumen is apparently pushing hard for the opening of PTY-BCN https://twitter.com/tocumenaero/status/1044237495511273472. While there is almost no O/D traffic between Panama and Barcelona, it would open up a ton of 1-stop connections to Central and South America. However, that might take away from AM's business case.

Any idea who would be interested in doing this route?

And mustn't forget that AV already does BCN nonstop and pretty much connect all of northern S.A and C.A through BOG, if there is any competition to come it's already established

pipeafcr wrote:

And mustn't forget that AV already does BCN nonstop and pretty much connect all of northern S.A and C.A through BOG, if there is any competition to come it's already established

They might want LEVEL to operate there. At some point EK talked about launching flights to Panama, apparently non-stop from DXB. Who knows if now they might want to tag on the current DXB-BCN flight. Emirates is no longer interested in servicing MEX from there.

pipeafcr wrote:

Any idea who would be interested in doing this route?

And mustn't forget that AV already does BCN nonstop and pretty much connect all of northern S.A and C.A through BOG, if there is any competition to come it's already established

The only ones I can think about are Norwegian or Level, unless a Star Alliance member (edit: or EK, as a350lover nentioned) is planning to do a 5th freedom route through BCN to PTY, which I really doubt. IB code-shares with CM out of MAD, so the most likely possibility would be Level, considering they use IB's flight codes and AOC out of BCN.

Wasn't level going to announce new routes shortly?

Cathay Pacific schedules A350-1000XWB service to Barcelona from 02JUN19 to 25OCT19.

https://twitter.com/Aeropuerto_BCN/stat ... 3725231105

Instead of new long haul routes I see growth in BCN by increasing frequency as many routes are seasonal or less than daily.

Aic97 wrote:

Ethical is launching BCN in November and I wonder how they will do in the route, given that both Emirates and Qatar serve BCN several times a day

EK and QR are averaging less than 80%LF. IMO there is too much offer in BCN by ME3. I do expect EY to do far worse than EK/QR as their connecting network is weaker. Time will tell.

Aic97 wrote:

I could also see DFW added by american

No way, AA just announced 2nd daily DFW-MAD and load factors on seasonal ORD-BCN and CLT-BCN are below AA's expectations.

Luisvalero wrote:

The most logical additions to BCN network from my point of view are:MEXBKKDELNRT

DEL, BOM and even another Indian route could work as BCN-India traffic is large but I don't see either AI or 9W coming to BCN. OTOH, most of the SE Asia traffic is being funneled through DOH/DXB.

upperdeckfan wrote:

No way, AA just announced 2nd daily DFW-MAD and load factors on seasonal ORD-BCN and CLT-BCN are below AA's expectations.

That's not true... ORD-BCN is one of the AA's routes that makes more money, and the LF of this route was about 85% this year.

fjmm92 wrote:

upperdeckfan wrote:

No way, AA just announced 2nd daily DFW-MAD and load factors on seasonal ORD-BCN and CLT-BCN are below AA's expectations.

That's not true... ORD-BCN is one of the AA's routes that makes more money, and the LF of this route was about 85% this year.

You're right, AA's ORD-BCN is at about 85% LF but my point was that an AA's DFW-BCN isn't going to happen any time soon as suggested in other post.

In my opinion AA needs to establish ORD and CLT year round before considering new routes.

By the way, don't you think your statement on ORD-BCN being one of the AA's routes that makes more money is a little bit over the top considering it's not even year-round?

fjmm92 wrote:

upperdeckfan wrote:

No way, AA just announced 2nd daily DFW-MAD and load factors on seasonal ORD-BCN and CLT-BCN are below AA's expectations.

That's not true... ORD-BCN is one of the AA's routes that makes more money, and the LF of this route was about 85% this year.

Those are two different things. 85% is no good if they are all leisure pax spending only a few hundred dollars. Not implying that is the case, however.

Norwegian S19 US increases:

-BCN-EWR daily from 01/06
-BCN-LAX 5x from 04/05, 6x from 12/06

https://twitter.com/Aeropuerto_BCN/stat ... 1318121474

https://twitter.com/Aeropuerto_BCN/stat ... 9855479808

Does anyone know what it going on this week in Barcelona? (major conference?) Delta added a second daily flight for the week from JFK. Qatar is upgrading some flights from 359 to 35J.
Thanks
A

hkcanadaexpat wrote:

Does anyone know what it going on this week in Barcelona? (major conference?) Delta added a second daily flight for the week from JFK. Qatar is upgrading some flights from 359 to 35J.
Thanks
A

The Mobile World Congressis taking place this week. A lot of airlines are upgrading their flights to cover for the increased demand. For instance, Asiana is sending their A380 instead of the usual B772, Cathay upgaged the A359 to A35K, United is flying two one-off flights from SFO.
Here there are all the changes airlines are making for this week:



Credits to @Aeropuerto_BCN on Twitter.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Mobile World Congress 2019

In this tweet, you will see a lots of upgrades and special flights (spanish) https://twitter.com/Aeropuerto_BCN/stat ... 1265650690

AENA just announced that construction of the T1 satellite terminal will start in 2021 or 2022 and conclude by 2026. The satellite terminal is expected to be able to fit 17 widebodies.

Link in Spanish: https://www.cerodosbe.com/es/transporte ... 5_102.html