Emirates could be the next airline to be targeted by Belfast International in its bid to open up new long-haul routes, it emerged today.
Contacts are understood to have been made with the Dubai-based carrier, one of the fastest growing airlines in the world.
The management team at Aldergrove is keen to build on its success in attracting Continental Airlines to start a service to New York.
Now the airport’s owners are looking east, and hoping to encourage Emirates to add Belfast to its network.
It is understood an introductory meeting was held last month between representatives of Belfast International and a team from Emirates.
They held informal discussions at the annual new routes conference, which this year took place in Madrid in Spain.
Albert Harrison, the MD of Belfast International, said they hoped to attract more business to Aldergrove.
He confirmed meetings had been held with a major airline which he said had approached the Belfast International team.
Mr Harrison declined to name the carrier, but it is understood to be Emirates, which operates a network of routes in the Middle East, Asia and Australia.
Mr Harrison did confirm that the airline showing interest was based in the Middle East. He said Belfast International was perfectly placed to handle extra traffic, with its round-the-clock operation.
Planning permission is in place which would enable the airport to increase its passenger numbers from this year’s total of 4.5 million to 10 million.
Within Europe, Belfast International is already homing in on Germany and Italy as the next two countries to which routes will be opened up.
Mr Harrison predicted that once New York was bedded down, there might be a period of consolidation.
The aim is to build up the business market, which accounts for 40% of traffic from Aldergrove, but for 60% in the case of flights to and from Dublin.
Key to Aldergrove’s progress is the Government’s Air Route Development fund, which is helping get the New York service off the ground.
ARD is providing Continental with start-up funding for three years which will help defray landing charges.
Bill McGinnis, chairman of ARD, said the £4m fund was still in a position to help with the development of more routes.
Since the fund was set up in September last year nine new routes have been opened up from Northern Ireland, five of which have secured funding.
http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/business_telegraph/story.jsp?story=571051
That would be really great news for BFS, a great addition to the new Continental service.
By: andrewm - 11th October 2004 at 23:06
If this comes true, and im with Dee747 on this one as it could be alot of hot air which people will believe after CO annoucement, i will definetly be purchasing a ticket on this flight no matter the price. Amazing chance to experience one of the worlds best airlines!
Also:
Within Europe, Belfast International is already homing in on Germany and Italy as the next two countries to which routes will be opened up.
Now what have i been saying about what my contacts said about Germany 😉
By: andrewm - 11th October 2004 at 23:06
If this comes true, and im with Dee747 on this one as it could be alot of hot air which people will believe after CO annoucement, i will definetly be purchasing a ticket on this flight no matter the price. Amazing chance to experience one of the worlds best airlines!
Also:
Within Europe, Belfast International is already homing in on Germany and Italy as the next two countries to which routes will be opened up.
Now what have i been saying about what my contacts said about Germany 😉
By: mongu - 11th October 2004 at 22:05
Some Emirates predicted UK routes:
4 daily to Robin Hood Donny airport
2 daily to Nottingham East Mids
5 daily to Manston, sorry London Manston
I kid you not, wait for the announcements. I mean though how many more Emirates flights to the UK? For heavens sake, wither the desert is full of Brummies and Mancunians or they are all connecting to BKK and looking for Thai Brides!
What do you think the market is like for a UK region to:
Middle East/Indian subcontinent
Far East
Australia
The three regions I’ve mentioned cover 3/5 of the long haul market (ie. missing the Americas and Africa).
I’d say it’s pretty high demand. Nobody else (NOBODY ELSE) flies to the ME, Far East or Australia from regional airports. I think the other airlines are stupid to ignore this. BA point blank refuses to fly anywhere from any airport other than Thiefrow, BMI is a joke for long haul, as is Virgin….they’re all London-centric and only go to a very very small number of locations around the world. Other global airlines have a good network, but they’ve got BA-itis and refuse to serve anything other than Thiefrow.
EK has the market pretty much to itself. It used to be that people from “the regions” would fly to CDG or AMS and connect onto a longhaul flight from there. Less so nowadays. AF and KLM have limited route networks in the East, and they avoid Oz altogether.
Personally i dislike Emirates and would never ever fly them again, after a horrible experience in August. Very overrated carrier, but then again head and shoulders above any charter airline and they do provide lots of choice
Emirates are laughing all the way to the bank!
By: mongu - 11th October 2004 at 22:05
Some Emirates predicted UK routes:
4 daily to Robin Hood Donny airport
2 daily to Nottingham East Mids
5 daily to Manston, sorry London Manston
I kid you not, wait for the announcements. I mean though how many more Emirates flights to the UK? For heavens sake, wither the desert is full of Brummies and Mancunians or they are all connecting to BKK and looking for Thai Brides!
What do you think the market is like for a UK region to:
Middle East/Indian subcontinent
Far East
Australia
The three regions I’ve mentioned cover 3/5 of the long haul market (ie. missing the Americas and Africa).
I’d say it’s pretty high demand. Nobody else (NOBODY ELSE) flies to the ME, Far East or Australia from regional airports. I think the other airlines are stupid to ignore this. BA point blank refuses to fly anywhere from any airport other than Thiefrow, BMI is a joke for long haul, as is Virgin….they’re all London-centric and only go to a very very small number of locations around the world. Other global airlines have a good network, but they’ve got BA-itis and refuse to serve anything other than Thiefrow.
EK has the market pretty much to itself. It used to be that people from “the regions” would fly to CDG or AMS and connect onto a longhaul flight from there. Less so nowadays. AF and KLM have limited route networks in the East, and they avoid Oz altogether.
Personally i dislike Emirates and would never ever fly them again, after a horrible experience in August. Very overrated carrier, but then again head and shoulders above any charter airline and they do provide lots of choice
Emirates are laughing all the way to the bank!
By: clearedtoland - 11th October 2004 at 22:03
dont worry about runway length dublin sees daily a332 flights fully loaded to lax off rwy 28 which is 8800ft or sometimes rwy 16 which is 6500ft long the a332 has excellant engines giving good short field performance sometimes the lax flight takes off in the summer heat dfully loaded just over 5500-6000ft down rwy 28.i would worry about the airport it needs lots of investment and i would expect dublin to get emirates first in 2006
By: clearedtoland - 11th October 2004 at 22:03
dont worry about runway length dublin sees daily a332 flights fully loaded to lax off rwy 28 which is 8800ft or sometimes rwy 16 which is 6500ft long the a332 has excellant engines giving good short field performance sometimes the lax flight takes off in the summer heat dfully loaded just over 5500-6000ft down rwy 28.i would worry about the airport it needs lots of investment and i would expect dublin to get emirates first in 2006
By: Dee747 - 11th October 2004 at 21:49
I would, at this stage, take this report with a certain reticence. Emirates may well have approached the BFS management recently, and it would be unrealistic therefore for the management to be “shy” about publicising such a high profile approach from one of the world’s most respected carriers.
I think it should be put into perspective however, with any flight from/to Ireland as a whole, being operated from/to Dublin, which is more likely to be able to generate enough “all Ireland” traffic to sustain it. Don’t get me wrong – it would be fantastic to have this possibility turned into a reality. The idea of an Emirates A330 for example operating into BFS on a regular basis is truly mouth watering. I’ll not be holding my breath though just yet.
By: Dee747 - 11th October 2004 at 21:49
I would, at this stage, take this report with a certain reticence. Emirates may well have approached the BFS management recently, and it would be unrealistic therefore for the management to be “shy” about publicising such a high profile approach from one of the world’s most respected carriers.
I think it should be put into perspective however, with any flight from/to Ireland as a whole, being operated from/to Dublin, which is more likely to be able to generate enough “all Ireland” traffic to sustain it. Don’t get me wrong – it would be fantastic to have this possibility turned into a reality. The idea of an Emirates A330 for example operating into BFS on a regular basis is truly mouth watering. I’ll not be holding my breath though just yet.
By: BFS - 11th October 2004 at 18:01
Runway Lenths;
07/25: 2780mX45m
17/35: 1951mX45m
By: BFS - 11th October 2004 at 18:01
Runway Lenths;
07/25: 2780mX45m
17/35: 1951mX45m
By: LBARULES - 11th October 2004 at 17:58
[QUOTE=GLA767]
Some Emirates predicted UK routes:
4 daily to Robin Hood Donny airport
2 daily to Nottingham East Mids
5 daily to Manston, sorry London Manston
Are they wanting to turn things around for the worse?
He was been sarcastic :rolleyes:
By: LBARULES - 11th October 2004 at 17:58
[QUOTE=GLA767]
Some Emirates predicted UK routes:
4 daily to Robin Hood Donny airport
2 daily to Nottingham East Mids
5 daily to Manston, sorry London Manston
Are they wanting to turn things around for the worse?
He was been sarcastic :rolleyes:
By: Airline owner - 11th October 2004 at 17:58
yes LBA i was thinking of Belfast city
By: Airline owner - 11th October 2004 at 17:58
yes LBA i was thinking of Belfast city
By: Silver Snapper - 11th October 2004 at 17:57
yes, I agree that it would be great news for Belfast. What aircraft would they use as I believe Belfast has got a shortish runway????
Its longer than GLA’s?
By: Silver Snapper - 11th October 2004 at 17:57
yes, I agree that it would be great news for Belfast. What aircraft would they use as I believe Belfast has got a shortish runway????
Its longer than GLA’s?
By: GLA767 - 11th October 2004 at 17:56
[QUOTE=danairboy]Some Emirates predicted UK routes:
4 daily to Robin Hood Donny airport
2 daily to Nottingham East Mids
5 daily to Manston, sorry London Manston
Are they wanting to turn things around for the worse?
By: GLA767 - 11th October 2004 at 17:56
[QUOTE=danairboy]Some Emirates predicted UK routes:
4 daily to Robin Hood Donny airport
2 daily to Nottingham East Mids
5 daily to Manston, sorry London Manston
Are they wanting to turn things around for the worse?
By: LBARULES - 11th October 2004 at 17:51
Well if the PAX werent there, they wouldnt start the routes would they?
They will have done their research and will know what routes are going to make them money.
By: LBARULES - 11th October 2004 at 17:51
Well if the PAX werent there, they wouldnt start the routes would they?
They will have done their research and will know what routes are going to make them money.
Sign In
October 11, 2004 at 5:18 pm