Judging from the early morning rush hour traffic and travel reports on the local (NI) radio stations both the inbound Continental and Air Berlin flights are experiencing almost daily delays. This can’t be good for customer confidence, but what are the causes?
The CO 757 is scheduled to arrive in to BFS from Newark at 0830, but is late by anything between 30 – 60 minutes on an almost daily basis. I assume this is because the aircraft operating the service arrives late into Newark from its previous destination, thereby creating a knock-on for the BFS departure, rather than being continually late because of pax or aircraft problems per se in Newark. Or perhaps it’s because of the late arrival of other aircraft into EWR containing connecting pax for the BFS flight?
The AB flight however is more worrying. For a new service which only started on the 2nd May operating from STN to BHD, it is very worrying to see the daily delays on its arrival each morning. Again the flight is due into BHD at around 0845, but is usually between 30-45 minutes late. Air Berlin are making much of this new service to STN, and the fact that it links in with their other flights to Germany and Austria, but these late arrivals inevitably result in a delayed departure back to STN and a knock-on delay on their outbound flights from STN to the likes of Berlin, Dusseldorf, Vienna etc.
I don’t know the exact flight schedule, but does anyone know if the aircraft operating the BHD flight from STN has night stopped beforehand, and this is its first sector of the day, or has it arrived from a continental Europe starting point? If so, it will have been a VERY early departure. To regularly have such delays so early in the day can’t be good for the ops planners at AB, and it may well have a negative effect on AB’s hopes for an impressive, confident start to their Belfast services.
Interestingly, I see that the service is due to be operated by a 737-700 from tomorrow (1st June) instead of the F100 used so far. We’ll see ……
By: andrewm - 1st June 2006 at 14:01
In fairness on Radio Ulster and Cool (dont listen to Cr*p105 or Sh*tybeat – any non NI ppl – those are their proper names :D) and they report BHD delays more often than BFS.
By: MontyP - 1st June 2006 at 13:16
Before the CO rescheduled to arriving later into BFS the flight originated in MIA so MIA-EWR-BFS. Doubt thats the case now 🙂
By: SHAMROCK321 - 1st June 2006 at 12:26
I think alot of the CO delays are to do with the time the flight leaves EWR.
For example before CO started 2 daily to DUB the CO22 the first one was scheduled to arrive at about 0730 but was constantly late.
Now with the CO22 scheduled to arrive at 0655 its performance is much better and thr CO126 which is scheduled to arrive just after 9am is also perfroming very well,any delays it has experienced are bad ones like 2-3 hours.
As regards where the 757s originate before arriving in EWR I know the BHX flight does or did start from LAS and routed LAS-EWR-BHX.
The CO22 the EWR-DUB flight originates in IAH and routes IAH-EWR-DUB.
By: andrewm - 1st June 2006 at 12:13
Didnt CO push their Scheduled Times back because of near constant delays?
By: allmcc - 1st June 2006 at 11:09
Just a question – I thought all AB 737s were wingleted – from any photos I’ve seen of D-ABAB, it doesn’t seem to be – anyone know if only the newer ones are so fitted and, if so, are the older examples being retrofitted?
I know there was a stand space problem at BHD due to the wingspans which would mean only non-wingleted 737s can be accomodated!
By: Mark L - 1st June 2006 at 10:21
D-ABAB if anyone is interested…
By: BFS - 1st June 2006 at 10:17
737s are being used to/from BHD from today and, in fact, 800s are shown on Sat & Sun – hopefully, this will alleviate the delay problems.[/QUOTE]
Not today anyway :rolleyes: . Picked up a technical problem on pushback, but is getting ready to depart now.
By: allmcc - 1st June 2006 at 10:13
I believe the AB delays are down to the fact that the F100 operates a sector into STN from Dusseldorf, I think and then positions on to BHD – the delay really stems from a knock on from delayed departure from Dusseldorf.
737s are being used to/from BHD from today and, in fact, 800s are shown on Sat & Sun – hopefully, this will alleviate the delay problems.
By: Mark L - 1st June 2006 at 09:45
Just had a look through the ACARS logs and the turnaround in EWR really doesnt seem that arduous. Heres a list of the flights the aircraft that operates the EWR-BFS has operated during the day before it leaves for Belfast:
31st OSL-EWR
30th IAH-EWR
29th CLE-EWR
28th AMS-EWR-PBI-EWR
27th CLE-EWR
26th EDI-EWR
25th CDG-EWR
24th No flight
So it basically seems to alternate daily between a domestic central destination and a European destination.
By: Dee747 - 1st June 2006 at 09:14
I am I right in thinking that many of CO’s regional european destinations from EWR originate as US west coast departure point flights ?
Might well be true. Would appreciate if anyone with more insight than I can advise where the EWR – BFS flight originates.
Just to add as well that this morning’s CO arrival is delayed by 50 minutes again, and the AB arrival at BHD is also delayed again by 35 minutes. Of the two, I’d worry more about the one hour sector STN flight being delayed on an almost daily basis by around 50% of its scheduled flight time. This can’t be good.
By: Mark L - 1st June 2006 at 00:51
The EZY delays are routinely reported as well, but they’re not a problem in themselves – they’re just point to point sectors, and don’t link in to connecting flights and multi sectors like CO and AB. To be fair all delays over about 30 minutes are reported – there’s no bias or preference towards any airline that I’ve heard over the years.
Ahh OK fair enough, I’m sure you’ve probably listened to the traffic report once or twice more than I have 😉
By: Ren Frew - 31st May 2006 at 23:52
I’d imagine multi-sector flights are more subject to delays than point to point services ? Multi-sector timetables are as reliable as the timetable on your nearest bus stop, as knock on effects cast long shadows.
I am I right in thinking that many of CO’s regional european destinations from EWR originate as US west coast departure point flights ? LAX-EWR-GLA for example ?
By: Dee747 - 31st May 2006 at 23:10
The EZY delays are routinely reported as well, but they’re not a problem in themselves – they’re just point to point sectors, and don’t link in to connecting flights and multi sectors like CO and AB. To be fair all delays over about 30 minutes are reported – there’s no bias or preference towards any airline that I’ve heard over the years.
By: Mark L - 31st May 2006 at 23:00
However I must say I have only ever heard the CO mentioned on the radio traffic reports (not been over since the AB started). Even when the bmi flights, and in particular the EZY flights are delayed they never seem to get mentioned.
Perhaps its just a case of picking up on these services due to the large number of connections they have on them, and maybe I have just missed any bmi announcements?
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May 31, 2006 at 10:30 pm