I find it wired that Paris Beauvias, Cardiff and Belfast City website’s still show the routes and they are still advertising them on the Home Page of airwales.com which makes me wonder if the routes have actually been droped or if the Booking System is playing up again?

I telephoned Air Wales a few days ago and they confirmed that they had withdrawn BHD – CWL for “technical reasons” (whatever that means) and would NOT be operating the route – they did however tell me that “someone” would be operating the route but could not tell me who! – assuming that RE aren’t interested, anyone think that perhaps Air Southwest might take up the gauntlet?

When will the suspension be lifted?

Anyone’s guess I suppose – have a look at this – gives some idea of the timescale involved.

http://www.bcaagreementeippanel.com

Just an update on BHD – have been told today by a friend of a friend who works there that apparently there is a temporary suspension of all new routes pending the outcome of the Examination in Public there – a ludicrous situation if this is true but would explain the 6G withdrawal.

Do VLM count as low cost? – they have about 14 F50s – would imagine running costs would be similar to Dash8/ATR.

Don’t think the GB actually stands for Great Britain – more likely it harks back to the old “Gib Air” and their historical Gibraltar roots.

I’ve heard through the grapevine that a stretch of the Q400 is being considered – one wonders if that airframe can sustain a further stretch!

BMI’s A321s were all registered new in 1999 & 2000 so in real terms aren’t that old compared to some of the aircraft currently being operated by UK airlines!

The problems at BFS are many fold – firstly it is further away from the city it purports to serve than virtually any of the other sizeable airports in the UK & Ireland – the distance woudn’t be an obstacle were it not for the fact that both the bus and taxi fares to travel there from Belfast are seen by many as prohibitively expensive. The lack of a rail link is also an important disadvantage and it unlikely to be resolved in the forseeable future.

In addition, the current terminal building was constructed in 1964 and no amount of adding bits on here and there will substitute for what is really needed – a new terminal. Regrettably, TBI or Abertis or whatever they’re called don’t seem to be interested in committing to the substantial investment which would be required and are happy to let it tick over as at present. Presumably they’re directing most of their current capital expenditure towards improvements at Luton at the expense of the likes of BFS.

Unfortunately, until these issues are addressed at BFS, BHD will continue to capitalise on it’s undoubted convenience and modern facilities at the expense of BFS. No wonder BFS has so vehemently opposed the lifting of the passenger cap at BHD! The physical location of BFS is something it can do nothing about but the other issues could be addressed with a little effort (and money, of course!).