Archive for the ‘Birmingham airport’ Category
In response to the overwhelming demand for its Summer sun programme, Monarch has introduced two new routes this year, the first to Bodrum and the second to Corfu. From 2nd May the airline will operate twice-weekly flights from Manchester Airport to Bodrum. From 23rd May it will commence twice-weekly flights to Bodrum from both Birmingham and Gatwick. Also on the 23rd May, the airline will begin operating Luton Airport to Corfu flights, three times a week. As a result additional routes have been added to the popular destinations of Larnaca, Paphos and Tenerife from Manchester Airport. And from Gatwick Airport it will increase flights to Palma de Majorca, Paphos and Tenerife. A poll has revealed that Birmingham Airport has been the victim of the most laser attacks on passenger aircraft (so reports the Coventry Telegraph). In 2010 more than 100 attacks were reported. The attacks are when a laser device is pointed into the cockpit of an approaching aircraft, of which Birmingham Airport was subject to 109. Manchester Airport has also suffered at the hands of the lasers, with 93 attacks reported. As well as aircraft, helicopters are regularly attacked, a type of aircraft that is particularly vulnerable. From the increasing number of laser attacks seen up and down the country, a new law was introduced last year, making it an official crime to shine a light into the cockpit of an aircraft. Officials at Birmingham Airport have been urged by Transport Secretary, Philip Hammond, to continue with their plans for the airport’s runway extension. Mr Hammond has said that by continuing with the plans, Birmingham Airport can show how its new runway extension could help relieve capacity problems in the South East. He also went on to say that with the new proposed high speed 250mph rail link, Birmingham could be one of the World’s best connected airports, bringing a journey time from London to just 37 minutes.
Flybe has announced the early release of some of its most popular routes for Winter 2011-12 season. Included are sun and ski destinations from Exeter, the Isle of Man, Jersey and Southampton, as well as 10 key routes to and from London Gatwick airport. Seats are currently on sale or travel from 30th October, 2011 to January 8th, 2012. Mike Rutter, Flybe’s Chief Commercial Officer, comments: “Flybe recognises that people are keen to plan ahead for their holidays and business trips and so, because of popular demand, we have put 24 of our most popular routes on sale earlier than usual this year. We are committed to responding to our passengers’ needs so they can plan their winter travel in advance and take advantage of the lowest possible ‘early bird’ fares.” Highlights of the early bird Winter 2011-12 routes are as follows: London Gatwick
Birmingham
Exeter
Isle of Man
Jersey
Southampton
The Coventry Telegraph has reported that Birmingham Airport supports the controversial high speed rail line that is set to cut through Warwickshire. The comments come after The Taxpayer’s Alliance, the activist lobbying group, actively criticised the £17 billion route. The rail link will see 250mph trains cut the time between the Midlands and London via rail network. Head of Government and Industry Affairs, at Birmingham Airport, John Morris, said that the rail link will help use airline capacity outside of London, citing that regional airports will benefit from such high speed rail links, bringing with it opportunities outside of the South East and instead into its region. To book Birmingham airport hotels and Birmingham airport parking click on the links. Birmingham Airport has merged its Terminal One and Terminal Two to create a one terminal airport for both arrivals and departures. The new terminal building will flow all departing passengers through a new enlarged security area. There will also be a single departures area which will house self-service and manned check-in desks. Whilst inbound passengers will arrive into a dedicated single meet and greet area. Speaking about the new terminal building, Operations Director, Will Heynes, said “This £13 million project allows the airport to attract new customers as it enhances the passenger experience. It also helps us showcase the airport as the region’s global gateway.” Further airport improvements and works will include a new duty free shopping area and a fashion house, opening in the next few months. The terminal building merger is just one of many changes to the airport, being made to create double capacity of passenger numbers by 2018, as part of a £100 million investment programme over the next 10 years. To book Birmingham airport hotels and Birmingham airport parking click on the links. Lufthansa subsidiary, BMI is to take over the airline’s Manchester Airport to Frankfurt route, along with Lufthansa’s Birmingham Airport to Frankfurt route. BMI will use a refurbished Airbus A320 aircraft, offering both Economy and Business Class, inline with Lufthansa standards. The routes by BMI will commence on 27th March. To book Birmingham airport hotels and Birmingham airport parking click on the links. An important business figure for Birmingham, Mr John Rider, the Regional Chairman of the Institute of Directors, has publicly stated that whilst the high speed rail link is important to the city of Birmingham, the city’s airport runway will indeed produce much faster results. When speaking about the two transport links, he said that a runway would be built and used much faster than the slow process surrounding the construction of the high speed rail link, which is not due to begin until 2017, with trains operating by 2025. “Yes, of course we want and need the high speed network by the timescales have a serious economic impact for the project, perhaps 10 years planning and consultation, and another 10 years to build. After all, when have we ever seen one of these big projects ever run to time in this country?” he said in an interview. To book Birmingham airport hotels and Birmingham airport parking click on the links. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), the UK’s specialist aviation regulator, is conduction a two-week online survey on the travelling public’s experiences during the disruption caused to flights in November and December 2010. The survey aims to help the CAA gain a better understanding of passengers’ views about how airports, airlines and other companies operating at UK airports, met, or failed to meet, their expectations. For instance, the CAA is interested in finding out how well passengers were kept informed about the disruption and whether people were told about their rights to assistance from airlines. The survey can be accessed here: www.caa.co.uk/snowsurvey The CAA is keen to hear from as many people who experienced disruption as possible to try and build the best possible picture of what worked well and what did not, so we can work with industry to improve the situation in case of future disruptions. The CAA is also acting as an independent observer on the enquiry panel put in place by BAA to review Heathrow’s performance and establish the lessons to be learned following December’s severe weather. UK regional airline, Eastern Airways, is set move terminals at Birmingham Airport. From Tuesday 8 February, the airline will switch all operations to Terminal 2. The move coincides with the recent opening of Birmingham airport’s new centralised security facility. However, all Eastern Airways passengers will have access to a dedicated fast track security channel to avoid any queues at security search. A prominent new check-in position in Terminal 2 will be available for Eastern Airways passengers checking in for its three times a day weekday service departing from Birmingham to Newcastle. To book Birmingham airport hotels and Birmingham airport parking click on the links. |
