Let's face it, most people that go to the Middle East go to Dubai so anything other than EK would be a slight disappointment although still a very nice addition for BRS. Maybe I'm biased as I couldn't see me using a Qatar flight over Emirates or Etihad.
I agree that SAS, Finnair, Air France, Swiss etc would be a higher priority for connectivity purposes from our little foggy airport on a hill given that BHX and LHR are just over an hour away and already have the ME flights.
 
Let's face it, most people that go to the Middle East go to Dubai so anything other than EK would be a slight disappointment although still a very nice addition for BRS. Maybe I'm biased as I couldn't see me using a Qatar flight over Emirates or Etihad.
I agree that SAS, Finnair, Air France, Swiss etc would be a higher priority for connectivity purposes from our little foggy airport on a hill given that BHX and LHR are just over an hour away and already have the ME flights.
A lot of people use the MEB3 for travel to Australasia and Asia.

We've used Emirates for six return trips in the last six years to Melbourne and the service can be variable, and DXB can be a nightmare when changing flights. It's crowded, poorly signed and it's usually necessary to transfer by train between the older part of terminal 3 and the newer A380 Concourse because there isn't room for all the 380s at the 380 Concourse.

A look at Skytrax (not the most scientific tool I admit) shows that Etihad has an overall score of 5/10, Emirates 6/10 and Qatar 8/10.

Next time we visit Oz we are seriously looking at using Qatar. It would be Sod's Law if they suddenly announced a BRS route after we'd booked from somewhere else but I don't think that is likely, in near future at least.
 
A lot of people use the MEB3 for travel to Australasia and Asia.

We've used Emirates for six return trips in the last six years to Melbourne and the service can be variable, and DXB can be a nightmare when changing flights. It's crowded, poorly signed and it's usually necessary to transfer by train between the older part of terminal 3 and the newer A380 Concourse because there isn't room for all the 380s at the 380 Concourse.

A look at Skytrax (not the most scientific tool I admit) shows that Etihad has an overall score of 5/10, Emirates 6/10 and Qatar 8/10.

Next time we visit Oz we are seriously looking at using Qatar. It would be Sod's Law if they suddenly announced a BRS route after we'd booked from somewhere else but I don't think that is likely, in near future at least.
Have you ever used BA or Qantus from Heathrow?
 
I've flown Qantas LHR to DXB. It was a codeshare with Emirates so the interior of the A380 was completely unbranded. It was weird.
Not a fan of Dubai airport either. Awful place, but that was mainly due to the speed of the 1 guy at passport control.
On the other hand, Abu Dhabi is amazing and Etihad IMO is the best airline to fly with. I know nothing about skytrax but I don't intend to rely on them if they consider Etihad to be a 5/10 airline!

Maybe I will fly BRS to Doha in 2022 for the World Cup (now there's a sentence I never thought I would say for a couple of reasons!)
 
I've flown Qantas LHR to DXB. It was a codeshare with Emirates so the interior of the A380 was completely unbranded. It was weird.
Not a fan of Dubai airport either. Awful place, but that was mainly due to the speed of the 1 guy at passport control.
On the other hand, Abu Dhabi is amazing and Etihad IMO is the best airline to fly with. I know nothing about skytrax but I don't intend to rely on them if they consider Etihad to be a 5/10 airline!

Maybe I will fly BRS to Doha in 2022 for the World Cup (now there's a sentence I never thought I would say for a couple of reasons!)
Etihad is another on our list if we decide to try someone other than Emirates. Have never tried Qantas or BA from LHR (only short haul with BA). Our travel agent (a well-known High Street long haul specialist) has always managed to get us the best deals (we are flexible with dates which helps) with Emirates and it's invariably through Gatwick.

Skytrax arrives at its marks as an average of marks given by its contributors when they submit trip reports. Obviously it's going to be very subjective - like Trip Advisor.
 
I have flown Emirates , Etihad and Qatar all from London Onwards to points East and i always try to use Qatar where ever possible as in my opinion they are leaps and bounds above the other two. I agree your take on Dubai , terrible place ! ,Abu Dhabi a little better but Hammad being a new airport is the best by far .
I really dont enjoy almost having to use Heathrow and all the related extra costs involved .
I do hope if we do ever get a middle east connection at Bristol its Qatar.
 
Middle East

Now that Qatar Airways has chosen CWL for its south west British airport it really does leave BRS in a bit of a pickle so far as the extremely important Middle East sector is concerned. Although Qatar itself might not be quite the popular final destination that is Dubai, connectivity to Asia and Australasia via the ME is gaining in economic importance by the month, and the VFR market is also a busy one.

That self-promoting, so-called aviation sage, one Simon Calder, said on the day that the CWL-Qatar news was released: "It (BRS) has been actively seeking a Gulf-based airline, and is likely now to redouble its efforts to attract Emirates of Dubai or Etihad of Abu Dhabi".

Well, he can't have realised that Emirates only operates A380s and B777s neither of which could operate to the ME from BRS and Etihad, although operating A320 and A321 aircraft with orders for the neo version of both as well as orders for the A350-900 and A350-1000 variants, doesn't yet serve BHX. So if some of the 320s/321s or even the A350s could operate to Abu Dhabi off the BRS runway (and I have no idea whether they could). They do have (I think) B 787-9s but it's not likely that BRS would be ahead of BHX in the queue even if the 9 variant could operate from BRS.

On another thread in the BRS section of this forum it's been suggested that BRS's best option for eastern long-haul connectivity is now via the hubs although that would often entail two en-route stops/change of aircraft to reach Asia or Australasia instead of the one which is normally the case from the UK with the MEB3. It looks as though that is now the only option unless everyone in the catchment is content to travel to another UK airport to begin their journey.

Perversely, long-haul charter is beginning to flex its muscles with TUI getting things together. Welcome as this is, in my view it cannot compare with a regular ME service with one of the major ME airlines.

So far as NYC is concerned, with the reported drop-off in UK-USA journeys a restored link to the Big Apple is probably further away than ever.
 
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So far as NYC is concerned, with the reported drop-off in UK-USA journeys a restored link to the Big Apple is probably further away than ever
Could there be an opportunity for Norwegian? There was that rumour about 2 737s on the dried fruit forum and Norwegian operates them and they seem to be like Ryanair and create their own demand. Norwegian also do operate the 787 8 and are starting to expand with more flights to the Far East.
 
Middle East

Now that Qatar Airways has chosen CWL for its south west British airport it really does leave BRS in a bit of a pickle so far as the extremely important Middle East sector is concerned. Although Qatar itself might not be quite the popular final destination that is Dubai, connectivity to Asia and Australasia via the ME is gaining in economic importance by the month, and the VFR market is also a busy one.

That self-promoting, so-called aviation sage, one Simon Calder, said on the day that the CWL-Qatar news was released: "It (BRS) has been actively seeking a Gulf-based airline, and is likely now to redouble its efforts to attract Emirates of Dubai or Etihad of Abu Dhabi".

Well, he can't have realised that Emirates only operates A380s and B777s neither of which could operate to the ME from BRS and Etihad, although operating A320 and A321 aircraft with orders for the neo version of both as well as orders for the A350-900 and A350-1000 variants, doesn't yet serve BHX. So if some of the 320s/321s or even the A350s could operate to Abu Dhabi off the BRS runway (and I have no idea whether they could). They do have (I think) B 787-9s but it's not likely that BRS would be ahead of BHX in the queue even if the 9 variant could operate from BRS.

On another thread in the BRS section of this forum it's been suggested that BRS's best option for eastern long-haul connectivity is now via the hubs although that would often entail two en-route stops/change of aircraft to reach Asia or Australasia instead of the one which is normally the case from the UK with the MEB3. It looks as though that is now the only option unless everyone in the catchment is content to travel to another UK airport to begin their journey.

Perversely, long-haul charter is beginning to flex its muscles with TUI getting things together. Welcome as this is, in my view it cannot compare with a regular ME service with one of the major ME airlines.

So far as NYC is concerned, with the reported drop-off in UK-USA journeys a restored link to the Big Apple is probably further away than ever.
I agree with most of your points TLY... The TUI long haul routes have had their shine taken off them a little with the Qatar CWL announcement.
Would be interesting to know where mr Calders info comes from, he should surely know that Emirates are a no go aircraft wise. As for Ethiad, well BRS are 787 ready and as the CEO said, getting A350 ready (don't know if variants make a difference here) That would fit with their fleet. In terms if BHX, that could be interesting... BHX don't have the passenger through put the MAN does who manage to support all three of the big gulf carriers. So, they make think with Qatar and a 3 times daily Emirates service out of BHX, there wouldn't be enough business to also support them.. if you then look south you have 7+ million passengers out of bristol to pick up with the closest competition, Qatar in CWL...

I guess at the end of the day we will have to wait and see. I for one would like to see a BRS comment on the Qatar announcement...

Finally, do we think TCX have given up on BRS for a longhaul route?
 
I guess at the end of the day we will have to wait and see. I for one would like to see a BRS comment on the Qatar announcement...
Problem is what do they say? We lost out to our smaller competitor? If they mention anything about CWL being government owned it will appear sour grapes. All they can really say is 'we are disappointed and continue to strive to attract more airlines to BRS in the future'. Just generic press stuff. What they should do is try to do a media campaign about the TOM long haul routes to promote what BRS has.
 
Finally, do we think TCX have given up on BRS for a longhaul route?
As there is no CWL-MCO flight for next year it looks like TCX might have decided to surrender the south west long haul to TOM. Though i do think even with TOM's BRS service CWL could sustain MCO monthly but the like of Cancun i'm not sure the area could sustain 2 operators on it.
 
I think that Emirates is reducing its BHX programme from 3 x daily to 2 x daily so it's possible that Etihad might be looking at that airport.

The word was that TCX gave up on its BRS thoughts (with a A330) once TOM announced they were returning with their own Florida and Mexico services.

I wondered about the BRS management saying something publicly about not getting the Qatar service but when I mulled it over I thought, as Jerry says, what could they say other than they are disappointed not to have picked up the route and will continue to try to get a ME carrier. In the recent magazine article the BRS CEO effectively ruled out Emirates when he admitted that the B777 could not operate out of BRS.

I even pondered sending Robert Sinclair an email asking him what BRS is going to do now as the chances of landing a ME direct link seem slim, but I could write his reply before I sent the email. We are still committed to getting such a route and will be working hard to do so - or something along those lines.
 
Personally and I hope I'm wrong but I think bristols long haul chances have passed. We had a New York service and we lost a chance of a Middle East service. I think there needs to be a re focus on our short haul network notably to the big European hubs. I cannot understand why klm do not offer higher capacity or frequency plus I think extra effort is needed to secure a Zurich service plus as a curveball what about Icelandair with its excellent North American connections . Wow cannot be relied upon for those who wish to plan ahead.
 
Personally and I hope I'm wrong but I think bristols long haul chances have passed. We had a New York service and we lost a chance of a Middle East service. I think there needs to be a re focus on our short haul network notably to the big European hubs. I cannot understand why klm do not offer higher capacity or frequency plus I think extra effort is needed to secure a Zurich service plus as a curveball what about Icelandair with its excellent North American connections . Wow cannot be relied upon for those who wish to plan ahead.
If Icelandair operated from BRS i would seriously look at using it as they have a flight to PDX a couple of times a week and are daily to SEA and have a codeshare with Alaska Airlines among other airlines. WOW lacks that.
For KLM they would have to change over to mainline on at least 2 daily flights as cityhopper is overstretched as it's had to wet lease 2 Cityjet aircraft to cover some of it's services.
 
As another curveball, what about Oman Air? I've got to admit I know very little about them though
 
As another curveball, what about Oman Air? I've got to admit I know very little about them though
They do have 787 8s but only serve 7 destinations in Europe. LHR and MAN are the 2 UK ones and there network is nowhere near as big as the ME3. They don't serve Australia at all.
 
I think everyone is getting very negative about the chance of an meb3 route , we need a more positive 'Les Wilson' attitude here !
The Bristol management should be ( and proably are ) on the phone to Etihad stright away and selling Bristol ! saying they think Qatar have made a mistake and we know Bristol can put far more bums on seats than Cardiff and far more premium bums on seats ! and here is the evidence , which we all know is true ! you have the right aircraft (b.787-9 ) and have an oppurtunity here to wipe the floor with your major competitor .
Although the Qatar service is great news for Cardiff and Wales in general it really makes no difference to the millions to the South and West of Bristol still having to travel to Heathrow to access an meb3 route .Heathrow being quicker to get to ,more frequent in connections and almost certainly cheaper than Cardiff
 
I think everyone is getting very negative about the chance of an meb3 route , we need a more positive 'Les Wilson' attitude here !
The Bristol management should be ( and proably are ) on the phone to Etihad stright away and selling Bristol ! saying they think Qatar have made a mistake and we know Bristol can put far more bums on seats than Cardiff and far more premium bums on seats ! and here is the evidence , which we all know is true ! you have the right aircraft (b.787-9 ) and have an oppurtunity here to wipe the floor with your major competitor .
Although the Qatar service is great news for Cardiff and Wales in general it really makes no difference to the millions to the South and West of Bristol still having to travel to Heathrow to access an meb3 route .Heathrow being quicker to get to ,more frequent in connections and almost certainly cheaper than Cardiff

You might be right there, let's hope so.

Another curved ball would be Gulf Air they have A.330 s and A.321 s

Very much doubt it, GF are losing money hand over fist. A few years back it was $1m a day, less now. They can't find anything more than an acting CEO. From personal experience flights out of LHR are rarely full in Y, J class even less populated. Connections mostly limited to the sub continent. They are a pale shadow of their former greatness, sad really.
 
You might be right there, let's hope so.



Very much doubt it, GF are losing money hand over fist. A few years back it was $1m a day, less now. They can't find anything more than an acting CEO. From personal experience flights out of LHR are rarely full in Y, J class even less populated. Connections mostly limited to the sub continent. They are a pale shadow of their former greatness, sad really.
yes i did say it was a curved ball ! but i must admit i didnt realise they were in such a bad way .
 

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