It seems that the airline with lots of hype and variable substance has decided to show off its muscles again, and is deploying not a 2 class 777, not a 3 class 777, not one of their clapped out A330s… but an A380 to Birmingham International Airport (BHX) for a one day promotional trip.
WTF?
Now apart from the ground logistics of handling one of these little planes, can BHX handle this thing?
Apparently, it’s something to do with the launch of the business lounge and the opening of the new International Pier at BHX to celebrate 70 years of the field.
Now there’s something remember – BHX – although serves the 2nd City of the United Kingdom, is the 7th most used airport in the UK – in other words its prime charter and LCC land due to its placement 100 miles north of Heathrow and 60 miles south of Manchester.
There are a few “traditional” carriers, and to be frank, the runway is a bit short so it can just about handle East Coast to the USA, Mid Canada and as far east as Dubai and Islamabad. Amazingly,
Currently booked as:
EK39 – DBX – BHX (08:05 – 12:35) 09/09
EK40 – BHX – DBX (15:05 – 01:05) 09/09
Oh well. Bluster and Showing Off. It’s what EK do best I suppose – but in it’ll be the first commercial deployment of an A380 to a UK airport that isn’t Heathrow.
Now how about some real service to BHX from other carriers please?
Have you actually ever been the birmingham? The airport is not LCC and charter land, there are several respected "traditional" as you put it, airlines flying there. Including:Continental AirlinesSwissUS AirwaysLufthansaKLMEmiratesSASPIATurkish AirlinesBMI RegionalAir FranceBrussels AirlinesEastern AirwaysAlso BHX will have no problem in handling the aircraft, as the new terminal is designed for large aircraft and even has double jetbridges for aircraft such as the A380. The runway is 8600ft, plenty for an A380 on a 7 hour flight. Emirates already operates twice daily 777-300ERs with over 1600 seats a day(!) available, so this is clearly an important route.So not sure where your coming from really!
hi the a380 is a brilliant plane and so is bhx if only i was there to see this plane but i saw it take off in the skies so i have seen the world largest and best passenger aircraft.