Ireland West Knock Airport goes from Strength to Strength ©

Image: Google

                                   
Ireland West Knock Airport announced 6th September it handled 90,000 passengers in August becoming the busiest month in the airport's history up 7% on August prior, continuing its positive passenger growth trend, as Ireland's fastest growing airport.

The airport continues to invest in facilities re-launching it's Departures Retail Store under the new brand name 'Shop West' on the 24th August officially by RTE personality and Senator, Mr Feargal Quinn. The opening of 'Shop West' was filmed by RTE as part of the show ‘Feargal Quinn’s Retail Therapy’ which airs in November.

On 23th July Mayo County Council approved the Local Area Plan for Ireland West Airport Knock Airport, giving  designation around the airport and a 25 hectare site for the attraction of enterprise and jobs, which is expected to create 1,000 new jobs in the medium term.  The IWAK Chairman Liam Scallon said "We believe the plan provides a new opportunity not just for Mayo  but for the whole of the West, North West and Midlands regions of Ireland, to attract jobs utilizing the airport’s presence in the region".

This winter flying schedule is now available with flights to 11 International destinations including 9 to the UK with flights to Bristol, East Midlands-Nottingham, Liverpool, London Luton & London Stansted with Ryanair, Edinburgh and Manchester with Flybe, Birmingham with Aer Lingus Regional and London Gatwick with Aer Lingus. Ryanair will also be operating a weekly flight every Thursday to Lanzarote.

Sunway Holidays will commence 23rd September a new weekly charter flight programme to Izmir in Turkey till the beginning of November, operated by Onur Air.

Irish Aviation Research Institute © 10th September 2012 All Rights Reserved.

Bmibaby's Irish Connections ©

Image: Google Images 

                                                 
Bmibaby ceased operations on Sunday 9th September 2012 after 10 years of operations having launched on 24th January 2002 headquartered in East Midlands, as the low-cost subsidary of BMI Airlines Group operating 14 Boeing 737-300/500s to 42 destinations, shortly after the BA low-cost subsidiary Go BA’s no-frills offshoot announced a new base at East Midlands airport, BMI's home.

Bmibaby was set up by BMI Airlines as a result of the structural changes which took place in the aviation industry post 9/11 , as customers became increasingly price sensitive , leading to the growth of Low-cost carriers in the European market as Buzz, Flybe, Go, Germanwings entered the competitive LCC market.

In the last 10 years the airline has been operating in the Irish market due to the strong O&D (Origin & Destination) traffic and short-break market between Ireland and the UK, however the route network over the years due to changing business requirements and market conditions.

In March 2010 the airline operated a series of charter flights from Cardiff to Dublin in connection with the RBS 6 Nations match.

The airline withdrew from the Irish market having terminated the Birmingham-Ireland West Knock route on 10th June (WW1091/2), and closed it's Belfast City Base 11th June. However Bmibaby returned to Ireland West Knock Airport on 31st July operating a once-off charter to Pau/Pyrenees.

Over the last 10 years the airline operated the following routes in the Irish market:

Birmingham-Cork
Birmingham-Ireland West Knock Airport
Cardiff-Cork
Durham/Tees Valley-Cork
Durham/Tees Valley-Ireland West Knock Airport
East Midlands-Cork
East Midlands-Dublin
East Midlands-Ireland West Knock
Glasgow-Ireland West Knock
London Gatwick-Cork
Manchester-Cork
Manchester-Ireland West Knock Airport

The carrier issued the following statement on its website at bmibaby.com:
“Been nice knowing you, baby!
“On September 9, 2012 Bmibaby flew its last ever flight.
“Thanks to everyone who has flown with us over the years.
“It’s been so much fun, baby!”

The Bmibaby fleet is to be flown to Lasham and Norwich for storage Monday 10th September.

                                                   
                                                 

Irish Aviation Research Institute © 10th September 2012 All Rights Reserved.