Air Berlin starts new destinations in Europe, why not BRU?

Atlantis · Post by **Atlantis** » 02 Apr 2006, 19:06

Air Berlin offer a wide menu of destinations in Europe. They fly to leisure destinations and to economic destinations. There is only one spot they don't fly to: Brussels.

I don't no why but on that route you don't have competition. Only three airlines and each of them are flying on one of the three airports:

Berlin Shonefeld: TV
Berlin Tegel: LH
Berlin Tempelhof: SNBA

I don't know if BIAC is in talk with Air Berlin but I think it could work. They can offer prices under the current three and you have several fares a year at Berlin, off course there are other reasons to fly to Berlin.

Vinnie-Winnie · Post by **Vinnie-Winnie** » 02 Apr 2006, 20:02

No established Low cost airline wants to fly to Brussels for some reason. I can only see 2 explanations:

1) BIAC is asking too much handling fees
2) The market is just not there considering routes served at the moment by established airlines in brussels.

Anyway the strategy of Air Berlin would definately suit Brussels more than say Easyjet. They have got different aircraft with varying capacity, therefore even if there was only a limited demand for travel to/from Berlin/Dusseldorf or connecting destinations to sunny places around europe it would still work out!

But that would again slowly kill SN or whatever it will be called in the future

piratehunter · Post by **piratehunter** » 03 Apr 2006, 19:50

well, let's see whether Condor succeeds;)

Lukas_Ridgeston · Post by **Lukas_Ridgeston** » 05 Apr 2006, 22:01

Vinnie-Winnie wrote:1) BIAC is asking too much handling fees

As BIAC is not a (ground) handling company, it does not charge "handling fees". There is, however, a duopoly of some ground handling services (ramp handling, baggage handling) at Brussels airport, and the rates for these services at both Aviapartner and FlightCare are quite high.

Vinnie-Winnie · Post by **Vinnie-Winnie** » 05 Apr 2006, 22:13

Lukas_Ridgeston wrote:As BIAC is not a (ground) handling company, it does not charge "handling fees".

Lol meant landing fees hahahaha

anyways surprised that no-one seems to have any other explanation!

Lukas_Ridgeston · Post by **Lukas_Ridgeston** » 05 Apr 2006, 22:40

But you did mention a very good point: handling fees! Low cost airlines can cut back on many things, but they would still need to take on either FlightCare or Aviapartner for ramp & baggage handling at BRU. and their rates are a lot higher than at other European airports!

A low cost carrier could, however, check-in its own pax (like GlobeGround was doing, and VEX still does.)

Post by **speedbird1** » 06 Apr 2006, 11:20

It could be that there is a cartel in Brussels...

Emirates

TallDutch · Post by **TallDutch** » 07 Apr 2006, 06:10

I believe it's to close to AMS and CDG an DUS..

Buzz · Post by **Buzz** » 07 Apr 2006, 13:57

easyJet is also flying from MST to Berlin Shonefeld, So the east of Belgium has already 2 LCC's serving Berlin (easyJet & Virgin).

Lukas_Ridgeston · Post by **Lukas_Ridgeston** » 07 Apr 2006, 22:08

Don't forget the clear "first mover's advantage" in the LCC market: there are only so many profitable routes to cherry-pick...
And with Ryanair firmly established at CRL, I doubt there is a market for LCCs out of BRU.

Ozzie1969 · Post by **Ozzie1969** » 25 Apr 2006, 19:36

I wonder if FlightCare and Aviapartner are in some sort of competition to see which one can damage most suitcases in one year...

Vinnie-Winnie · Post by **Vinnie-Winnie** » 25 Apr 2006, 20:39

TallDutch wrote:I believe it's to close to AMS and CDG an DUS..

Would you really travel 200 km + by car or public transport to get to an airport for a short haul flight?

Suppose not! Me neither...