BHX - Flying under the VA Radar?

To be honest, I've worked in the Midlands and London and from business perspective, they are different worlds.

BHX may have a large population catchment but the industries (financial services, technology, creative industries etc) that make LHR the lucrative destination that it is simply aren't there.

Once/twice weekly leisure services to MCO may work but BHX becoming a 2nd hub is a complete non-starter.

I'd like VS to fly from Wimbledon, then I could stroll down the road .

+1 Wimbledon would be great. (apart from the noise...)

To be honest, I've worked in the Midlands and London and from business perspective, they are different worlds.

BHX may have a large population catchment but the industries (financial services, technology, creative industries etc) that make LHR the lucrative destination that it is simply aren't there.

Once/twice weekly leisure services to MCO may work but BHX becoming a 2nd hub is a complete non-starter.

Apart from the chicken and egg question, in my experience major financial institutions have key resources distributed across the UK. Time and money would be saved if international travel was less focussed on LHR.

Thanks for all your comments on my post - just booked UC to Miami for Monday departure - outside UC VA complimentary car service, too risky to hope for a clear run to LHR M42/M40/M25 on a Monday morning even for a 11.30 dep. So again I am at a LHR hotel overnight Sunday. Would be happy to fly a VS service to MIA via MCO. If the service was only weekly/seasonal from BHX I would still prefer to tansfer at MCO in a couple of hours than waste 13 hours at LHR hotel..... SRB it's known as 'loyalty' I have beea a VA passenger for a long long time. Tried CO via EWR a few times but still prefer VA, but for how much longer? As a footnote, BHX has a current annual handling capacity of 18m, not bad for a 'Northern Airport' within 70 min of Central London, by VIRGIN TRAINS!!!!

I live about half an hour north of BHX and would always choose to fly from LHR - it's only 2 hours away.

Mr T - you must give me your route - I agree LHR can be made in less that two hours - maybe through the night though - been caught out before in a morning with all that TRAFFIC.....

Why do you prefer to travel '4' hours to and from LHR instead of 1 hour BHX? I'm sure BHX check out this site, like others must do, to guage passenger thoughts and opinions.

I live about half an hour north of BHX and would always choose to fly from LHR - it's only 2 hours away.

Mr T - you must give me your route - I agree LHR can be made in less that two hours - maybe through the night though - been caught out before in a morning with all that TRAFFIC.....

Why do you prefer to travel '4' hours to and from LHR instead of 1 hour BHX? I'm sure BHX check out this site, like others must do, to guage passenger thoughts and opinions.

I live near the M42, so it's a straightforward M42-M40-M25. When I'm going to LHR (or driving to London generally for meetings, etc.) it tends to be very early in the morning which clearly helps with travel time!

Prefer LHR for range of airlines and destinations and customer experience. Most recently went to HAM for the weekend - looked at the options of MAN, BHX and I'm sure there was another option available - ended up flying BA from LHR. All the other options were either poor flight times that didn't fit into my plans or much more expensive.

Of course, BHX is even closer - probably 30minutes-ish. I often park there and take the train to London if I don't fancy driving...

The big problem is that airlines have tried and failed to fly out of BHX to the USA, American, Delta, even Continental. Why does not BA fly to the USA from BHX?
The problem is passenger numbers. People will these days, drive to MAN or LGW than pay extra to fly out of BHX.
I have done the figures time and time again and always, a flight from LGW with overnight hotel and car parking is always cheaper than a flight from BHX

Now if you want a flight to Pakistan, India or such climes, then BHX is great

i know ema has been after a regular transatlantic route for the past 2 years ,