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Monarch celebrates the launch of 4 new routes to Naples, Rhodes, Split and Valencia from Birmingham

Monarch, a leading low cost airline and holiday company, has celebrated the launch of four
new routes from Birmingham Airport. The airline will now fly Naples in Italy, Rhodes in Greece,
Split in Croatia and Valencia in Spain

Monarch is the only airline to fly to Split and Valencia from Birmingham with both destinations
new to the summer 2017 network and holidays are also on sale to all of these destinations

Monarch is also welcoming a Boeing 737-800 aircraft to its fleet at Birmingham. The aircraft's
first scheduled passenger flight will be on Thursday 29 June 2017 to Rome. Whilst at Birmingham
it will also be a used for flight crew training purposes ahead of the delivery of the first brand
 new Boeing 737 Max 8 aircraft arriving in April 2018

Flights to Valencia launched last Thursday, 22 June 2017, and will operate twice a week on
a Thursday and Saturday. Flights to Rhodes, once a week on a Wednesday, launched on
Wednesday 21 June 2017, and flights departed to Naples from Friday 23 June 2017, on
a Monday and Friday. The new destination of Split saw flights take-off yesterday, Sunday
25 June 2017, and operate twice a week on Tuesday and Sunday

This week's inaugural flights follow on from the launch of Stockholm and Porto in April 2017 with
the airline now flying to both destinations three times a week. Customers on the Valencia flight
were treated to a glass of bubbly and slice of Paella themed cake to celebrate the inaugural flight.
Monarch's Chief Commercial Officer Ian Chambers was joined by David Winstanley, Birmingham
Airport's Chief Operating Officer at check-in with customers excited to head to the Spanish city

Ian Chambers, Chief Commercial Officer at Monarch said: "We are delighted to add even more
flights and holidays to four new destinations to our Birmingham programme for summer 2017.
These new routes join Porto and Stockholm which we launched earlier in the year. Monarch is
the only airline to fly to both Split and Valencia from Birmingham Airport"

"We're really pleased to be flying a greatly expanded programme from Birmingham for the summer
with more city and beach destinations. It's also really exciting to welcome the Boeing 737-800
aircraft to the fleet for the busy summer schedule ahead of the first of our new Boeing 737 Max 8
aircraft arriving in April next year"

David Winstanley, Chief Operating Officer at Birmingham Airport, said: "Monarch offers a fantastic
selection of popular European routes to our passengers from Birmingham Airport. It's great to see
them expanding this choice further for our summer holidaymakers. Valencia, Split, Naples and Rhodes
are all steeped in history as well as being popular coastal destinations with fabulous ports and beaches.
We are confident these will be very successful routes"

For more information or to book please visit
Monday 26 June 2017

Friday 16 June 2017 - FedEx Global Express N2FE is a morning departure to Memphis

FedEx Global Express N2FE was a morning departure to Memphis

Global 5000 M-CVGL was a morning departure to St Petersburg, Russia

King Air D-ICMK was a day stopping visitor to the Elmdon apron

Piper Malibu LY-CHD which had arrived on Thursday was a morning departure to Barcelona

Jet2holidays Boeing 737-8MG G-JZHK positioned in from Manchester
to operate their flight to Faro - its first visit to BHX

Iberia Express Airbus A320-214 EC-LLE operated their flight from Madrid

CityJet Sukhoi Superjet 100-95B EI-FWF operated the early evening Brussels Airlines service to Brussels

BH Air/Balkan Holidays Airbus A320-232 LZ-BHI operated their weekly IT/inclusive tour flight to Bourgas

to see more photos "click" HERE to go to the homepage

The BHX Blog

Norwegian's first father and son flight crew take to the skies flying from Tenerife to Birmingham Airport

Norwegian, the low cost airline, has marked a momentous milestone completing its first flight
in the airline's 15-year history flown by a father and son - 54-year old Captain David Kempton
and his 19-year old co-pilot and son, Alex Kempton, marking Father's Day

The pair from Kenilworth, Warwickshire, flew 180 passengers on a brand-new multi-million pound
Boeing 737-800 aircraft, on a 4.5-hour flight from Tenerife South Airport to Birmingham Airport

Alex Kempton became the youngest pilot at Europe's third largest low-cost airline at the age of 19
last September, just two years after starting flight school. Alex was offered his first professional pilot
job from Norwegian at 18, just a week before his 19th birthday, and only two years after watching
aircraft at Coventry Airport with his dad as a young aviation enthusiast

Norwegian Boeing 737-8JP EI-GBF touches down at Birmingham Airport after its flight from Tenerife
Norwegian arranged for David and Alex to fly together from Tenerife to Birmingham Airport as part
of Alex's flight training as David is a training captain, giving him the chance to train his son at his first
airline job. David Kempton, 54, has 30 years' flying experience logging more than 14,000 hours which
has seen him work for several airlines and fly private jets for the likes of Sir Paul McCartney and 90s
pop groups. He joined Norwegian in 2013 and is the most senior pilot at Norwegian's Tenerife base

David Kempton, Base Chief Captain, Tenerife at Norwegian said: "It's truly an honour to take to the
skies and share the cockpit with my son as Norwegian pilots. I've always been fascinated with flying
and I've encouraged Alex to share my aviation passion at every opportunity so this is an extremely
proud moment. I'm very grateful to Norwegian for not only giving my son the opportunity to take-off
his flying career but also arranging for us to fly together on this special flight"

Alex Kempton, First Officer at Norwegian said: "I never would have thought my first pilot job would
involve getting trained by my dad as this has never been done before at Norwegian. From following
my dad to work at an early age to flying a brand-new Norwegian aircraft together is a little daunting
but very exciting. It's even more special that I flew alongside my dad into Birmingham Airport where
he spent his whole career before joining Norwegian"

David and Alex grew up in Warwickshire and share many hobbies beyond the cockpit which includes
playing rugby, golf and the piano. The pair also like to go from flying to fly-fishing when time allows
from their busy schedules. The Kempton's are truly a 'high-flying' family as David's dad had a passion
for flying and his daughter, Alex's older sister, is currently a cabin crew member with another airline
and is married to a pilot
Wednesday 14 June 2017

Thursday 8 June 2017 - Monarch Boeing 737-82R G-ZBAV operates its first crew training flight

Monarch Boeing 737-82R G-ZBAV was a morning departure to Durham Tees Valley....

.... as Monarch commenced a series of crew training flights prior to the aircrafts entry
into service at the end of June 2017 - it then continued onto Prestwick and Newquay

.... before returning to BHX at lunchtime - it operated the route in reverse during the
afternoon and will fly a similar pattern of flights over the coming days

Titan Boeing 757-256 G-ZAPX was a morning arrival when it positioned in
from Stansted to operate a charter to Rome

Freebird Airbus A320-214 TC-FHC operated the final flight of a series of weekly
seasonal IT flights to Antalya departing via Manchester

Icelandair Boeing 757-256 TF-FIU operated their flight to Reykjavik Keflavik....

.... the aircraft is in the special "Hekla Aurora" - Northern Lights - colour scheme

Vueling Airbus A321-231 EC-MLD operated their flight to Paris Orly

Czech Airlines Airbus A319-112 OK-NEP which is in the "Wow Prague" colour
scheme operated their flight to Prague

Lufthansa Airbus A321-131 D-AIRW which is in "Star Alliance" colours
operated their late afternoon service to Munich

SAS Boeing 737-683 SE-DNX operated their evening service to Copenhagen

GetJet Airlines Boeing 737-4Q8 LY-GTW operated the Norwegian service to Barcelona

Gulfstream 550 N524VE which had arrived on Wednesday spent the day parked up

Embraer Phenom 100 D-IDAS spent the day parked up before departing

Capital Super King Air G-ZVIP was a lunchtime visitor departing to Exeter

Brose Super King Air D-IBTA was a day stopping visitor on the Elmdon apron
to see more photos "click" HERE to go to the homepage

The BHX Blog

Birmingham Airport announces that Paul Kehoe, Chief Executive, is to step down in July 2017

Birmingham Airport has announced that Paul Kehoe has decided to step down as Chief Executive effective
from Wednesday 12 July 2017. Paul has led a substantial transformation at Birmingham Airport since he joined
the business in October 2008, with passenger numbers growing from 9.5m to 12m in the year to March 2017

More recently, Paul has been increasingly involved in successfully promoting the West Midlands Region as
Chairman of Marketing Birmingham, President of the Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce, and in
a new capacity as Chairman of the West Midlands Growth Company.  With the recently formed Combined
Authority and the appointment of a West Midlands Mayor, by stepping down from the Airport, Paul will be
able to focus on his regional commitments

Since his appointment, Paul's key achievements include:

+ Appointing and leading a strong and experienced management team to continue to develop the Airport.
+ Expansion of the route network and the number of airlines operating at Birmingham including daily services
to Delhi with Air India, A380 services to Dubai with Emirates, and the introduction of 18 new airlines including
Qatar Airways, Jet2 and the return of British Airways
+ Key developments which have significantly improved the Airport include a new International Pier, extension
of the runway to facilitate new long haul services, creation of a single Terminal and centralised security area,
construction of a new Air Traffic Control Tower and the establishment of a major engineering facility within
the Monarch Airlines Engineering Hangar, the in-sourcing of Air Traffic Control and the Airport Fire Service,
a complete overhaul and introduction of new retail brands including Marks & Spencer, Next, Superdry,
All Bar One, Hugo Boss and operating the most successful Airport Wetherspoons in the country

In addition, under Paul's leadership Birmingham Airport has been awarded

+ World's Most Punctual Airport in 2016
+ Star Airport of the Year Award 2014, 2015 and 2016
+ 2017 Routes Europe Award for Marketing for 4-20 million passengers Airport

John Hudson, Chairman of Birmingham Airport, said "On behalf of the Board, I would like to express our
grateful thanks to Paul for the tremendous contribution he has made to Birmingham Airport during the last
nine years. Under his leadership, the Airport has built relationships with new carriers, grown passenger
numbers to more than 12 million and delivered significant economic value to the region.  His connections
with the local community set Paul apart as a true industry leader.  He leaves with our strong support and
the highest admiration for his commitment to Birmingham Airport and the West Midlands"

Paul Kehoe said: "It has been a privilege to serve the people of the West Midlands by leading their Airport
at this exceptional time.  I planned originally to stay only for five years, but the challenge became so exciting
that I stayed for another four.  In every role there is a natural business cycle, and after delivering significant
airline and passenger growth, completing all the major development projects which resulted in a doubling of
the profit, generating significant dividends for shareholders and the region, I feel it is time for the next
generation to take the business forward"

Friday 9 June 2017

"British-Irish Airports Expo" at the National Exhibition Centre is being hosted by Birmingham Airport

The 2nd "British-Irish Airports Expo" is being held at the National Exhibition Centre
adjacent to Birmingham Airport on Wednesday and Thursday 7/8 June 2017....

.... the event is being hosted by Birmingham Airport with Paul Kehoe, seen here
with the Airport Team, one of the speakers at the opening ceremony above

.... the event brings together airports and suppliers from across Great Britain and
Ireland to learn, network, procure and view both the latest airport technology

.... and also meet Cash - the charismatic Owl from Kazakhstan on the Heathbrook stand

The Birmingham Airport stand....

.... and one of the Airport Fire Service vehicles in the display area

The "British-Irish Airport Expo" is being held in Hall 3A at the National Exhibition
Centre, Birmingham, and saw over 1,400 visitors on its first day
Wednesday 7 June 2017