Archive Route Development & Rumours

[ethanegcc]

Yes, me too, when other UK airports of comparable or smaller size have double the carriers or more frequency on the route. You'd think BA would want IB to have more presence in MAN given it is IAG.

 

[Aceshigh]

Don't think Lord O Neill of Gatley will be on the MAG Christmas Card list....


http://www.airportwatch.org.uk/2016...ham-airport-to-rebalance-uk-airport-capacity/

 

[Dobbo]

If they wanted to kick that particular can down the road, and essentially redo the airports comission I'm sure MAG (and MAN in particular) would welcome it with open arms.

 

[User001]

This whole 'BHX as a London overspill' is fantasy anyway, Government cannot force airlines into a particular airport (and would face legal battles if they did)' remember what STN was actually designed to do?

Plus BHX needs to learn to serve its own catchment before trying to be the airport of others. I don't care what excuses have been put forward about it, not being able to serve one of the worlds largest aviation markets (New York) doesn't look great.

it's best MAN just stays clear and does what it's doing anyway, it's not like what MAN are doing is unsuccessful is it?

 

[Land23R]

It doesn't do any harm though to have support in high places. To mention the cities of Leeds and Manchester in the context of HS2 bringing those cities closer to an expanded BHX (which is what his remarks imply) is insulting from someone who hails from the North and in the past has been a supporter of Manchester and the Northern Powerhouse.
Not that it will do any good but I've written to the His Lordship reminding him that we do have an international gateway already handing nearly 25m pax annually. I felt better for it!

 

[Dobbo]

If airport capacity in the South East stays static, you will see airlines unable to get into LHR moving to LGW and the displaced low cost airlines will be moved to Stansted, Luton, Southend etc.

If that shores up the North's avaiation demand within the North then so much the better.

 

[Aceshigh]

User001 is quite right it is almost impossible for government to influence airline strategy. Let's not forget they gave the go ahead to Stansted believing it would replace Heathrow. It was only successful due to an accident of timing with the lo cost boom.

I would not expect Birmingham MPs to support Manchester they should each comcetrste on local issues for the benefit of local people conversely Lord lord O Neill supporting a strategy at another airport is simply barmy.

 

[ethanegcc]

Given that the Hinkley Point issue has been resolved, George Osborne is continuing his northern powerhouse programme and of course as we know PEK was one of the most successful launches, and the golden age of relations between UK and China are 'just getting started' and we are in the prime season for route development, is there any chance of the much rumoured;
CA Manchester - Shanghai, in extreme demand, extremely strong rumours?
CA Manchester - Chengdu, 20th largest CTU market, routes conference in Chengdu?
CZ Manchester - Guangzhou, strongly rumoured?
HU Manchester - Beijing, will it go daily?
CX Manchester - Hong Kong, the agony of waiting for an increase, it is wanted, in light of the SQ move?
HU Manchester - Xi'an, unlikely but rumoured, HU said they looked forward to further expansion at the PEK launch?

 

[Jerry]

Heard on another forum that Norwegian will start a MAN-EWR route when they start getting 737 MAX 8's.

 

[ethanegcc]

Please could you tell me which forum that would be Jerry?

 

[Jerry]

Please could you tell me which forum that would be Jerry?

Prune on the Birmingham thread. The post said BHX first then MAN when the MAX comes.

 

[Land23R]

Perhaps this should be in the General thread but an interesting interview article in the Telegraph yesterday with Charlie Cornish, MAG's CEO. It's mainly about STN but there is a comment that he is braced for MAG's growth to slow to around 2% before it picks up again.
No time scale or how it works out across the group, but presumably is based on indications from the main airline customers.

There's the usual journo error, referring to the TP boosting CAPACITY from 23.5m pax to 30m.

 

[User001]

the story changes all the time.

I had heard MAN was now first for the base, with many different sources now coming into the mix that were not there before.

Jet2 having remote (hangar) parking to make way for a new based operator, head of other airlines knowing they are coming and MAG management hinting that 'there will be big things coming from Norwegian soon, including MAX flights to the east coast'.

The good news is, regardless of who goes first, it seems like there will only be a matter of a month or two between the first 2 bases.

 

[Jerry]

The good news is, regardless of who goes first, it seems like there will only be a matter of a month or two between the first 2 bases

The only thing with New York is that form MAN it has a lot of carriers on it though only one on EWR. Though Boston is not and Norwegian do fly there. Plus if they are using MAX a/c then they can mix it up a bit with the routes they are already doing.

 

[User001]

As said on the BHX thread, Norwegian love competition so the fact MAN-NYC has 4 carriers on the route will hardly put them off. The latest routes they started to MAN have up to 7 carriers already on them!

Plus, 3 of the 4 flights are to JFK whereas Norwegian will now serve EWR, which only has United and is a popular entry point to New York, often being quicker to get to Manhattan than JFK.

Therefore, Norwegian will be more than comfortable with the market at MAN.

 

[Land23R]

As it's gone very quiet on here, can I ask for an update from those more knowledgeable than me on rumours and stories that are pending?

Oman Air. Have outstanding contracts been signed yet that will enable tickets to go on sale?

China - with Hinkley Point resolved, are we any nearer to a Air China announcement assuming that is still live?

Then there was HU increasing frequency. Are loads holding up and any further developments or rumours?

Finally, how about the mystery airline reckoned to be starting winter 17? Was that the long haul transit carrier rumoured or a separate story.

I know this is old ground, but sometimes it's useful to get an update to check if a new route is still on the agenda or has been delayed or even fallen by the wayside.

Thanks for any info.

 

[ethanegcc]

As it's gone very quiet on here, can I ask for an update from those more knowledgeable than me on rumours and stories that are pending?

Oman Air. Have outstanding contracts been signed yet that will enable tickets to go on sale?

China - with Hinkley Point resolved, are we any nearer to a Air China announcement assuming that is still live?

Then there was HU increasing frequency. Are loads holding up and any further developments or rumours?

Finally, how about the mystery airline reckoned to be starting winter 17? Was that the long haul transit carrier rumoured or a separate story.

I know this is old ground, but sometimes it's useful to get an update to check if a new route is still on the agenda or has been delayed or even fallen by the wayside.

Thanks for any info.

I agree, I was asking these questions also above.
Any updates would be appreciated.

 

[User001]

Oman air- Contracts are in the process of being sorted now. Handlers have been appointed. Will not affect start date however.

Air China-Slots at Shanghai still a major issue. It's not just us being held up, Hainan to Brussels, Air China to Barcelona and other routes also delayed due to the issue.

New Carrier W17- I'm still not allowed to say who it is, its not because I'm doing the whole 'I know something but I'm not telling you', it's just that there are still a few issues to iron out so don't want to say until it's more concrete.

New Transit flight-still in progress and requires a few things to be done before it can start. Don't expect it before 2018.

 

[ethanegcc]

Oman air- Contracts are in the process of being sorted now. Handlers have been appointed. Will not affect start date however.

Air China-Slots at Shanghai still a major issue. It's not just us being held up, Hainan to Brussels, Air China to Barcelona and other routes also delayed due to the issue.

New Carrier W17- I'm still not allowed to say who it is, its not because I'm doing the whole 'I know something but I'm not telling you', it's just that there are still a few issues to iron out so don't want to say until it's more concrete.

New Transit flight-still in progress and requires a few things to be done before it can start. Don't expect it before 2018.

Air China is extremely annoying - so close yet so far. I recall that CA to BCN was supposedly announced at a similar time to MAN. Any idea when Oman Air will be bookable? Next couple of weeks possibly?

 

[User001]

I have just been told 'before Christmas' for Oman Air.