Manchester: Jet2.com Route News & Base Updates

[Sixchannel]

Good to see G-LSAG on its way back to MAN from TFS after being AOG for 4 days.

 

[Sixchannel]

G-LSAG returned to MAN tonight after 4 days AOG.

 

[Billboy66]

It had been reported by BBC/Sky that Jet2 have picked up around 23 daily slot pairs at Manchester

 

[Land23R]

It's important to remember that TCX was very much a split operation at MAN with 7 of their based a/c on long haul.
(Was it about 8 based for short haul?). I'm not sure how many daily slot pairs TCX held in s19 and what that split was, but it would be interesting to know what the 23 acquired by Jet2, if that is the correct figure, covers.

 

[User1007]

Seems a lot of slots for Jet2, especially considering they're only in the market to replace Thomas Cook short haul routes. It seems unlikely they'll actually be able to use that many slots next summer, which raises the question of why pay for them?

A question about this whole sale process though - I thought only Heathrow and Gatwick were constrained enough to give slots monetary value. Yet Jet 2 are reported to have bought these slots, and Easyjet at Bristol. Could extra slots not have been obtained through the normal process, without the cost?

 

[Scottie Dog]

It's important to remember that TCX was very much a split operation at MAN with 7 of their based a/c on long haul.
(Was it about 8 based for short haul?). I'm not sure how many daily slot pairs TCX held in s19 and what that split was, but it would be interesting to know what the 23 acquired by Jet2, if that is the correct figure, covers.

TCX for S19 was 11 A321 and 7 A330.

 

[Land23R]

I believe my 8 based a/c for short haul may have been on the low side. 11 has been mentioned but that may include any stand-by units.
Nevertheless, say 10 based short haul a/c would require between 20 and 30 daily slot pairs as each a/c would do at least 2 departures a day for medium haul routes and 3 a day for shorter trips. On that basis, if Jet2 have acquired 23 for short haul, it would not seem unrealistic.

A good question though as to whether some slots at quieter periods could have been acquired through the normal process.

Ah, thanks Scottie, just seen your post.

 

[User1007]

Thinking about this a bit more.. Jet2 cannot use 23 daily slot pairs. It's impossible. For flights to their usual holiday destinations that'd need 11 or 12 aircraft, which isn't going to happen. Even if they could use all the slots, Thomas Cook going bust surely proved there isn't any money to be made providing that much capacity in the beach market.

But what else can they do with them? If other airlines can expand their operations at Manchester without buying slots, the resale value is surely zero.

 

[Seasider]

I wouldn't worry too much, there has been a lot of "Misreporting" about the sale of Thomas Cook slots.

 

[Jerry]

Just use the ones they want and send the rest back?

 

[David_itl]

Which would beg the question of buying all the slots for a given amount. Why not buy what you want at a smaller price?

If I remember correctly, Thomas Cook had a nice range of departure times for 8 aircraft between 6am and 8am which is where I believe the bulk of any monetary value would be for a MAN slot

 

[EGCC_MAN]

But were those slots offered for sale as a bundle or were they made available individually for piecemeal bidding? Answers on a postcard ...

The ‘job lot’ approach would explain the acquisition of far more slots than are needed. But what Jet2 can do is to optimise their MAN portfolio by combining the best of their existing slot holdings with the best of the Thomas Cook batch. This is an exercise in slot optimisation, not volume. And on that basis the investment makes good business sense for the long term.

Jet2’s programme is set to grow. But not on the scale suggested by combining all these slots with the bank they already hold.

 

[EGCC_MAN]

Based on new reports from Business Desk, it does appear that the Thomas Cook slots were sold as a bloc for each of five airports. EasyJet bought those at LGW and BRS; Jet2 bought those at MAN, BHX and STN. It doesn't appear that bidding for a small number of cherrypicked slots was an option.

As we discussed earlier, it is most unlikely that ALL these slots will be useful to Jet2 at MAN. But what they can do is optimise their portfolio for the long-term as well as accommodating the volume of post-TCX expansion which does make sense for them (all at great timings).

Presumably, a batch of less-attractively timed slots (from both the new TCX purchase and Jet2's existing portfolio) will be returned to the pool in due course, leaving Jet2 with exactly those which they want to grandfather for the long term. Good business, no doubt.

 

[Land23R]

Do we know if the en bloc sale therefore includes the slots relating to long haul as well or only the short haul slots?
Are the slots applicable to a specific terminal - T1 in this case?

The long haul slots in the main involve arrivals between say 05.30 and 09.30; and departures from say 09.30 to 12.00.
If they are specific to T1, then it would presumably pose no problem for Virgin to acquire additional slots for expansion if required subject to terminal capacity constraints in T2.

 

[EGCC_MAN]

The honest answer is “don’t know”, but presumably the package would have included all TCX slots at MAN. However, I’m not concerned about VIR access to peak slots. FlyBe (Virgin Connect) has plenty which can be reshuffled as required. For example, their decision to drop MAN-GLA releases excellent slots for redeployment. As you say, stand and terminal access is more of a concern for Virgin Atlantic. But I’m confident that MAG will move Heaven and Earth to accommodate any new long-haul services VIR are minded to provide. And many long-haul routes don’t need the most scarce peak timings anyway.

All sounds like good news to me. And I wonder what DNATA will go for? If there is Emirates money involved there they could become a serious player.

 

[Sixchannel]

G-LSAG AOG at TFS again?
Flew LS917 MAN-TFS on 11/11 but new TFS resident 'relief' G-DRTF made its debut bringing LS918 back.
G-LSAG poorly again or just ringing the changes with the 737?
Shades of G-CELI??

 

[Sixchannel]

G-LSAG due MAN ex TFS about 22.15 to end its illustrious career with Jet2.

 

[ROC10]

G-LSAG due MAN ex TFS about 22.15 to end its illustrious career with Jet2.

FR24 doesn’t seem to have recorded the TFS-MAN flight as it doesn’t show in LSAG’s history but is showing as on ground in MAN. Shows as having landed under a LPA-MAN flight number. FR24 shows this flight was due to operate on the 16th in the afternoon but no flight was recorded there either.

 

[Seasider]

Just shows that Flightradar is not 100% accurate.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

Jet2 have made 3 additions so far to the MAN programme:

AYT - Now 12 Weekly - Extra Monday - LS1701 MAN 1615 2245 AYT // LS1702 AYT 2345 0230 MAN
DLM - Now 13 Weekly - Extra Friday/Sunday - LS1711 MAN 0600 1225 DLM // LS1712 DLM 1325 1610 MAN
TFS - Now 15 Weekly - Extra Friday - LS1767 MAN 1655 2135 TFS // LS1768 TFS 2235 0310 MAN

Some impressive figures for those 3 destinations. I have no doubt there is more to come.