Doncaster Sheffield - General Thread

[pug]

CAA fuels airport fees row


Chris Gray



Airlines could be forced to display “development charges” imposed by airports on their websites, under plans being considered by the CAA.

CAA chief executive Andrew Haines said the organisation was taking legal advice about what it could do to force airlines to display the charge under European laws about transparent pricing.

The charges have been introduced by regional airports including Durham, Norwich, Blackpool and Newquay as a way of making up for a decline in revenues.

Haines said the CAA supported the airports’ right to impose the charges, but it was important the consumer was told about the fee before they arrived at the airport.

The move will put the CAA on a collision course with airlines who will not want their headline prices to be increased because of more charges imposed by airports.

Haines accepted that airlines would not want to do anything that made them look less attractive than their competitors.

But he said: “We do not think it is in consumers’ interests for an airport to close down if there is another way, provided the consumer is given the information before they make the choice to purchase the flight,” he said.

“We are taking legal advice about requiring airlines to publish the charge on their websites.”

A Ryanair spokesman told TTG that the airline had pulled out of Blackpool when a charge was imposed, and had warned Doncaster, which is considering a charge, that it would leave if the fee was imposed.

He said it was illogical for airlines to have to warn consumers about fees imposed by airports and added: “Where does it stop? If Gatwick Express increases its prices do we have to display that on our website?

“At some point passengers have to be responsible for doing research before they travel.”

http://www.ttglive.com/c/portal/layout? ... fees%20row

 

[Delta48]

Hi guys a newbie from the old egcn. After having a look round the forum i cant see a movements thread, is there one will there be one ? The reason i ask is at about 11:15 on sat 13th Nov i saw what i thought was a B767 with winglets in First choice colours climbing out and wondered where she was off too ?

 

[Aviador]

There isn't one but we can start one no problem. Hopefully somebody will know what that movement was.

 

[White Heather]

Already answered on the Movements thread - it was a cruise flight to Bridgetown Barbados. It is that time of year again when the odd 767 turns up at many regional airports doing the cruise flights. This week it was DSA's turn - last week it was LBA.

 

[News Guru]

[textarea]Lapland flights for Robin Hood Airport

New festive flights to Lapland from Robin Hood Airport will operate this year. A flight will operate on December 3, offering families the opportunity to celebrate Christmas in the Arctic wilderness for a special three night break. The trip includes a private meeting with Santa – with presents and souvenirs for every child.

In addition a special Lapland day break will also be flying out from the airport on December 20, with a range of winter wonderland activities such as a Husky sled journey, snow mobile trip, reindeer sleigh ride and a private meeting with Santa included.

Mike Morton, airport director, said: ‘We are delighted to welcome the Christmas holiday season with such fantastic new winter getaways that will light up and bring smiles to many faces across the region. There is no better way to celebrate the wonderful festivities than escaping to such a beautiful, idyllic location - a place that everyone associates with Santa Claus and his little helpers. We are sure families will thoroughly enjoy a very special Christmas, with the added convenience of being able to fly from their local airport.’

Source[/textarea]

 

[cazza]

Does anyone know the airline/s operating these lapland flights this year? During booking stages it's still showing as 'TBA'.

Cheers.

 

[Twozerotwo]

Does anyone know of an online map of UK Radar Sectors and associated frequencies?

 

[Aviador]

Try asking the same question in the Forums4airports Skybar Twozerotwo. leasantry:

 

[Twozerotwo]

Thanks Aviador....done that now. Apologies for posting in wrong forum.

 

[Aviador]

Thanks Aviador....done that now. Apologies for posting in wrong forum.

It's no problem. I just thought you would have more of a chance at getting a response there.

 

[DonnyLad]

Still no news of potential new airlines then? This is very worrying.

 

[Aviador]

The BBC reported that is was -10'c at 17:00 yesterday evening! That's unbelievable. :shok:

 

[ryan]

'Twas about -15 the other week when DSA was closed. Having said that it's about -9 as I type

 

[Aviador]

'Twas about -15 the other week when DSA was closed. Having said that it's about -9 as I type

I can believe it. It's rare that you need to de-ice your car in the middle of the day but that's what I've just had to do.

 

[Aviador]

Did DSA have any flights operating on Christmas Day this year?

 

[Hull City Fan]

Yes they did!.

Thomson Airways operated flights to Alicante and Las Palmas.

 

[wawkrk]

DSA now down to 5 flights per day.How much longer can it survive?

 

[wawkrk]

I know these airports keep going but how?
With only 4-5 flights per day, it is not a business is it especially when most of the pax are paying next to nothing and the Polish pax especially do not spend any money at the airport.Smoke and mirrors?

 

[pug]

I know these airports keep going but how?
With only 4-5 flights per day, it is not a business is it especially when most of the pax are paying next to nothing and the Polish pax especially do not spend any money at the airport.Smoke and mirrors?

Depends on whether airports have alternative sources of revenue which keep them open. Many small airports dont even have many/any passenger flights and concentrate on aviation related business onsite. In HUY's case there are the choppers and Easterns base among other things, but i know they have lost a bit of money due to the downturn because in their case car parking was the biggest source of revenue, though it has proven to be profitable.

In DSAs case, who knows? They have been attracting more bizjet and maintainence operators to the site, plus some ad-hoc cargo flights, but unless you can find out their business model then you are always going to be left guessing. If management have expected passenger flights to be the main source of revenue then they may have made an error, but there is no way of knowing that, or what VAS are working on to turn its finances around.

 

[muddycoffee]

wawkrk,
Airports are basically seasonal, so the money you make in the summer subsidises the quieter months. It is the same in the travel agency sector. A mate of mine is an I.T. man in the travel agency sector, many of the high earning sales people have a month or two off at this time of year when they go away themselves.