Manchester: General Airport Discussions & Updates

[Dobbo]

As a decision on airport expansion has now apparently been made, it would be interesting to gather the forums thoughts on how this may affect MAN if Runway 3 is implemented as planned.

To be clear, I am not interested in debating the merits of the decision - that can be done elsewhere. There will invariably be some elements of crossover, and some strong feelings, but please keep it above board.

MAN's Position
From BBC news, the main message of which was general indifference as LHR has a dwindling influence on MAN.

Apparently the transit traffic via LHR has diminished from 25% to 20% over the last few years. The reporter made reference to the variety of tailfins (CX, DL, PK, SV) made it clear that MAN is already connected to the world and is connected to all the other big hubs (a reference to three EK flights per day) but mentioned that it was different for other regional airports in the north (Newcastle).

MAN's attitude was summed up as we are doing alright on our own, we have very good international connections, it is interesting to see what's happening at LHR but its not too important to here. We have huge expansion plans (the TP) and many more international flights are planned so it wont hinder growth here. There was a reference to the timescale of R3 - it will take a long time even in a best case scenario - and over that time MAN will continue to grow.

 

[Land23R]

Thanks Dobbo - was that the main BBC news or just North West? To my mind, it's important that MAN gets proper recognition and coverage at national level and just locally or in the region. Was that reference to transit pax diminishing actually transfers through LHR, and was that overall or for MAN?

Of course MAN should continue to grow until / if R3 opens, and improved infrastructure, transport and transfer facilities will be a key ingredient for MAN. What happens after that is rather more cloudy.

 

[Dobbo]

Hi Land23R - yes, the main BBC news.

The reference was not clear, but did refer to MAN originating passengers. I took the comment to mean that where passengers Originating at MAN wish to transit to their final destination via transit hub, LHR's share of the market has diminished from 25% to 20% over the past few years. There was no reference to gross numbers or any further explanation.

 

[Dobbo]

Some more information, courtesy of the MEN.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...r-airport-boss-12075997#ICID=sharebar_twitter


The focus of the key quotes is as follows:

• MAN delivers six times the value to the northern economy than an expanded LHR.
• The government should focus on creating and delivering a national aviation policy linking up airports with other forms of transport (especially rail).
• The focus should be in securing and delivering further point to point routes from MAN to the major world hubs (and I suppose increasing frequency).

It's all fairly positive for MAN, but there is a long way to go in order to solidify its position as the UKs second intercontinental gateway. New routes will come, but integrating the airport into the northern economy (to me HS2 is key and HS3 even more so) is crucial over the next 15 years.

 

[Land23R]

Yes, an interesting response from Ken O'Toole and some business leaders. Have those first two bullet points been expressed in that way before by MAN? I don't recall so. And if not, were they right to delay such comments until the R3 announcement or would it have been better to voice them earlier as part of the debate. Not sure myself. In some ways, I wish they had shouted louder but I can see merit in standing back and waiting for the decision, as long as it doesn't imply complacency on the one hand or arrogance on the other.

 

[Dobbo]

I think the points have been made, but this might be the first time they have been pulled together.

I think MAN and the wider MAG group are probably well placed to make representations on their position in the national aviation policy, linking it in with the Northern Powerhouse and trans Pennine links.

 

[Dobbo]

A Northern Powerhouse interview with Charlie Cornish.

 

[Land23R]

Cheers for that Dobbo. Charlie Cornish's recent comments, perhaps understandably, have tended to focus on STN, so good to hear him speaking on the NP and the importance of Manchester airport.

 

[ethanegcc]

A BA 388 in the video. I wish at MAN!

 

[Land23R]

Must admit I was somewhat surprised at the video pictures super-imposed of the A380, a London bus and Big Ben.
Is there a subtle message in there that completely passed me by?

 

[EGCC_MAN]

A couple of 'difficult to categorise' topics from MAN Operations Manager Rad Taylor at his presentation to TAS earlier this evening.

MAG is 'generally agnostic' concerning the recent LHR R3 decision. However, they estimate that the new runway will take at least ten to fifteen years to come online. MAN intends to take full advantage of the market opportunity which this presents. MAN's two runways are capable of supporting growth in throughput to 55 million pax per annum, whilst developing the terminal infrastructure to cope is relatively inexpensive by comparison with alternatives in the SE. It was also pointed out that whilst LHR and LGW were boasting about their proposals bringing billions of pounds worth of benefits to the North, developing MAN will deliver five to six times the sums they quote over the same timeframe.

 

[EGCC_MAN]

Next orphan topic: social media policy. Rad confirmed that MAG is keen to embrace social media channels rather than turning their back on them. Social media is here to stay whatever, so MAG would like to reach a position where they lead the agenda rather than having to play catch-up on misreported stories thrust into the spotlight by amateurs. Even in cases where an aircraft has declared an emergency MAG would prefer to take the lead by providing known facts rather than allowing random posters to drive discussion with wild uninformed speculation.

They do, however, accept that the media will continue to report every airport occurrence as having happened "on the runway".

Complete ignorance of what a runway actually is is a job-requirement for all qualified journalists. OK - that is my comment. Mustn't get Rad into trouble! 🙂

 

[EGCC_MAN]

Rad also highlighted MAG's support for the twin initiatives of (ATC) Single European Skies and Airport Collaborative Decision Making (ACDM). The development of ACDM is core to MAG's future strategy.

However, ACDM just happens to be the discussion topic at the next TAS presentation two weeks from now. So Rad elected to mention the topic in passing only. The next guest speaker will address the subject in detail.

 

[User001]

Just as a side note, the BoraJet E190 that was impounded is still at Manchester, no sign of movement 2 weeks later!

 

[Aceshigh]

There is a total disconnect between government ministers , SE media , TUC , various trade bodies and indeed senior business leaders who have no idea about the Manchester Airport offer.

Manchester does seem to be
"just another regional " outside the Westminster bubble. Even our own local MPs are a bunch of idiots 3 or 4 of whom sit on the Transport Select Committee.

Whose fault is that ? no idea !

They did nick a PR chap from Heathrow 12 months back but outwardly he appears to have made zero difference unless anybody here knows better.

I do wonder how big MAN would /could be with a bit more backing ?

I suspect if this were Germany the central government would be thinking it was sat on a prized asset. Not so seemingly in the UK.

Fortunately the airline industry are running roughshod over all this hot air and voting with their feet......or some similar analogy 🙂 and at the end of the day it is THEY who make the decisons not some idiots in parliament, the cabinet, civil service or the Daily Telegraph.

 

[Aceshigh]

Lots of advertising on local radio this morning re the tranche of US SERVICES next year. points you at the Manchester Airport travel website.

 

[Aceshigh]

There was a headline re Chinese investment in Manchester a few days back. Digging into the detail revealed a rather meagre single billion, but fortunately Murkeyside appears to have some more major infastructure projects ( 6 to1 ) hopefully Manchester Airport will benefit either way.

Ps Not quite sure where the MEN got its "billions" from.

http://www.globalconstructionreview.com/news/uk-tries-lure-chin7a-investi7ng-6bn-nort7hern/

 

[Dobbo]

The biggest boost to MAN would come from a significant expansion in the media and entertainment industries, where premium air travel is rather taken as a given. Expanding Media City will help, and things like the possible relocation of Channel 4 to Manchester will clearly help fill that expansion.

If (for example) a regular MAN-LAX on a full service carrier is to be supported, this sort of growth is probably required...

 

[Aceshigh]

Agree to totally re US market and digital media, Manchester now one of largest players in Europe !

This was more about China who seem more interested in construction on the ground.

Good to see some mega infastructure projects across the region although I would have preferred some more juicy projects in the Manchester Salford area. Other than Media City I was somewhat underwhelmed !

 

[Aceshigh]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/d...iving-holidays-and-road-trips-in-los-angeles/

No mention of Manchester LA routes of course. And this from a

"highly regarded travel writer, supposedly in the know"

God help us if this is the bar by which the others are set . ....