Manchester Airport - General Thread

[pilot_737]

Is runway 5L/23R currently under going some maintenance or re surfacing?
I ask this because I flew into the airport last Wednesday night and as the aircraft crossed 5L it was closed with a fleet of vehicles on it.

Does anyone know anything?

 

[Aviador]

I think the runway has been undergoing a major resurfacing programme.

 

[pilot_737]

Thanks for the info Aviador!

 

[News Guru]

[textarea]Manchester Airports Group brings PR and marketing back in-house

Manchester Airports Group (MAG) has brought the PR and marketing for its commercial property business back in-house, as its £650 million Airport City scheme prepares for take-off, the MEN reports. The work was previously done exclusively by PAPR, Manchester, who will be retained for consultation on an industry marketing initiatives basis.

The MAG communications team will now handle all press and media enquiries and PR activity for MAG Developments, which accounts for around 25 percent of the group’s profits. The team already handles communications across the four MAG-owned airports – Manchester, East Midlands, Humberside and Bournemouth.

The announcement comes as it prepares to launch Airport City, which aims to create a global business destination, with the potential to create 15,000 jobs.

Source[/textarea]

 

[Jordan-34092]

Good news it would seem for the airport.

[textarea]Work on Metrolink to Manchester Airport to start this month


Work on connecting the Metrolink to Manchester Airport starts this month, with construction to get underway on the first part of the new nine-mile line. The work will not only offer a link to the airports three terminals, but also to communities along the route too.

Councillor Andrew Fender, Chair of Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, said: ‘We are very enthusiastic about the benefits the airport line will bring to Greater Manchester and beyond. The start of this work is an exciting development. We are looking forward to people being able to use a Metrolink service that provides a direct link to the airport – one of the biggest employers in the region.’

Source[/textarea]

 

[tleeds]

Did something happen at MAN this afternoon 1235pm(ish)??

The Emirates A380, A6-EDH and a Thomson B763, G-OBYH from Verona were both made to circle the arrival flight paths for the 23 runways, just north-east of the airport, when they were making their line-up procedures for the runways. A Jet2 B738, G-GDFD and Monarch A321, G-OJEG were both made to circle over the holding circle 'area' over Macclesfield, just south-east of the airport.

What caught my eye was that the Emirates and Thomson aircraft were both released from the circling pattern over the Peak District area, like the Monarch and Jet2 aircraft were, and when they both were lining-up for the 23 runways they were made to circle twice again...? G-OOBC a Thomson B752 from Ibiza who was just coming onto the radar screen, looks like it will have to wait around 20 minutes in the circling pattern due to the back-log of aircraft, as will HB-IJP a Swiss Airlines A320 for that matter.....!

If anyone wants to view this afternoon's 'problem' look on the FlightRadar Playback system and view 1140UTC, on the 17th of August.

 

[Jordan-34092]

Seems like that the Jet2.com, aircraft 737-800 on 21st july 2011 operating a flight from Ibiza to Manchester, incident has been put down to internal failure of the right side engine, the NTSB has concluded along with Spain's CIAIAC agreeing with this, an investigation has now been opened on why the aircraft's engine had an internal failure.

 

[pilot_737]

Tom, I've done a bit of digging on various sites and someone mentioned on another forum that 'bits' of bird were scattered across the runway which needed cleaning, hence the circling of the 380 and then most joining the DAYNE hold over Macclesfield.
I then went onto Casperflights.com for radar playback (far superier to Radar24s playback facility) and noticed that BMIBaby flight WW3905 to Jersey (B733 G-TOYM, c/s BMI78E) was the last aircraft airbourne around 12.30. I followed the flight and when it was just north of Southampton at FL290 it turned back around and flew north to East Midlands. I checked flight24 and the aircraft then went onto operate the WW5253 EMA-CDG so I guess it underwent some maintenance to remove the bird!

Note to all, Flight24.com is very good with alpha numeric flight codes. Simple type in the callsign and it will immediately find the corresponding flight number!

 

[tleeds]

Thank you very much Pilot Ben, It's much appreciated! :good:

 

[pug]

Manchester Airports Group lands Ryanair commercial director
October 11, 2011

Share Article| Submit Comments | Printable Version Previous Close Map
Manchester Airports Group today revealed it has lured Ryanair's commercial director Ken O'Toole to be its chief commercial officer.

Mr O'Toole will oversee all of MAG's commercial activities, such as negotiations with airlines, and will report directly to chief executive Charlie Cornish.

His appointment comes on the back of MAG striking a £175m deal with Ryanair, which will see the low-cost carrier launch a new hub at Manchester Airport.

Ryanair hopes to create 2,000 jobs by launching 17 winter routes, growing to 26 by the summer of 2012, by adding the base.

Mr O'Toole played a central role in negotiating the contract on behalf of the budget airline.

Mr Cornish said: "Ken is an experienced, senior commercial and aviation professional and as such is a key appointment for this business.

“His knowledge of the low cost sector in particular is an important strength given the future growth potential of this sector. We look forward to welcoming him to MAG later this year.”

Mr O'Toole's role will cover all of MAG's airports, which include Humberside, Bournemouth and East Midlands.

It will also involve striking deals with retailers to locate within their terminals.

The deal to bring a Ryanair hub to Manchester came less than two years after the airline pulled out of the airport, sparking a war of words with MAG's former bosses.

http://menmedia.co.uk/manchesterevening ... l-director

Interesting development, not least because he will know exactly what makes FR tick. This knowledge and (percieved) ruthlessness could stand the whole group in good stead.

 

[Aviador]

I guess it depends of whether he left Ryanair on good terms and also on how Ryanair view his appointment at the airport as commercial director. All said, Ryanair probably don't care so long as they get the deal they want.

 

[pug]

I think the interesting thing about this is that he knows exactly how FR work (also behind closed doors??), and can therefore use his experience to drive a hard bargain with both FR and other airlines. What I'm trying to say is that he has seen the other side of the coin. MAG are wanting to maximise the growth from low-cost airlines, this was highlighted in their 2010/11 accounts publication, and I would suggest that this is signs of this plan being implemented.

 

[Aviador]

Manchester airport has seemingly gone all out to get new business over the last twelve months or so and the appointment of the new commercial director will ensure this work continues The airport is fighting back it's regional competitors who have made substantial gains over the last decade largely at Manchester airports expense. With many airlines reducing costs by concentrating on their main operations, Manchester airport is probably better positioned than other airports within the North because of it's central position between both Leeds and Liverpool. Needless to say, where an airline would like to serve all three catchment areas, but sufficient demand might not exist from any singular catchment, then Manchester is best located to serve all three regions. The new commercial director will have a wealth of experience to bring these types of routes to Manchester airport.

 

[pug]

I agree Aviador, I think next year is going to be a tough one for the economy. I can only see further consolidation at the larger airports and MAN is set to welcome this with open arms. FR have already announced a base there, and with the new Commercial Director on board I can only assume these ties will strengthen.

Whether his experience will be drawn upon from the other groups airports is another matter, and it will be those that I believe will bear the brunt of any consolidation. However, this year FR were based at three of the MAG airports, and dipped their toes in the fourth one. If anyone knows how to bargain with FR it will be Ken O'Toole, so hopefully Tony Lavan et al are already on his case.

 

[Jordan-34092]

Speaking to a college today about emirates at MAN and he said there plan is to change things around a lot at MAN regarding flights, highly source he is only airline he flies with and he keeps up to date with them, anyway this is what he told me.

UAE21/22 - A330

This service is to be upgraded to a 777 with the evening 777 moving to these flights, this will lead to a complete removal of the A330 operating on these flights.

UAE17/18 - A380

This flight will stay the same with the same aircraft and flight timetable.

UAE19/20 - 777

This will be upgraded to a A380 with the 777 moving to the morning flight.


Also he mentioned something about the A330 staying at MAN to operate flights to JFK. This is so they can tap into the UK-USA flights as people don't fly to dubai then coming back on them selves for flights to USA. Seems interesting if you ask me and would be something new if this did happen, especially for emirates.

 

[Jordan-34092]

Anyone know the reason for the cancellation of UAE18 from MAN to DXB? Also UAE17 DXB to MAN is being shown as delayed.

 

[Jordan-34092]

Anyone know the reason for the cancellation of UAE18 from MAN to DXB? Also UAE17 DXB to MAN is being shown as delayed.

I have found the reason due to Emirates A380 service being cancelled.

UAE17 operating from Dubai International to Manchester took off at 08:51 Local Tine, 56 minutes after scheduled, the aircraft climbed out off Dubai as normal then shortly after take off the aircraft turned around and headed back to Dubai touching back down at 09:15, it was later reported the aircraft had experienced technical difficulties meaning the aircraft needed maintenance requirements which means the flight had to be cancelled and passengers moved onto later flights.

UAE18 was cancelled due to this.

 

[Jordan-34092]

[textarea]United announce Manchester – Washington flights


United Continental Airlines has announced that it will launch daily non-stop flights from Manchester to Washington DC on May 2 next year, subject to government approval. The airline, which has operated Manchester to New York / Newark flights since 1995, said the new service would cut journey times for passengers travelling between Manchester and Washington and increase the range of options for those travelling beyond its Washington hub.

Flights will depart Manchester daily at 12:00, arriving at Washington/Dulles at 15:08 local time the same day. Return flights will depart Washington/Dulles daily at 22:16 and arrive at Manchester at 10:20 the next day. The new flights will be operated using a Continental Airlines Boeing 757-200 aircraft with 175 seats – 16 in BusinessFirst and 159 in economy.

In addition to Manchester, United offers flights from Heathrow to Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/Newark, San Francisco and Washington DC, and from Belfast, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Glasgow to New York / Newark.

Source[/textarea]

 

[tleeds]

It really does seem like Manchester are on a roll with the amount of new services they have attracted and announced over the past few months. I have complied a list of new services just to 'scope' how well they are doing:

Airline - Amount Of New Routes Opened
Air Transat - 2x
Austrian Airlines - 1x (New Airline to MAN)
BA Cityflyer - 1x
Biman Bangladesh Airlines - 1x (New Airline to MAN)
Continental/United - 1x
easyJet - 1x (2x dropped)
Jet2 - 5x
Lufthansa - 1x (& Increased Frequency)
Monarch - 7x
Ryanair - 8x (17x already operating)
Scandinavian - 1x (& Increased Frequency)

Increased Frequency can also be seen on flights by:
Emirates
Qatar
PIA
BA
Croatia Airlines
Virgin Atlantic

Air Berlin (2x dropped)
Libyan Airlines (1x Suspended)

All in all a very good performance by Manchester Airport, I just hope the same amount of success can be spread around the country to other struggling airports as well...

 

[User0001]

Hi Tom. Just to say easyjet have dropped 2 routes but opened 5 this year, as well as increased based units.
Dropped routes are Gothenburg and Helsinki, new routes are Bilbao, Palma, Madrid, Berlin and Belfast.