Manchester: General Airport Discussions & Updates

[Land23R]

Friday is quite an unusual day for a Big Announcement, isn't it? I thought they tended to be Tues-Thurs but maybe in terms of media coverage it's less significant these days.

 

[Comet]

Could it be about the new flights from STN to EWR and BOS

 

[Dobbo]

Could it be about the new flights from STN to EWR and BOS

Highly doubt it because:

1. The announcement came from MAN specific channels (as opposed to MAG); and
2. It'd be a bit too much fanfare for duplication of existing routes.

I'm sure it'll be TP/USPB related - but may well be proved wrong in the morning!

 

[David_itl]

Transport secretary Chris Grayling is due to visit the airport this morning as construction gets under way

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/work-starting-new-1bn-super-13362256

 

[User001]

Well, that's rather disappointing! Hoping it was something more!

 

[David_itl]

"U.K. Transport Secretary Chris Grayling will launch the public discussion Friday at Manchester Airport in northern England, where a 1 billion-pound program to double the size of the hub’s Terminal 2 is set to begin. The expansion aims to increase annual passenger numbers from 27 million to 45 million."

https://www.bloombergquint.com/poli...-puts-heathrow-at-heart-of-post-brexit-growth

 

[Land23R]

Pity about the headline though.

 

[Aceshigh]

I'm personally outraged that Manchester is fawning around this pompous buffoon although I accept it is an opportunity to state the case for pulling the plug on Heathrow roadrail subsidies!

He should not be allowed anywhere near Manchester Airport unless there is a promise NOT to take credit for the expansion. AND a further promise to place Manchester Airport on the same pedestal as Heathrow re investment etc.

The expansion of the TP is soley down to the MAG landlords there has not been one iota of Goverment interest.

If this is simply a Whitehall exercise in taking credit for a project in which they they have not contributed a penny I will be apoplectic!

He did exactly the same with the Liverpool Port project spinning "Government investment " under the umbrella of the Northern Powerhouse.

Its Total hogwash. All private money was put up 100% by Peel Holdings.

Unless he is announcing something tangible like proportional investment NOW in supporting road rail infastructure or Preclearance he can take a hike back to Whitehall far as I'm concerned.

If I'm wrong I will of course be absolutely delighted to fall on my sword.

PS It now transpires that not only was there zero money for surrounding infastructure he managed to go one step further and with all the brass neck cheek of a Whitehall minister pulled the plug on previous promises of Manchester - Leeds electrification and expansion of Piccadilly, both of which impact Manch.

You could not make it up !

Pity MAG could not take the opportunity to quiz said minister about how these changes will help improve local transport connectivity!

 

[Dobbo]

Here is a nice shot of the Icelandair anniversary livery B752 with the Malaysian A380 in the background. Image courtesy of jrb from SSC and reposted with thanks.

View attachment 5643

As an aside, I see MH are revisiting their strategy for Europe (presumably at the behest of their political masters). This strategy revolves around retaining double daily A380 into LHR with at least one European route opened up with the 6 A350 on order.

I know this is inherently unlikely but was wondering if anyone knew the volume of one stop traffic MAN-XXX-KUL?

 

[EGCC_MAN]

There are actually three rare visiting aircraft in that picture. The tail of Hi-Fly Malta / Swiss Space Systems (S3) A340-313X 9H-TQM can also be seen. We should use the pic to promote planespotting holidays to Manchester!

 

[David_itl]

No radio, no charts and fly your microlight into MAN airspace and you get a bit of a fine

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...icrolight-pilot-delayed-15-passenger-13396461

 

[Aceshigh]

Just reading that Jet2 are placing an addition 3 units into STN for 2018. Expansion appears to be happening in pretty short order !

MAG has probably made best use of its "relationships" in order to do this.

The overiding and nagging fear I have , is that we have no idea whether these assets could have been deployed at Manchester?

You can only base planes in one spot and whilst the two markets are different the ability to place assets in the best place for ROI remains a worry, specifically if they are at STN simply because there is no room for further based units at MAN.

They may of course operate W sectors arriving into MAN late morning and this may be an unexpected bonus, it is not however a substitute for a MAN based asset wholly dedicated to 3 slots per day Ex Man.

Are there any other areas of the airport where additional stands could be sqeezed in with a bussing option?

If we can create a car park at the J1 intersection are there any other rabbits that can be pulled from the hat ?

 

[Yawner]

I think you're worrying unduly. There's been a Saudia sat in the apron for a week despite there supposedly being no space. I don't think Jet2 have used their hangar parking plan either. Plenty of extra flights were accommodated for a recent champions league match. Aircraft can be boarded off stand. Later departing based aircraft can be boxed in by earlier departing ones. So many options. No need to worry.

 

[Aceshigh]

Must confess. I would love to see evidence re your complacency.

I fear the stand situation IS becoming a worry.

Check the timing of movements here either in or out.

http://www.tasmanchester.com/man-logs.html

Listening to sundry aircraft waiting for stands every day due to lack of capacity is becoming worrysome. Although I appreciate it's August.

I think Gnd are using the term "Ramp Sat"
( Ramp saturation).

It's becoming the norm, not the exception!

 

[EGCC_MAN]

Re: Aircraft parking stands at MAN -

So many options. No need to worry.

What options do you suggest for parking additional based Ryanair B738's on T3, bearing in mind the carrier's strict operational requirements? Remote parking on the West Apron wouldn't work for them (even if there were space). Ryanair has been very accommodating to MAG, providing almost as many visiting flights at this airport as based ones, but that strategy can only be pushed so far. Each based unit can operate around 23 return trips per week so the numbers at stake are substantial. I can't see MAN attracting sufficiently large numbers of additional non-based Ryanair ops in the medium-term to compensate for the apparent inability of the airport to fit more based B738's on T3? Ryanair has been arguably THE largest driver of MAN's recent growth-surge, but T3 parking constraints seem set to grind their expansion here to a halt.

Then of course we could move on to discuss the specific issues of accommodating additional EasyJet, Jet2 etc.

 

[User001]

The issue is that T3 is too small overall for its current purpose, not just stands. Even if they did make more stands available somehow, the departure lounge would simply not be able to cope in any way or form, and the only way of adding space would be to add a second floor to house more seats and eateries, but, currently MAN's finances have all been taken up by the T2 project so T3 changes are a long way off yet.

The 2 only short term solution to add more Ryanair based aircraft are:

-have more early departures so that some aircraft can be parked remote, send some flights out pre-6am, and then once they have gone, tow the post-6am departures on to T3.

And/Or

Move KL/AF to either T2 or T1 and that would create space for 2 more based Ryanair. In terms of T2 monarch are not bothered about remote parking and are quite accepting of it, so, they could fit in KL/AF. In T1 Jet2 have still not had to use their hangar parking plan yet, so, clearly still some wiggle room to be found there.

 

[EGCC_MAN]

Thanks User. Are you aware of any renewed charm-offensive to persuade Air France / KLM?

 

[Jerry]

Which Terminal does Virgin fly out of? As it could be logical for them to move there and try and get Skyteam and it's partners together.

 

[Scottie Dog]

Which Terminal does Virgin fly out of? As it could be logical for them to move there and try and get Skyteam and it's partners together.

Terminal 2

 

[User001]

There isn't much of a synergy between AF/KL and VS at the moment. It would probably be much better if VS and Flybe could be accommodated under the same roof.