Manchester (MAN) - General Thread

[Coathanger16]

Only to those with chips on their shoulders is my post saying ONLY use MAN. I did edit my post before submitting that but I will say it now. It smacks of sour grapes that you are unable to accept that MAN is by some quirk of fate what most airlines choose as their initial regional port of call. Tough. Deal with it. Where MAN went in with between 2 and 4 flights per week to some destinations, the same airlines leapt in with DAILY flights to other regional airports. May be it's because MAN proved that you can get the regional flyer on board. No-one BUT no-one is saying MAN is the only show in town... why on earth would I highlight what some airlines were doing in Manchester to poach MAN passengers if I were to think that MAN is the only show in town. YOU brought up Hainan promoting itself outside MAN. This is the flip side. Doesn't suit your argument, does it? Primera being the new airline for transatlantic flights in BHX should be ALL over the Manchester area with cheap flight offers to poach potential Thomas Cook and Virgin passengers away from their MAN services. Not seen any advertising by them whatsoever...why?

Did you even read my post? Because you clearly haven't understood it.

I have said that I accept Manchester is the main airport and that it makes sense for new long haul routes to go there.

What I said about Manchester being 'the only show in town', that wasn't aimed at you in particular but the Manchester forums in general. Again, as I said in my previous post, that was not an explicit accusation or criticism, just a comment about that is how its read to outsiders. As I have said, it may not have been your intention, but that's how it came across.

Just to make it clear - as I seem to be failing spectacularly here it seems - I do not blame MAG or the airlines. They are doing exactly as the should. My comments about Hainan are purely personal points of view. Would I have a problem with Primera advertising flights in Manchester? Not really because Manchester has a plentiful supply of capacity to New York, and a practically unheard of airline advertising in Manchester is unlikely to sway any passengers from Manchester to use Birmingham over Manchester. My "problem" with Hainan was that after successive summers of charter flights from BHX to Beijing, to have direct scheduled flights launch from MAN and then be advertised in Birmingham was just a tad frustrating to say the least. Do I blame Hainan for advertising in the Midlands? No, its there job to try and attract as many passengers as possible. I was just stating my reaction to that advertising - next time I won't bother! I've used the example before, but I'll expand upon it here. Say Air India were to do a series of charter or one off scheduled flights from Manchester to Mumbai for a few years. Then they decided to launch a BHX to Mumbai scheduled service all year round, and advertise that route in Manchester. Would you blame Air India for that? No you wouldn't. But I challenge any of you to not be the slightest bit annoyed about it.

As to why Primera hasn't advertised in Manchester? Well they haven't even started advertising around Birmingham as far as I'm aware. The launch is still 9 months away. Posters on here have suggested a lead in time of 2 months for a potential Air China service to Shanghai is acceptable. I'd be more worried about how much advertising they'd be able to achieve in 2 months than Primera could achieve in 9 months if I were you.

Maybe is just that I'm a sour person with a chip on their shoulder, but it seems whenever I post anything of substance on the Manchester thread, its shot down in flames. When someone new joins the forum there's a polite welcome by existing members. It seems that that only lasts as long as you don't challenge the status quo. Perhaps I'll just stick to the Birmingham threads - there much more friendly and welcome to different points of view over there!

 

[EGCC_MAN]

Say Air India were to do a series of charter or one off scheduled flights from Manchester to Mumbai for a few years. Then they decided to launch a BHX to Mumbai scheduled service all year round, and advertise that route in Manchester. Would you blame Air India for that? No you wouldn't. But I challenge any of you to not be the slightest bit annoyed about it.

Air India operated a twice-weeky scheduled service from MAN via FCO using A310 equipment many years ago. They withdrew when those A310's had to be switched to other duties as (reportedly - corrosion?) problems were discovered affecting availability of the A300 fleet. When they finally got their act together again, they opted to relaunch out of BHX instead of MAN. So we've been there ... what Hainan did is nothing new. Bangladesh Biman did similar (MAN to BHX) years later. But that's the nature of a highly-competitive business. Win some, lose some. When there are multiple bidders for lucrative new business, it is unrealistic to expect one company to win them all. Don't take it personally. Just move on to the next opportunity. As for advertising, a professional agency will calculate the expected ROI of a promotional campaign across various target markets. If the expenditure stands to generate sufficient payback it can happen. Again, business. Don't take it personally.

Perhaps I'll just stick to the Birmingham threads - there much more friendly and welcome to different points of view over there!

Then I invite you to read posts 74 (friendly and welcoming BHX guy) and 78 (my reply) on the Birmingham Primera Air thread. The offender who launched that unwarranted tirade describes himself as a career journalist. No excuse for not reading what was written in my preceding (non-partisan) BHX posts before producing that. And I never did see an apology from him.

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Anyway, it seems to me that this particular discussion is one driven primarily by emotional attachment and entrenched loyalties which are unlikely to be influenced on either side by reasoned argument. The frequent appearance of that word supporter sums it up nicely. Perhaps it is best for the main protagonists to agree to disagree and move on to the next topic.

 

[ethanegcc]

Although it began as a healthy debate, I think we should realise it is not approaching a conclusion so, as the post above, states I think we should move on and get the Manchester General Thread on track to general news and updates about the airport.

 

[User001]

Coathanger

The conversation has remained freindly throughout, but, your essentially coming onto a MAN thread and saying 'I'm sick of MAN getting all these new flights'. So I ask, what response were you expecting exactly with the type of conversation your trying to promote?

It would be like a MAN poster going into the BHX thread and telling them to stop bragging about their new flights, that's not going to go down well either!

And as for BHX threads being more friendly for the type of posts you write, well, I beg to differ, I've been at the receiving end of some tirades myself so wouldn't be so quick to promote a virtue of pure angelic peace over there!

 

[Coathanger16]

The conversation has remained freindly throughout, but, your essentially coming onto a MAN thread and saying 'I'm sick of MAN getting all these new flights'. So I ask, what response were you expecting exactly with the type of conversation your trying to promote?

I accept that may have been how it started, but I've tried to withdraw from that point as I realized that was how it was coming across and that it is wrong.

If you'd actually read my recent posts you'd see that I've been agreeing with you that Manchester is the right airport for those new flights and for it to act as a hub for the North. If they were only going to fly from one of MAN or BHX, which would Cathay, Singapore, Hainan, etc choose? Clearly Manchester - and I accept why that is and I agree with it. The fact that Birmingham has a direct flight to India whilst Manchester doesn't really does surprise me, and I sincerely hope MAN is able to secure that highly sought out route to Mumbai soon (and Shanghai & Bangkok for that matter) - I wouldn't expect BHX to anytime soon.

The point I've been trying to make, which has either insulted you all or been misinterpreted is that it often comes across as though posters have the view that only MAN is capable of securing those routes. So you ask what response I was trying to get - merely an acknowledgement not that there are other airports out there (I know you all know there are), but that the Manchester threads can often come across as being elitist - that is that only Manchester is able to secure those routes.

LISTEN CLOSELY!

I'm not accusing you of having that point of view, purely that to some of us that's how it comes across.

I am truly sorry if I have insulted anyone - that was not my attention. The comment about certain threads being more friendly than others was made in the heat of the moment, and it is one that I regret making. As you highlight, I have on multiple occasions witnessed someone come onto the BHX thread and be set upon. Often it is those posters that align with Manchester that have the most in depth knowledge so I would welcome and even encourage you to post on the BHX threads.

As you have said though, it is time for this topic to come to a close. I just hope this latest tirade hasn't put anyone off following these threads as they are often really informative, and normally well spirited. Equally I hope that whenever you see a post from me you won't all roll your eyes and think "oh won't he just shut up"

 

[rollo]

As a BHX type this has been a interesting exchange of views with very good points made all round but I am glad to see the main protagonists appear to be calling a truce as Forums4 airports is an intresting, informative and above all friendly site with many contributers having detailed or inside knowledge as well as people like me who are just enthusiasts.

 

[Aceshigh]

I think it's been great personally !

Everyone vented their spleen without any blood on the floor.

Excellent debate!

 

[Silvercity]

First of all I would like to state that people can use whichever airport they wish.

What I do not agree with is that people should have to use a certain airport for certain services as has been promoted by some members on this forum. Because of lack of numbers, some services will only succeed from one airport in the "North of England", I accept that, but why should it always be MAN? For people living in the M62 corridor from West Yorkshire to Merseyside, MAN may be at the CofG but you can't get round the M60 north of Manchester between 7am and 9am because of Traffic and if there is an accident? say no more. If I use the train, I can get to London quicker than Manchester and I believe TPE is overcrowded most of the time.

So, I hope that you understand why I get irritated by people saying that MAN should be the airport for the North of England. But MAN could become the Airport for Long haul and the UK and European services be supplied from LPL, LBA, DSA, HUY, MME & NCL. I would be interested in members views on that.

I live between Liverpool Airport and Manchester Airport and fly to Faro regularly, I use both, but use Liverpool more, because I find it easier both to get to and to transit through. Indeed from my office is in Liverpool City centre, getting to Manchester Airport after work for a flight is a stressful, I need to leave at least two hours because of traffic. I have used the train to Manchester Airport and Liverpool Airport (South Parkway Station, Id like to see Merseyrail extend into the airport proper). The Northern rail service to Manchester Airport is not great its slow and last time they couldn't open the doors when I tried to get off at Manchester Airport Station. I think Manchester should expand its long haul options, and Liverpool and other regional airports in the north expand to more European destinations.

 

[Aceshigh]

I don't want to hog the thread as this is Manchester general and we are discussing Heathrow, albeit in terms of decisions monetary or otherwise that may affect future growth up here.

Maybe a "Manchester outside influences" thread might be in order ?

 

[Scottie Dog]

I don't want to hog the thread as this is Manchester general and we are discussing Heathrow, albeit in terms of decisions monetary or otherwise that may affect future growth up here.

Maybe a "Manchester outside influences" thread might be in order ?

Aceshigh- many thanks on behalf of the Moderators and Administrator for your suggestion. A new thread has been created under:

http://www.forums4airports.com/threads/4313/

 

[Dobbo]

Some interesting comments from Collette Roche, MD of MAN, in a magazine called "Northern Light" produced for TfN.

It can be accessed via the link below but the key points I can see are:

• MAN is worth £3.15bn annually to the UK economy.
• At a regional level this is £1.87bn.
• MAN continues to call for government support on Northern Powerhouse transport spend.
• The investment in the TP is based off MAG's confidence in the economy of Northern England.
• Cutting journey times across the region could lead to the north securing 20 direct flights to more than 20 markets.
• Rail is a key driver in this.
• The national aviation policy should be an opportunity to provide joined up thinking across the modes of transport.

There are other more general points (largely about the importance of the Beijing and San Francisco routes) but these are well known on here.

http://www.transportforthenorth.com/northern-light-summer-2017/

 

[David_itl]

How to confuse inattentive passengers.. https://twitter.com/ksd_18/status/902671008880054276

 

[Scottie Dog]

How to confuse inattentive passengers.. https://twitter.com/ksd_18/status/902671008880054276

And with departures only 15 minutes apart! Definitely couldn't be arranged any worse if you tried....

 

[Dobbo]

Reminds me of the guy in Birmingham, UK who booked a Virgin flight to Vegas.

As I recall the problem he had was that the airline was Virgin America and the flight departed from Birmingham, Alabama...

Easy mistake and all that...

 

[Coathanger16]

Reminds me of the guy in Birmingham, UK who booked a Virgin flight to Vegas.

As I recall the problem he had was that the airline was Virgin America and the flight departed from Birmingham, Alabama...

Easy mistake and all that...

Don't forget the Grenada/Granada debacle as well...

 

[Aceshigh]

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/transport-for-the-north-under-one-strategic-plan-1-8729405

Bit of froth re Northern Powerhouse.

 

[Dobbo]

This bit...

"There’s also the jobs-creating potential brought by improving connectivity to our great northern ports, and making Manchester Airport a genuine international hub on a par with Frankfurt, or Amsterdam’s Schiphol"

 

[Dobbo]

In the interest of balance - here is a negative story. Its content probably surprises no-one.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...hester-airport-terminals-named-among-13554765

 

[gonetech]

Hi, Has anyone heard of Premiere Handling? http://premierehandling.com/

I'm a bit out of touch with individual handling agents at MAN these days. Just wondering what airlines use them or is it a mash up of various companies?

 

[Aviador]

Manchester Airport Crowned Best UK Airport at Travel Bulletin Star Awards

Manchester Airport is flying high after being named the UK’s best airport at the Travel Bulletin Star Awards last night.

The UK’s third largest airport fought off competition from the likes of Heathrow, Liverpool and Birmingham to receive the accolade.

The award comes after the busiest summer on record for Manchester Airport that saw more than 3 million passengers jet off on holiday in August alone.

2017 has also seen new destinations to San Francisco and Muscat, making Manchester Airport the only UK airport outside of London to offer these destinations.

This summer also saw work begin on the airport’s £1bn transformation programme that is set to pave the way for the Northern hub’s continued growth.

Voted for by travel agents and industry experts, representatives from Manchester Airport picked up the award at a glittering award ceremony at the Langham Hotel in London on Monday evening.

Patrick Alexander, Head of Marketing for Manchester Airport, said: “We’re delighted to receive this fantastic award and would like to thank all the travel agents and people who voted for Manchester Airport.

“2017 has been an incredible year for the airport with record passenger numbers, the beginning of work on our £1bn transformation project and expansion by lots of our airlines.”

Manchester Airport Press Release