Manchester Airport - General Thread

[Scottie Dog]

Courtesy of MAG World

OAN 69/2017 RUNWAY OPERATING HOURS (WINTER 2017/2018)

1.0 SUMMARY During the winter season dual-runway operating hours will revert to seasonal winter operating hours.

2.0 PROGRAMME
2.1 Commencing 00:01 Monday 30th October 2017 for the winter season.

3.0 DUAL RUNWAY OPERATING HOURS All times quoted in this Operational Advice Notice are local.
3.1 Monday to Friday (inclusive) Runway 05L/23R and 05R/23L will be in operation between 06:30hrs - 10:30hrs and 16:00hrs – 20:00hrs. Runway 05L/23R will be in operation as a single runway at all other times.
3.2 Saturday Runway 05L/23R and 05R/23L will be in operation between 06:30hrs - 10:30hrs. Runway 05L/23R will be in operation as a single runway at all other times.
3.3 Sunday Runway 05L/23R and 05R/23L will be in operation between 16:00hrs - 20:00hrs only.
3.4 Runway 05L/23R will be in operation as a single runway at all other times.

 

[Aceshigh]

Bit of a PR puff piece from MAG.

Interesting how many times "The North or Northern" is mentioned. All they need to do now is get the new social media intern from the Juice Academy to ensure they drive publicity beyond the M E N !


http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...ern-13642711#ICID=Android_MENNewsApp_AppShare

 

[Dobbo]

Yes it's a puff piece, but it does serve to highlight be new CEO, and also that the overall strategy has not changed.

The fundamentals remain good, and the airport can stand to benefit from what we hope to be a growing (even if not transformed) northern economy.

MANs positioning as the beating heart of the northern powerhouse and as one of two dominant U.K. Hub airports is of central importance to this strategy.

 

[Land23R]

Agree about highlighting the new CEO.

Although quite rightly Andrew Cowan mentioned the key new long haul routes started this year, I didn't spot any hint of expected new announcements. Interestingly, there is a link in the article to a story just over a year ago listing 11 new long haul destinations that may soon be reached direct from MAN. Of that 11, Houston and Oman have come to pass but some of the other 9 perhaps seem as far away as ever. I suspect Bangkok and India may be the first to be secured unless anyone knows differently, but a time scale is difficult to guess. But it's notable how expectations change. Not all that long ago, folk may have anticipated San Diego, Detroit, Shanghai and possibly Capetown as imminent. (I'm discounting the short series of charters for this purpose).

 

[Dobbo]

Good article here involving Collete Roche, MD of MAG.

https://www.thetimes.co.uk/static/c...ood-making-the-northern-powerhouse-a-success/

Some selected quotes:

"For Roche, transport was the key to unlocking potential. She said: “If we can’t start to join up cities better we won’t make that step change in productivity. If, for example, we have 30-minute routes between Manchester Airport and Leeds or Liverpool (it’s now about an hour and ten minutes), that would without a doubt treble the catchment. It means an extra 10 million people can get to our airport. The 80 airlines I work with say that would open 20-30 long-haul routes. One route can bring in £250m of gross value added. Times that by 20-30: think about the inward investment, the talent, the travel and tourism. It’s a no-brainer. That’s why we need to work together to make sure it does happen.”"

 

[User001]

I agree transport can unlock potential.

However, we need to get the usage on the capacity we already have. Despite some of the best public transport links in the country, to see such a small percentage of MAN pax using those links shows it's not just the 'far and wide' that needs work, it's the 'closer to home' too.

Now, I'm not saying it will work for everyone. A lot of MAN pax carry multiple suitcases, and I for one wouldn't want to lug 2 large bags around on a train, changing platforms and so on.

Another example, You have the Pakistani diaspora that like to bring half the family to see one person off, imagine trying to get all those on a train?

But, one huge factor is the price of trains. I'm not cheapo, but the price of trains is effing ridiculous. I travel to London a lot but it's paid for, so when I went to London last year for a TV recording, I was shocked that even 5 weeks out, it was still £90 each return from my nearest station in Cheshire to Euston for the trains I wanted, and I checked several sites. It's also shocking that a walk up train fare from Manchester to London can be close to £300 and due to being so close to departure, you aren't even guaranteed a seat for that price. £300 for a 2.5 hour journey without a guaranteed seat? It's scandalous!

The amount of people I see on social media commenting that the cost of a train to say, Leeds was more than the flight they came in on, you know something isn't quite right. It's time for some joined up thinking. Germany has tie ins between flights and trains, I find it hard to believe the UK couldn't do something similar.

If they want more people to use the train, it needs to come down in price. I dread to think what HS2 prices will be. It needs to be paid for, and if a walk up fare can be £300 today, then what's HS2 going to be like? I genuinely wouldn't be shocked if so,done said it could be £500 or more!

 

[Dobbo]

Joined up thinking: 100% agree. You should be able to check in online (as now) and, if so, drop off your bags at Leeds,
Manchester, Liverpool, Sheffield, Birmingham or London rail stations.

Getting the right carriages with room to get your bags on will be a challenge, as will the interface at an Airport NPR/HS2 station, but is achievable.

As for prices on HS2: supply and demand. The reason walk up prices are so expensive is because supply is so much lower than demand. They can fill the remaining seats at that price. HS2 will deliver a huge surplus of capacity which will increase User ship and lower prices.

 

[Dobbo]

Trade mission from New England to the north. Refers to connectivity ex MAN, and the incentive of a transpennime rail route.

As an aside (on this forum) seems to indicate one of Primera's BHX routes will be BOS.

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/transport-improvement-could-boost-us-trade-1-8763762

 

[Aceshigh]

The Yorkshire Post have been scathing in their criticusm of Graying. He us up here Friday addressing Ippr.

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news...account-over-northern-transport-1-8764220/amp

I do wish the MEN Liverpool Echo etc were equally vociferous and go for the jugular as well!

 

[Dobbo]

In fairness, Manchester and Liverpool have elected mayors to do that.

Yorkshire is not close to having one so the paper has to step up! Obviously a one Yorkshire mayor would be a powerful voice for the Northern Powerhouse...

 

[TheLocalYokel]

The Yorkshire Post have been scathing in their criticusm of Graying. He us up here Friday addressing Ippr.

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news...account-over-northern-transport-1-8764220/amp

I do wish the MEN Liverpool Echo etc were equally vociferous and go for the jugular as well!

The MEN and Liverpool Echo are owned by Trinity Mirror a company that publishes well over 200 local newspapers. My local paper the Bristol Post is another and it is dire.

They got rid of many seasoned journalists and now employ lots of youngsters probably on low wages (nothing wrong with being a young journalist - everyone has to learn, but they need experienced colleagues).

They rely an awful lot on press releases from organisations and set the young journalists surfing social media and similar sites to dig out 'stories'. They have no local heart any more. I don't expect any Trinity Mirror local newspaper to be a campaigning organ for local issues. They might reflect them but if the Bristol Post is typical won't take the lead.

Sorry to wander a bit off topic.

 

[Land23R]

But the elected mayors have a balancing act to try and achieve. Yes, on the one hand they have to be strong and critical where appropriate but at the same time they need to demonstrate they could work with Grayling and be constructive.

In that situation, the press can often be a useful mouthpiece for expressing anger and dismay when a government appears to retract on promises or perseveres with a strong London bias for infrastructure spending.

Osborne with Bernstein and Leese showed progress can be made through cooperation despite political differences.

 

[Aviador]

Manchester Airport crowned best UK airport for the second time in two weeks
For the second time in two weeks Manchester Airport has been crowned best UK airport, at the Travel Trade Gazette Awards, (18th September). The accolade is off the back of winning the same award at the Travel Bulletin awards on 4th September.

The UK’s third largest airport fought off competition from the likes of Bristol and Birmingham to receive the accolade. It is a hat-trick for the Northern Hub after winning the Travel Weekly Globe Awards Best UK Airport in January this year as well.

The award comes after the busiest summer on record for Manchester Airport that saw more than 3m 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 Lyceum Theatre 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

 

[Aceshigh]

In fairness, Manchester and Liverpool have elected mayors to do that.

Yorkshire is not close to having one so the paper has to step up! Obviously a one Yorkshire mayor would be a powerful voice for the Northern Powerhouse...

True but the two Mayors might be construed as having a left wing view (?) with limited support whereas a local regional paper could be said to represent a broad swathe of opinion. Something that Grayling "might" be more receptive to. .....although I doubt it

 

[David_itl]

The Escape lounges are being refreshed..

https://www.hospitalityandcateringn...ape-lounge-catering-house-part-brand-refresh/

 

[Aceshigh]

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-approves-major-infrastructure-works

Great news.

Ah hang on, unfortunately that was dated 2011 !

 

[Aviador]

Manchester Airport welcomes Transport Secretary’s comments
Manchester Airport welcomes the Transport Secretary’s acknowledgement that it is a “golden asset for the North”

Today, the Transport Secretary, the Rt Hon Chris Grayling MP, addressed Northern business leaders about transport investment in the region.

Responding to the Transport Secretary’s comments, Charlie Cornish CEO of Manchester Airports Group (MAG), said:

“We welcome the Transport Secretary’s acknowledgement that Manchester Airport is a “golden asset for the North” and also his appreciation of the vital role that the airport plays in supporting the prosperity of both the Northern Powerhouse region and the national UK economy.

“We look forward to working with the Transport Secretary on the creation of a new aviation strategy that seeks to maximise the economic and social benefits of aviation whilst also transforming the North into one of the best connected regions in Europe.

“With better access to the region’s global gateway, much more of the North would have the connections they need to access key markets around the world.

“The Aviation Strategy can make a vital contribution to achieving this by ensuring that major projects - like HS2, Northern Powerhouse Rail, and our transformation of the airport - are designed and delivered in a joined-up way and integrated into aviation networks.”

Manchester Airport Press Release

 

[David_itl]

Longer opeing hours proposed for next summer for 23L/05R

http://www.knutsfordguardian.co.uk/..._plans_to_extend_dual_runway_operation_hours/

 

[Aceshigh]

"2018, it is proposed that DRO will be active from 6am to 9pm Monday to Friday, 6am to 4pm on Saturdays, and 6am to 9.30am and 1pm to 9pm on Sundays.

Careful Holmes " the Current DRO is Already 630 till 1030 Mon Fri ?"

.... well done the investigative hacks at the Knutsford bugle !

 

[Scottie Dog]

Aces....

I think you might have misread the article? It refers to new DRO for 2018 of 0600hrs-2100hrs. Did you misread this as 0600hrs-0900hrs?