Manchester Airport - General Thread

[ethanegcc]

Of course but comparing it to 'not having our flag carrier at MAN' because they have a JV on AA's flights. UA don't operate from DUS so LH have to operate it themselves.

Sorry, I should clarify I was talking specifically about the situation at DUS and MAN.

 

[Dobbo]

Presumably BAs code will go on QRs flights to DOH from MAN, and I presume beyond DOH?

I don't think BAs code is on CX, I assume they funnel pax to HKG via LHR and the shuttle...

 

[Dobbo]

MAN's position on the runway debate:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2...-east-bias-says-airport-boss?CMP=share_btn_tw

 

[David_itl]

To be honest, it's time BHX and MAN started doing a co-ordinated campaign regarding the future of aviation in England (I'm leaving out Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland as their governments are heavily involved in developing aviation policy in their countries). The primary focus ought to be is to tell everyone around the world to forget how close London is and will be if HS2 gets built. What's the point in attracting routes if all we will be seen to be doing is shooing the would be tourist and business travellers towards the southeast?

With some 25 to 30 million people within the combined catchment area, there should ample scope for route development to be undertaken. I'm not wholly convinced that either airport draws large numbers of passengers to the other within each airport's catchment - it's the London effect that affects routes. Just got to look at the LHR-JFK market - virtual hourly shuttle.. no-one can say that there is that pressing need for such frequency. Because of that, even the individual limited capacity of a BA aircraft will still see a significant amount of economy class seats available which could be sold at prices less than what is available ex-MAN and BHX.

 

[Jerry]

To be honest, it's time BHX and MAN started doing a co-ordinated campaign regarding the future of aviation in England (I'm leaving out Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland as their governments are heavily involved in developing aviation policy in their countries).

Maybe the problem is for BHX and MAN they don't have a regional government to go to bat for them. As any UK government will favor the South East the most.

 

[David_itl]

We do still have the Northern Powerhouse executive and now what George Osborne's involved with to keep up the lobbying. I don't know how far along the Midlands is with their regional devolution but combining the the hardhitters in each area ought to be on the agenda by the end of the year.

 

[Dobbo]

I think the idea that spending £30 odd billion at LHR is a good investment for the northern powerhouse should be shown up for the spin it is. It simply cannot be allowed to be used as a justification for what is clearly a borderline project.

I accept it may deliver limited indirect benefit (if you ignore the economic activity it may pull away from the north). However if £30bn was directly invested in northern projects it would be transformational. A third runway at LHR will transform nothing.

 

[Land23R]

I see it's reported that Blue Air are basing an a/c at LPL next summer for 18 x weekly flights, including a daily to Rome. Given MAN's frequencies and with the pound continuing to fall today, there must be a question of over capacity on some of these routes.

I wonder if MAN has focused more on RYR and EZY, and perhaps Norwegian, rather than the likes of Wizz and Blue Air, both now established at LPL and BHX. Meanwhile Bucharest remains a frustrating omission on the MAN departure boards.

 

[Just Birmingham]

Glad I'm not the only one concerned about this grotesque amount of money. Any other project would come under intense scrutiny but our MPs seem absolutely blind to this.

 

[Dobbo]

You are far from alone.

Whatever there is a vote in parliament on the issue, that will not be theast word. There will invariably be a whole host of legal challenges, and a planning and land acquisition process to go through (likely to involve a public inquiry).

It is not the case that MPs can make up their case as they go along. There is due process for a scheme of this nature, which makes these projects expensive, but also ensures that decisions are taken correctly and for logical/rational reasons that stand up to scrutiny.

IIRC the government is in a difficult position because it will be difficult to justify prioritising one private enterprise over another (LHR vs LGW) and if they give the go ahead to both, that draws STN/BHX/MAN/LTN into the argument based on the narrow terms of reference for the airports comission.

 

[David_itl]

Finally got a launch date for easyBus... 21st October. Few other changes for buses serving the airport. 369 is withdrawn and the 330 extended from Stockport. New route 288 between the airport and Altrincham replaceing the 18.

 

[David_itl]

BA A319 G-EUPM currently blocking 23R with nose gear problems after landing.

 

[Dobbo]

This probably makes today one of the (rare) days where R2 would benefit from a full length taxiway.

Not that I am advocating the hundreds of millions of pounds it would cost to impliment!

 

[Land23R]

There have been several contributors on that other forum (MAN & LHR threads) claiming that R2 was a waste of money and unjustified. And then of course more recently there was that journalist of a serious newspaper who stated that R2 was rarely used. I gather it was pointed out to him in no uncertain terms the normal hours of operation, and I think the report may have been modified later but not sure about that.

It's true that at busy periods when 23L has been used in single runway operations we have still lost a few flights on occasions due to holding delays and approach procedures that have to be adopted because of the lack of a full parallel taxiway and suitable turn-offs. But think how many flights would have had to divert today had there only be one runway.

 

[ethanegcc]

R2 is most certainly not a waste of money - it is providing scope for further expansion. The daylight hours when R2 is not used are very little; it is used 0600-1030 and 1300-. At the peak morning times, the taxiways leading to R2 are extremely congested and on Sundays when single runway operations happen, the area around T3 is blocked and the amount of stack holding is ridiculous. Perhaps some former environmentalist journalist, but this will help MAN avoid the problems that London has got and attract new airlines, as space is readily available and slots are not high in demand.

 

[ethanegcc]

Also, here is a video showing the events. The BA 319 blocking RWY1 and also landings on RWY23L which are extremely rare and also Saudia taking off on runway 2, which is a rare occasion.

 

[IanFarquharson]

Holidaymakers face Christmas travel chaos unless airport service staff are given new contracts, Unite warned today.

More than 1,700 workers face being left in limbo when baggage carrier firm Aviator closes its operations at Birmingham, Gatwick, Manchester and Newcastle airports on November 30.

The staff work in baggage handling, refuelling and check-in for major airlines including British Airways, Virgin, Thomas Cook and easyJet.



Unite has called for more clarity over the employees' futures, warning there could be Christmas travel disruption if they are not taken on by other companies 'as a matter of urgency'.

The union said there were some 1,200 Aviator employees at Gatwick, 196 at Birmingham, 192 at Manchester and 145 at Newcastle.

They also service airlines such as Monarch, Thomson and American Airlines.


Sweden-based Aviator is understood to be ending its contracts at the airports for financial reasons.

Unite national officer Oliver Richardson said: 'Unite will be seeking assurances from the company, airlines, other handlers and ultimately, the airports that there will be no compulsory redundancies.

'It is a matter of serious concern for both our members and the travelling public that, so close to Christmas, most of the airlines have not announced where their baggage handling and check-in contracts are going.



'The airport owners and the airlines, which require these services for their planes to land and take-off efficiently, need to get their skates on to sort this out, without any detriment to the staff jobs, pay and conditions - otherwise Christmas travel chaos is on the cards.'







A spokesman for Aviator said: 'We note the statement issued by Unite today and completely understand the desire for more clarity on plans.

'We're in discussions with a large number of stakeholders including airlines to ensure that this process is orderly and well-managed.

'We're consulting with employees and their representatives to deal with any concerns they have and providing further information as and when we have it and will continue to do so.

'We remain in close cooperation with the unions as well as other stakeholders. Our focus is on maximising employment and meeting the needs of our airline customers while minimising disruption and we are working tirelessly to achieve that goal well in advance of the Christmas travel period.'

 

[User001]

Zenith Aviation have said they will potentially base one of their Learjet aircraft at Manchester next year owing to the higher yield being generated in the North West.

 

[Dobbo]

Seems odd timing, but reported on SSC that USPBC has been "given the green light to proceed at Manchester".

I'm not clear whether this is the final go ahead, or whether the airport has cleared another hurdle en route to the final approval. Great, but expected news if true, and a massive vote of confidence in the airport.

 

[David_itl]

Not sure whether this a more of a 'heads up' post. Technically speaking, it is!
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co...ws/incredible-cloud-chaser-plane-fly-12063518