Norwegian Air Shuttle

[Scottie Dog]

I agree with your feeling. Whilst applauding Norwegian for opening services to previously unserved destinations I am concerned as to how their product and marketing may affect our existing network.

 

[User001]

It's just going to be a wait and see.

Unfortunately it's a Schrödinger's cat type scenario. Could be the best thing to happen to Manchester since TCX changed tact, or it could be an unmitigating disaster. But unfortunately. We won't know until whatever happens, happens.

All we know is, after many false starts, this time it's happening, so, we just need to get on with it now.

 

[Dobbo]

Agreed.

Norwegian are in direct competition with TCX - but I expect the most vulnerable carriers to be the US3, who have a number of product, performance and pricing issues to address.

 

[Aceshigh]

More important than ever that Manchester grasps the opportunity and starts to promote " self connect" as Gatwick has done.

Really is time to get away from the mindset that the only catchment area is just the N West.

It should now be fully exploiting route structure from South West, East Anglia The Midlands Scotland IOM and NI as the Central Hub. The airports themselves do this....!


And with articles in USATODAY pushing these "new cheap flights to Europe" some advertising letting Americans know there is life beyond London would be good.


http://www.usatoday.com/story/trave...-providence-portsmouth-737-max-base/95085448/

 

[ethanegcc]

FLL is certainly great news and so is Providence - it gives us a link to a new state - Rhode Island which is a superb area for tourists.

I feel a bit mixed about DY to New York but I don't think a 738M will be an issue to be honest and it is not to the most attractive airport e.g. the general traveller may put in MAN-JFK, rather than MAN-NYC so I think the other airlines will still be fine.

 

[Jerry]

I think Norwegian will end up catering for the more price conscious traveler and many who may never flown transatlantic before because of the cost and i'd be very surprised if they effect many of the current airlines flying from MAN to the US.

 

[User001]

Norwegian will be in competition with Thomas Cook.

TCX are already offering TATL to the price concours. DY say flights will be from £135, but in reality, on a B737, those fares will be few and far between, so likely to be more around the £250 mark.

TCX already offer seats around that price, so, it clear who DY see as their main competitor at MAN. While Norwegian dithered about UK regional flying, TCX just got on with it, and got on with it in style!

Time will tell how well it goes, but, I know of 3 seperate people who will be using the SWF flight, hailing from upstate New York so suits them to the ground.

It's also worth pointing out though, that Stewart will offer the less daunting entry/exit to the USA, and with US pre clearance, I can see a lot more routes like this. Manchester UK to Manchester US anyone? That would confuse the hell out of many.

As said before, this could either go very well, or very wrong. One thing to wonder, while the first 3 routes from MAN are SWF/PVD/FLL, I wonder if UA saw this coming so cut and run on IAD, it would provide a convinent excuse. It will be interesting to see how this could affect EDI. If MAN stays 1 daily EWR, I can't see EDI keeping 3 routes from UA with mega cheap fares.

 

[ethanegcc]

I know - now EDI - a much smaller airport has three daily UA flights and we have one. ORD is definitely a keeper for EDI but Norwegian may have an effect on EWR.

 

[Dobbo]

I'd assume EWR upgaguing to a B763 makes sense as it can be presented in a positive light.

The reality is that the MAN-New York market, although large, is competetive and will continue to be so. UA will have a fight in their hands clawing back market share even with connecting traffic.

I gather IAD is not the best for transfer, and I suspect it has/is suffering from SQ and the multiple new direct routes in S17.

USPC may make IAD viable in the future, but until then, it's EWR and perhaps ORD if they fancy taking on AA.

 

[Land23R]

https://inews.co.uk/essentials/news/business/britons-fly-us-60-next-summer/

Strange this article mentions EDI but not MAN for cheap fares to New York. Even Cork gets a mention. And I don't think that previous link to USA Today on 7 Dec. that Aceshigh posted referred to MAN, or did it?

So the question is, has it actually been confirmed that Norwegian will be flying from MAN to Stewart for NY and Providence RI, or are we still expecting a formal announcement?

 

[Scottie Dog]

As User001 said on 7th December it has still to be formally announced.

Here's hoping.

 

[Dobbo]

It sounds like Norwegian have cancelled their slots for the B737MAX at MAN. In practical terms, this means they will not be starting TATL flying from MAN in 2017.

There are conflicting reports about the reason for this. Some say that the aircraft delivery is delayed, others that a competetor airport offered a better deal. Time will tell on both fronts.

This continues the trend of NAX continued procrastination at MAN and (depending on the reason for the delay) the UK regions.

While NAX continue to delay, airlines like TCX and VS continue to add capacity in 2017 and 2018.

 

[Land23R]

The bigger concern here is if the competitor airport reason is true and it turns out to be BHX, or even LPL or LBA.
It would be interesting to know how hard MAN fought for those long haul flights to the US in the deal offered, given the developments by TCX and VS.

 

[Scottie Dog]

Thanks for that update Dobbo.

 

[Jerry]

Curious as to who the potential competitor is?

 

[Dobbo]

Thanks for that update Dobbo.

Just a messenger picking up and repeating bits on other forums from people who know the score!

 

[Land23R]

From that other forum, it seems they have recently applied for slots out of DUB with a start date of July.
On balance, I'm less concerned about DUB, if that is the case, than had it been one of the other more local airports.

 

[Jerry]

And there's me hoping CWL had gazumped MAN!
If it is DUB sounds like a response to IAG opening up a low cost long haul operation at BCN.

 

[Dobbo]

Fair shout - NAX and IAG tit for tat seems to be the way of things...

 

[IanFarquharson]

The bigger concern here is if the competitor airport reason is true and it turns out to be BHX, or even LPL or LBA.

We will find out soon !