Archive Route Development & Rumours

[User001]

Shanghai:

There will be movement on that soon, just not how people expected it to move. Just as a side note, BCN wasn't applied for after MAN, it was applied for at the same time.

Biman:

I wouldn't hold your breath with them. They seem to change their minds more than I've had hot dinners!

San Fransisco:

I'm sceptical with this one. Visit Britain and Virgin have signed a 2 year deal to promote the route, so looks like it will return next summer. However, to do what Manchester want the route to do, the route needs to be year round and VS don't want to commit to that, so, it's doomed to fail anyway.

 

[Jerry]

ATL been cut?!

On Delta's website you can book flights between ATL and MAN up until March 2018 and Virgin is the airlne operating them.

 

[ethanegcc]

Poorly phrased, reduction in frequency, not cut altogether.

Great to hear! Getting really worried then!

 

[Dobbo]

@User001 I'm sceptical too. MAN want at least 4x weekly all year, and I don't think we are there yet. Couple of summer seasonals before year round might develop the market further, but the current climate is not conducive to nurturing thin routes.

 

[ethanegcc]

@User001 I'm sceptical too. MAN want at least 4x weekly all year, and I don't think we are there yet. Couple of summer seasonals before year round might develop the market further, but the current climate is not conducive to nurturing thin routes.

I'd be happy for the route to return next year, as summer seasonal, 3x weekly, then develop from there. Obviously year-round is the goal. I think if this route had been launched in the early 2016 climate then this may have been the case, but we are in different times now

 

[User001]

The problem with San Fransisco is that it's a paradox at the moment.

VS NEED to operate this route year round, thus to nurture the 'tech industry link' Manchester as a city is trying to build.

But, the route is not strong enough to run year round just yet, as the airlines seem to be promoting it for its leisure links only. Now, the leisure side could work year round too, as California remains mild in the winter and nearby offers good skiing too.

Without a year round link, I feel VS will fail, and their version of the route will be consigned to the history books. TCX will fair better as they don't go after corporate traffic and remain solely leisure focusesd. With SFO failing for VS, BOS will disappear too and Vs will retreat to providing JFK/ATL/MCO/BGI/LAS.

 

[ethanegcc]

Shanghai:

There will be movement on that soon, just not how people expected it to move.

Can you elaborate; what kind of timescale are we looking at (this winter, next summer?)

Any comment on Thai also?

 

[Dobbo]

This is why I think a year round link MAN-LAX/SFO probably needs something to bump it over the top, like Kangaroo traffic...

 

[David_itl]

Can you elaborate; what kind of timescale are we looking at (this winter, next summer?)

I would hope that by Summer 2018, Shanghai will be featuring on the departure boards. Just depends on how easily the route could be squeezed in given the slot constraints that have hindered the start of the route. Bit of jiggery pokery may still be needed. In the meantime, it has really allowed the Beijing service to bed down without traffic siphoning off which means that launched at the right time, there may not be as big an effect of the loss of the Shanghai traffic as "natural" Beijing-MAN traffic will have grown. Therefore instead of having 2 airlines getting mediocre results, we can end up with 2 airlines getting reasonable to good results which is going to the acid test for our Far East long-haul expansion.

 

[Aceshigh]

I agree with the above sentiment. The gap has possibly allowed HU to actually now offer the daily service abd the continuity and multiplier effect this provides.

That said China is so large Shanghai may as well be in a different country. Would be interesting to see how much transfers via other hubs but HU and CX in particular .

 

[ethanegcc]

I agree with the above sentiment. The gap has possibly allowed HU to actually now offer the daily service abd the continuity and multiplier effect this provides.

That said China is so large Shanghai may as well be in a different country. Would be interesting to see how much transfers via other hubs but HU and CX in particular .

I don't actually believe Hainan offers much of a hub at Beijing in terms of a wide range of onward connections, as opposed to what Air China would so I believe there is a market for daily PEK and PVG.

I just hope the daily Beijing and 787 change happens now.

 

[User001]

New airline to be announced soon.

 

[ethanegcc]

New airline to be announced soon.

Any clues?

 

[Land23R]

Are you able to clarify: is it a newly formed airline, or an existing airline new to MAN?

 

[IanFarquharson]

Good news User001 - I look forward to hearing who it is, BHX should have some news soon too about a US service

 

[Jerry]

New airline to be announced soon.

Long or short haul?

 

[Brum X]

Good news User001 - I look forward to hearing who it is, BHX should have some news soon too about a US service

But as this is about MAN, leave BHX out of it.

 

[rutamkrd]

I think user may be eluding to the LOSS of the Shanghai to a-n-other Tartan coloured be-castled location via a certain Scandinavian hub.

 

[User001]

It's a new short haul airline.

 

[ethanegcc]

It's a new short haul airline.

Astra Airlines? I was hoping it might be Thai to Bangkok!