Archive Route Development & Rumours

[ethanegcc]

It may do - I can see Air Canada Rouge expanding in the future. Unfortunately we have lost Calgary, but Air Transat will be bringing more A330s in S18 hopefully on the Toronto route (as opposed to A310s) and I would love to see Air Canada Rouge expand to a full season of operation (Apr-Oct) and this would be the next logical step. The Canada market is one to be nurtured but I think it could grow.

Just to clarify, I'm not particularly wanting Westjet to come to MAN, I'm not saying it will be soon and I'm not saying it is realistic - just reporting the news and saying they may want to enter the Manchester market.

 

[Dobbo]

I think that's one (IMO limited) upside of looking at BHX - essentially no competition physically at BHX.

However, as has been seen many times, this is not the relevant question to ask because BHX's competition lies to the south (LHR - loads of direct services to Canada) and the North (MAN - two carriers but reasonable service to Canada).

The advantage of MAN is the catchment is distinct from LHR... That counts for quite a lot.

 

[ethanegcc]

I think that's one (IMO limited) upside of looking at BHX - essentially no competition physically at BHX.

However, as has been seen many times, this is not the relevant question to ask because BHX's competition lies to the south (LHR - loads of direct services to Canada) and the North (MAN - two carriers but reasonable service to Canada).

The advantage of MAN is the catchment is distinct from LHR... That counts for quite a lot.

Good point, that although BHX has only 1 carrier once weekly to Canada, LHR is going to be drawing pax in to it's up to 10 daily flights to Canada, so maybe, with this current vacuum of pax into Heathrow, this one carrier is all that the BHX market can stand. Perhaps MAN is even suffering from an LHR drain, despite the distinct catchment differences- in higher class travellers to Canada.

 

[User001]

Tony Fernandez has said that Air Asia X likely to start Manchester as its 'first*' European destination.

*first as in the first to Europe since their last attempt.

 

[Dobbo]

Interesting. I thought they were after one of LGW or STN (I suppose STN isn't really equipped for long haul flying).

KUL would be a nice one to get back on the boards, but with MH looking to re establish intercontinental flying, if I were MAN, I'd be enouraging them to route KUL-MAN-JFK.

All hyperbole, but good to see MAN remains in the frame for a number of operators - and more Far East routes remain on the radar (BKK, KUL, TYO, PVG). Just need someone to pull their finger out over BOM...

 

[ethanegcc]

I would love to see Kuala Lumpur served from Manchester. The question is, 'will Air Asia X actually do it?'. Don't they have a history of 'talking the talk, but not walking the walk' if you pardon the vernacular?

 

[Dobbo]

I think that's right, if you go back through the MAN pages you'll probably see an Air Asia X page somewhere...

 

[Coathanger16]

Interesting. I thought they were after one of LGW or STN (I suppose STN isn't really equipped for long haul flying).

To be fair, they did operate from both previously. First from STN, then they switch to LGW, before pulling out of Europe altogether.

 

[David_itl]

Here's a link http://www.ttgasia.com/article.php?article_id=29328

"However, London may not be on AirAsia X’s radar when it returns to Europe. “There are many interesting points in Europe, so it may not be a hub airport like London. It may be Manchester or Dublin,” Fernandes said."

 

[Aceshigh]

I think MH are still suffering.

They had a £59 return seat sale from Heathrow last week!

 

[User001]

The MH seat sale was a publicity stunt in co-operation with STA travel. 49 seats at £49 rtn each

 

[groobs]

My MH flight from KUL to MAN back in May 2000 remains my longest ever logged flight at 14hrs 40 mins!!

Thankfully it was on a 777 with a bulkhead economy seat.

Not sure I'd fancy it in a squeeze-em-in Air Asia X A330 or one of their 350s on order. Six hours from KIX-KUL was fine, I doubt I'd feel the same with another seven or eight hours added on!

 

[Dobbo]

That's an interesting point. I don't know much about long haul loco's. What I do know is that there is little material difference between 4.5 hours to the Canaries and 6.5 hours to the east coast USA. The stack em in model should work.

How that translates to "long" long haul sectors (eg Far East, west coast USA) of 11-14 hours I'm not so sure. Norwegian are trying it, who else will follow...

 

[Aceshigh]

737 max and 320neoLR could be gamechangers in long haul in same way loco strategy strangulated legacy carriers.

 

[Dobbo]

I wonder if Emirates weakening might open the door to more direct services elsewhere - for example from the Far East carriers.

The morning flight is temporarily downgagued to B77W, MAN has not yet seen any lost frequencies (I have no information on this either way). I don't know about the underlying demand - and they are obviously facing competition from Qatar, Etihad and now Oman (amongst others). Cathay, Hainan and Singapore have upped their game and there must be some pressure. Turkish have retreated slightly - but does the market really feel like it is realigning? I'm not so sure...

 

[Dobbo]

Interesting that LEVEL seem to be focusing their next tranche of growth at CDG and FCO. this follows on from the article in BBC news which name checked MAN as the location of a future base (along with another of other UK and European airports).

CDG seems to follow their mould of taking on Norwegian wherever they may appear. FCO looks like a possible attempt to step into any vacuum created by Alitalia's financial woes (which will require a root and branch restructure).

If an IAG brand turn up at MAN, when will it be, which brand and what routes will they focus on?

Food for thought.

 

[Jerry]

Also Vueling have bases at CDG and FCO so that could be part of the reason.

 

[Coathanger16]

Also Vueling have bases at CDG and FCO so that could be part of the reason.

I think that is currently the main factor in choosing these bases.

The article I saw mentioned ORY not CDG however...

 

[Jerry]

I think that is currently the main factor in choosing these bases.

The article I saw mentioned ORY not CDG however...

ORY would make more sense especially as there isn't a LCC long haul carrier operating out of it.

 

[User001]

French Blue (formally Corsair) flies out of ORY.