Air China

[User001]

Air China has applied to serve Manchester-Shanghai 4 weekly with A330-200 from March 2016.

Honestly didn't see that one coming! Thought the Hainan group would be the main China growth carrier for the UK regions.

 

[andyc941]

Thanks user001,there was a rumour of an Air China route on social media and other sources before Hainan was announced..But with Hainan starting Beijing i thought they would start Shanghai a few months later.

 

[nwoody2001]

So these would also be charter flights also now that all the bilateral slots have been filled between the UK and China? Unless there are bilateral discussions happening that we are not party to?

 

[User001]

Air China to subscribe to the following route :

First, since March 2016 , opened Shanghai Pudong - Manchester round-trip passenger flights , using the models for the A330-200, 4 classes per week ;

Second, since May 2016 , opened Shanghai Pudong - Barcelona round-trip passenger flights , using the models for the A330-200, 4 classes per week .

If you have any comments , please November 20, 2015 will be written feedback to the Civil Aviation Secretary .
Tel: 010-64091952

4 classes actually means 4 weekly. It also means that potentially, the battle between Manchester and Birmingham to get the 'first scheduled/regular flights to mainland China has now swung in Manchesters favour again.

 

[User001]

As far as I know, The bilateral has been amended again to allow a further 12 weekly flights from March 2016.

This allows these new Manchester flights, and does allow the Birmingham flights to run as scheduled when the company wishes to turn to a scheduled operation.

Apparently the issue with BHX at the moment is, that Beijing Capital are not permitted to be a scheduled long haul carrier, not that BHX is limited to scheduled flights under the agreements.

 

[nwoody2001]

Ahhhhh so this explains when we are getting applications to start scheduled routes from March16...

 

[User001]

Correct Woody.

Apparently the new bilateral is protected that these new 12 weekly flights can be used for non-London flights only, and are non-transferable. It is designed to promote flights to the UK regions.

Air China do not serve LON-PVG so could have good potential.

So, with 12 weekly in the new bilateral, it's means 6 other weekly flights are up for grabs if the BHX-Hangzou and BHX-PEK are protected.

 

[User001]

This article also makes more sense now too, even though it is quite old now:

http://www.manchesterconfidential.co.uk ... oming-soon

Charlie Cornish stating that Shanghai was always intended to follow closely behind the Beijing announcement.

 

[nwoody2001]

So if this is to be the case, I can imagine the MAN, BHX, EDI, GLA going in overdrive to get the routes.... some exciting times ahead

 

[User001]

Well, there are now 6 weekly flights up for grabs.

Hainan have already stated that MAN-PEK will be increased to daily by the end of 2016, so one would assume forward planning means they have applied for the slots in the bilateral.

That means 3 weekly left, and, I expect BHX will be hoping a carrier is applying for those flights for them, or, the bun flight between GLA/EDI for a flight may yield something.

I would imagine 15 weekly flights from Manchester-China is the limit for now so the routes have a chance of being sustainable.

 

[Dobbo]

A little more (slightly mainstream?) news on the topic.

http://www.thebusinessdesk.com/mobile/n ... route.html

 

[User001]

Air China have started to make destination information pages for Manchester and Barcelona.

The pages are for directly served destinations only, and not code share points (for example Edinburgh is a code share point for CA but doesn't have a page), so, shows things are getting confirmed.

http://www.airchinacargo.com/en/index.p ... 7&code=MAN

 

[Dobbo]

Air China cargo?

 

[User001]

Yes, Air China cargo also uses passenger flights, not just cargo aircraft, so, Manchester will also be a cargo station.

 

[Dobbo]

Ah! Okay - seems odd at first blush but thanks for the explanation.

Seems like the Hainan announcement for Beijing has somewhat breached the dam...

 

[Dobbo]

Seen a post on another forum (may be User001 under another pseudonym?) suggesting they start on 25 March.

 

[andyc941]

Seen a post on another forum (may be User001 under another pseudonym?) suggesting they start on 25 March.

Ive read that also,and that Hainan have slots for 2016 to go daily from September 1st.

 

[Dobbo]

Makes you wonder what additional pressure singapore may come under over the next few years. I think User hinted at it but that route is likely to stop at MUN or go non stop to MAN...

 

[andyc941]

Makes you wonder what additional pressure singapore may come under over the next few years. I think User hinted at it but that route is likely to stop at MUN or go non stop to MAN...

I dont know what the LF of Singapore are like these days,i read a few months ago that the MAN-MUC sector of the route was really high,In my opinion i thing Singapore will have to react to Air China and Hainan starting at MAN.

 

[Dobbo]

Something has to give. As SIA can sell 5th freedom flights from MAN to MUN I suppose the relevant load factor is the amount of PAX travelling from MAN to Singapore.

With SIA flying to Düsseldorf and Lufthansa code sharing with SIA I think something is likely to change. As with CX going 8x weekly, it will probably depend on aircraft and staff - specifically the A350.