Air China

[andyc941]

Just to confirm what user001 had been saying,
http://www.routesonline.com/news/29...reen-light-for-new-shanghai-manchester-route/

 

[Dobbo]

On the ball as per...

Were air China priposing to go daily shortly after commencement of the service as per Hainan?

 

[andyc941]

They could go daily next year but it depends if the remaining biliteral slots are being used for flights to other UK airports.I think user001 worked it out at six slots left to use after Air China,and Hainan start daily flight to Manchester.

 

[Dobbo]

Any developments on this? If they are planning on a March 2016 start, they must have to get a move on! The news about Hainan upgrading to an A333 is encouraging and I would hope that Air China would be encouraged.

Small snippet in the MEN below - unclear if it is based on anything concrete.

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/ ... s-10768484

 

[andyc941]

I dont know whats happening with Air China,ive read on another forum that they announce flights 2 months before starting then. So there may be still time for them yet.

 

[andyc941]

I know Air China have the rights for MAN-Shanghai flights, but with there not being an announcement as planed,are they going to not operate the flights ,or not going to just just to stop Hainan operating them

 

[Dobbo]

I think user said that everything was in place, slots etc but there seems to be mo movement. Perhaps it has been pushed back but all signs were pointing towards implementation. My feeling is that it will start shortly after hainan and not "gazump" what has been trumpeted as the "first" route!!!

 

[Dobbo]

I know Air China have the rights for MAN-Shanghai flights, but with there not being an announcement as planed,are they going to not operate the flights ,or not going to just just to stop Hainan operating them

I've seen chatter on other sites about 26 June. Don't know if that is substantiated or not but I doubt it will launch before Hainan (which has been remorselessly promoted as "the first".

 

[Aceshigh]

Is Air China still a goer given rumours on "other"threads ? Gulp....

 

[User001]

Yes, Air China still on for MAN. I've looked at the other thread and it does seem to be a mis-communication. This security firm at BHX were obviously told 'a new Chinese Airline' which, as we know, can easily be mis-interpreted as 'Air China'.

Air China are announcing San Jose next month, and was applied for just a few weeks ahead of MAN, so, our announcement should come after that. It fits in perfectly with the 'announced just after Hainan start' murmurs I constantly hear.

 

[Aceshigh]

Many thanks for the clarification and indeed "confirmation ".

Filling Hainan might be ok

AIR China Manchester....a stretch but maybe dooable given feed by Flybe.
A codeshare on both would assist.

But a Birmingham China flight as well , my goodness that would seem a route too far.

 

[User001]

Air China could actually be the better bet.

Analysis has shown that Shanghai has overtaken Beijing in both passengers and yield from Manchester.

A lot of work had been done in the background regarding Shanghai, and, it was highly expected that Hainan would launch both PEK and PVG, but, to get the rights from the CAAC for MAN-PEK (CA held the rights since 2009), HU had to concede the MAN-PVG rights to CA.

 

[Aceshigh]

Many thanks I'm just concerned if the market takes 8x Manchester flights AND another 4 into BHX (which Manchester takes as a given is within its catchment area.) Eg The Hainan Roadshow is appearing in Coventry and Nottingham. There is danger a BHX route whilst good for BHX would simply dilute a fragile new routing killing both airports?

 

[User001]

The populations involved means 8 weekly from Manchester and 4 weekly from BHX (let's remember it's 12 weekly from Manchester overall with CX doing 4 weekly too, as HKG is China, even if it is in a strategic difference zone).

If the route is given a chance, the sheer numbers in China means that eventually, the routes WILL work.

 

[Dobbo]

Not forgetting that all three wish to offer a daily service.

 

[Dobbo]

Been shown elsewhere but I think this demonstrates the sort of lead time Air China requires for a new operation (it's rather short!)

http://airlineroute.net/2016/04/15/ca-szxfra-may16/

 

[andyc941]

Hi Use001/all, i see on your posts on the BHX thread that you mention 8x weekly flights between MAN and China including Hong Kong. Dose this mean the Air China 4x weekly schedules wont be happening now this year now ?.

 

[User001]

I'm only talking about 100% confirmed and bookable flights at this time.

 

[Land23R]

If the BHX flights to PEK and HGH are 'scheduled' as opposed to charter, how does that leave the latest UK-China bilateral in terms of available slots? Looking at the posts above, my understanding is that Air China's 4 x weekly from MAN-PVG application has been approved although it's up to Air China when and if they decide to implement it.

Is there just 1 bilateral for the whole of the UK or are non-London airports, individually or collectively, part of a separate / additional agreement?

Apologies if this has been covered before but an update would be appreciated.

 

[User001]

I believe that with Hainan now going up to daily, the new BHX flights and Air China, there are (I think) 8 return slots left.

I have reason to believe another Chinese carrier is now in advanced talks with Manchester (doesn't take a genius to work out airline and destination given the 1 airline rule), and that could be another 3 slots used, leaving 5, as yet, unclaimed slots.

I'll have to go back and double check the info however, as it may have changed again.