Route Development & Rumours

[Scottie Dog]

Ethiopian Airlines

One change that I have failed to note is that from 3rd July Ethiopian had added Marseille to their routing from Addis Ababa. This means that both Geneva and Marseiile are served by this airline.

 

[David_itl]

Here's the Bertie Bonus from the Evening News -it's an article on the US routes

Manchester Airport’s unseen US link worth £2.4billion

To mark the United State's Independence Day, Manchester Airport has opened up on the impact of direct routes to and from the US

www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk

219,000 fly from MAN via other hubs to USA

The noted rises of non-operated routes (bold = my assumption)

Boston (up 14per cent). Jetblue or Aer Lingus?
Chicago (13per cent), American (they've name dropped MAN), , Aer Lingus or United
Washington DC (8per cent), United
Los Angeles (6per cent). Aer Lingus or Virgin (namedropped by MAN)

It may be heresy for various forums but I daresay MAN also throws in passenger bookings from LPL, LBA, BHX, EMA and NCL to the States when lobbying airlines given that they would be marketing MAN as a gateway to the North so they would go all out to entice airlines to MAN rather than the other airports.

 

[BlueManc]

The bigger picture would suggest very little is going to be risked by the accountants for the foreseeable.

Analysis: Summer 2025 vs 2024 Transatlantic Bookings

Cirium data shows summer 2025 air travel bookings between select U.S. and European cities have decreased YOY.

www.airwaysmag.com

Can't see any IAG interest and the US majors only do Capital cities. Maybe they need higher definition route maps?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1938972086825091107

 

[Jerry]

LOT Polish Airlines plan to launch Warsaw Chopin - Manchester by 2028

https://twitter.com/x/status/1943627462425866376

 

[BlueManc]

Widely reported, CAA have lifted the ban on Pakistan based airlines. Reported that PIA already planned in MAN resumption on 14th August.

 

[CCGE29]

Widely reported, CAA have lifted the ban on Pakistan based airlines. Reported that PIA already planned in MAN resumption on 14th August.

6x weekly slots held from 14th August (daily ex day 3)

PK701/702 ISB-MAN-ISB

B772 ops.

 

[Iron Duck]

6x weekly slots held from 14th August (daily ex day 3)

PK701/702 ISB-MAN-ISB

B772 ops.

Do AirBlue hold slots, out of curiosity?

 

[CCGE29]

6x weekly slots held from 14th August (daily ex day 3)

PK701/702 ISB-MAN-ISB

B772 ops.

PK have now added slots from 02 AUG, initially 2x weekly (DAY 3/6) before daily from 14th. Again ISB, 772 ops.

Not seen slots for PA as yet.

CCGE29

PK have now added slots from 02 AUG, initially 2x weekly (DAY 3/6) before daily from 14th. Again ISB, 772 ops.

Not seen slots for PA as yet.

CCGE29

Further slots also held for LHE service

PK709/710 1x weekly from 06 AUG 1800/2000 77W

CCGE29

 

[ian_h]

Any substance behind the rumours of wizz opening a MAN base? Seems they have some airframe to relocate and Ringway is high on the list?

 

[CCGE29]

Any substance behind the rumours of wizz opening a MAN base? Seems they have some airframe to relocate and Ringway is high on the list?

I would be surprised. The next airline to join is likely another from the east via Eastern Europe.

CCGE29

 

[79MX]

I would be surprised. The next airline to join is likely another from the east via Eastern Europe.

CCGE29

AirBlue via Trabzon maybe?

 

[CCGE29]

AirBlue via Trabzon maybe?

via SOF this time.

CCGE29

 

[79MX]

via SOF this time.

CCGE29

SOF-MAN as a revenue segment or just as a refuelling stop?

 

[mullion]

Thats what I wonder as it was fuel stop last time

 

[CCGE29]

SOF-MAN as a revenue segment or just as a refuelling stop?

Tech stop. Won’t have traffic rights.

CCGE29

 

[Scottie Dog]

Latest update on PIA

PIA Moves Islamabad – Manchester Service Resumption to late-Aug 2025 — AeroRoutes

Published at 2200PDT 07AUG25 / 0500GMT 08AUG25 Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) in the last few days revised planned service resumption on Islamabad – Manchester route. As of 07AUG25, the airline intends to resume 4 weekly flights on 29AUG25 at earliest, instead of initially filed 16AUG25.

www.aeroroutes.com

 

[Jerry]

AirBlue to Manchester?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1963926261425967367

 

[David_itl]

very, very occasionally we have mentioned South America as a long term possibility but i cidnt have any numbers but we now have a sort of limited context of traffic flow there. If most of the connecting passengers are heading there, then we can see from the numbers it will probably be going to be at least 10 years before any serious thought about a route to that continent..

With those numbers suggesting, its currently 10000 passengers a year which would be 200 a week but maybe a few more going to Brazil via Air Portugal. it would appear long-term that it would need to be an Ethiopian style operation that needs to be o)n an airline with decent links throughout South America (I would say via Rio de Janiero on Latam as it seems better to not overfly a city and continue for 2 to 3 hours to the hub airport then fly 2 to 3 hours back

https://twitter.com/x/status/1965464303911178441

 

[CCGE29]

very, very occasionally we have mentioned South America as a long term possibility but i cidnt have any numbers but we now have a sort of limited context of traffic flow there. If most of the connecting passengers are heading there, then we can see from the numbers it will probably be going to be at least 10 years before any serious thought about a route to that continent..

With those numbers suggesting, its currently 10000 passengers a year which would be 200 a week but maybe a few more going to Brazil via Air Portugal. it would appear long-term that it would need to be an Ethiopian style operation that needs to be o)n an airline with decent links throughout South America (I would say via Rio de Janiero on Latam as it seems better to not overfly a city and continue for 2 to 3 hours to the hub airport then fly 2 to 3 hours back

https://twitter.com/x/status/1965464303911178441

Think a little optimistic to expect a South American flight just yet.

I’d look east for the next long-haul route.

CCGE29

 

[Land23R]

Think a little optimistic to expect a South American flight just yet.

I’d look east for the next long-haul route.

CCGE29

It seems to have gone very quiet regarding potential routes to Tashkent and Delhi for which slots are / were held. There were hopes some weeks ago that announcements were imminent. It's less than 7 weeks to the start of the winter schedules.
According to SPD Travels on X, the expected return of flights to Pakistan may also have hit yet more snags, although he did include a caveat about possible translation of the report.