Other than the moaning on this thread, any evidence to back those comments up?
This public forum is not the place for a forensic examination of specific failings, but those within the group have access to the data and timelines they need. Minimum standards are supposed to be in place for handling agencies: who is responsible for setting and arbitrating these standards? Why isn't there a Hi-Lo available on the airport?
Someone needs to make darned sure there is. Take some responsibility.
The Hi-Lo issue appears to be kicked around as a classic 'chicken and egg' scenario with one side saying why have the equipment on site when so few freighters use them and the other side saying our freighters can't use the site because there is no equipment available. This is a vicious circle and it needs sorting out. A short glance at MAN's history shows that any notion that there is no demand for decent freight facilities here is abject nonsense. Not a case of 'bring it and they will come', rather 'bring it back cos it attracted loads of business in the past'. The need is proven.
MAN's whole-plane cargo capability is poor not based upon latent demand, but because the airport's proposition has seemingly been subjected to a managed decline by some within the group who didn't have Manchester Airport's best interests in mind. That is a lamentable situation and it needs to be rectified.
I suspect that based upon 2019 (pre-covid) stats, MAN is standalone as probably the busiest major airport in Europe which can't even rustle up a single Hi-Lo. That is absolutely shameful and a betrayal of MAG's responsibility to the NW's regional interests. If the situation isn't rectified, some might be minded to suggest that there is a growing case for a monopolies inquiry into how MAG as a group services the air cargo industry? Is business disproportionately carved up in the interests of MAG profits rather than due service to the customers? Is the NW region's inherent share of the cargo business routinely switch-sold away in the interests of other MAG airports elsewhere in the country? Some difficult questions need to be addressed, especially at this desperate time when every business opportunity is so crucial to employment prospects in the area.