Of course we have all missed Air Lingus UK with 3 units
Good point. The Aer Lingus base is a very welcome development. Though curiously, cutbacks by Virgin and US carriers mean that they will barely eat into the Thomas Cook long-haul void. I think the other reason that Aer Lingus did not arise in discussion is because their aircraft do not park on the West Apron overnight.
I stand by my spotter remark. If people these days take offence to the term, ‘spotter’, then I’m happy to use a different descriptor but I broadly stand by my comment.
I tend to use either 'enthusiast' or 'avgeek' in this respect. The word 'spotter' risks coming across as a put-down on forums like this. But whatever label we use, we should not be dismissive. Many of the most successful professionals within the industry got through the door based on knowledge picked up in their formative spotting years. And in almost any team within the industry, they tend to be the ones with the most drive and enthusiasm to attract new business and deliver success. Someone who actually wants to be there and enjoys their work is likely to provide a better service than another who is there just because they need the money and any job will do. Enthusiasts are motivated.
As for the implication that 'spotters' would like to see Longtail, Nordwind and others at MAN, that is undoubtedly true. 100%. I'd photograph them if they turned up - I wouldn't pretend otherwise. But, as you know, we have spent much of this exchange discussing Jet2 and Ryanair aircraft turned away on diversion requests, and past instances of Ryanair expansion proposals not being accommodated. Because I want to see MAN maximise ALL business opportunities out there, and if that includes some aircraft with different paint jobs, that's great. But when passenger throughput is down by around 80% (yes, just think about that number!), and cargo throughput down by more than 50% from a level which was never even close to optimised anyway, then I do feel inclined to comment when management appears most interested in keeping the routes team furloughed to save wages, saying no to cargo operators, and issuing no-div notams week after week. I want to see convincing EVIDENCE that they're back on the front foot and chasing up all new business leads out there. I don't yet see that, hence this discussion. I for one would be very happy to see new operators at MAN, but no more so than by seeing increased ops by familiar based carriers. I want to see MAT's 29,510,599 pax and 113,248 Tonnes cargo regained and surpassed. That will require a long-term 'can do' team effort which appears to be conspicuously absent at MAN. It would be nice to see Mr Cornish commit to addressing this.
Perhaps blaming 'spotters' uses a convenient scapegoat to avoid facing up to the real issue. Maybe we need to question those who rush to defend a culture of negativity, shrug the shoulders, not my problem, muddling along is fine, I don't know or care, no-can-do, just say NO to everything, regardless of actual circumstance.