Originally Posted by
Skipness One Foxtrot
Emirates are remarkably exceptional, they even offer a daily B77W to NCL. So having Emirates doesn't really mean there's scope for that much more long haul IMHO. And there's nothing wrong with being dominated by Ryanair, STN has way more European destinations than LHR, on modern and efficent Boeings.
I can't see MAN losing their MAN-SIN service of 30+ years just to open up another London airport for SIN. It's not like the longstanding MAN-SIN traffic is going to use STN.
The conversation was regarding the possibility of SIN-MAN-IAH routing via STN instead of MAN.
The conversation was not regarding the long standing SIN-MAN service of 30+years.
Any possible SIN-STN-IAH routing could be an advantage for Singapore Airlines in serving another London airport. The routing would give STN a North American link to the west and one heading east to Southeast Asia. Singapore Airlines would be a great addition to STN if the airline ever did operate from the airport. Singapore Airlines would probably do well on cargo on the route. Singapore Airlines Cargo have previously although very briefly operated from STN in the past.
The NCL comparison is strange. STN as you are fully aware of is London's third largest airport serving 25 milion passengers a year. It's not NCL, a large regional city in the northeast of England serving a far smaller market. NCL is extremely fortunate to have a daily EK B773 to Dubai.
But as London's third largest and busiest airport then STN theoretically should have more than one long haul airline serving it. Having Ryanair as the dominant airline at STN shouldn't be a reason for long haul airlines to overlook the airport. As you stated, nothing wrong with that.
At least STN has a variety of long haul cargo airlines serving the airport and hopefully we might see some future expansion in that area.
BUT
From all of the comments and for all of the points made from not only my own personal posts but from others, I think that we can come to the conclusion that this scenario regarding a possible SIN-STN-IAH will probably never occur for reasons others have pointed out. After all it was only meant as a hyperthetical question.