Originally Posted by
42psi
It looks to me from the discussions that a few folks don't realise exactly how an airport works!
MAN is not a handling agent.
It has no steps, belt loaders, gpu's, push back tugs, hylos etc, etc.
All aircraft servicing equipment is owned/operated by the handling agents only.
If MAN gets an enquiry from an airline/aircraft operator then it can say if there is slot/stand availability and try and link the potential customer to a handling agent.
If none of the Handling agents wish to take the work then there is little MAN can do other than perhaps try and suggest one of the other group airports to try and keep the potential revenue within the group. It may well be that if the incumbent handling agents have already made clear they don't want freighter business that MAN might go straight to that in the first instance.
A freighter operation requiring an MDL is a significant cost unless you are a multi airport agent with equipment availability elsewhere in the network to move to MAN.
The accountants in a handling agent are unlikely to countenance the expenditure for an MDL against a one year contract. In the freighter world it's not uncommon for a new route to be tried only to fold shortly afterwards for all sorts of reasons.
FDX when they operated previously into MAN used their own staff and equipment to handle their aircraft.
MAN still has a number of stands (at the moment) with nose wheel tether points for freighter ops. But these are likely to dissappear as MANTP progresses.
From recent performance issues it seems unlikely that any of the current handling agents would have the capacity to actually take on any pure freighter operations.
On the whole many of these in the past at MAN (China/CX/Polar) have a schedule so that they can measure their delays against something. Again that's not something a handling agent want to be faced with.
At the end of the day the role of the airport can only be one of facilitating/encouraging a handling agent to take business.
In the final analysis it's a cost benefit/risk decision by the Handling agents.
Sorry I disagree vehemently, i think you are looking at this slightly one eyed specifically from the agents perspective, whereas everyone else with a wider economic remit to the region as a whole, is seeing this with a different vision of what Manchester Airport needs to offer.
I reference the comments below all made a few months ago by some pretty influential business parties and Politicians across the North of England.
I have linked in the article when the extention of the Transformation Programme was announced this year.
https://mediacentre.manchesterairpor...ion-programme/
Yes these comments were made at the launch of the 2nd phase of the MANTP but anyone who thinks they don't relate to pure flown cargo as well as passengers is quite frankly living in cloud cuckoo land.
They are robust in their delivery !
"Manchester, is The Global gateway for the North"
"Connnectivity to the Worlds most important economic markets is paramount"
"As the international gateway to the North of England, Manchester Airport acts as a critical player in our economy, supporting thousands of jobs and unlocking billions in economic value by facilitating tourism, trade and investment". “Manchester Airport is a massive asset to our city region, connecting those living and working here to global destinations, as well as helping attract visitors, tourists and inward investment".
"Having this global connectivity is a major competitive advantage for Manchester".
“Manchester Airport has an integral role in the North’s economy, connecting us with the rest of the world and supporting businesses who export goods and services overseas".
“‘Manchester Airport is an essential transport hub for the North West – it connects us to key markets".
"Manchester Airport is critical to so many north Cheshire businesses both for business travel and for freight and as it continues to attract new airlines and open up new routes".
"Manchester Airport’s status as a genuine gateway to the rest of the world and will unlock tourist and commercial traffic opportunities now and in the future.”
I suspect jaws would be on the floor if you suggested to any of them that an enquiry to operate a pure freight into Manchester for a local exporter was met with a.....
"Ah sorry when we said Global Gateway we actually only meant passengers or underbelly freight we cannot actually handle pure freight imports and exports but tell you what , we do have options, we have two sister airports, one in the Midlands and one in Essex, where we are happy to facilitate your requirements".
Can you imagine what the Politicians, Councillors, Chief executives, Policy makers, and Business Leaders referecing Manchester as A Global Gateway would make of that....?
Manchester Airport is first and foremost the Global Gateway for the North, that has to include pure freight, therefore there has to be a way to square this circle to the benefit of all parties, agents MAG, and business.