Excuse my ignorance, but maybe someone can assist me with some info...
I don't really understand why the AN-225's departure is being put back hours at a time due to "airport slots".
I know that the aircraft takes up several more slots than a smaller a/c and there may well be airport taxiway issues when it is rolling out to depart, btu i just don't understand the huge delays involved.
Manchester is not an overly busy airport and certainly accepts short-notice charter operations for smaller aircraft.
It was mentioned about the fire cover/emergency services and why this meant that the aircraft could not depart late at night- does MAN not have adequate fire cover for any size of aircraft at this time? Surely it has cover for the later night 747s, A330s and any diverts?
Unless of course, the delays are to do with en route tech-stopping and overflights meaning the aircraft can only operate on it's route at certain times of the day????