MANCHESTER - 9

[Fairdealfrank]

As promised here is the analysis on China and how it might affect Manchester OR not as the case may be.

Chinese airlines focus on domestic growth while international expansion remains the poor cousin | CAPA - Centre for Aviation

It seems odd that there is a lot of speculation about trade delegations, goodwill visits etc to China by MAG BUT less focus on other areas of marketing which could make a massive difference immediately.

Looks like China is following the USA/Canada/Russia/India pattern: large countries, long distances, increasing mobility, hence the need for a massive domestic aviation sector.

Gatwick and Heathrow only 'real' options for expansion - Telegraph

Stewart Wingate is correct in one sense, but he implies its "either/or" whereas in reality both are required: 2 more rwys at Heathrow NOW and 1 more at Gatwick at some time after 2019.

Given his analysis, he's also right in suggesting that waiting 2 more years for the Commission's final verdict is pointless.

er LGW is nearer Paris than most UK cities !

True, that's why Heathrow is the priority, it's the UK hub and it's accessible. On the other hand, what Gatwick does, it does well. Would expect that Gatwick's expansion will be at Stansted's expense.

Like I say, Air China have held the rights to 7 weekly MAN-PEK flights since 2007, and according to the CAAC request, they intended to use them from 2009 onwards.

The UK side could be the only issue. There are currently 4 'unused' slots, but that is not to say another carrier has already got those slots but not yet using them.

Suspect that as soon as Air China becomes convinced that there's money to be made, it will be there on the Ringway-Peking route. Maybe the world recession/slowdown delayed the proposed 2009 start?