What is actually wanted at MAN? Is it a BA or VS long haul network? Is it a BA or VS short haul network? Is it non-UK carriers feeding their hubs? Is it some sort of government intervention?
We hear a lot about the industry being LHR-centric, and indeed it is, in common with most of Europe where the industry is national hub-centric.
The first two won't happen, BA can no longer make money on this, so nor would VS. It's probably because of the no-frills operators, but they only do point-to-point. The third is therefore the best option, following the example of EK, EY, TK and QR.
Any carrier wanting to do nonstop direct longhaul ex-MAN has to go up against these 4, who have the advantage of incumbancy.
As mentioned above, MAN does rather well with over 20 million pax/year and no major airline hub. Maybe it could do better, would love to see it doing better.
Well the Germans may yet do Manchester a favour! the delay in opening Berlin's new airport means that Norwegian are having to re think the planned basing of two aircraft at Berlin latter this year and it's looking increasingly likely that they could now go to Manchester instead, bringing forward the planned second base by at least 6 months from 2015 to late 2014.
Not quite a delay in
opening the airport. The airport is up and running and has been for many years, it is SXF. What is allegedly happening is expansion at SXF to take the TXL traffic because there is not much room to expand at TXL. In reality, SXF is getting a new and much bigger terminal, a second rwy, and an unnecessary new name.
Is there nobody in Government with the wit of man to unpick this ?
That's deregulation for you. The government is no friend of the aviation industry, LHR expansion and APD are two good examples of several.
But it has allowed something for MAN that it won't at LHR, that is to double the number of parallel rwys.
And then as was mentioned we also have the internet resellers who pass off DIRECT as an hours flying time East in order to travel 8 hours ....wait for it West !
Have you ever seriously ever heard anything like it in your life ?
Does any other business work like this ?
Yes, it happens all the time. Its the way it works with hub and spoke operations.
With the exception of MLE and CMB, almost every destination from UK airports is a "dog-leg"/long way round when travelled via AUH, DOH, DXB or IST, yet many pax do travel this way without batting an eyelid.
If you think this is wrong, check on great circle mapper!