New UK airline Air-Train
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: the place where the sun don't shine
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In response to Maxrev, you're right guys like this do end up millionaires!............. it's interesting to note that he intends to raise the capital on AIM (alternative investment market)....... AIM has had it's fair share of crazy dreamers in it's lifetime
What about a 757 into Northolt (for London) LHR, LGW too busy LTN and STN too far out LCY approach too steep........wonder how many of his 757's would end up on the A40?
What about a 757 into Northolt (for London) LHR, LGW too busy LTN and STN too far out LCY approach too steep........wonder how many of his 757's would end up on the A40?
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: UK
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Even if it happens it won't last. They never do. There will always be a train service from Liverpool to London. The air service between those cities has a rather chequred history which is no use at all to the regular traveller and simply takes a tempory tole on business rail passengers until the air service collapses or the customers get peed off with all the airport hassle and return to the (at present pretty poor) rail service.
Intercity travel in UK should be by high speed rail (as it is in mainland Europe). Not a tarted-up and unreliable Victorian infrastructure - a real, new, high speed railway. It's much quicker door to door, environmentally sound, far more convenient than all that messing around at airports, and it frees slots at the hubs for long distance, where air travel makes sense.
But it requires a long term view and committment from the government, and unlike those on the other side of the channel, no UK government of any colour has ever had the balls to do it.
SSD
Intercity travel in UK should be by high speed rail (as it is in mainland Europe). Not a tarted-up and unreliable Victorian infrastructure - a real, new, high speed railway. It's much quicker door to door, environmentally sound, far more convenient than all that messing around at airports, and it frees slots at the hubs for long distance, where air travel makes sense.
But it requires a long term view and committment from the government, and unlike those on the other side of the channel, no UK government of any colour has ever had the balls to do it.
SSD
Join Date: Dec 2003
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i,ve just talked to an engineer who tell's me that the plan is to fit floats to the 757's in question maybe land on the canals in Birmingham ?
but hey folks one hell of a good website.
but hey folks one hell of a good website.
Join Date: May 2003
Location: London
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This guy is serious..no messing.
In todays Singapore ''Finance Today'', there is a front page article on the project. He is starting the whole operation on the 1st April. Then on the 1st May he is starting his second wave of routes, to include flying 757s between Shoreham, Bembridge, Stapleford Tawney (Stansted South), Cliffe and Perth (Scotland). It also states in the paper that he has ruled out a Heathrow operation as the runways are too short and the LCNs are too low for 757s. It seems he knows what he is talking about.
He has set up a website for aspiring investors www.cuckooland.co.yuk
With good news like this, a Happy New Year to all in the industry.
In todays Singapore ''Finance Today'', there is a front page article on the project. He is starting the whole operation on the 1st April. Then on the 1st May he is starting his second wave of routes, to include flying 757s between Shoreham, Bembridge, Stapleford Tawney (Stansted South), Cliffe and Perth (Scotland). It also states in the paper that he has ruled out a Heathrow operation as the runways are too short and the LCNs are too low for 757s. It seems he knows what he is talking about.
He has set up a website for aspiring investors www.cuckooland.co.yuk
With good news like this, a Happy New Year to all in the industry.
Join Date: Feb 2001
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hmm... Neil? I've heard this name before... 
Big plans, a lot of publicity etc... Ended in prison.
Would be nice to see him on AIM trying to get people to recognise him as Mr. Branson no 2.
Apart from all of these funny things, even Ryanair not declaring themselves as a direct competitior to railways, although they actually are on certain routes.
The biggest problem is a number of stations. Sure it would be nice to see the runway at Victoria or at Horsham. Railroad covers most of the places, while you need to spend quite some time driving to airports. Unfortunately I haven't seen even heliports there...
Big plans, a lot of publicity etc... Ended in prison.
Would be nice to see him on AIM trying to get people to recognise him as Mr. Branson no 2.
Apart from all of these funny things, even Ryanair not declaring themselves as a direct competitior to railways, although they actually are on certain routes.
The biggest problem is a number of stations. Sure it would be nice to see the runway at Victoria or at Horsham. Railroad covers most of the places, while you need to spend quite some time driving to airports. Unfortunately I haven't seen even heliports there...
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: uk
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Whatever the outcome is with this particular project I do feel that someone is missing an opportunity to create a low cost airline that creates more uk domestic city links. I travel extensively as part of my job and it really is annoying that I can't find a quick, easy way to grab a flight from say Liverpool to Humberside cost effectively. Normally I lose 6 ours + in the car in pure travel time on this trip which means an overnight stay is almost inevitable in order to spend a full day at my customer. If I could hop on to a plane and pick up a cheap rental car at the other end it would drastically improve things. I can't beleive I'm alone in this situation and with company car tax being much more expensive these days it would also provide a reason for opting out of the car. Maybe the govt should subsidise such a project as part of the initiative to improve alternative transportation from the car? I live in the North West and as such I have relatively limited options for low cost travel within the uk.
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Liverpool, UK
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Have you heard of Charlotte, Raliegh-Durham NC and Richmond VA? These are three US airports that modeled themselves as "Hub & Spoke" airports with, I might add, phenominal success. I believe this is the model that Mr. Bellion is basing his proposal on.
I would hope that those entrusted with the business of expanding traffic at LPL have some knowledge of the benefits of "Hub & Spoke" operations.
I was filled with apprehension when I heard Neil Pakey announce that "Liverpool Airport had no plans to extend the runway, at present"!
http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0...name_page.html
I would hope that those entrusted with the business of expanding traffic at LPL have some knowledge of the benefits of "Hub & Spoke" operations.
I was filled with apprehension when I heard Neil Pakey announce that "Liverpool Airport had no plans to extend the runway, at present"!
http://icliverpool.icnetwork.co.uk/0...name_page.html
Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: Never diverting!
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Look deafears, next time you go spotting at the airport at let's say Manchester you will see that they among other things they already try to be a hub and spoke. Hub and spoke only works with a large (relative) uncongested airport with lots of connections by Major intercontinental airlines. Not regionals as the time saving does not exist on short hops.
The main power of the Low Cost Carriers is that they take out all the connecting hassles of paxs and luggage thus cost. Hub and spoke for regional traffic is totally on it's way out for smaller carriers like Swiss or smaller airports that tried to do it. In the US American is moving away from the wave model (which is the fundament for any hub and spoke) at Dallas because of all rhe negative consequences of delays througout the system.
Thew airports you mention in the states are exactly the ones under threat from point to point low cost carriers as the time and money saving aspect pulls away paxs. So next time do not believe any american press hype about how good the airport is.. Read the press releases of JetBlue, Air Tran and Soutwest and you will find out where the market is going
The main power of the Low Cost Carriers is that they take out all the connecting hassles of paxs and luggage thus cost. Hub and spoke for regional traffic is totally on it's way out for smaller carriers like Swiss or smaller airports that tried to do it. In the US American is moving away from the wave model (which is the fundament for any hub and spoke) at Dallas because of all rhe negative consequences of delays througout the system.
Thew airports you mention in the states are exactly the ones under threat from point to point low cost carriers as the time and money saving aspect pulls away paxs. So next time do not believe any american press hype about how good the airport is.. Read the press releases of JetBlue, Air Tran and Soutwest and you will find out where the market is going
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: Manchester
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DFearns - If the airtrain project were a goer, it wouldn't need any runway extension at Liverpool - as it would serve the hoards of people waiting to take 757s to places like Newcastle, Birmingham and Humberside? - a 757 could even make it to the East Coast of the US from Liverpool without a runway extension so you need not worry about this being a limitation as far as Air Train is concerned, perhaps its limitation is finding millionaires wishing to back it
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: UK
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matblack wrote:
I suspect it's unlikely that you will find another 150 pax wishing to travel to Humberside with you, so why not consider chartering a small air taxi. I know they are getting a bit long in the tooth, but they should get you there for around £250 if you can find another three passengers.
Alternatively you may wish to try the following routing, using 'scheduled' carriers: -
Liverpool - Isle of Man - Dublin - Amsterdam - Humberside.
CG
I travel extensively as part of my job and it really is annoying that I can't find a quick, easy way to grab a flight from say Liverpool to Humberside cost effectively.
Alternatively you may wish to try the following routing, using 'scheduled' carriers: -
Liverpool - Isle of Man - Dublin - Amsterdam - Humberside.
CG
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: West Midlands
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Yes I think the idea would go further if they used small turbo prop aircraft and forgot about the LPL hub and spoke idea so reduce journey times. Hopefully thier fares would be cheaper than Easterns too.
Join Date: Dec 2000
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Well if nothing else, this guy has drawn attention and given free publicity to Liverpool John Lennon Airport. I have read reference to his scheme in Canada's 'Globe & Mail' also in 'USA Today' and the 'New York Times', Singapore's 'Straits Times' and Australia's 'Australian'. Not to mention all the publicity on web-sites like this one. What is it they say, "There is no such thing as bad publicity"?
Join Date: Nov 2001
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Negative Nancy
Hate to be negative - but to me this looks remarkably like somebody's final piece of coursework for some kind of 'Web design for business' degree/course.
From the website it looks like they have spent plenty of time making it look nice, but no time at all at an Airline Business model to back it up (nor even done basic research, as proven by the inclusion of Milton Keynes and London City in the list of airports, to name but two).
I wouldn't mind at all being proven wrong - but this has the feel of an 'April Fools Day' prank !!
From the website it looks like they have spent plenty of time making it look nice, but no time at all at an Airline Business model to back it up (nor even done basic research, as proven by the inclusion of Milton Keynes and London City in the list of airports, to name but two).
I wouldn't mind at all being proven wrong - but this has the feel of an 'April Fools Day' prank !!
Join Date: Apr 1999
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This bloke with the Air-Train thing has just copied the idea from 'Oniva', but replaced an ATR72 operation with 757's, probably to attract press attention and capture public imagination. Maybe he is connected with Oniva and once the interest is there the ATR's will make an appearance.
The project known as 'Oniva' was a very sound one, ATR's are the right aircraft, jets would not work with the business model.
The project known as 'Oniva' was a very sound one, ATR's are the right aircraft, jets would not work with the business model.