NEWCASTLE
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Excel Update
Excel - The airline with the service from Hell !
I recall a late May discussion re the MAN stop over on certain Excel flights.
Had an interesting conversation with a punter who had the misfortune to fly NCL-SFB in late May. What he had to say being from a non aviation background was quite interesting.
Firstly on departure from Newcastle they were informed over the intercom that "as the runway at Newcastle was not long enough they would be diverting to MAN!".
Upon arrival at MAN the aircraft was then parked at a remote stand, whereupon the passengers were forced to endure a four & a quarter hour wait inside the cabin whilst the engineers sorted out a technical fault.
During this time while they were only supplied with water, most of the cabin crew "abandoned ship" for the duration & only continued on being given a £2 hour uplift in their hourly rate.
The cabin interior was described as very old & primitive, the seat pitch must have begun with a "2" judging from description, & also very poor I.F.E. facilities.
To make matters worse on return on arriving for a miday departure from SFB they were greeted by a notice of a 7 hour delay, after which time the passengers suitably boarded, the 767 "pushed back" only to return to stand with another technical problem. The flight eventually departed 12 hours late !
Not surprisingly the passengers on making conversation with the SFB airport employees found that Excel are as despised at SFB as they are elsewhere with their flights causing all sorts of problems with staff rosters.
Apparantly some of the punters had paid premium rates for seats that were "unavailable" & were promised a refund.
As said the airline with the service from hell !
I recall a late May discussion re the MAN stop over on certain Excel flights.
Had an interesting conversation with a punter who had the misfortune to fly NCL-SFB in late May. What he had to say being from a non aviation background was quite interesting.
Firstly on departure from Newcastle they were informed over the intercom that "as the runway at Newcastle was not long enough they would be diverting to MAN!".
Upon arrival at MAN the aircraft was then parked at a remote stand, whereupon the passengers were forced to endure a four & a quarter hour wait inside the cabin whilst the engineers sorted out a technical fault.
During this time while they were only supplied with water, most of the cabin crew "abandoned ship" for the duration & only continued on being given a £2 hour uplift in their hourly rate.
The cabin interior was described as very old & primitive, the seat pitch must have begun with a "2" judging from description, & also very poor I.F.E. facilities.
To make matters worse on return on arriving for a miday departure from SFB they were greeted by a notice of a 7 hour delay, after which time the passengers suitably boarded, the 767 "pushed back" only to return to stand with another technical problem. The flight eventually departed 12 hours late !
Not surprisingly the passengers on making conversation with the SFB airport employees found that Excel are as despised at SFB as they are elsewhere with their flights causing all sorts of problems with staff rosters.
Apparantly some of the punters had paid premium rates for seats that were "unavailable" & were promised a refund.
As said the airline with the service from hell !
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Airport with a runway capable of taking transatlantic flights only just down the road if people want to go direct to the states for a holiday rather than making fuel stops. Just tell your travel agent that you want to fly from MME, eventually they'll get the picture and move operatins down the road.
Brunel to Concorde
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According to the website I use for airport runway distances etc
NCL 07/25 is 7641 feet and MME 05/23 is 7516 feet. The take-off distances vary slightly at both airports at either end but there doesn't seem much in it.
Am I using an out-of-date set of measurements? If what you say is true I am.
According to the website I use for airport runway distances etc
NCL 07/25 is 7641 feet and MME 05/23 is 7516 feet. The take-off distances vary slightly at both airports at either end but there doesn't seem much in it.
Am I using an out-of-date set of measurements? If what you say is true I am.
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The runway not being long enough is only a problem for 767's off 25 in certain rare wind conditions, i assume it was a convenient excuse for XLA. A330's don't have a problem off either runway in any conditions. Longer runway in itself isn't reason enough to move flights to MME. MME did have a Orlando flight couple of years ago, don't recall why it was dropped.
For 'runway not being long enough' read obstacle clearance height, because runway length isn't the direct problem, it's the hill on the 25 climb out.
For 'runway not being long enough' read obstacle clearance height, because runway length isn't the direct problem, it's the hill on the 25 climb out.
Last edited by CentreFix25; 20th Jun 2005 at 19:31.
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My mistake, it is the hill off 25 and not runway length that is critical at Newcastle. Don't know what happened to Orlando but I think it was nearer 4-5 years ago. How many NCL-Florida flights a week are there and how many of the pax are from M'boro,darlo and south of MME? Or aren't there figures for that?
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NCL-SFB:
MON 330 1 x weekly
XLA 763 1 x weekly
FCA 763 1 x fortnightly
SCY 757 1 x weekly (Peak Season)
I think the AIH MME-SFB/MCO and MME-POP flights routed via GLA using 767-300ERs
MON 330 1 x weekly
XLA 763 1 x weekly
FCA 763 1 x fortnightly
SCY 757 1 x weekly (Peak Season)
I think the AIH MME-SFB/MCO and MME-POP flights routed via GLA using 767-300ERs
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Why on earth would anyone choose to fly from MME, unless it they live on the doorstep, or there was a large price differential. I can not think of a single advantage. Maybe within a few years and serious investment ( and risk) facilities may improve. Remember it is not too long ago that the outside facia of the terminal building resembled the inside of a public convenience.
Forget Orlando, MME hasn't even been able to generate enough punters to run a decent schedule to LHR though no doubt you will direct this as down to the short sighted outlook of BMA, but possibly they are wiser than you give them credit.
Why on earth would anyone choose to fly from MME, unless it they live on the doorstep, or there was a large price differential. I can not think of a single advantage. Maybe within a few years and serious investment ( and risk) facilities may improve. Remember it is not too long ago that the outside facia of the terminal building resembled the inside of a public convenience.
Forget Orlando, MME hasn't even been able to generate enough punters to run a decent schedule to LHR though no doubt you will direct this as down to the short sighted outlook of BMA, but possibly they are wiser than you give them credit.
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Excel are simply after the chocolate medal for being the first airline at NCL to use every single delay code at least once in a season.
'Tech stops' in MAN now ended, apparently because the clients who subchartered business out to Excel/Air Atlanta for this route were not amused at all as this had been sold as a non-stop flight. A/c perfectly capable of going non-stop to SFB and POP (as they are now demonstrating - although obviously not on time), so don't know what the Mickey Mouse excuse for dropping in to MAN was at the start of the season.
'Tech stops' in MAN now ended, apparently because the clients who subchartered business out to Excel/Air Atlanta for this route were not amused at all as this had been sold as a non-stop flight. A/c perfectly capable of going non-stop to SFB and POP (as they are now demonstrating - although obviously not on time), so don't know what the Mickey Mouse excuse for dropping in to MAN was at the start of the season.
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Anyone know what will happen to the flights during these 24 and 48 hour strikes? I know they are planning to keep 'disruption' to a minimum, but delays will probably mount up. I wonder if some flights may end up operating out of MME?
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I doubt airlines will start operating out of MME just because of a strike. Not all staff are on strike.
There'll just be delays, thats all.
"There are over 300 staff on site so there are still about 120 staff who are not involved in this process. It is not a total walkout as such."
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If the firefighters strike Newcastle will have a real problem if all of them are from the same union. Although I really can't ssee the strikes taking place. i think the pay offer will be upped. Remember this sort of thing has happened at Newcastle before and has been resolved or disruptions limited before any real effect is felt at the airport.
Skyman771 if you haven't got anything constructive to say don't post on here! People would use the services at MME if they were provided. All I was trying to get across was that there must be people who travel from the south of MME as well as from just north of the airport to use transatlantic holiday flights from Newcastle. Just like people travel from around the north east on the train to Manchester airport to fly to the USA on scheduled flights and don't say it doesn't happen because it does. I'm sure there is the market for a scheduled service from the north east (probably Newcastle) to the USA but there isn't so people have to travel past perfectly capable airports or interline to get a flight.
Regarding the bmi MME-LHR when the flight was increased to 4 flights a day the jump in the number of passengers was something like 40% thats of an increase of just one extra rotation that added only an extra 33% on capacity. This suggest that the timings where what where pulling in the extra passengers. Making connections and business trips quicker and more convient. Come to you own conclusions on that, I know I have.
Your comments about public toilets is just down right childish, but thats what you probably are, a silly little kid, come back when you have grow up.
Skyman771 if you haven't got anything constructive to say don't post on here! People would use the services at MME if they were provided. All I was trying to get across was that there must be people who travel from the south of MME as well as from just north of the airport to use transatlantic holiday flights from Newcastle. Just like people travel from around the north east on the train to Manchester airport to fly to the USA on scheduled flights and don't say it doesn't happen because it does. I'm sure there is the market for a scheduled service from the north east (probably Newcastle) to the USA but there isn't so people have to travel past perfectly capable airports or interline to get a flight.
Regarding the bmi MME-LHR when the flight was increased to 4 flights a day the jump in the number of passengers was something like 40% thats of an increase of just one extra rotation that added only an extra 33% on capacity. This suggest that the timings where what where pulling in the extra passengers. Making connections and business trips quicker and more convient. Come to you own conclusions on that, I know I have.
Your comments about public toilets is just down right childish, but thats what you probably are, a silly little kid, come back when you have grow up.
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I think the strike is fully justified. No, not everyone is on strike because it's not everyone who has been shafted. New starters will have signed on with different terms and conditions which are far inferior to those that were in effect before the arrival of the reaper. Those that have had their livelihoods ravaged and have had to accept the enforced cuts in pay, holiday, loss of pension, pay freeze for the last 3 years etc etc have had enough now and it's time to do something about it. It would have been more effective if the action had targeted the very cause of the problem, the LoCos especially Sleazy. Instead, everyone will be affected including the loyal long term customers that have been the backbone of Newcastle for the longest time. But, c'est la vie. No pain no gain.
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Excel getting better (NOT!!!)
Just heard about tuesday flight to CHQ.
1hr 55 mins into the flight the plane turns arounds and heads back to ncl. reason the back toilet was broken.
Plane back on ground at ncl gets fixed and re-fueled and heads back to chq. total delay over 4hrs......... Why didn't the crew just land in italy or fix the problem at chq? This must of cost excel hundreds of pounds to tour operators and extra landing fees?
Another delay i have just heard about
The plane was ready to go 15mins early and didn't have a slot WOW!! The flight crew however didn't ask for push back until 20 mins after dept time. atc then replyed you will have to wait for another 45mins as no slots.
Will excel please do us a favour and bring back mainline excel boeing 738!!!!!!!
Easyjet Winter 2005/6
Looks like we may not be getting aircraft number 7 this year. Looks like most routes have been reduced rome,budapest,malaga. Because of the above it looks like we will get two new routes using the 6 aircraft we have. Gaps are tue and thur mornings. Havent had time to work out the weekends yet but will try to do so over the next few days.
2 aircraft with gaps.....
AIRCRAFT 1
06:50 EZY512 S 73G STANSTED X X X X X
09:25 EZY513 S 73G STANSTED X X X X X
09:50 EZY514 S 73G STANSTED X X X X X
12:25 EZY515 S 73G STANSTED X X X X X
13:05 EZY6413 S 73G ALICANTE X X X X X
19:45 EZY6414 S 73G ALICANTE X X X X X
20:10 EZY557 S 73G BELFAST X X X X X
22:20 EZY558 S 73G BELFAST X X X X X
AIRCRAFT 2
07:00 EZY551 S 73G BELFAST X X X X X
09:10 EZY552 S 73G BELFAST X X X X X
09:35 EZY6401 S 73G BARCELONA X X X X X
15:40 EZY6402 S 73G BARCELONA X X X X X
16:35 EZY516 S 73G STANSTED X X X X X
19:15 EZY517 S 73G STANSTED X X X X X
19:35 EZY518 S 73G STANSTED X X X X X
22:10 EZY519 S 73G STANSTED X X X X X
AIRCRAFT 3
07:10 EZY567 S 73G BRISTOL X X X X X
09:45 EZY568 S 73G BRISTOL X X X X X
10:10 EZY6495 S 73G PARGUE X X X X X
15:05 EZY6496 S 73G PARGUE X X X X X
16:25 EZY6453 S 73G BUDAPEST X X X 31/10/05
22:25 EZY6454 S 73G BUDAPEST X X X 31/10/05
AIRCRAFT 4
06:45 EZY6407 S 73G MALAGA X X X
13:45 EZY6408 S 73G MALAGA X X X
08:20 EZY6437 S 73G NICE X X
13:40 EZY6438 S 73G NICE X X
14:25 EZY553 S 73G BELFAST X X X X X
16:35 EZY554 S 73G BELFAST X X X X X
17:00 EZY6481 S 73G BERLIN X X X X
17:00 EZY6481 S 73G BERLIN X 31/10/05 07/11/05
21:15 EZY6482 S 73G BERLIN X X X X
21:15 EZY6482 S 73G BERLIN X 31/10/05 31/10/05
AIRCRAFT 5
07:40 EZY6423 S 73G PALMA X X X
13:55 6424 PALMA X X X
X X
X X
14:35 EZY569 S 73G BRISTOL X X X X X
17:10 EZY572 S 73G BRISTOL X X X X X
17:35 EZY6465 S 73G GENEVA X X X
22:15 EZY6466 S 73G GENEVA X X X
17:35 6465 GENEVA X X 01/12/05
22:15 6465 GENEVA X X 01/12/05
AIRCRAFT 6
07:30 EZY6471 S 73G ROME X X 31/10/05 07/11/05
07:30 EZY6471 S 73G ROME X X X 08/11/05
14:00 EZY6472 S 73G ROME X X 31/10/05 07/11/05
14:00 EZY6472 S 73G ROME X X X 08/11/05
X X
X X
15:05 EZY6431 S 73G PARIS CDG X X X X X
18:55 EZY6432 S 73G PARIS CDG X X X X X
19:20 EZY573 S 73G BRISTOL X X X X X
21:55 EZY574 S 73G BRISTOL X X X X X
Just heard about tuesday flight to CHQ.
1hr 55 mins into the flight the plane turns arounds and heads back to ncl. reason the back toilet was broken.
Plane back on ground at ncl gets fixed and re-fueled and heads back to chq. total delay over 4hrs......... Why didn't the crew just land in italy or fix the problem at chq? This must of cost excel hundreds of pounds to tour operators and extra landing fees?
Another delay i have just heard about
The plane was ready to go 15mins early and didn't have a slot WOW!! The flight crew however didn't ask for push back until 20 mins after dept time. atc then replyed you will have to wait for another 45mins as no slots.
Will excel please do us a favour and bring back mainline excel boeing 738!!!!!!!
Easyjet Winter 2005/6
Looks like we may not be getting aircraft number 7 this year. Looks like most routes have been reduced rome,budapest,malaga. Because of the above it looks like we will get two new routes using the 6 aircraft we have. Gaps are tue and thur mornings. Havent had time to work out the weekends yet but will try to do so over the next few days.
2 aircraft with gaps.....
AIRCRAFT 1
06:50 EZY512 S 73G STANSTED X X X X X
09:25 EZY513 S 73G STANSTED X X X X X
09:50 EZY514 S 73G STANSTED X X X X X
12:25 EZY515 S 73G STANSTED X X X X X
13:05 EZY6413 S 73G ALICANTE X X X X X
19:45 EZY6414 S 73G ALICANTE X X X X X
20:10 EZY557 S 73G BELFAST X X X X X
22:20 EZY558 S 73G BELFAST X X X X X
AIRCRAFT 2
07:00 EZY551 S 73G BELFAST X X X X X
09:10 EZY552 S 73G BELFAST X X X X X
09:35 EZY6401 S 73G BARCELONA X X X X X
15:40 EZY6402 S 73G BARCELONA X X X X X
16:35 EZY516 S 73G STANSTED X X X X X
19:15 EZY517 S 73G STANSTED X X X X X
19:35 EZY518 S 73G STANSTED X X X X X
22:10 EZY519 S 73G STANSTED X X X X X
AIRCRAFT 3
07:10 EZY567 S 73G BRISTOL X X X X X
09:45 EZY568 S 73G BRISTOL X X X X X
10:10 EZY6495 S 73G PARGUE X X X X X
15:05 EZY6496 S 73G PARGUE X X X X X
16:25 EZY6453 S 73G BUDAPEST X X X 31/10/05
22:25 EZY6454 S 73G BUDAPEST X X X 31/10/05
AIRCRAFT 4
06:45 EZY6407 S 73G MALAGA X X X
13:45 EZY6408 S 73G MALAGA X X X
08:20 EZY6437 S 73G NICE X X
13:40 EZY6438 S 73G NICE X X
14:25 EZY553 S 73G BELFAST X X X X X
16:35 EZY554 S 73G BELFAST X X X X X
17:00 EZY6481 S 73G BERLIN X X X X
17:00 EZY6481 S 73G BERLIN X 31/10/05 07/11/05
21:15 EZY6482 S 73G BERLIN X X X X
21:15 EZY6482 S 73G BERLIN X 31/10/05 31/10/05
AIRCRAFT 5
07:40 EZY6423 S 73G PALMA X X X
13:55 6424 PALMA X X X
X X
X X
14:35 EZY569 S 73G BRISTOL X X X X X
17:10 EZY572 S 73G BRISTOL X X X X X
17:35 EZY6465 S 73G GENEVA X X X
22:15 EZY6466 S 73G GENEVA X X X
17:35 6465 GENEVA X X 01/12/05
22:15 6465 GENEVA X X 01/12/05
AIRCRAFT 6
07:30 EZY6471 S 73G ROME X X 31/10/05 07/11/05
07:30 EZY6471 S 73G ROME X X X 08/11/05
14:00 EZY6472 S 73G ROME X X 31/10/05 07/11/05
14:00 EZY6472 S 73G ROME X X X 08/11/05
X X
X X
15:05 EZY6431 S 73G PARIS CDG X X X X X
18:55 EZY6432 S 73G PARIS CDG X X X X X
19:20 EZY573 S 73G BRISTOL X X X X X
21:55 EZY574 S 73G BRISTOL X X X X X
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Has todays XLA656 diverted to somewhere?
Airline Excel Airways
Flight Number 656
Departure City (Airport) Newcastle, England, Great Britain (EGNT)
Departure Time 06/24/2005 10:31 AM
Arrival City (Airport) Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (MDPP)
Arrival Time 06/24/2005 03:41 PM
Remaining Flight Time 00:00
Aircraft Type Boeing 767-300
Current Altitude 0 feet
Current Groundspeed 0 mph
Flight Status Landed
Shouldnt have landed in POP already surely?
Airline Excel Airways
Flight Number 656
Departure City (Airport) Newcastle, England, Great Britain (EGNT)
Departure Time 06/24/2005 10:31 AM
Arrival City (Airport) Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (MDPP)
Arrival Time 06/24/2005 03:41 PM
Remaining Flight Time 00:00
Aircraft Type Boeing 767-300
Current Altitude 0 feet
Current Groundspeed 0 mph
Flight Status Landed
Shouldnt have landed in POP already surely?
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Heh heh heh!!!
A classic case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand was doing today. Engineer asked for refuelling direct to POP, flight deck pitch up and announce their intention to go via Shannon. Oops! Too much fuel.
Today's delay however, not Excel's fault probably for the first time this season. Check in system failure.
Anyone close to calling 'House!'?
A classic case of the left hand not knowing what the right hand was doing today. Engineer asked for refuelling direct to POP, flight deck pitch up and announce their intention to go via Shannon. Oops! Too much fuel.
Today's delay however, not Excel's fault probably for the first time this season. Check in system failure.
Anyone close to calling 'House!'?