EAST MIDLANDS
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Originally Posted by Lite
Menzies are indeed seen as a force to be reckoned with from a service perspective which is seen to be of a much higher level than Servisair, but I would disagree that the company is out for the easyJet contract, as they tend to go for boutique carriers, who are willing to pay a bit more for the better service.
Join Date: Feb 2003
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I would be inclined to agree with phil, especially bearing in mind that the KISS brand that Menzies has developed for EMA is specifically designed for low-cost airlines, and so far only bmibaby is the only LCC at the airport to take advantage of this product. The company has successfully been providing handling for baby since 2002, and the airline has recognised Menzies for their hard work & good performance repeatedly. EasyJet have a relationship with Menzies at other bases, but I think that Servisair have managed to find the right level of pricing to keep the low-cost airlines happy, the service they provide can leave a lot to be desired though.
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Originally Posted by phil_2405
I've heard Menzies are agressively seeking new business including easyJet.
Expect to see some big changes !
Menzies are keen to secure new business !
Originally Posted by Lite
Menzies are indeed seen as a force to be reckoned with from a service perspective which is seen to be of a much higher level than Servisair, but I would disagree that the company is out for the easyJet contract, as they tend to go for boutique carriers, who are willing to pay a bit more for the better service
Menzies are indeed seen as a force to be reckoned with from a service perspective which is seen to be of a much higher level than Servisair, but I would disagree that the company is out for the easyJet contract, as they tend to go for boutique carriers, who are willing to pay a bit more for the better service
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Indeed DRJ seems to know a lot about what is going on at the airport, and it appears that Menzies may well be big competition for Servisair, who no doubt considering their somewhat meagre customer service offering, might be quaking in their boots. Ryanair & Thomsonfly are practically handled by Servisair nationwide, so the only big change I could potentially see happening was easyJet changing handling agent. I'd be interested to know anything that's going on with the handling agent situation at the airport.
It seems that the airport is in the process of installing CUSS machines which will be available for all passengers travelling on charter flights handled by Servisair, as well as bmibaby, and they should be up & running by the end of next month.
Also at the end of next month, the AirLine Shuttle buslink to Loughborough & Derby will begin running half-hourly, 24/7. This seems to fit well with the airport's desire to have more pax & staff coming to the airport by bus.
It seems that the airport is in the process of installing CUSS machines which will be available for all passengers travelling on charter flights handled by Servisair, as well as bmibaby, and they should be up & running by the end of next month.
Also at the end of next month, the AirLine Shuttle buslink to Loughborough & Derby will begin running half-hourly, 24/7. This seems to fit well with the airport's desire to have more pax & staff coming to the airport by bus.
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Originally Posted by bmibaby.com
It seems that the airport is in the process of installing CUSS machines which will be available for all passengers travelling on charter flights handled by Servisair, as well as bmibaby, and they should be up & running by the end of next month.
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fao phil,
i can confirm that they are installing cuss machines, the airport have confirmed it and maintanance has already started marking where they are going etc and as we speak the area in where they are going has been cornered off with scaffolding
regards
bmibabyfc
i can confirm that they are installing cuss machines, the airport have confirmed it and maintanance has already started marking where they are going etc and as we speak the area in where they are going has been cornered off with scaffolding
regards
bmibabyfc
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The CUSS system is due to go live very shortly,Subject to some areas of concern raised by the Airlines last week being actioned.
This is a trial for summer 2006 and will feature airlines handled by all 3 handling companies (bmi baby,Menzies and Servisair) Airlines participating include bmi charter,bmi baby,MyTravel Airways,First Choice, ThomsonFly,Eastern and Thomas cook.
Airlines and flights will start using CUSS in stages once the teething issues are overcome.
You cant miss the CUSS terminals... They are Bright green !
This is a trial for summer 2006 and will feature airlines handled by all 3 handling companies (bmi baby,Menzies and Servisair) Airlines participating include bmi charter,bmi baby,MyTravel Airways,First Choice, ThomsonFly,Eastern and Thomas cook.
Airlines and flights will start using CUSS in stages once the teething issues are overcome.
You cant miss the CUSS terminals... They are Bright green !
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phil, when you enter the main terminal building (not the tent bit where easyJet/Ryanair & First Choice are) there is a zone marked with duck tape in front of each of the entrance doors where the new CUSS machines are to be installed, as confirmed by Airbus215, there will be a trial system of airlines for this summer. It's not the first time CUSS has been attempted at the airport, desks 11/12 were at one time installed with self-service machines for use by bmibaby, with the intent that bmi regional & eastern would use the machines as well, but this progression never came about. I'm unaware what the exact situation is going to be with regards to designated bag drop points, but hopefully more information will be revealed shortly. As has been mentioned, the machines are bright green, which I think is frankly hideous. Why not put it in the corporate colours of the airport - red/white/blue, at least that way they will fit in with the terminal surroundings. These machines will not be staffed by members of the handling agents, I believe they will be the responsibility of the airport's CSAs.
It is interesting to see that Menzies have poached the head of ground handling from baby, and it appears that Menzies may indeed be the company to watch out for, bearing in mind KISS had been developed for bmibaby, and the Menzies Group has close relationships with easyJet through their joint venture at LTN, as well as handling a myriad of low-cost airlines at PRG & AMS. As far as I'm aware, the easyJet contract is not up for tender, but then again I wasn't under the impression by the airlines Menzies have been attracting over the last year or so that they were interested in handling more LCCs. From an asthetic (sp?) point of view, I must say that Menzies uniforms are hideous, but it's fantastic to hear they're expanding & thus taking on more staff. I was recently told that they'll be moving their offices into the terminal shortly, not sure if that's true.
It is interesting to see that Menzies have poached the head of ground handling from baby, and it appears that Menzies may indeed be the company to watch out for, bearing in mind KISS had been developed for bmibaby, and the Menzies Group has close relationships with easyJet through their joint venture at LTN, as well as handling a myriad of low-cost airlines at PRG & AMS. As far as I'm aware, the easyJet contract is not up for tender, but then again I wasn't under the impression by the airlines Menzies have been attracting over the last year or so that they were interested in handling more LCCs. From an asthetic (sp?) point of view, I must say that Menzies uniforms are hideous, but it's fantastic to hear they're expanding & thus taking on more staff. I was recently told that they'll be moving their offices into the terminal shortly, not sure if that's true.
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Does anyone know what is happening to the easyJet SSK's at NEMA? They have been out of use for at least a week now and all flights are being checked in conventional.
All the MAG group CUSS kiosks are lime green. The whole idea being that they don't fit in with airport surroundings!! If they stand out, people will hopefully use them!
I like the Menzies uniform, better than Servisair.
All the MAG group CUSS kiosks are lime green. The whole idea being that they don't fit in with airport surroundings!! If they stand out, people will hopefully use them!
I like the Menzies uniform, better than Servisair.
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Thanks phil for clearing up the issue of the reason why the MAG CUSS machines are bright green. I can't say I'm a huge fan of that colour, but it will be nice to see them installed, and interesting to see how many people utilise them.
Be advised that this season Servisair is rolling out a new uniform, which was incorporated during the merger with GlobeGround. EMA didn't get the new uniforms last year for all staff, just for those working in the executive lounge. They look so much nicer than the old Coco the Clown outfits, and all new staff as well as existing ones will receive them soon. They're navy blue with lightblue & yellow trim.
Be advised that this season Servisair is rolling out a new uniform, which was incorporated during the merger with GlobeGround. EMA didn't get the new uniforms last year for all staff, just for those working in the executive lounge. They look so much nicer than the old Coco the Clown outfits, and all new staff as well as existing ones will receive them soon. They're navy blue with lightblue & yellow trim.
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The old self-service machines which Lite mentioned that were positioned by desks 12/13, weren't particularly well used, and perhaps as a result of them being first generation, had a number of small technical faults which often made them out of service. No doubt, these new albeit garish machines, will be popular if they allow people to speed through the airport faster, and whilst I'm aware from CSA colleagues that there is concern for jobs, I would think these machines allow staff to spend more time with the passenger, rather than being stuck behind a desk doing paperwork. I have no idea of the exact ins-and-outs of how it will all work, but all will soon be revealed, how exciting! On a related note, the new internet checkin inspection posts at the entrance to central search appear to cause nothing but longer queues, do any of you have a different experience?
Does anyone have any idea how the Ryanair routes are doing? The next batch begin next week with the arrival of the second based aircraft. By all accounts they appear, particularly the Polish routes, to be quite popular, and it will be interesting to see if FR are considering more aircraft. Speaking of expansion, on the off chance has anyone heard anything from EZY?
Does anyone have any idea how the Ryanair routes are doing? The next batch begin next week with the arrival of the second based aircraft. By all accounts they appear, particularly the Polish routes, to be quite popular, and it will be interesting to see if FR are considering more aircraft. Speaking of expansion, on the off chance has anyone heard anything from EZY?
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What do you mean that there is concern for jobs? 
I think the new boarding card check as you enter security has caused some problems but there seems to be more to it than that.
New Ryanair routes are doing well apparently...esp Wroclaw. Ryanair will definitely base more aircraft at some point I would say.
I think the new boarding card check as you enter security has caused some problems but there seems to be more to it than that.
New Ryanair routes are doing well apparently...esp Wroclaw. Ryanair will definitely base more aircraft at some point I would say.
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Concern for jobs as in there will be a need for far fewer staff if more passengers are using automated kiosks to checkin, this has certainly been the case in some airports in the US where this has been introduced, especially considering most shorthaul flights only really require 1 CSA at the gate to get the flight boarded.
Glad to hear the Ryanair flights are doing well, I can think of plenty of cities on their route network which would do well with service from EMA, and really hope this season is a success for them. The web checkin seems to have had mixed results. Hopefully the creases are being ironed out.
Glad to hear the Ryanair flights are doing well, I can think of plenty of cities on their route network which would do well with service from EMA, and really hope this season is a success for them. The web checkin seems to have had mixed results. Hopefully the creases are being ironed out.
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Hopefully EMA hasn't lost out to DSA with the expansion of Ryanair's Pisa base, DSA will be getting four flights a week beginning in September, and I think a PSA route would be particularly popular from the airport serving the Tuscany region which appears to be having a boom in the second home owner sector.
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CUSS is green for the same reason phone boxes and pillar boxes are red. So they are easily spotted and quickly become familiar.
The "in desk" trial of CUSS was a trial, which turned out to be less than successful for lots of predictable reasons - mixing hand and hold baggage pax; lack of visibility; obstruction of the desk by CUSS users getting in the way of traditional check in pax etc.
Moving them to be the first thing you see, away from the desks, is proven to be the best technique. BA learned the same thing at MAN T3.
That's the point of a trial.
I've just flown from EMA for the first time and I loved it. What a great little airport! Easy parking, everything on one floor, just enough of the right sort of shops. Great.
The "in desk" trial of CUSS was a trial, which turned out to be less than successful for lots of predictable reasons - mixing hand and hold baggage pax; lack of visibility; obstruction of the desk by CUSS users getting in the way of traditional check in pax etc.
Moving them to be the first thing you see, away from the desks, is proven to be the best technique. BA learned the same thing at MAN T3.
That's the point of a trial.
I've just flown from EMA for the first time and I loved it. What a great little airport! Easy parking, everything on one floor, just enough of the right sort of shops. Great.
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I don't doubt that Ryanair haven't considered launching a new flight to Pisa from EMA, especially as this service proved to be extremely popular from what I can remember when bmibaby did it, and because like EMA, PSA is a base. The Ryanair base is just under two months old, so I can see things standing still for a little while as they ponder their options, before going for any other major expansion. I wouldn't be surprised if Bergamo came about as well.
I agree that the trial with the CUSS machines were a bit of a failure, not least because nobody actually knew what they were, or were easily distinguishable. I think you definitely need to have, like the easyJet machines, have one staff member to a block of about four, to assist passengers, or just to have a token presence. Lite mentioned that it will be the airport's own CSAs assisting pax with the new machines, so I wonder if they will need to be familiar with the individual airlines' products or what exactly the airlines will want to make sure their brand is still visible.
I've still not seen the new Servisair uniforms, but am looking forward to it. Whilst I'm not sure how their recruitment is going, it's always nice to have fresh & interested faces about the airport. Been a while since Menzies or baby have advertised for ground staff, though from my experience they offer the more professional level of service, therefore I wouldn't be surprised if Menzies are on their way to new contracts. Maybe DRJ knows more ...
I agree that the trial with the CUSS machines were a bit of a failure, not least because nobody actually knew what they were, or were easily distinguishable. I think you definitely need to have, like the easyJet machines, have one staff member to a block of about four, to assist passengers, or just to have a token presence. Lite mentioned that it will be the airport's own CSAs assisting pax with the new machines, so I wonder if they will need to be familiar with the individual airlines' products or what exactly the airlines will want to make sure their brand is still visible.
I've still not seen the new Servisair uniforms, but am looking forward to it. Whilst I'm not sure how their recruitment is going, it's always nice to have fresh & interested faces about the airport. Been a while since Menzies or baby have advertised for ground staff, though from my experience they offer the more professional level of service, therefore I wouldn't be surprised if Menzies are on their way to new contracts. Maybe DRJ knows more ...
Really looking forward to it.