EAST MIDLANDS
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EastMids - I could not DISagree with you more!!!
British Midland in all it mainline guises did alot of nothing for East Midlands, they allegedly smothered the management in the Local Authority days and NatEx, bmibaby has been a bit better, but only a bit. EMA came to life in the last few years of LoCo growth, which we have to fairly and squarely thank Barbara Cassani for when Go opened the doors here. Now, with baby, the Ryans, and the Orange team.....the future really is bright.
I do not work for any of the 3 above, but cheer and welcome any expansion. The midlands environment is no longer BHXvEMA, we have DSA and CVT to deal with too.
Keep the pax numbers rising, get MAG to build that great looking huge terminal extension, keep on double glazing homes in Kegworth, and let's all contribute to an economic growth engine for the region that EMA has become.....plus, it is great fun guessing what might happen next.
My guess is that Poland will be a grea success from EMA - I'd expect FR to soon add more Polish places, plus BGY and PSA are sure Italian choices. And GRX will be hot on the tails of baby/easy's AGP.
British Midland in all it mainline guises did alot of nothing for East Midlands, they allegedly smothered the management in the Local Authority days and NatEx, bmibaby has been a bit better, but only a bit. EMA came to life in the last few years of LoCo growth, which we have to fairly and squarely thank Barbara Cassani for when Go opened the doors here. Now, with baby, the Ryans, and the Orange team.....the future really is bright.
I do not work for any of the 3 above, but cheer and welcome any expansion. The midlands environment is no longer BHXvEMA, we have DSA and CVT to deal with too.
Keep the pax numbers rising, get MAG to build that great looking huge terminal extension, keep on double glazing homes in Kegworth, and let's all contribute to an economic growth engine for the region that EMA has become.....plus, it is great fun guessing what might happen next.
My guess is that Poland will be a grea success from EMA - I'd expect FR to soon add more Polish places, plus BGY and PSA are sure Italian choices. And GRX will be hot on the tails of baby/easy's AGP.
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Originally Posted by EastMids
rumour has it six more FR routes to be announced in the not too distant future.
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I´m sorry to apron but I think you´ve hugely misinterpreted what my comments were suggesting. I´ve been thrilled to see the expansion of Ryanair from EMA as it will not only provide a boost to the local economy & tourist industry, but also allows more people from the region to be able to travel. bmibaby has also done a good job at doing this, but similar to the old days of British Midland Commuter the airline has been stuck in a rut or some might even say stagnating for some time. The low-cost airline scene has been the best thing to happen to the airport in some time, and wouldn´t be surprised to see Ryanair expanding, they have plenty of markets they can potentially attack considering how easyJet seem to have also not expanded for some time. There are also some rumours floating about the net that expansion may be coming from Thomsonfly for this winter, after having wrecently expanded their "scheduled" operations from LTN, MAN & NCL.
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Thomsonfly
hey all a newsletter recieved on Thursday stated that Thomsonsfly where going to operate with there charter flights next winter low cost.The destinations are Alicante,Las Palmas,Lanzarote & Tenerife the flights will operate twice a week with B757s cheers Paul
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The latest round of gossip from NEMA:
Check-in: The lime green machines are supposed to go into action in two weeks time, and have just been fitted with television monitors above each set of four so people can be directed to them. They're not particularly tall so there were chances that if there was a large gaggle of people that some might walk right past. The machines should be available to all airlines that use the main check-in hall, excluding carriers who only fly a few times a week into the airport & Excel Airways. First Choice are expected to move from "the tent" to the main checkin hall, as Ryanair will be requiring more desks, also FCA will be using the CUSS machines and the First Choice ticket desk is in the main hall.
Departures & Arrivals There have been some whispers that some gates may be fitted with Luton-like grid systems for airlines using open seating. Not sure if this is the case considering that all airlines use whatever gates are available as opposed to any one company being assigned specific gates. Airport is also apparently keen to install proper baggage desks in the arrivals hall, but there have been cost disputes.
Excel Excel, besides using bmi aircraft with BD flight designators, will also be using an MD-83 aircraft belonging to Greek company UKJet leased from Icelandic airline Viking. Hopefully not a repeat of last year's Air Scandic debacle.
Menzies Well done to the latest batch of new recruits at Menzies including our DC10-Levo. Their training begins next week, with Menzies apparently moving offices to inside the main terminal.
Check-in: The lime green machines are supposed to go into action in two weeks time, and have just been fitted with television monitors above each set of four so people can be directed to them. They're not particularly tall so there were chances that if there was a large gaggle of people that some might walk right past. The machines should be available to all airlines that use the main check-in hall, excluding carriers who only fly a few times a week into the airport & Excel Airways. First Choice are expected to move from "the tent" to the main checkin hall, as Ryanair will be requiring more desks, also FCA will be using the CUSS machines and the First Choice ticket desk is in the main hall.
Departures & Arrivals There have been some whispers that some gates may be fitted with Luton-like grid systems for airlines using open seating. Not sure if this is the case considering that all airlines use whatever gates are available as opposed to any one company being assigned specific gates. Airport is also apparently keen to install proper baggage desks in the arrivals hall, but there have been cost disputes.
Excel Excel, besides using bmi aircraft with BD flight designators, will also be using an MD-83 aircraft belonging to Greek company UKJet leased from Icelandic airline Viking. Hopefully not a repeat of last year's Air Scandic debacle.
Menzies Well done to the latest batch of new recruits at Menzies including our DC10-Levo. Their training begins next week, with Menzies apparently moving offices to inside the main terminal.
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Just to discuss some of the points that bmibaby mentioned above;
There has only been speculation over exactly what is happening in the departure lounge. Whilst 1/6 is almost exclusively used by Ryanair, easyJet & the occasional bmibaby flights, all airlines have their own boarding procedures which would make the grid system, whilst discussed, impossible. It appears instead that Ryanair/easyJet flights will have barriers, the portable kind you see hanging around usually by Gate 5 or 6, put up at the discretion of the gate agent. Having flown from LTN the cattle grids I think are the best way to board flights without allocated seating but it isn't an opportunity for NEMA. FCA may indeed leave the tent for the reasons that you provided, and also considering that when all desks are used trying to fit in a 767 flight would create absolute chaos. Ryanair will have three desks per flight now which requires a few more desks, and the easyJet flights will now be checked-in at a desk as opposed to the counter. It's currently being worked out whether it's better to use destination specific or common checkins, which should come into force by the time the summer is well under way.
Even though UKJet are using Viking aircraft like Air Scandic did last summer, hopefully this year the company will have managed to work out a reasonable schedule. SCY took on more contracts than they had aircraft for, and did not leave in any downtime for aircraft in the event of a tech problem which caused the monstrous delays.
Does anyone know if similarly named MD-90 operator BritishJet will be returning to EMA this year?
There has only been speculation over exactly what is happening in the departure lounge. Whilst 1/6 is almost exclusively used by Ryanair, easyJet & the occasional bmibaby flights, all airlines have their own boarding procedures which would make the grid system, whilst discussed, impossible. It appears instead that Ryanair/easyJet flights will have barriers, the portable kind you see hanging around usually by Gate 5 or 6, put up at the discretion of the gate agent. Having flown from LTN the cattle grids I think are the best way to board flights without allocated seating but it isn't an opportunity for NEMA. FCA may indeed leave the tent for the reasons that you provided, and also considering that when all desks are used trying to fit in a 767 flight would create absolute chaos. Ryanair will have three desks per flight now which requires a few more desks, and the easyJet flights will now be checked-in at a desk as opposed to the counter. It's currently being worked out whether it's better to use destination specific or common checkins, which should come into force by the time the summer is well under way.
Even though UKJet are using Viking aircraft like Air Scandic did last summer, hopefully this year the company will have managed to work out a reasonable schedule. SCY took on more contracts than they had aircraft for, and did not leave in any downtime for aircraft in the event of a tech problem which caused the monstrous delays.
Does anyone know if similarly named MD-90 operator BritishJet will be returning to EMA this year?
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I was under the impression that all FCA 767 flights already used the main check-in hall because the queue could never be accomodated in the tent?
I didn't realise that Ryanair were using 3 desks per flight now
although I had noticed they had expanded to take on more desks (due to the 2 based aircraft now). How long before the tent becomes exclusively (or predominently) for Ryanair?
Anyone know if any airlines are moving handling agents this summer?
I didn't realise that Ryanair were using 3 desks per flight now
although I had noticed they had expanded to take on more desks (due to the 2 based aircraft now). How long before the tent becomes exclusively (or predominently) for Ryanair?Anyone know if any airlines are moving handling agents this summer?
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Thank you paul for clarifying the situation with BritishJet, they had a very good operation at the airport last year, and it'll be nice to see their brightly coloured jets around again this summer.
phil, last summer the FCA longhaul flights used desks (26-31, usually used for Thomsonfly, with the additional security checkpoints being put up by the Thomas Cook Holidays ticket desks. This was a bit of an issue having longhaul from one part and shorthaul from another, especially considering that First Choice have their ticket desk in the main hall as well as there being no signage for FCA operating from the tent. I should think that with EMA now being a Ryanair base with hopeful expansion continuing, that the tent will end up exclusively for FR/EZY. Not sure whether easyJet will actually expand the number of based aircraft or routes any time soon, but their machines will soon be removed and desks 33-38/9 being used for all functions of checkin as opposed to a bag drop. Ryanair will have three counters per flight, and there have been a few potential explanations for this, including the queues having to be kept down in the tent as they have had a tendancy to snake a long way.
At present there are no plans for any Servisair handled airlines to jump ship, although as has been mentioned Menzies are becoming more competitive, so it may only be a matter of time before somebody else choses Menzies.
phil, last summer the FCA longhaul flights used desks (26-31, usually used for Thomsonfly, with the additional security checkpoints being put up by the Thomas Cook Holidays ticket desks. This was a bit of an issue having longhaul from one part and shorthaul from another, especially considering that First Choice have their ticket desk in the main hall as well as there being no signage for FCA operating from the tent. I should think that with EMA now being a Ryanair base with hopeful expansion continuing, that the tent will end up exclusively for FR/EZY. Not sure whether easyJet will actually expand the number of based aircraft or routes any time soon, but their machines will soon be removed and desks 33-38/9 being used for all functions of checkin as opposed to a bag drop. Ryanair will have three counters per flight, and there have been a few potential explanations for this, including the queues having to be kept down in the tent as they have had a tendancy to snake a long way.
At present there are no plans for any Servisair handled airlines to jump ship, although as has been mentioned Menzies are becoming more competitive, so it may only be a matter of time before somebody else choses Menzies.
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Originally Posted by Lite
Ryanair will have three counters per flight, and there have been a few potential explanations for this, including the queues having to be kept down in the tent as they have had a tendancy to snake a long way.
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ah little blue..... from what weve seen already with the expansion of menzies at ema in such short time it wouldnt be surprising at all if they did get more contracts as soon as this summer - and you are right circusair should be looking over there shoulder.
was surprised to hear that ryanair are having 3 desks per flight, they certainly wont be paying for that and i cant see servisair offering a desk free so i think that news is very strange! - the servisair staff will love that - from ALL accounts they hate checking in the FR flights - i wonder why???? - answers on a postcard please but not all at once!
am still not convinced about these green machines - but stand to be proven wrong! i just think that they will cause problems and with the airport staff handling them just makes matters worse - for instance if a pax has a problem with a booking for example an airline rep will have to be dragged away from there check in base to deal with the problem. Like i say though, i stand to be proven wrong!
regards as ever
bmibabyFC
was surprised to hear that ryanair are having 3 desks per flight, they certainly wont be paying for that and i cant see servisair offering a desk free so i think that news is very strange! - the servisair staff will love that - from ALL accounts they hate checking in the FR flights - i wonder why???? - answers on a postcard please but not all at once!
am still not convinced about these green machines - but stand to be proven wrong! i just think that they will cause problems and with the airport staff handling them just makes matters worse - for instance if a pax has a problem with a booking for example an airline rep will have to be dragged away from there check in base to deal with the problem. Like i say though, i stand to be proven wrong!
regards as ever
bmibabyFC
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I'm under the impression from the last couple of days that initially the three Ryanair check-in desks are being opened whilst we have our new hires working on two desks, and then there should be an old timer on the third also keeping an eye on the newbies. Whilst manual checkin appears to be easier, it's still easy to get things a bit muddled up if it's your first attempt, as well as making sure everything tallies up. Personally I prefer FR checkin as I think it moves faster, but it's a personal preference. Not sure by June when everyone is expected to be hired whether this will continue, especially considering online checkin being used more, but you'll see 3 Ryanair desks for a few months yet.
The new Penauille-Servisair uniforms have their roll out on Tuesday, there will be supervisors inspecting uniforms to make sure that everyone is wearing them correctly, and amongst the ladies there has been some controversy over the new scarves. You've got to love these little dramas!
Are Menzies calling themselves Menzies or KISS or both? It seems that the front-of-house side of the company has the Menzies brand with the tartan uniforms, yet ramp has the KISS branding everywhere. I'm not sure amongst the charters who would consider changing allegiance, especially as Servisair & AirportAgencies combined have them & their tour operators pretty much sown up, but easyJet with their relatively small operation might be tempted to stray. Not sure if we've done anything to horrible to them though!
The new Penauille-Servisair uniforms have their roll out on Tuesday, there will be supervisors inspecting uniforms to make sure that everyone is wearing them correctly, and amongst the ladies there has been some controversy over the new scarves. You've got to love these little dramas!
Are Menzies calling themselves Menzies or KISS or both? It seems that the front-of-house side of the company has the Menzies brand with the tartan uniforms, yet ramp has the KISS branding everywhere. I'm not sure amongst the charters who would consider changing allegiance, especially as Servisair & AirportAgencies combined have them & their tour operators pretty much sown up, but easyJet with their relatively small operation might be tempted to stray. Not sure if we've done anything to horrible to them though!
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KISS is the name for Menzies' ramp operation which was specifically designed for the benefit of low-cost airlines, with incentivised teams working to ensure that costs are kept down, and they can effectively work a tight ship. Menzies (I've even heard T3's service called "Menzies Express" in some old press releases) is the branding that is used for everything front of house. Personally, I think that whilst the uniforms look smart, the huge amount of tartan looks a bit too Caledonian-esque for my liking.
To use a hypothetical situation, if easyJet were to move from Servisair to Menzies, would they have the resources to be able to handle them? I'm under the impression they only have the lease on desks 12-17 and have no leases on ticket counters. Also could they source extra equipment and staff readily?
To use a hypothetical situation, if easyJet were to move from Servisair to Menzies, would they have the resources to be able to handle them? I'm under the impression they only have the lease on desks 12-17 and have no leases on ticket counters. Also could they source extra equipment and staff readily?
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Thanks for the clarification. I too would be interested to know about Menzies' potential with future contracts, especially one the size of easyJet. Am not too sure that your comments about leases of particular desks are correct, but I know Servisair tend to use desks 18 onwards since the tent opened, so will go along with it.
I was surprised when bmi was selling off British Midland Handling that EMA didn't become an aviance base like other airports in the system. Was this because EMA is the home airport or something else? It's interesting that the partner handling agent brought in to do the ramp was Menzies.
I was surprised when bmi was selling off British Midland Handling that EMA didn't become an aviance base like other airports in the system. Was this because EMA is the home airport or something else? It's interesting that the partner handling agent brought in to do the ramp was Menzies.
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I say, those chaps at Menzies certainly couldn't make a worse job of positioning the steps on our aircraft than the Servisair fellows. Dashed bad form smacking into our nice new electric jets. Any comments from a Baby aviator - do they smack into your tractors? 
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Menzies have been a very good partner to us at baby since they took over the ramp side of the EMA operation in winter 2002. I have no doubt that if they took over more contracts this summer that they'd be able to handle them professionally, but I think they'd be cautious to overexpand. With this new bmi charter contract I'm under the impression that the ramp side will certainly be stretched, and they need to be careful that taking on too many contracts will not impede their ability to provide the excellent level of service they have become accustomed to. Not heard that the EZY contract was up for grabs just a lot of hot air floating around.
Was walking through the terminal the other day and noticed that info desk were doing all announcements including for the lounge. Anyone know what's happened?
Was walking through the terminal the other day and noticed that info desk were doing all announcements including for the lounge. Anyone know what's happened?