MANCHESTER
Join Date: Jan 2004
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Originally Posted by This Charming Man
I understand all is not well at MAPlc.The Dec/Jan pax figures were below expectations. The '' shareholders'' are asking questions and the answer was
''Liverpool,Leeds and Finningly are all begining to to have an impact''.
A further question was raised as to why the airport still hav'nt secured RYR/EZY after it was given TOP priority to see a far larger LOCO presence..... apparently there was no ''decent'' answer .........
''Liverpool,Leeds and Finningly are all begining to to have an impact''.
A further question was raised as to why the airport still hav'nt secured RYR/EZY after it was given TOP priority to see a far larger LOCO presence..... apparently there was no ''decent'' answer .........
Obviously I don't know why he's gone, but I expect it's because the figures are down, as predicted by This Charming Man and explained by myself (the Board wanting the same growth twice over). Let me take a moment to reflect on the pluses and minuses of his tenure at MA:
Plus:
Reduced costs
Reduced charges
Increased traffic
Increased profit
Formalised a lot of adhoc agreements with the unions into policies
Appeared to care about his staff, genuinely
Recruited some good senior managers (shame they were all white middle-class men)
Attracted Baby and Jet2, with RYR growth and EZY arrival imminent
Minus:
Most of the costs he reduced were the wages of the lowest paid staff, both directly within MA and indirectly within the service partners
Seemed to expect his staff to work 25hr days like he does, forgetting they're still married to their partners, they still like to see their kids more often than just in McDonalds on a Saturday morning, and that though he may have a brain the size of a planet, they haven't nor would they want to
Wouldn't listen to advice from his staff, preferring just to make a decision and stick to it, even when wrong
Sadly, the airport could be further ahead in traffic and profit than it is now, if the Board hadn't wasted the 8 years prior to the Reverend (93-01) indulging the fat controller, who presided over waste, stagnation, competitor growth, indecision, and stop-startism, and failed to tackle any major issues properly. Instead he pushed for the rape of the countryside with the white elephant of R2, when the growth and profit could have come from better pricing to make the off-peaks more attractive and increase asset use at low marginal cost.
On reflection I'm not sad to see the Reverend go, but I wish him well. His heart was in the right place, he just didn't keep everyone else on board with him. Shame the fat one isn't going too though, but is letting Rev carry the can when he's implicit in the problem too.
Join Date: Sep 2005
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These are interesting times to say the least.
My only interest in this is that my business relies on Manchester Airport. I'm in no way connected to the airport or aviation business but I need the flights to get me and my people to where we need to be - otherwise we'll have to relocate to London.
I can't help but agree with some of the comments made - I suspect that Mr Spooner (if he has gone? - rumour) has been made the scapegoat for some historic poor decisions - the man who made them still sits immune (or got promoted before he got found out). However, the decision to build Runway 2 was a brave and foresighted one - one our children will thank us for.
Some really tough strategic decisions will need to be taken over the next couple of years - Terminal 1 will need to be replaced in the next 10 years and in doing so, sort out the mess of an apron layout that causes the congestion that will only get worse.
How is that going to be funded?
And this against a backdrop of downward pressure on costs and margins.
I have to say the previously unthinkable will have to be thunk....to sell it off!!
And in terms of routes - EasyJet pplleeease! lot's of people I know are just waiting for EasyJet into Manch.
My only interest in this is that my business relies on Manchester Airport. I'm in no way connected to the airport or aviation business but I need the flights to get me and my people to where we need to be - otherwise we'll have to relocate to London.
I can't help but agree with some of the comments made - I suspect that Mr Spooner (if he has gone? - rumour) has been made the scapegoat for some historic poor decisions - the man who made them still sits immune (or got promoted before he got found out). However, the decision to build Runway 2 was a brave and foresighted one - one our children will thank us for.
Some really tough strategic decisions will need to be taken over the next couple of years - Terminal 1 will need to be replaced in the next 10 years and in doing so, sort out the mess of an apron layout that causes the congestion that will only get worse.
How is that going to be funded?
And this against a backdrop of downward pressure on costs and margins.
I have to say the previously unthinkable will have to be thunk....to sell it off!!
And in terms of routes - EasyJet pplleeease! lot's of people I know are just waiting for EasyJet into Manch.
Join Date: Jan 2004
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I'm sure EZY will come eventually. Whoever's left at MAN will be trying hard to get them, if only cos the shareholders want more pax.
Keeps them in beer n sandwiches, not to mention whippet food and cloth caps.
Keeps them in beer n sandwiches, not to mention whippet food and cloth caps.
Join Date: Aug 2004
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Originally Posted by Vuelo
It has been suggested in another thread that EZY could be starting services from Manchester 'imminently'....
Is there any truth to this rumour?
Is there any truth to this rumour?
Are there any other rumours out there??
Join Date: Feb 2003
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But clearly the effort to attract a substantial low cost airline hasn't worked. Instead MAN has ended up wasting its time concentrating on attracting low cost low revenue short haul flights when in reality it has the assets to expand long haul which boosts pax and revenue. That is the area which local rival airports cannot currently compete with MAN on.
After today I feel a shift in strategy is on the way.
After today I feel a shift in strategy is on the way.
Last edited by EGCC; 13th Feb 2006 at 19:02.
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Interesting view. Geoff and his cronies never liked locos anyway. They positively discouraged them before the 2001 restructure. Bill Savage was Bus Dev director then and he hated them.
But the bonus of any shorthaul, especially locos, is that for one peak departure they get 2-3 off-peak ones which makes better use of the facilities when they're quiet. With long haul you don't get that, so you have to make sure the dep is off-peak in the first place. Eastbound traffic likes am arr/deps. Westbounds may be better.
The fact remains though that Rev Spooner had a good idea how to run and grow an airport. Geoff hasn't a clue how to run a business. What he does well is sucking up to politicians and eating biscuits.
I think looking back on MAN's history, the period when mistakes were made and problems were embedded coincides with Geoff's tenure as CX of MAN. Lots of people would agree with me.
But the bonus of any shorthaul, especially locos, is that for one peak departure they get 2-3 off-peak ones which makes better use of the facilities when they're quiet. With long haul you don't get that, so you have to make sure the dep is off-peak in the first place. Eastbound traffic likes am arr/deps. Westbounds may be better.
The fact remains though that Rev Spooner had a good idea how to run and grow an airport. Geoff hasn't a clue how to run a business. What he does well is sucking up to politicians and eating biscuits.
I think looking back on MAN's history, the period when mistakes were made and problems were embedded coincides with Geoff's tenure as CX of MAN. Lots of people would agree with me.
Join Date: Dec 2003
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eeh by gum, I think thas reete thar lad......
But how does one measure how good the management actually is..?
We could have superb management or a bunch of shopkeepers who also sell tripe running the place ......
I just get this feeling that they dont actully know how good the place could be if they "really" knew what they were about. They come across as down trodden Northerners from a Victorian era
get real guys...!
Stuff BOH, and that place on the Humber, concentrate on the core assets !
Personally re Spoony 8/10 not bad given constraints of GM OK but not brilliant !
They could always have a whip round down at the greyhound track and buy BAA...!
But how does one measure how good the management actually is..?
We could have superb management or a bunch of shopkeepers who also sell tripe running the place ......
I just get this feeling that they dont actully know how good the place could be if they "really" knew what they were about. They come across as down trodden Northerners from a Victorian era
get real guys...!
Stuff BOH, and that place on the Humber, concentrate on the core assets !
Personally re Spoony 8/10 not bad given constraints of GM OK but not brilliant !
They could always have a whip round down at the greyhound track and buy BAA...!
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Well said Bagso.
To be fair to the shareholders there are now fewer tripesellers and some proper non exec directors from other real world companies, but they only came as a condition of the banks that were lending MAPLC all the money to buy EMA and BOH. They said if you're spending all our money we want a competent Board. Who can blame them?
Trouble is too many decisions now are purely financial, particularly Geoff's stop-startism. You can't run a long term infrastructure heavy business with such short term planning. Pah! Planning? Guesswork more like. Knee jerk reactionism.
BTW - Geoff recruited Spooner in 2001. Given the positive work he has done, to sack him for this mistake (ie not delivering the Board's pie-in-the-sky target) reflects badly on Geoff doesn't it? Despite the fact that Spooner did a better job than Geoff ever could. And not forgetting that all the main figures are up on last year, not down. Just not up enough. I bet Geoff still gets his customary massive pay rise though, so all's well in cloud cuckoo land.
Don't make me angry, you wouldn't like me when I'm angry...
To be fair to the shareholders there are now fewer tripesellers and some proper non exec directors from other real world companies, but they only came as a condition of the banks that were lending MAPLC all the money to buy EMA and BOH. They said if you're spending all our money we want a competent Board. Who can blame them?
Trouble is too many decisions now are purely financial, particularly Geoff's stop-startism. You can't run a long term infrastructure heavy business with such short term planning. Pah! Planning? Guesswork more like. Knee jerk reactionism.
BTW - Geoff recruited Spooner in 2001. Given the positive work he has done, to sack him for this mistake (ie not delivering the Board's pie-in-the-sky target) reflects badly on Geoff doesn't it? Despite the fact that Spooner did a better job than Geoff ever could. And not forgetting that all the main figures are up on last year, not down. Just not up enough. I bet Geoff still gets his customary massive pay rise though, so all's well in cloud cuckoo land.
Don't make me angry, you wouldn't like me when I'm angry...
Join Date: Jul 2004
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Does anyone know if there are to be any improvements in retail and catering facilities at T1, in readiness for the summer season? The T1 departure lounge looks decidedly shabby, and let;s face it, the range of shops is just terrible.
The floor down the piers could do with being replaced, too. I counted six different carpet patterns on a recent wander from gate 26 to the immigration hall, donlt even get me started on that terrible swimming pool blue floor there, either.
The T1 baggage hall is looking smart though.
Anither area that needs drastic upgrade is the T1 public arrivals area. It's dark, smell, the information desk is hidden away, the burger king smells and it needs some decnt lighting around the taxi rank.
The floor down the piers could do with being replaced, too. I counted six different carpet patterns on a recent wander from gate 26 to the immigration hall, donlt even get me started on that terrible swimming pool blue floor there, either.
The T1 baggage hall is looking smart though.
Anither area that needs drastic upgrade is the T1 public arrivals area. It's dark, smell, the information desk is hidden away, the burger king smells and it needs some decnt lighting around the taxi rank.
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But all of that is papering over the cracks - T1 is over the hill ..a lumbering old hulk that has had various extensions and lean tos 'nailed on' over the years. It certainly is grim up North when you arrive into this hole.
Agree with the comments on GM by the way - don't I remember some Strategic MasterPlan or some sort being hyped around the local media around the T2 opening that forecast 30M pax pa by 2005 ???- presumeably GM at this stage was in a senior management role and therefore signed up to this fanciful prediction.
He therefore has missed his target by 8M pax.....but still got the bonuses
Agree with the comments on GM by the way - don't I remember some Strategic MasterPlan or some sort being hyped around the local media around the T2 opening that forecast 30M pax pa by 2005 ???- presumeably GM at this stage was in a senior management role and therefore signed up to this fanciful prediction.
He therefore has missed his target by 8M pax.....but still got the bonuses
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Flooring on 'C' Pier is supposedly getting re-done shortly ready for the influx of summer pax and the T1 Arrivals Hall Landside will also be done up in a similar design to the newer refurbished baggage hall. Personally, I don't think that T1 as a whole is all that bad. The choice of facilities could do with being upgraded but let's face it, people come to MAN to get on a plane not to do their shopping! 'B' Pier definately needs sorting out as this is very outdated and the splitting of arriving and departing pax makes things a little messy down there. Overall though T1 is a much nicer terminal to work in and fly from than the other 2. And the airport has won Best UK Airport over the past countless years, so things can't be all that bad. Passenger feedback across all three terminals is also very good. Come on guys, we should be proud of the acheivements of our local airport over the past few years, not slating it. Sure, upgrades are constantly needed and new services have to be attracted to keep the airport competitive. It will all come in time.
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Originally Posted by FlyZB
Overall though T1 is a much nicer terminal to work in and fly from than the other 2.
(Thinks... exactly the same probably applies to LHR T2 - v. similar).
In our T1 the concourses (landside and airside) aren't bad, if not badly laid out.
Check in areas are confusing and often congested, the two piers are complete jokes - cheap and scruffy and the whole arrivals area looks like a set from Life on Mars 'the sequel' circa 1981.
For me, embarrassing to bring visitors to our area through T1: first impressions and all that. Not so T2 T3.
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SPOONER........
From E-TID TODAY
''John Spooner has resigned as managing director of Manchester Airport after five years in the role. His departure will see group commercial director Rowena Burns take responsibility for commercial strategy, marketing and all income streams across the Manchester Airports Group, and Andrew Cornish oversee the entire operation of Manchester Airport as managing director, MA services and operations.''
''John Spooner has resigned as managing director of Manchester Airport after five years in the role. His departure will see group commercial director Rowena Burns take responsibility for commercial strategy, marketing and all income streams across the Manchester Airports Group, and Andrew Cornish oversee the entire operation of Manchester Airport as managing director, MA services and operations.''