COVENTRY
Join Date: Jan 2006
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I would concede that given the combination of impending recession/depression, the enforced closure periods due to lack of air traffic controllers and the tempting offer that has rumoured to have been tabled by the BHX managenment that at least in the short term the future of passenger flights at CVT is anything but rosy and that the chance of Thomsonfly decamping has moved from possible to probable.
However in what I strongly suspect will be a futile effort to engender empathy for those whose livelihoods depend on the CVt operation from those at the other end of the A45 can I offer the following analogy.
1. It has been stated that Thomsonfly should abandon Coventry in favour of Birmingham because it can be argued that as a proportion of the distance flown the distance between the two airports is relatively modest, Thomsonfly has a bigger operation at Birmingham in any case, the terminal facilities on offer at Birmingham are more extensive and the Birmingham runway unlike the Coventry one does not place any restrictions on the sort of aircraft that can operate the routes.
2. It could be stated that Air india should make their movement from Birmingham to Heathrow permanent because it can be argued that as a proportion of the distance flown the distance betwen the two airports is relatively modest, Air India have always had a bigger operation at Heathrow in any case, the terminal facilities on offer at Heathrow are more extensive and the Heathrow runway unlike the Birmingham one does not place any restriction on the sort of aircraft that can operate the routes.
Before I get lambasted by the BHX centric I think both arguments are equally spurious.
However in what I strongly suspect will be a futile effort to engender empathy for those whose livelihoods depend on the CVt operation from those at the other end of the A45 can I offer the following analogy.
1. It has been stated that Thomsonfly should abandon Coventry in favour of Birmingham because it can be argued that as a proportion of the distance flown the distance between the two airports is relatively modest, Thomsonfly has a bigger operation at Birmingham in any case, the terminal facilities on offer at Birmingham are more extensive and the Birmingham runway unlike the Coventry one does not place any restrictions on the sort of aircraft that can operate the routes.
2. It could be stated that Air india should make their movement from Birmingham to Heathrow permanent because it can be argued that as a proportion of the distance flown the distance betwen the two airports is relatively modest, Air India have always had a bigger operation at Heathrow in any case, the terminal facilities on offer at Heathrow are more extensive and the Heathrow runway unlike the Birmingham one does not place any restriction on the sort of aircraft that can operate the routes.
Before I get lambasted by the BHX centric I think both arguments are equally spurious.
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: , England
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Tom A320 @ Cvt
If this is true then will it be 2x A320 or 1 320 and 737 because at least 2 aircraft are needed for next summers CVT schedule. To be honest i thought that it would be better for both crew and an operational point of view to stay with 2x 737. . .
Last edited by aidoair; 6th Oct 2008 at 18:24.
Join Date: Aug 2004
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new terminal blocked
The high court has said no to new terminal at Coventry.
I expect Thomson will not stay long now and someone else will need to take the airport over. Given the current houseing and stock market the whole airport could close.
I expect Thomson will not stay long now and someone else will need to take the airport over. Given the current houseing and stock market the whole airport could close.
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: London
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Airport won't close, cost base is under control and can be trimmed further. I can see them falling back to corporate and GA until the economy picks up then who knows. Heard that they lost most of their senior management a while back and it's shown with the lack of new carreiers they've been able to get in. Can see them coming again though, airports are just too valuable to disapear forever.
Join Date: May 2008
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Management at CVT been dreadful for years, and to say that the cost base under control is just ludicrous.
The chasing after the airlines and the tilting at windmills(terminals) and neglect of existing, long-standing customers has been what's cost them, and wouldn't be at all surprised to see them call it a day soon. Not getting the permission the perfect excuse.
The chasing after the airlines and the tilting at windmills(terminals) and neglect of existing, long-standing customers has been what's cost them, and wouldn't be at all surprised to see them call it a day soon. Not getting the permission the perfect excuse.
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Expansion was there only way to get to profit. Even if they had permission the down turn has killed any chance they had. BHX are doing OK considering and no one is going to start up next to a FR base.
I think the can no longer be a going concern in my view. Please do your own research and look at the accounts.
I think the can no longer be a going concern in my view. Please do your own research and look at the accounts.
Join Date: Aug 2002
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TOM
I was of the understanding that Thomsonfly soon to be Thomson Airways were moving away from scheduled airline flying and focusing on their charter work. This could be a factor in their decisions at CVT.
Daza
Daza
Join Date: Aug 2007
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The Coventry CEO Chris Orphanou has put up one hell of a fight but has admitted it has cost £6 miillion up to now.
I saw him on the tele before the appeal went in and he was claiming if the decision eventually stood, he could put up a gigantic tent instead which wouldn't need planning permission.
I think there will now be a strategic withdrawal all round and a return to basics for the airport.
I saw him on the tele before the appeal went in and he was claiming if the decision eventually stood, he could put up a gigantic tent instead which wouldn't need planning permission.
I think there will now be a strategic withdrawal all round and a return to basics for the airport.
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: coventry
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cvt website...... gutted.. high court has turned down the appeal for the new terminal. not to sure what cvt is going to do now. hopefully they will apply to council for , maybe, 1.5million or even 1 million. the future for tom, according to my friend tom has approx 4 years left at cvt. it could cost tom if they pulled out, the same if they stayed at cvt ( if that makes sense ). hence as i said before they might bring in fc's a320's. my opinion i'm not to sure whats going to happen...
Join Date: May 2008
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Wouldn't be surprised if there wasn't some sort of clause in the Thomson contract that within x amount of years of the start of the operation that CVT had to have a terminal capable of accommodating 2m passengers and now have their get out
Join Date: Sep 2007
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A very disappointing day overall for CVT and a lot of the local sub-region. Admittedly the future for passenger operations is looking ever-increasingly grim. On a slightly brighter note, however, according to a contact in Germany, the previously operated SkyWings Cargo flight to Niederrhein / Weeze is due to recommence tonight (06th October).
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: UK Midlands
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CVT already has Planning Permission for its 1million passengers /yr terminal, and has singularly failed to attract operators to use even half of its allocation. I would suggest that the issue is whether the airport owners have any investment funds left to subsidise the current loss making operation for much longer.
Or what the fall back business plan is....?
Or what the fall back business plan is....?
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Coventry
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I think the fall back business plan is that .....they don't have a fall back business plan. They have sought the Holy Grail of significant passenger operations and let everything else slip. With the right investment they could by now be the West Midlands Bizjet centre (look at what Oxford are doing for example), they could have developed GA (look what Kemble are doing for example). The only slightly bright thing is that despite the airports lack of interest and Parcelforce's treachery, the freight has held up reasonably well.
Going back to Howard Holdings, whatever happens they are going to take a huge hit. They reported paid 30m Euros for the place from TUI. They ain't going to get that back if they sell and they are going to have to invest to get it back long term if they stay.
Going back to Howard Holdings, whatever happens they are going to take a huge hit. They reported paid 30m Euros for the place from TUI. They ain't going to get that back if they sell and they are going to have to invest to get it back long term if they stay.
Join Date: Aug 2007
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The person to blame for this mess is that prize idiot John Prescott.
It was our much loved former Deputy Prime Minister who, in April 2006, withdrew Government objections to the Temporary Terminal erected at Coventry without planning consent.
He, in his infinite wisdom, ruled that although Warwickshire District Council were correct in that the Terminal had been built illegally and that they were right to have taken action, it could stay anyway.
Well a nods as good as a wink to a blind horse and despite the proviso in Prescott's ruling concerning noise and night flights, CVT management assumed that the planning application already submitted for the permanent 2 million passenger terminal would be breezed through just like the temporary terminal had been.
Now, the only people to have come out of this well are the lawyers.
Leofric
I reckon you're spot on, CVT took off in the wrong direction.
Still, the Airport outsourced most of their services people last May, security, baggage, airport parking, cleaning and driving staff all moved to City Aviation Services under a £30 million contract.
I'd love to see the clauses in that particular document.
It was our much loved former Deputy Prime Minister who, in April 2006, withdrew Government objections to the Temporary Terminal erected at Coventry without planning consent.
He, in his infinite wisdom, ruled that although Warwickshire District Council were correct in that the Terminal had been built illegally and that they were right to have taken action, it could stay anyway.
Well a nods as good as a wink to a blind horse and despite the proviso in Prescott's ruling concerning noise and night flights, CVT management assumed that the planning application already submitted for the permanent 2 million passenger terminal would be breezed through just like the temporary terminal had been.
Now, the only people to have come out of this well are the lawyers.
Leofric
I reckon you're spot on, CVT took off in the wrong direction.
Still, the Airport outsourced most of their services people last May, security, baggage, airport parking, cleaning and driving staff all moved to City Aviation Services under a £30 million contract.
I'd love to see the clauses in that particular document.
Coventry Airport queues are the shortest
Coventry has been reported as the regional airport with the shortest waiting times at security and passport control, according to an independent passenger poll on UK airport delays.
2 flights separated by 7h 30min today
Clearly no passengers means no queues.
Is it cost effective for Coventry to provide all the services for so few passengers? Might Coventry cancel the contract with Thomson?
b b
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Thomsonfly
