EAST MIDLANDS - 3

[bmibaby.com]

I had heard Gates 1-5 will be a mixture of bmibaby gates as well as longhaul boarding gates the latter predominantly thanks to the second security screening area.

Thomsonfly are unlikely to close their base at Coventry any time soon, as they are the only scheduled operator there, I can imagine CVT's management would be desperate for them to stay. It just seems that Coventry's passenger numbers have seen a much sharper fall than at other airports in the region, and TOM are very restricted in their growth both by terminal space & runway length. Coventry would be better suited to a low-cost airline that requires the very spartan facilities it provides for flights under three hours, not always Thomson's bread-and-butter. Growth at EMA has been on the cards for some time according to people I know at Thomsonfly, and some have been speculating whether this growth will be to the detriment of CVT.

[egnxema]

SAM-EMA

Welcome mate! Good to have you with us.

If you read back a few pages you will be able to get up to speed with what we all know (or are prepared to say) about the pier.

Keep reading - and contributing.

[SAM-EMA]

Thanks for the advice egnxema. Well, I can't wait for the pier to be built, and it's a shame that it won't have air bridges as I would of hoped. I agree with you Little Blue, the very basic new pier will go well with ryanair. Thanks for the welcoming.

SAM-EMA

[bmibaby.com]

Perhaps I'm the only one who doesn't understand the hype about airbridges? I for one quite enjoy the idea of actually walking up the stairs to my plane, whilst this is not the time of year that best exemplifies walking given the wind & rain, I think there's something enjoyable about walking across the ramp to the aircraft. Practically, EMA is a predominantly low-cost & charter airport who are looking at keeping their costs as low as possible, as a result they're unlikely not only to want to pay for airbridges, but also add time to their turnarounds by having the airbridge attached. I'd prefer that BHX keeps their Taj Mahal terminal with airbridges etc. and we continue to attract airlines that can give us low-fares and passenger growth!

[SeamusCVT]

Originally Posted by bmibaby.com

Growth at EMA has been on the cards for some time according to people I know at Thomsonfly, and some have been speculating whether this growth will be to the detriment of CVT.

Not if todays news is anything to go by...flights from CVT to ORY, AMS and JER to continue in to Summer 2007.

Maybe EMA's TOM expansion (if it happens) might be to the detriment of another base...no DSA-ORY route next Summer for example.....

[phil_2405]

TOM are to have 3 based a/c in Summer 07 so EMA already has some growth from them

[egnxema]

Originally Posted by bmibaby.com

I for one quite enjoy the idea of actually walking up the stairs to my plane, whilst this is not the time of year that best exemplifies walking given the wind & rain, I think there's something enjoyable about walking across the ramp to the aircraft.

I agree with you, the walk out is all part of it for me. But as the LoCo's seem to be put off by Airbridges, is it also true that traditional airlines are put off by their absence?

[SAM-EMA]

I have to agree I too enjoy walking across the apron to board flights, but I also like the idea of air bridges, because it could possibly encourage an international airline to fly from EMA. I think it will be fantastic if we get the Jet Airways link to Mubai, but I do think that Birmingham or Manchester has got more chance in gaining it. But you don't know what will happen until it is announced-both BHX and MAN have links to Asia, but EMA hasn't yet, so...

SAM-EMA

[bmibaby.com]

Maybe this is only me, but I really don't think that it's airbridges which encourage an airline to launch flights to a new airport. I would think it's the landing fees, catchment area, demand for the route, any marketing subsidies available and to a lesser extent perhaps the general facilities of the airport (more likely to be ample check-in facilities, quick security queues, lounge availability) rather than covered walkways to the terminal. You'll actually notice a common complaint from many airlines, particularly those in the low-cost sector or smaller airlines, is that these gold-plated terminals that airports want to build for prestige, bump up the cost of flying to these airports and are inherently unpopular. Most airlines would prefer a functional terminal, which after the winter upgrades EMA is going to more than offer.

I think the questionnaire on the website more than indicates EMA's talks with airlines from that region about flights, after all a number of FR cities were offered in a similar questionnaire before Ryanair eventually announced their new routes.

Heard the other day that Penauille-Servisair may go to being called just Servisair again. Any truth in that rumour?

[almost professional]

The pier will be as described-fairly basic, with escalator from existing Departures and stairs down-gives 6 new gates, no plans to make it Ryanair only, but may change when in operation-sat in tower last night and counted stands versus A/C known to be based next summer and I made it one spare on the central!

[Mr Angry from Purley]

Came in from BRU last night, immigration having work in progress by usual door so rather than the 4 lines of back and forwards, it became 7 or 8 of short up and down round and round until i became dizzy. Come on that is so Mickey mouse its unbelieveable

[phil_2405]

Originally Posted by almost professional

sat in tower last night and counted stands versus A/C known to be based next summer and I made it one spare on the central!

Do you mind listing the known based a/c for 07 almost prof? Would be interesting to see them all listed.

[almost professional]

bearing in mind that I have no inside info!-using this summer, plus previous posts and a bit of guess work:
5xRyanair B738
6xBmi B737
3xEasy A319
1xBma E145
1xBma A320+1 at weekends
1xExcel-MD80/B737
3xThomsonfly-2 B757 1 B737
1xEastern J41
1xTcx B757 (rumours of a second A/C)
1xMyt A320
1xFca A321
1xFca B767-6 days

[SAM-EMA]

Yeah ok bmibaby.com, but airbridges could help.
SAM-EMA

[bmibaby.com]

Sorry, I totally disagree, it's this Taj Mahal mentality of adding expensive luxuries to an airport like airbridges when there are perfectly functioning alternatives which make airlines less enthusiastic about certain airports, particularly if you take in comments made at this year's World Low Cost Airline meeting a few months back. I see where you're coming from, but can think of other priorities for EMA, after all BHX has them and at this moment of time, we're doing very nicely in terms of passenger figures on the increase.

Almost Prof's list of aircraft looks very good but if I could make one correction. The second bmi A320 will be around for longer than the weekend next summer as it will replace the Excel MD-83, Excel are closing their own operations at EMA. On the days when the second bmi 320 isn't around, I believe it's a BHX-based Air Malta machine which is operating flights.

[SAM-EMA]

I understand where you are coming from bmibaby.com and I totally agree with you that they have more important things to worry about, but I was just thinking about the long-term when they possibly will have or need them. SAM-EMA

[Lite]

I've actually heard that it will be the same week-long based bmi Airbus 320 as this summer, but there won't be a second 320 at the airport at all now as the airline is to take over Astraeus' operation for MyTravel at LBA instead, rather the second aircraft which will also be based for longer will be an Air Malta aircraft handled by Servisair unlike Menzies' bmi. This is only what I've heard, but apparently Servisair are getting a significantly larger Air Malta contract for 2007 than in previous years.

[Mike16]

Hi Guys

Great news for EMA then, i am so excited about all these new routes etc, about time i say.
Well i have a freind who works for Air Malta and he has told me, that from next April, they are having a base at EMA along with LGW and MAN, they will be recruiting in Feb 07.
They will have intially one aircraft and is sure a second will join in June time, they are doing all the charter flights like greece and spain etc....
He speaks very highly of them, nice crew and lovely aircraft even with a first class cabin.
So will be nice to see another carrier here, they have signed for an 18 month agreement he said.

[Regular Cappuccino]

No sooner had we got the lawn looking nice, than we dug it up again!
Broke ground for the new pier on Tuesday.

When I've spoken to Chilli Monster and found out how to upload the photo, I'll give it a go.

I'm with bmibaby.com regarding the airbridges though. Given that the pier will not be huge, airbridges attached to the pier would probably only be able to serve a couple of stands, and then only for departing pax, since arrivals would still need to be bussed to the far end of the terminal. A lot of outlay for very little practical gain. I reckon the airport have got it about right on this one - a cheap, efficient, practical extension, without a vast expenditure on frills. (& it will only be single storey anyway).

Oh, and it's not primarily aimed at lo-co operators either. Should serve the '40' stands in the November cul-de-sac and probably one or two of the '30s' as well, which will save a lot of bussing for departing pax.

And watch out, Almost Prof - I heard today that there might well be 7 based RYR aircraft by the end of next year.
RC

[Centre cities]

Ryanair

Yes but are they paying anything and are the aiport making any money out of the flights. Passenger numbers are one thing, making money is another.

It may be after the dip in passengers 2005 and no sign of a recovery that they were fairly desperate to attract them and reverse this.

Does anybody know.


Centre cities