MANSTON- 3
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Ramsgate, Kent
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fj1. You seem smitten by the fact that Cosmos say they will be departing from Manston. That may well be the current plan. However, they aren't hog-tied to this arrangement. Try reading the small print (their Terms and Conditions):
"Although it is unlikely, we may occasionally have to change your holiday arrangements as they are made well in advance, and we reserve the right to do so. For instance, your flight details may change….
The following changes are examples of significant changes:
A change of your departure airport….."
"Although it is unlikely, we may occasionally have to change your holiday arrangements as they are made well in advance, and we reserve the right to do so. For instance, your flight details may change….
The following changes are examples of significant changes:
A change of your departure airport….."
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Herne Bay
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cosmos
The fact that these flights are being booked both ways, would make it hard to change airport, our USA pals would not be pleased.
And both Kent CC and Virginia have put a little money into this project.
I understand that bookings from Virginia are doing very well.
The Airport has pulled off a major coup, with Brockmans Travel moving in to the airport selling Kent Escapes Hoildays who are operating to Benidorm, Majorca and Faro; Cosmos who are flying to Norfolk, Virginia, in the USA; and Newmarket Holidays who just done a few charters last from Manston last year .Are doing a lot more flights this year as last years done so well, say Newmarket, various destinations in Italy.
And both Kent CC and Virginia have put a little money into this project.
I understand that bookings from Virginia are doing very well.
The Airport has pulled off a major coup, with Brockmans Travel moving in to the airport selling Kent Escapes Hoildays who are operating to Benidorm, Majorca and Faro; Cosmos who are flying to Norfolk, Virginia, in the USA; and Newmarket Holidays who just done a few charters last from Manston last year .Are doing a lot more flights this year as last years done so well, say Newmarket, various destinations in Italy.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Kent
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deedave - your bias is blatantly anti-Manston and that is your open choice, mine is neutral, the place doesn't affect me but I do have an interest. However, you appear to be exaggerating 'failure', and I still dispute your figures.
To the best of my knowledge, LTE were using A320s with a capacity of 168. Going with that figure (some have 162 seats), that gives a total of 7392 seats over 22 flights each way, far lower than your 8280. If your exec charter figure is correct (I didn't know about these and they may not have been captured in the CAA figures anyway), it would give Seguro 4244 pax. That is a LF of 57.4%. Not brilliant, but much better than 50%.
You seem to recall the programme being announced well before Christmas.
It wasn't. It was announced February 1st. I believe it went on sale a couple of days later with online booking a week or two after. That is very late notice for a charter programme, considering the first brochures come out around May the previous year. As I said, figures for June, September and October (months in which a much higher proportion of people book late) were quite strong.
Last year's worst-case figures on next summers a/c would give a LF of over 65%. Best case would be over 71%. With an improved performance in July and August I would expect the figures to be much higher. Seguro clearly believe so too which is why they have come back with an expanded programme.
Cosmos I have no idea about, but since it hasn't been cancelled yet it must be a reasonable success
I've seen the website of one of the US companies using it, and it almost makes me want to go to Kent for a week or two!!
To the best of my knowledge, LTE were using A320s with a capacity of 168. Going with that figure (some have 162 seats), that gives a total of 7392 seats over 22 flights each way, far lower than your 8280. If your exec charter figure is correct (I didn't know about these and they may not have been captured in the CAA figures anyway), it would give Seguro 4244 pax. That is a LF of 57.4%. Not brilliant, but much better than 50%.
You seem to recall the programme being announced well before Christmas.
It wasn't. It was announced February 1st. I believe it went on sale a couple of days later with online booking a week or two after. That is very late notice for a charter programme, considering the first brochures come out around May the previous year. As I said, figures for June, September and October (months in which a much higher proportion of people book late) were quite strong.
Last year's worst-case figures on next summers a/c would give a LF of over 65%. Best case would be over 71%. With an improved performance in July and August I would expect the figures to be much higher. Seguro clearly believe so too which is why they have come back with an expanded programme.
Cosmos I have no idea about, but since it hasn't been cancelled yet it must be a reasonable success
I've seen the website of one of the US companies using it, and it almost makes me want to go to Kent for a week or two!!
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Canterbury
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Rising interest rates, rising fuel costs, doubling of flight duty, announcements at Pfizer on the 22nd: It's easy to see a number of reasons why people would be short of cash for exploratory flights to a place, when the only thing they've heard of it is that there is a lonesone pine. Presumably, the limited number of flights on offer means they can't spend much money advertizing them.
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Canterbury
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fj1. You seem smitten by the fact that Cosmos say they will be departing from Manston. That may well be the current plan. However, they aren't hog-tied to this arrangement. Try reading the small print (their Terms and Conditions):
"Although it is unlikely, we may occasionally have to change your holiday arrangements as they are made well in advance, and we reserve the right to do so. For instance, your flight details may change….
The following changes are examples of significant changes:
A change of your departure airport….."
"Although it is unlikely, we may occasionally have to change your holiday arrangements as they are made well in advance, and we reserve the right to do so. For instance, your flight details may change….
The following changes are examples of significant changes:
A change of your departure airport….."
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Cambridge,UK
Age: 34
Posts: 16
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Deedave and catflaps why are you so Anti-manston in the first place.
moving on. Sales for the first two flights are now fully booked both ways. I know its just two return flights but it is promising
The only thing i dont understand is how they will put 300 on a plane every wednesday thereafter
moving on. Sales for the first two flights are now fully booked both ways. I know its just two return flights but it is promising
The only thing i dont understand is how they will put 300 on a plane every wednesday thereafter
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Thanet
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tommyc-
The post of mine to which you replied has mysteriously disappeared.
No matter.
Technically I am not anti-MSE.
5 years ago I was vigorously pro, and I would still love to see a busy, working airport in Thanet.
However, my pursuit of the truth about the venture has led me to believe it is unsustainable, damaging to Thanet, and embarassing for aviation as a whole, and it should be closed.
If I have an agenda at all, it is that the truth should be told.
It was stated in the press and on this forum that the LTE a/c had a capacity of 180, not the 168 you state.
I stated that my load factor figures were approximate, and were not my main point.
However, the fact that Faro only achieved 00.14% of the published catchment population is a mathematical fact.
I stand corrected about Seguro announcement date. With so many dud rumours around it is easy to forget. Thank you for your help with this.
Seguro may well be returning for commercial reasons, or are they being subsidised by Infratil for PR purposes? Who knows?
One thing is fairly certain, 2007 will be a peak year for Infratil at MSE. No competition from Lydd as yet, and hefty environmental taxes not yet raised.
I expect every a/c to be full.
If not, even my own pessimistic view of MSE may turn out to be unrealistically optimistic.
The post of mine to which you replied has mysteriously disappeared.
No matter.
Technically I am not anti-MSE.
5 years ago I was vigorously pro, and I would still love to see a busy, working airport in Thanet.
However, my pursuit of the truth about the venture has led me to believe it is unsustainable, damaging to Thanet, and embarassing for aviation as a whole, and it should be closed.
If I have an agenda at all, it is that the truth should be told.
It was stated in the press and on this forum that the LTE a/c had a capacity of 180, not the 168 you state.
I stated that my load factor figures were approximate, and were not my main point.
However, the fact that Faro only achieved 00.14% of the published catchment population is a mathematical fact.
I stand corrected about Seguro announcement date. With so many dud rumours around it is easy to forget. Thank you for your help with this.
Seguro may well be returning for commercial reasons, or are they being subsidised by Infratil for PR purposes? Who knows?
One thing is fairly certain, 2007 will be a peak year for Infratil at MSE. No competition from Lydd as yet, and hefty environmental taxes not yet raised.
I expect every a/c to be full.
If not, even my own pessimistic view of MSE may turn out to be unrealistically optimistic.
