DURHAM TEES VALLEY AIRPORT - 4
Join Date: Nov 2007
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Just found this thread. I often use MME, not as much as when bmi had sensible times and business class though. Last time I tried to go to LHR the flight was cancelled and I ended up driving...
Our company does a lot of long distance and goes through AMS rather than LHR, prices are better and the Embraers are not pleasant to travel on.
I can't understand why NCL is doing so well when it is such a pain to get to - the Western bypass adds an hour to the journey at busy times, parking is even more expensive than MME and it's a long walk from the car park and the buses are useless.
Is there a chance of a link to Stansted? A link timed to feed the Business only flights to the States would be useful. Another link to Bristol or Cardiff area would be useful as well.
I don't want to lose bmi but can't see it surviving.
What happened to the bmi cabin crew based at MME, haven't seen any of them since the flight started originating at LHR.
Our company does a lot of long distance and goes through AMS rather than LHR, prices are better and the Embraers are not pleasant to travel on.
I can't understand why NCL is doing so well when it is such a pain to get to - the Western bypass adds an hour to the journey at busy times, parking is even more expensive than MME and it's a long walk from the car park and the buses are useless.
Is there a chance of a link to Stansted? A link timed to feed the Business only flights to the States would be useful. Another link to Bristol or Cardiff area would be useful as well.
I don't want to lose bmi but can't see it surviving.
What happened to the bmi cabin crew based at MME, haven't seen any of them since the flight started originating at LHR.
Join Date: Jul 2004
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Hi aeroDellboy and welcome to PPRuNe!!
The big problem for MME for a while has been connections to transatlantic flights. A STN link would be a great thing, but whether the airlines agree remains to be seen. As for the BMA based crew - I believe there are still cabin crews based at MME, it is just flight deck crew who are seconded from other BMA bases. I'm not too sure though how many cabin crew we have at MME these days?
I have to say though that the AMS link with KLM is fantastic from MME. I used it myself in August and found the whole experience so easy to use and relaxing. One thing is though that the check-in machines in AMS have Tees-Side as the destination, the cabin crew called it Durham Teesside and the flight crew called it Tees Valley!! Oh well, close!!
-HD-
The big problem for MME for a while has been connections to transatlantic flights. A STN link would be a great thing, but whether the airlines agree remains to be seen. As for the BMA based crew - I believe there are still cabin crews based at MME, it is just flight deck crew who are seconded from other BMA bases. I'm not too sure though how many cabin crew we have at MME these days?
I have to say though that the AMS link with KLM is fantastic from MME. I used it myself in August and found the whole experience so easy to use and relaxing. One thing is though that the check-in machines in AMS have Tees-Side as the destination, the cabin crew called it Durham Teesside and the flight crew called it Tees Valley!! Oh well, close!!
-HD-
Join Date: Nov 2007
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I'm using the KLM tomorrow, going to Shanghai. KLM sent me an e mail with a link to check in online this morning, excellent service.
I knew many of the bmi crew by name, I used the service every week, sometimes twice a week for best part of three years. When I started, it was a proper business class service, I used a Routepass and it cost around £250 return. The scones with jam and clotted cream were to die for on the 338!
That was abolished for cheaper flights which then ended up costing best part of £400 return, never managed to book in advance as jobs come in late or get changed round, so it is now often not worth flying, especially on an Embraer. Added to the fact that the early one gets in LHR around 9.30, it is not much use.
I could never understand the name change either!
I knew many of the bmi crew by name, I used the service every week, sometimes twice a week for best part of three years. When I started, it was a proper business class service, I used a Routepass and it cost around £250 return. The scones with jam and clotted cream were to die for on the 338!
That was abolished for cheaper flights which then ended up costing best part of £400 return, never managed to book in advance as jobs come in late or get changed round, so it is now often not worth flying, especially on an Embraer. Added to the fact that the early one gets in LHR around 9.30, it is not much use.
I could never understand the name change either!
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Near MME, England, UK
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Durham Tees Valley has been underperforming for some years, mainly due to bad management which in turn is due to poor wages - you pay peanuts you get monkey's.
Not only is management underpaid, but more or less the entire airport is, hence why we have a severe lack of Radar Controllers in the tower.
Something like 25 years ago, we had 1 more scheduled route than NCL. With the right guidance back then, we could have been bigger than they are now, but unfortunately that guidance never materialised and isn't likely to anytime soon either...
Not only is management underpaid, but more or less the entire airport is, hence why we have a severe lack of Radar Controllers in the tower.
Something like 25 years ago, we had 1 more scheduled route than NCL. With the right guidance back then, we could have been bigger than they are now, but unfortunately that guidance never materialised and isn't likely to anytime soon either...
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It's a great shame as it was ideal this morning, no problems on the roads, no problems parking, no queues at Security, plenty of time for a coffee, KLM slightly delayed because of winds at Schipol I think, but no significant delay.
I would much rather use MME than NCL any day.
I would much rather use MME than NCL any day.
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Durham Tees Valley has been underperforming for some years, mainly due to bad management
Especiallywhich in turn is due to poor wages
you pay peanuts you get monkey's.
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I would much rather use MME than NCL any day.
And you can if you want to go to Aberdeen,Heathrow(4 times a day-for the moment)Dublin(some days,but not others) or Amsterdam..
see ya..I'm off to Dubai..
see ya..I'm off to Dubai..
Quote:
Durham Tees Valley has been underperforming for some years, mainly due to bad management
A slight if not massive lack of cash investment might also of been the problem.
No government grants.
And no slippery dealings at the expense of the staffs wages unlike other Northern airfields.
Durham Tees Valley has been underperforming for some years, mainly due to bad management
A slight if not massive lack of cash investment might also of been the problem.
No government grants.
And no slippery dealings at the expense of the staffs wages unlike other Northern airfields.
Join Date: Feb 2005
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N707ZS
Yes we can always pass the buck, but basically you don't attract investment / grants etc. by sitting on your a**e ! A lot of work goes into obtaining any funding. It is always easy to claim that the grass is greener elsewhere, but if you sell out to the likes of Peel then this scenario is to be expected, as the only grants & funding that they are looking for are in respect of 'alternative projects'
Well on going back to the 'peanuts - monkeys' quote (not mine), then on your logic if I'm understanding you, then you are saying that the staff are / were better treated and remunerated at DTV? If so in which case, then why are DTV unable to attract better quality individuals to sort out what, if trends continue is slowly but steadily degenerating into an unecconomic and unjustifiable case for a major airfield.
Bad & weak management inevitably leads to bad decisions, a situation that is all too obvious at DTV or is MME ...you don't even need to look far at all for some of the more obvious gaffs
A slight if not massive lack of cash investment might also of been the problem. No government grants.
And no slippery dealings at the expense of the staffs wages unlike other Northern airfields.
Bad & weak management inevitably leads to bad decisions, a situation that is all too obvious at DTV or is MME
...you don't even need to look far at all for some of the more obvious gaffs
Join Date: Dec 2006
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Financial Performance-DTV
Hi guys...to those who know this sort of thing...we have plenty of poor passenger results...but does anyone actually know the financial state of DTV or where it can be obtained??
I cant beleive we are doing that well and after all i suppose that is what counts??
I cant beleive we are doing that well and after all i suppose that is what counts??
Skyman771
Can you honestly say that Newcastle has had no grants from Government and possibly even Europe whilste Teesside has had none.
You are probably right saying there hasn't ever been anyone capable of looking for money at Teesside. I will agree with that.
And for slippery dealings I mean at Newcastle, I believe ATC were told loose some money or loose some staff over recent years. And just look at the MD who left with a shadow of mayor slippery dealings.
All the years I have read pprune the Geordie attitude is to slag off Teesside, perhaps for the new year we might get some constructive conversation on here.
Can you honestly say that Newcastle has had no grants from Government and possibly even Europe whilste Teesside has had none.
You are probably right saying there hasn't ever been anyone capable of looking for money at Teesside. I will agree with that.
And for slippery dealings I mean at Newcastle, I believe ATC were told loose some money or loose some staff over recent years. And just look at the MD who left with a shadow of mayor slippery dealings.
All the years I have read pprune the Geordie attitude is to slag off Teesside, perhaps for the new year we might get some constructive conversation on here.
Join Date: Aug 2007
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I think it is easy to blame bad management without knowing what pressures are being placed on the managers from ALL directions. I am no apologist for the state of DVT but it has always ,and this is before the dreaded Peel Holdings took over ,been marketed as your small friendly local airport. It is small and it is local to many of us but friendly it is not. I have never seen so many grim faces through security and the staff airside.
Newcastle and Manchester have never been marketed as parochial airports and this is perhaps why they are streets ahead.
Just a thought.
P.S. Any staff who read this for god's sake smile and make flying an enjoyable and exciting experience again.
Newcastle and Manchester have never been marketed as parochial airports and this is perhaps why they are streets ahead.
Just a thought.
P.S. Any staff who read this for god's sake smile and make flying an enjoyable and exciting experience again.
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I don't really want to get into any NCT v MME arguments here but I have to answer N707ZS;
Can you honestly say that Newcastle has had no grants from Government and possibly even Europe whilste Teesside has had none.
I believe One North East deals equally with both airports!
And for slippery dealings I mean at Newcastle, I believe ATC were told loose some money or loose some staff over recent years.
??????????? Newcastle ATC has more staff now than at any time before! It is true that our Air Traffic Control Assistants did lose some pay in the JP review years ago but they were and still are paid more than staff at MME! In fact if the pay and conditions are so bad up here why has another member of MME staff just jumped ship to NCL!!!!
Stop trying to smoke screen MME problems with NCL.
Can you honestly say that Newcastle has had no grants from Government and possibly even Europe whilste Teesside has had none.
I believe One North East deals equally with both airports!
And for slippery dealings I mean at Newcastle, I believe ATC were told loose some money or loose some staff over recent years.
??????????? Newcastle ATC has more staff now than at any time before! It is true that our Air Traffic Control Assistants did lose some pay in the JP review years ago but they were and still are paid more than staff at MME! In fact if the pay and conditions are so bad up here why has another member of MME staff just jumped ship to NCL!!!!
Stop trying to smoke screen MME problems with NCL.
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N707ZS
Of course I can't, but if you read the content you would note the point that grants don't just materialise and much work is needed both in application and promotion of such.To move ahead one has to learn from earlier mistakes on whatever issues. Hard work by a strong & motivated team is what will give DTV the best chance of success in future. However I sometimes wonder if the current management are only looking to develop a new sand pit
Can you honestly say that Newcastle has had no grants from Government and possibly even Europe whilste Teesside has had none.
To move ahead one has to learn from earlier mistakes on whatever issues. Hard work by a strong & motivated team is what will give DTV the best chance of success in future. However I sometimes wonder if the current management are only looking to develop a new sand pit
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N7907ZS
Quote:
"All the years I have read pprune the Geordie attitude is to slag off Teesside, perhaps for the new year we might get some constructive conversation on here."
I've only been reading pprune for about 18 months.
Most of the discussion rails against the management of the airport and, from what you can decifer frim the posters, is local to MME/DTV.
I have, over many years, worked at both airports; through the 70's and 80's the management at NCL were much more forward thinking (and aggressive in some ways) whilst those at MME were much more relaxed about what their long term objectives were.
In the 80's and 90's when both were owned by local authorities and their ability to finance expansion was restricted (they were not alllowed to borrow money on the open market) NCL has a distinct advantage as it had very strong cash flow. Again, their management was much more focussed and the had real vision of where they wanted to get to.
The fact that the last but one incumbent in the chair is subject to possible court procedings should not distract from the work done before his arrival. It could also be said that the airport, painful as it was at the time, needed to shake up it's structure if it wanted to continue to be competetive. JP did this but, in most peoples eyes should have moved on after about 3 years.
In regard to grants, I have no knowledge of either securing any significant grant aid but as a previous poster indicated; if you want to apply you have to meet the funding criteria and put a lot of effort into justifying the grant.
There will alwyas be banter from those further North and it goes both ways. But please, don't react just because you don't like some of the messages.
GH
Quote:
"All the years I have read pprune the Geordie attitude is to slag off Teesside, perhaps for the new year we might get some constructive conversation on here."
I've only been reading pprune for about 18 months.
Most of the discussion rails against the management of the airport and, from what you can decifer frim the posters, is local to MME/DTV.
I have, over many years, worked at both airports; through the 70's and 80's the management at NCL were much more forward thinking (and aggressive in some ways) whilst those at MME were much more relaxed about what their long term objectives were.
In the 80's and 90's when both were owned by local authorities and their ability to finance expansion was restricted (they were not alllowed to borrow money on the open market) NCL has a distinct advantage as it had very strong cash flow. Again, their management was much more focussed and the had real vision of where they wanted to get to.
The fact that the last but one incumbent in the chair is subject to possible court procedings should not distract from the work done before his arrival. It could also be said that the airport, painful as it was at the time, needed to shake up it's structure if it wanted to continue to be competetive. JP did this but, in most peoples eyes should have moved on after about 3 years.
In regard to grants, I have no knowledge of either securing any significant grant aid but as a previous poster indicated; if you want to apply you have to meet the funding criteria and put a lot of effort into justifying the grant.
There will alwyas be banter from those further North and it goes both ways. But please, don't react just because you don't like some of the messages.
GH
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In fact if the pay and conditions are so bad up here why has another member of MME staff just jumped ship to NCL!!!!
If it continues expect a few more to jump ship in the near future.
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Oh marvellous. The last few years at DTVA has shown that once a route is reduced in frequency it's days are numbered, clearly it's yields again, as loads are high.
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God your all so negative! 
If you cared to look at the wizz schedule you'd see that they are just consolidating in the UK next summer, possibly to allow all the new routes to settle in (or maybe aircraft deliveries have been delayed?). MME isn't the only route to get frequencies chopped, BFS-WAW and PIK-WAW have both dropped 1 flight a week too (BFS 3 to 2, PIK 4 to 3), and probably many others too. 
Now what about that 2nd GSM aircraft once PFO and many others are announced? Anyone know when its due to be announced?
If you cared to look at the wizz schedule you'd see that they are just consolidating in the UK next summer, possibly to allow all the new routes to settle in (or maybe aircraft deliveries have been delayed?). MME isn't the only route to get frequencies chopped, BFS-WAW and PIK-WAW have both dropped 1 flight a week too (BFS 3 to 2, PIK 4 to 3), and probably many others too. Now what about that 2nd GSM aircraft once PFO and many others are announced? Anyone know when its due to be announced?