MANSTON
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Kent
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Deedave, in your absence you also seem to have missed my post saying Kent Escapes are selling well. I can't give too much away now and didn't give anything away before, but as an indication two current passenger figures are 157 and 160, seperate routes on seperate weeks in May so not just Half Term. There is a positive reason as to why one route was missing from the offer altogether.
You also seem to miss the point of the headline grabbing £19 offer being a means of raising interest and awareness in the product by flogging off a few dead seats on the quieter opening two weeks (I suggest you have a look at XL, Mytravel etc for the same weeks - full packages including extras/taxes for under £100). Yes on the face of it the company will pay around £6 per passenger out of their own pocket because the taxes total £25ish, but this is recouped by sales of the £39 fare punters are more likely to find and still book because it is damn cheap.
You also seem to miss the point of the headline grabbing £19 offer being a means of raising interest and awareness in the product by flogging off a few dead seats on the quieter opening two weeks (I suggest you have a look at XL, Mytravel etc for the same weeks - full packages including extras/taxes for under £100). Yes on the face of it the company will pay around £6 per passenger out of their own pocket because the taxes total £25ish, but this is recouped by sales of the £39 fare punters are more likely to find and still book because it is damn cheap.
I noticed this sorry hope it wont happen again
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Thanet
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tommyc2005 -
No, I didn't miss your post about "Kent Escapes selling well"
Over many years of Manston-watching I have learned to disregard any news about things "going well" at MSE until proven, as such reports are usually untrue.
Recently we had a few berks telling us the Virginia sales were "going well", and we all know what happened there........
However, I do not believe you fall into this category, so I will treat your observations seriously, and respond as best I can.
While the performance of Seguro/Kent Escapes in its own right is of passing interest to all of us, what matters most in the context of this thread is what it might reveal as a barometer of passenger potential at MSE.
For example, if they managed to shift 70% of their seats at full price, Seguro managers might say "Hey, that's not bad, let's give the rest away to fill the A/C up a bit and grab a headline " - and good luck to them.
However, from the airport's point of view,that 70% means they have only managed to attract 8,500 people - 00.45% of their supposed catchment population - to these extremely popular destinations at a commercial rate, and the fact that the aircraft are not full means this is the limit of the paying demand.
This airport can no longer claim to be a "fledgeling operation", and it really ought to be doing better than this by now.
Referring to the "headline-grabbing" point, the type of headline the airport wants to see isn't -
"Kent Escapes £19 givaway", but-
"Kent Escapes sold out! Extra aeroplanes chartered to cope with demand"
No-one denies that there is a small amount of paying passenger interest at MSE, and Kent Escapes can provide for this.
The trouble is, there simply isn't enough of it.
No, I didn't miss your post about "Kent Escapes selling well"
Over many years of Manston-watching I have learned to disregard any news about things "going well" at MSE until proven, as such reports are usually untrue.
Recently we had a few berks telling us the Virginia sales were "going well", and we all know what happened there........
However, I do not believe you fall into this category, so I will treat your observations seriously, and respond as best I can.
While the performance of Seguro/Kent Escapes in its own right is of passing interest to all of us, what matters most in the context of this thread is what it might reveal as a barometer of passenger potential at MSE.
For example, if they managed to shift 70% of their seats at full price, Seguro managers might say "Hey, that's not bad, let's give the rest away to fill the A/C up a bit and grab a headline " - and good luck to them.
However, from the airport's point of view,that 70% means they have only managed to attract 8,500 people - 00.45% of their supposed catchment population - to these extremely popular destinations at a commercial rate, and the fact that the aircraft are not full means this is the limit of the paying demand.
This airport can no longer claim to be a "fledgeling operation", and it really ought to be doing better than this by now.
Referring to the "headline-grabbing" point, the type of headline the airport wants to see isn't -
"Kent Escapes £19 givaway", but-
"Kent Escapes sold out! Extra aeroplanes chartered to cope with demand"
No-one denies that there is a small amount of paying passenger interest at MSE, and Kent Escapes can provide for this.
The trouble is, there simply isn't enough of it.
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Isle of Thanet
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I made 19 flights from Manston (18 return 1 single) during EUJet's period. 5 of the returns were leisure, all the others business.
Alicante, Faro and Palma are very popular destinations, but weekly charter flights are not. 3 flights/week to a range of destinations will do well in the summer, less so in winter.
A lot of us are waiting to spend our money on turbo-prop business flights and jet sun flights that offer flexibility.
Alicante, Faro and Palma are very popular destinations, but weekly charter flights are not. 3 flights/week to a range of destinations will do well in the summer, less so in winter.
A lot of us are waiting to spend our money on turbo-prop business flights and jet sun flights that offer flexibility.
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Ramsgate, Kent
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If you're all so convinced that this is a viable proposition, why not set it up yourselves? I'm sure there's plenty of expert technical advice available to you on this forum. All you have to do is to put some of your money where your mouth is. Personally, I think I'd have a better chance of making a return by gambling on Jade Goody becoming the next Queen of England.
Buzz off with BAF!!
Join Date: Nov 2004
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I wonder what impression all this incestous bickering gives
to the image of Manston?
I am sure many of you have the airport's interests at heart, but if I was
a director of Infratil or a shareholder, or perhaps a prospective airline customer reading these posts I would throw up my hands in despair.
Sometimes silence is truly golden!
to the image of Manston?
I am sure many of you have the airport's interests at heart, but if I was
a director of Infratil or a shareholder, or perhaps a prospective airline customer reading these posts I would throw up my hands in despair.
Sometimes silence is truly golden!
Join Date: Dec 2006
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The negative members can post naff comments about the failings of manston but dont listen and let them get to us positive supporters
But if what I heard over the weekend is true and yes again info comes from a diffrent but quite reliable source we could see manston growing very quickly in a very short space of time
Cargo will always be the main source of income but there will be regional flights as well as your usual holidays to spain etc
Investment starting to be made on new equipment and later apron space
Kent escapes flights are doing great at the moment with the newmarket flights selling out rapidly rumour has it there are extra flights being added to this years schedule to cope with the newmarket demand
Keep an eye open for an increase of cargo traffic this is believed to increase rapidly over this year and next
But if what I heard over the weekend is true and yes again info comes from a diffrent but quite reliable source we could see manston growing very quickly in a very short space of time
Cargo will always be the main source of income but there will be regional flights as well as your usual holidays to spain etc
Investment starting to be made on new equipment and later apron space
Kent escapes flights are doing great at the moment with the newmarket flights selling out rapidly rumour has it there are extra flights being added to this years schedule to cope with the newmarket demand
Keep an eye open for an increase of cargo traffic this is believed to increase rapidly over this year and next
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Feet up waiting for coffee
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i would imagine most half sensible people reading any open forum would take a balanced view as to who might be posting and what their agenda might be.
Its certainly not that difficult to separate the facts from the made up drivel on this particular thread.
DTUP
Its certainly not that difficult to separate the facts from the made up drivel on this particular thread.
DTUP
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Sittingbourne Kent and at Wimborne Dorset
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H-9 thats not nice Im ok now
, I flew with Eujet a few times and they where above 60% full off happy passagers. All MSE needs is the right airline to the right places like Jes said A lot of us are waiting to spend our money on turbo-prop business flights and jet sun flights that offer flexibility.
Its not the right route catflaps Orlando then yeah that would work but Virginia dont work
James
, I flew with Eujet a few times and they where above 60% full off happy passagers. All MSE needs is the right airline to the right places like Jes said A lot of us are waiting to spend our money on turbo-prop business flights and jet sun flights that offer flexibility.
Recently we had a few berks telling us the Virginia sales were "going well", and we all know what happened there........
James
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Ramsgate, Kent
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If we're dealing with facts can we deal with the fact that MK Airlines have been noticeable by their absence during April? One poster postulated that they were absent because engines were being changed. Another poster suggested that one regular route had been transferred back to Ostend. I remember that they were told to re-register their planes in the UK following the Halifax crash. As far as I'm aware they have only re-registered one plane to-date. Has this got something to do with their absence? Whatever the reason (and it would be nice if someone could give us some facts) it looks likely to dent the freight figures for this month.
Join Date: Feb 2007
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I May be wrong, but was the Virginia route not put into planning before plane station went under and therefore one that Infratil were obliged to take on?
That aside, as has been mentioned before, it is coming nearer the time when Infratil were expecting things to start 'taking off'. And the general trend for cargo is up. Recent threads also suggest passenger numbers will be good. Is this what is being waited for?
As for investment - I see the radar is still under calibration and some of the lighting is yet to be finished.
That aside, as has been mentioned before, it is coming nearer the time when Infratil were expecting things to start 'taking off'. And the general trend for cargo is up. Recent threads also suggest passenger numbers will be good. Is this what is being waited for?
As for investment - I see the radar is still under calibration and some of the lighting is yet to be finished.
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Ank
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cf,
as before MK are still using tf-ami, however todays charter was actally a MK fame. P.S I don't think there is any requirement to place there aircraft on the UK register.
as before MK are still using tf-ami, however todays charter was actally a MK fame. P.S I don't think there is any requirement to place there aircraft on the UK register.
Last edited by Throat; 24th Apr 2007 at 22:03.
Join Date: Apr 2006
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Am I right in saying that MK are getting new engines on there 747's? I see on the news that the people who loaded the fuel on the planes are going on strike at LGW so will this mean MSE may get some planes in? I bet Oasis divert into MSE.
All the best
JAmes
All the best
JAmes
Join Date: Jun 2005
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Catflaps. You say you use to fly with EUjet you must have been one of our annoying passengers that would moan about anything and everything because thats all you seem to do on here. Why can you not be positive and say something nice about MSE. We all want MSE to work for the future of the airport and the income it will bring to the area. It would not be nice if the same thing happens here like it has done at Lydd. I cant wait for MSE to start haveing lots of Passenger flights so that one day I can get up in the air again. Keep going MSE. 
Join Date: May 2006
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honeysweetcombe. For the record, I have never claimed to have flown with EUjet.
Throat. I think there is a requirement for MK to re-register their planes. I have seen a copy of a letter from the local MP in which he talks about this being one of the measures imposed by the CAA following the Halifax crash. The DC8's remain registered in Ghana but cannot be used routinely in the UK. The 747's have to be transferred to the UK register. I don't know what the timeframe is for doing this, but I don't think they yet have more than one on the UK register.
Throat. I think there is a requirement for MK to re-register their planes. I have seen a copy of a letter from the local MP in which he talks about this being one of the measures imposed by the CAA following the Halifax crash. The DC8's remain registered in Ghana but cannot be used routinely in the UK. The 747's have to be transferred to the UK register. I don't know what the timeframe is for doing this, but I don't think they yet have more than one on the UK register.
Join Date: Dec 2000
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All the usual guff over the Kent Escapes offer last week...end of civilisation as we know it etc etc...so I had a look this evening at their flight only prices for next week. Alicante and Faro, which were £19, are now £89, and Palma, which was not on offer, is now £69. Quite clearly the promotion is enabling them to maximise numbers and yield. Imagine, a travel company that knows better than some of our posters!
Other good news recently is the big increase in airliners screaming over Ramsgate on training circuits; this must be bringing in reasonable revenue, as well as being good training for ATC. Astraeus, First Choice, MK, Monarch and Oasis have all been seen in the last week or so.
Saw the Cargolux and MK on B apron together on Tuesday; very impressive, as were the skill and speed with which they were handled.
Picked up talk of another contract that's being worked on. Sounds hopeful, but let's see some flesh on it before we say more.
Other good news recently is the big increase in airliners screaming over Ramsgate on training circuits; this must be bringing in reasonable revenue, as well as being good training for ATC. Astraeus, First Choice, MK, Monarch and Oasis have all been seen in the last week or so.
Saw the Cargolux and MK on B apron together on Tuesday; very impressive, as were the skill and speed with which they were handled.
Picked up talk of another contract that's being worked on. Sounds hopeful, but let's see some flesh on it before we say more.