MANSTON -2
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Birchington, Kent, England
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Manston Cargo
2 MK 747s reported at MSE yesterday along with a Gemini Cargo DC10. Of course they may have just dropped in for some sight seeing around Thanet. (Oh dear me, I was deliberately trying not to put a negative slant on my post!)
Join Date: Dec 2000
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At the risk of having this post deleted I shall repeat one of my messages, with amplification.
MK is now daily until March; one of yesterday's two was the late-running flight from Friday.
EgyptAir is twice-weekly (Sun and Wed), and will soon increase (3 per week?).
Cargolux will not go twice-weekly, as hoped, and remains a Tuesday flight.
The Gemini is loading now. Second Sunday on the trot, but I'm advised they are charters; perhaps manstonman can tell us more?
Very interesting whispers, but I don't know any facts. Oi! Ref!
MK is now daily until March; one of yesterday's two was the late-running flight from Friday.
EgyptAir is twice-weekly (Sun and Wed), and will soon increase (3 per week?).
Cargolux will not go twice-weekly, as hoped, and remains a Tuesday flight.
The Gemini is loading now. Second Sunday on the trot, but I'm advised they are charters; perhaps manstonman can tell us more?
Very interesting whispers, but I don't know any facts. Oi! Ref!
Join Date: Dec 2000
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Gemini
This is speculation.
We know that DAS, not just the maintenance business, was found a buyer by the administrators two weeks ago; no name yet.
Gemini had a job done by them recently, and were very pleased with the work.
They have started flying from Manston. The inbound last night, I have been told, rejected a radar approach in favour of an NDB into the hold, two circuits, then a beacon outbound to the ILS. Sounds to me like someone getting to know the place better.
BTW, this is not one of the whispers I was (not) talking about.
This is speculation.
We know that DAS, not just the maintenance business, was found a buyer by the administrators two weeks ago; no name yet.
Gemini had a job done by them recently, and were very pleased with the work.
They have started flying from Manston. The inbound last night, I have been told, rejected a radar approach in favour of an NDB into the hold, two circuits, then a beacon outbound to the ILS. Sounds to me like someone getting to know the place better.
BTW, this is not one of the whispers I was (not) talking about.
Just wondering what was this years figures on the Kent Escape Flights?Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: EGMH..a down, not yet out, formerly awesome airfield
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Old terminal
I'm just back from a meeting at the airport and I have to report that the old terminal building mentioned a few posts ago was reduced to rubble today. Another piece of history gone. Especially sad to see the loss of the old floor in the building which contained the logo.
Join Date: Jul 2007
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Kent Escapes. I understand they are still making up their mind regarding the Algarve (FAO) and the decision will not now be made until the end of this month, not looking good 
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Donttellthepax
RE: Ryanair announcement..
I doubt very much that Manston will be a base for Ryanair. I would suspect that they might operate a few flights to the airport in the first instance before having a base. My money for a new base in the UK would be on Doncaster sheffield and failing that Bournemouth.
I would love to see Manston get some scheduled services but it needs to be by a prop operator who can develop the market and do so profitably. Eg Flybe or indeed someone like AerArann. Reasonable fares and good advertising.
I doubt very much that Manston will be a base for Ryanair. I would suspect that they might operate a few flights to the airport in the first instance before having a base. My money for a new base in the UK would be on Doncaster sheffield and failing that Bournemouth.
I would love to see Manston get some scheduled services but it needs to be by a prop operator who can develop the market and do so profitably. Eg Flybe or indeed someone like AerArann. Reasonable fares and good advertising.
Join Date: Jan 2006
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EI_BUD
Very sensible post EI-BUD. Manston has proved a limited demand exists, and whilst many live in hope of the airport becoming another Girona or Milan it will not happen until some sustainable services are shown to flourish (and even then we are more of a Norwich or Bourenmouth. (Norwich Airport owners did bid against infratil remember)). Airlines such as Eastern, Aran, FlyBE are all names that could operate a service and have at some point been in minimal discussions with Infratil, just whether any one of these will be brave enough to take their talks any further is just what this thread is all about. I wouldn't rule out Wizz either (Large Polish workforce in Kent and London, and the Poles will travel 2 hours by bus to pick up a cheap flight. In reality the journey from central London to Stansted as not much shorter than the same journey to Manston). Airlines do need natural growth, they cannot sit still on their current routes and they are continually trimming and adding new destinations to chase profit and margin. No single airline can sit on its existing routes and not look at expansion, they would not survive. The frantic repainting of ground markings is underway (I'm not sure why this suddenly became urgent?) but it is now very late in the day for anyone planning to operate any type of service before Easter 2008. I do think Infratil have been a little guilty of mismanaging their press office. they are a little like Gordon Brown and his recent election fiasco. He hinted at an election and then when the time came to make a decision he claimed that he was never interested in one! Infratil claim to say nothing until they have something to announce, but they also indicate that they have something in the pipeline by sending out emails and mentioning the talks that are ongoing. They like Gordon Brown have lost some credibility in their handling of their press releases and they now need to put up or shut up.
Join Date: Apr 2004
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Furmanek, with all due respect in reality the journey from Manston to central London is much longer than the journey from Stansted and other respective London airports.
This is a very strange quote! Why would it make a difference for a prop airline to start? Are you suggesting jet operators do not develop markets and operate at a loss? If you want to develop a market surely a global brand such as Ryanair of Easy would be a much better bet than a regional airline such as eastern? 
Surely if the market is there as many on these boards profess Ryanair and other low cost airlines would have no problem operating jet aircraft.
would love to see Manston get some scheduled services but it needs to be by a prop operator who can develop the market and do so profitably.
Surely if the market is there as many on these boards profess Ryanair and other low cost airlines would have no problem operating jet aircraft.
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travel times
Poles Traveling
Believe me (look at my surname I know how Poles think), an extra hour by train or coach (Victoria Ramsgate 1 hr 40min - kings Cross Stansted 45min) is not what we worry about. if the flight is available and cheaper we will go for it.
When is a prop not a prop!
I am not sure that the comments on prop aircraft are literal? I read it as an analogy for small capacity aircraft rather than prop aircraft literally and airlines who are niche rather than low cost. The gist from Manston users has often been that they would pay that little extra for a local service. the inconvenience and cost of traveling to Stansted is worth £50 on a flight, and so operators to Dublin, Manchester ... could take a view on this. The term prop operator to me sums up this type of airline as opposed to the loco's.
On a personal note i would just like to see ANY operator take up the challenge!
Believe me (look at my surname I know how Poles think), an extra hour by train or coach (Victoria Ramsgate 1 hr 40min - kings Cross Stansted 45min) is not what we worry about. if the flight is available and cheaper we will go for it.
When is a prop not a prop!
I am not sure that the comments on prop aircraft are literal? I read it as an analogy for small capacity aircraft rather than prop aircraft literally and airlines who are niche rather than low cost. The gist from Manston users has often been that they would pay that little extra for a local service. the inconvenience and cost of traveling to Stansted is worth £50 on a flight, and so operators to Dublin, Manchester ... could take a view on this. The term prop operator to me sums up this type of airline as opposed to the loco's.
On a personal note i would just like to see ANY operator take up the challenge!
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Furmanek, point taken!
At the same time though just how many business travellers will the area around Manston actually create? Or on the other hand are there enough business passengers willing to fly to Manston from other destinations? I think some posters on here forget sometimes that there has to be sufficient demand to Manston as well as out of it! Business people would rather pay more for a flight to an airport nearer to or quicker to get to London from.
Is this not the entire issue? Why would an airline want to put itself into a position where it is a challenge to operate and make profits from an area when there are bigger and better markets to serve?
People argue on here about the catchment area of Manston airport being big enough. Well its not! Luton airport doesn't serve just Luton and Gatwick doesn't support just Crawley. These airports serve the bigger catchment area of London. No one is going to sit on a train for a flight from Manston when they can get a flight which is probably going to be as cheap from another airport and get there via train in half the time. Would the Manston operators really want to entice a lo co as Ryanair where they would more than likely have to enter into an agreement where they pay the airline money to fly from the airport? I think not as if reports are to be belived Infratrails (or whatever they are called) Manston operation is hardly in a healthy financial position.
At the same time though just how many business travellers will the area around Manston actually create? Or on the other hand are there enough business passengers willing to fly to Manston from other destinations? I think some posters on here forget sometimes that there has to be sufficient demand to Manston as well as out of it! Business people would rather pay more for a flight to an airport nearer to or quicker to get to London from.
On a personal note i would just like to see ANY operator take up the challenge!
People argue on here about the catchment area of Manston airport being big enough. Well its not! Luton airport doesn't serve just Luton and Gatwick doesn't support just Crawley. These airports serve the bigger catchment area of London. No one is going to sit on a train for a flight from Manston when they can get a flight which is probably going to be as cheap from another airport and get there via train in half the time. Would the Manston operators really want to entice a lo co as Ryanair where they would more than likely have to enter into an agreement where they pay the airline money to fly from the airport? I think not as if reports are to be belived Infratrails (or whatever they are called) Manston operation is hardly in a healthy financial position.
Last edited by nickmanl; 6th Nov 2007 at 11:52.
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why presume that all business people need to get to London, lots of businesses have moved from London to the outlying areas and who knows some may have moved to Kent!! Perhaps they use Gatwick, Heathrow and Stansted because they have not got any choice.
Is there anymore info on the announcement that someone said was going to be made on Wednesday??
Is there anymore info on the announcement that someone said was going to be made on Wednesday??