NEWCASTLE - 7

[Britannia]

Anyone know why this was diverted this morning

Thick fog last night.

Chris

[757 Speedbrakes]

Fog

Yeah the bus driver said a Thomson diverted to MAN. We got there around 23:55 and that was only a CAT 2 approach although I belive it was forecast to get worse ...........

I can only think that the aircraft was unable to autoland or was or at the time only CAT 1 able??

I'd be interested to hear why if anyone knows????

[skyman771]

JET2 I see that Jet2 Holidays are commencing LBA-EWR holiday breaks in Nov / Dec 08. Only currently 3 flights on offer, but a few points regarding this. Did they look at NCL & reject ?, Seems a bit strange to run just a series of 3 flights, is this 'test the water time' / spare 757 utilisation, or are they planning to fill in with more flights to come? Don't think NCL has had any NYC flights since the heady days of Jetsave. Anyhow I bet Parkin is smiling!

[tonker]

Were it not for the current lack of credit, oil prices and the innevitable housing price crash(recession) i think Jet2 would be operating at least a few flights from Newcastle. I have no doubt that Newcastle is pencilled in for future developement of routes.

[skyman771]

Tonker

Were it not for the current lack of credit, oil prices and the innevitable housing price crash(recession) i think Jet2 would be operating at least a few flights from Newcastle.

We were not discussing the UK housing market but thanks any way for your ecconomic summary

[FFC]

EK passenger numbers very quiet this month. Is this usual for May ?

[OltonPete]

EK

FFC

I can only speak for BHX but May is always bad and so is June (if not worse).

The BHX figure is blamed on the lack of connecting pax to Asia. AI, T5 & PK all record poor figures during May & June (weather related in some instances I believe).

The BHX service most affected is EK40 the 773 but EK38 which
connects with the Australia routes usually hold up a bit better.

Don't panic they will pick up by July.

Always a good time to go to Dubai (a little hot though), as the prices are
usually reasonable

Pete

[Jamesair]

The latest pax figures quoted for NCL - Dubai are for March which was 13,862 which was up from 12,555 in February (there are, of course 31 days in March).

The April figure will be published by CAA on 14th May.

Don't forget the outstanding freight figures on the route which adds to its commercial success.

[transwede]

There are some of us who doubted the success of the potential of long haul intercontinental services from NCL, I think I was one of them at some point but it is nice to see that the route is performing well in terms of passenger numbers and frieght tonnage. The benefits of having a worldwide hub accessible from NCL is obviously being appreciated by both incoming and outbound passengers. Whilst I cannot see EK expanding too much in the near future, it is a possibility most likely in terms of frequency with the current aircraft type. Freight seems to be the most successful part of the operation, from what I hear baggage has been left behind on numerous occasions to accommodate it. Not sure how pax would feel about this?

Jet 2 & NYC

Lets not start of this debate again. If jet2 do have plans I am sure they'll announce it soon enough, but as our resident economic reviewer mentioned earlier I do think we are moving further and further away from a full blown scheduled operation across the pond.

On the charter front it seems that the TOM and MON long hauls are selling well, with the first weeks loads being very high and passengers appear to like the option of a premium charter product too.

[ash666]

How do pax feel about their luggage being deliberately left behind??? I am flying with them for the first time in August and if they do it to me it will be the last time I ever fly with them.

China Airlines out of AMS obviously not feeling the competition. I have been told that for my Xmas flight I pay immediately, now or sooner, or else I lose my booking.

[tonker]

Skyman if you don't understand why people talk about economic climates and the routes airlines open and close, then your a bigger tosser than you sound. Cretin

[FFC]

Olton Pete,
Thanks for your reply. EK passengers dropped off quite quick this month.
First May and June so unchartered waters.

[ncleflights]

Just to pick up on the EK issue yes May/June are quite flat months for them lots of special offers from EK at other UK airports not the same for NCL, read into that what you will. I have colleagues who have just come back from Dubai with EK and actually flew from LGW as the savings for 4 of them flying from London rather than NCL was quite substantial.

On the NY front I am not quite sure what the 3 flights offering from LS is about, done some fare comparisions with CO at other UK airports for the same time LS are offering these flights and they aren't actual very good value for money compared with the US carrier.

Not wanting to open up this whole debate about NY flights again but comments have been made that given the current economic situation we may be further away from a NY link than ever. I am not convinced that this is the case my understanding from colleagues in the US is that the domestic airline situation at the moment is in an horrendous state and airlines are looking for more profitable routes, given the fact that I suspect that a NY link from NCL will be mainly NE folks travelling to the US rather than the other way round and given the high pound to dollar rate (much better than the euro) this may work in our favour. This is just my opinion folks don't all bite my head off at once.

[HH6702]

Expect Jet2 to add NCL and MAN to EWR in the next few days...

Cant see them keeping the 757 out in new york for a few days!!

LBA is out thursday return sunday morning
Ncl ?? out friday returns on monday mornings????

[757 Speedbrakes]

Expect Jet2 to add NCL and MAN to EWR in the next few days...

Really, I asked the then Head of Flights Ops at the management meeting who said LBA only?

[ncleflights]

757 - Have to agree with you I can't see LS adding MAN as the full service legacy airlines are cheaper on price from MAN to NY on the dates that LS are offering LBA - EWR.

As for NCL well is NY desitined to be our bogie destination?

[groundhand]

Jet 2 - LBA - NYC

They are SHOPPING trips; 3 flights for pre Christmas shoppers.
Using an aircraft that is available.

Read nothing more into the operation than that.

[skyman771]

Groundhand

Jet 2 - LBA - NYC
They are SHOPPING trips; 3 flights for pre Christmas shoppers.
Using an aircraft that is available.
Read nothing more into the operation than that.

Any mention NYC on this thread always causes ripples. Anyhow a relevant point highlighted by HH6702 is that the timings don't make sense on a untilisation basis unless program is not yet fully complete.
ncleflights

I can't see LS adding MAN as the full service legacy airlines are cheaper on price from MAN to NY on the dates that LS are offering LBA - EWR.

But we are talking about package prices.

[airhumberside]

Any mention NYC on this thread always causes ripples. Anyhow a relevant point highlighted by HH6702 is that the timings don't make sense on a untilisation basis unless program is not yet fully complete.

However it does mean one crew can do the out and back trip and have their required rest period in NYC.

Also from a utilisation point of view it is in the lull between summer timetable and Christmas/start of ski season. Utilisation is low anyway, and I doubt many routes could fill a B757 at that time of year; certainly not all the B757's Jet 2 have. Sending one to NYC will probably increase utilisation compared to what it would have been without these trips

[GrahamK]

airhumberside, you could send any of those 757s from LBA/NCL/MAN to the Canaries over that period and fill them, and if you can't fill them, then your in trouble.