NEWCASTLE - 7
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: England
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Ive just had a look at the list of passengers I have on a flight next week, its a popular destination with almost every LOCO and holiday airline flying there from NCL.
I can see the date the flights were booked and I've looked through to find that most people have booked within last 2 months.... I think that could be the reason, seats on this flight went on sale in 2006, prob for around £5 a seat... the people that have booked in the last 2 months have prob paid around £75 one way.
I can see the date the flights were booked and I've looked through to find that most people have booked within last 2 months.... I think that could be the reason, seats on this flight went on sale in 2006, prob for around £5 a seat... the people that have booked in the last 2 months have prob paid around £75 one way.
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: UK
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Arrived in NCL last friday around 1230; bussed in with no problem but could not enter the terminal because of the HMI queues. We stood outside (the bus left so there was no control of the passengers), thankfully it was one of those rare moments this summer - a dry spell - and then we waited over 30 minutes to get to the HMI desks. Looked as if 2 x B757 had arrived just before us so a total of approx 500 passengers caused a massive HMI queue.
Does anyone know who the current person within the airport company responsible for the Terminal is? Is there a terminal manager these days and if so, anyone have an e-mail address?
On the positive, when I departed earlier in the week the check-in, security and boarding by bus was easy, with mimimal delays, courteous staff and we left 5 mins early. So it's not ALWAYS bad!
Does anyone know who the current person within the airport company responsible for the Terminal is? Is there a terminal manager these days and if so, anyone have an e-mail address?
On the positive, when I departed earlier in the week the check-in, security and boarding by bus was easy, with mimimal delays, courteous staff and we left 5 mins early. So it's not ALWAYS bad!
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Quote: What, not even a rep from the handling agent?
No-one from the HA was on the bus, she (Dispatcher I think) was standing by the aircraft when we left it waiting for a PRM to be offloaded. The bus driver opened the door into the terminal - about 15m from the escalator - though this was inop and blocked off to stop crushing at the top. Bus driver let everyone off his bus and left. First 20 or 30 could squeeze into the building, the rest were left standing outside. it was then a case of mixing in with the passengers coming down the pier from the other arrivals.
I suppose the positive was that the bags were there when we eventually got into the reclaim hall!
No-one from the HA was on the bus, she (Dispatcher I think) was standing by the aircraft when we left it waiting for a PRM to be offloaded. The bus driver opened the door into the terminal - about 15m from the escalator - though this was inop and blocked off to stop crushing at the top. Bus driver let everyone off his bus and left. First 20 or 30 could squeeze into the building, the rest were left standing outside. it was then a case of mixing in with the passengers coming down the pier from the other arrivals.
I suppose the positive was that the bags were there when we eventually got into the reclaim hall!
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: the lonely desert
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I am quite interested into how the management decided to declare a 'state of emergency' over the weekend due to congestion in the terminal etc. Do they not realise that it has been like this since the start of the busy summer season and to put it bluntly there are too many flights departing and the infrastructure at the airport cannot cope without vast improvements. Having been around the airport at that particular time everything was way way OVERSTRETCHED!!!!
Airlines regularly suffer delays down to 'Airport Facilities', which I am guessing is the most popular delay reason at NCL, way ahead of slot and tech delays. I am quite surprised that airlines are not starting to ask major questions now.
With the start of EK, it will get worse but not to a degree like it has in early mornings. However, I suspect the slightest wiff of any kind of service failure then the EK bosses will be down on the airport quite heavily. Both handling agents are equally to blame, with staffing levels far below that required, however the airport management need to take action immediately in order to maintain interest in future developement with airlines and the secure work already there. They cannot afford for emergency procedures to be actioned everytime the airport gets busy!
Airlines regularly suffer delays down to 'Airport Facilities', which I am guessing is the most popular delay reason at NCL, way ahead of slot and tech delays. I am quite surprised that airlines are not starting to ask major questions now.
- Not enough ground equipment, steps, baggage trucks, tugs, buses, ambulifts etc
- Not enough man power to checkin flights. load and unload, drive buses/ambulifts, man the security search area.
- Baggage belt system is not adequate for use it is enduring hence the reason it keeps failing, together with not enough baggage guys at the bottom end to stop bags piling up.
- Major Health and Safety issues with pax ques, both at checkin and in Security search. Regularly queues are stretching outside for checkin and down the stairs into departures hall for security.
- Airlines are not receiving the service they pay for, quite often TOM have 2 757 a/c and 1 737 a/c departing alongside each other and only 4 checkin desks open for 618 pax.
With the start of EK, it will get worse but not to a degree like it has in early mornings. However, I suspect the slightest wiff of any kind of service failure then the EK bosses will be down on the airport quite heavily. Both handling agents are equally to blame, with staffing levels far below that required, however the airport management need to take action immediately in order to maintain interest in future developement with airlines and the secure work already there. They cannot afford for emergency procedures to be actioned everytime the airport gets busy!
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Transwede.
Whilst I do not disagree with the content I think you miss one factor - the airlines have to bear some responsibility as they are responsible for their schedule and they have been responsible for driving down the revenues paid to the handling agents which prevents the investmnent needed in GSE and staff.
Just look at the UK performance of the main 4 agents serving the UK over the last few years.
Only Menzies make money and they do that mainly from their Far East operations and Cargo divisions.
Unless airlines are prepared to pay sensible money for GH services they will continue to get under staffed, under equipped service providers.
I do have some sympathy for the Airport as they are playing catch-up after years of the Government preventing them from accessing monies available to commercial enterprises. Throughout the 90's they could not go to the market and borrow money at commercial rates and had to fund development through cash flow. The lack of investment then has come home to roost now. Major funding is required to take the airpoirt to the next level. This will include land expansions into the areas they already own; a completely new terminal; multi storey car parks (just look at some of the German airports who locate carparks 1 - 2 km away from the terminals and have monorails to bring pax to and from) and new office facilities.
Now I'm off to take my reality pills...
Whilst I do not disagree with the content I think you miss one factor - the airlines have to bear some responsibility as they are responsible for their schedule and they have been responsible for driving down the revenues paid to the handling agents which prevents the investmnent needed in GSE and staff.
Just look at the UK performance of the main 4 agents serving the UK over the last few years.
Only Menzies make money and they do that mainly from their Far East operations and Cargo divisions.
Unless airlines are prepared to pay sensible money for GH services they will continue to get under staffed, under equipped service providers.
I do have some sympathy for the Airport as they are playing catch-up after years of the Government preventing them from accessing monies available to commercial enterprises. Throughout the 90's they could not go to the market and borrow money at commercial rates and had to fund development through cash flow. The lack of investment then has come home to roost now. Major funding is required to take the airpoirt to the next level. This will include land expansions into the areas they already own; a completely new terminal; multi storey car parks (just look at some of the German airports who locate carparks 1 - 2 km away from the terminals and have monorails to bring pax to and from) and new office facilities.
Now I'm off to take my reality pills...
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Netherlands
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Easyjet winter
Still not bookable !
Think NCL is only airport where winter flights not on sale ? Could there be a problem ? Is the current contract ending ? Are they negotiating a new contract with the airport yet ?
Think NCL is only airport where winter flights not on sale ? Could there be a problem ? Is the current contract ending ? Are they negotiating a new contract with the airport yet ?
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Newcastle
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Easyjet
fl dutchman - your correct NCL is the only UK base EZY have not released flights for winter 07 yet. I heard the rumour that new flights were to be announced today from EZY and with Stelios in Newcastle to get his degree from the university thought they would not mis out on the PR opportunity and some of those routes would be from NCL. Not to be though as they have all gone to other UK airports.
Last year NCL was one of the 1st in the Network to get flights released quite concerned why NCL looks to be the last this year.
Thanks
Last year NCL was one of the 1st in the Network to get flights released quite concerned why NCL looks to be the last this year.
Thanks
Join Date: Oct 2002
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If EZY are retaining the 7 based aircraft for the winter, I'd expect to see something new as there will be alot of capacity once summer destinations are stopped for the winter flying. Theres quite alot of possibilities from NCL, still yet unserved by the locos.
GSM have not released YHM for sale for the winter yet, I am quite surprised it will continue, perhaps it is just a mistake on behalf of the airport timetable as it is quite late not to have the flight on sale, though I suppose the same could be said of EZY?!
Has anyone else realised that FNC, JTR and a few othe popular charter destinations are not available from NCL next summer. I wonder if this is the start of consolidation, due to the mergers? Anyone know what aircraft we'll see based for charter flying next summer, apart from the KM320?
GSM have not released YHM for sale for the winter yet, I am quite surprised it will continue, perhaps it is just a mistake on behalf of the airport timetable as it is quite late not to have the flight on sale, though I suppose the same could be said of EZY?!
Has anyone else realised that FNC, JTR and a few othe popular charter destinations are not available from NCL next summer. I wonder if this is the start of consolidation, due to the mergers? Anyone know what aircraft we'll see based for charter flying next summer, apart from the KM320?
Join Date: Oct 2004
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yeah i dont think we need to worry to much about no winter flights on sale yet.
im lead to belive that there are some big changes in the flights i think they are just waiting for the final slots to come through.
maybe getting our 8th aircraft also.
holding back also for jet2 to launch more of there flights. dont think they want to put too much into a route they do also.
dont think FR looking at NCL at the minute.
All eyes on them at BRS
im lead to belive that there are some big changes in the flights i think they are just waiting for the final slots to come through.
maybe getting our 8th aircraft also.
holding back also for jet2 to launch more of there flights. dont think they want to put too much into a route they do also.
dont think FR looking at NCL at the minute.
All eyes on them at BRS
Join Date: Nov 2006
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locos
i hope we do see something new from easyjet and/or jet2 this winter through to next summer. regarding the rumours of a new ezy domestic route, tihnk this would only be LTN, can't see any other being added from NCL, personally would love to see this as i'd use an NCL-LTN. Hope we get some new routes also, would love to see a Madrid route open up which has been a rumour from ncl for a while now. I think we will see overall huge changes over the next year regarding routes/timetables with all the merges going on, e.g. tfly will be doing most of the charter long haul next summer. XL dont seem to offer as many destinations after october at NCL. Will be interesting to see how many aircraft likes of tfly and tcx have next year. Surely with all the merges, this will allow new/long haul flights to be more accessible with the extra aircraft and savings the merges will allow?!