NEWCASTLE - 7
Join Date: Aug 2003
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Andrew - You listen to cabin crew gossip!! One stand (stand8) is not available during the EK turn around as this is where the large amounts of EK freight are put.
Join Date: Jun 2007
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Stands at NCl
It is unfortunately true that generally nothing will be put on Stand 9 for an Hour before Emirates arrives. Stand 8 is Also out of service when emirates is around as they Use Stand 30. (8 &9 Combined). Madness but hopefully it will soon wear off when a new airline arrives and they get everything they want!!
Join Date: Feb 2007
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Aviation NE
madness?
or reasonable planning?
The pre-planning of the EK flights for out weighs any other operation currently at NCL. pre-positioning of the outbound cargo load so that the checking and then the loading sequence can be established etc. all takes time and SPACE and it is normal practice to complete this before the flight arrives on stand. NCL stands are not exactly spacious at the best of times so if NCL wants to play with the big boys then people had better get used to the fact that longhaul flights carrying good cargo loads do take up time and space within an overall schedule.
Having worked this product at various airports, at CDG for example, the pre loading starts at STD-4; the agents check and sequence their onload before the flight arrives so that they can achieve their turnround targets.
It's not madness, it's good practice and will been seen as a big plus if other long haul carriers come for a peak before making proposals for themselves.
madness?
or reasonable planning?
The pre-planning of the EK flights for out weighs any other operation currently at NCL. pre-positioning of the outbound cargo load so that the checking and then the loading sequence can be established etc. all takes time and SPACE and it is normal practice to complete this before the flight arrives on stand. NCL stands are not exactly spacious at the best of times so if NCL wants to play with the big boys then people had better get used to the fact that longhaul flights carrying good cargo loads do take up time and space within an overall schedule.
Having worked this product at various airports, at CDG for example, the pre loading starts at STD-4; the agents check and sequence their onload before the flight arrives so that they can achieve their turnround targets.
It's not madness, it's good practice and will been seen as a big plus if other long haul carriers come for a peak before making proposals for themselves.
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Emirates
Groundhand,
Thanks for your reply. I did not realise that the freight required positioning before the flight arrived. Is this the reason stand 8 is used?. I was comparing it to Monarch who Only use Stand 9.
Thanks for your reply. I did not realise that the freight required positioning before the flight arrived. Is this the reason stand 8 is used?. I was comparing it to Monarch who Only use Stand 9.
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Newcastle
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andrewmcharlton
I can assure you that this is not the case and that all avaliable stands are utilised on pier. As stated by 10 DME, the only stand lost is stand 8 for the freight.
Is that because there is nothing to put on stand 9 before the arrival!!
Err... No it won't 
Ops Guy
EK's stand and the two adjacent can't be used 90 mins either side of scheduled arrival, stay and departure by EK.
It is unfortunately true that generally nothing will be put on Stand 9 for an Hour before Emirates arrives.
Madness but hopefully it will soon wear off
Ops Guy
Join Date: Mar 2007
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Groundhand and probably 10DME will remember this but Ops Guy wont. Before Servisair, GroundStar etc became responsible for providing steps and baggage handling etc, this function was carried out by the Airport Authority. Word was that you could tell when the BA from LHR had called for pushback in LHR because the Airport Authority lads would already be positioning the steps and other servicing equipment on what used to be stand 10 (BA Stand). That's service for you but it only applied to BA. Everyone else took second place. It's a scenario which has been repeated with EasyJet and now we're seeing the same thing with Emirates. It will wear off, I can assure you.
Join Date: Oct 2002
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On the subject of Airlines receiving preferential treatment from the airport, there are 2 ways it could be looked at. For a route such as EK DXB, the airport management will do all they can to make it work and give EK the facilities that they are accustomed to providing. However, other airlines do seem to have suffered slightly in the airport trying to accommodate them. Leases were not renewed on tour operators desks, requiring a reshuffle and the likes of TOM and TCX seem to have suffered in the check in facilities when the EK is open - with all of their 7/8/9 desks!!!!
The airport should have the ability to satisfy all their airlines, big and small as it is all business. Support should be offered during delays (anyone remember the airports support for long gone FJE?), together with the correct and functional facilities being made available, for example when are NCL going to invest in reliable baggage belts?
Having said all that, one can hardly blame the airport for concentrating on the EK business as who knows it could be the leader in long haul/new routes etc from NCL depending on its success in all areas!
The airport should have the ability to satisfy all their airlines, big and small as it is all business. Support should be offered during delays (anyone remember the airports support for long gone FJE?), together with the correct and functional facilities being made available, for example when are NCL going to invest in reliable baggage belts?
Having said all that, one can hardly blame the airport for concentrating on the EK business as who knows it could be the leader in long haul/new routes etc from NCL depending on its success in all areas!
Join Date: Jun 2007
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andrewmcharlton, I was on your BRS flight on Thursday too. The captain was quite miffed, wasn't he? I'm not surprised, and I hope he did as he said he would and make appropriate representations to the airport. As well as the stair and gate fiascos, we then had to wait another 10-15 mins for the luggage. After a 35 minute flight, it took 47 minutes to get out of the airport. Good news, though - no queue at the car park exit this time, and both barriers working.
On a serious note, I am a bit concerned at the impression such a service gives to inbound travellers to the region. I travel a lot around Europe, and am afraid to say that many regional airports, including in the new EU member states, are more customer-friendly than NCL. Here clearly the pressure is on to maximise revenue.
On a serious note, I am a bit concerned at the impression such a service gives to inbound travellers to the region. I travel a lot around Europe, and am afraid to say that many regional airports, including in the new EU member states, are more customer-friendly than NCL. Here clearly the pressure is on to maximise revenue.
Join Date: Sep 2001
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I am told that the departure boards do not change to "go to gate" until 45 minutes before departure now to maximise the time that the pax stay in departures and spend money. Is this true?
Frequently we have to leave early just to arrive at destination and then back into NCL on time because block times are squeezed ever shorter and flight times are not. 45 minutes becomes 30 when he who wants that last pint decides he has time, and 30 becomes 15 when he looks at screen and sees go to gate. 15 becomes 10 when slow moving people decide to stop for a paper, and then bus waits as flight is coaching to remote. Of course the ambulift is in demand and WCHR pax board last because they have been delivered via another aircraft, and are not happy.
Problems start at security when frequently there has been only half of the channels open, and queues are back to the charter check in area. Anyone remember those queues recently?
Why? It is cost and who pays for extra service? No one wants to if it is not necessary. It is business at the end of the day.
Inbound - a wait for ambulift is not uncommon, coaching can be a problem - why? Because in a rush period there is insufficient facilities. The end of this is the queue in immigration, which has been marginally improved recently.
I do think that there is an effort being made to improve what is available at Newcastle, and hopefully Emirates will work out and prove long haul scheduled is viable. I don't think anyone would allow Emirates to wait for 25 minutes for assistance for passengers, because that would be seen as bad service. Focus can become specific.
Happy flying!
Frequently we have to leave early just to arrive at destination and then back into NCL on time because block times are squeezed ever shorter and flight times are not. 45 minutes becomes 30 when he who wants that last pint decides he has time, and 30 becomes 15 when he looks at screen and sees go to gate. 15 becomes 10 when slow moving people decide to stop for a paper, and then bus waits as flight is coaching to remote. Of course the ambulift is in demand and WCHR pax board last because they have been delivered via another aircraft, and are not happy.
Problems start at security when frequently there has been only half of the channels open, and queues are back to the charter check in area. Anyone remember those queues recently?
Why? It is cost and who pays for extra service? No one wants to if it is not necessary. It is business at the end of the day.
Inbound - a wait for ambulift is not uncommon, coaching can be a problem - why? Because in a rush period there is insufficient facilities. The end of this is the queue in immigration, which has been marginally improved recently.
I do think that there is an effort being made to improve what is available at Newcastle, and hopefully Emirates will work out and prove long haul scheduled is viable. I don't think anyone would allow Emirates to wait for 25 minutes for assistance for passengers, because that would be seen as bad service. Focus can become specific.
Happy flying!
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I am told that the departure boards do not change to "go to gate" until 45 minutes before departure now to maximise the time that the pax stay in departures and spend money. Is this true?
Join Date: Oct 2002
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FedEx
Airport website displaying announcement that FedEx will start a 6 x weekly freight flight to their CDG hub, departing 9.20pm. Anyone got any idea what aircraft they will be using, is this the start of large freighters at NCL?
On the subject of the airport departure boards through airside - they are quite confusing. A simple system to display flight numbers, destinations, gate and boarding information etc would be sufficient. Particularly now that NCL is supposed to be a 'silent' airport when it comes to announcements?!
On the subject of the airport departure boards through airside - they are quite confusing. A simple system to display flight numbers, destinations, gate and boarding information etc would be sufficient. Particularly now that NCL is supposed to be a 'silent' airport when it comes to announcements?!