NEWCASTLE - 7
Join Date: Jul 2005
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I agree with all the statements re saturation points on some routes, and the passengers coming from Scotland in reduced numbers is an issue,( although they will if the price is right). However not so sure about the novelty factor statements. If that is the case and passengers are being lost because the novelty of flying somewhere has worn off, would it not be sensible for someone to try and regain the novelty factor and perhaps bring in somewhere different for the people of the North East to go to. I am sure there are places not currently served that would work, although the price of fuel may be a factor. Just a thought!.
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Its true fresh routes would appeal to the public but i believe they would replace existing routes rather than compliment them.
ncleflights
As for providing evidence, didn't know i had to when expressing an opinion..
ncleflights
As for providing evidence, didn't know i had to when expressing an opinion..
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: EGNT
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I hear that Belfast are getting four new routes for Summer 08 from Easyjet. This will mean they need an extra a/c so if NCL is to remain 737 for 2008 then BFS will probably keep the 7th aircraft we sent at beginging of November.
I agree with the previous posts regarding the facilities at the airport and would just like to make a few points (Here comes the moan!)
.
Anyone think theres abit too much of WH Smith? Sureley the new one next to the pier could have been put to better use.
Promotional things: I know its the same in every airport but how annoying is it when you get hounded at least 4 times a day by 5 different 'charity' credit card and 'win a mini' promotions.
Signage: The old terminal building has signs up on the revolving doors which dont make much sence, Theres also no obvious signs directing pax to departures at the escolators next to Swissport ticket desk, Leaving non familier pax lost.
Also one last moan
They got rid of the Natwest bank last year to replace it with a shop selling overpriced food and drink which sees a maximum of 20 customers a day! and whats going on with Starbucks at the minute? It gets a re-design every 6 weeks are so!
I agree with the previous posts regarding the facilities at the airport and would just like to make a few points (Here comes the moan!)
.Anyone think theres abit too much of WH Smith? Sureley the new one next to the pier could have been put to better use.
Promotional things: I know its the same in every airport but how annoying is it when you get hounded at least 4 times a day by 5 different 'charity' credit card and 'win a mini' promotions.
Signage: The old terminal building has signs up on the revolving doors which dont make much sence, Theres also no obvious signs directing pax to departures at the escolators next to Swissport ticket desk, Leaving non familier pax lost.
Also one last moan
They got rid of the Natwest bank last year to replace it with a shop selling overpriced food and drink which sees a maximum of 20 customers a day! and whats going on with Starbucks at the minute? It gets a re-design every 6 weeks are so!
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: UK
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Marra 123
It's called 'kerching!' the sound of money bouncing into the airport's coffers.
WH Smith obvioulsy pay very well to get the amout of space they now have and I guess NatWest just did not do enough revenue business to warrant the very high rent charges.
Agree totally about the charity and credit card oiks.
I will have to run the gauntlet in the morning, here's hoping that security are manned up!
It's called 'kerching!' the sound of money bouncing into the airport's coffers.
WH Smith obvioulsy pay very well to get the amout of space they now have and I guess NatWest just did not do enough revenue business to warrant the very high rent charges.
Agree totally about the charity and credit card oiks.
I will have to run the gauntlet in the morning, here's hoping that security are manned up!
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Newcastle
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Going back to consolodation within loco sector here are my views;
When this sector was in its infancy the locos were clambering over themselves to get a foothold into regional airports with the introduction of flights to European cities. They effectively created a market due to low pricing structure. I myself would never have considered a weekend in Budapest but if it's for £40 return then it was a no brainer. Likewise I used to go to Spain every month for a long weekend as it was so cheap but now I am simply not prepared to pay the price especially with all the addons and hassle factor..
I am going to Spain this weekend and am having to pay £180 return in NOVEMBER! Three years ago, that same trip would have been £100. It's not just the price either thats putting people off. The whole experience of flying is now so much more onerous, from the time taken to book a flight - with all the extra charges, easy boarding, seat allocation, bag charge, insurances, passport details etc. it takes an age to make a booking. Why can't the airlines just admit that fuel has gone up dramatically and charge transparent pricing instead of trying to fleece us for a few quid here there and everywhere. This just makes people think they are being ripped off.
The hassle factor now outweighs the sense of adventure in taking a weekend away. For example, the queues at check-in, security, immigration, illogical banning of liquids, arrival queues, car hire etc. People are just fed up with being ripped off and being herded around like cattle.
This is certainly not unique to Newcastle but clearly there was a turf war this summer between easyJet, Jet 2 and Thomsonfly and they all got their fingers burnt. We went from four flights a day to Malaga suddenly dropping down to one a day throughout the winter (most days) and now the prices are sky high. The traffic to the likes of Berlin and Budapest was mainly one way - UK holidaymakers and there is only so much to see in these places so they only had a limited shelf life. The likes of Malaga, Alicante and Palma will always do well as so many people have second homes out there but even they are suffering now as routes some sectors abandoned due to low yields through overcapacity in the summer.
Only my opinion! However I am a prime example of a punter wo used to fly 15-20 return trips a year and will halving that next year for reasons stated above. Lets just hope Emirates succeeds.
When this sector was in its infancy the locos were clambering over themselves to get a foothold into regional airports with the introduction of flights to European cities. They effectively created a market due to low pricing structure. I myself would never have considered a weekend in Budapest but if it's for £40 return then it was a no brainer. Likewise I used to go to Spain every month for a long weekend as it was so cheap but now I am simply not prepared to pay the price especially with all the addons and hassle factor..
I am going to Spain this weekend and am having to pay £180 return in NOVEMBER! Three years ago, that same trip would have been £100. It's not just the price either thats putting people off. The whole experience of flying is now so much more onerous, from the time taken to book a flight - with all the extra charges, easy boarding, seat allocation, bag charge, insurances, passport details etc. it takes an age to make a booking. Why can't the airlines just admit that fuel has gone up dramatically and charge transparent pricing instead of trying to fleece us for a few quid here there and everywhere. This just makes people think they are being ripped off.
The hassle factor now outweighs the sense of adventure in taking a weekend away. For example, the queues at check-in, security, immigration, illogical banning of liquids, arrival queues, car hire etc. People are just fed up with being ripped off and being herded around like cattle.
This is certainly not unique to Newcastle but clearly there was a turf war this summer between easyJet, Jet 2 and Thomsonfly and they all got their fingers burnt. We went from four flights a day to Malaga suddenly dropping down to one a day throughout the winter (most days) and now the prices are sky high. The traffic to the likes of Berlin and Budapest was mainly one way - UK holidaymakers and there is only so much to see in these places so they only had a limited shelf life. The likes of Malaga, Alicante and Palma will always do well as so many people have second homes out there but even they are suffering now as routes some sectors abandoned due to low yields through overcapacity in the summer.
Only my opinion! However I am a prime example of a punter wo used to fly 15-20 return trips a year and will halving that next year for reasons stated above. Lets just hope Emirates succeeds.
Join Date: Jul 2005
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Chris1001,
Yes unfortunatley your right but the hassle factor applies to all other airports,and there seems to still lots of expansion going on at other places.
Of course the likes of Malaga, Palma and Alicante suffered from vast overcapacity during the summer. Great benefits in the short term for the travelling public, but no one could have made any money out of it. Could it be that now these once profitable routes are having an effect on expansion into other areas? I understand that when Easyjet first came to NCL these once profitable routes allowed them to operate other routes that were maybe not so lucrative.
I wonder what there network would be like and the number of based aircraft would be if Jet 2 had not came along and went head to head with Easyjet on these routes??.
There is nothing wrong with competition but in a limited market it doesent always work out.
It would be interesting to see what would happen if Easyjet or Ryanair moved into LBA head to head with Jet2.
Yes unfortunatley your right but the hassle factor applies to all other airports,and there seems to still lots of expansion going on at other places.
Of course the likes of Malaga, Palma and Alicante suffered from vast overcapacity during the summer. Great benefits in the short term for the travelling public, but no one could have made any money out of it. Could it be that now these once profitable routes are having an effect on expansion into other areas? I understand that when Easyjet first came to NCL these once profitable routes allowed them to operate other routes that were maybe not so lucrative.
I wonder what there network would be like and the number of based aircraft would be if Jet 2 had not came along and went head to head with Easyjet on these routes??.
There is nothing wrong with competition but in a limited market it doesent always work out.
It would be interesting to see what would happen if Easyjet or Ryanair moved into LBA head to head with Jet2.
Join Date: Oct 2006
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Chris1001
Excellent post and I have to agree, although fldutchman does have a point that the similar problems should have the same affect on other UK airports. I do believe though that people will still put up with the inconvenience if they can still obtain reasonable fares.
Speaking personnally I am not sure, based on price, if easyjet can be classed as a low cost airline any more. I have family living in Majorca so use NCL - PMI quite a few times a year. In Summer 06 I used easyjet for the majority of these flights in Summer 07 I did not use them once as each time I checked websites I got a better price from either XL or Thomsonfly. XL had the added convenience of giving me a free meal and activity pack for the kids and of course I could pre book group seating. All for a fare lower than EZY wanted. This is only my personal experience and I am sure plenty of folks have evidence the other way.
Perhaps Mr Laws first job may well be to try and get Ryanair into NCL along with their much lower fares.
Excellent post and I have to agree, although fldutchman does have a point that the similar problems should have the same affect on other UK airports. I do believe though that people will still put up with the inconvenience if they can still obtain reasonable fares.
Speaking personnally I am not sure, based on price, if easyjet can be classed as a low cost airline any more. I have family living in Majorca so use NCL - PMI quite a few times a year. In Summer 06 I used easyjet for the majority of these flights in Summer 07 I did not use them once as each time I checked websites I got a better price from either XL or Thomsonfly. XL had the added convenience of giving me a free meal and activity pack for the kids and of course I could pre book group seating. All for a fare lower than EZY wanted. This is only my personal experience and I am sure plenty of folks have evidence the other way.
Perhaps Mr Laws first job may well be to try and get Ryanair into NCL along with their much lower fares.
Join Date: Jan 2006
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Ncleflights,
I think you are correct about EZY at NCL. Most flights I have done or checked prices with them in the past 12 months have been "expensive" out of NCL. In many instances it has been more cost effective to hop in the car and drive to LPL or LTN, or EMA for the same destination with EZY. In most cases where i have flown at the higher fare from NCL, the flights have been nearly full, and as a matter of interest I now check the day before how many people can still be booked on a flight vs flights ex LPL and LTN, and normally there are more empty seats from the alternatives. This would suggest that yields at NCL are higher than other bases, so why have they re-trenched ?
I think you are correct about EZY at NCL. Most flights I have done or checked prices with them in the past 12 months have been "expensive" out of NCL. In many instances it has been more cost effective to hop in the car and drive to LPL or LTN, or EMA for the same destination with EZY. In most cases where i have flown at the higher fare from NCL, the flights have been nearly full, and as a matter of interest I now check the day before how many people can still be booked on a flight vs flights ex LPL and LTN, and normally there are more empty seats from the alternatives. This would suggest that yields at NCL are higher than other bases, so why have they re-trenched ?
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: NE ENGLAND
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Chris 1001 I don't happen to agree with all of your posting, but irrespective of your opinion on hassle & EZY's pricing, then accepting what you say, then if the 'Loco experience' is the same where ever in the UK, the only logic of axing based units is that the routes they were operating were generating insufficient financial returns. In effect you have supported this assumption in demonstrating that you are in effect typical of unfortunately a significant volume of NCL's pax traffic being North East "bucket & spade" punters who are always looking to pay virtually nothing on high competition 'sunshine' routes.
Join Date: Jul 2005
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But its not the bucket and spade routes that are being cut by the locos at NCL, winter and next summer dont seem a lot different in these areas.
Rome, Berlin, Budapest, Paris and not forgeting Stansted and Bristol are the affected routes.
As I have previously said Bristol and Stansted were increased to much at the start of last winter. Now the Bristol is probably about right but the Stansted has been cut back to far this winter and next summer in my opinion.
Rome, Berlin, Budapest, Paris and not forgeting Stansted and Bristol are the affected routes.
As I have previously said Bristol and Stansted were increased to much at the start of last winter. Now the Bristol is probably about right but the Stansted has been cut back to far this winter and next summer in my opinion.
Join Date: Feb 2005
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But its not the bucket and spade routes that are being cut by the locos at NCL
The way ahead is for an ecconomic upturn in the region creating additional demand, though strong & still escalating fuel costs are likely to undermine future plans at all bases, let alone NCL.
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Solihull
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EK October Figures
CAA Provisional stats show.....
11990 pax which is 193 per flight based on 62 flights and 70% load factor.
I guess that is a pretty decent for the 2nd month of operations?
MAN up about 8k, BHX nearly 10k & GLA 4k
Pete
11990 pax which is 193 per flight based on 62 flights and 70% load factor.
I guess that is a pretty decent for the 2nd month of operations?
MAN up about 8k, BHX nearly 10k & GLA 4k
Pete
Join Date: Nov 2006
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EK
Emirates spokesman was on local radio saying what a success the route is and he also mentioned the possibility of going double daily... but then again he also said GLA has 3 daily flights so who maybe he doesn't know what he's talking about!
Join Date: Feb 2007
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HH6702
Believe an airline sales rep and you are in deep, deep doo doo.
If all the routes at all the frequencies that these guys and gals have promised over the years had actually operated NCL would be HUGE.
There is, of course, always the odd one that comes to fruition, but it's a brave man to bet on which one it will be.
How many of you remember a man called Pollard at Gill; and what he promised....
Believe an airline sales rep and you are in deep, deep doo doo.
If all the routes at all the frequencies that these guys and gals have promised over the years had actually operated NCL would be HUGE.
There is, of course, always the odd one that comes to fruition, but it's a brave man to bet on which one it will be.
How many of you remember a man called Pollard at Gill; and what he promised....
Join Date: Sep 2007
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Newcastle Airport its could do a good clean
As a frequent user of Newcastle International Airport.
Could those in the know say why it is so run down and in need of a bloody good clean and a lick of paint.
Do the airport mangers not see the weeds and the litter at the front
the missing loo seats in the gents,
the glass at the building doesn’t look like it ever been cleaned
Everything in the airport seems geared to screwing as much out of everyone as they can.
And sod the service
Its seems that only good thing going for the airport are its long suffering staff
Do your managers ever talk to the self loading freight
Could those in the know say why it is so run down and in need of a bloody good clean and a lick of paint.
Do the airport mangers not see the weeds and the litter at the front
the missing loo seats in the gents,
the glass at the building doesn’t look like it ever been cleaned
Everything in the airport seems geared to screwing as much out of everyone as they can.
And sod the service
Its seems that only good thing going for the airport are its long suffering staff
Do your managers ever talk to the self loading freight