NEWCASTLE - 7

[skyman771]

Newcastle seems to have a reputation amongst the lo-cos as a bucket and spade airport

I'm not prepared to codone this comment, what I will say is that reputation has nothing whatsoever to do with it. It's facts that the airlines rely on. As to whether they choose to act upon the information in a positive way in providing additional services is another thing.
Whilst I'm on about Loco's it's amazing how the experiences of some posters on this thread with only occasional experiences of any particular airline, are extrapolated for completely OTT rants. With some it's EZY, others it's with LS, and RYR doesn't escape either. I make trips on average once a month and use the airline that provides the most convenient times vs cost to get to where I need to be. It could and often is one of the above or it could be BA, KL or whoever. Maybe it's just me because really the only real difference these days is in one's perception of the provider. All these rants that airline A or B has FA's who don't smile or are a bit shirty really doesn't wash, it's no big deal, and anyone who insists that they would suffer any inconvenience / additional cost in using an alternate airline because of this is talking absolute bcks!
Now before anyone starts on and says ' oh bet you haven't suffered the dealys that I have' well I have ! indeed one better I've had the flight canx on me with a serious bit of messing around. What I have is the maturity & experience to realise that on the whole things are a damn site better than they were in years gone by. I can recall only too well using the limited services of BKS & BA in the early days, & I for one would not now pay the relative price for a smartly dressed 'Air Hostess' and a cooked meal on the LHR as a means of getting to a subsequent European destination. Guy's calm down !

[Channex101]

Well having flown BA last week form JFK to MAN i think I paid over the top, the crew spent more time in crew rest than service. It was appauling to fly long haul on a shabby old 767 that was looking a bit worn, crew had no standards, for duty free they didnt even get the cart out, just walked through holding inflight mag! what a mick take! all so they could get back to the back row where they all sat for crew rest. Food was crap, crappy little deli bag an hour before landing. Ive had better service on charter airline and ive given a better service on Jet2, at least i talk to my passengers!

[Ops Guy]

For the Benefit of any flight deck operating in and out of Newcastle, over the next 3-4 weeks stands 7,8 and 9 will be closed as will Bravo for the first stage of the winter works. Stands 7, 8, and 9 will form a temporary taxiway where you will be provided with a FOLLOW ME through the works. Obviously this will all be NOTAMED in due course. So please don't take the Bravo exit to vacate 25 as you will have to wait for a pushback crew and fill alot of paper work in

[Channex101]

What exactly are they doing there?
Anyone know whats happening to Jet2 mail flights when runway closes on a night time soon, heard they might op into MME but how is that going to work with the pax aircraft arriving from flights into NCL about 9ish then due out on the mail?

[Ops Guy]

What exactly are they doing there?

Just surface repairs. It's just going to take bit of time thats all. Alot of material to come out and alot of material to go back in. Also all the AGL to reinstate.

Regarding the runway and Jet 2 mail ops. As I said the other day everything is still in the planning process so its far to early to speculate what may or may not happen next winter. MME probably would seem the best alternative though!!

[SWBKCB]

Cimber to Copenhagen

Am I making it up, but wasn't this meant to go 2x daily in the summer? Can't find any trace now...

[N707ZS]

Do they take the seats out for the mail flights?

[NCLwizzkid]

Yeh, the seats all have to come out so that the mail cans can be loaded through the cargo door. I think it is unlikely that the mail flights will operate out of MME as the aircraft would have to position back to NCL to begin the passenger flights. Who would pick up the fuel cost NIAL? Unlikely!!! It is still in the planning stage but surely the runway wouldn't be closed from 2300-0500!!! It would be a nightmare for passengers and handling agents if flights were turned away after the runway closes.

Those opertating in and out during stand 7-9 closures, beware!!! Coaching will be in high demand and it looks like EK will be parked stand 16 using all 4 coaches!!!

[N707ZS]

Thank's I wasn't sure how the mail was loaded, cans or sacks on seats. Obviously the load must be more than the days of the 748 and SD-360s.
Last time the runway was resurfaced they went to MME but I don't think it would go down to well with the PAX, check-in and 45 min bus trip to MME.

[lukeylad]

Could the EK not use stand 10 while 9 is out of action?

Any truth in the rumour that EK are upgrading to a 777 for the summer?

[NCLwizzkid]

They did look at using stand 10 but the taxiway behind is to narrow to take a 330. The option was to shut down engines at stand 9 then be towed onto stand 10. It wasn't the best solution so EK agreed to park off pier. They trialled a coaching departure on Thursday when the 330 was parked on stand 16 and it went well.

[transwede]

Where did the rumour of a 777 come from? Would the handling agents need to be specifically trained to handle such an aircraft, bearing in mind NCL has only seen this type on a few rare occasions? In addition, do EK's fleet of 777 have a premium first class section, which requires more facilities for passengers? Just wondering?

[MUFC_fan]

The 77Ws that they fly into MAN are two class with 427/442 seats.

The 772s that they fly have either a 290 (3 class) or 346 (2 class) configuration.

Would be very surprised to see the 77W put on so early into the new route, maybe a 772 if the JFK link is true. I think the only airport that the 3 class aircraft are used is LHR in the UK, not sure about LGW though.

Hope this helps!

[skyman771]

It makes me smile noting all this day dreaming of any '77x' op's out of NCL particularly without reference to operating restrictions ?
For the record what would be the range of a fully loaded '77x' operating out of NCL for instance DXB, or albeit extremely unlikely NYC ?

[MUFC_fan]

It makes me smile noting all this day dreaming of any '77x' op's out of NCL particularly without reference to operating restrictions ?
For the record what would be the range of a fully loaded '77x' operating out of NCL for instance DXB, or albeit extremely unlikely NYC ?

He asked about classes and operations of the 777. How can you say whether NCL-DXB won't be a big success? Look what happened at MAN, they turned a daily A310 into a twice daily 77W which is likely to be increased in the future as the route keeps growing and growing.

The reason for the constant growth EK provides on most of it's routes is that is offers many connections to the Far East and Australia etc. with exceptional service and very reasonable prices.

I understand what you say about the runway restrictions. With alot of cargo and usually high load factors on their flights, a B772 might be pushing it - it is a very big aircraft, even when compared to it's big brother! Would like to see the route go double daily with A332, and then maybe the airport will look at growing to accomodate the larger aircraft as a NYC route is introduced (whether EK or not!). Hey - maybe the runway extension can be sponsored by EK!

I was thinking of having my forehead sponsored by Emirates, I think it would suit me!

[dublinamg]

ANybody know how the Aer Liingus Dublin flights were doing? I see they are gone for the Summer. Think it's probably just something similar to what they did on Liverpool and Bristol or was it something else?

[skyman771]

MUFC_fan
IF you had bothered to read the post rather than just jumping in the minute you presume to see a reference to EK then you might (though unlikely) have been able to contribute a meaningful comment. I wasn't discussing the success of EK ! & Q.? what has 77W ops at 'ringway', got in common with NCL?
A. Absolutely nothing, so why go an about them ? As your title suggests it would be better if you confined your posts to something that you actually knew anything about.

I was thinking of having my forehead sponsored by Emirates, I think it would suit me!

Certainly would !
Now that that is out of the way then back to the issue of potential 77x op's out of NCL by 'any' carrier, I have located a very good reference document published by Boeing that provides some excellent performance graphs http://www.boeing.com/commercial/air...s/777rsec3.pdf
If one reviews these, then whatever the prevailing conditions at NCL one is looking at only up to 85% of MTW, & possibly less in adverse conditions off 25. Now that may be enough for 100% pax depending on sector length required. Time will tell.

[transwede]

So EI have gave in on the DUB run, just leaving FR?

[BALLSOUT]

Maybee they see an FR base on the way?

[skyman771]

Maybee they see an FR base on the way?

No chance, more likely they simply couldn't live with the competition as it stands.
Basically the whole service was badly researched, and with insufficient investment. It's only the Irish who could contemplate taking on a twice daily RYR , with an afternoon only EI, when RYR also had the timings to suit business traveller & day returns. In addition they made the elementary mistake of not linking their timings to transatlantic connections at DUB. A twice daily to link with both eastbound & westbound, a speedy transfer, advance clearance of US customs may have solved a number of problems. Speaking to my colleagues who have patronised the flight, it's invariably light on loads, the ticket prices could be astronomical or nothing at all. In it's present form it was doomed from day one (not to mention coincidentally the time the EU subsidy runs out).