NEWCASTLE - 8
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Newcastle
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I departed from Newcastle a week past Saturday and both sets of escalators up to departures were broken forcing any passengers with disabilities to wait ages for the lifts which are touch and go at the best of times. Returning back through the airport today the escalator to arrivals was also broken again. Surely an airport of this size should have a maintenance contract to keep them running - this sets a poor example to visiting pax.
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: the lonely desert
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Tis very rare that arrivals escalators are switched on, so they may not actually be broken, just in the 'off' position, but totally agree with your comment, NCL "at times" does not set a very good example!
Join Date: May 2009
Location: Durham
Age: 77
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The other side of the coin
After my little rant about arriving into Newcastle I feel it only right to describe my departures experience back home to Palma through Newcastle.
The revolving doors, I hate them too, but for the first time I got around in one without some dozy duffer clattering into them and stopping the bloody things
Check in was a breeze. Quick and efficient and a really smiley chatty airline rep who made the whole dull process rather bearable.
The queue at security was fairly large but very well managed, passengers were clearly communicated to (ladies shoes off only!
) and directed to other scanners and again all with a smile.
I found the airside prices reasonable (alas...Palma really must be getting expensive!) and again the service was good and an impressive choice for the airport since my last visit. I even foregoed a visit to the lounge to watch the planes from those big glass windows.
Boarding was prompt, well managed, adhered to and we left dead bang on time.
So, felt it only right to praise as well as criticise. Fly back in 2 weeks for a birthday so we'll see if they keep up the good work!
The revolving doors, I hate them too, but for the first time I got around in one without some dozy duffer clattering into them and stopping the bloody things
Check in was a breeze. Quick and efficient and a really smiley chatty airline rep who made the whole dull process rather bearable.
The queue at security was fairly large but very well managed, passengers were clearly communicated to (ladies shoes off only!
) and directed to other scanners and again all with a smile.I found the airside prices reasonable (alas...Palma really must be getting expensive!) and again the service was good and an impressive choice for the airport since my last visit. I even foregoed a visit to the lounge to watch the planes from those big glass windows.
Boarding was prompt, well managed, adhered to and we left dead bang on time.
So, felt it only right to praise as well as criticise. Fly back in 2 weeks for a birthday so we'll see if they keep up the good work!
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: on goaround
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SFB
Hi All,
My wife has just returned from work (travel agent) and mentioned there wont be any TCX flights from NCL-SFB next summer. Looks like the MON charter will be stopping leaving TOM to run the route.
I'm aware its a difficult route to make work as the costs are so high but was a little suprised as TCX ran the 2 weeks in August.
Anyone heard any other rumours?
My wife has just returned from work (travel agent) and mentioned there wont be any TCX flights from NCL-SFB next summer. Looks like the MON charter will be stopping leaving TOM to run the route.
I'm aware its a difficult route to make work as the costs are so high but was a little suprised as TCX ran the 2 weeks in August.
Anyone heard any other rumours?
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: the lonely desert
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At present, Thomas Cook (the Tour Op) will not run any SFB charters next summer from NCL, either using MON or any of their own metal. TOM will be responsible for all long haul charters, using their 767 aircraft in a 258 (think thats the split between premium and economy) config, which results in quite a capacity cut to Florida, as MON A330 had 350+ from recollection. Maybe TOM could consider adding an additional rotation, but again in these economic times, I very much doubt it.
It has also been mentioned but NCL will loose its weekly link to Canada, though some rumours place LS as the successor to this route, whther or not they or any other operator will step in remains to be seen.
It has also been mentioned but NCL will loose its weekly link to Canada, though some rumours place LS as the successor to this route, whther or not they or any other operator will step in remains to be seen.
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: London/Newcastle
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Originally Posted by skhwoody
just checked the airport hotel website and it is showing a date of 1st October as the opening date.....
just a big empty building that will probably fall into neglect before it actually opens .. shame
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: London
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The CAA August stats show a better picture for the airport in Aug.
Domestic routes: Gatwick +18%, Heathrow +6% Aberdeen +55% Belfast City +14% and Southampton +1% all the others are down. (Jersey has not published yet)
International routes: Nice +2%, Rome +2%, All Spanish scheduled routes are up except Tenerife (the charter figure is down in every case) Faro scheduled is up, charter is down. Dubai continues to rise with a 4% increase.
The airport pax figure as a whole, is down 5.5% which is a lot better than some in August. The rolling year pax figure is 10.6% down at 4,673,982 so it looks like we shall make the magical 5m figure this year.
Domestic routes: Gatwick +18%, Heathrow +6% Aberdeen +55% Belfast City +14% and Southampton +1% all the others are down. (Jersey has not published yet)
International routes: Nice +2%, Rome +2%, All Spanish scheduled routes are up except Tenerife (the charter figure is down in every case) Faro scheduled is up, charter is down. Dubai continues to rise with a 4% increase.
The airport pax figure as a whole, is down 5.5% which is a lot better than some in August. The rolling year pax figure is 10.6% down at 4,673,982 so it looks like we shall make the magical 5m figure this year.
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Netherlands
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Yes those figures are quite encouraging. I think the 5.5% August monthly reduction on the same month last year is possibly the lowest for some time and that is with some destination pax figures not in yet. So perhaps things are starting to bottom out, although the coming winter is going to be tough with quite a few cutbacks ie LHR and AMS.
Summer 2010 looks promising at the moment, perhaps there could be a return to growth then ?
I wonder if Easyjet will increase from 5 to 6 aircraft from the end of June next summer as per this year when the seats for that period are put on sale. I seem to remember them saying in a recent release that the proposed staff reductions were to ensure the right crewing levels for future flying or something like that. They also said the number of aircraft at NCL is expected to remain stable. So does that mean stable at 5 or 6?.
Summer 2010 looks promising at the moment, perhaps there could be a return to growth then ?
I wonder if Easyjet will increase from 5 to 6 aircraft from the end of June next summer as per this year when the seats for that period are put on sale. I seem to remember them saying in a recent release that the proposed staff reductions were to ensure the right crewing levels for future flying or something like that. They also said the number of aircraft at NCL is expected to remain stable. So does that mean stable at 5 or 6?.
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Netherlands
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The AMS is currently 2x 733 and 2x F70, some days a 738 replaces one of the 733s I think. So its about 414/458 seats. For the winter its at the moment 1x 733, 1x 734 and 1x 738, 445 seats. So the number of seats is similar summer and winter. But in the winter there is no mid morning departure from NCL for the first time since I can remember, a very popular service for connections. Cant understand this at all ?.
It will be interesting to see how the passenger figures look when this happens.
At present from summer 2010 it is planned to go back to 5 daily, with the re introduction of the mid morning departure. (2x 737 and 3x F70?)
It will be interesting to see how the passenger figures look when this happens.
At present from summer 2010 it is planned to go back to 5 daily, with the re introduction of the mid morning departure. (2x 737 and 3x F70?)
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Netherlands
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FlyBe 2010
Dont know if this is an increase, but now booking to end of June for,
SOU 4x daily, EXE 1x daily, CWL 1x daily, LGW 4x daily and Belfast City 2x Daily. (frequency for weekdays, weekends vary )
JER is M W F and Su and Limoges on Sat.
Could it be 3 based aircraft with some new routes to come??.
Jersey gone for winter. Thought it a bit odd for a winter flight fron NCL.
SOU 4x daily, EXE 1x daily, CWL 1x daily, LGW 4x daily and Belfast City 2x Daily. (frequency for weekdays, weekends vary )
JER is M W F and Su and Limoges on Sat.
Could it be 3 based aircraft with some new routes to come??.
Jersey gone for winter. Thought it a bit odd for a winter flight fron NCL.
Last edited by fl dutchman; 16th Sep 2009 at 10:35.