OXFORD/KIDLINGTON
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: York, UK
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That would be interesting, because as someone who travels up to Yorkshire a lot, I have noticed that not only are the trains an absolute faff, but there is no coach service worth mentioning! You have to go into London and out again, or take a similarly indirect route I believe. Currently driving is the only sensible way to get to Yorkshire from Oxford, so far as I have found.
An affordable service could come in very useful!
On a related note to all of the potential commercial routes in or out of OXF, is there any likelihood of businesses setting up shop? I can't imagine a MacDonalds is a million miles away?
An affordable service could come in very useful!
On a related note to all of the potential commercial routes in or out of OXF, is there any likelihood of businesses setting up shop? I can't imagine a MacDonalds is a million miles away?
Join Date: Mar 2012
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There's already a Starbucks/Cafe at the airport, along with somewhere to buy snacks, magazines, newspapers etc. I don't think McDonalds would really be an attractive option, it doesn't match the demographic very well, and I think the airport is trying to offer an 'executive' style experience.
Join Date: Aug 2004
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it doesn't match the demographic very well,
Re 7.... That does not even pay for the catering truck and the crews per diem I guess...
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Crowle United Kingdom
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Early days with an unknown airport not know for passenger flights. What sized jets can land ? 737/600 ( or 3/5). A318?. Paris airfrance ?. Embraer 170/90?.
What of props etc n obv a 146 fj100 .
Also what routes might work.
What of props etc n obv a 146 fj100 .
Also what routes might work.
Last edited by onyxcrowle; 20th Mar 2013 at 07:46.
Join Date: Dec 2011
Location: Middlesex (under the flightpath)
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Quote: "Also what routes might work. How much pulication of the route. Howabout Minian paint a Union jack or repaint to make the passengers identify with it.nn"
Good idea, suggested the name "British Minoan" in an earlier post, it's similar thinking!
Quote: "But in answer to the comments made about oxf . Lba, As said above there is no direct train. Better still get a heathrow rail link into oxf. National rail . Direct to heathrow abd perhaps make some smaller airports eg huy or randomly for example dtv or even syy a quick link into heathrow. No slots affected. Make the rubway bigger adx ils nexpand the apron. Might sound pie in the sky but the direct and properly timed no stop service tk heathrow could make a great feeder inti lhr . No impact on slots n free up the slots by transfering the rely smaller stuff from lhr there.
Final thing what is the smallest schedueld ac to fly into lhr ?. Any props ? Dont flame for this pls just a genuine interest In it n enjoy thr discussions here"
Hmmm, interesting idea, sounds a little like the "Northolt as third runway" idea, that appears to have died a death now.
Four parallel rwys at Heathrow is a much better idea!
Would this be a stopgap until 2 more rwys are built at Heathrow? If it is to be instead of 2 more rwys at Heathrow, forget it!
Good idea, suggested the name "British Minoan" in an earlier post, it's similar thinking!
Quote: "But in answer to the comments made about oxf . Lba, As said above there is no direct train. Better still get a heathrow rail link into oxf. National rail . Direct to heathrow abd perhaps make some smaller airports eg huy or randomly for example dtv or even syy a quick link into heathrow. No slots affected. Make the rubway bigger adx ils nexpand the apron. Might sound pie in the sky but the direct and properly timed no stop service tk heathrow could make a great feeder inti lhr . No impact on slots n free up the slots by transfering the rely smaller stuff from lhr there.
Final thing what is the smallest schedueld ac to fly into lhr ?. Any props ? Dont flame for this pls just a genuine interest In it n enjoy thr discussions here"
Hmmm, interesting idea, sounds a little like the "Northolt as third runway" idea, that appears to have died a death now.
Four parallel rwys at Heathrow is a much better idea!
Would this be a stopgap until 2 more rwys are built at Heathrow? If it is to be instead of 2 more rwys at Heathrow, forget it!
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: UK
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Minoan Air website
What i particually like about the Minoan Air website is the following...
PROPELLERSDowty Aerospace 6-bladedStructureCarbon fibre - easily repairable
Because your average pax wants to know the baldes are "easily repairable"... erm excuse me Captain does that mean they need repairing often enough for that to be their main benefit?!
The "Fleet" page on their website, reads like low grade notes for an airline interview...
PROPELLERSDowty Aerospace 6-bladedStructureCarbon fibre - easily repairable
Because your average pax wants to know the baldes are "easily repairable"... erm excuse me Captain does that mean they need repairing often enough for that to be their main benefit?!
The "Fleet" page on their website, reads like low grade notes for an airline interview...
But in answer to the comments made about oxf . Lba, As said above there is no direct train. Better still get a heathrow rail link into oxf. National rail . Direct to heathrow abd perhaps make some smaller airports eg huy or randomly for example dtv or even syy a quick link into heathrow. No slots affected. Make the rubway bigger adx ils nexpand the apron. Might sound pie in the sky but the direct and properly timed no stop service tk heathrow could make a great feeder inti lhr .
The lack of publicity is killing Minoan's new service IMO. Where's the billboards, newspaper & radio ads etc etc?
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: UK
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Dead Pan:
despite the absolute importance to any airline of having a markerting campaign.
Having all those good things costs ££££. Something i think Minoan does not have a lot of.
despite the absolute importance to any airline of having a markerting campaign.
Having all those good things costs ££££. Something i think Minoan does not have a lot of.
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: York, UK
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dead pan I believe their are plans to extend a branch line from the new rail project towards the airport, which I believe may have an important impact on the connectivity of the airport.
Last edited by PhiltheReaper; 21st Mar 2013 at 15:56.
Meanwhile, back in the real world...
citywing are running flights to LBA and OXF just for the TT period. The OXF IOM flights often connected on to BHD.
And a rail link? For an airport that has one actual scheduled service that has been running for a few weeks and another one planned - I know we are talking about the south-east, but really???
Last edited by SWBKCB; 20th Mar 2013 at 21:17.
And a rail link? For an airport that has one actual scheduled service that has been running for a few weeks and another one planned - I know we are talking about the south-east, but really???
On the plus side it does have pretty good road links and is only a short hop into Oxford city centre. Rail links can wait - LHR managed fine without one for decades.
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Sheffield
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Give it a chance.
Can you imagine how it would be in reverse, such that Oxford was up and running and then someone proposed starting at something at Luton?
Bristol is not exactly the dream location for an airport either.
Can you imagine how it would be in reverse, such that Oxford was up and running and then someone proposed starting at something at Luton?
Bristol is not exactly the dream location for an airport either.
Join Date: Aug 2004
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@derelicte
I see you are Sheffield based. A great airport at the time with enough connections for a while by some "blue chip" airlines like Sabena, BA and KLM and a proper marketing team and budget. And still they did not make it work...
The reason I am interested is the fact that I think that this airport has a much better potential but is not picked up by the big boys and when it starts there is NO marketing what so ever it seems... Such a missed opportunity... In my world this would be a FLYBE base that could work...
ps what is the LF today/yesterday?
Give it a chance.
The reason I am interested is the fact that I think that this airport has a much better potential but is not picked up by the big boys and when it starts there is NO marketing what so ever it seems... Such a missed opportunity... In my world this would be a FLYBE base that could work...
ps what is the LF today/yesterday?
Join Date: Nov 2010
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If you chaps are referring to my rail link comment, I would ask that you notice I said "towards" the airport. I do not believe the rail network project is coming "to" the airport, just rather nearer than the current DCT Lonon rail routing.
Join Date: Jul 2004
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Kidlington is not an "Airport", it's an "Aerodrome", I can rename my house a castle but that doesn't suggest that Wills and Kate will be popping by for tea & biscuits anytime soon!
Lydd renamed itself "London/Ashford" gawd knows how many years ago and what has developed there and since? Kidlington, equally as ridiculously, renames itself "London/Oxford" and, at this moment in time, a tin pot (poor country) operator has come in with 50 seater geriatric turbo-props offering bucket shop fares that, by all accounts, are carrying load factors of some 15% and guys on here are talking about "Aerodrome" rail stations and "What routes next?".
Come on, get off your Scalextric and/or your Hornby train sets, Kidlington is a regional aerodrome that, alike Lydd, is trying to make it in to the big time, pigs will fly before that ever happens so, perhaps, time to land back on planet earth and start thinking realistically.
Lydd renamed itself "London/Ashford" gawd knows how many years ago and what has developed there and since? Kidlington, equally as ridiculously, renames itself "London/Oxford" and, at this moment in time, a tin pot (poor country) operator has come in with 50 seater geriatric turbo-props offering bucket shop fares that, by all accounts, are carrying load factors of some 15% and guys on here are talking about "Aerodrome" rail stations and "What routes next?".
Come on, get off your Scalextric and/or your Hornby train sets, Kidlington is a regional aerodrome that, alike Lydd, is trying to make it in to the big time, pigs will fly before that ever happens so, perhaps, time to land back on planet earth and start thinking realistically.
Join Date: Aug 2007
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Seventy odd miles from Oxford in various directions, BA at Heathrow, EasyJet at Luton and Bristol, and FlyBe at Birmingham and Southampton offer around 40 flights a day to Edinburgh. For passengers originating from the Oxford area, the journey to and from each of these airports has its frustrations be they coaches, car parking or just the overall cost to them or their company. The challenge for Oxford Airport and Minoan is to tempt enough of these `locals' to its flights.
A lesson from history suggests that a properly advertised, consistently reliable service from a passenger friendly airport can do just that. Back in the 70s & 80s Liverpool was on its knees. The motorways led all traffic east to Manchester and its sparkling terminals, leaving Liverpool with just the Isle of Man and Belfast traffic. Even the main IT players had deserted the airport. And then a gent called Stellios arrived with an orange tailed Boeing 737 and the rest is history. What he did was to advertise his lower fares in Manchester as well as Liverpool, and to stress that flying with him would be simpler, as he used a quieter local airport. Funny old thing, the masses suddenly recognised that the M56 was two way and today you are as likely to hear accents from across NW England as you are from Liverpool.
I am not saying LCCs should or indeed ever will flock to Kidlington. But the airport is correct in believing there is a market for money to be made on a small number of key routes. However, they really need to invest greater time and energy on the project. How much for a banner on the hedge alongside the A44 advertising the flights, for ads in the local press as far out as Swindon, Aylesbury, Warwick and Worcester? Compared to the recent significant investment in airfield aids, the lack of advertising is simply bizarre. And if London Oxford Airport really wants to be an airport it needs to act like one, for no where else do you have ask to come in at the quirky security hut, with its `Carry On' film barrier! Airports succeed by carefully identifying markets, then being passenger and potential passenger friendly. The more folk in the car park and cafe the more return they get on their investment.
I really hope Kidlington suceeds in this venture, if they started Glasgow I would use it for business. But you have to win your markets and sell your `edge' over the competition. You can make the best pizza in the world but no one will buy one if they don't know it exists!
A lesson from history suggests that a properly advertised, consistently reliable service from a passenger friendly airport can do just that. Back in the 70s & 80s Liverpool was on its knees. The motorways led all traffic east to Manchester and its sparkling terminals, leaving Liverpool with just the Isle of Man and Belfast traffic. Even the main IT players had deserted the airport. And then a gent called Stellios arrived with an orange tailed Boeing 737 and the rest is history. What he did was to advertise his lower fares in Manchester as well as Liverpool, and to stress that flying with him would be simpler, as he used a quieter local airport. Funny old thing, the masses suddenly recognised that the M56 was two way and today you are as likely to hear accents from across NW England as you are from Liverpool.
I am not saying LCCs should or indeed ever will flock to Kidlington. But the airport is correct in believing there is a market for money to be made on a small number of key routes. However, they really need to invest greater time and energy on the project. How much for a banner on the hedge alongside the A44 advertising the flights, for ads in the local press as far out as Swindon, Aylesbury, Warwick and Worcester? Compared to the recent significant investment in airfield aids, the lack of advertising is simply bizarre. And if London Oxford Airport really wants to be an airport it needs to act like one, for no where else do you have ask to come in at the quirky security hut, with its `Carry On' film barrier! Airports succeed by carefully identifying markets, then being passenger and potential passenger friendly. The more folk in the car park and cafe the more return they get on their investment.
I really hope Kidlington suceeds in this venture, if they started Glasgow I would use it for business. But you have to win your markets and sell your `edge' over the competition. You can make the best pizza in the world but no one will buy one if they don't know it exists!