MANCHESTER - 8

[dwlpl]

How? Jet2 are not a member of Star.....
Lisbon, Portugal to Singapore via Manchester, UK is stretching credibility even if you do mean TAP Air Portugal.

Not only that but there is no direct flight to Singapore from Lisbon.

[Vuelo]

errr...so by that reckoning noone would ever travel MAN-ZRH-MIA, or MAN-DXB-CPT, or MAN-FRA-SFO...because they are pretty much detours too.

As for LIS, plenty of passengers fly with BA from LIS-LHR-LAD, LIS-LHR-GIG etc etc

The argument that to fly two hours or so in the opposite direction to connect to a flight going in the other direction is a non-starter is simply wrong.

[Janu]

Emirates 18 service, operated by the A380; departed from runway one (23R) yesterday - how come?

[wanna_be_there]

It may be that 23L might still be out of service due to snow.

During winter ops, only 23R/5L are cleared of snow, meaning there is less to clean an at least the airport can stay open.

[roverman]

EK17/18 arrived 05L today for the same reason.

[MUFC_fan]

Etihad open Manchester Airport lounge : Manchester Airport News Stories

I'm a bit confused. People on here are very quick to throw Manchester into the pits. "Once the best airport in the world - not it's terrible" etc. etc. "Manchester can't support F class passengers" etc. etc.

However, what is this love affair with Manchester and long haul carriers? The link at the top is only the latest example - the fourth airport on their network to have a private lounge. Etihad fly to some of the largest airports on the planet - what makes MAN so special? Is the love affair of the ME carriers anything to do with the football clubs? I know now that Etihad has close ties with Manchester City but all three were at MAN before that point. Going on about ME carries, EK making MAN the world's first regional airport to host the A380 daily and it's likely massive expansion will take place next year!

Another carrier - SQ. They mess about with that schedule more than Sir Alex does with his United team but they STILL serve the airport! AA - BA supposedly put pressure on them to move more operations but they're still there.

The list goes on...

It is also the most talked about airport on this and 'the other' forum. 'The other' being more worldwide focused therefore making MAN arguably the most talked about airport on the planet.

So...waffle over, question time.

What is so bloody special about Manchester International Airport?

[biddedout]

Its not in bloody London

[wanna_be_there]

What is so bloody special about Manchester International Airport?

I think MAN has always been a 'strange' airport.

To think its secured some of the routes/aircraft it has is nothing short of astounding.
There are airports around the world that would give their right arm to have a fraction of what MAN has, and it just keeps on comming!

Some achievements:

-EK A380 before some of the worlds busiest airports (FRA/LAX/JFK)
-4th EY lounge in the WORLD
-one of the few airports to see a service from all 3 major ME carriers
-up to 6 flights a DAY to New York (PIA/BG included as they have/will have the rights to serve it)
-up to 2 daily CX freighters, and up till this year, was the only place in the UK you could see a china airlines aircraft
-the only UK regional not to have been cut by AA, and one of only 4 euro cities they linked with ORD this winter.

What brings them here though?

Yes Manchester has a large population, but its nothing special. Considering its also reasonably close to LHR its done exeptionally well.

Maybe its lower fees, maybe its the loads. I doubt anyone on here will have a definative answer, but like you say, we seem to have been blessed when it comes to our long-hauls!

[Helen49]

It is amidst a massive catchment area, has a massive edge over its competitors (Liverpool shortish runway, Leeds inaccessible and built on a hill, Blackpool numpty management - according to the Blackpool forum, Birmingham even more miles driving down the M6) so MAN succeeds depite itself!
Helen

[Ian Brooks]

Navpi
Vibrant is the best way I can describe Manchester, when I moved from London
a few years ago (quite a few) Manchester was just another northern city
but in last 10 yars or so has just reinvented it`s self
The Northern 1/4 is wonderful
Ian B

[spannersatcx]

and up till this year, was the only place in the UK you could see a china airlines aircraft

China Airlines flys 3x a week to MAN, wed, fri, sun!

[Ian Brooks]

And maywell be more next year if they take up the extra allocation

Ian B

[Will_McKenzie]

Spannersatcx I think that statement means that they fly into another UK airport, but only in the last year, whereas China Airlines Cargo has been at MAN much longer than that... correct me if I am wrong though!

[Skipness One Echo]

To think its secured some of the routes/aircraft it has is nothing short of astounding

Why on Earth do you conclude this? Big catchment area, fair amount of wealth, friendly people, lots going for it. Until recent years had a catchment area that took in Leeds to Liverpool for almost all routes and even laid claim to being a gateway for Scotland.

but in last 10 years or so has just reinvented it`s self

In fairness the rest of the country helped to pay for what the IRA bombed. I lived in Salford for six months. Not the best.

It is no exaggeration to suggest you could shut down 50% of all other City Universities if Manchester was large enough to meet demand.

There is London, there is Manchester, but sorry other UK cities don't come close ! Maybe that's why its airport does so well.

Thanks for that. I merely went to Glasgow University (est1451), member of the Russell Group, noted Alumni incuding Bord-Orr, Lord Kelvin, etc. Poor me. I don't count. What am I (and the rest of us ) to do. My life is crap, a sheer disaster because I wasn't honoured to go to Manchester. What to do?

[wanna_be_there]

China Airlines flys 3x a week to MAN, wed, fri, sun!

I was refering to the fact they now additionally fly from LHR now.

Quote:
To think its secured some of the routes/aircraft it has is nothing short of astounding
Why on Earth do you conclude this?

Mainly because of some of the points I enlisted in the same post?

Thanks for that. I merely went to Glasgow University (est1451), member of the Russell Group, noted Alumni incuding Bord-Orr, Lord Kelvin, etc. Poor me. I don't count. What am I (and the rest of us ) to do. My life is crap, a sheer disaster because I wasn't honoured to go to Manchester. What to do?

Wind your neck back in! Whilst the poster maybe put it the wrong way, they wernt saying the other universities were sub standard or the qualifications were useless.

Jeez, why does everything end up becoming a huge bitching contest on here, I thought we enlist on this site for the love of the same interest?

[Skipness One Echo]

Wind your neck back in!

That's the smartest thing you've come out with yet.

China Airlines flys 3x a week to MAN, wed, fri, sun!

For the record China Airlines serve Heathrow with a thrice weekly A340 passenger service direct from Taipei whereas Manchester has the cargo on the B747-400F. Apples and pears I think but still a gorgeous colour scheme.

EK A380 before some of the worlds busiest airports (FRA/LAX/JFK)
-4th EY lounge in the WORLD
-one of the few airports to see a service from all 3 major ME carriers
-up to 6 flights a DAY to New York (PIA/BG included as they have/will have the rights to serve it)
-up to 2 daily CX freighters, and up till this year, was the only place in the UK you could see a china airlines aircraft
-the only UK regional not to have been cut by AA, and one of only 4 euro cities they linked with ORD this winter.

You compare MAN with other regional European airports and are astounded. Why? Those are EUROPEAN airports, not British. Hence Etihad of Abu Dhabi pretty much run by UK ex pats. QATAR is the same, as is Emirates. Indeed Cathay was for many years too. The countries are all ex British territories with long links to the mainland. Indeed MAN has seen Emirates right back to the early days of the airline.

The UK always has had way more direct links to the US than comparable European airports partly due to trade, partly language, partly history. AA MAN-ORD has been flown for a quarter of a century and so you shouldn't be too astounded it has lasted well in comparison with some others.

People in the UK forget just how "unusal" being British can be when you take a step back, we're pretty damned lucky in some ways.

[Mouser]

I see me reply earlier in the day has been removed with no explanation, CHINA'S GOVERMENT I wonder

[OltonPete]

DL JFK

Delta JFK

Reported as staying 5 weekly until the end of May is this a slight reduction?

DELTA S11 Initial International Changes as of 11DEC10 AIRLINE ROUTE

This site mainly just checks GDS daily and can be wrong at times.

Pete

[wanna_be_there]

Reported as staying 5 weekly until the end of May is this a slight reduction?

It usually has a reduction at winter as its a lower season and they use the aircraft on carribean and domestic routes. I think next winter will be different however, as AA will also be on JFK daily and I doubt DL will want to loose ground on them

You compare MAN with other regional European airports and are astounded. Why? Those are EUROPEAN airports, not British

pretty much run by UK ex pats

People in the UK forget just how "unusal" being British can be when you take a step back, we're pretty damned lucky in some ways.

So we are basing MAN's success on the fact it is British, and the the fact airlines are run by ex-pats?
Whilst history does have its part to play, lets not forget we are one of the most culturaly diverse nations (hence large PIA presence in UK, Indian carriers at LHR, then theres business, trade, market trends, those taking long haul holidays etc.

I was comparing us to other Euro airports, not just regionals because AMS is bigger, but has no AA service, or EK A380, or no etihad lounge, no F service from SQ.
FRA has no EK A380, no AA ORD service
MAD has no EK A380, no Etihad lounge
LIS has no EK service at all, no Etihad lounge, no AA service, no SQ service

Etc etc etc etc, all not exactly small airports serving small cities are they?

[Skipness One Echo]

It usually has a reduction at winter as its a lower season and they use the aircraft on carribean and domestic routes

I think he's asking why it's not daily from the summer season commencement when the clocks go forward....

It usually has a reduction at winter as its a lower season and they use the aircraft on carribean and domestic routes

Sir if this is your conclusion from what I said then there's no point in debating. It's not exclusively a reason, I tried to guide you to some factors which explain why things are the way they are. And yet you dismiss them with a simple turn of phrase?

I was comparing us to other Euro airports, not just regionals because AMS is bigger, but has no AA service, or EK A380, or no etihad lounge, no F service from SQ.

US? I would put on the fact that you are NOT in any way part of Manchester Airport or any airline therein.

I was comparing us to other Euro airports, not just regionals because AMS is bigger, but has no AA service, or EK A380, or no etihad lounge, no F service from SQ.
FRA has no EK A380, no AA ORD service
MAD has no EK A380, no Etihad lounge
LIS has no EK service at all, no Etihad lounge, no AA service, no SQ service

Etc etc etc etc, all not exactly small airports serving small cities are they?

Amsterdam is a SkyTeam fortress hub and has only recently gained an Emirates service on the B772. Manchester has seen Emirates for three and bit decades, and has now an Emirates A380. The main reason being Emirates was founded and built up by members of the UK aviation establishment.

Frankfurt is a STAR hub and the yields on the long standing AA FRA-ORD route were destroyed by ferocious and combined competition from Lufthansa and the Chicago based UNITED AIRLINES working together and managing to cover connections at both ends trapping AA in a STAR ALLIANCE sandwich. Manchester remains a spoke in other people's hubs. It is not a HUB for any alliance. This is why American are not up against a locally based strong competitor, and have survived a quarter of a century at MAN, having seen off BMI who had few connections at US end.

You say Lisbon has no Emirates service at all. True, Newcastle does though as the UK is a mature Emirates market. You quote the F Service from Singapore. Mate you must be aware, that the bulk of the SQ service outta MAN these days is sold from Munich.

Dude you're comparing apples and pears and waving bananas all at once.