SOUTHAMPTON
StGermain
On the subject of runway re-surfacing. The OPS Director played a somewhat passive role. The Runway Re-surfacing Team, provided by BAA, did the bulk of management, both mobilisation and implementation, together with supplemented Airside OPS staff.
As for the Marshall Asphalt grooving, I saw the friction assessment results upon re-surfacing, far better than expectations. Sincerely doubt that with the prevailing runway crossfall that grooving was necessary, which to this day is not fit for purpose as it water does not fully drain from the grooves.
The current grooving situation still proves problematical. How many aircrew have seen a damp runway (ie a visible matt surface) which is reported as "wet" by Airside OPS due to water being trapped in the grooves and then being thrown up into the wheel arches by the inspecting vehicle. How many thousands in revenue has been lost over the years by diversions (I remember the Air Europa B738 & Spanair MD 83 diversions) because of this, 3+ hours after rain has ceased! Add to that the number of occasions when the runway has been closed due to a corrugated surface caused by water sitting in the grooves, freezing and expanding over the top of the grooves. I know of someone who congratulated himself about the money he saved by not having full width grooves, one decision that the Runway Re-surfacing Team did sign off!
On the subject of runway re-surfacing. The OPS Director played a somewhat passive role. The Runway Re-surfacing Team, provided by BAA, did the bulk of management, both mobilisation and implementation, together with supplemented Airside OPS staff.
As for the Marshall Asphalt grooving, I saw the friction assessment results upon re-surfacing, far better than expectations. Sincerely doubt that with the prevailing runway crossfall that grooving was necessary, which to this day is not fit for purpose as it water does not fully drain from the grooves.
The current grooving situation still proves problematical. How many aircrew have seen a damp runway (ie a visible matt surface) which is reported as "wet" by Airside OPS due to water being trapped in the grooves and then being thrown up into the wheel arches by the inspecting vehicle. How many thousands in revenue has been lost over the years by diversions (I remember the Air Europa B738 & Spanair MD 83 diversions) because of this, 3+ hours after rain has ceased! Add to that the number of occasions when the runway has been closed due to a corrugated surface caused by water sitting in the grooves, freezing and expanding over the top of the grooves. I know of someone who congratulated himself about the money he saved by not having full width grooves, one decision that the Runway Re-surfacing Team did sign off!
StGermain
Just to clarify my position on a northern taxiway, the figure quoted was to connect the north end of TWY A to the runway. Not all that is required but would have been a significant improvement over what still exists today. The position of such a taxiway (adjacent to Stand 14) would permit most 02 landing traffic to taxi directly off the runway, without having to make a 180 turn, would significantly expedite 20 departures (and the ability of ATC to increase departure rates) and remove the current log-jam with aircraft on Stands 7/8/9 unable to push back due to aircraft queuing at Hold B1 awaiting line-up clearance.
You mention things not financially stacking up, are we not currently talking about the airport Master Plan, something that was formulated many many years after the world class airport group bought the site freehold, did they not think that the airport had development potential and if so how was the infrastructure going to develop?
Just to clarify my position on a northern taxiway, the figure quoted was to connect the north end of TWY A to the runway. Not all that is required but would have been a significant improvement over what still exists today. The position of such a taxiway (adjacent to Stand 14) would permit most 02 landing traffic to taxi directly off the runway, without having to make a 180 turn, would significantly expedite 20 departures (and the ability of ATC to increase departure rates) and remove the current log-jam with aircraft on Stands 7/8/9 unable to push back due to aircraft queuing at Hold B1 awaiting line-up clearance.
You mention things not financially stacking up, are we not currently talking about the airport Master Plan, something that was formulated many many years after the world class airport group bought the site freehold, did they not think that the airport had development potential and if so how was the infrastructure going to develop?
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TCAS FAN
I knew you wouldn't let this one lie!
ha ha. I see that you are again concentrating on just the operational aspects on all of your issues with SOU, laying blame at the feet of those who you consider to have no competence because they haven't always subscribed to your ideas for a utopian airport. At the risk of repeating myself chum, it really does come down to finance available. As you are seemingly an operational bod, I know that you will be in agony with what follows. Truth is my friend, available funds will always be the investment limiter at any airport,and in particular the subject regional airport where 90% of the income comes from one airline who will not be keen to finance any expansion because a: their air fares will have to pay for it, and b: the resultant increase in ground capacity could open the way for rival airlines.
The runway performance issues you have cited my dear chap are quite rare, I think, and just look at your choice of the aeroplanes with operational difficulties in wet runway conditions - B737/800 and MD83! The runway is only 1700m long for goodness sake, no wonder the crews were reluctant to commit to that. I actually think that the airline traffic model currently operating,is just about right for the length of that runway.
As for the airport master plan, try and reflect on what the masterplan process asked airports to do. ie; in a perfect world, how would you grow and where would you grow to (land requirements) during the next 25 years. This work was completed by airports in 2006, a whole three years before the UK was bitten hard by a long term recession and airlines failing frequently. No wonder the plans have changed chum, if it was your business I think you may have reflected on your aspirations too and limited your financial risk just like the management of SOU have done.
You've obviously got a heap of history with SOU and lots of reasonable ideas for change. Have you ever thought about channeling your frustration with the perceived lack of competence at SOU, in to something positive by going to speak to them? May be worth a thought chap, as your audience on this forum are not the people who can make those changes happen.
Please do not take the above response as a dig at your professional, operational opinions. I just had to comment to bring a little bit of reality and honesty in to your world and the minds of followers on this thread...
ha ha. I see that you are again concentrating on just the operational aspects on all of your issues with SOU, laying blame at the feet of those who you consider to have no competence because they haven't always subscribed to your ideas for a utopian airport. At the risk of repeating myself chum, it really does come down to finance available. As you are seemingly an operational bod, I know that you will be in agony with what follows. Truth is my friend, available funds will always be the investment limiter at any airport,and in particular the subject regional airport where 90% of the income comes from one airline who will not be keen to finance any expansion because a: their air fares will have to pay for it, and b: the resultant increase in ground capacity could open the way for rival airlines. The runway performance issues you have cited my dear chap are quite rare, I think, and just look at your choice of the aeroplanes with operational difficulties in wet runway conditions - B737/800 and MD83! The runway is only 1700m long for goodness sake, no wonder the crews were reluctant to commit to that. I actually think that the airline traffic model currently operating,is just about right for the length of that runway.
As for the airport master plan, try and reflect on what the masterplan process asked airports to do. ie; in a perfect world, how would you grow and where would you grow to (land requirements) during the next 25 years. This work was completed by airports in 2006, a whole three years before the UK was bitten hard by a long term recession and airlines failing frequently. No wonder the plans have changed chum, if it was your business I think you may have reflected on your aspirations too and limited your financial risk just like the management of SOU have done.
You've obviously got a heap of history with SOU and lots of reasonable ideas for change. Have you ever thought about channeling your frustration with the perceived lack of competence at SOU, in to something positive by going to speak to them? May be worth a thought chap, as your audience on this forum are not the people who can make those changes happen.
Please do not take the above response as a dig at your professional, operational opinions. I just had to comment to bring a little bit of reality and honesty in to your world and the minds of followers on this thread...
StGermain
I, together with many of my colleagues, tried channelling our frustration for 20+ years. The resultant action - zilch, finances being mostly focussed on landside projects.
Time will tell, either a significant investment in the airside and surrounding infrastructure (if HAH have the stomach for it) to improve runway declared distances and movement rates, sell, or stagnation and eventual decline (BEE to dispose of their E195s in favour of the underpowered E175s?).
It could be done, look at what Southend have achieved.
I, together with many of my colleagues, tried channelling our frustration for 20+ years. The resultant action - zilch, finances being mostly focussed on landside projects.
Time will tell, either a significant investment in the airside and surrounding infrastructure (if HAH have the stomach for it) to improve runway declared distances and movement rates, sell, or stagnation and eventual decline (BEE to dispose of their E195s in favour of the underpowered E175s?).
It could be done, look at what Southend have achieved.
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St Germain: You are talking rubbish.
Either you are a bean counter or you just have a penchant for going against the grain.
Anyone who cares to have an opinion on SOU will agree that the sale of land practically inside the airport's active boundary and certainly no more than a few hundred metres from the runway for a mail distribution centre is about as dumb a mistake as they come. Such a thing could be erected anywhere yet it now sits in a place that is going to hamstring the airport for years to come. Likewise with the construction of a new carpark where the much needed taxiway should be. Surely any businessman worth his salt would prohibit any landside infrastructure encroaching on to airside. There is no need for it to infringe on valuable landnor does it reap any benefit from doing so. The only answer as to why these catastrophic mistakes have been made is sheer short-sightedness. You allude to this in your post yourself and no amount of bean counting can justify aquick fix being justified in the face of what now amounts to a straitjacket on airside ops.
For goodness sake even the likes of BOH and SEN have had millions ploughed into them whilst having very few ops to go on. The new owner of Manston is even talking about investing money. BAA or whatever it is called now must have reaped some sort of profit from the sale of EDI, LGW and STN or even if not it’s annual airside investment budget now has to stretch to fewer airports. Either way itstands to reason that some funds should/could be made available to SOUairside regardless of the recession. You have to speculate to accumulate especially if you are an operation with any kind of aspiration. SOU has lots of unique points none more so than it being the cruise capital of northern Europe amongst many other things.
I think the real reason why no investment is materialising, and it has been touched upon on here before, is that BAA do not want SOU taking away any of LHR's market which of course is nonsense. It’s like when car manufacturers bring out a new model to slot beneath another model in its line up and therefore don't make it as good as it could be. It's a total nonsense and proof that SOU would be better of away from its owner which rather ironically now calls itself "Heathrow Holdings Limited". Point proved.
Either you are a bean counter or you just have a penchant for going against the grain.
Anyone who cares to have an opinion on SOU will agree that the sale of land practically inside the airport's active boundary and certainly no more than a few hundred metres from the runway for a mail distribution centre is about as dumb a mistake as they come. Such a thing could be erected anywhere yet it now sits in a place that is going to hamstring the airport for years to come. Likewise with the construction of a new carpark where the much needed taxiway should be. Surely any businessman worth his salt would prohibit any landside infrastructure encroaching on to airside. There is no need for it to infringe on valuable landnor does it reap any benefit from doing so. The only answer as to why these catastrophic mistakes have been made is sheer short-sightedness. You allude to this in your post yourself and no amount of bean counting can justify aquick fix being justified in the face of what now amounts to a straitjacket on airside ops.
For goodness sake even the likes of BOH and SEN have had millions ploughed into them whilst having very few ops to go on. The new owner of Manston is even talking about investing money. BAA or whatever it is called now must have reaped some sort of profit from the sale of EDI, LGW and STN or even if not it’s annual airside investment budget now has to stretch to fewer airports. Either way itstands to reason that some funds should/could be made available to SOUairside regardless of the recession. You have to speculate to accumulate especially if you are an operation with any kind of aspiration. SOU has lots of unique points none more so than it being the cruise capital of northern Europe amongst many other things.
I think the real reason why no investment is materialising, and it has been touched upon on here before, is that BAA do not want SOU taking away any of LHR's market which of course is nonsense. It’s like when car manufacturers bring out a new model to slot beneath another model in its line up and therefore don't make it as good as it could be. It's a total nonsense and proof that SOU would be better of away from its owner which rather ironically now calls itself "Heathrow Holdings Limited". Point proved.
Leg said:
I assume that's not what you meant to say - I think more investment would be preferable!
One would have to assume that what you describe is a standard commercial threat to HAH, and is against the backdrop that Flybe might actually increase their ops from SOU as part of the current review/base "consolidation" process.
To actually carry it out would be commercial suicide by Flybe at their biggest base IMHO.
For all it's faults, SOU does have a great location (at the centre of the south coast, and near enough to the home counties to make it an alternative to LHR and LGW for some), great transport links (road, rail and cruise ships!) and decent facilities (landside, at least).
How many of the above does BOH have? And lets not forget who they would be competing with (on the "sunshine" routes anyway), if they did move down the A31? Like I said, it would be madness - IMHO!
so either no more investment in this little airport, or no airport!
One would have to assume that what you describe is a standard commercial threat to HAH, and is against the backdrop that Flybe might actually increase their ops from SOU as part of the current review/base "consolidation" process.
To actually carry it out would be commercial suicide by Flybe at their biggest base IMHO.
For all it's faults, SOU does have a great location (at the centre of the south coast, and near enough to the home counties to make it an alternative to LHR and LGW for some), great transport links (road, rail and cruise ships!) and decent facilities (landside, at least).
How many of the above does BOH have? And lets not forget who they would be competing with (on the "sunshine" routes anyway), if they did move down the A31? Like I said, it would be madness - IMHO!
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Rivet Joint
Hey chum, thanks for your post. A bean counter? I've been called worse but yes I am. What I also possess is a little more insight in to the reasons for not purchasing the site where the Royal Mail sorting office sits today. Take the time to read back a few posts chum, the airport as it was then could not afford the £21m price tag for the purchase of that business park. BAA had just spent £25m on the purchase and redevelopment of the main airport site and it certainly wasn't able to purchase the additional piece of land that, correctly as it happens, would not be used for an airport development whilst the airport was in BAA ownership.
I do not believe that HAH are the slightest bit concerned about traffic and passenger drawn away from Heathrow. There is so much demand for slots at Heathrow any capacity released could be instantly resold or traded. Because of the length of SOUs runway, any traffic released from LHR would have a negligible impact.
Keep up the good work chum
I do not believe that HAH are the slightest bit concerned about traffic and passenger drawn away from Heathrow. There is so much demand for slots at Heathrow any capacity released could be instantly resold or traded. Because of the length of SOUs runway, any traffic released from LHR would have a negligible impact.
Keep up the good work chum
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Wycombe, no mistake son, whilst you are correct investment will be preferable, there will be no future investment at SOU because their cash cow is not willing to pay their crazy fees, and if flybe do up sticks (believe me they will if the airport do not play ball), then the whole place is in doubt, so again no investment, get it now?
SOU is not flybe's biggest base, BOH would work as they would not compete with incumbent operators, remember once Ejets go so do the sunshine routes (not all, but most). The new bod in charge does not take prisoners and these airports are about to find out how tough he is.
SOU is not flybe's biggest base, BOH would work as they would not compete with incumbent operators, remember once Ejets go so do the sunshine routes (not all, but most). The new bod in charge does not take prisoners and these airports are about to find out how tough he is.
I work in a world of commercial brinkmanship, and believe me there is a very fine line between toughness and stupidity. That's all I'm saying.
I have no connection with Flybe (other than occasionally used them as a customer out of SOU), so which base is bigger? (I have seen lists suggesting that SOU is, so wasn't making it up!)
I have no connection with Flybe (other than occasionally used them as a customer out of SOU), so which base is bigger? (I have seen lists suggesting that SOU is, so wasn't making it up!)
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2014
2014 is going to be a big year for both FlyBe and southampton Airport. The airline is in a fight for survival and has to get through a long winter yet, when revenues are traditionally low for many airlines.
I think the airline will see it through but emerge as a much smaller outfit, smaller still than plans already indicate. Time will tell.
As for the airport, my observation is that it is more likely than not that the airport will be sold next year along with Glasgow and Aberdeen.
Any airport owner new or not, will want returns from the investment. What that means for SOU is anyone's guess. MAG could buy it and build houses and commercial property, it could be bought by amazon and used for a new Distribution centre and drone base! Anything is possible. Heathrow could decide to build new parallel runways at Southampton, we just don't know.
What is certain is that regional airports in Europe with less than 3m pax are n trouble and generally unable to cover costs. That is the official line of ACI Europe the airports trade body. Smaller Airports need more diverse business or government aid.
From the standpoint of diverse business base at least BOH is better placed than most.
In the UK, we have already seen the closure of Filton and Plymouth airports. They are probably not the last.
It's going to be an interesting year!
FF
I think the airline will see it through but emerge as a much smaller outfit, smaller still than plans already indicate. Time will tell.
As for the airport, my observation is that it is more likely than not that the airport will be sold next year along with Glasgow and Aberdeen.
Any airport owner new or not, will want returns from the investment. What that means for SOU is anyone's guess. MAG could buy it and build houses and commercial property, it could be bought by amazon and used for a new Distribution centre and drone base! Anything is possible. Heathrow could decide to build new parallel runways at Southampton, we just don't know.
What is certain is that regional airports in Europe with less than 3m pax are n trouble and generally unable to cover costs. That is the official line of ACI Europe the airports trade body. Smaller Airports need more diverse business or government aid.
From the standpoint of diverse business base at least BOH is better placed than most.
In the UK, we have already seen the closure of Filton and Plymouth airports. They are probably not the last.
It's going to be an interesting year!
FF
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StGermain: There is no need to read back a few posts old chum as you keep making the same point. I'd like to wager I have a better understanding of land than you seeing as its the subject of my profession and I can tell you that the value of land is largely irrelevant. From a swamp to a plot of land on Bond Street its value is dictated by what someone is willing to pay. What is far more important to greater minds than your own is potential/self preservation. There are many many examples of where even the most inconspicuous piece of land has been purchased for a sum far outweighing its tangible value be it for future potential or even to protect ones interest. The mail distribution centre land ticks both these boxes. It doesn't matter if the land was sold for £100mil there would be a reason why someone was paying that figure and SOU more than anyone had the most to lose from not getting their hands on it. The hard facts might point to the fact they did not have the capital at the time but that merely confirms the basis of my argument that the decision was short sighted. Your other points are baseless especially since BAA bought the greenbelt land to the north east which they themselves intend to use for an industrial park whilst retaining the crucial parts for the airport.
Your last paragraph shows up your misunderstanding of how the modern day hub airport works. Its all about feed and if LHR has any chance of combating the super-hubs in the middle east or even AMS they cannot allow any seepage of this all important feed traffic in particular from the wealthy south going to a neighbour. SOU with its transport links, quick security etc is very appealing to those on business and all this is proof that SOU itself is an example of one of those strategic buys that I touched upon above.
Your last paragraph shows up your misunderstanding of how the modern day hub airport works. Its all about feed and if LHR has any chance of combating the super-hubs in the middle east or even AMS they cannot allow any seepage of this all important feed traffic in particular from the wealthy south going to a neighbour. SOU with its transport links, quick security etc is very appealing to those on business and all this is proof that SOU itself is an example of one of those strategic buys that I touched upon above.
Last edited by Rivet Joint; 3rd Dec 2013 at 22:10.
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Leg: Yes SOU needs BE but vice versa. With SOU BE can have a sizable hub on the South whilst having all the balls in their caught and having absolutely no threat from a bigger rival moving in. I'd like to see you prove SOU is not BE's biggest base now LGW is on the way out and in any event it will shortly be their most strategically important. If you opened your mind a bit you would realise that BE make a living serving routes/airports that the orange and navy blue lot don't/can't touch and the sale of LGW slots are further proof. SOU will reap the rewards of the LGW sale just as soon as BE get back on a better financial footing. It is the perfect and best bet as a stronghold on the South for them. Oh and of course there will be no investment at SOU especially in terms of a runway extension and BE will very much hope it stays that way.
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Flitephone: Nice attempt at trolling but it really is getting boring now. Just like your football team you airport is small fry and always will be. Even the apple of Dorset's eye Palmair has long left the morgue just like most of its population.
I will merely answer with a copy and paste job: -
Lets take a stock,
Southampton:
The cruise capital of northern Europe with 4 cruise terminals and therefore thousands embarking/disembarking daily (indeed recently 30,000 people in one day). Also head office of many of the cruise companies and base for staff transfer (upwards of 800 per ship).
One of the biggest oil refineries in England.
The second biggest container port in the country and the biggest exporter of vehicles in the whole of UK.
2 universities with one of them being in the top 10 of the whole country and being a national leader in various high end fields. Indeed thousands of Asian students come year round.
The best art collection outside London.
The home of the biggest boat show in the UK.
Massively multicultural population.
History wise the airport and city are closely associated with the Spitfire and of course Southampton is where the Titanic set sail from so big draws for tourists.
Also has a royal naval base and many army and RAF bases close by.
Home of a premiership football team with the biggest stadium on the south coast.
The airport has a modern upmarket terminal with a security fast track probably only bettered by LCY and of course is bordered by the main motorway to London and has the closest plane to train distance in the UK.
Also outside the big London airports and Manchester it has the highest number of passengers on nearly all its domestic routes than any other UK airport (200,000 yearly alone on the Edinburgh route – I make that pretty much a ¼ of Bournemouth’s total yearly volume!)
Now Bournemouth.........................
It has a beach?
I will merely answer with a copy and paste job: -
Lets take a stock,
Southampton:
The cruise capital of northern Europe with 4 cruise terminals and therefore thousands embarking/disembarking daily (indeed recently 30,000 people in one day). Also head office of many of the cruise companies and base for staff transfer (upwards of 800 per ship).
One of the biggest oil refineries in England.
The second biggest container port in the country and the biggest exporter of vehicles in the whole of UK.
2 universities with one of them being in the top 10 of the whole country and being a national leader in various high end fields. Indeed thousands of Asian students come year round.
The best art collection outside London.
The home of the biggest boat show in the UK.
Massively multicultural population.
History wise the airport and city are closely associated with the Spitfire and of course Southampton is where the Titanic set sail from so big draws for tourists.
Also has a royal naval base and many army and RAF bases close by.
Home of a premiership football team with the biggest stadium on the south coast.
The airport has a modern upmarket terminal with a security fast track probably only bettered by LCY and of course is bordered by the main motorway to London and has the closest plane to train distance in the UK.
Also outside the big London airports and Manchester it has the highest number of passengers on nearly all its domestic routes than any other UK airport (200,000 yearly alone on the Edinburgh route – I make that pretty much a ¼ of Bournemouth’s total yearly volume!)
Now Bournemouth.........................
It has a beach?
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Rivet Joint
You make some fair points but you need to be a little more open minded. Like all contributors on this forum, you have a opinion but that doesn't make you factually right. I very, very much doubt that you have an inside view or indeed any knowledge of the history behind SOU development. This is my last ever post on here, as I started this thread for a constructive and informed debate on SOU but find it has deteriorated in to un informed opinion. Enjoyable while it lasted chums. Happy landings. 
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I've always enjoyed an informed sharing of opinions on this site....please let's not allow differing views to get in the way of treating one another respectfully.
There appears little point in arguing which of Flybe's bases is the biggest unless you also include the measure by which the statement is made. If its on destinations served then I believe that SOU probably just has the edge, but if its on movements or based aircraft then this may not be correct.
In my opinion, without Flybe, SOU has a massive whole in its operations. Sure, other airlines would probably jump in and pick up the slack but the question the airport operator needs to ask itself is how far does it push this? What is the cost of falling out with it's biggest customer?
Does Flybe need SOU? - well I guess that depends on how successful their operation is and what it contributes to their business. Looking back, it's probably fair to say that there has generally been greater preference and success for operations at SOU when compared to BOH, but 'success' can't be based around a sole measurement.
There appears little point in arguing which of Flybe's bases is the biggest unless you also include the measure by which the statement is made. If its on destinations served then I believe that SOU probably just has the edge, but if its on movements or based aircraft then this may not be correct.
In my opinion, without Flybe, SOU has a massive whole in its operations. Sure, other airlines would probably jump in and pick up the slack but the question the airport operator needs to ask itself is how far does it push this? What is the cost of falling out with it's biggest customer?
Does Flybe need SOU? - well I guess that depends on how successful their operation is and what it contributes to their business. Looking back, it's probably fair to say that there has generally been greater preference and success for operations at SOU when compared to BOH, but 'success' can't be based around a sole measurement.
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Flybe Cuts.
So far Flybe appear to be dropping the following:
SOU-LBA ~18 weekly Q400 (from 19th Jan)
SOU-HAJ 6 weekly Q400 (from 19th Jan)
SOU-BCN 3 weekly E195 (Summer seasonal route)
SOU-BZR 2 weekly E195 (As above)
SOU-IOM 3 weekly Q400 (Again as above)
As for whether anyone will replace them BMI Regional could take a look at a couple the first two, but I'd say the chance of them starting at SOU is pretty slim. Vueling may also want to take a second look at Barcelona, but again that is fairly unlikely.
SOU-LBA ~18 weekly Q400 (from 19th Jan)
SOU-HAJ 6 weekly Q400 (from 19th Jan)
SOU-BCN 3 weekly E195 (Summer seasonal route)
SOU-BZR 2 weekly E195 (As above)
SOU-IOM 3 weekly Q400 (Again as above)
As for whether anyone will replace them BMI Regional could take a look at a couple the first two, but I'd say the chance of them starting at SOU is pretty slim. Vueling may also want to take a second look at Barcelona, but again that is fairly unlikely.
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SOU-LBA
Worked closely with these flights for the past couple of years loads always seemed decent, suppose that's no reflection on whether it was making any brass or not!
Having said that out of the few BE flights we have at LBA (BHD/SOU/GLA), Southampton was/is well known for its terrible on time performance and being canx at the drop of a hat.
I know the afternoon & evening flights are operated by the same crew so any knock on delayed the other flight. must be no fun telling pax they'd be going to BOH (Poor Servisair!
)
Still a very sad situation, wish every single member of crew all the best, 99.9% of them always cheery and even though they must be bricking it about their jobs, maintained a great level of professionalism whilst on duty, from what I've seen anyway. Never easy but especially this time of year.
Judging by the weather I won't be seeing many Dash 8's this evening when i walk into work!
Channex258
Having said that out of the few BE flights we have at LBA (BHD/SOU/GLA), Southampton was/is well known for its terrible on time performance and being canx at the drop of a hat.
I know the afternoon & evening flights are operated by the same crew so any knock on delayed the other flight. must be no fun telling pax they'd be going to BOH (Poor Servisair!
)Still a very sad situation, wish every single member of crew all the best, 99.9% of them always cheery and even though they must be bricking it about their jobs, maintained a great level of professionalism whilst on duty, from what I've seen anyway. Never easy but especially this time of year.
Judging by the weather I won't be seeing many Dash 8's this evening when i walk into work!
Channex258