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Bagso, thanks for that. I know you have studied Davies in some detail.
Do you happen to know whether MAN argued the point verbally at any of the hearings or was the written submission made later?
Do you happen to know whether MAN argued the point verbally at any of the hearings or was the written submission made later?
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Today is the 14th and MAN still hasn't released the monthly traffic report for March. What can we expect with no Easter peak in March this year? Both STN and LHR showed a negative growth in March while ABZ, EDI, GLA and SOU showed a clear growth between 4% and 8%.
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LN-KGL, I suspect MAN will be in negative territory. Perhaps they didn't want to dilute the good news about CX - who knows.
The late posting of stats. on the web site happened once last year as I recall.
Wasn't July only loaded after August?
The late posting of stats. on the web site happened once last year as I recall.
Wasn't July only loaded after August?
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An under the radar weekly flight by Thomson to Puerta Vallarta on the Mexican Pacific coastline I understand
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MANFOD
Airlines to New York surely gear their flights to the required demand and yield.
For example at BHX the EWR 757 is 93% full between late spring, summer, autumn. Yet they have cut 2 days out this year in Feb,and retained 6 days only in March, presumably for low yield.
Therefore the issue with EK possibly doing a through flight to New York from BHX probably wouldn't work in those winter months.
Therefore its ok for MAN to say New York is under served,yet surely US airlines would put a larger plane on the route if the demand/yield justified it. As it stands one can assume that their larger planes are on more profitable routes ?
Nigel
Airlines to New York surely gear their flights to the required demand and yield.
For example at BHX the EWR 757 is 93% full between late spring, summer, autumn. Yet they have cut 2 days out this year in Feb,and retained 6 days only in March, presumably for low yield.
Therefore the issue with EK possibly doing a through flight to New York from BHX probably wouldn't work in those winter months.
Therefore its ok for MAN to say New York is under served,yet surely US airlines would put a larger plane on the route if the demand/yield justified it. As it stands one can assume that their larger planes are on more profitable routes ?
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Mr MANFOD
Not sure, we are going back a bit now, I don't recall it being a huge part of the submission and certainly not verbal (if at all). Others may recall ?
It was certainly raised 2 or 3 times in the latter stage by Graham Stringer MP who may of course have retained briefing papers from the earlier hearings, but by then MAG had bought STN so the force of argument to develop MAN from MAG had gone somewhat off piste !
Six months in and it and it became totally non-existent, presumably as MAG assumed STN would be in the box seat and did not wish the previous argument supporting Manchester to divert attention.
It was therefore left to the MPs who probably thought if MAG cannot argue the point why should we, although credit Mr Stringer he at least did keep plugging away and did forcefully argue that it was a major point totally dismissed by Davies.
I am sure there is a line in one of his interim reports that suggest it significantly harms UK interests... hang on make that London interests !
Had they known what they know now and given news of last few days I wonder if the MAG submissions group may have played a different strategy !
On a general point re EK I am not sure on the effect that a service would have on our scheds.
I am sure I read a CAA report 2003 on 5th freedoms (PIA) that suggested circa 75% of Newark traffic is actually pure connecting , it is old data but even with a 10% margin for error based on todays figures a point to point service would surely stimulate demand rather than taking it away from other operators.
A lot of the analytical research work quoted by armchair analysts on here regarding MAN always seems to suggest a finite market size with airlines taking market share from each other on our "own" routes.
How about a more positive note with a suggestion that MAN claws back traffic in a 100 mile radius that might that otherwise would jumped in the car/train to use London Or of course take the RYR approach and create demand when non existed ?
I'm in Sheds shed, as far as Emirates is concerned. I am inclined to think everything EK touch seems to turn to Gold, any service would be daily, and coupled to a 777/380 it would provide the level of "certainty" that you get from using LHR !
What the US operators do from from MAN compared to LHR is pee poor in context .... 757 ops are pretty meagre fayre in my book and this tinkering of 5 a week etc in Winter does not help.There must also have been a degree of brand loyalty to certain airlines which has now also been swallowed up !
If US airlines are falling over themselves to lose money from LHR I really don't see why should Manchester be penalised with lack of service or higher fares ?
Not sure, we are going back a bit now, I don't recall it being a huge part of the submission and certainly not verbal (if at all). Others may recall ?
It was certainly raised 2 or 3 times in the latter stage by Graham Stringer MP who may of course have retained briefing papers from the earlier hearings, but by then MAG had bought STN so the force of argument to develop MAN from MAG had gone somewhat off piste !
Six months in and it and it became totally non-existent, presumably as MAG assumed STN would be in the box seat and did not wish the previous argument supporting Manchester to divert attention.
It was therefore left to the MPs who probably thought if MAG cannot argue the point why should we, although credit Mr Stringer he at least did keep plugging away and did forcefully argue that it was a major point totally dismissed by Davies.
I am sure there is a line in one of his interim reports that suggest it significantly harms UK interests... hang on make that London interests !
Had they known what they know now and given news of last few days I wonder if the MAG submissions group may have played a different strategy !
On a general point re EK I am not sure on the effect that a service would have on our scheds.
I am sure I read a CAA report 2003 on 5th freedoms (PIA) that suggested circa 75% of Newark traffic is actually pure connecting , it is old data but even with a 10% margin for error based on todays figures a point to point service would surely stimulate demand rather than taking it away from other operators.
A lot of the analytical research work quoted by armchair analysts on here regarding MAN always seems to suggest a finite market size with airlines taking market share from each other on our "own" routes.
How about a more positive note with a suggestion that MAN claws back traffic in a 100 mile radius that might that otherwise would jumped in the car/train to use London Or of course take the RYR approach and create demand when non existed ?
I'm in Sheds shed, as far as Emirates is concerned. I am inclined to think everything EK touch seems to turn to Gold, any service would be daily, and coupled to a 777/380 it would provide the level of "certainty" that you get from using LHR !
What the US operators do from from MAN compared to LHR is pee poor in context .... 757 ops are pretty meagre fayre in my book and this tinkering of 5 a week etc in Winter does not help.There must also have been a degree of brand loyalty to certain airlines which has now also been swallowed up !
If US airlines are falling over themselves to lose money from LHR I really don't see why should Manchester be penalised with lack of service or higher fares ?
Last edited by Bagso; 14th Apr 2014 at 11:28.
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Brilliant, brilliant news for mag pr department!!!!
Dear MAG PR Team,
Now I realise that you probably don't post on a public forum like PPRuNe. Contractual restrictions and all that. Well, fair enough. But Hey … you do check in on us regularly to read what we're all saying about you, don't you? Yes, of course you do! And I am so pleased that you do, because I have some ABSOLUTELY AWESOME NEWS to break to you! Have you got a Magnum of Champagne handy? Well put it on ice now, because I promise you this news is so good you will have to celebrate it immediately!
Well, I won't keep you in suspense any longer. Tomorrow morning at approximately 07:50 local time, a large, shiny Boeing 777-300ER will land at Manchester Airport with its eyecatching gold cheatline glistening brightly in the dawn sunshine! That aircraft will be linking the Far East directly with Manchester Airport (with a short stop at Munich en route). Well, we did say 'direct' as opposed to 'non-stop'. And then at around 09:10 local time, that same Boeing 777-300ER will depart Manchester Airport en route directly to the Far East again.
But the good news has only just begun. Because every day thereafter … and I mean DAILY, 7 DAYS PER WEEK until further notice, exactly the same thing will happen! Now is that great news or what? I think its AWESOME!!! But, I hear you ask, will this service be a boon to North-West exporters? Yes, it will! The Boeing 777 has great cargo uplift capability! Will it support jobs across the region? Indeed it will … you can count on it! Will it be a massive plus for North-West travellers bound for the Far East (and beyond to Australia and New Zealand). Too right it will!!!
So break out that Champagne and celebrate! This is AWESOME news for Manchester Airport!
Now I realise you must be very puzzled, so I'll put you out of your misery now. Hey, I'm such a tease! Yes, the inbound flight number is SQ328 and the outbound number is SQ327. DAILY. DIRECT TO THE FAR EAST!!! It's all true. Go and check. It is even showing on the 'arrivals' page of the Manchester Airport website! Awesome or what? Go on, swig some more Champagne!
Oh, by the way, about the launch date of this direct scheduled service to the Far East. It was actually around TWENTY EIGHT YEARS AGO. Yes, that is correct. SINGAPORE AIRLINES HAS OPERATED DIRECT FLIGHTS BETWEEN MANCHESTER AIRPORT AND THE FAR EAST FOR APPROXIMATELY 28 YEARS!!! No pullouts, no interruptions, ever reliable. Through the good times and the tough times. They've never let us down. They've watched dozens of other airlines come and go. They've watched other long-haul carriers succeed and fail at Manchester. But SIA are still here. Still doing a great job.
But, Manchester Airport PR Team, you break out the Champagne and celebrate this amazing coup for Manchester Airport. BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T KNOW A THING ABOUT IT, DID YOU???
Last week, the PM himself was briefed that 'prodigal son' Cathay Pacific Airways will in December launch "Manchester's first direct service to the Far East". And also last week, the Manchester Evening News published two articles asserting the same. Now I know that at least two regulars on this board subsequently contacted MEN Business Editor Adam Jupp to point out this error. Yet today, April 14th, the MEN Business section has published a third article which refers to the forthcoming Cathay service as Manchester's first direct link to the Far East. I guess they mean apart from the one which has been running uninterrupted for 28 years already, operated by Manchester's longest established long haul carrier. Maybe the journos had a heavy weekend. Such things have been known to happen.
Now here's the thing when you hire a PR type. Yes, it is important that they are warm, smiley, and look great representing MAG at industry gatherings in their finest glad rags. And it is really helpful if they can string sentences together coherently and work wonders with shorthand. But there is another essential: it really helps to know a bit about the subject you're there to promote. And if you don't know the subject, don't be afraid to ask someone who does. I assure you, there are personnel at Manchester Airport who are aware that Singapore Airlines serves this airport. Just ask around!
Of course, some mistakes are understandable. Everybody makes 'em. For example, that stuff about EasyJet's service from Manchester to Moscow being the first ever scheduled service between the two cities. We'll overlook that one, because Aeroflot's SU249/250 schedule ended many years ago. But to completely overlook an EXISTING daily scheduled long-haul service when briefing the media and even the Prime Minister himself … well, that is just beyond dumb. And the MEN is still pushing out this incorrect line days later. How bad is that? For goodness sake, MAG, spread the message yes … we've all been pestering you to do that … but PLEASE GET IT RIGHT! And if you don't, at least correct the error quickly.
So this is where we are now. Your lack of awareness of Manchester's longest-serving, most loyal long-haul carrier has seriously undermined their standing in the region's consciousness. You apparently didn't know that the Singapore Airlines daily flight existed. Now, you have the Business Editor of the MEN pushing the same misinformation three times in the last week alone. You have done damage here, and you need to put it right. Manchester Airport's ability to retain existing scheduled services has been found somewhat wanting in the past. I suspect that the PR Department having no clue about what long-haul services we already have (let alone promoting them) is a big part of that problem. Let's buck things up a bit. Go home and have a good study of Manchester's existing portfolio of carriers and services. And when you are about to compile a press release, do a bit of homework first. Why not tap the knowledge of afew of the old-timers? Have we ever had a service to Moscow before? Do we have a scheduled service direct to the Far East already? It isn't difficult to find out these things.
Now, about SINGAPORE AIRLINES. I think you owe them one BIG APOLOGY. So grab that Magnum of Champagne I told you to put on ice and take it down to Singapore Airlines' Manchester office. Then, open it and share it with them. And sit and chat with them for an hour. Learn just how valuable their daily service is to this region. Then, to reaffirm your appreciation of their contribution to Manchester Airport's success, why don't you buy one of those giant chocolate Easter Eggs and inscribe it: "To Singapore Airlines. In Grateful Recognition of 28 Years Uninterrupted Direct Scheduled Service Between Manchester and The Far East. Lots of Love and Sloppy Kisses!!! From MAG." Send a photo of the presentation for inclusion in the 'Manchester Evening News'. And maybe you could plan a joint publicity campaign with SIA through your media outlets, Faceplant, Twotter and the like (PPRuNe software converts the real names to read 'PPRuNe'). A goodwill gesture, and a nice bit of damage limitation.
Because if you don't show existing carriers such as SIA a bit of love and appreciation (beginning by knowing they exist), there is a competitor airport down the road anxious to fill its newly extended runway. Ideally with a new direct service to the Far East. I can think of one such which would do them very nicely. And if the Business Editor of the Birmingham Evening Mail was told about it, I'm sure he wouldn't have forgotten the details three days later, either.
Get moving, MAG PR. You've got bridges to rebuild!!!
PS. The headline was written in capitals. I wonder why the PPRuNe software has converted it to lower-case lettering?
Now I realise that you probably don't post on a public forum like PPRuNe. Contractual restrictions and all that. Well, fair enough. But Hey … you do check in on us regularly to read what we're all saying about you, don't you? Yes, of course you do! And I am so pleased that you do, because I have some ABSOLUTELY AWESOME NEWS to break to you! Have you got a Magnum of Champagne handy? Well put it on ice now, because I promise you this news is so good you will have to celebrate it immediately!
Well, I won't keep you in suspense any longer. Tomorrow morning at approximately 07:50 local time, a large, shiny Boeing 777-300ER will land at Manchester Airport with its eyecatching gold cheatline glistening brightly in the dawn sunshine! That aircraft will be linking the Far East directly with Manchester Airport (with a short stop at Munich en route). Well, we did say 'direct' as opposed to 'non-stop'. And then at around 09:10 local time, that same Boeing 777-300ER will depart Manchester Airport en route directly to the Far East again.
But the good news has only just begun. Because every day thereafter … and I mean DAILY, 7 DAYS PER WEEK until further notice, exactly the same thing will happen! Now is that great news or what? I think its AWESOME!!! But, I hear you ask, will this service be a boon to North-West exporters? Yes, it will! The Boeing 777 has great cargo uplift capability! Will it support jobs across the region? Indeed it will … you can count on it! Will it be a massive plus for North-West travellers bound for the Far East (and beyond to Australia and New Zealand). Too right it will!!!
So break out that Champagne and celebrate! This is AWESOME news for Manchester Airport!
Now I realise you must be very puzzled, so I'll put you out of your misery now. Hey, I'm such a tease! Yes, the inbound flight number is SQ328 and the outbound number is SQ327. DAILY. DIRECT TO THE FAR EAST!!! It's all true. Go and check. It is even showing on the 'arrivals' page of the Manchester Airport website! Awesome or what? Go on, swig some more Champagne!
Oh, by the way, about the launch date of this direct scheduled service to the Far East. It was actually around TWENTY EIGHT YEARS AGO. Yes, that is correct. SINGAPORE AIRLINES HAS OPERATED DIRECT FLIGHTS BETWEEN MANCHESTER AIRPORT AND THE FAR EAST FOR APPROXIMATELY 28 YEARS!!! No pullouts, no interruptions, ever reliable. Through the good times and the tough times. They've never let us down. They've watched dozens of other airlines come and go. They've watched other long-haul carriers succeed and fail at Manchester. But SIA are still here. Still doing a great job.
But, Manchester Airport PR Team, you break out the Champagne and celebrate this amazing coup for Manchester Airport. BECAUSE YOU DIDN'T KNOW A THING ABOUT IT, DID YOU???
Last week, the PM himself was briefed that 'prodigal son' Cathay Pacific Airways will in December launch "Manchester's first direct service to the Far East". And also last week, the Manchester Evening News published two articles asserting the same. Now I know that at least two regulars on this board subsequently contacted MEN Business Editor Adam Jupp to point out this error. Yet today, April 14th, the MEN Business section has published a third article which refers to the forthcoming Cathay service as Manchester's first direct link to the Far East. I guess they mean apart from the one which has been running uninterrupted for 28 years already, operated by Manchester's longest established long haul carrier. Maybe the journos had a heavy weekend. Such things have been known to happen.
Now here's the thing when you hire a PR type. Yes, it is important that they are warm, smiley, and look great representing MAG at industry gatherings in their finest glad rags. And it is really helpful if they can string sentences together coherently and work wonders with shorthand. But there is another essential: it really helps to know a bit about the subject you're there to promote. And if you don't know the subject, don't be afraid to ask someone who does. I assure you, there are personnel at Manchester Airport who are aware that Singapore Airlines serves this airport. Just ask around!
Of course, some mistakes are understandable. Everybody makes 'em. For example, that stuff about EasyJet's service from Manchester to Moscow being the first ever scheduled service between the two cities. We'll overlook that one, because Aeroflot's SU249/250 schedule ended many years ago. But to completely overlook an EXISTING daily scheduled long-haul service when briefing the media and even the Prime Minister himself … well, that is just beyond dumb. And the MEN is still pushing out this incorrect line days later. How bad is that? For goodness sake, MAG, spread the message yes … we've all been pestering you to do that … but PLEASE GET IT RIGHT! And if you don't, at least correct the error quickly.
So this is where we are now. Your lack of awareness of Manchester's longest-serving, most loyal long-haul carrier has seriously undermined their standing in the region's consciousness. You apparently didn't know that the Singapore Airlines daily flight existed. Now, you have the Business Editor of the MEN pushing the same misinformation three times in the last week alone. You have done damage here, and you need to put it right. Manchester Airport's ability to retain existing scheduled services has been found somewhat wanting in the past. I suspect that the PR Department having no clue about what long-haul services we already have (let alone promoting them) is a big part of that problem. Let's buck things up a bit. Go home and have a good study of Manchester's existing portfolio of carriers and services. And when you are about to compile a press release, do a bit of homework first. Why not tap the knowledge of afew of the old-timers? Have we ever had a service to Moscow before? Do we have a scheduled service direct to the Far East already? It isn't difficult to find out these things.
Now, about SINGAPORE AIRLINES. I think you owe them one BIG APOLOGY. So grab that Magnum of Champagne I told you to put on ice and take it down to Singapore Airlines' Manchester office. Then, open it and share it with them. And sit and chat with them for an hour. Learn just how valuable their daily service is to this region. Then, to reaffirm your appreciation of their contribution to Manchester Airport's success, why don't you buy one of those giant chocolate Easter Eggs and inscribe it: "To Singapore Airlines. In Grateful Recognition of 28 Years Uninterrupted Direct Scheduled Service Between Manchester and The Far East. Lots of Love and Sloppy Kisses!!! From MAG." Send a photo of the presentation for inclusion in the 'Manchester Evening News'. And maybe you could plan a joint publicity campaign with SIA through your media outlets, Faceplant, Twotter and the like (PPRuNe software converts the real names to read 'PPRuNe'). A goodwill gesture, and a nice bit of damage limitation.
Because if you don't show existing carriers such as SIA a bit of love and appreciation (beginning by knowing they exist), there is a competitor airport down the road anxious to fill its newly extended runway. Ideally with a new direct service to the Far East. I can think of one such which would do them very nicely. And if the Business Editor of the Birmingham Evening Mail was told about it, I'm sure he wouldn't have forgotten the details three days later, either.
Get moving, MAG PR. You've got bridges to rebuild!!!
PS. The headline was written in capitals. I wonder why the PPRuNe software has converted it to lower-case lettering?
Last edited by Shed-on-a-Pole; 14th Apr 2014 at 21:10. Reason: Headline Corrupted to Small Letters
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Shed, an absolute classic. I trust a copy has winged its way to the MAN department in question.
There is just 1 possible worrying scenario that I mention with trepidation. Just supposing SQ were to pull their MAN service at the end of this summer, before CX starts to HK in December and that MAN know this. (Of course, the press release and M.E.N articles would still be wrong as CX wouldn't be the first direct flights to the Far East - MH as well as SQ). A terrible thought, and it has to be said that the SQ timetable still shows the flights via Munich through next winter. Indeed, the hope would be that the CX service may even prompt SQ to fly non-stop again from MAN as they did for a number of years.
Edit: If people had done their homework they might also have learned how determined SQ were to get MAN flights 28 years ago. Some of us remember those 1 page adverts in the British Press - "We want to fly to Manchester but the government won't let us". Rumour has it that Mrs Thatcher wasn't best pleased and told her Minister and Civil Servants to sort it.
There is just 1 possible worrying scenario that I mention with trepidation. Just supposing SQ were to pull their MAN service at the end of this summer, before CX starts to HK in December and that MAN know this. (Of course, the press release and M.E.N articles would still be wrong as CX wouldn't be the first direct flights to the Far East - MH as well as SQ). A terrible thought, and it has to be said that the SQ timetable still shows the flights via Munich through next winter. Indeed, the hope would be that the CX service may even prompt SQ to fly non-stop again from MAN as they did for a number of years.
Edit: If people had done their homework they might also have learned how determined SQ were to get MAN flights 28 years ago. Some of us remember those 1 page adverts in the British Press - "We want to fly to Manchester but the government won't let us". Rumour has it that Mrs Thatcher wasn't best pleased and told her Minister and Civil Servants to sort it.
Last edited by MANFOD; 14th Apr 2014 at 14:08.
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There is a game of semantics going on here.
1.Far East could be defined as China/Japan/Korea and Taiwan
2.South East Asia - Malaysia/Singapore/Thailand and Indo China
3. Sub Continent - Pakistan/India/Bangladesh and those mountain handout like
Bhutan and Nepal.
4. Middle East - the desert !
Press releases all crafted too say first scheduled direct nonstop (Point 1 above) ....
They know what they saying !
1.Far East could be defined as China/Japan/Korea and Taiwan
2.South East Asia - Malaysia/Singapore/Thailand and Indo China
3. Sub Continent - Pakistan/India/Bangladesh and those mountain handout like
Bhutan and Nepal.
4. Middle East - the desert !
Press releases all crafted too say first scheduled direct nonstop (Point 1 above) ....
They know what they saying !
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I don't recall seeing "non-stop" mentioned in the quotes/articles I saw, only "direct". If MAN do consider Singapore not to be classed as Far East, then given
Cathay's previous presence at MAN, which was direct in the sense it involved no change of a/c, it is non-stop that should now be highlighted.
It's true wiki does class Singapore and Malaysia as South East Asia, so maybe semantics are at play.
Cathay's previous presence at MAN, which was direct in the sense it involved no change of a/c, it is non-stop that should now be highlighted.
It's true wiki does class Singapore and Malaysia as South East Asia, so maybe semantics are at play.
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Cathay to launch Manchester - Hong Kong route | News | Travel Trade Gazette
Manchester Airport secures Hong Kong flights deal with Cathay Pacific - Manchester Evening News
UK's Manchester airport to start flights to Hong Kong | Reuters
The three initial articles issued read carefully .
Only the MEN Quotes the words of Angus Barclay
“This will be the only non-stop direct service from Manchester to Hong Kong; Cathay Pacific offers passengers even more choice and flexibility and, at the same time, will boost Manchester’s standing as an International hub.”
Like I said the words are crafted. Now as for politicians misquoting or being poorly briefed thats regrettable and pretty normal as most have no idea about events in the real world being reliant of intern researchers !
Manchester Airport secures Hong Kong flights deal with Cathay Pacific - Manchester Evening News
UK's Manchester airport to start flights to Hong Kong | Reuters
The three initial articles issued read carefully .
Only the MEN Quotes the words of Angus Barclay
“This will be the only non-stop direct service from Manchester to Hong Kong; Cathay Pacific offers passengers even more choice and flexibility and, at the same time, will boost Manchester’s standing as an International hub.”
Like I said the words are crafted. Now as for politicians misquoting or being poorly briefed thats regrettable and pretty normal as most have no idea about events in the real world being reliant of intern researchers !
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Must confess I gave them benefit of the doubt when I contacted the M.E.N but I am glad somebody else read it same as me.
This could have said "this compliments our existing far east schedules."
Even more galling when the airline in question was SIA. There is a Manchester Airport archive, a few people would be well advised to investigate, as Manfod quite rightly points out it was SIA and indeed date I say it Thatcher ably assisted by GT who put the place in the map.
I'm actually thinking a lot of this is outsourced, instead of pretty in things up and delivering the message I'm of the opinion they are writing it themselves !
As I said last week 7 new long hauls and whilst CX was exquisite we then go back to Little Red. ..AGAIN !
This could have said "this compliments our existing far east schedules."
Even more galling when the airline in question was SIA. There is a Manchester Airport archive, a few people would be well advised to investigate, as Manfod quite rightly points out it was SIA and indeed date I say it Thatcher ably assisted by GT who put the place in the map.
I'm actually thinking a lot of this is outsourced, instead of pretty in things up and delivering the message I'm of the opinion they are writing it themselves !
As I said last week 7 new long hauls and whilst CX was exquisite we then go back to Little Red. ..AGAIN !
Last edited by Bagso; 14th Apr 2014 at 18:08.
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The Wikipedia 'Far East' entry linked by Gavin C reads as follows:
"The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia (including North East Asia), SOUTH EAST ASIA, and the Russian Far East with South Asia sometimes included for economic and cultural reasons."
The capital letters used are my own. But it does clarify that even Wikipedia considers South East Asia to be a constituent part of the region we refer to as the Far East. Interesting discussion point, anyway. I've certainly always thought of Singapore as being part of both South East Asia AND the Far East.
"The Far East is an English term mostly describing East Asia (including North East Asia), SOUTH EAST ASIA, and the Russian Far East with South Asia sometimes included for economic and cultural reasons."
The capital letters used are my own. But it does clarify that even Wikipedia considers South East Asia to be a constituent part of the region we refer to as the Far East. Interesting discussion point, anyway. I've certainly always thought of Singapore as being part of both South East Asia AND the Far East.
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rutankrd:
The three MEN articles I am referring to contain specific reference to securing a direct Far East flight service (implying that there isn't one already). I am wary of infringing copyright by quoting the articles directly. However, the articles are available on the MEN website as follows:
10/04 'Manchester Airport secures Hong Kong flights deal with Cathay Pacific" - this is one which you have linked.
11/04 "Prime Minister welcomes new Hong Kong route as 'hugely encouraging' ".
14/04 "Airport extends second runway opening hours to cope with demand".
The 11/04 article references 'Manchester's first direct flight to the Far East.' The other two articles clearly leave the reader with the impression that Cathay's service will be MAN's first and only direct service to the Far East. Nowhere is wording such as 'another', 'a second direct service to' or 'an additional service to' used. Any of these would have clarified the situation. There is no mention of Singapore or SIA anywhere.
Ultimately, Singapore Airlines is a direct competitor with Cathay Pacific to the Far East, and its long-standing support for Manchester Airport fully deserves acknowledgment, particularly from MAG itself.
The three MEN articles I am referring to contain specific reference to securing a direct Far East flight service (implying that there isn't one already). I am wary of infringing copyright by quoting the articles directly. However, the articles are available on the MEN website as follows:
10/04 'Manchester Airport secures Hong Kong flights deal with Cathay Pacific" - this is one which you have linked.
11/04 "Prime Minister welcomes new Hong Kong route as 'hugely encouraging' ".
14/04 "Airport extends second runway opening hours to cope with demand".
The 11/04 article references 'Manchester's first direct flight to the Far East.' The other two articles clearly leave the reader with the impression that Cathay's service will be MAN's first and only direct service to the Far East. Nowhere is wording such as 'another', 'a second direct service to' or 'an additional service to' used. Any of these would have clarified the situation. There is no mention of Singapore or SIA anywhere.
Ultimately, Singapore Airlines is a direct competitor with Cathay Pacific to the Far East, and its long-standing support for Manchester Airport fully deserves acknowledgment, particularly from MAG itself.
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I suspect Shed they are using the term "direct" to mean "non-stop", but I agree it required some sort of clarification.
Apart from SQ, Malaysian and Cathay themselves have operated to the Far East (including South East Asia). Didn't Malaysian fly non-stop to KL?
Apart from SQ, Malaysian and Cathay themselves have operated to the Far East (including South East Asia). Didn't Malaysian fly non-stop to KL?
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Previous Far East services from MAN
...and let us not forget good old QANTAS who flew direct (but not non-stop) to BKK and later HKG? via intermediate European cities or LHR between 1983 and 1994. QF9/10.