MANCHESTER - 9
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RE the LH/LS Tel Aviv flights...
Servisair do Lufthansa, generally offer a pretty good service to their usually higher paying customers.
Menzies do Jet2, and are generally the underlying cause of all Manchester Airport horror stories.
Servisair do Lufthansa, generally offer a pretty good service to their usually higher paying customers.
Menzies do Jet2, and are generally the underlying cause of all Manchester Airport horror stories.
Join Date: May 2005
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Last night Jet2 from Tel Aviv landed at 22:15; I landed at 22:00 (I think) also from Tel Aviv but on Lufthansa via Frankfurt. We were through passport control in a few minutes at most; our luggage was waiting for us and we were home within an hour of touchdown.
Speaking to a friend this morning on the Jet2, they waited 90 minutes for the luggage with a consequent late night by the time they got home (near us).
Given that Jet2 charge a significant sum for hold luggage, it behooves them to provide a reasonable quality service???
Speaking to a friend this morning on the Jet2, they waited 90 minutes for the luggage with a consequent late night by the time they got home (near us).
Given that Jet2 charge a significant sum for hold luggage, it behooves them to provide a reasonable quality service???
RE the LH/LS Tel Aviv flights...
Servisair do Lufthansa, generally offer a pretty good service to their usually higher paying customers.
Menzies do Jet2, and are generally the underlying cause of all Manchester Airport horror stories.
Servisair do Lufthansa, generally offer a pretty good service to their usually higher paying customers.
Menzies do Jet2, and are generally the underlying cause of all Manchester Airport horror stories.
Join Date: Dec 2000
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It has been announced that former Chief Exec at Manchester Airport, Sir Gil Thomson, has died. He was in charge from 1981-1993, coinciding with arguably the most significant ramping up of air services from Manchester. It's notable that even 20 years after he left, on this and other boards there is often the cry that 'Gil would have dealt with this much better'.
I only met him once, and he got me into trouble for my pains! As a callow youth nearly 30 years ago I did a summer as a dispatcher at Manchester, and was merrily sorting out a Britannia 737 turnround on B pier when he wandered on board. He apologised for disturbing me, as he just wanted to wish a couple of friends 'bon voyage' as they went on holiday. A complete non-event from my point of view until the captain summoned me to the cockpit and wanted to know who he was, why he wasn't displaying a pass, and why had I let him on the aircraft! Turned out that the captain was Birmingham based and didn't know him from Adam. At the time seemed a huge over-reaction, though nowadays you would have said he had a point.
I only met him once, and he got me into trouble for my pains! As a callow youth nearly 30 years ago I did a summer as a dispatcher at Manchester, and was merrily sorting out a Britannia 737 turnround on B pier when he wandered on board. He apologised for disturbing me, as he just wanted to wish a couple of friends 'bon voyage' as they went on holiday. A complete non-event from my point of view until the captain summoned me to the cockpit and wanted to know who he was, why he wasn't displaying a pass, and why had I let him on the aircraft! Turned out that the captain was Birmingham based and didn't know him from Adam. At the time seemed a huge over-reaction, though nowadays you would have said he had a point.
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Gil Thomson
Gil was a gentleman, a total professional and by a mile the best thing that ever happened to Manchester Airport. I had the great privilege of sitting on a committee with him, having a number of one on one meetings with him aimed at promoting Manchester as a destination for business tourism and, for many years until I left the area, being able to call on him to get airside access for photography. Unlike many in the airport management today he had aviation running through his veins. May he rest in peace.
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some good news today on the business side
MAG enjoys boost in letting its property - Manchester Evening News
chaps
MAG enjoys boost in letting its property - Manchester Evening News
chaps
Join Date: Jul 2004
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Sir Gil Thompson
Indeed, Sir Gil is fondly remembered by many as the man who put MAN on the map. Always immaculately presented and courteous, and even in retirement has turned up at the funerals of staff of all levels. I will wear my pocket handkerchief at half-mast today in his honour.
Last edited by roverman; 4th Oct 2013 at 08:53.
Monarch expansion
2013 News - Flights - MONARCH AIRLINES ANNOUNCES EXPANSION OF ROUTE NETWORK | Flights News - Monarch
New for 2014 ex MAN
Enfidha
Agadir
Hurghada
Naples ( I'm sure they ran this this year already)
NOTE: minutes after tweeting the above, Monarch have removed the news page !
New for 2014 ex MAN
Enfidha
Agadir
Hurghada
Naples ( I'm sure they ran this this year already)
NOTE: minutes after tweeting the above, Monarch have removed the news page !
Last edited by Mr A Tis; 4th Oct 2013 at 10:24.
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Sir Gil Thomson
As others have already said, a great man has passed away.
And not just a towering figure in the development of Manchester Airport. The work he did, the tireless lobbying and PR work that fought against the cozy establishment of bi-laterals and in-built privileges for incumbent carriers in the UK, paved the way for freedoms we now take for granted in air travel.
Persuading Margaret Thatcher to get involved in gaining approval for American Airlines and Singapore Airlines to fly to Manchester in a then grossly over-regulated industry, was in itself a triumph.
Both those airlines still serve Manchester to this day.
Regional airports that today enjoy Emirates routes to Dubai do so on the back of this groundbreaking work to sweep away un-necessary regulations and protectionism 25 years ago.
Present day management can only aspire to be nearly as good as this man.
As others have already said, a great man has passed away.
And not just a towering figure in the development of Manchester Airport. The work he did, the tireless lobbying and PR work that fought against the cozy establishment of bi-laterals and in-built privileges for incumbent carriers in the UK, paved the way for freedoms we now take for granted in air travel.
Persuading Margaret Thatcher to get involved in gaining approval for American Airlines and Singapore Airlines to fly to Manchester in a then grossly over-regulated industry, was in itself a triumph.
Both those airlines still serve Manchester to this day.
Regional airports that today enjoy Emirates routes to Dubai do so on the back of this groundbreaking work to sweep away un-necessary regulations and protectionism 25 years ago.
Present day management can only aspire to be nearly as good as this man.
Last edited by All names taken; 4th Oct 2013 at 12:13.
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Gil Thompson
Indeed I well remember the farewell party that British Airways gave to Gil when he left to become the CEO. It was held at what is now the Crowne Plaza, but could well have still been the Excelsior in those days. A lot of the people present wore t-shirts with "would you trust this man to run your airport' plus a photo of Gil imprinted on them.
At the time I did think that he would be too pro-British Airways, but my doubts were soon dispelled.
As others have said Sir Gil, as he was to become, was a man of many gentle qualities and yet such a strong personality. The airport has not been the same since his retirement.
I also remember Gordon Sweetapple as another CEO who was always approachable and would have time to talk.
At the time I did think that he would be too pro-British Airways, but my doubts were soon dispelled.
As others have said Sir Gil, as he was to become, was a man of many gentle qualities and yet such a strong personality. The airport has not been the same since his retirement.
I also remember Gordon Sweetapple as another CEO who was always approachable and would have time to talk.
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Gordon Sweetapple
Today's viewing park is a direct result of Gordon Sweetapple's belief that generating interest in aviation leads to an increase both in people working in the industry and in using the services of the airport. In 1978 I approached Gordon to see if the old brick works site, long used as an unofficial spotters meeting place, could be developed as an official visitor site. He thought the idea had merit and, after overcoming many obstacles, eventually the site was opened. The current facility has expanded and continued the idea but has fallen into the hands of the bean counters with excessive charges and it has the problem of facing into the sun.
The way Gordon took the idea on board was typical of his enthusiasm, something that Gil also had. The teams those two men built around themselves were not only professional but included many people, a great number of whom were enthusiasts, who believed that the purpose of an airport was to create profit through providing air services. It seems that the purpose of MAG today is to generate a profit from a range of sectors, just one of which, and not necessarily the most important, is the provision of air services to the people of Manchester and the airport's catchment area.
The way Gordon took the idea on board was typical of his enthusiasm, something that Gil also had. The teams those two men built around themselves were not only professional but included many people, a great number of whom were enthusiasts, who believed that the purpose of an airport was to create profit through providing air services. It seems that the purpose of MAG today is to generate a profit from a range of sectors, just one of which, and not necessarily the most important, is the provision of air services to the people of Manchester and the airport's catchment area.
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It seems that the purpose of MAG today is to generate a profit from a range of sectors, just one of which, and not necessarily the most important, is the provision of air services to the people of Manchester and the airport's catchment area.
Wonder if there's been some confusion over numbers in this news article.
Virgin's Little Red is a big success at airport
Having used this service a few times I've never seen more than 30 pax. Quick bit of maths shows how many seats are on offer so do they mean total number of passengers over the whole route structure?
Virgin's Little Red is a big success at airport
Having used this service a few times I've never seen more than 30 pax. Quick bit of maths shows how many seats are on offer so do they mean total number of passengers over the whole route structure?
Join Date: Aug 2002
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airlines wanting the cheapest possible charges.
Mr Thompson, who became director of short haul and new venture performance in March, admits it was a big step for the company to launch Little Red.
He said: “When we launched it it was something new and different for Virgin Atlantic, for us to go into the domestic routes after 30 years of long haul.
He said: “When we launched it it was something new and different for Virgin Atlantic, for us to go into the domestic routes after 30 years of long haul.
do they mean total number of passengers over the whole route structure?
Last edited by Skipness One Echo; 7th Oct 2013 at 10:11.
Virgin Sun
Spot on Skipness, corporate memory loss. Ironic that Virgin leased Three A320s-+ an A321 the very type they are leasing now from Aer Lingus ( A320). Operated May 1999 to October 2001 based at Gatwick & Manchester. Used for short haul holiday flights, but could have also been used as domestic connections if the short haul operation had any plan. I would guess it was an expensive operation to set up & then wind down in just over two years.
Last edited by Mr A Tis; 7th Oct 2013 at 15:17.
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New Jet2 routes for 2014:
Jersey (3x weekly)
Vienna (3x weekly)
Bergerac (2x weekly)
Jersey (3x weekly)
Vienna (3x weekly)
Bergerac (2x weekly)
I think lots of people are going to be happy about the Vienna route
Last edited by MKY661; 7th Oct 2013 at 17:28.